Closet Overhaul

It's all fine and good to clean out your closet. I've done it more times than I care to count. But what about turning you closet into something different altogether? Real Simple featured three closets that did just that...

If you can't use bright, funky wallpaper in a closet, you can't use it anywhere! What a perfect little work nook, complete with DIY wrapping paper storage and a light drape to hide it away when guests come!

I can't get enough of book nooks. What a charming alternative to a library! I love the step ladder that folds into a little reading chair.

And I've been spending all of this time looking for a small table on which to perch a bar, when all I needed was an empty closet. Okay, there is a touch of sarcasm there, because I don't have any empty closets with which to recreate any of these transformations, but I won't be living in my apartment forever, and these are lovely transformations, indeed. I love how they mirrored the closet to make it appear huge! Also, a lot of the drawers and such came from IKEA. Great storage, low price!

Sackboy Lives!

I wish I had stumbled upon this sooner. My husband's birthday is coming up in a week or so and this would be the perfect cheeky add-on to his present. You see, several months ago, John annoyed me into letting him buy Little Big Planet, which, in my mind, was just another one of his dang video games. He begged me to play it with him- just once- and see if I liked it. And you know what? I did. The main reason I liked it was the main character, Sackboy. He's just oh-so-adorable with his tongue sticking out all the time and his floppy arms.

via Bloom.acious Cafe. Get the pattern here.

So, like I said, I would love to make one of these for John, but, alas, I don't know how to knit (well), and I've just got too much other stuff to do. Someday, though. Someday.

Earth Day: How To Go Green

Have you started wondering what lifestyle choices you can make to help out the environment? Check out Planet Green's How to Go Green index. So if you were curious about green laundry detergent alternatives or some green decorating tips for your home, their guide will cover A-Z how to make meaningful green changes to every part of your life.

Just to Say "Thank You"

It's always nice to bring a host or hostess a little something to thank them for the entertaining efforts, but rather than picking up a random little something at the store, put your own touch on a gift.

I love reading Creature Comforts- such cute ideas and inspirations. This was one of my favorites: Wrap a couple of matchboxes in cute paper, add a label, tie with ribbon or yarn, and voila! A homemade gift that anyone, regardless of age or sex, can use. Pair it with a yummy candle and you're done!

A perfect complement: Voluspa Victorian Candle in Tuberosa Agave, $23

I'm Seeing A Pattern...

I love these eye-catching pumps from Dries Van Noten's Spring '08 collection. A-Mazing!

It takes a certain eye to be able to combine patterns that to the untrained eye look nothing alike. I may not have that skill, but I think these pattern combinations may inspire me to try sometime!

Love the varying patterns on these dining chairs. Very eclectic! (I can't remember where this photo came from. If anyone knows please tell me!)

Again, don't remember the source for this, but the combination of patterns is fantastic!

I couldn't pick just one pair of Dries Van Noten shoes, so I added all of my faves! Aren't they stunning? I wish I had a pair (or three)!

Anthropologie is jumping on the pattern bandwagon with their Terai Chairs.

Doin' It Yourself

I came across this picture on the Domino website (not sure how much longer it'll be up, be here's the link regardless). I'm not wild about the fabric choices, but I spied the top of the drapes and thought, "How cool! It's a four poster bed without the four posters!" Not only would this look lengthen your room, you can hide away within the fabric on cold nights, and you will never have to worry about banging your foot or elbow or any other body parts on the posts. Add this one to my dream home checklist...

Getting My Hooks In

Photo from Domino

In my ongoing closet revamping project for the new year, I wanted to cover a blank wall in an eclectic variety of hooks to hang incidentals like hats, jewelry, and the occasional pair of jeans. The picture above is my inspiration. All that is left is to buy the hooks and install them. Here are some of my favorite hardware choices:

Row One: My Best China Hook at Anthropologie, $18; Dragonfly Patina Hook at Restoration Hardware, $14; Coral Hook at Anthropologie, $18.

Row Two: Carat Wall Hook at Anthropologie, $18; Flyaway Hook at Anthropologie, $24; Black & White Wall Hook at Anthopologie, $18.

