Design Tips for an Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, lots of folks are already thinking about decorating their Thanksgiving table. Putting together a tablescape is one of my favorite things! But first, what is a "tablescape" and how is it different than just setting the table? The term tablescaping has developed in recent years with people decorating their tables, particularly for holidays, more and more elaborately to create an experience for their guests. 

"Tablescaping is the act of creatively arranging a tabletop so that it conveys a specific theme, mood, or experience. It's a thought process of being creative and planning to design a table top with a specific theme or mood." 

So it's different than just setting the table with forks, knives, plates etc. Most tablscapes have been methodically thought out and planned, shopped for and set to be perfect for one's guests. One drawback is the clean-up afterwards, especially with all the extra dishes!  

But If you don't have time to do all that - here's some quick tips for your Thanksgiving dinner;

1. First place a simple, neutral table runner down the middle of your table. You can also opt for buying placemats if you want. They don't have to match the table runner. These can be found at your Home Goods or Target stores. 

2. Add pillar candles  at several different height for your centerpieces. You don't have to use candle holders - but it would look great to add height to your centerpiece. You can also place a few vases of fresh flowers as well. 

3. Adding chargers can also be a nice touch. A charger is a large plate that sit under the dinner plate. If you want to skip that charger, go ahead! Also, If you want the look of formal china without the cleanup - buy these amazing plates at you local grocery store. They're plastic, sturdier than paper, and  have a silver accent to look like china.

4. Sprinkle real or artificial leaves or foliage down the center of the table runner.

5. Add your silverware and glassware and if you have cloth or paper napkins place them in the glasses for a fun festive look. And that's it!

Living Room Update!

So after five years it was time to replace our living room sofa, two chairs, and rug. The chairs were stained and ripped - (I have five kiddos after all), and the sofa had water stains from constant cleaning from a one year old that loves to draw all-over EVERYTHING! 😉 I still love the stylish look of my old living room. The elegant linen nailhead sofa and two linen tufted wingback chairs were stunning. However, it just wasn't working for our family of seven. 

Sometimes as a designer, you have to be practical. In fact, that's the number one rule when working with clients. You have to make the space you're designing functional. Any space has to be able to meet the needs for what it's meant for. A gorgeous perfectly designed room will not work if the client can't use it properly. 

These new stone colored sofas totally fit  into my budget and gave me seating for almost my entire family. Plus, the fabric is more durable with small children. And did I mention how much more space we have by taking out the left chair? 

The coffee table is the same- we just turned it 90 degrees. We are going to paint it white and distressed in a couple weeks. And the rug, I love the rug, it pulls the room together. The pattern and gray color pallet gives the room a fresh updated look!

Small and simple changes can make a huge difference! But the biggest difference is how I feel. The new room feels more inviting for my family and friends. 

And that's when you know you make the right decorating choices! :)

It's all About the Neutrals for Fall

So when people think fall colors, they tend to think of: orange, brown, reds and golds. I know that's what I think of-the colors of changing tree leaves. Well this fall the stores, decorators, and Instagram  homes are filled with a new, different set of fall colors! Creams, whites, mints, sage greens are being displayed everywhere- thus creating a new refreshing look and a take off off the modern farmhouse home decor trends.

My the color scheme in my home is already set in those colors- so I couldn't wait to try out this new fall color pallet! And you know what? I LOVE IT!! So here's a look of my new fall coffee table decor. (I can't wait to decorate the rest of my home in theses colors!)

How To Get the Look:

I used faux lamb's ear and natural looking mint green foliage, and intermingled it with a large sage green pumpkin, cream plastic pumpkin, and small off white and mint porcelain pumpkins. The small pumpkins I found at the dollar spot at Target!! It was a great find! Then a incorporated sprigs of faux white wild flowers for a little more interest and depth.

I'm mixed this new fall decor with my everyday ZGallerie alligator coffee table tray and silver Home Hoods candle sticks. I'm still decorating other spaces in my home- here's another photo.

