A Sneak Peek at My TV Appearance Today on Wallpaper!

Tomorrow I will appear on Let’s Talk Live (local DC-based talk show on ABC affiliate, News Channel 8), which airs from 11am-12pm every week day.  My topic tomorrow is one of the hottest trends for 2012…wallpaper!  Most people cringe when I mention wallpaper, but I’m not talking about your mother’s outdated, archaic wallpaper with fruit and dated florals. Wallpaper today has taken on a whole new life and I am using it everywhere these days in my designs.  For those of you who cannot tune in tomorrow, I thought I would share a sneak peek of what I will be talking about.  I hope after seeing some of the latest wallpaper designs and innovative ways to use it, you will be as excited as I am to wallpaper the world!

Today’s manufacturers have really turned up the “heat” so to speak with the wallpaper options they are offering, making them irresistible to homeowners who are looking to add a little extra twist to their walls.  Today’s sophisticated wall coverings include beaded papers like those from Maya Romanoff  (called Bedazzled), mother of pearl collections, bold geometrics, metallics that look like faux finishes, and even papers embellished with Swarovski crystals, yes Swarovski!  Here are a few of my favorite wall covering collections that use all kinds of amazing materials and finishes…

{Maya Romanoff’s Bedazzled Collection.  I LOVE this stuff! We have samples you can peruse through in our studio.}

{Here is a hand-dyed paper from Romanoff’s studios that is embellished with stitching to look like leather. Wouldn’t this look great in a Belgian Chic-inspired room like those seen in Restoration Hardware? I love this paper and can’t wait to use it on an upcoming client project.}

{For those of you who love Mother of Pearl, Maya Romanoff offers a lavish option for your walls. Truly decadent!}

{Here is a Carl Robinson collection that is cork that is flecked with a metallic finish and finished off with the large pattern.  Isn’t it stunning and truly unique?  Carl Robinson offers some amazing wall covering options.  If you love wallpaper, you definitely want to check out his site.}

{This Romanoff creation is made out of wool, yes wool.  It is a great option for something unique and totally unexpected on your walls.}

{This Adore Collection by Kandola is truly one of the most expensive and extravagent wallpaper options on the market in that it is embellished with Swarovski crystals, yes Swarovski!  This choice is definitely not for the faint of heart.}

Not only is wallpaper making a comeback with all the new textures and finishes, but also we are using it in new and distinct ways to dress up the home and offices we work on.

{Here is an example of a house we completed last year in the Pallisades in DC where we dressed up the ceiling with this stunning wallpaper from Seabrook. Doesn’t it look like a faux finish? This type of look historically could only be achieved with paint and a very talented decorative painter, but today, it is a breeze with wallpaper.  Our wallpaper hanger extraordinaire, Ami Byers of Byers Wallpaper & Painting, made this ceiling really shine!}

{Here is another example of how to use wallpaper to create a strong focal point or accent wall.  This nursery was done by Sarah Willis who works on my staff for a personal friend of hers.  The homeowner wanted to add a little drama to the space, without going too over the top, and wanted the nursery to have a more “grown-up” feel to it.  This Seabrook wallpaper was just the answer she was looking for! Way to go Sarah; the room is stunning!}

{This photo demonstrates one of the more creative ways to use wallpaper—at the back of shelving to make it pop!  I absolutely love geometrics and this wall unit is to die for with the addition of the wall covering.  Don’t you think?}

{As an avid pet lover, I ABSOLUTElY ADORE this last idea.  Here is a wallpaper line that can be custom-made to suit your whimsy. If you look closely, this paper is modeled after the cute little dog who is sitting in the chair. This is a new trend that is starting to take off and I can’t wait to use it on an upcoming client project! This particular wall covering is offered through Eleanor Grosch.}

I hope you will tune in tomorrow to get all the details, but if you can’t, we will be posting the video on our YouTube Channel as soon as it is available.

Have a blissful and happy weekend!

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Let’s Talk Live Appearance this Friday!

Don’t miss my discussion Friday, January 6th on Let’s Talk Live which airs on channel 8 at 11AM. I will be discussing 2012’s hottest design trend: wallpaper! I hope you will tune in.