Row Three: Letter Hooks at Anthropologie (These would be really cute in a kid's room or entryway spelling a name or word!), $16; Traditional Amber Glass Hook at Restoration Hardware, $24; Branch Hanger at Container Store, $20.

Wrap Star

Perfect wrapping is a snap. Heidi offers everything you need in one package for your package. It's impossible to mess up! My favorite part is the ombre ribbon.

I know, I know... It's what's on the inside that counts, right? But nice wrapping never hurts either! Part of the fun of giving gifts is making the wrapping cool and artistic- a package that the receiver almost doesn't want to open because it's so pretty. It all starts with the right paper, and you can't go wrong with these:

Inject a little street cred into your wrapping with Monster Doodle paper by Jon Burgerman at Nineteen Seventy Three.

For the "Oh crap! I forgot to wrap your present" moment. Though, you'd better know someone in the UK if you want this, because they don't yet ship to the US. Wavy Stripe Shoe Box by Paperchase.

This would really pop with a bright red ribbon tied around it! Baubles in Blu by Pikku.

For a gift with a side of cheek. You're Welcome by Fish Lips at Verde Paperie.

I love mixing different colors of the same pattern when there are multiple boxes. Play by Eieio Studio.

Now that you have the paper, what do you do with it? Count on Kate's Paperie to tutor you in the art of gift wrap. Now go forth and wrap!

Resolution: Organize

My goal? Not quite, but it is a beauty! Photos via Domino unless otherwise noted.

Who hasn't let out a sigh of frustration at the sight of their closet? I recently took a look at the state of mine and wanted to throw everything out and start over! Though on my budget, that's not an option. Since adding all of my new husband's clothes to my large, but full, closet, we haven't done any organizing. But now it's a new year, and I am determined to make the time. Often, we have an idea of what we'd like the end result to be: A copy of the impossibly perfect closets we see in Martha Stewart Living, but usually I can't get there because I piddle out halfway through the process lacking the necessary inspiration and direction. This time, though, I'm going in with a game plan with a little help from the masters: Domino, House Beautiful, and Martha Stewart.

A mirror or framed picture can spruce up an otherwise bland space.

Step One: Where to begin? House Beautiful had a great tip for that question (and a fantastic article that must be read in full): "Ask yourself: If all of this were gone tomorrow, what would I miss?" Refer to that answer as you clean out the overworn, the ill-fitting, and the uncomfortable pieces. It amazes me that I probably only wear about one-third of the things I own. Every time I purge I still hang on to some things that should have been donated ages ago. With that thought in mind, I can get rid of the things that are just taking up valuable space and make room for some shiny, new things I'll really wear!

Labelled baskets are a closet's best friend!

Step Two: Prepare for the New! Out with the old, in with the new, but not before the closet is prepped and ready for some much needed additions. This is the part where you get inspiration from photos and magazines! I've come up with a few goals I'd like to accomplish: First, to add shelving to the floor space for our shoes and boots. They're closer to my feet that way and easier to see, as opposed to using the over the door rack I have now. Second, I want to use baskets on the top shelf to group items like purses, gloves, hats, etc. keeping them out of sight. Third, I want to remove the extra rod we have and install several hooks to hang belts and bags. Martha Stewart has an article on her website that gives lots more great closet outfitting ideas.

Utilize floor space, because what else will you do with it?

Step Three: Get what you need. For this task, I took some guidance from The Lucky Shopping Manual, tailoring it to my needs. For instance, my job does not require me to wear suits, and I rarely don a cocktail dress, but I do need lots of comfortable flats and dressy jeans. Take a look at what you have and fill in the blanks, but be tough. Don't just buy something to fill a wardrobe hole. Buy it because it looks good on you and makes you feel great. Of course, this can't get done in one weekend. It's an ongoing process. Keeping a list of your needed items handy will make shopping easier when you can get around to it.

The shoes! Oh! The shoes!

Step Four: Organize what you have. Everyone agrees: group your clothes by item, season, and color. My husband's side will be a breeze. Dress shirts, sweaters, slacks, jackets. My wardrobe will pose more of a challenge. I figure I'll begin by separating by season, then item, then arranging by color. I love the look of a color organized closet!

