{DAY 2} Festive Flair

Yesterday was about the adult's table so today we're going to take a turn to toddler and tween town and share our fave ideas for their table!  Not everyone may have a separate table for the short set in the group, instead opting for an all in one family table.  Several of these ideas would work in that scenario as well, or can be used on an all adult table too (who says it has to be all formal and stiff?)!  However, in my family, there is absolute need for a kids' table since there are sooooo many kids on each side of the family, including the three crazy ones I 'bring to the table'...pun totally intended ;). 

This first kids' table is very dreamy, but I realize it's not all that practical for most of us :)  I REALLY love the idea of this. I think i'll consider getting my Paul Bunion on and collect the wood in time for a fun spring soiree :)

In my opinion, it's a must to cover the kids' table in brown paper (reverse side of shopping sacks perhaps?), or butcher paper.  This gives them a creative (and hopefully) quiet outlet to during dinner time, and the look kind of just goes with the Thanksgiving feel anyway, right?!..I love a purposeful chic element!  Once the table is covered, start layering it with all kinds of fun (interactive) decor pieces.  These are two our faves...

These next two are GREAT printable resources to give the kids.  

Done and done!

Thanksgiving Printables for Kids

More FREE Kid's Printables

Four Days of Festive Flair!

Today is the start of 4 days where we'll be dishing out our favorite ideas to make your Thanksgiving table oh-so Tres Chic!  We've searched high and low to compile only THE BEST ideas just for you!  Today through Wednesday you'll receive generous servings of Table-Scapes for both the adult and kids' tables, thoughtful Thanksgiving touches, DIY decor, and kids activities to keep them out of the kitchen!  

Today is all about the Table-Scaping.  We LOVE the look of this black and white runner paired with pops of color, while still keeping it looking "fall-sey".  A fresh new take to the typical table!

 
Soooooo Adore this Ruffled Runner!..and everything else too :)

There is so much to love about this table!  The pop of green with the apple..perfect!  Everything looks so organic and natural from the wood plank, to the wheat stalks, corn husks, array of mini pumpkins, and the color theme.  And let's not leave out the chairs ladies!..The decor on these one somewhat resembles a pilgrim's ruffled shirt!  Genius!  It appears that even that is organic since the ruffle itself is made from coffee filters :)  Super easy, totally chic, definitely unique.

Don't Forget to Table-scape your Sideboard!...(an LDV Sideboard perhaps??)  :)

In or Out we're ALL ABOUT flowers paired with pumpkins and the planters!  Perfect for a centerpiece, on the buffet,or scattered about the front steps.

 

What's on the Decor Menu for Tomorrow?...The Kid's Table!  Don't Miss Out!

A Shopping Soiree!!!

This is my kind of math:  

What do you get when you have 25% element of surprise + 25% limited time frame + 25% ALL High end Artisan Decor - ridiculous pricing + 25% Limited Quantity - Long Lines and Women Thrown' Elbows'?....

 

You get a big fat fabulous that = a 100% one of a kind online shopping soiree at Joss & Main!

Sure, there are a lot of these limited time offering sites for fashion and home decor with great curated collections, BUT what I have to honestly say (just between us as friends :) ) ...is that the items offered at Joss & Main are always stuff you are really going to freak for and totally want in your home to make the neighbors jealous!

Once the latest offerings draw you in and you are already super excited..you notice the sale price and nearly have a 'happy' heart attack!  Seriously, such great deals you don't want to miss.  It's about that time..love it or loath it..to get going on Santa's list, so if you want to be a gift giving goddess with amazing items to treat your mother in law, friend, boss, or sister with (they even have awesome stuff for the males in your life and kiddos too!) ... head no further than your sofa and click on to Joss & Main, and get the job done!

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{SPECIAL PROMO just for La Dolce Villa Fans}

I would NEVER want to mislead you to a shopping spot that couldn't live up to the hype! the 'Joss' hasn't disappointed me and I am sure you'll be hooked quick soon too (don't say I didn't warn you)   If nothing else, it's always fun to window shop there from the comfort of your jammies, and you'll keep up to date on decor.

**Joss & Main is a 'Member's Only' kind of place, so click the link below and get signed up FOR FREE in a matter a few seconds. This is a referral link from us at LDV, which gives you some street cred over there on the corner of Joss & Main...

Click Here to Get the Hook Up for FREE!!!!!

My British Invasion

One of my many design style obessions as of late is all things British...it's just Brilliant!  I do need to make the point however, that my love for the London look took root before the royal wedding.... Although it's not new that cutlural events are large contributors to the latests trends in fashion and home, I like to consider myself a little innovative-creative on occasion with my interor ideas.  Most ideas I come up with are based from my own inspirations, not those mass-produced ideas that are fed to us through all types of media, that are two seconds away from being seen on the shelves at Wal-Mart.  Moving right along... So what was the spark of this aesthetic for me? I wish I could put my finger on one particular thing, but this one was more like a bunch of little sparks that ignited a fire!  