If you miss it, we will be posting the videos very soon here, on our website and on our youtube channel.  My previous guest appearances on Let’s Talk Live and my decorating videos have already been posted on our youtube channel for you to view. Be sure to check them out and I hope you will tune in Friday!

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Our Holiday Celebration…Both Merry & Bright

This year Décor by Denise hosted its very first holiday party in our new studio in the heart of Vienna, VA. I had planned to share this post with you before Christmas, but with all the holiday travel, parties, shopping and preparation…I am running a bit behind.

To celebrate the holidays with our colleagues, clients and friends we decided on a cookie swap and white elephant gift exchange; this made for some great cookies and some amazing presents! We decked out our office in holiday garb, invited our guests, and enjoyed great food and conversation.  Here are a few of the highlights.

{First, we decorated our studio for the season. With the decorations up and the Christmas music on, our office was transformed from our place of work, to a festive party environment where our guests could relax and get in the holiday spirit. We had our guests put their white elephant gifts under the tree until we were ready to start the gift exchange.}

{As guests arrived we placed their cookies on the “swap table.” A cookie exchange is a great way to simplify your holiday baking. Invite a group of friends and have each person make 3-4 dozen of their favorite holiday cookie. At the party, sample the treats, then trade and package them in appealing assortments. We made personalized holiday cookie bags with our logo on them for guests to gather their treats to take home.}

{Another great idea (if space allows) is to set up a packing station. Guests will be able to decorate their own cookie boxes and later distribute their tasty packages as gifts. White boxes, ribbons, twine, glue, scissors, stickers, glitter and baking papers should be just the right ingredients to get your party-goers creative juices flowing.  Source:  marthastewart.com.}

Last year I participated in Janus et Cie’s holiday cookie party where I had to not only bake my favorite cookie, but also had to decorate a cookie box. Both were judged by local experts.  It was a lot of fun and provided a unique twist on the traditional cookie exchange party.

But, I digress…back to our party…

{After sampling cookies we started our white elephant gift exchange. I had a little helper.  Gina’s son, Chase, assisted me in opening my present. Gina is our new marketing director and has been a big asset to the Decor by Denise team.  The group debated over weather the small or large packages would reap more reward.  I chose a medium sized package and was pleasantly surprised with my gift. What was it you ask? Only the season’s hottest trend…FUR!  Chase is absolutely adorable.}

{Here is part of the gift I took home…a fur wine stole from Pottery Barn. Isn’t it stunning?  I love it!!! It is the best secret Santa gift I have ever received.}

{Here, Sarah and I are demonstrating to our guests how the cute little stole works.   Perfect, my wine will be all dressed-up this holiday season!}

{Sarah received another highly sought after gift, embroidered hand towels from guest Kaire Biberaj of European Design, Inc.  Sarah didn’t get to hold onto them long as her gift was picked to be traded.}

{The fun continued as more guests opened presents, some silly, some homemade and some edible. Here Patty (from DirectConnect, our credit card processing company), opens up her gift.}

We had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays together in our new space.  We sincerely hope your celebrations this holiday season were both merry and bright.

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Don’t Forget Your Furry Friends

It’s common practice to make your neighbors a baked good during the holidays.  But, have you considered their four-legged family members? They like treats too!  I know my dogs, Jake (a 15 pound Chihuahua-Pug mix) and Edward (a 6 pound black and white Chihuahua) go absolutely crazy when they even remotely hear words that sound like “treats.” So, this holiday season I decided to delight the dogs in my life with some homemade doggie treats.

