Friday, November 30, 2012

It's About That Time...

Time to break out the Christmas decorations and transform your home for the holiday season! Every year I do the same thing with my decor, except for changing up my Christmas tree color scheme. I'm a little bored so this year I'm going to try some new things, primarily DIY decorations to save $$. Check out these festive and fairly simple ideas...hopefully you'll find some inspiration too! What fun decoration ideas do you have in mind for the holidays? Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo - Julie

{Stockings hung from antlers! Notice the snowflakes hanging down - that's so easy to do}

{Shiny Christmas balls hung from a string or wire as garland}

{Wrap a large canvas or board with wrapping paper as a fun backdrop to a holiday vignette!}

 {DIY Advent Calendar mounted on a painted piece of plywood!}

{Simple and pretty - ornaments capped by a glass cloche. Also works with large glass jars or vases}
Image via Martha Stewart

{Add a modern touch to your Christmas decor with a bold pattern like this zig zag tablecloth}

{Spray painted pine cone garland}

{Place a branch or bunch of sticks in a vase or bucket and hang ornaments from them}

{Shadow box with ornaments - so easy!}

{Hang a wreath directly on to a mirror or in the center of a window}

{Dangle mixed ornaments from a chandelier}

{DIY art idea - paint a canvas a solid color and stencil or freehand a Christmas song, bible verse, etc.}

For more Christmas ideas, check out my Pinterest board!

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Pausing for a couple days...

Hello lovelies! The last couple days have been stressful and crazy. So much so that I haven't had one minute to sit down to blog. There's some drama happening that I won't go into, but regular posting will resume tomorrow! xoxo - Julie

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

West Elm Opens a New Location in Orange County

West Elm has been a "go-to" design resource of mine for years. Up until 4 weeks ago, the only way I could shop with them was online or through the catalog (unless I wanted to make the grueling 1 hour drive to LA, which is a big fat NO!). When a girlfriend of mine told me about their newly opened location at Crystal Court (across from South Coast Plaza for you locals), I couldn't get there fast enough! Now, as much as I've adored their products over the years, I was beginning to grow a little tired of what they were carrying...always predictable with very little change. That is until I stepped into the new store and discovered the "new" West Elm - still modern and fresh but with an Anthropologie / Urban Outfitters vibe. Two of the sales associates, Melisa and Chris, were super friendly and gave me the lowdown on the store, merchandise and decor. I snapped a bunch of pictures of things I loved to share with you. Here we go...

{This wall is made entirely of LIVE plants in individual containers. Hello! So creative!}

{Love this rustic natural Christmas tabletop setting and the chandelier}


{So many fun things for the kitchen, including baking mixes and vintage inspired gadgets - a first for West Elm!}

{No matter how many dishes I own, I always want to buy more!}

{This little backdrop was made of layered brown paper bags - genius}

{More lovely dishes}

{I could've crawled right into this bed and taken a nap}

{These faux animal heads are one of their HOT sellers}

{Love the layered pieces of wood on the display and the purple-gray linens}

{I need one of those fluffy pillows immediately}

 {That silver tree is on my Christmas wish list!}

{Lots of fun bath products and candles}

{They even have a little garden section, complete with live plants!}
www.westelm.com

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[ALL IMAGES TAKEN BY ME, JULIE THIGPEN, WITH MY iPHONE]

Monday, November 26, 2012

Quote of the Week

"Beauty holds my world together; it fulfills a need in my soul; it helps me survive. Beauty is my inspiration for my life and for my work. I find its qualities evocative, and always in its presence I pause, aware of the mysterious becoming visible." 

 - Barbara Barry, Around Beauty





 [IMAGE SOURCES: 1|2|3|4|5]

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I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things after the long holiday weekend! How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was fantastic - my mom cooked an amazing feast and we got to spend time with my family, which is always fun. Planning on doing any Cyber Monday shopping? Wishing you a great and productive week! 


P.S. One of my fabulous Sponsors, Tiny Prints, is having an awesome sale today and tomorrow only...Just in time for the season, Tiny Prints is offering 30% off everything on their site. Custom holiday cards, Christmas cards, Hanukkah cards, holiday party invitations, custom photo gifts...you name it, it's on sale for two days, today, Monday November 26 and tomorrow, Tuesday November 27. I'm going to take advantage and create a couple of photo books of my baby to give as Christmas gifts!

Just use the promo code CB12 when you checkout to get this great deal.

