Etsy Ornaments
moloco Bird | Smile Mercantile Pinecone | Corrina Field Handmade Blown Christmas Bauble | Miss Pottery Clay Mittens | Fischer Fine Arts Swedish Dala Horse | The Land of Craft Pinecone | Jess Vartanian Map
Set the Table: Holiday Dinner
Simple and festive is the ideal way to decorate your table for any holiday gathering. Here are my tips for setting your table with ease and beauty:
Live Plants Succulents from your local home and garden center are fairly inexpensive and can be combined in any vase or container for an easy centerpiece. The varied shapes of these plants will provide a subtle element of interest to your table.
Candles You can’t go wrong with flickering light at any holiday gathering. Use tapers in a bold color or place a votive at each place setting to provide a sense of coziness.
Linens An easy way to add color and texture to your table is with napkins and runners. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match fabrics and colors. These shown are from Rufflewood and Pottery Barn.
Place Setting Decor Use more than one item to create visual interest and add color (for instance, I alternated succulents and pears at each place setting).
Infinity chairs courtesy of Blueprint Studios.
Photos by the talented duo at Pictilio.
Gift Guide: Hostess
West Elm Throw | Dean & Deluca Honey | Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark | Rufflewood Linen Napkins | PlatesandNapkins.com Paper Napkins | Vosges Haut Chocolate Petits | Smitten Kitchen Cookbook | Del' Oliva Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar
And side note, these items can also be found on Delighted's Pinterest gift board. Happy giving!
Fall Home Finds
ONE. Navy Laurel Lamp, Serena & Lily $168
TWO. Yachting Plate Collage, Anthropologie $1,480
THREE. Preserved Topiary, Crate&Barrel $40
FOUR. Paper Crochet Pillow Cover, Pottery Barn $30
FIVE. Antique Early Century Rocker, Hindsvik $225
SIX. Ditsy Printed Floor Mat, West Elm $19
(originally published on pages 12-13 of the fall issue)
Baby Room
Hand Painted Trees on the Wall |
Giraffe Art Made with Hole Punched Paint Chips | Mobile Available on Etsy via Right.at.Helm |
Reupholstered Glider and Handmade Pillows |
Infant-focused decor It was important to me that the decor in Noelle's room not just be pretty, but stimulating for an infant. Infants like to look at objects with high contrast, so the tree decals and wall prints were designed to be simple and clean with clear edges. The hot air balloons and animal mobile were made with very light materials so that a gentle breeze would send them bobbing to keep her occupied.
Smart storage I kept the room clutter-free by keeping anything we use daily (e.g. diapers, wipes) in the top dresser drawer, and putting storage boxes under the crib skirt for blankets, sheets. Picture rails also allow us to display books and toys in easy reach.
Varied Textures Rich textures can really warm up a room and make it look sophisticated. I chose fabric that had a thicker weave for her pillows and added chunky-knit throws and blankets. A basket and some pinecones brought in more organic textures but were painted grey to keep it in the color palette.
Photos by Cheryl Lim Tan of Right.at.Helm
Linzy's Cheerfully Modern Studio
Linzy is an architectural designer from San Francisco and created a living space that is not only stylish but super functional...and it's small! See pages 14-27 of Delighted's summer issue for more photos.
Interview with Linzy Griswold
Age: 32
City: San Francisco
Profession: Architectural Designer
How would you describe your decorating style?
Cheerfully modern
Where do you look for design inspiration?
I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by design inspiration every day as part of my profession, however I find the best source of inspiration is an accidental encounter best discovered by looking around…Also, I am a close follower of design/photography/fashion blogs, love to follow local artists, and most of all, find inspiration from travel.
How many square feet is your studio?
450 sf (there’s no better activity for a foggy Sunday than measuring one’s apartment!)
What key features did you look for when choosing a studio?
Location, price (out of necessity), an updated kitchen (hello dishwasher!) and decent mid-day light, although the adjacent buildings are a stone’s throw away.
What feature in your current apartment is your favorite?
Tall ceilings, although standard to many older San Francisco apartments, helps the space appear larger than it is. Also, I was able to find a studio with a dining nook that allows me to entertain without feeling too crowded. I must admit, the saving grace of my studio is the oversized walk-in closet, which was originally a sleeping alcove and now houses all my clothes, shoes and books.
What decorating tips would you give to other studio dwellers?
Before you move into a studio, purge! Also, if possible, the furniture should be proportionate to the space so that the rooms are not cluttered. Try experimenting with pops of color and do not be afraid to mix things up a bit from season to season. One can always rotate art on the walls and change out pillows or a bedspread so that the space feels new again. Make your space personal by creating small vignettes on shelves or tables and add touches of greenery with low-maintenance plants (succulents and air plants are simple, sculptural and work with many types of décor). Don’t forget about fresh flowers…a never-fail means for instant rental blues therapy.
What pieces do you splurge on? Save on?
I try to take advantage of design discounts whenever possible (hence the Eames chairs I have started collecting). Spend a bit more on pieces that you can foresee having in 15 years…and save on items that may be temporary.
What is your favorite piece of furniture or artwork?
This is a tough one…The New York bandshell photograph my boyfriend took that reminds me of New York in a subtle way, some prints by Jay Ryan that give a youthful feel to my space and the handblown glass hanging terrarium in my kitchen.
Interview with Linzy Griswold | Photos by Steve Spiering