Wildon Home Snack Table $58
Wayfair (www.wayfair.com)

Lucida Side Table $229
Crate and Barrel (www.crateandbarrel.com)

Monarch 2 piece nesting tables/Natural $175.37
Amazon (www.amazon.com)

Small side tables, placed strategically around a room, can provide just the right spot for a guest’s cup of coffee (glass of wine, plate of appetizers, etc.) not to mention an interesting design element.  Move them around the room or around the house as needed.  A stool that functions as an end table does double duty and look for nesting tables that can be stored in a nesting position then separated when the need arises.  These little treasures serve a functional purpose and a decorative one as well. From simple and stately to whimsical works of art, they are right there, by your side!

Olivia Flower Accent Table $66.65
World Market (www.worldmarket.com)

Ceramic garden stools–side table and stool in one! This one has a distinct barrel cactus look. $143.95 at KMart (www.kmart.com)

Cosmopolitan End Table $178
All Modern (www.allmodern.com)

Timber end table $499
Birch Lane (wwwbirchlane.com)

Do you have a weathered wooden bench that’s been sitting around the yard?  Why not give it a fresh new look with a coat of primer and a bright colored paint?

Solar spotlights have vastly improved over the past few years.  Pick up a few and place them strategically around the yard to highlight plants or trees at night.  To add to the drama of night- lighting your yard or garden, string some Edison lights overhead.

Here’s a “handy” way to keep your hands from tiring out while watering: The Dramm One-Touch Fan Nozzle  $15-$49 from Amazon.com in lots of fun colors

One of my favorite gardening tools is a trusty Trug tote.  I’ve had mine for years and use it almost every day.  Crate and Barrel has a red 10.5 gallon Trug for $9.95.

Add some whimsy to your yard or garden with beautiful planters, fountains, and statuary from the Charleston Gardens collection (www.charlestongardens.com).

Serena Pool Floats in lots of gorgeous colors and patterns ($139) and solar glowing pool balls ($29-$129) at Grandin Road (www.grandinroad.com).

Serve well-chilled wine in this summery sea-grass beverage tub from World Market.  And what better wine to serve than Kim Crawford’s Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc?  It’s a wonderfully refreshing hot-weather wine.

Take time out for a picnic with family and friends. And try this recipe for Muffaletta sandwiches–they won’t get soggy, and WOW, they are “honestly yum”!  http://honestlyyum.com/3734/muffaletta-sandwich/

Available at Ballard Designs (www.ballarddesigns.com) and Home Decorators Collection (homedecorators.com).

From This…

…To This!

This gorgeous color will be finding its way into home and fashion design, fabrics, weddings, artwork, jewelry, food–you name it, everything will be coming up “Radiant Orchid.”  Whether you use a touch here and there or go all out, this color certainly makes a statement!

Sherwin Williams carries both the West Elm and Pottery Barn paint collections and their website has a variety of color selection tools to help you choose one that is just right for you (http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/color-selection-tools/).

West Elm Paint Palette

Pick up some Frog Tape before you begin painting–the only  painter’s tape treated with a special micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape to prevent bleeding.  Their website contains tutorials on applying and removing the tape as well as techniques for painting walls and other special projects using various Frog Tape products.  Three special “Shape- Tapes” (wave, chevron, and scallop) can be used to create designs on anything from a wall to a waste can!

              www.FrogTape.com

Visit the Benjamin Moore website for some insight into “Your Shades of Life” (http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/shades-of-life). The website also includes a handy paint calculator to help determine how much paint will be needed for a project (http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-calculator).

Keep in mind that as the day progresses and natural light shifts in a room, the paint color can alter dramatically.  Check your room throughout the day and in the evening under artificial light.   Morning sunlight gives off a yellowish cast in a room and midday sunlight develops a cool, bluish cast.  Also be sure that the lighting in the room is finalized–don’t choose a paint color before changing light fixtures.

Sample Size Paints

It is definitely worth the investment to paint several colors on the wall before you make a final decision. Small sample sizes can be purchased that will allow you to test various colors.  Try to live with the test colors on the walls for a few days to give yourself time to reflect on the various factors that change the shade and tone of the colors.  Ask a friend or two over to give their input–it never hurts to have a second or third opinion!

Once the painting project is finished, consider investing in some paint pens to keep your design fresh by touching up dings, dents, and scratches.  Try these 5″ paint pens from Slob Proof (http://www.slobproof.com/).  They come in sets of two.

