The new face of eat-in kitchens. BHG.com

• Mixing cabinetry woods—say, using walnut-stained bottom cabinets paired with maple upper cabinetry—is increasingly popular for, say, keeping a room feeling anchored while appearing more light and open. It also gives the space a more interesting, put-together-over-the-years look.

• Cushy, built-in banquettes are hot not only because save space, but they also allow for extra (and hidden) storage.

• Formal dining rooms have not gone by the wayside. People still seem to like to entertain in a warm, contained space.

• Formal living rooms, however, don’t fare as well: Though they are still a must for most upscale homeowners, one-third of all new homeowners say they’d be fine without a living room at all.

Other BH&G findings, by the numbers:

• 87% of survey respondents want a greener, more-energy efficient home.

• 75% report that the economy has put a damper on their home-improvement plans. (And accordingly, 52% are more focused on home repairs and maintenance instead of major do-over projects.)

• 68% desire an outdoor grilling and living area.

• 59% want a well-outfitted home office.

• 36% say their next home will be  “somewhat smaller” or “much smaller.”

For more on the magazine’s findings, click here for a related slide show.

And, by the way, check out Dwell magazine’s slide show reflecting their favorite finds at the show. It’s good stuff too.

HOME FURNISHINGS/APPLIANCES: Lee Industries’ slipcovered furniture with easily replaceable “Coveralls” in a variety of patterns/textures; our Restoration Hardware pendant that served as an easy kitchen-decor pick-me-up as well our slim-depth 84″ tall industrial-style chrome cookbook/small-appliance shelving from Shelving.com; Rejuvenation’s slim 15-watt frosted flame-tip candelabra bulbs for much softer dining room lighting; Electrolux’s beautifully designed Ergorapido, a powerful 2-in-1 stick/hand vacuum cleaner with sleek recharging station.

FASHION/ACCESSORIES: Etsy.com for distinctive, handmade jewelry, hats, scarves, and more; Matt & Nat‘s luxe eco-friendly handbags/wallets (especially their Japanese paper line); Michael Kors ready-to-wear clothing.

FOOD FINDS: The deliriously fluffy Junior’s Cheesecake of Brooklyn for gift giving (start with the Cherry Crumb version and you’ll be forever hooked) and succulent duck leg quarters from Maple Leaf Farms in Indiana.

PET STYLE: The Bay Area’s George for fetchingly high style (and sprightly online and offline stores), and Target’s fashionable (and affordable) Boots & Barkley goods (found mostly in stores).

KITCHENWARE: New: The superb Deni 48-blade meat tenderizer (thanks for the tip, Alton Brown!) and anything from the ever-inventive Oxo. New but Looks Old: A gorgeous Greek copper pepper mill sold by Sur La Table.

DINNERWARE: New: Vintage-style Spode “Blue Willow” that’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe—it never goes out of style, looks great in both dressy and casual settings, and is fun to mix and match (especially with the “Georgian Series” of salad/bread plates). Old: My grandmother’s silverware (“Marlborough” by Reed & Barton, with her family initial “B” to remind me of her—and every special meal we shared using it).

WEB: 1st Dibs design emporium, with a chic magazine-style page-turn story format, easy to peruse (and own) furnishings, and great info on top designers past and present.

TELEVISION: Chef Gordon Ramsay (“Kitchen Nightmares”) for keep slacker restaurateurs on their toes—and me glued to the television set while he’s doing so.

RADIO: XM and Sirius combining forces was thought by some to be a bad thing. Not me. The options are immensely plentiful now (and all hail Little Steven’s Underground Garage for its hip and eclectic mix of rock and blues). Which brings me to …

PDA: … my iPhone. What did I ever do without these apps: Sirius XM (for continuous music and news), Things (for to-do  list organization), Facebook (for on-the-fly comments and photo uploads), eBay (to ensure I don’t miss an auction close), Ben Color Capture (for snapping inspiring colors and getting Benjamin Moore paint chip numbers to match), Scrabble (for doctor’s office and airport waits), Wells Fargo (for instantly checking on funds), TMZ (a celebrity-news guilty pleasure), Gratitude Journal (for noting all the good things that happen each day), and OpenTable (for quickly making restaurant reservations—and earning points toward monetary rewards).