I looked for a recipe online that received high ratings from reviewers. Since I could not taste test the results, I had to rely on the reviews of others who has tested the treats on their dogs.   Here’s the recipe I decided on from allrecipes.com (I added a few tweaks below):

Yummy Dog Biscuits

• 1 cup rolled oats (this is just loose oatmeal)
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1/3 cup peanut butter (this was an addition recommended by a reviewer)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth (again, this was another addition that was recommended instead of the milk that the original recipe called for)
• 1 egg beaten
• 3 cups whole wheat flour

I actually doubled the recipe because we wanted to provide treats to quite a few furry friends, but just one batch will do if you only need enough treats for 2-3 dogs.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, margarine and boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes. Grease cookie sheets (I used the leftover margarine stick and had my little helpers smear it onto the sheets).
2. Thoroughly mix cornmeal, sugar, chicken broth, peanut butter and egg. Mix in flour, 1 cup at a time, until a stiff dough has formed.
3. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, mixing in additional flour as necessary until dough is smooth and no longer sticky. Roll or pat out dough to 1/2″ thickness. Cut with cookie cutter (I used holiday shapes–christmas trees, snowflakes, candy canes–and a standard dog bone cookie cutter that I purchased at Micheals for our treats), and place them approximately 1″ apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
4. Bake 35 to 45 minutes (our oven required 40 minutes) in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Cool before serving. Store in a loosely covered container.

With recipe and ingredients in hand, I worked one Sunday afternoon with a friend’s little ones to make the treats for my dogs, their dog and their neighbor’s dogs.

Way before baking day I had visited Michaels and found these adorable containers that I thought would be perfect for storing our treats and giving them out as gifts.

{Here’s one of the containers, santa!   Isn’t he adorable?  This one was slated for the kid’s dog, a black lab. Other containers we used were a court jester and a gingerbread man–all super cute!  These containers really made our gifts come to life!}

I also purchased several cookie cutters in the shapes of Christmas trees, snowflakes, candy canes and dog bones to make our treats look extra special.  With all the ingredients purchased and the containers and cookie cutters bought, we were ready to start the baking process.

{After mixing in all the ingredients, we were ready to start rolling out the dough. Here the kids are working on the first batch.  The rolling of the dough was super fun for the kids.}

{Here we are using our Christmas cookie cutters to make shapes out of the dough. This was the first one completed.  We were so excited!!! (especially because the first batch I tried was a total flop…because I forgot to use the proper amount of flour to keep the dough from sticking to the wax paper… so the dough stuck and never got unstuck.  I had to throw it all away and start all over…not fun!}

{After cutting and cooking, 40 minutes later…voila…the finished product!  This was our first batch. This process went on for 3.5 hours, yes, 3.5 hours to complete all the cookies and the kids never tired. It was a lot of fun to see how excited they got throughout the process. They were quite the little bakers.}

{No baking job is successful without a taste-test.  Since none of us was willing to test the treats, we decide to unleash my furry guys and let ’em at it.  Here’s little Edward scarfing down his first treat.  Success! Our first customer loves them!  When we delivered the first batch to the neighbor’s dog he kept sniffing under the tree where his family put his treats and wouldn’t stop until someone opened the container and gave him a sample.  We were thrilled at his response.}

I had a wonderful time sharing this activity with the kids and our doggie friends loved their Christmas treats.  This holiday season, if you are looking to fill a few puppy stockings, try these doggie biscuits – they were a grand slam in our neighborhood.  Happy Holidays!

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Mix and Match for a Tantalizing Tablescape this Holiday

We are in the throes of holiday entertaining and much of our time in the weeks to come will be spent around our dining room tables. I am sure you have given consideration to what YOU will be wearing this holiday but, have you considered your table – the mecca of holiday fetes. I love to mix up patterns of china and dinnerware for a festive and whimsical look. Matching dishes are no longer a requirement for a stunning table, here are a few looks I love and I think you will to.