A good wardrobe doesn't have to be big, just versatile.

Step Five: Maintain it! All that hard work will be for naught if I let it fall by the wayside once again. So step five is to clean, reorganize, and, if need be, purge every couple of months. The result? A beautiful closet, an easier morning routine, and a happy husband!

Book Madness: Day 1

Our team was inspired by the September issue of Metropolitan Home. In it, they highlighted the interior decor from the Showtime hit show, Californication. We decided to take on the task of building one ourselves, book by book.


11-15-08: Lady S' knees are hurting! Task seems daunting. Morale low. Hope to finish by the 2012 Olympics in London. But we will press on..a slave to our craft...

You might even find some surprises hidden within our book tower... No, your eyes do not decieve you. That's JK Rowling's wildly popular Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in there! Who knows what other classics we'll stumble upon in this journey...

Here's our inspiration photo and our goal. We think David Duchovny would be proud of our efforts.

Our fearless leader also got the grand idea to follow suit with a 3 row by 4 row stacked book coffee table:

This table was the talk of the of the town in its completion, catching lots of HFH customer's attention. (I've also heard the DaVinci Code is located within base.)




Til' next time..

How To: DIY Flower Arrangements

Everyone wants their home to look impeccable to the last detail when they have guests over. It's also nice to come home after a long day at work and have your home look clean and welcoming. When you desire that extra little bit, it helps to have some flowers around. They'll make an imperfect room look that much better. Don't just grab a prearranged bouquet from the grocery store. It's easy and prettier to do it yourself. I've collected lots of inspiration pictures to get you going.

From top left: 1,2,3: Domino magazine. 4: Elle magazine. 5: The Knot. 6: Cynthia Mosser. 7: Vogue magazine. 8-16: Domino Mag.com.

1. A single bright bloom amongst leaves and grapevines suits a wine party.
2. Arrangements aren't limited to flowers- try large, colorful leaves from the garden for a quick bunch.
3. Small cream blooms wrapped in black paper and ribbon make a statement as a hostess gift.
4. Nothing is easier than one big bloom in a tiny bud vase.
5. Anemones are a beautiful flower when used just by themselves.
6. Try monochromatic blooms in a retro teacup for a feminine feel.
7. Flowers don't have to cost a fortune! Red carnations in a silver cup or pitcher are breathtaking. Use liberally.
8. For a larger grouping, use different containers with one type of flowers per container.
9. Traditional flowers, like red roses, look eclectic in a vase with edge.
10. For your next barbecue, float bright flowers in a clear container filled with water.
11. Hydrangeas are an easy choice- one stems covers a lot of territory.
12. Cute, retro aluminum cans make a perfect vase- place a plastic cup inside to prevent rusting!
13. Mimic the shape of a round vase with a packed in bunch of mums.
14. Gold vase + Pink blooms = Chic guest room arrangement.
15. If there is one color you'd like to focus on, find a flower in that color and just use one stem in a clear vase.
16. Redbud branches are beautiful when they bloom! Bring some indoors and use them everywhere!

Boys & Girls

A girly girl's paradise. Photo by Wesley Rose.

It's never easy to compromise- especially on something as important as decorating your home. Whether you are working with a roommate, a spouse, or a sibling, you have to find a middle ground.

I'll be taking on my own decorating project at home when I get married in one month. My husband, and all of his "man stuff" will be invading my feminine space. Gone will be the days of leaving my stuff on the coffee table and cleaning it up when I feel like it. No more shoes strewn across every room of the apartment. It's time to make room for another.

Classic man-zone. Photo by Brandon Barre.

I'm more of a visual learner (as I know many of y'all are), so I went in search of some inspiration for my gender-neutral decor. My fiance gave them the thumbs up, so what about you? Did I hit the nail on the head or am I too biased by my own style to find a true combination of masculine and feminine? Take a look...

The intricate shape of the chaise and chair adds femininity to the room while the neutral and textural elements ground the room and keep it masculine. There isn't a lot of embellishment to the vignette, instead letting the view outside take the lead. Photo by Gray Crawford.