BEAUTY: Finally a powerful makeup mirror by that offers natural (daylight) lighting and a dimmable feature. Oh, and More magazine, which, if you are a woman over age 40, you must get monthly to learn the latest on sophisticated beauty, fashion, health/fitness, money/careers, sex/love, and inspiring people.

OFFICE: Three Designing Women for unique stationery embossers and stylish self-inking stamps. Also, cool business cards from Moo.com (designed by some of the country’s most innovative artists) that also can be personalized and ready in a jiffy.

SPIRITS: The Italian sparkling wine Prosecco (really, every brand I’ve tried is delightful, and is easily more drinkable than drier Champagne). And organic Sonoma Sparklers for uniquely flavored  sparkling fruit juices (think blood orange, Meyer lemon) for alcohol-free enjoyment.

BOOKS: By the bed is Oscar Wilde’s Wit and Wisdom: A Book of Quotations, which I refer to each evening before falling asleep to help keep life in perspective (i.e., “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”)

Here’s to a New Year filled with many more pleasures … and lots of inconsistency!

1) Work with simple yet stylish floral and fruit. Think:

• White tulips interspersed with cedar, or white hydrangeas with myrtle. Add fresh cranberries halfway up a clear cylindrical glass vase. Pour water one-fourth the way up and carefully insert stems; add more berries to fill to desired height, and pour in enough water to cover three-quarters of berries. (Note: Do not try placing berries in water first—they’ll float upward, leaving the stem ends exposed. It’s not a good look.)

• Boxwood or ivy topiaries placed in decorative urns, with a beautiful ribbon tied midway up the branch. Use in pairs for your mantle or sideboard. For the mantle, intersperse little green apples or votive candles in between them or, for the sideboard, place apples (red and/or green) in a glass bowl at the center.

Photos by Ben Garvin

• Decoratively work in small branches of white berries and small pinecones in between small creamy white pumpkins (shown above) on a creamware or old white platter.

• Show off bittersweet stems or branches of fall leaves in a tall vase.

• Beautifully present place cards in small berry bowls filled halfway with cranberries (shown above) or acorns and/or other fall berries. Put them atop each place setting of china.

2) Spruce up your napkins and coasters. Think:

• Texture—be it in the fabric, pattern or fringe. Napkins without a lot of pattern look best on plates with patterns and vice versa.

• Natural touches or vintage napkin rings: Tie napkins with raffia or ribbon and add small sprigs of herbs. Or, collect vintage engraved pewter or silver napkin rings. They make good conversation pieces (especially the ones with names like “Cora Mae”) and can be shown off in a pretty bowl year-round.

• Use linen cocktail napkins instead of paper ones, which tend to break apart. Or, do as my grandmother did: Use a mix of vintage bread plates as coasters; they beautifully hold both drinks and small nibbles (and keep food stains from making their mark on nice napkins).

3) Mix your china: Use similar color(s) as the thread that connects them. For even more fun, pair old and new patterns for a traditional-with-a-twist look.

4) Use at least one colored glass on the table. It helps take the set table to new heights—literally—and can nicely tie to your room or table’s color scheme. Work in etched or cut-glass stems as well, so your guests aren’t swimming in a sea of clear, non-descript glasses (and ones that stand out more are less likely to be knocked over by exuberant guests).

5) Note that wreaths aren’t just for doors: Try hanging a simple evergreen one with beautiful ribbon on a mirror; for more opulence, spray-paint the wreath gold or silver. Think about using small wreaths meant for candles on the backs of dining chairs (shown above)— or, use them as intended: encircling the base of candles.

6) Have a special beverage or cocktail waiting for your guests. In the South, where I grew up, bourbon-y, nutmeg-y milk punch is favored over eggnog because of its lighter texture, and it’s delightful served icy cold. It makes an unexpected treat—one that can be well made in advance and even bottled and given as a holiday gift. (See recipe below.)

