Elements of Chic

Tabletop Tuesdays - Pink is Blossoming

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:57:00 +0000

We love this time of year in our valley when the almond trees start the show with their white blossoms that leave a petal blanket that is our version of snow on the ground. Next come the delicate pink blossoms on the peach trees that look like little fairies decorated them with lace. Mother Nature has provided us with this week's inspiration that puts us "in the pink!"

Pink table decor can be fun and flirty, elegant when mixed with black or navy and charming with lime green.

Pink is not just for girls as shown here at a party styled by Eddie Ross...

and featured in online magazine Lonny

Love how organic this is with the orchids and stones...

Just a touch of pink mixed with the black...

From Martha...this would be beautiful for Mother's Day or a Bridal Shower

This was a wedding in Palm Springs and featured on DesignSponge

They mixed the pink with bright yellow and denim and the cactus placecards are perfect for the desert.

Finally a couple of rooms from bhg.com

Happy First Day of Spring!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Friday Findings...A Pinch of Green

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:23:00 +0000

From Pinterest Boards

For our Friday Findings we thought we would do a little wearin' o the green today. Hope you have a great weekend and maybe a visit from a lucky leprechan!

Elementally,

Michele & Linda

TableTop Tuesday - St. Paddy's Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:25:00 +0000

Aww... St. Patrick's Day is coming up on Saturday so how many of you are planning a little get-together? So fun for that one day when we're all a little bit irish!

We've found some design inspiration for your table or bar from one of the most amazingly talented Event and Wedding Designers in the world...Preston Bailey. You may have seen him on TV working his magic and he has an awesome blog as well.

His table design celebrates green in a way that is sophisticated and using mostly natural elements that after your big shindig, you can deconstruct and make a stir-fry or bake a pie (lol). He creates a table that doesn't scream shamrocks and leprechauns but will wow and still be fun. Let's check it out...

So here are some of the elements he used...

Very cool and tres chic! We love thinking out of the box, and all reusable. Love that!

Check out Preston's blog here

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Pinterest - Are You A Respectful Pinner?

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:20:00 +0000

There has been a lot of chatter lately on the blogoshere about Pinterest. Have you read it? We LOVE
Pinterest! I am constantly amazed by the creativity and talent, humor and lifesharing that we can take part in just by viewing what someone has uploaded or "pinned" to this site.

However there is a little backlash from these creative and talented people, especially one's who have created beautiful handmade items (like on Etsy), put them out there proudly for the world to see, only to have them ripped off by someone who takes credit for it as their own. We are not without fault here but when you know better, you do better. Always, always, when you see something you love on Pinterest and are going to use it, give credit to the original owner of the "pin". If you click on the picture instead of just repinning it, you will most times be taken to the original site/owner. Who knows, they may have other recipes, artwork, quotes, designs, etc. that you may love even more.

Here are a couple of great articles that address this issue...please read them and let's keep Pinterest the fabulous site that we've fallen in love with and respect all that great talent out there.

Read this article on respectful pinning here...

Link With Love here

So keep on pinning...there's nothing wrong with it, but be mindful of the people behind the pins!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

2012 Mission Organization - Cleanup Cuteness

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:41:00 +0000

One of our favorite resources for everything from towels to tables is OneKingsLane.com. It is a home decor website that is awesome but there's a catch...you have to be willing to pull the trigger and buy because they only stay on the site for a limited time.

In Elements of Chic quest for organization at home and everywhere else (maybe even the garage!) we have been scoping out ways to achieve calm from chaos and have it look good too. Check out this cute little cleaning caddy but if you like it, you better whip out your card and type in those numbers!

Go from this...

to this! How cute is that?

Anything that makes us want to clean is a step in the right direction!

Have a great weekend everyone and whichever team your rooting for on Sunday...stay safe!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Happy 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Michele and Linda) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The time of the year to reflect and set new goals for yourself. Time to unclutter and get organized which can give you a feeling of freedom, accomplishment, and feeling in control after the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Pinterest -delightfulorder.blogspot.com

Our goal this year is to purge our closets, office, kitchen and garage! A daunting task, but a resolved determined goal. We are going to get Ruthless, Ruthless, Ruthless! This is the year to pare down, make life simple, and put everything at our fingertips. Here are some tips to help you on your organizational journey in 2012.

