A Collection of Easy DIY's for a Gold and White Christmas

First a disclaimer: I didn't do any of these crafts myself, but given the popularity of gold and white, I thought these ideas would be an easy way to get the look for anyone!

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I love to decorate with bare branches. Year round.  The textural contrast  between the branches and the ornaments works perfectly.

You can also glam up your branches with a little gold spray paint.  I can think of a million places to use these.

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It doesn't get much easier than this.  Grab a few gold and/or white ornaments and put them on a cake stand or in a bowl. Done and done. 

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White candles, gold glitter, gold candle holders.

Find the super easy tutorial for these gold dipped feathers here.

And my personal favorite

Tutorial here.

Nine more shopping days.

The Green Room Interiors provides Interior Decorating and Design Services in Chattanooga, TN. If you'd like to experience the joy of living in a well designed home, contact Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Unbelievably, we're about 9 days out from the big day! Nothing like the countdown sign at the entrance of Wal-mart to light a fire under my procrastinating self.

How is your shopping coming along?  I'm nearly done with mine.  As usual, once I get the majority of my shopping done I feel pretty good about it - and then those last few shopping days creep up on me and I panic!

So, for those of you who are sharing this boat, I give you some last minute gift ideas that are sure to please the most discerning recipient.

First up, we have books! Not only can we enjoy what's inside the pages for a lifetime, they look great on the coffee table. All can most likely be found at your nearest Barnes & Noble.  Here are three at the top of my  list.

2.  Scarfs.  They keep you warm AND they add a pretty shot of color right by your face.  All good!

                                                                             Here

BONUS: For you fashion-challenged readers, I've provided a link that gives you 40 ways to tie a scarf!  You're welcome.

3.  Candles.  Diptyque in particular.  Here's why this is an awesome gift. It's because Diptyque candles are such a luxury item it's hard to justify buying one for yourself.  Getting one as a gift removes the anxiety !

I'd love it if you would share your favorite last minute gift ideas!

Happy shopping!!

The Green Room Interiors provides interior decorating and design services to happy homeowners in Chattanooga, TN. If you'd like to experience the joy of living in a well designed home, contact Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Wrapped Up

All done with your shopping?  I'm  not either, but hopefully by the end of this rainy day I'll have gifts for everyone on my list and then I'll take on the challenge of wrapping them up. I have to admit I'm not feeling so great about my gift presentation with the Big Lots paper and pre-made stick on bows I picked up last week - especially after seeing how Martha does it.

Looks like Martha had a little insider info about the whole Emerald Green color selection. I like the color block wrapping.

Isn't she clever? She made a big,  pretty bow from her wrapping paper scraps.

And of course, hand made tags for everyone.

As much as I admire Martha's commitment to gorgeous packaging, lots of folks (me included) find that it takes too much time to make this type of gift wrapping magic happen in our busy lives.  She gets points off for that.

Over on Pinterest, there are lots of great gift wrapping ideas, and some of them look pretty easy.

Source: blog.whimseybox.com via FaveCrafts on Pinterest

So simple, so pretty, and even a little glam. This one gets high marks. I don't know where those little gold discs were found, but you could create this look with freezer paper and a gold paint pen.

Source: twoshadesofpink.blogspot.com via Desiree on Pinterest

Super cute.  Also fairly confident I could do this myself.

Source: apartystyle.com via Amber on Pinterest

This also meets my cute/easy requirements, although it gets a few points off because finding the vintage bulbs could be challenging.

Source: styleathome.com via Jill on Pinterest

Totally do-able - even for the craft-challenged (me)

Source: bouboubisou.blogspot.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

This one looks easy, provided you have whatever bush produces these pretty red berries nearby. I will have to take a few practicality points off if you're cramming it into the trunk along with a dozen other gifts for a 2-hour drive to your family Christmas dinner.

And of course, my favorite option gets high marks because it's so quick and easy

Source: Uploaded by user via Mary on Pinterest

the gift bag (hangs head)

Are you wrapped and ready?

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com.

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Christmas Traditions

How are your holiday preparations coming?  As the days race by to the big event, I find myself a little behind on my holiday to-do list.  I still have more shopping to do, gifts to wrap, and cards to mail.

My parents are hosting Christmas dinner this year, as they have done over dozens of Christmases in the past.  My mom usually goes all out with her Christmas decor, and when we walk in the door to their home and see the Christmas tree, the gifts and all of her Christmas decorations, it feels just like Christmas should feel.  My mom's design style is fairly traditional - her dining room is painted a lovely shade of red, and there is red and white toile on her dining chairs.  Her brass and crystal chandelier is usually decorated with ornaments she hung from holiday ribbon.  Every year our Christmas table is set with Mom's white Christmas china and big red goblets - and every year it is beautiful.