I could envision a young couple entertaining here. Nothing about it screams "Guy!" or "Girl!", but the room as a whole is very stylish and simple. Little accessories placed around the room (like a bud vase of flowers) add that woman's touch. Photo by Melanie Acevedo.

Every piece in here is an example of balance. The color scheme of the room is perfectly neutral. The accessorizing is brilliantly executed and mixed well. My favorite part is the anchor of the room: the daybed-ish sofa. Feminine in shape, masculine in color and texture. Photo by Douglas Friedman.

Whet Your Appetite

My soon-to-be husband is turning 30 soon, and that calls for some celebrating. Not the "Uh-oh, somebody's getting close to the top of the hill!" kind of celebration, the "Here's to 30 years of good family, friends, and you birthday boy" kind. First on my list is deciding how to decorate and, more importantly, what to feed our guests! I found some very helpful books on that subject and thought I'd share the wealth...

For a casual, comfortable party, I love Katie Lee Joel's book The Comfort Table. She promises easy home cooking and she delivers. If your goal is to serve familiar dishes to friends and family, this book makes that task easy. It's especially great for sit down dinners because her entrees are mouthwatering!

For a more exotic palette, try the recipes from The Big Book of Appetizers by Meredith Deeds and Carla Snyder. There is a lot of selection so you can pick several to make from the 250 recipes with no problem at all. Also, they give great instructions for each recipe on making things ahead so that you aren't panicking the day of.Now this is an idea I can get on board with. Of course, sushi is a more expensive route to go, but it looks impressive laid out on clean white plates, its healthier than a fried mozzerella stick (not that those aren't blissful from time to time), and it's not impossible to make with a little practice. I'm planning on serving a couple of things from The Complete Book of Sushi by Hideo Dekura, Brigid Treloar, and Ryuichi Yoshii. And, hey, if I screw it up, I can still eat the mess- it's a win-win!

Color Story

Want to give your place a bit of a visual boost? I love the idea of organizing your books by color. It's almost like it creates a little piece of art in your bookshelves. I've organized my books by color before (but I like to change it up often- seriously, I can entertain myself all weekend by organizing my bookshelves!) and it looked very chic. You can intermix a few non-book items- but keep them the same color as the books they're next to for the best impact!

Apartment Therapy had a post about this today and they've written about it in the past, so pop on over there and maybe the inspiration will hit you, too!

How To: Be Prepared for Unexpected Guests

There you are, sitting on the sofa enjoying the company of a good book and a cold glass of lemonade when the phone rings. A friend wants to "drop by" and stay for a "couple of nights". That's okay, right? You wish you hadn't answered the phone. Unexpected (read: uninvited) guests happen. And when they do, up goes the blood pressure. There are things you can do to be prepared.

For lots of ideas on entertaining houseguests, peruse marthastewart.com.

The four main things you need to concentrate on are: Having food for your guest, having a place for them to clean up, having a place for them to sleep, and tidying up the public areas of your home.


Feeding Your Guest: It is unlikely that your guest will not be sharing at least a couple of meals with you, so it helps to have ingredients on hand for some simple, but delicious, meals. Keep these ingredients in a special place in the pantry or fridge so that you and the rest of your family knows not to eat them.


For a snack, cookies and snack mix served in pretty dishes look smore impressive than it is. Keep an assorted box of teas on hand to please everyone.

For a delicious recipe, I always ask Martha.

For lunch or dinner, Homemade Macaroni & Cheese served in individual remekins and garnished with some fresh parsley is elegant and yummy after a long trip. Pair it with a simple salad and add a bottle of a light-bodied wine, like Reisling, to refresh a weary traveler.


For a hearty breakfast after your guest has had a relaxing night of sleep, serve pancakes with gourmet fruit syrups. The night before, mix the batter and pour it into a squeeze bottle. Making the pancakes will be faster and far less messy. Cut strawberries into small bowls and sprinkle with sugar to release the juices.

Absolutely the best towel to dry off with, and a multitude of

colors to choose from! From Pottery Barn.