Follow the golden rule of closet organizing: If you haven’t worn it in a year, toss it! Schedule in a couple of hours for each closet. Pull everything you own out of the closet. Go through everything piece by piece and only put back in your closet what you use or wear! Have garbage bags ready, one to throw away items and one to fill with unused items. If it doesn’t fit you, get rid of it and treat yourself to something when you are at your ideal weight. If you can’t bear to part with an item (and we all have some of those things), then flag with a sticky note on the hangar and if at the end of the season you haven’t worn it, discard it.

Elfa System - The Container Store

Design your closet space. Measure the space, including all interior walls, floor, and backs of doors. Have your measurements in hand when shopping for closet organizers to fit your space using every square inch your closet. They range from the inexpensive to custom organizers. Find the best system for you and your budget.

Make sure you invest in the right type of hangar that suits your item. (No wire hangers allowed.) Slim velvet, plastic and wood are best suited for your closet. The slim velvet hangers come in all colors and hold up to 10 pounds. Remember to fold T-Shirts and sweaters so they do not lose their shape over time.

Pinterest - bhg.com

Label all boxes (clear plastic boxes are great so that you can see what is inside of them) and baskets with cute little labeling tags.

thechampagnewishes.com

Coordinate your wardrobe to save time finding items. Sort all items by color and likeness (i.e. skirts, pants, jackets, tops, etc.) Keep all items that you use regularly at eye level and items that you rarely use higher up.

Pinterest - iheartorganizing.blogspot.cc

Linen closets usually become a disaster. Roll your bath towels for more storage space. Fold sets of bed linen sheets inside of the set’s pillowcase. Label each sheet set with attractive tags to mark the sheet set size. Table linens should be cleaned and ironed after use. Tablecloths and matching napkins should be stored on plastic shirt or skirt hangars in your closet and tagged together so they are ready for your next event.

Pinterest -The Container Store

Cleanse your kitchen cabinets and pantry. Throw away all expired food products and old spices that have lost their aroma. Organize and clean your drawers and cabinets getting rid of anything that you haven’t used for a year. Chances are you will not use it again. China and crystal can take up precious space in your kitchen. Move them to another spot in the house and store them using coffee filters between plates.

favoritespaces.org

The garage is a daunting task. This will take a day or weekend so budget time on a nice sunny day. Pull out everything, we mean everything. Then purge what you do not use. Again use the golden rule, if you haven’t used it in a year, part with it. Have boxes ready to pack any unused items, so as they do not go back into the garage and label them garage sale or donation. Implement the storage system that works for you!

Elementally,

Linda and Michele

Merry Christmas - Some of Our Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:21:00 +0000

Well it's December 24th and we're seriously thinking "where did this year go?" Do you feel that way too? Like we just celebrated New Year's a few months ago?

We have so much to be grateful for this year. Starting with our families, friends and health. Elements of Chic was born this year and it's been hard work, fun, challenging, creative and inspirational. We have lots of plans for the coming year and can't wait to share them with you...but for now we're hoping your halls are decked, most of your shopping done and you can just kick back these next few hours and relax. Ha...I know... I'm hilarious! If you're like us, you're trying to finish shopping, work, get those Christmas cards out, wrap presents, finish projects, make your house somewhat presentable and bake like Martha Stewart.

Well, stop for just a few minutes. Grab a beverage and a cookie and take a moment to enjoy some of our favorite Christmas inspiration from around the web. This does not mean that your home should look like this because we don't live in magazines. It's just a small break to enjoy some beautiful decorating that took a team to do and you can appreciate someone else's work.

Our Wish For You...

Merry Christmas!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Pictures courtesy of House Beautiful Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, Ideal Home and Pinterest

Gratitude Giveaway from Elements of Chic

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:56:00 +0000

We are thankful...Our First Give Away!!

Last year we decided to join our creative forces and do some holiday decorating. As we were working on decking halls and trimming trees, we talked about how great it would be to join our businesses of interior design and event planning. It would be a natural fit we thought...and talked...and planned...and dreamed.

