Napkin Blings

How to enlist brooches and strands of colorful beads to brighten your place settings.

Photography by Hillary Black

Around the holidays we reach into our closets and jewelry boxes to find those familiar seasonal favorites we will wear again, from sweaters to pins to socks and scarves. For your next party, gather a selection of brooches from your collection, or visit a favorite thrift shop or antique mall. Combine the pins with strands of beads or ribbons and fashion simple napkin rings that will add sparkle and fun to your dining table.

Out of Control

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock.com

The other evening my husband stumbled onto a household dilemma. He aimed the remote to the television but there was no movement, just the same talking head on CNN complaining about this or that. What followed next amused me: lots of slapping the energy bar-sized remote against his palm, some fidgeting with the controls, and even a dissection of its back panel to test the batteries. Allan is not the type who can land on one station and be content for the evening, thus it was an early night for him.

The quandary did not end there. He contacted the company that makes our television, spoke to techie friends for advice and even budgeted time the following day to go to the hardware store to fetch new batteries. Nothing worked.

I could not help but recall the days of my youth, when there were only 13 channels that were changed by the interaction of human touch to the television dial. Yes, you had to get up out of your seat! In the later hours, programs would be replaced by a block of colored strips that aired to a sound that could deafen an animal. Ignorance is bliss, as this system worked.

We haven’t yet left the warmer months in which watching television while summer activities beckon should be an anathema. While the warm weather lasts, test it out—see what would happen if you went without a television and what would be missed.

By Jacqueline deMontravel

Top Ten: Tricks to Keeping Your Home Bright in Autumn

As the days get shorter, your home craves natural light. Here are some easy ways to trick Mother Nature.

1. Remove the clutter. Bundles of unnecessary odds and ends absorb light.

2. Select brighter linens for the bedroom and bath.

3. Replace worn rugs or give your hardwood floors a spiffy clean and show off their natural splendor.

4. Keep bushy green house plants to a minimum.

5. Employ candles and votives to cast soft, romantic rays.

6. Lighten up your window treatments and select ones    that can be easily drawn open.

7. Swap dark lampshades for warm, creamy varieties in soft tones.

8. Freshen walls with a new coat of paint or refresh trimmings with white paint.

9. Add lamps or candelabras to the corners of a room.

10. Bring in sun-catching accessories, such as mirrors and clear glass.

Photography by Jaimee Itagaki

Styled by Jacqueline deMontravel

Kitchen Decor Ideas – A Place to Nourish Body and Soul

It is where a dinner party eventually settles; guests slip into a relaxed ease and speak freely. This is the ideal place for the first, innocent kiss as the guise of dining chairs is less pressured than a sofa. Secrets are revealed here. There is something about a kitchen that breaks down formality and makes you feel comfortable.

I’ve often thought about my kitchen design. There would be large windows, perhaps in the vintage casement style, with a row of cachepots blooming with herbs. A white tile backsplash punctuated with blue etchings of Dutch farmers carrying bales of wheat. Copper pots would dangle above the deep farmer’s sink. This vision was quite similar to the kitchen that belonged to my husband, Allan, when we first met. My family even remarked on how uncannily similar his style was to my own.

Though I did not marry him because he came with the right kitchen, I did envision all the events that were to take place in this magnificent space. The accent color is bottle green, featured in the cabinets and vintage accessories such as a tin breadbox and blender. Allan’s seltzer-bottle collection, the remaining survivors of a few earthquakes, hold guard above the cabinets. We’ve meddled with recipes. He’s watched me go through a container of my favorite ice cream. I’ve helped my stepdaughter with school reports at the tall vintage table. The classic setting fits the events that occur here.     

By Jacqueline deMontravel
Photograph by JaimeeItagaki

Top Ten Timeless Accessories

Want to buy some time and look great forever? While this is not an ad for the latest advancement in cosmetic surgery, these timeless accessories are perfect for every Well Styled Room.

1. Personal memorabilia, such as photos and letters
2. Vintage perfume bottles
3. Silver pieces
4. Anything with animal print
5. Crystal bar accessories
6. Coffee-table books
7. Heavy-stock stationery
8. Wool throws
9. Leather trays
10. A classic chair or chaise upholstered in high-quality fabric

Photography by Jaimee Itagaki

Christmas Cookie Cardamom Ornaments

Deck the halls with beautiful edibles that double as party favors, too.

While you are baking up a batch of  holiday cookies, consider making a few extras to adorn the tree or use as personalized party favors.  Your home will be filled with wonderful scents, from cinnamon to vanilla.

Design an edible vignette to decorate a table; or gather items in a pretty box or basket. Find pieces you can dress up for the holidays. For example, a red ribbon can turn a stoneware tureen into a cookie holder. Or display cookie cutters in a vase or jar. Trays of candies, fruits and nuts make beautiful displays. Look no further than your kitchen to find easy ways to decorate and please the senses at the same time.
The Snowflake, the Ornament and the Bell cookie cutter make great shapes for the Cardamom Cookies. Visit annclark.com.

Cardamom Cookies
Makes approx. 18
Note: Cardamom is a pungent spice available as whole pods, seeds, or finely ground. It’s best to buy pre-ground, but make sure it’s fresh.

Beat with an electric mixer until blended:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Add and beat until fluffy:
½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar

Add and mix until completely incorporated:
1 large egg yolk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk together and add:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour,  1 teaspoon ground cardamom, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt

Mix just until all ingredients are well blended; do not overmix. Chill dough for 3-4 hours before rolling. Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough out on a lightly floured counter to 1/4-inch thickness and cut, then transfer cookies onto cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper or silicone liners. Cut decorative patterns in the cookies if desired. Using a pastry brush, brush each cookie lightly with water, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly colored. Let cookies cool slightly on cookie sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Frost, if desired, with royal icing.

Royal Icing
In a mixing bowl, combine 1 lb. confectioners’ sugar, 3 Tablespoons meringue powder, and 6 Tablespoons warm water; mix on medium speed for 5 minutes. Icing will be the right consistency for piping.

How to Find the Perfect Faucet for You

Bathroom faucets aren’t’ just about functionality; they also show off your personal style and pull together all of the decorating elements that make up your bathroom.

Shopping for the perfect faucet is tough because there are myriad sizes, designs and finishes available to choose from.

3 Steps to Finding a Faucet You’ll Love

1. Pink your sink. The type of sink you’ll choose absolutely determines what style of faucet application you need.
2. Pick a style and finish that complements your décor. For example, if you’re going for a cottage look in your bathroom, you might choose an oil-rubbed finish with some curves. If your design is more contemporary, consider sleeker lines and a nickel finish.
3. Do you want the extras? Some of the newer trends in faucets include a detachable sprayer, interchangeable handles, built-in programmable temperature controls and duo finish treatments.

Buyer Beware: Love the look of those shallow sinks that are mounted on the countertop? Then choose your faucet style and placement carefully. If the water doesn’t flow out fairly close to the vessel, you’ll have lots of splashes to clean up. A vessel sink with higher sides can help contain splashing.

By Kelly Lloyd
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock.com.