Whether or not you have an official "Guest Bath", you guests need to feel welcome to use their designated bathroom. Keep a small box handy with interesting scented shampoos and soaps, a pretty soapdish, and a candle. Keep a couple sets of towels (white Turkish cotton always looks crisp and feels great!) set aside for last minute visitors. Make sure there is plenty of space on the counter for their toiletries. And don't forget to put an extra roll of toilet paper out where they can see it! My mom has a cute bucket next to the toilet where she stores a couple spare rolls so that no one will go digging in her cabinets!

Make your guest bed as good as a four star hotel's bed. From Pottery Barn.

If you've ever had to search for matching bed linens in a rush, you know it can be immensely frustrating. Save yourself some stress by folding all the sheets neatly and tucking them inside their pillowcase for the next use. Up your domestic god(dess) cred by putting out a delicate bowl of chocolates and a single bloom in a bud vase on the nightstand. Reading material is always appreciated, so put down a few different magazines. Supply some substantial hangers (i.e. "No more wire hangers!!!") for hanging clothing and your guests will feel like the walked into a spa!

Candles cover a multitude of sins. From Pottery Barn.

The thing that always takes the most time when preparing for visitors is cleaning, but if someone is on their way over you don't have time to scour the baseboards. First things first: Get all of the clutter out of sight. Focus on the areas that you guest will be in- the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. I love open shelving, but it is not conducive to hiding messes, so having cabinets with doors is a must. Make sure all counters and mirrors are wiped down. Give the toilet and bathtub a quick scrub, too. Hit wood pieces with a shot of wood polish to make them shine. Finally run the vaccuum throughout the house. Light a few candles here and there and you're ready to play Host(ess) of the Year! See, that wasn't so bad!


A Note to the Last Minute Guest: Your host or hostess has been working hard, so don't forget the say thank you!

How To: Shop For Leather Furniture

I'll be honest. Shopping for leather can be a daunting task. A leather sofa isn't just another sofa. It's an investment. However, if you shop smart, you can enjoy a piece that will last a lifetime. A prime example: my parents have had their leather sofa for over 20 years! While other sofas have come and gone, been recovered, and given to Goodwill, that leather set has stood the test of time.

The Vivian Sofa by American Leather

First of all, you should be prepared to pay more for a great leather sofa. Don't be lured in by promises of an $800 sofa. That is not a good deal! Why? Because it probably isn't constructed well and the leather itself is probably poor quality. Sometimes things are too good to be true. A good leather sofa that will last needs to be built well and covered with a good quality leather. Here are the things you should look for:

1. Full Top Grain Leather: This type of leather is the strongest, best quality you can get. That's why it's more expensive. It has natural markings on it's surface even if it's been aniline dyed. A sofa made of full top grain leather will last. What you don't want is a sofa made of split leather. The split is the underlayer of a cow's hide. It has no natural grain, so any markings will have been embossed. It is weaker and less durable than full top grain leather.

The Dexter Sofa by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

2. Aniline Dyed Leather: Aniline dyed means that the dye is dispersed throughout the entire hide. Translation: if you scratch a black sofa, the layer underneath will not be white- it will be black. Why is this important? Anyone with pets or kids (well, anyone) knows that leather will not remain untouched unless you cover it in plastic. Scratches happen. The best thing you can do is disguise them. What to avoid? Painted leather. Not only will it make you sweat (pores closed by paint won't let air circulate around your bum) but it will also show wear more quickly. That would be less bang for your buck.

3. Kiln Dried Hardwood Frames: Having the best leather in the world on your sofa won't mean a thing if the frame falls apart. Make sure your frames are kiln dried (meaning they suck out most of the moisture to stop your frame from rotting or warping) Hardwoods will last longer than softwoods (do I need to explain why).

4. Slipcovered Upholstery: I'm not saying your leather sofa should be slipcovered. Because that might be kinda weird. Great upholstery is put on using a slipcover technique. That means the manufacturer sews the upholstery like a slipcover and then slides it onto the sofa. It is then fixed to the bottom and voila! Your sofa. The pro to this method is that the seams will not break open like they do using the other method. That other method is closing the upholstery at the back seam using a tacking strip. Imagine spikes poking through your seams. Not awesome.