There will never be a better time to buy from Tiny Prints and this sale ends tomorrow at midnight Pacific Time, so check them out today.

 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

 "Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." 

 - W. T. Purkiser

[IMAGE SOURCE: KARIN LIDBECK]

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Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving today! God has blessed me in so many ways and I am grateful for all that I have - an amazing husband, a beautiful son, an awesome family, great friends, a roof over my head, food to eat, fabulous Belle Maison readers ;) and SO much more. Even in times of struggle and hardship I am thankful, because it's during those times I'm reminded of what's truly important in this life. I'm looking forward to gathering with my family at my mom and dad's house for some fabulous food, wine and time with the people I love the most. It's also my 6 1/2 month old son Luke's first Thanksgiving, which makes the day that much sweeter! Enjoy your day and eat, drink and be THANKFUL :) xoxo - Julie

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Cocktails, Anyone? + Art Giveaway Winner

Today's post is a quick one - I'm running out the door soon to meet with a client to select flooring and then on to another client's home for an accessory install.. Busy day! I forgot to announce last week's Art Giveaway winner yesterday, so, drum roll please...the WINNER of the Laura Dro Art Giveaway is...Melz from the blog Mind My Beeswax! Congrats and thanks to all for entering :)

With Thanksgiving just 2 days away and Christmas / Holiday parties around the corner, I thought I'd post a few photos of fabulous home bar set-ups to give you a little inspiration in case yours need some sprucing up. Cheers!





[IMAGE SOURCES: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Quote of the Week

"I can't think if I'm surrounded by clutter. I need a certain amount of order in my space. One way to organize is to repeat colors and shapes...Instinctively, most people like things to feel balanced. Repetition is also very calming. But if you have too many bits and pieces around a room, the eye can't take them all in and it becomes confusing." 

- Suzanne Kasler, Inspired Interiors





[IMAGE SOURCES: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]

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How was your weekend?! I'm really looking forward to this week. Partly because it's a short work week, but mostly because of Thanksgiving! Yesterday at church I was reminded of HOW MUCH I have to be thankful for in my life. Sometimes I take things for granted or get depressed on what I don't have or how tough life can be at times, and I was reminded of how blessed I truly am. I'll be thinking about all the things I'm grateful for this week and making a little list. What are you thankful for?

Friday, November 16, 2012

Home Tour: Modern Cottage

I'm closing the week with a fabulous little home tour I discovered via Style at Home. This cottage was designed by Toronto designer Ingrid Oomen. It's bright and modern with a rustic twist. The dark wood flooring throughout was meant to ground the interior, which has fresh white walls and white painted ceiling beams. I love the light fixtures used in each space, especially the vintage pendants over the dining table. The designer mixed new and vintage pieces to make the home feel like a true cottage. She kept the accessories to a minimum to avoid a cluttered country look. I'm ready to move in! What do you love most about this home tour? Happy weekend! xoxo - Julie





[IMAGE SOURCE: STYLE AT HOME | PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL GRAYDON]

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Sponsor Love: Relique

I love shopping flea markets, garage sales and antique shops for that one special piece to complete a space. The thrill of the hunt is what I most look forward to! I'm sure many of you feel the same way - you love a great vintage accessory, chair or piece of art (especially when you find an amazing deal). It's what makes a room feel lived-in and less "matchy-matchy". Relique is a one-stop-shop for that unique piece you've been in search of for yourself or a client. They've been one of my Premiere Sponsors for the last several months and I've loved having them as a fantastic "go-to" resource for my stylish readers! When you shop their website, you can expect to find salvaged, re-purposed and/or recycled pieces from all over the world. They're constantly updating their inventory, which makes every visit an exciting one.

 [INDUSTRIAL / VINTAGE INSPIRED INTERIOR VIA]

There are so many fun and interesting objects in their shop, it was nearly impossible to narrow down just a handful to show you! Whether you're accessorizing a bookcase, coffee table, kitchen or library, you're sure to find something. What kind of vintage accents do you like to use in a space?

***Relique is offering Belle Maison readers and exclusive discount of 23% off all orders over $100! Enter code MAISON23 at checkout to redeem. Offer valid through 12/31/12***


[SHOP THESE ITEMS FROM THE VINTAGE HOLIDAY SECTION: 1 | 2 | 3]

[SHOP THESE ITEMS: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10]

*This post has been sponsored by Relique, a Premiere Sponsor on
Belle Maison. All thoughts, opinions and product selections are my own! xo - Julie

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