And that is the short version of how several months, lots of work, excitement (and ~~many~~ a few glasses of wine) Elements of Chic came to be in March 2011. We all know what a challenging time it is and that just makes us all the more appreciative of the support from our family, friends and clients.

Ssooo....we're going to do our first giveaway to say "THANK YOU" and show our gratitude.

We've got a $25 gift card for Pier One in our hot little hands and would love to give it to someone...namely you. It's easy to enter, nothing to buy...honest. Just leave us a comment at the bottom of this blog post of one thing you are thankful for right now or go to our Elements of Chic Facebook page (just look to your right), "Like" our page and leave a comment there of one thing you are thankful for this year. If you want to ask your friends to 'like' our page that would be awesome too! The winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday from the comments left by everyone.

We'd love to see all that gratitude flowing out and know that it's flowing right back at you from us here at Elements of Chic.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Orange Can Mean Coziness, Motivation and Health

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:05:00 +0000

We thought since it's Autumn and Thanksgiving is only ten days away, it was only appropriate to feature the color orange. After all we love it for it's boldness and yet it can also evoke a warmth in our hearts and it has had a resurgence in popularity in the past year or so. It wasn't always love...I mean I've always liked the color orange but the new oranges that range from coral to russet, well they just had me at O.

October is out of here (can you believe it?)and November is half over. We have spent time putting out the Fall decor , changing out throws, pillows and cozying up the joint (see Fall Wreaths here) because we're wired that when the calendar says its September or so, we need to start getting ready for 'ol man Winter and orange is not just for pumpkins. It symbolizes coziness, motivation, security and so much more. So before it's time for mistletoe and holly let's see how orange can show us a few tricks and help turn our rooms into treats shall we!

The color orange occurs on the color wheel between yellow and red. You can see from the chart above that it can have different meanings; it is a power color. It can stimulate appetite, enthusiasm and creativity. Think about Home Depot, where DIY and creativity are king and you don't have to think too hard about what their signature color is...ahem...it's orange and lots of it.

· American Indians associate the color orange with kinship.

Orange is the Netherlands' national color, dating back to the Dutch War of Independence and the rebel Prince of Orange.

· In Ireland, the use of orange dates from the reign of William of Orange, the Protestant English king and a Dutch stadholder.

· In China and Japan, orange is used to symbolize happiness and love.

Colors that compliment orange range from blues, grays, purple and chocolate browns.

Orange is a power color and is also a healing color. It is known to be the color of Lady Luck, something you might want to remember when you're packing for your next trip to Vegas.

Like red, it can stimulate appetite so a few well placed pops of orange would be great for a dining area.

This beautiful table setting by Carolyn Roehme in House Beautiful shows how to pair natural elements with a complementary blue and a few pops of orange. Not sure about the antlers but you could always use them as coat hooks...just kidding.

Here's another way to add some orange to your table...so easy to spray paint these candlesticks and add complementary candle colors.

If the thought of an orange wall freaks you out...how about putting some color on the floor. This is a great way to introduce a bright color.

Love this chair from Anthropologie

Want to add a little excitement in the bedroom...I'm talking with color of course.

Johnathan Berger

Ken Faulk

Love, love, love orange and turquoise together. Notice the two tone walls and carrying the blue on the ceiling. The room sits back and lets the comforter do the talking...what a bright, happy room to wake up to!

Now for a completely opposite look. This room is drenched with warmth of gold, apricot and terracotta. The sheers on the window allow light to flood the room and keep it from being too heavy. Wouldn't this be cozy on a cold Fall night? The trunk completely marries the colors and the wood furniture...beautiful.

This room with all white walls, lets the artwork and furniture provide the color. The mantel is not overdone but the color of the vases says this person is not afraid to let their color flag fly.

Tom Samet, Designer

Love the pops of orange provided by the lampshades and reflected in the mirror. Now this is a room that looks like people actually live here. Wouldn't you like to join us for a glass of wine and hang out here?