Source: bellasrosecottage.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Oh, and the smell!  At Christmas we are treated to homemade ravioli.  It's the only time during the year we have it.  Usually I or my brother help my mom make the Christmas ravioli.  We make close to a hundred to feed about a dozen of us, give or take.  

There is something so comforting about spending every Christmas in the house where you grew up.  Sure, some of the paint colors and furnishings have changed over the years, but it still feels like home, and it stirs up an emotion inside of you that you can't describe in just one word, because its an emotion that has many layers.  First and foremost,  there is joy, because it's Christmas and you're spending it with the people you love most in the world.  But there's also a longing for the carefree days you spent in that very house as a child, a longing for the comfort of knowing all was right in the world because your Mom and Dad made sure you felt loved and safe.  Also buried in that mix of emotions is an strange concoction of pride and sadness as you look around the table and see your own children looking a little more grown up - and in turn, needing you a little less. 

So, as we race toward the big day, my goal is to focus less on the pressures brought on by all the shopping and preparations, and instead try to savor these strange and powerful emotions.

Merry Christmas!

Source: prettysweety.blogspot.com via Sam on Pinterest

Thoughts on Christmas Doors

Have you started decking your halls yet?  We're only a few days into December and I already feel behind.  I think my neighbors starting putting up their Christmas decorations right after Halloween,  yet the Dollhouse exterior is completely void of holiday embellishment!

I normally don't do a lot of holiday decorations outside, but I do like to dress up my front doors.  Here are a few options that caught my eye.

Source: ellenzee.tumblr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

These church doors are so close in color to my own freshly painted coral front doors..  Even though the royal blue ribbon isn't a traditional holiday color, I think it still reads "Christmas".

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Jodie on Pinterest

Isn't this what the Christmas in your head looks like?  I love the placement of everything here. A wreath on each door works for me and I love the pine cone accented swag above the doors.  The only thing I would add are some small potted trees on both sides of the doors.

From Martha Stewart.  

First can we just talk about that door?  It's everything.  And I do like the whole vertically stacked wreaths they have going on with monochrome ribbon.  Side note: I've also seen lanterns filled with white Christmas tree lights and it's very cute.

Another Martha Stewart styled door.  Green and white is always so fresh.  I love the little trees in the white urns.  This entire look is a winner.

. If I'm not mistaken I think this image comes from a Pottery Barn catalog.  Here's what I like:  the big silver ornaments and the bare branch swag above the entrance.  The rest of it feels overdone to me. 

Source: bhg.com via Lindsay on Pinterest

What I love most about this image is the color of that door.  It's the perfect shade of green! And the weathered black urns with rosemary trees?- yes!  But the red floral decorations? - not so much.  They feel a little uptight to me.

Source: un-forgetables.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Yeah, this will not be happening. 

So among other things, I have thoughts of Christmas doors on my mind today. Feel free to jump in with your suggestions.  How is your Christmas decor coming along?

Need some help pulling your style together? The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Lots more holiday inspiration over at The Green Room Interiors on Facebook.  "Like us" and you won't miss a thing!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Wishing you all of the magic the season has to offer!

I'm taking a blog break until the first of the year.  Can't wait to see you back here in 2012!

Best to you and your family(ies)!

Kim

xxooxoxoxo

Color Coded Christmas

Do you remember when Christmas was usually done in red in green?

Source: everyday-houseblend.blogspot.com via Wanda on Pinterest

Even though we often still think of red and green as the traditional colors of the season, Christmas truly comes in every color!
Have a thing for purple?  

Source: houzz.com via Koshina on Pinterest

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Consuelo on Pinterest

I read somewhere that blue is America's favorite color.  Why not use it at Christmas, too?

Via

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I love the citrus colors Tobi Fairley used on her Christmas tree.  Would you decorate with orange and lime and lemon yellow at Christmas?

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Or what about just black and white?

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All great looks, agreed?  I'd love to know your Christmas colors this year!

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com

Merry and Bright!

I'm taking a little blog break for the holidays to spend time with my family and finish up many loose ends!  I will see you in the bright, shiny New Year!  Until then, enjoy these favorite Christmas images!

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Above 3 images from Country Living

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!!

Christmas Natural

I can't believe we're a whole week into December and not a Christmas post from me yet!  The truth is I'm not a big seasonal or holiday decorator, even at Christmastime!  What I do love to use are simple greens, pine cones, candles and branches- then mix in a little sparkle!  Hope you enjoy these Christmas images that have a simple, nature-inspired theme.

How is your Christmas decor coming along?

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com