PAPER LOVE = HOLIDAY DECOR

I find myself looking for ways to use paper in my holiday decor. Maybe it's because I like to change things up year after year in our guest room and den and so keeping budget in mind I need to be more creative using alternative resources. This has always been one of my favorite ideas from House Beautiful, and for some reason it never gets old.

via House Beautiful 

I tend to like things en masse, can't you just see these hanging in a window or down the middle of a table.

via Creative Meat

When I saw this photo it reminded me of one of my favorite event designers David Stark and the event he designed with laser cut flowers hanging from the ceiling.

via The Budget Savvy Bride

Loving these paper wings from Simple Joys Paperie...

via Simple Joys Paperie

Wouldn't they be great above a mantle!

Cute idea for a backdrop for photos for your holiday party pics, a few paper plates and party cups and voila!

via Jessi Haak Weddings

I can see this cluster of paper flowers and lanterns in white, gold, and silver hanging in an entryway or over a bar.

via Little Sooti

If simplicity is your middle name then this is perfection and SO easy.

via Pepper Design Blog

Tomorrow morning, my Ramblings with Bri from Design Love Fest, and  Rue Magazine!

OUR TREE THIS YEAR

To stuff or not to stuff, that is the question when you put up an artificial tree? We have three trees in our house. One in our living room, one in our guest bedroom, and one in our den - the two latter being live trees. In our living room we have a 9 foot flocked artificial tree, with both the traditional light and the retro (c-7) lights. Usually when I decorate an artificial tree I "stuff" it full of decor. I feel if it is artificial it should be over the top and make a statement. At least, that's how I felt in the past. Then this year I found bright, poppy, ornaments at Target that came in vibrant colors and in a variety of sizes. When I saw them they reminded me of the lamps that we have in the living room:

Maybe it's the shine of the lamp and the similar shine on the ornaments in red, coral, chartreuse, blue, raspberry, and purple...

But this time I felt like filling the tree with the ornaments was enough. I adore the variety of color and it just feels fun. The coral red stockings are hung by the chimney with care, tying in the decor that is already there. Oh, and the gazing ball on the coffee table reflects all of the lights on the tree.

Oh, yes, the tree skirt - chartreuse with a wide cuff of chartreuse sequins that compliment the ornaments on the tree and ties in with my favorite chartreuse cashmere throw.

What does your tree look like this year? Send me a picture of your tree or mantle and you just might see it here!

INEXPENSIVE HOLIDAY DECOR

I can't believe we are already to the holiday season! When I posted on Wednesday it seemed like I entered a time warp where the days moved so quickly. My days were filled with prepping for NY this week on the Nate Berkus Show, celebrating my mom's 83rd birthday, of course decorating the table for Thanksgiving, and refining my idea of what I wanted our house to feel like this holiday season. The most important thing to me was that I didn't spend the holiday week on my computer and on my cell phone. I actually stopped for a bit.

Now, I am back in the swing of things and have not only decked the halls actually found a new look for our tree this year. It is much more simple then years past but I was inspired by ornaments that I found at Target. I will share those this afternoon, until then here are some images that are inspiring me to look at inexpensive ornaments in a new light. I still have our office to decorate for the holidays and you just might see a take on a few of these images.

I am a huge fan of using colors tone on tone to create texture. Although these ornaments are inexpensive the look that you get has such impact.

via Delightfully Chic

I also love the pops of holiday decor, the jingle bell wreath around the head of the bust, and the pink toned wrapped packages at the end with the raspberry colored glass mixed in.

I LOVE this. It is so simple but the books being covered in white, the neutral tones, and the drama of the red ornamants hanging above it all. So simple, and yet here it is fabulous.

via Is and Chi

Sometimes the clear glass ornaments are my favorite. The light plays off of them, and you can add them in to fill up a tree or in this case create a chandelier. We are using these for a soiree this week where we are creating a champagne bubble lounge. Can't wait!

via Frou Frou Fashionista

After seeing this I may have to use this in our Master Bedroom this year as a take off a snow globe. I love the simplicity and the fact that you can create a story in each ornament.

via Country Living

Not really unique, but once again it does show you how focusing in one a color or two (in this case) can make inexpensive decor feel very well done. I love the mix of white vessels where the ornaments pick up on the color of the garland and the wreaths.

via Yours By Design

Stay tuned for pictures of the start of our holiday decor, and a few whimsical ideas for wreaths for both indoors and outdoors.