So whether you're into traditional, boldly contemporary, or like most of us, somewhere in between, orange can provide a little spice and warmth to wood tones or a pop to white walls and woodwork. Take your cue from natures earthy brown tones, soft apricots or that Jack o'Lantern from a few weeks ago and play with adding this versatile color to your space.

Elementally,

Linda and Michele

2011 Tablesetting - Raising Money For The Mansion

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:28:00 +0000

Yesterday was the 2011 McHenry Mansion Tablesetting Fundraiser and this year we thought it was for the birds...no really, that was our theme...Birds of a Feather!

this pic is from my phone

The creative process is a strange and wonderful thing and it's that process that makes doing events like this so much fun. We knew we wanted to use china and glassware from Linda's grandmother which has green, yellow and brown in it and we wanted a lighthearted theme without being "cartoonish" (is that a word?) How we arrived from a cardboard carpet roll to our finished table design is that intangible thing that just happens when we start thinking out loud and then go shopping.

This is McHenry Mansions' biggest fundraiser of the year...more than the Holiday or Mothers' Day Teas and a lot of work goes into organizing it. There were thirtysix tables this year and what is so much fun is that in most cases, the tables created represented something personal to the tablesetter. The first day it is open to the public for viewing for $10 and the following day is the actual luncheon. This year it was catered by Green's Market...one of our faves and I should have taken a picture of our lunch...Delicious!

We always seem to take the DIY approach to many of our projects so armed with glue guns, lots of moss, birds, sticks and a few other things we came up with our creation and we'll show you some of the other tables that were our favorites...enjoy!

We cut down the cardboard tube and secured it in a gallon can filled with plaster of paris. Doesn't it look great? Ummm, no!

Here is the table being setup. Building the layers is wicker for texture, a green charger and the china.

Now, let's bring in some color and our bird notebook favors for our lovely ladies...

Each placesetting had a different color napkin, pulled from the color of the tablecloth. You can see how lovely the china is here.

It's very tall...people asked us where we bought it. Um, we made it actually. We should have taken pictures of putting it in the car...YouTube worthy!

Little birdies...

We rented chairs and decided to dress them simply with burlap and ribbon as the centerpiece was, did we say it before? quite large.

Now some more inspiration.

Autumn beauty

CandyLand...there's enough to last til Halloween!

a little honey for you

This table incorporated items brought back from a trip to China

Can you tell this was the guys table...

You can take a trip to Africa...

or go to a nine year olds birthday party...

See how everyone's inspiration is a little different?

Ok, so Grand Events has a little advantage over the rest of us...

and finally with Christmas just around the corner, some little elves made an appearance!

how cute are these chair covers?

Very Creative People...!

McHenry Mansion has a dedicated group of docents who were the servers and committee members...they did an awesome job and we can't wait for next year!

Elementally,

Linda and Michele

Pretty Pumpkins - Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:23:00 +0000

If you know us at all, you know we're suckers for sparkle. Ok, glitter really. Linda will spray glitter just about anything. So we selected these little mini pumpkins for Day 4 because they're called...wait for it... Glittered Pumpkins.

from Random Recast

Here are the step-by-step instructions from stylist.com...

The process is pretty straightforward: Just brush the pumpkin with glue, then sprinkle with glitter. But to ensure success, follow these editor-tested tips:

- Elevate the pumpkin. To reach trickier places with ease (and allow excess glitter to settle), create a "pumpkin platform": place an old cooling rack atop a baking sheet lined with wax paper.

- Let the glue dry beforehand. In this craft, tacky is good. For maximum adhesion, let glue dry for 30 seconds-1 minute before applying glitter.

- Use nice glitter. There's nothing wrong with standard glitter, but it can be a little chunky. For the most sophisticated sparkle, try a finer glitter. I like Art Institute Ultrafine Glitter.

This would be stunning on larger pumpkins as well, so get your glitter on and show some sparkle.

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Pretty Pumpkins - Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Today's pumpkin inspiration is from Country Living magazine and for those of you who love decoupage, this is the one for you.

Front and center on the cover...actually made me buy the magazine because the possibilities are endless!

These were inspired by the CL cover here

Love this one that is all over Pinterest...