First..who dosn't love the idea of anything Royal...I mean hello fairytale!  But I much prefer the look and 'regal royal' as opposed to 'pink princess'.

Second.."Bridget Jones' Diary", "About a Boy", "Love Actually", "Knotting Hill"...the list goes on and on...ending with "Absolutely Fabulous"... My personal Emmy Award list of English movies/shows...LOVE!

Third..I can't get enough of an English accent (unless it's coming from Madonna)..everything sounds better/smarter when said with such a tone, even curse words sound intelligent!

Fianlly..my family roots on both sides are from England :)

(Not included on the list is English food..bland and uninteresting by taste, but some of the names on the other hand are not so much..like "spotted dick"..a very popular UK desert..)

So with that partial list of inspiring ideas that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, it brought about a lot of visual ways to show that through interiors of course (my brain is wired weird like that)..  Some of my favorite eye candy on this style...

maderayzinc.blogspot.com

becauseitsawesome.blogspot.com

style-edition.com

thebeautifulsoup.com

 1.bp.blogspot.com

First room I plan to add some Union Jack to is my 5yr old son's.  I had already decided I wanted a nautical feel to his space, but not with sailboats and such, more of a vintage approach that would withstand the test of time and changing ages/interest.  I'm anti-theme, pro-mood/feel, although in my.  This is the vision board I put together for his design plan (in which I am a mean mom probably because I gave him no say in the matter...he'll probably either love it, or just not care either way)

A lot of my style obsessions will occasionally manifest themselves through our La Dolce Villa retail pieces...I just can resist sometimes when given a blank canvas and more ideas than time!  This was obviously the case with our fab Union Jack dresser/chest:

You may have asked yourself, "Well what is it, a dresser or a chest?!".. We've decided to give it the combo name since's it's taller than a standard chest (like a hope chest), but not quite the full height of a long or tall dresser.  It also as the added use option as a bench!  If you are very space challenged in your living area, you could add more function to it and put your TV on it as well.  Basically, this British-Inspired piece has a lot of bang for it's buck and endless style appeal.      

One Great thing Always Leads to Another....

For me, London will be calling for a while when it comes to my home decor, but it can easily evolve (like all great design) every other month or so, when i'm ready for a visual update in my space.  What's on my mind for that next step?...  An equestiran style flair that derived a little bit from the british feel i've been loving.  The look for this is sort of like London mixed with Scottland, then thrown accross 'the pond' to the east coast where it lands in The Hamptons.  Makes sense, right? :)  Here's a very subtle sneek peak:

..Unitl then, enjoy yourself some spotted dick desert with tea...

Redesigning Design

I have to be honest...I USED to believe that anything "affordable" was horrible.  Shopping at a certain mass-retail 'all in one' big box store was not just out of the question, but down right depressing.  Second hand (even if deemed 'vintage') was horrifyingly embarrassing and a store of such mothley merchandise was certainly not a place to step foot in, let alone bring something back to your home  from thee there...and then live with it.  Anything previously owned, even a home, was not a consideration.  I'm not proud of this fact, actually, my narrow-minded opinion on the matter is quite embarrassing to me.  I frequently feel the urge to offer a wide-spread apology to all those whom I would have offended, if I had voiced my opinion on the subject in any type of public setting.  I believe in taking the negative, lesson-learned situations in life, and using them to bring about a positive change.  I did just that and turned a very important page in my book, which began a new chapter in a frugality that brought about fabulous endings.

