CHRISTMAS PREP: STAGE ONE!

SO I FIGURED ID GET A HEAD START ON MY CHRISTMAS DECOR....TREE IS NOT UP YET BUT WHY NOT GET THE OTHER STUFF UP??!!
BY NATURE, IM A PENNY PINCHER....SO IN MY OPINION, NOT ALL CHRISTMAS DECOR NEEDS TO BE FROM A CHRISTMAS SHOP! EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW.......

DUG FOR THESE SAND DOLLARS MYSELF WHEN I LIVED
IN BEAUTIFUL CHARLESTON, SC

NO I DONT ALWAYS HAVE CAMPBELL'S CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP CANS IN MY GLASS CABINET YEAR AROUND....BUT HEY, THEY ARE RED AND IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!

WHO SAYS YOU NEED TO BUY CHRISTMAS DECOR WHEN YOU HAVE
RED AND GREEN APPLES????

FOUND THIS FREAKISH LOOKING ELF FOR 75% OFF AFTER CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR...
LOVE HIM!!!

MY MOMS BEST FRIEND GAVE ME THIS ADORABLE NATIVITY SCENE.
THE METAL CHRISTMAS TREES CAME FROM BALLARD DESIGNS A FEW
YEARS AGO.

RED AND GREEN COCKTAIL NAPKINS-WHY NOT? NEED THEM ANYWAY!!

MY WISTERIA.COM CHRISTMAS FIND FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
DURING AN AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE...
ADDED LIGHTS FOR SOME FUN.

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MY IMAGINARY COTTAGE

I FOUND THIS HOUSE TODAY ON PINTEREST AND MY HEART MELTED-I LOVE IT!! I COULDNT HELP BUT IMAGINE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE INSIDE...I WISH I COULD TOUR INSIDE THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.
 I DECIDED I'D CREATE MY OWN VERSION OF THIS HOUSE THANKS TO MY PINTEREST BOARDS.....HERE'S A TOUR INSIDE MY IMAGINARY CHARMING BUT VERY STATELY COTTAGE!

 

SOURCES......
http://georgianadesign.tumblr.com/
http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2010/7/15/meg-braff.html
http://www.christinamurphyinteriors.com/portfolio.php?gallery=classic-duplex&image=9
http://justinetaylor.tumblr.com/page/3
http://theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/2011/06/monogram-mania-and-major-giveaway.html
http://www.massuccowarnermiller.com/residential/seacliff-residence.php
http://www.houzz.com/discussions/158426/Love-this-bed--where-is-it-from--or-is-it
http://www.jcwebbstudios.com/

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BLACK IS BACK

THANKS TO PINTEREST AND ALL THESE BLOGS!....
TRISHA TROUTZ
DELIGHT BY DESIGN
WS ROOM IN A BOX
HOUSE AND HOME
THE FOO DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK
TRADITION HOME
ASHLEY EDWARDS, DOMINO
THE DECORISTA

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BEFORE AND AFTER: HANOVER KITCHEN

THIS TIRED AND DATED KITCHEN NEEDED AN UPDATE!
ALTHOUGH WE KEPT THE SAME FOOT PRINT, LOTS OF GREAT CHANGES TOOK PLACE..... INCLUDING BRINGING THE CABINETS UP TO THE CEILING, INSTALLING A COUNTER DEPTH FRIDGE, REDESIGNING THE LIGHTING, ETC ETC ETC!

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE



AFTER

THE HOMEOWNER HAD RECENTLY BOUGHT A BLACK DISHWASHER AND DOUBLE OVEN AND WANTED TO INCORPORATE THEM IN THE DESIGN. THE CHALLENGE WAS HOW TO INCORPORATE BLACK APPLIANCES WITH STAINLESS APPLIANCES. IN THE END IT ALL WORKED OUT... SPECKLES OF BLACK AND SILVER IN THE GRANITE WITH AN OVERALL LIGHTER FEEL WAS THE PERFECT ELEMENT TO TIE IT ALL TOGETHER.

 THERE USED TO BE A TINY WALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE WET BAR.
WE REMOVED IT AND NOT ONLY GAINED MORE SURFACE AREA, BUT IT'S
MUCH MORE OPEN!!

THIS TIMELESS CRACKLED CERAMIC TILE BACKSPLASH DONE IN A HARRINGBONE LAYOUT
CHANGED IT UP.

THE WALL COLOR MATCHES THE BACKSPLASH TILE COLOR FOR A SEEMLESS TRANSITION. CABINETS ARE SLIGHTLY LIGHTER.

LOTS OF ACRYLIC PLATE STANDS  BEST SHOWCASE THE HOME OWNER'S
 FAMILY CHINA. WE MIXED AND MATCHED DIFFERENT CHINA PATTERNS BUT
COLOR COORDINATED EVERYTHING FOR A CLUTTER FREE LOOK.

HARD TO REACH UPPER CABINETS OFFER THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY CABINETS....NO MORE DUST TRAP GAPS BETWEEN THE CABINETS AND THE CEILING!! A LIGHT BLUE CEILING IS A SUBTLE POP OF COLOR IN THE NEUTRAL MIX.

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