Artist Patti Georgas

As we look around our homes, many of us would have to admit that much of our artwork is (1) sorely lacking, (2) uninspiring, or (3) both (1) and (2).  It may be that you’ve never considered the idea of having an original painting or portrait commissioned by an artist. While working on a decorating project a couple of years ago, I found that I was unable to locate artwork that was within the homeowners budget and that she really loved. So we decided to explore the idea of having some paintings commissioned. Enter Patti Georgas–an accomplished and extremely talented artist.

 
Patti Georgas studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, and learned early on that she loved drawing and painting people. Her studies continued as she relocated to Arizona and she began adding a Southwest focus to many of her paintings.   A juried member of the Arizona Artist’s Guild, Patti has won several awards for her paintings, including a Merit Award at the Arizona Portrait Artists’ Fine Art Show.

Patti’s talents are quite varied–from illustrating a children’s book to residential and commercial murals to painting a commissioned 30″x 40″ portrait for Curt Schilling after the Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001! (See her website link below to check out the D-Backs painting).

With our projects, Patti was an absolute pleasure to work with, dedicating time to research subjects thoroughly to ensure accuracy of the detail in each painting, submitting initial drafts of her drawings for approval, and checking in frequently to let the homeowner know the status of the work. The whole process was really very inspiring and a lot of fun!

See http://pattigeorgas.yolasite.com/ to learn more about Patti and her wonderful work. And definitely consider having a family or child portrait commissioned or even a scene painted of a place that’s special to you or your loved ones.  There are endless possibilities with a commissioned piece of art and it will certainly be something that you will treasure for many years to come.

KALE-AND-COLLARDS SALAD
When making this bracing salad, dress the kale and collards in advance to tenderize them.

1 bunch fresh collard greens (about 8 oz)
1 bunch Tuscan Kale (about 8 oz)
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
Lemon Dressing
3 Bartlett pears, sliced
2 avocados, peeled and diced
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 small head radicchio, shredded
3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
6 cooked bacon slices, crumbled

1. Trim and discard tough stalks from centers of collard and kale leaves; stack leaves, and roll up, starting at 1 long side. Cut into 1/4 inch thick slices. Toss collards and kale with cranberries and Lemon Dressing in a large bowl. Cover and chill 1 hour.
2. Toss together pears and next 2 ingredients just before serving. Toss pear mixture, radicchio, pecans, and bacon with collard mixture. Serve immediately.

Lemon Dressing
Whisk together 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tsp. Dijon mustard; 1 tsp. kosher salt; and 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl; add 1/2 cup olive oil in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Makes about 1 cup.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS with BALSAMIC and CRANBERRIES

3 pounds Brussels Sprouts
1/2 cup Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
1 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Dried Cranberries

1. Trim/clean Brussels sprouts, then cut them in half if desired (or you can leave them whole).
2. Arrange on two baking sheets and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper and roast at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until brown.
3. Combine balsamic vinegar and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and reduce until very thick, about 15 to 20 minutes (careful not to over-reduce).
4. Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the roasted sprouts, then sprinkle on dried cranberries. Toss and serve immediately.

For the wine lover: Art Glass Wine Bottle Stoppers  (You can always bring along a bottle!)
$7.99 each Bed Bath & Beyond  http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com

Keep them warm and toasty through the holidays!
Threshold Woven Plaid Throw, 50×60
$24.99 Target     http://www.target.com

Do your hosts enjoy cooking?
Kitchen Spice Trio: Garlicky Lemon Pepper, Roasted Garlic
Celery Salt, and Carmelized Onion Powder.
$14.95  Crate and Barrel  http://www.crateandbarrel.com

A game that can be enjoyed with friends and family:
Rory’s Story Cubes–an imaginative game for all ages
$7.15  Barnes and Noble  http://www.barnesandnoble.com

 
For the beer lover!
Two’s Company Antler Bottle Opener (bring along six bottles!)
$17.50  Amazon    http://www.amazon.com

Personalized and filled with tea or chocolates:
Homegrown Monogram Mug
$8.00  Anthropologie   http://www.anthropologie.com

Felted Winterberry Wreath

Clementine, fuschia and winterberries, handmade from wool felt with a red satin ribbon for hanging.  Comes gift-wrapped.  ($128)  http://www.oliveandcocoa.com/product/felted-winterberry-wreath/all-gifts.

Blown Glass Truffle Bowl

Design your own custom gift bowl filled with truffles. Many bright colors to choose from; handcrafted by artisans at Ballard’s Glass Eye Studio.  (from $49.99).

https://www.madeinwashington.com/gift-bowls.cfm?basket=18530

Featherlight Down Parka:

Show up for Christmas caroling in this fuschia-plum colored coat.  Be merry and bright and stay toasty warm!   ($119).

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-featherlight-down-parka/id_258754