 Anther confession...I LOVE packaging, advertisements, glossy/sparkling product facades, and the latest and greatest of just about any type of product on the market (side note: fave marketed merchandise I can think of off hand...Victoria's Secret, Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren anything, endless brands of department store fragrances, the Cadillac Escilade..which turns out to be, in my opinion..substantially sub-par quality, and embarrassingly... Hello Kitty stuff..to name a few).  This hasn't changed even with my new shopping mindset, which I am perfectly okay with because of a little think called 'balance'.  See, in the past.. when presented with a retail opportunity of any kind, I always came away with a purchase(s) in hand,  especially when tied up well with a pretty bow.  I was an easy target in the exact demographic all the advertisement was aimed at...they always won.  Then I mentally woke up one day and realized what was going on. I was being duped by advertisements,  and the rhetoric they verbally and non-verbally fed me.  I felt kind of ridiculous at that thought, especially as a sat in a room filled with tagged items I had purchased over a year ago..and didn't even really care for them (hence the non-use/still tagged status).  Then a specific event happened that brought about my new awakening, which although I find to be embarrassing, I am forever greatful for in so many ways.  Each month when the bank statements came I paid no attention to them, didn't even open the envelope, it always went straight to the wastebasket, along with all the other 'boring' pieces of mail like the utility bills.  I hadn't had a credit card since college, when my mom paid off the monthly balance, and now I was married, my husband was great at his job, and provided a substantial living, which equipped me with a platinum status debit card and a lot of free time...that was quickly filled up with a daily shopping, and other such luxury time spenders.  A couple years into the money madness that I didn't think twice about managing, the monthly statement came right on schedule, and as usual I tossed it on the table (unopened of course), then headed out the door, with my new baby...to..you guessed it..shop! That night when my husband and I were winding down for the evening, he looked at me with surprise (not anger), opened bank statement in hand, saying, "did you know that you spent $45,178 last month and $46,382 this month on debit card purchases alone?!  What did you buy?!!"  This shocked the both of us since I struggled to determine the purchases to account for it all.  It was scary to think I had carelessly wasted just under $93,000 in only 2 months, with seemingly little to show for it.  Sure, the basic bills were paid from our debit account, but that only totaled roughly $8,000 per month.  I had bought some furniture as well, which was the only sizable purchase of the many I  had made within those months, but even that had still left a lot I lost in the daily frivilous spending.  I literally 'spent' my afternoons wasting money, with very little gain.  The spending shock caused me to slow it down a bit and find more constructive habits to fill my day.   I knew I was not stupid or shallow, but this was exactly what my behavior represented.  Now, flash forward a couple years from then, to the massive decline in the economy, which personally brought about a 180 degree change in my money mindset.  By nature I am creative and constructive, two traits which had previously been buried by my shopping obsession.  Those God-given traits were making their way back to the surface in the face of adversity, and I couldn't have been more grateful for the change, even though at first it sure didn't feel anything close to that!  After the sulking had subsided, mental clarity set in, along with an addicting amount of motivation.  

I had my typical need to redesign my home again, this time to accommodate my renewed spirit (which was really me just coming back in to who I truly am).  I thought about how annoying it was that I had purchased a $4000 entertainment center a few months prior, and it wasn't even what I really wanted for the family room anyway.  I liked it well enough, it was from a much adored retailer, but it wasn't doing anything for me, nor did it speak to my overall personal style that my home should represent.  I have always really, REALLY, loved...well, been completely obsessed with... interior design, color, textiles, and art since I was at least 9 years old (which was when I got my first subscription to Architectural Digest and spent my summer break watching hours of HGTV). I soon realized there is always more than one way to do pretty much everything.  The easiest, in interior design,  is typically the most expensive (see pretty= buy many, mentality to getting a room done).  But that leaves very little room to the imagination in designing a space.    Also, buying the most obvious (and well advertised) furniture and decor, deprives your home design of the self interpretation it desperately needs to make it comfortable, perfect, and different from all the other's in your town.  It was apparent to me at that point, that what the interior design industry lacked most was the high end look/style, we live to create, at an affordable rate.  Of course there are standard, mass produced, affordable interior options out there, but they leave a lot to be desired, and basically just aren't worth even the little amount of money they cost, especially if you don't LOVE it.  Having attained a lot of high end product experience/knowledge (see,  not all was lost in my frivillous endeavors), I knew what made these items 'high end', to somewhat justify the high end price.  It comes down to three aspects, quality materials, (usually) impeccable construction, and brand recognition.  The last of these (brand), it what we typically pay for most, it comprises the largest percentage of the overall cost.  Since so much $ goes into advertisement to build a brand,  the company needs the fabulous return on their investment.  I'm not discrediting advertisement and branding all together, don't get me wrong, there is a lot of ingenuity and creative genius that goes in to that which I truly respect, and it should be recognized and rewarded.

I began La Dolce Villa with the goal of changing the look of affordable interiors, to one that feels curated over time, is high quality, stylish, and aesthetically represents the individuals that reside there.  Every piece we produce and room I design, are done from an artistic point of view.  Colors, balance, scale, etc. will always be in harmony and flow effortlessly throughout the space.  My obsession with the industry and type of work I truly love to do, has me constantly keeping up on all the latest and greatest styles and design tools.  Most importantly though, I am in touch with reality, real budgets, people's lifestyles, and their personalities.  I listen to your needs, wants, and limitations, never imposing my personal opinions on what you should do.  Home design is always a collaborative effort between myself and the client(s), taking what you tell me and what I see, and orchestrating it into several flexible design plans for you to choose from.  What goes into these plans is my knowledge of interior design, high end styling/merchandise, and endless creativity.

'Home' can now be redefined with great design that truly represents it's residents.  Affordability has never been so beautiful and attainable.  Now is the time to not just live in your home, but really love your home!