The Jonathan Lounge by Oly Studio

5. Padded Frames: There's nothing quite like using your knee to help you push a chair foward and having said knee poke right through the back of the chair. Awesome. Luckily, there is a simple cure for that. Make sure the entire from of the piece is padded. That means the frame is closed all over the piece and padding is attached to the frame. No gaping holes!

6. Quality Suspension: When you buy a piece of furniture as expensive as leather, you want it to last, right? Right. So make sure the suspension system will withstand all of the sitting, and getting back up, and flopping down, and kids jumping, and so on. There are a few options: Eight way hand tied has the popular vote. Many people are familiar with this kind of suspension and it certainly is high quality. Unidirectional webbing is another good option. High strength webbing is lined up front to back so when your pervy Uncle Lou sits next to you, you won't fall into his lap. You could also try sinuous spring suspension. Thick gauge S-shaped wires curve over seats and can definitely take a beating.

7. High Density, High Resiliency Foam Cushions: Sure, cushions can usually be replaced pretty easily, but why would you want to? Make sure the cushions used in your leather sofa are high density (meaning: more molecules packed into a smaller space) and high resiliency (meaning: the cushion will bounce back for a long time). Be careful when dealing with soy cushions. Some companies haven't gotten their mixture right and what was springy on day 1 will be flat by day 30. You'll want you cushions to last- especially if your sofa has a tight seat.

The Laguna Swoop Chair by Maria Yee

Earth Day: 50 Ways to Help the Planet

In celebration of Earth Day, find out about 50 ways in which you can help the planet courtesy of Wire & Twine.

Be sure to check out our previous post "How To: Green Your Furniture" to understand what you can do to make eco-friendly furniture purchase. Happy Earth Day everyone!

How To: Give Your Furniture A Facelift

Let's face it- furniture is expensive. I'm sure we would all redecorate annually if we had the time and money, but who really does? With that in mind, when your armoire gets a bit stale, don't toss it- give it a facelift (without the nasty recovery). A few tweaks and a couple of weekends will take your formerly blah piece to Ooh la la!

Don't give up on it just yet! Even this can be saved!

Step One: The easiest way to change the look of wood furniture is to either paint or stain it. Paint is the simpler of the two, but staining is best when the wood has great texture that you want to show off. Resist the urge to match the paint to something else in the room and pick a completely different color. High-gloss black or white adds punch to a piece. Any paint store can hook you up with the paint you need. Give the piece two coats and let it dry for about a week before you put anything in or on it. Otherwise, you will have some very sticky knick knacks.

More than meets the eye with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams pieces.

Step Two: I love when there's more to a piece of furniture than meets the eye. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is great at putting in cool little touches like contrasting paint or wallpaper in drawers of their casegoods. Take a page from their book (and they literally do have a book), and add some hidden extras.

Belle Fleur Knob $8, Diamond Gal Knob $6, and Zinnia Large Knob $8- all from Anthropologie

Step Three: Don't forget the hardware! My favorite place to get hooks and knobs is Anthropologie. They have a terrific selection of knobs in every color imaginable. And, feel free to go nuts- knobs are inexpensive and easy to change! Also, if you are revamping a piece that will be used for media equipment, it is always handy to have a hole in the back for cords and ventilation. Hunt down a friend with a drill and cut out a circular hole.

There you have it. Just three easy steps and your furniture is getting a new lease on life. Not to mention your wallet hasn't suffered one bit! Fantastic!

How To: Coffee Table-ize Your Ottoman

It is quite true that comfort is absolutely key when it comes to the room you lounge in. You've found your perfect napping sofa, but there are times when you can't take up the entire thing (how dare someone sit on your sofa!). That is when you call in reinforcements: your ottoman. But rather than lugging it around the room every time you feel the need to put your feet up, leave it front and center. Make it pull double duty. Retire your coffee table and bring on the ottoman.

Step One: Dinky ottomans need not apply. Make sure it is large enough for everyone to reach from the sofa. Or, if you're in love with a smaller design, line up two or three. American Leather makes an adorable style called Uno. It has storage space and the top flips over to make a tray for your drinks. How cute!