You can use paper (scrapbooking, wrapping paper, etc) or fabric. Mod Podge or watered down white glue to adhere and seal your paper or fabric, a pair of scissors and you're all set. Cut the paper/fabric in strips to fit your pumpkin and attach with Mod Podge. The glue seals your pumpkins if you use real ones so they should last long into the season. This is another way to put a completely personal spin on how you decorate for Fall and that's what makes your home...well, your home!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Pretty Pumpkins - Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:06:00 +0000

It's Day 2 of our pumpkin inspiration and if you like glam, you're going to love this one. Found on Flickr here. A black funkin (fake craft pumpkin) from Target was used along with rhinestones to add the bling. You could use orange or white pumpkins and rhinestone color of choice to match your decor. Fire up the hot glue gun!

The stem is painted with metallic paint to complete the look...if you're not into cutesy Halloween decorating this could be an elegant centerpiece with some crystal candlesticks and black tapers. Tres Chic!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

DIY - Embellished Sparkly Pumpkins

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Can I just say how much I love Target...and especially the bargain section right as you walk in the door. I'm telling you, lots of treasures to be had if you look! I found these faux pumpkins that came in green, orange and purple. The green ones had me at first glance so I picked up some ribbon and a feather boa, fired up my hot glue gun and voila! Easy, quick and cheap and I can use them again for a couple of years!

So here we go...

So the supplies I used were the faux pumpkins from Target, which I paid a whopping $2.50 for, hot glue gun and glue sticks, some ribbon (you can use anything to create the look you want) and a feather boa.

I started at the top and placed hot glue down the pumpkin at intervals to secure it. I wrapped it from the top, down around the bottom and up the other side. You can use one kind of ribbon or two like I did here.

Once I had the ribbon looking the way I wanted, it was time to add the finishing touch and that was where my little furry boa came into play. I placed the boa around the top to figure what was needed and cut that length. Using the glue gun, I just hot glued it to the top and voila...a little fur ball fluff on top of the pumpkin. Hides your ribbon ends and looks cute too! For $8 and an hour of my time, I got two one of a kind glitter pumpkins that you'll never see in any pumpkin patch!

Looks like a critter is taking up residence!

This is the professional shot taken by the talented Austin Stevenot, who also just did our professional headshots (although they're really not headshots...they're way better. Thanks Austin!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

How to "BOO" Your Friends and Neighbors

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:44:00 +0000

We love Kim Stoegbauer of TomKat Studio. She is one of the most creative designer/bloggers out there and always shares fabulous hosting and party ideas but her recent post on October 1st had us at "BOO" and we are excited to share it with you!

This is not a tradition I had heard of but it's a little like the May Day tradition when you anonymously leave flowers on your friends/neighbors doorstep, only with a delicious Halloween twist. This is a great way to welcome someone new to the neighborhood and your kids will love being a part of the fun! Enjoy...

TomKat Studios Free Printable Halloween Boo Sign

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

noreply@blogger.com (Michele and Linda) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:49:00 +0000

As promised.......................................... Our front doors decorated for Fall!

This year Michele decided to re-purpose two wreaths that she already had but were dated and had not been used for a couple of years.

For the front door, she purchased some new silk flowers and the letter B as kind of a monogram for the door. She snipped off the stuff she didn't like and then hot glued a new chocolate brown sunflower and two green hydrangeas unto the wreath. She added a garland of berries to match. For the B, she painted it a metallic copper (Martha Stewart paints - two coats).

Martha Stewart Copper Metallic Paint

Once it was dry she attached it with wire to make sure it didn't go anywhere and then painted the wire to match.

Michele's repurposed front door wreath looking beautiful on her front door. For her side door she uses the second wreath and strips it completely bare because it was U G L Y!

Old fruit that wasn't even reusable. A little "Happy Fall" sign that she found last week fit on the wreath perfectly and she just wired it on..............so easy.

Once a bow was added, it's ready to go, so lets see what it looks like on the door!

Double doors, double wreaths! I decided to use wreaths that I purchased last year on clearance for my front doors this year. But I need the glitz and glam so I decided to glitter them up!

I used gold glitter spray to bring out the shine and add another dimension to the wreaths.