7) Don’t just garnish your turkey; garnish your beverages, too. Use a mixture of pumpkin pie spice and sugar or finely crushed peppermint to rim your milk punch or eggnog. Cinnamon stick stirrers or chocolate shavings are tasteful additions.

8) Get the table conversation with a “grateful dish.” I discovered this idea from Nancy Wall Hopkins, one of my former Better Homes and Gardens colleagues, and it’s so much fun. Have your guests upon arrival anonymously write what they’re grateful for on small slips of paper, then place the folded paper slips in a bowl. After the meal, pass around the bowl and have each person read one of the “grateful” notes. See if you can guess who wrote it. And see how the blessings add up.

MILK PUNCH

3 Quarts Half-and-Half

1 Bottle (750-ml) Bourbon or Brandy

¼ cup pure Mexican Vanilla or Vanilla Extract

2 cups powdered sugar

Garnish: Grated nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice

Combine all ingredients except the garnish in a gallon-size container. Cover and freeze until the mixture is slightly frozen.

Use an ice pick to make the mixture slightly slushy. Pour into a punch bowl or chilled pitcher. Add more powdered sugar, if desired, and garnish as desired.

Pour into small cocktail glasses or wine goblets (not over ice). Garnish each drink with an additional pinch of nutmeg or rim the glass with a mixture of sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Serve very cold.

Serves 16 to 20.

—    From Southern Cocktails: Dixie Drinks, Party Potions & Classic Libations (Chronicle Books), by Denise Gee

Denise Gee is the national editorial director for Spaces magazines.

Robert M. Peacock
• Have pumpkins represent your home’s numeric address. Use a stencil or free-form the numbers by hand; then use a carving tool to bring the look to fruition. For an excellent how-to guide, check out these instructions from Michael’s.

Robert M. Peacock
• Think cream, not orange. Creamy white pumpkins are increasingly popular, and I especially love the small ones. For a sophisticated tabletop centerpiece, put several ones on a white or ironstone platter; follow by adding small branches of white berries and dot with small pinecones. Gorgeous.

Denise Gee is the national editorial director for Spaces magazines.

Sure, anyone can “buy” French-and opulence. But there’s a certain je ne sais quoi—call it confidence—in putting things together in a casually elegant way. The technique is all about paring down-like wearing a little black dress with a pearl choker, antique watch, and fine-leather flats. Your setting is your canvas-and your personality, the color.
Because I grew up in Natchez, Miss., not far from Paris’ P.S. city, New Orleans, I’m always at home with a sort of “elegance and decadence” style (to coin a phrase from one of my favorite books with the same name.) But these days, perhaps because of all the frenetic activity around me, I’m much more drawn to a crisper, cleaner, sunnier style. Some of my favorite inspirations of what true French means to me are the following images from (mostly European) magazines and insightful blogs, which I keep on my inspiration board. I’ve begun to see a pattern here. Or rather, no pattern. Just clean-lined, soulful design.

	Homes and Gardens Magazine (UK) What I love: The use outdoor furniture indoors. Light walls and flooring. The use of softly hued vintage-style wallpaper for accents walls. Having an armoire filled with linens or bar necessities or serving ware. Brilliant.
Country Homes & Interiors (UK) What I love: White matelasse and fine linens, elegant but understated matching side mirrors, faded but “reborn” furnishings.
	Decorology.blogspot.com (US) What I love: The crystal chandelier juxtaposed with the uber-casual dining ensemble, which would look just at home outside; the tall, orderly candelabras on the cabriole-leg console. The open kitchen. The explosed beams, the fresh-cut hydrangeas, and peonies. Dreamy.
If like me, you are soothed just by looking at settings, move you fingers swiftly across your keyboard to acquire one of my favorite books: The New Eighteenth Century Style: Rediscovering a French Décor (written by Michelle Laland and photographed by Gilles Triard; Abrams, 2006). And if you have a favorite French-style book, or design idea, do let us hear about it.