Step Two: Dress it up. You wouldn't let your coffee table go naked. Same rule applies for your ottoman. Add a tray so that you and your guests have a solid surface for drinks. Include a vase with flowers to give it color. Put out your most artsy cocktail books with an interesting knick-knack on top. Don't get crazy though, or you won't be able to follow the next step.

Step Three: Put your feet up. Make sure there is enough room for the ottoman to do its job- which is helping you relax! Your roomie will thank you for not hogging the sofa.

P.S. Sorry about the poor pictures. They're from my inspiration book which has been with me for eight years, so they're bound to experience some wear and tear! But, hey, you get the gist.

How To: Green Your Furniture (TreeHugger)

I ran across this useful guide from the good folks at TreeHugger. Here are some excerpts from their top 3 tips for going greener with your furniture.

1. Certified sustainable wood

"The world needs more trees, not less, so practices that lead to deforestation aren't any good. There are sustainable ways to harvest wood. Wood from sustainably harvested forests, sustainably harvested tree farms, and reclaimed wood are the main sources. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and its largest forest certifier, the Rainforest Alliance, is the most widely used standard for sustainable forestry."The Berkeley Bed by Copeland Furniture, which is FSC certified, is made in Vermont. It's use of solid cherry, which ages and darkens over time, is a great example of green furniture with great design.

2. Furniture made with reclaimed materials

"Reclaimed wood usually comes from old furniture, houses, or other built things that are ready for some friendly reincarnation, from flawed wood, or from scraps from a factory that makes other stuff. Either way, furniture made from reclaimed wood is a great example of resource efficiency, but usually comes in shorter supply. "

The Santomer Dining Table is a stunning, contemporary piece of furniture. The Peroba Wood, which is reclaimed wood over 100 years old from old barns, houses, and bridges from Brazil, is combined with a simple, modern design to create an eclectic masterpiece that can work in a modern, transitional, rustic, or traditional home.

3. Bamboo

"You've probably heard by this point that bamboo isn't a tree at all, but a grass. Bamboo represents a family of grasses that range in size from tiny to huge, and in color from lime green to maroon stripes. It is incredibly fast-growing and versatile and has become the unofficial poster material of environmental designers and builders. Bamboo can be flattened into flooring, molded into furniture, pressed into veneers, sliced up to make window blinds, or hey, you can just build your whole house out of it. Using bamboo in buildings earns architects and builders LEED points. Most bamboo comes from China and is grown with few of no pesticides. Because it is so fast growing, it is much easier to maintain healthy bamboo forests."

The Metro Drum Table is a feat of innovative engineering and great design. You can pair them up to make for a great cocktail table setting or isolate them with a nice accent chair in the corner. It uses a remarkable patent pending Bamboo Timbre, which is "a proprietary process of layering and bonding flattened bamboo culms, or stalks, in defined patterns to create boards as thick as 8 inches."

High Fashion Home never set out to be a retailer of so many green products. We instinctively gravitated to products that exemplified great design, quality, and value, which also happened to be eco-friendly. It's a beautiful thing when you can buy what you love and help the environment along the way.

How To: Trick Out Your Tree

Tree Trimming is my favorite tradition of the season. Since I can remember, my family has put everything else on hold so that we can drink cocoa, eat cookies, and hang our ornaments. Now that I'm on my own I still continue that tradition with my own tree with some new twists. Decorating fiend that I am, my tree has to fit perfectly with the rest of my apartment, my presents, and perhaps my outfit too. So here are a few ideas to make your tree truly sparkle.

picture from Pottery Barn

For a traditional tree with style, keep things simple. Opt for a few strands of white lights instead of lights, popcorn, tinsel, etc. Solid ball ornaments are a great and inexpensive base. Accent with more elaborate ornaments. My favorite are Christopher Radko's designs. Thanks to my mom, I have quite a collection of them.

picture from Jonathan Fong Style

For a modern domicile, make your tree monchromatic. Pick a color or two and deck your tree out. Extra points if your tree matches the ornaments. Add things like ribbon and pearl strands. Don't forget to coordinate your presents. The result? Your tree will look sharp and oh so put together!

picture from Blueprint's December '07 issue

Why shouldn't a single girl make her tree ultra feminine while she can? Who am I kidding- rock the pink tree even if your man protests. Pick up a tree in bubblegum aluminum and add shimming orbs and big white lights with a hint of opalescent tinsel. It's the perfect Christmas confection!

