Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Preparing For Guests

Temperatures are dropping and the holidays are quickly approaching. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Preparing for out-of-town guests can be a wonderful experience, too. Pamper your guests and offer them the holiday stay of a lifetime. You truly can be the “hostess with the mostest” if you follow these simple tips for preparing your guest room.

Designate a Quiet Space
The holidays are a magical time of the year, but they can also be stressful. A major key to setting up the perfect guest space is to allow privacy and quiet. It’s hard to be away from home, no matter how much fun you’re having. Set aside a room for guests that’s farther away from most of the traffic and noise in your home.

If possible, designate a guest bath for additional privacy. Guests will appreciate this oasis while they stay — a place where they can joyfully relax and decompress after a stimulating day.

Style for Comfort
Part of creating a relaxing space is incorporating cozy elements. When designing your guest room, avoid any color or pattern that is too busy or harsh. Think about what you’d want to find in your own bedroom after a long day — cool, relaxing blues, calming grays, or perhaps soft neutrals.

Incorporate layers of texture with cozy throws, like our Sven Throw. Add variation with elegant ruffled pillowcases, like the Gabriella pillowcase from Bella Notte Linens. For bedding, incorporate a variety of layers that allow guests to adjust to hot or cold temperatures. The play of textures will allow you to stretch a calmer color palette further, adding interest without overwhelming the senses.



You can even pamper your guests to encourage a more resort-type ambience. Our fluffy, cozy Pine Cone Hill Signature Towels are luxurious and available in soft neutrals and cool, calming hues. Hang a clean, fluffy robe in the bathroom, and stock your cabinets with spa products like specialty soaps, bath salts, foot scrubs and quality towels for ultimate relaxation.



Add Personal Touches
To make the guest room fit well with your home, add a few personal touches for your guests to appreciate. Whether you decide to add a few family photos or a decorative guestbook, your guests will love these thoughtful additions. Display fresh flowers in vases on our Reclaimed Wood Serving Tray for a fun welcome station.
                                                                                                            
Holiday scented candles are perfect for a festive ambience. Search for common scents and avoid anything too overpowering or heavily floral. A calming leaves, cinnamon, pine or even pumpkin scent could work wonders for your guest room. One of our favorites is Roland Pine. Play with aromatherapy and essential oils, too. Lavender and eucalyptus both encourage relaxation. We recommend a bit of French elegance with Trapp No. 25 Lavender de Provence.



Fill the Space with Fun
Welcome your guests with a basket full of anything they may have forgotten. Travel-size shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes, floss, nail files, toothpaste and more essential items are great ideas. Then have some fun! Perhaps you want to leave chocolates on the pillows, or a bowl of festive holiday candy on the desk.

The key to creating a breathtaking guest room is incorporating every need. If your guests have kids, consider displaying some fun holiday movies to watch. Place a few of our striped floor poufs around the TV for a fun family activity. You can even set out some microwave popcorn or theater-style treats.


If your guests have pets, display some dog or cat treats, waste cleanup bags, small toys and perhaps even a pet bed. Target your audience well, and your guests will rave about their stay long after it’s over!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Welcome to Our Home, Holiday Tour 2016

Holiday decorating is a serious business in our house! We love to decorate just about every single room. Welcome to our house, join us for a tour.


We spend as much time as possible on our front porch so we love to make it festive. Lots of reds like an Adirondack Christmas cottage.







Friday, November 11, 2016

How to Set a Beautiful Holiday Table

Whether you have family coming in from out of town, or you’re hosting a small get-together, preparing for the holidays takes time and planning. Luckily, it’s the fun kind of planning! Setting a holiday table can go a long way to create a peaceful ambience and relaxed vibe for your holiday event. Here are a few tips to create a dream-worthy setup for you and your loved ones.

Choose Your Color Palette
The first step to creating that perfect holiday tablescape is to select a color palette that complements your dining room décor. We recommend incorporating several neutrals, with a pop of an accent color. For inspiration, visit the paint section of a hardware store and browse through the color combinations. You can also search for holiday color palettes online, in magazines or in nature.

As you set your color palette, pick out your accent color. How would you like to incorporate it? It could pop into the linen napkins, the dishes and cutlery, small accessories or even décor like garland or candles. Common holiday accent colors are red, burgundy, green, blue, gold, silver and more — but you don’t have to stop there. Let your imagination run wild!




Layer Your Linens
Table linens can play a significant role in your holiday design. We love the technique of layering linens to create dimension, texture and warmth. Select a tablecloth in a soft neutral color like beige, white or gray, depending on your color palette. Our Hampton Placemats can either mimic the neutral tablecloth color or add in a new shade from your palette.

Choose dishware that complements your color scheme, then place bold napkins on top. Browse Windsor and Carmel Napkins to find the color that’s right for you. 




Play with Textures
Part of layering linens and elements is playing with textures and patterns. Choose Lily Napkins for a romantic, soothing ruffled edge. Or go for the Chloe Placemat, which features intricate floral cutwork. These designs are still available in neutral colors, but the texture variation will help break up any monotony and add in a bit of that “yes” factor.

Choose the Final Touches
Accessorizing is the final step to setting your dream-worthy holiday tablescape. Tie your tablecloth with ivy or garland, sprinkle holiday leaves around candlesticks, select cutlery with subtle accents and let your creativity shine. Our Victorian Napkin Rings are a great way to add a polished, final touch to your setup.





Enjoy designing, shopping and of course, eating, this holiday season!

Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Save the Date! Holiday Open House