Deck the halls - the season has begun!

RAMBLINGS: PALOMA CONTRERAS

Along the road of my career and travels, I've been extremely fortunate to meet and work with an array of incredibly talented people. Ramblings is my way of picking their brain for more insight and juicy tidbits to share with you.

I had been reading Paloma Contreras blog La Dolce Vita long before she ever reached out to me. I was new to the blogsphere and I sent a tweet out about my mom being ill. Out of the blue, Paloma sent me a DM sending good thoughts out to me and my mom. I share that with you because the deeper I become involved in the blog community it is clear that it is a tool to build relationships with people from around the world - and they actually care enough to send a quick note to let you know they are thinking of you when you have a bad day.

Now the blog community is cheering for Paloma. Not just because of the success of her blog, but because she now the Founder and Editor of a new online magazine High Gloss that will be launching in the New Year. High Gloss Magazine is an online publication with the mission of providing readers with stylish inspiration for every facet of life. Paloma’s passion for the sweet life is reflected in the topics she explores daily from interior design, fashion and intriguing people to fabulous food and travel destinations. From a personal point of view, it is an exciting time in the world of online publications, but what is even more exciting is when you see good people do well.  Meet Paloma.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel. I do it at every opportunity! In my opinion, few things are as thrilling, enriching, inspiring, or cathartic as travel. Going to a place that is foreign for you, different from where you live, allows you to grow on a multitude of levels. It is fascinating to be in the midst of a different culture, surrounded by beautiful architecture, meeting new people, and reveling in the sights, tastes, and sounds. Travel is quite possibly the thing from which I draw the most inspiration in my life, whether I am going to a place that is new to me or revisiting a place that I know and love.

What career would you pursue if you weren’t doing what you do now?
Quite frankly, I don’t think there’s anything I would rather be doing. I was a high school Spanish teacher for nearly five years, I had a very brief stint in real estate, and then my path led me to where I am now. Creating High Gloss has been a complete dream. There have been days when I have been on location for a photo shoot for 10 hours, but it does not feel like work to me. It’s fun! Styling on shoots, coming up with the creative direction of High Gloss along with story ideas and the overall tone of the magazine thrills me. Sure, I work crazy hours and I never really “clock out”, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Which living person do you most admire?
I’m not sure that I can answer with just one person. I admire my mother for her devotion to her family and generosity of spirit, my husband, Fabian for being so incredibly supportive of my adventures, and on a less serious note, Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. I just love her sensibility and everything she does! Her husband Jeffrey is one lucky fellow!

What three things can’t you live without?
1. My Family: My husband who is my love and my best friend in the world and my sweet Cockapoo pup, Tate who is my loyal companion and an honorary editor at High Gloss since he spends so much time in my office with me.
2. Travel: There are few things I crave in the way that I crave travel. It is the most exhilarating thing for me.
3. The Internet: I am hooked on e-mail, blogging, social media, etc. Plus, I am on the computer all the time for the magazine.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Reality TV is probably one of my guiltiest pleasures. I love pretty much everything on Bravo: The Rachel Zoe Project, Flipping Out, The Real Housewives, Top Chef. I could go on and on! There is something so delightful about zoning out for an hour while watching other people’s shenanigans.

What is your favorite color combination?
For someone who loves design, it is difficult to choose just one combination, but I would probably go with orange and magenta, the colors that we used for the High Gloss website.

What is the favorite room in your house, and why?
My formal living room is my favorite room in my house. More than any other room in my home, it fits my aesthetic perfectly. It is a mix of traditional and modern, new and vintage, with a hint of glamour and plenty of color. It is a declaration of my style and says a lot about my family and our interests.

From this room, you would be able to tell that my husband and I love to travel, we have an affinity for vintage chairs and beautiful lamps, and that some of my favorite colors are orange, chocolate, and turquoise. Our home was newly built when we first purchased it four years ago. What started out as a cookie-cutter vanilla box has evolved into a lovely space through the addition of color, unique, vintage pieces, and personal touches.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
Oh gosh, I’m not sure. I’m sort of an open book, so I don’t know if there is anything about me that would be a huge surprise to anyone. I think this would actually be a really interesting question to ask the people who know me. If I had to pick one thing, it would be that Spanish was my first language. My parents are Spanish and Mexican and we still speak Spanish around our family. I also studied French for several years and went on to minor in Italian in college. I love languages!

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Arrogance. There is no need for it. So many people get to a point where they start to believe their own hype and they lose sight of what is really important and who they truly are. Humility will get you so much farther in life.