You only get to see the doors right now as we are going out today to get pumpkins to finish our outside Fall decor!

We've shown you ours...............now it's your turn. Email us your pics of your Fall decor, either inside or out and share what you love about Fall!

Elementally,

Linda and Michele

noreply@blogger.com (Michele and Linda) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Ahhhhhhhhhhh! It's Fall again and the wonderful holiday party season is upon us.

Dinner parties and open houses are the norm for the season! And what would these soirees be without a small token of friendship from you the hostess to your guests? What am I talking about? Party favors! Party favors are the perfect accent to a tablescape and a perfect little gift to celebrate the presence of your guests in your home. We tend to associate favors with weddings and other large special events in one's life, but what is more special than having friends over for dinner? Party favors are fun, easy to do, fits a theme, and adds another dimension to your tablescape!

aclassicpartyrental.com

A clever idea wrapping the favor up in an napkin and securing the top with a napkin ring. How cute!

Purchased split bottles of wine and wrapped in purple and orange tulle and tied with black bow for my Halloween Bash last year.

Michele and I participated in the McHenry Mansion Foundation Tablesetting fundraiser

last year with a our theme Rockin' Morrocan. As our party favor we used a jeweled box

from Pier One, filled it with a yummy lavender truffle, added a name card that matched

the theme and tied with a bow.

savingprettypennies.com

What a cute idea! A ice cream bar favor make with Rice Krsipie bars dipped in chocolate with added candy sprinkles, a pretzel for the stick and tied with a orange bow!

interiordec.about.com

What a fun favor for a fall or thanksgiving table! A little gold spray glitter perhaps to dress it up! I am all about the glam!

thriftyfun.com

What says fall like a yummy caramel apple? This one wrapped in a cellophane bag tied with a leaf and raffia. Very special to your guests because you took the time to make something for them!

perfect-party-favors.com

This little jar of honey is perfect for the Fall season as a favor. Tie a bow on the bottle and place the guest's name on it! Favors can double as place cards!

Be creative and have fun with your party favors! Favor ideas include candles, tea towels, wine stops, truffles, tree ornaments, note pads, kitchen gadgets, and for the guys try a little bottle of liquor or a cigar. We love to shop World Market, Pier One, Target, or even the Dollar Store to come up with inexpensive but unique party favors! Your guests will be impressed!

Elementally,

Linda and Michele

Thursday Trend Alert - Peacock

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:01:00 +0000

One trend we've noticed popping up everywhere and still going strong are those inspired by peacock feathers. There is something about those iridescent blues and greens that translates to everything from nail polish...

to bridesmaid dresses...

to tablesettings

(too bad we already have our theme chosen for McHenry Mansion's Tablesetting event)

This beautiful wreath ~ sold on Etsy here

And we found these at Pier1...who we think has become so much more than just a place to buy candles!

pier1.com

So if you want to add a little dash of exotic to your style, you can feather your nest, paint your nails and maybe take a cue from this little cutie for Halloween!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Set The Mood With Paper Lanterns

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:03:00 +0000

This past Spring, we were asked by our friend Donna Versola to help with her daughter Amber's baby shower. With a guest list of 30 family and friends, Amber had picked out a theme of Pickles and Ice Cream. "Yikes", Donna said, "I have no clue where to even start with that!" So Elements of Chic was brought in for an assist. After seeing the rooms where the party was going to take place, we immediately focused on the bay window in the DR/LR to use as our focal point. Amber wanted to have an ice cream sundae bar, along with cake balls and other goodies and use brown, light blue and a light sage green as her colors...love that.

Research under way, we knew we wanted to use paper lanterns. They are so versatile and come in great colors and you can make an impact in a budget friendly way. Look at some of the amazing ways you can create every look from romantic wedding to a colorful fiesta.

These are featured on marthastewart.com and are made from two bags fit over each other to form a square and then add them to light strings.

This colorful look with purple as the focal color is playful and elegant.

How cute is this red and white theme featured at classicbride.blogspot.com

A classic version of luau...

Martha Stewart in a cylinder shape with floral print.

This was featured on the website Hostess With The Mostess and would be so cute for the entrance to a kid's birthday party.