{This look from House Beautiful is meant to conjure a classic look with personal touches.  They have mixed new and vintage china and forgone place mats, incorporating color with chargers instead.}

{This table setting was featured in a recent issue of Rue Magazine. Designer Scot Meacham Wood paired floral, silver, crystal and tartan to set the mood for an elegant winter dinner. I love adding warmth to a table this time of year, to achieve this look pair tartan napkins with red roses in silver vases and don’t forget your candle light.}

{Domino Magazine features a dramatic table setting in this photo. Floral china has been paired with contrasting geometric patterned china. The centerpiece is an arrangement of tea lights, tiny vases, wine decanters, and wine and water glasses.  You probably have everything you need right in your home to achieve this look; just try different things, patterns you might not usually pair can make for a chic work of tablescape art.}

{Last, but certainly not least Lonny Magazine displays a table setting that is sure to impress your guests this holiday. They have skillfully incorporated different textures, patterns and color into this table setting. Black and gold remain the central theme keeping this look cohesive, while a seasonal centerpiece ties it all together.}

I hope these table tops have given you some inspiration. You don’t have to break the holiday bank to master these looks – trade pieces of china with family or friends, check out retailers like Anthropologie who do some of the mixing and matching for you, or look for second-hand pieces of china. With family and friends around your table you can’t go wrong, happy holidays.

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Animal Print: It’s in our wardrobes, why not in your home?

I took a trip to Tysons Galleria recently and something really stood out to me in almost every store window: bold animal prints on both clothes and accessories. When I returned home and hung up my new purchases, I realized that I also have a prominent animal print collection in my own wardrobe. I love animal prints in moderation; in fact, many people use them in both their wardrobes and homes to act as a neutral.

A small splash of animal print can go a long way in a room. An easy place to start incorporating it is with your accessories. This can be done with pillows, storage baskets, rugs, and when you are feeling a bit more adventurous maybe on a chair. The key is balancing these often bold prints with solid pieces so they don’t overwhelm your space.

{One member of the Decor by Denise team uses this Ballard Designs leopard print rug in Ivory under a coffee table in her living room to add some edge to the formal space}

{This zebra print ottoman is the perfect accessory for this console table. The pink flowers add a feminine touch and a pop of color to complete this look}

{Actress Amy Smart uses a cheetah print runner on the staircase in her entryway to spice up an otherwise traditional foyer, love it! Instyle Magazine}

{ The chocolate zebra striped bench in this photo is the perfect complement to the rich brown color palette adorning this living room. And don’t you just love that chandelier?}

 {In this photo there is more than one animal print; this can be tricky to do but this unknown designer has pulled it off beautifully. The muted colored walls act as an anchor making the accessories work together.  I have a mock zebra rug under my desk in my studio   I LOVE the exotic feel it gives to my workspace.}

And if you still don’t believe me that animal prints are hot, take one look at this recent Kardashian photo. It proves that these exotic prints are “in” for at least a few more seasons.

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

These are a few of my favorite things…

The winter holiday season has arrived and it’s time to decorate your home accordingly. My favorite part of holiday decorating is bringing out my cherished holiday decorations every year and getting reacquainted with them, it’s like seeing an old friend.  I also enjoy incorporating new festive “finds” into my seasonal décor. This year retailers have much for you to choose from–here are a few of my favorite 2011 holiday furnishings. Enjoy!

{Garnet Hill has some unique holiday finds.  As mentioned in our previous blog, feathers are everywhere this season. This double-sided wreath offers both simplicity and elegance. Hang the feathered wreath on a wall or door.  Cozy it up on an indoor bench for a chic winter look or use it as a candle ring to create an interesting centerpiece (just be sure to use an artificial candle!)}

{Pottery Barn has an amazing collection of Hanukkah tabletop accessories this year including a table throw, plates, an antique pewter Menorah and much more in a palette of soft blues, silvers and golds for a time-softened effect. The accessories work together to make for a classic and festive look.}

{Nothing emanates that special holiday feeling quite like real greenery. I love preserved boxwood wreaths; they are not cheap but you can accessorize these wreaths with different ribbons for year round use. Check out the Helen Olivia showroom in Alexandria for more ideas and pricing.}

{Dazzling candlestick holders are essential to every mantle; now our friends at Front Gate have created the perfect candles to go in them. These new battery-operated Dream Candles come with a remote control and are virtually indistinguishable from an actual burning candle. The candles use electromagnetics combined with LED lights to produce a unique artificial flame. I think it’s a DREAM to not have to worry about my house catching on fire while I am entertaining my guests on Christmas Eve.}