OUR BLUE CHRISTMAS

All of my life I have grown up with real trees for our Christmas tree, then a few years ago I bought a high end artificial tree and stuffed it with beautiful oversized red amaryllis, glittered branches, and berries, and glass red and white striped ornaments. It was stunning. Then I redecorated our living room and four years later this 8 ft beauty no longer looks like it fits in the front room. So, now I am moving that tree to our guest room and had to refresh this year and start new.

I am just in the beginning stages of designing the tree, but it is definitely going to be a blue Christmas for us for a few years to come. Here are a few of the pieces that live in this room...

A pair of these lovely peacock colored lamps flank each side of my Barbara Barry grey mohair sofa.

A vintage Porter Chair in a shade of blue - it is a bit darker than this but with the lighting - well, you get the point!

A pop of one of my favorite Schumacher fabrics, Mikey had to be in the shot!

I bought an 8ft flocked tree with a mix of white lights. Love it! It has both the white twinkle lights and the retro looking C7 bulbs. I had never thought of mixing the size of the bulbs but I wish I had.

Of course the classic blue ornaments will have to go on the tree, they tie in nicely with the Porter Chair.

I don't really want to go too thematic, but I have to say I was inspired by this peacock that I saw at the Rue Magazine launch party.

Then I saw these ornaments with peacock feathers inside a glass ornament. This is a bit subtle.

Then their is the wild side of me that wants to get rid of the peacock all together and fill the tree with disco balls, or ornaments that resemble them at least - now that is over the top!

I always so go big or go home. There isn't much that is subtle about me, so why start now right? Well, time will tell. I have to make a decision because this weekend is all about decking the halls.

What are you doing for holiday decor this year?

RUE AND BLUE

Yesterday I was flipping through the new issue of Rue Magazine and had to giggle with excitement. First of all, I was so impressed with the entire issue. I have had a chance to get to know the Editors Crystal from Plush Palate and Anne from City Sage, and not only are they talented but sweet as pie.

Cassie, aka Cassandra, from Coco +Kelley has been a friend of mine for a long time, over the past couple of years I have gotten to know the ever fashionable Erin from Apartment 34, and recently have become attached to Will from Bright Bazaar - all of whom contributed to making this issue of Rue fabulous.

Cassandra of Coco+Kelley via Rue Magazine

Erin of Apartment 34 via Rue Magazine

Will of Bright Bazaar via Rue Magazine

I owe a huge thank you to Bri from Design Love Fest who did an amazing job with the layout of the feature on my design studio.

via Rue Magazine

The issue is jam packed with amazing features from Windsor Smith to Bunny Williams. I fell in love with the feature on The Girls with Glasses, so chic, and ironically I began to design our Christmas tree this weekend and it just so happens that it is in the same color palette!

via Rue Magazine

If you are snowed in somewhere then it is the perfect time to check out the new issue of Rue, and this afternoon check back here for a sneak peek of the inspiration for our tree this year.

HAPPY CHIC: JONATHAN ADLER

Along the road of my career and travels, I've been extremely fortunate to meet and work with an array of incredibly talented people. Ramblings is my way of picking their brain for more insight and juicy tidbits to share with you.

Last week I had the honor to interview a person who I admire, and after meeting him in person I have to say I admire him even more.

via Apartment Therapy

Jonathan Adler is just a down to earth, and passionate, designer who says that design allows him to express his "naughty" side. The Downtown Seattle Nordstrom worked with Adler on his book launch Happy Chic Colors and Happy Chic Accessories.

via Mrs. Lilien

The Home Department at Nordstrom is carrying what I think is the largest Adler collection in Seattle. From laptop cases, to ceramics, books, and even iPhone covers. I was so excited that of course I had to buy a piece or two for Jonathan to sign. We started by talking about the release of his new books, his love for Seattle, along with his "Happy Chic" philosophy. I know the interview is a little long (7 minutes) but I took advantage of every minute!  Meet Jonathan.

Jonathan Adler Interview from Kelley Moore Creative Media on Vimeo.

I SURRENDER

Last week it was moving, and now this week, yes I have surrendered to the flu.

I know that you were expecting the Jonathan Adler interview this week, but unfortunately I have been sick in bed with this bug that I can't seem to shake. When I first got sick I thought, I'll get a ton of blogging and tweeting done. Yeah, no. I am not one of those people that gets sick and can work too. I rarely stop to get sick, so when I do I am out for the count.