The ivory lanterns look like moonglow to this chartreuse theme...we love the moss candelabras and don't think we aren't going to look for an excuse to try this DIY project.

Beautiful venue with the ceiling beams. The lanterns help bring it all down to earth as the floral arrangements reach up to them...lovely.

Image source above three pics

Purple is one of the hottest colors going right now. The lanterns create depth with the tall tables and bench seating.

We made some tissue paper flowers for our focal point so wanted to show you this great pic of a citrusy theme that could be used for Fall.

So for Amber's shower we chose to use paper lanterns, tulle, tissue paper flowers and garland and some chipboard letters that spelled out "Baby".

So here was the end result and excuse the picture and lighting as neither one of us brought a camera and this was taken with my phone. Chocolate brown (appropriate for an ice cream theme) and sage green lanterns, along with the tulle and turquoise blue paper garland.

Congratulations to Amber and Donna and continued blessings!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

What's on your front door this Fall season?

noreply@blogger.com (Michele and Linda) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:13:00 +0000

Today at 2:05 am begins Autumn Equinox, a season of bright colored foliage and the reaping of harvest. Your front door conveys your first impression to the outside world of who you are! Golden colors of the season should shine on your front door at least through the end of September, giving way to Halloween fun in October, and returning to your front door until Thanksgiving. Here are some of our favs for this upcoming season.............

via pinterest.com

A wreath moss with fresh pumpkins adding a linen bow is stunning on this door.

This grapevine wreath adds a mixture of flowers and feathers to celebrate the season.

via pinterest.com

An alternative to a wreath on the door
is this carved pumpkin filled with flowers and

leaves tied with a satin bow.

etsy.com

fancyhouseroad.com

This silk floral wreath with black ribbon would be a great wreath for Halloween.

Are you ready for some fall entry way designs? Next week some more inspiration! What is on Michele and Linda's front door? You can have a peek next week!

Elementally,

Linda and Michele

Oh The Things You Can Do With Burlap

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:48:00 +0000

Did you ever have burlap sack races when you were a kid? We did as kids, at family picnics but honey, let me tell you that burlap has come a long way. We love the texture it adds and everyone is using it from Ballard Designs to Pottery Barn and all those crazy creative DIYers out there. It is a very inexpensive way to get a custom look from pillows to bulletin boards to lamp shades and wreaths. Here are some of our favorites...

Images from Ballard Designs, Pottery Barn

Restoration Hardware and Pinterest

Burlap has been a hot design trend lately and hopefully this has given you some inspiration. What will you create with this timeworn favorite?

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Apples=Fall=Decorating Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:23:00 +0000

Although it is supposed to be 97° today, the calendar says it's September and pumpkins are laying in the fields and showing up in the stores. Back to School came and went weeks ago and Halloween is just around the corner. Its Day Two of our blog challenge (read here) and we thought that the apple should get its due as a decorating accessory and not just to keep the doctor away.

Now, there is this Apple, that is near and dear to our hearts for our iphones and ipods

And this little dumpling that couldn't be any cuter...

Adorable

Sshhh...don't tell anyone but I love apple pie for breakfast. Hey, it has fruit in it!

But here are a couple of really unique ideas for centerpieces...you could serve Apple Martinis!

These would look great on any wood color for your table

Some DIY Projects below...

A couple of table setups...

And a simple, classic mantel

All pictures found by our Pinterest obsession

So think about what containers or baskets you already have and head out to your grocery store or local farmer's market for some Fall decor that is beautiful to look at, great to eat and use in recipes and maybe it's true about an apple a day...

Elementally Yours,

Michele and Linda

Intentions and Leading Into Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:29:00 +0000

in·ten·tion
<><>

noun /inˈtenCHən/
intentions, plural

A thing intended; an aim or plan- she was full of good intentions

The action or fact of intending- intention is just one of the factors that will be considered

Most of us have good intentions; the voice inside that says you need to call your mom today or go to church every week; schedule date night with your significant other; workout; eat better, read that book everyone is talking about, blah, blah, blah.