Feather Your Bedroom Nest

I am so excited to be working with a fun couple in Lone Tree with the most adorable 1 year old daughter :).  Having my own toddlers at home, I know how important and deserved, any amount of sleep is (even if it's just a couple hours nightly)!  Making the most out of that precious little time is EVERYTHING, which is why a luxurious, retreat style setting, with high end hotel-like bedding is a top priority.  This is just what Jason and Lisa are getting in their redesigned master suite we're working on.  Below is the vision board I put together as the jumping off point for the room's aesthetic.

 The color scheme is espresso brown, bright white, with chrome/silver accents.  The look will be timeless, contemporary chic, with some focus on textures.  One priority in this project is the bedding.  This couple will be dreaming in all down...feathers that is.  With a new feather bed, high thread count sateen sheets, and the most marshmellowy like duvet we can get, nothing could be more inviting at the end of a day!  Not to mention the clean and crisp look it will be one they won't grown tired of any time soon, and keeping it looking brand new/clean is super easy..just bleach it when washing! Picking out down products (pillows, featherbeds, or duvets), isn't as simple as it seems, and since they vary so widely in price, it makes it all the more confusing.  Well, I'm about the make the process so much simpler and help you sleep better at night! The truth is, quality of down products is as much varied as the prices are online...the price does not always determine the quality level (this is true with just about everything your shopping for), but it does have some reflection of what's packed inside and how it was packed.  Here are the 3 things I've narrowed it down to in order to make the best purchase:

  I've learned more than I ever thought I needed to know when it comes to this fabulous type of bedding.  What I was most surprised about was that in the less/least expensive down comforters and feather beds, at best they have what is phrased as 'down top' and other variations on the same idea.  Sure this seems nice, I mean you're looking for a down feather bed to top our mattress or a duvet to top you..right?  That is the plan, but a down top means that just a thin (probably fairly sparse) layer of the feathers are actually down feathers, what lies beneath that is..well..water foul feathers..which to mean seems just..uh..foul!  It's not just that water foul feathers are the bottom barrel feathers (or should I say, bottom of the coop),  but they usually (pretty much always), have sharp quills, which undoubtably will poke through the duvet, feather, bed, or pillow, and is pretty much the opposite feel of comfort you were shopping for in the first place.  This brings me to another 'must have', which is 300 thread count cover.  Anything less than this will cause feathers, quills, what-have-you to sneak out and end up all over your room.  Before you know it, you'll be left with some cheap sheeting with a few foul feathers inside!  Lastly, baffled sewn through detailing is imperative since it creates cushy little boxes of feather filling that will stay there and keep the overall shape of the bedding. A lot of products will say that it's baffled, but it won't say that it's sewn through, which means it's not.  The feathers will shift all over the place and will quickly turn what once seemed 'luxe' to 'lumpy'.  Same goes with 'chaneled' sewn..no go on that style either.

I really LOVE a good deal, but know that a good deal isn't always the cheapest one.  If your down products contain ALL of the above three specifications,  you are getting a great deal in that it will be bedding you own and absolutely love for years and years, instead of weeks or months.  Replacing the purchase several times over always adds to be much more expensive, than the better quality item(s) were in the first place.  So shop and shop (probably best online) for down bedding to find the best price on items with all three qualifications.  Comparing cost of the same item on this will be a win/win..and you will be sleeping pretty!

Sittn' Pretty

I wrote a short while back about a wonderful couple I have the pleasure of working with in their new home, where we've been working with one of my favorite aesthetics..French Provincial.   Here's a flashback of the original mood board:

The design planning has been unfolding in their living and dining room, which are fairly open areas in the front of the home that you walk into from the entry.  Along with some of the furniture in the living room (coffee and side tables, sofa, corner accent chair), the dining table and chairs have been completed.  In the next few days I will post pics of that dining room..I know, I know, teasers are lame!  It's all about wanting to see it right now...At least that's how I feel :)  But I won't leave you hanging without some great preview shots of 2 of the chairs I finished last week, which I now have a personal obsession with!  It was hard parting with them, but they look even better in Erin and Jason's dining room than they do in the pictures I took of them below which is in a room in my home

These chairs had GREAT 'bones' to them and the cushioning was in incredible condition.  My guess is they were once in a dining room that was rarely used and were probably not ever owned by anyone other than the original people who bought them.  I rarely see chairs this old with upholstry/cushioning that well kept!  However with that being said, they were horribly outdated and had much better things in store for them!  Here is their humble begining 'before' shot:

This was like a Cinderalla story of chairs!  I just love a happy ending...which will be their place at a beautiful table setting with other like-styled seating, in a well designed setting :)  More to come....