So, with that said, I will be posting two Ramblings next week. And, yes, one will be my interview with Jonathan. I apologize for the delay!

Have a great weekend, and may you not get sick! Bundle up, it's cold outside. XO

PRETTY IN PINK

Throughout my life I have had a few embarrassing moments, and one of them involved these...

Until I was in college I thought flamingos were a figment of someones imagination, they designed them and some people put them in their yards. Then one day I was at Disneyland and the plastic flamingos started to move! Yes, I realized that they were actually living and breathing creatures.

Just to clarify, I'm not slow, I just hadn't been exposed to the real thing!  Since then, I have been a little obsessed with these kitschy characters. I have been wanting to find a way to use them adding a bit of whimsy to a design or party. Since I am not sure I could pull this look off...

I have decided to throw a party at our office space for the holidays. I wanted to find a way to throw a party and give back to a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Then it hit me! I am going to design a party full of flamingos, and it will benefit breast cancer.  I love it because flamingos at Christmas, it's whimsical and unexpected.  Now imagine our waterfront office, a dusting of snow, lights, and flamingos!  How can that not equal fun?

Speaking of whimsy and fun, my Ramblings today just happens to be the King of Happy Chic - Jonathan Adler.  Check back this afternoon!

REPURPOSE, REUSE, RECYCLE CHIC

We hear those words so frequently, and in my travels, and many a weekend of haunting flea markets and antique malls I see many pieces of furniture being used in creative ways or painted in a bold color. But, this Decades piece is brilliant. I love the modern lines of the white lacquer frame, and how they incorporated a mix of resurrected drawers in different finishes and textures.

This piece just has so much personality! I'm a lover of mixing the historical pieces with contemporary ones, and this is perfect in my eyes.  The best part, they will custom make yours in the height and width that you need for your space.

Now, is there a place to put it in our house? Don't worry honey, I'm not brining it home. ;)

WEEKEND INSPIRATION PART TWO

Yesterday I shared a bit of weekend reading inspiration, and I was going to lump this post in with that one but it seemed to merit it's own post. As many of you do, I read blogs throughout my work day and in some I see many inspirational images, others I find a great tip or two, and in others it feels a bit like smoke and mirrors. Then, this weekend I read Erin Gates post " Learning to Say No."

It was passed on to me by my friend Leah owner of Revival Home and Garden here in Seattle. Often when I go to Leah's shop I find that I am not only buying things but we have bonded over many a conversation about our career choices, the marketplace, authenticity, juggling family and career, and trying to focus on what we love when it seems like we are always feeling like we need to be more.

Being someone who had a successful event design and production company for many years, and then stepped away to pursue the path of television, books, products, etc, all I can say is kudos to Erin. I am so impressed with her clarity, honesty, and admire her decision to focus on what she has in front of her allowing her to live a more balanced life.

I can't tell you how many people ask me how I got on television, and as Erin says "we live in a TV centric culture," so it seems glamorous.  As much as I love television as a platform, it is hard work, with a very high risk reward factor to consider.  My advice is to remember that it isn't everything. I am learning that as well, and am expanding my business by  launching my event design and production company in 2011. I love to entertain and my talent remains in finding new ways to create experiences for other people.

Erin, thanks for being brave enough to say "no" and setting a great example in a world where it can seem like you can always be doing more.  You are right, there is nothing wrong with choosing to stay small doing what you love, and sharing your time with the people you love.

WEEKEND INSPIRATION PART ONE

Often on the weekends I find my self flipping through magazines, books, and blogs. Although many times it is related to my work I also find that because I find joy in looking at beautiful things, or reading an inspirational story, that it is my hobby. This weekend I was strolling through the book store and ran in to The Fashion File. The book was written by Janie Bryant who is the costume designer for the show Mad Men, and the illustrations are by Robert Best (known for his illustrations of Barbie).

It is full of fun sketches, this reminds me of my friend Chelsea, who has always been obsessed with this era...

She addresses hair styles...

...and makeup.

Bryant also discusses getting comfy, and understanding your body type. I am definitely...

...a pear.

She discusses the importance of the proper under garments...

...along with what she calls "lights out luxe."

Of course my favorite part, accessorizing.

And the various era of fashion - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

What would Mad Men be without tips for Don Draper? Like how to tie the perfect bow tie...

It is a treat to read, and makes me want to go through my closet and overhaul the entire thing before the new year.