We try, we really do. It's just that sometimes, well life happens and good intentions get replaced by making dinner, taking kids to dance, soccer or college campuses, laundry, errands, working late, meeting a deadline, running a business and a part-time job and OK I'll admit it...watching "So You Think You Can Dance."

I have been blogging off and on for a couple of years now and it's always kind of been something I did when the right subject came along or I wanted to highlight an event that was happening or in which I was participating. Kind of another offering of my design business. I had every intention of doing it more regularly...read all the articles that said it was a necessary part of a small business and I enjoy it. I love writing and sharing interesting things, products and inspiration out there in the design world. THERE IS SO MUCH COOL STUFF! Endless things to write about right?

When Linda and I joined forces, we discussed blogging...a lot...and how important it could be to our business. We were very excited and have much to share and we had every intention of doing it on a regular basis. Well guess what...a new business and there's all these things we need to do, see and figure out, not to mention get our name out there; do the jobs we were hired to do and we occasionally put out a blog post. It was right there on our calendar and To Do List, seriously! I subscribe to several blogs that land in my email box on a regular basis (see, they can do it). One of which is Darren Rowse' blog called Problogger to get tips and information for my good blog intentions. Well, he recently posted a video on his site that I watched and watched again. He used the analogy of blogging as a muscle and if you don't use it, it's never going to get strong or take you anywhere. Wow, light bulb, aha, whamo, Oprah moment. Maybe it's obvious to you but I just needed to see/hear that video at that exact time because I have also been trying to up my exercise game so putting the two together was the epiphany I needed.

So why are we telling you all this you ask? Because we are giving ourselves a challenge; HUGE, to fullfill our good intentions. To rock this blog thing and even if no one but us and one or two family members read it, we will have completed our intent. So for the next four weeks, Monday thru Friday, we will be posting. If you can believe it, Fall officially starts on the 23rd so we'll be sharing some tips, ideas, inspiration, links to talented, creative people we love and hopefully you will too. So hang out with us, send us some comments cuz we're going to need all the encouragement we can get and let's have some fun together as we head into the last part of the year.

Like us on our Elements of Chic Facebook page and watch for some fun giveaways coming up!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Yellow = August

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:31:00 +0000

There's a vacant lot not too far from my house that they disk every few months but after about three weeks the sunflowers pop back up with a vengence. I'm sure the owners don't appreciate it but wouldn't it be great if all weeds could look that good? I love seeing that lot fill up with yellow flowers...so cheerful and a testament to being resilient. In fact to me yellow is August.

Other than red for Valentine's Day, is there a color you associate with a month of the year?

To Your Chic Elements,

Michele & Linda

Family Love in Beaverton, OR

noreply@blogger.com (Elements of Chic) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 01:36:00 +0000

Hi everyone...Notes from Michele
Thursday I flew up to Portland to visit my oldest daughter Meghan, son-in-law and grandson Brannon to do some babysitting, enjoy some shopping, winetasting and take in one of my favorite cities and some family love.
So shopping Thursday...check. Winetasting Friday...check. Now today it's some Mimi time with my grandson.

One of my favorite stores in the world, Anthropologie was a must stop in the Pearl Distric amongst others. Friday was our wintetasting adventure which included my sister-in-law, Tricia. Beautiful day, great wines (I'm not cheating on California wines but there are some nice Oregon pinots, even though you didn't hear that from me Oregon family!!!)

Aahh design paradise, please enter here.

Love their displays...

Anthropologie's front window is now my phone wallpaper.

Cute bowls

Two of my favorite design books

Love this bedroom display

Bathroom supplies anyone?

Now how about some Oregon wine from the North Willamette Valley,

starting at Ponzi Winery

Thank you...don't mind if we do.

Meghan and Tricia at Sokol Blosser.

Some very creative and talented people using winebarrels for more than just wine

Are these not awesome?

I want this in my kitchen...

Some flowers and herbs presented beautifully

Or any other beds with your shoes on ..

All in all, an awesome day in beautiful wine country. Today a trip to the Beaverton Farmer's Mkt. (huge and delicious), painting plates at CeramCafe and hanging out.

And here's what you do when you're nine and bored at Ikea!

Love you B :)

To your chic elements,

Michele and Linda