How To: Give Your Presents Punch

We've all heard the saying, "It's what is inside that counts." That holds true for people as well as presents. But take heed of what your mother told you (okay, nagged you), "You only get one first impression!" Instead of the same ol' snowman wrapping paper with gold curly-cues tied on, present your presents properly.

Clockwise from top left: Silk Taffeta from High Fashion Home, Ribbon & Pinecones from Target; Twine cord from Hobby Lobby; Craft paper, tinsel ribbon and bells from Target; Wrapping paper from Target, Ribbon from Hobby Lobby, Ornaments from Club Monaco; Paper, stamp, ink, and pen from Hobby Lobby

Every year I decide on a color theme (last year was black, white, and silver) and stick to it. This will save you the time and effort of having to match the wrapping paper to each person. No more looking for guy-appropriate wrapping paper! And it makes your tree look uber-chic. Add fun extras like tiny ornaments, jingle bells, pinecones, or anything sparkly. Go green and recycle your magazines for wrapping paper and tie with twine. Take a page from Martha Stewart and stamp something festive on plain paper. Mom will be so impressed!

How To: Decorate Your Walls Without Art

If you're like me (which I suspect you are), you do not have a Warhol hanging in your foyer. Nor do you have Picasso in your playroom or Degas in your dining. Especially when you are young and just starting out, art can be something that is priced well out of your range. While you need a place to sleep and a table on which to eat, you don't need art. However, blank walls are no fun to look at! Fret not! There are options. You just need to get a bit creative. Try these three ideas on for size:

picture from potterybarn.com

Put up some wall shelves (I got some from Ikea and painted them black) and pack them with everyday items. Big, pretty cocktail books facing forward can look like art. Fill in with regular paperbacks. Add your favorite knick knacks and voila! Instant art!

picture from potterybarn.com

Maybe you want to make the space personal. A photo collage is easy, but try giving it some punch. Print the pictures in black and white and hang them on a bright wall. Vary the size and style of the frame you use, but keep them all the same color. Then, add block letters in the spaces to represent everyone in the family (or just you). Try Anthropologie for cool block letters to add to your wall. Tres chic!

picture from namarococo.com

Don't leave the creation of art just to artists. Frame your own art: start with pieces of pretty fabric, wallpaper (like the one above from Nama Rococo), or pages from books. Pick up a paintbrush and make bold, colorful brushstrokes on a canvas. Take pictures of interesting places while on vacation. Just frame and you're done!

Here's a quick tip for framing. You don't have to spend a fortune. Hobby Lobby frequently offers 50% off of all of their frames- including custom. You'll never want to pay full price again! Instead of getting something custom framed, just buy a larger frame than the piece of art and get a mat cut to surround it. It's a much more budget conscious way to get a custom look.

How To: Set Your Holiday Table

Oh, the holidays. A time of family togetherness, mounds of presents, and a heap of stress over creating and serving perfect meals. I can't whip up a pie for you or baste your turkey, but I can give you ideas for making your dinner table beautiful this year. Whether you are throwing an elegant and formal soiree for fifty, creating an artistic and modern dinner for friends, or reigning in the kids for an evening with the fam- we've got the table for you.



The holidays are certainly a time to bring out the good china- why let it sit in storage all year? Make your neutral china festive with red accents and a bowl full of bright ornaments. Don't forget the champagne!


Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean your table has to explode with red and green! Try a subdued celadon and a candlelit centerpiece to create a romantic and cozy table. Instead of fabric, use folded paper for the placemat and add a matching origami stork. It may not be traditional, but that doesn't mean it's not beautiful!

There's nothing quite like Christmas with kids around- waiting for Santa and his reindeer, frosting cookies, and decorating the tree. So when it comes to the table, keep things whimsical. Instead of a tablecloth, use black butcher paper and give the kids chalk so they can draw while the adults chat. Make an easy centerpiece by stacking up small wrapped gifts. It's better than pumpkin pie- almost!

All dishes, flatware, and glassware from Crate & Barrel