{Serene Green is the biggest holiday tree decorating trend this year and Crate & Barrel has harnessed that look in these glitter stripe ball ornaments. Garnish your tree with hints of glittery silvers and shimmery lime greens for a refreshingly new holiday look.  This fresh paler version of green is ever so ‘hot’ this year in holiday decorating.  In fact, we used a version of this color on a tree we decorated this week for the Junior League of Washington’s annual fundraiser, A Capital Collection of Holiday Shops.  The ornaments we used are only available to the trade, but these stunners are easily purchased to adorn your tree at Crate and Barrel.}

{Give your appetizers an accessory this holiday season with Nora Fleming’s square serving platter. This white artisan-crafted ceramic platter features decorative toppers that tailor it to suit any season or occasion.}

{A recent addition to ‘My List of Favorite Things for Holiday Decorating’ is ostrich feathers, yes ostrich feathers.  Sarah and I decorated a tree this week where these beauties were critical to bringing our “Old Hollywood Glam” theme to life.  You can purchase them online at Save On Crafts.  Check out the photo below to see how we used these stunners on our tree.}

{Here you can see how we used the ostrich feathers to bring the “Old Hollywood Glam” theme to life.  These amazing items provided just the right backdrop for all the other elements–including crystal sprays and ornaments, sapphire blue embellishments, quince colored high glam ornaments, and silver and white adornments–that came together to create the glamorous “look” we were going for.  This tree will be auctioned off this weekend for charity.}

 {Here is a closeup picture so that you can see the feathers and all the ornaments in detail.  Aren’t they just stunning?  Each element was hand-picked to achieve the final high-glam look.  I hope it went for a considerable amount last night to benefit The Junior League of Washington and their charities.}

{Another item that has become part of my ‘signature look’ for tree toppers is faux crystal sprays.  I just LOVE them and haven’t done a tree in about three years that doesn’t incorporate them at the top to make a huge impact.  You can buy these amazing pieces at various bridal and floral shops, as well as Save On Crafts.}

 {Here you can see a zoomed view of the tree topper with crystals that Sarah and I decorated last year for a holiday party we held for our clients at the Habatat Gallery.  Don’t you agree that these crystal adornments make a huge statement at the top of the tree?}

{And, here is a photo of my own Christmas tree from four years ago when I first started to fall in love with crystal sprays. This tree was published in the Washingtonian and is still my absolute favorite tree of all time.}

{Finally last, but certainly not least, I absolutely LOVE fresh greenery.  The Magnolia Company is one of the best at providing fresh greenery that also has longevity.  Here, fresh bunches of magnolia, boxwood, firs and cedars intermingle in this fresh wreath for the holidays.  Add a matching garland and create a stunning entry for your home this season. And, you can’t beat the smell of fresh greenery…it is to die for!}

I hope I have inspired you to pull out your favorite holiday trimmings from storage or to seek out a few new ones to add to your existing collection.  Either way, I wish you and yours a joyous time decorating your house and filling it with the holiday spirit.

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Feathers Feathers Everywhere

One of this year’s biggest winter trends is feathers. They are being worn as hair accessories, are intertwined in jewelry, fashioned to clothing and are even popping up in seasonal home decor.

This year our team is incorporating feathers into the holiday tree we are decorating for the Junior League of Washington’s largest and oldest fundraiser, A Capital Collection of Holiday Shops. The theme of our tree is “Hollywood Glam,” so white feathers were incorporated into the tree design, which will come together Thursday, December 1st in preparation for the weekend-long event that starts Friday, December 2nd and goes through Sunday, December 4th.

Feathers invoke a whimsical feeling perfect for the holidays. Here are a few tips on how you can add feathers to your winter wonderland.

