this was simple...

photo: iPhone/angelo:HOME

After my time consuming "let's make garland everyone" project, this was the simplest way to add a bit of Holiday color to my living room without much expense or effort. A bunch of red tulips from the flower mart in a clear vase up against my newly painted white living rooms wall. A little bit of red always goes a long way. The smell of cookies baking also help with the Holiday mood. Yes, I will ALWAYS find a way to work in a baked goods reference.

What are your simple Holiday decorating ideas that make for a big bang without too much trouble or expense?

-angelo

simple...

photos: iPhone/angelo:HOME

video: flip

...sometimes, NOT so simple.

This year, the goal was to keep Holiday decorating minimal since I am traveling more than I am home.

Well, my idea of creating a "simple" garland became an all day project that wasn't so much a difficult thing to do as it was time consuming. The result was worth it, but if I knew that I would be spending a good part of my day on the project, I might have rethought it.

If you're up for taking it on or better yet, you have a few people willing to pitch in then here's a breakdown of how it happens:

Using string with a wire insert and then attaching inexpensive ornaments, leaves and pine cones in either a random order or specific pattern you can begin to form the look of the garland you're seeking to achieve. Plan the colors/textures you're going to use first. Since you're making this you can create whatever look you want. Tie ornaments and other decorative pieces you may be using onto the string/wire with either ribbon, wire, string or ornament hooks (which is what I used). Once you're finished you can drape over a large mirror, doorway, window, string along a banister, or on your mantle. I ran a string of white lights through it once it was done and hung on the fireplace.

Now that the Holiday decorating is done...I'm off for my Midwest tour of duty (Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Indiana, Chicago). Work related shenanigans and then back home sometime during the week of the 14th. I hear there's snow and ice in my immediate future!

-angelo

coffee and cream...

HARLOW in mango floral

When something feels right to you and then it seems to hit a positive note with others, the idea of tweaking it isn't always on the top of the list, at least that's the way I feel about it. That was the case with the HARLOW chair in the rust/orange/mango floral fabric.

It took awhile to get all the pieces together--the right fabric on the perfect frame with the appropriate chair legs. Making all that work along with keeping in mind manufacturing and shipping constraints in order to stay within a reasonable price point (under $300 retail), AND infusing quality and comfort was enough of a challenge for all involved in producing this chair. So when it was finally accomplished, I wanted to move onto the next design challenge, NOT repeat this one....UNTIL, the fabric team I was working with said they wanted to develop our look in a "coffee & cream" shade.

OK, now it's all over. COFEE & CREAM?!

Are you kidding me? Of course I wanted to develop it in coffee & cream. All they had to do was find a way to work in the words, chocolate, cheese, meatloaf sandwich, pasta, cake, pie, cheeseburger & fries, bread and wine into the conversation and I would have rolled over and played dead. Well, luckily for me they didn't so I was spared the humiliation, but we did go forth with the coffee & the cream!

May I present to you my HARLOW chair in coffee & cream now on SALE at OVERSTOCK for $269.99!

I've worked myself up into a serious lather. I'm making some coffee now...

-angelo