A Trip to Magnolia

I took my youngest 4 kiddos to Magnolia Market and Silos in Waco, TX last week! The gardens were my favorite! And everything is so beautiful, clean and organized. it was neat to see all the unique food trucks that are right next to the darling black and white picnic tables. They even offer umbrellas to use while your there! The decor of course was amazing! Every square inch of the store was decorated to perfection- I especially loved their product displays. It was a wonderful place to visit! (However, I would recommend not to come in the summer- it was so hot!)

A Peek into My Home...

Hello Friends!
I've had so many emails from people asking what my home looks like when you walk in. SoI'm sharing a peek inside my home!

I love light neutral colors and white trim work. You can find it through the house.
I must admit it's kind hard keeping the linen chairs and sofa clean with five children, but they're pretty good about following the house rules about mommy's furniture.

My husband built the hall tree/mud room area. I love how it looks, but better yet, I love how we use it all time!

This is just a a peek into the Parson's home. I'll share more photos later of the kitchen, dining room and others soon!

A Texas Style Teen Bedroom

My daughter is a true Texas teen- she loves cowboy boots, country music, saying y'all, and rustic decor! So it was only natural that she wanted her bedroom to have a some southern flair!

The biggest challenge was keeping to a strict budget! I only had a few hundred dollars to transfer this gal's room! So, believe it or not we took a stab at Goodwill for a dresser- and we found the perfect black one complete with mirror - and for only $75.00! It needed a little TLC -so we touched it up with some paint. Then we went to Hobby Lobby for all the rustic decor. They had everything we needed - the wall signs, the letter K, the tray and boxes. We also got the puffs from there and used fishing line to hang them from he ceiling. The black Parson chair and gray throw I already had, and we bought the ya'll pillow at Hobby Lobby as well. 

I wanted bedding to fit the style of the room, yet easy on the budget. We found all the pieces at At Home. In my opinion it's not worth spending at ton of money on a teenagers bedding-espically a girl. Because what I have found over time is the bedding easily gets stained with make up, writing utensils or food. I did add layers of types of bedding (comforter, and two quilts) to make the bed look fuller. 

My daughter's favorite part of the room is the silk sunflowers we got at Michaels. She says she wants sunflowers at her wedding someday. 

She loves the room and I love it too! And the best part we stayed in budget!

Pops of Color in the Living Room

So I'm so excited to show you a client's beautiful home I've been working on! This room has all the stylish trends going on including: aqua, navy and gray-some of the hot colors for 2017!

 We started with a gray and white color pallet- then added the the navy, coal and aqua as the accent colors with accessories.

My client had bought the Ikea Ektorp sofas two years ago with white slip covers- but they just didn't stay clean with five kids and a dog. She constantly found herself washing them every other week. So we updated them with brand new the gray covers- they're turned great! They're so classy and they stay clean!

The pillows needed have pops of colors to accent the darker couches- so navy, white and coral became an ideal combination. Texture also played a role in what pillows were chosen because we wanted to convey interest and depth. The pillows came from Etsy and Pottery Barn.

For the coffee table decor we started by making a trip to At Home (formerly know as Garden Ridge). The lantern was the first thing picked, and then the rest of the decor fell into place! The aqua vase and picture frame also came from At Home. The unique decorator books were purchased on ColorMille. 

With five children, she also needed a durable, washable coffee table. So this one from Wayfair did the trick!

This custom made "this is our happy place" sign from The Rustic Sparrow Shop. It has such a beautiful message and really pulls this space together. It also creates such an uplifting presence in the room.

Next up is decorating the fireplace mantle- and there are already big plans in the works for it! I can't wait to share!

The Cozy Corner

The master bedroom just became much cozier!

This corner in the master bedroom was just too bare! I decided to liven it up to by adding some texture and a punch of color. I used the fuzzy turquoise throw and geometric patterned pillow to add interest to the linen tufted armchair.

Because I love metallics - I could not resist getting this silver accent table. Now it's perfect for nestling up with a good book on chilly fall nights!