{A great place to start is your holiday tree. Retailers like Pier One Imports and West Elm are catering to the feather frenzy this holiday season. They have plenty of ornaments garnished with feathers both inside and out.}

{If you are interested in making this look for less, purchase clear glass sphere ornaments and feathers from your local craft store and glue feathers to the outside of the bulbs}

{Add pop and texture to your colored glass ball ornaments; glue patterned and bold hued feathers near the top of the ball next to the metal clamp.}

{Wreaths are another place you can incorporate feathers. The wreath pictured above is simple and clean emanating understated elegance. Check out sites like Etsy.com for an expansive selection of feathered wreaths.}

{Who needs garland this year when you have feathers? Deck the halls and your banister with white lights entwined with feather trim.}

{Table top feather trees are a great way to dress up a console table in your home’s foyer or dazzle a dining table. Simple ornaments with a theme or bright color scheme work best.}

When you are pulling your holiday decorations out of their boxes this year consider how you can incorporate feathers. They are glamorous and chic and will bring your home good tidings this season. Happy Decorating!

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Stripes Aren’t Only for the Runway

Are you looking to change the visual architecture of a space? Perhaps you want to make a room in your home look larger or make the ceiling look taller, but are physically able to knock down walls or heighten the ceiling.  Stripes may be just the answer you are looking for!  Stripes can be used in a room for many different reasons, and different looks can be achieved by varying the number of stripes, their proximity to each other, their width and their color. As a designer I use stripes for many different reasons when decorating a home, but most frequently I use them to visually extend a space or to convey a striking response.

Stripes can visually extend a space when painted on walls. Do you ever watch television shows like TLC’s What Not to Wear and hear Stacy London reprimand someone for wearing horizontal stripes on a bulkier frame? Well, the same rule applies to stripes in a room. Horizontal stripes give the illusion of expansion while vertical stripes make a room appear taller. Vertical stripes are a great tool to use in a room with low ceilings; the stripes will make the room appear loftier.

{The vertical stripes in this room visually extend the height of the ceiling of this bathroom.  The eye is drawn up, thus making the ceiling appear endless.  I discussed this technique for making a small bathroom appear larger on my recent TV appearance on  Let’s Talk Live. Check out the video here.}

Using stripes on your wall is also fun  and can make a style statement in any room. Need more drama? Use contrasting shades in bold stripes to create it. I used stripes in the home pictured below to reflect the homeowner’s love of fast cars. This is a preliminary shot of the room before all the furniture, window treatments, rug and accessories have been installed.  The homeowner is a professional athlete who needed help creating a fantastic pool table room. Stripes were the perfect solution. They embody the sense of fast cars, masculinity and fun, while, (most importantly), remaining stylish.

{These stripes are just one layer of the design of this room.  Once the other design elements are in place, this room will really come to life with the stripes playing a key role in unifying the space.}

Stripes can be used as accents to create visual interest. Whether, on a chair, pillow, drape, vase or rug, stripes can add the “wow factor” to a space, complimenting other textures and patterns in the room.

{Bold, jewel-toned blue stripes bring all the elements of this bedroom together for a cohesive vibrant look.}

Using stripes in your accessories is a good place to start if you are hesitant to put them on your walls; it is often best to start small and work new styles and patterns slowly into your home.  My favorite way of referring to this phased approach is…’Start Small, Think Big.’  After all, you may love Jennifer Lopez in her bold animal prints on the latest cover of In Style, but when you try a similar jacket on at your local TJ MAXX you can feel like a leopard with out its spots.

If you’re looking for a change in your home decor, try experimenting with stripes. They could raise your ceiling to new heights or become your new favorite decorating accessory.

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.

Decor by Denise is Growing

November is proving to be a busy month at Decor by Denise. We have numerous projects and holiday preparations underway, and we’re very pleased to announce that Gina Nash has joined the team as our new Director of Marketing. She has worked in marketing for seven years across a variety of industries, and has a background in business development, event planning and strategic marketing campaigns.

{Gina Nash, Director of Marketing}

Gina will apply her valuable experience to improving our website, developing marketing collateral, expanding our social media footprint and blog, and helping forge new strategic partnerships.  She is full of great ideas and is a phenomenal writer, and has already proven to be an invaluable member of the team (…and she’s only been with us a little over a week!).

Gina resides in Alexandria with her husband and young son.  Please join me in welcoming her to the Decor by Denise team!

If you’d like help creating a beautiful room in your house or office, contact me today to learn how easy it is to get started.