GIVING THANKS & GATHERING with style.

This time of year is always sentimental. We've got food on our minds, but more importantly, friends & family in our hearts. It's so nice to gather around a home cooked meal and spend time with those we love. No matter where you call "home", decorating is certainly part of the tradition. Transforming your space allows your personal touch to not only shine, but uplifts everyone's spirit and reflects the blessing of all we've been given.

This week, we kick off a little decorating spirit with our first Facebook LIVE event. Hosted by First for Women magazine on Monday 11/21 at 1pm, Kelli will show you how to create a stylish yet simple place setting just in time for the holiday season.

This year's most popular trend seems to be adding natural elements to the table. This is great because you don't need to spend money to transform your space into a warm and stylish setting. 

There are so many ways to incorporate organic style into the home at the holidays. The table setting is certainly a popular place to start the creative juices flowing. Here are a few other hotspots in the house that can bring some extra style to the party.

~The Porch~

Another perk to having fresh snips of greenery around the house is that you can use items you already have in the house. Kelli will be touching on this with her table styling tips, but it really is great to accumulate less "new stuff" when we can. Perhaps it's because we see so many homes and so much STUFF when staging homes and editing out the clutter. It sure seems like a good idea to recycle some of our holiday goodies. 

The kitchen is certainly a hot spot for adults but can we discuss this ADORABLE kitchen for kids?!?!

Via PB Kids

I saw this in person and just died. It looks like my new grown up kitchen! 

Another space that can be so much fun to decorate is the Guest Room! Adding personal holiday touches helps make your guests feel extra special.

SHOP THIS LOOK

Here are few other favorites to give as Hostess gifts or simply enjoy for yourself.

SHOP the Fave's

For the Hostess gift: This book, with a cute candle and bottle of wine in a little wire basket. Favorite recipe from the Sunday Supper book:

So, hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and we look forward to our discussions from Kelli's Facebook LIVE event!

Happy Holidays!!

*Sponsored post

Savoy Style: From London to Home

A quick jaunt to London last week and a stay at the Savoy Hotel provided some refreshing design inspiration. A spectacular mix of Edwardian and art deco design, gold, glossy black and beautifully groomed hedges is right up my ally. I certainly noticed many similarities between Boston and London. I especially love the formality of high teas, elevenses, and chic taxis. Here are a few of my favorite ideas to take away and incorporate some Savoy style into my home.

Take away idea:

{Get creative with my landscape design. Boxwood + Black}

{Give my door a fresh coat of black paint and stencil the house number in gold}

 The bar was a surprising flash in such a formal setting and yet, it added a nice flair of energy and youthfulness in a very chic way.

Take away idea:

{I need some black and white tile with lucite furniture in my house. Somewhere.}

Jamie Herzlinger does black and white floors like no other.

This stunning mural was in, of all places, the loo!

Take away idea: 

{Put a mural in an unexpected spot}

I've always loved this mural in Brooke Shield's dining room.

{Something like this in my bathroom or my mudroom.}

The Murano glass chandeliers in our suites were such a nice appointment, adding youthfulness and a subtle pop of color to such a traditional space. A chandelier in the bedroom is no new idea however, I fully realized the beauty in waking up each day to such a pretty site. I never would have considered doing a glamorous chandelier in my own bedroom however, I'm definitely changing my mind on this.

Take away idea:

{Up the formality in my Master Bedroom. Wishful thinking chandelier.}

There is something so clean and polished in a classic black and white bathroom. I absolutely loved the simplicity of the fixtures. In the North East we have so much baseboard heating and I would love to see a return of the radiator. There are some pretty sophisticated towel rail/radiators out there.

And now, onto my obsession. Shortly before heading to London, I visited the home of the fabulously talented Sarah Winchester.  She installed these little french doors in a standard 3ft doorway of her library. Then I see the same style of doors in my hotel room at the Savoy. I'm so into these little double doors. The photo looks like the doorway is wide yet it's only 3 feet! The only issue with this is privacy. There is a small amount of space when the doors are closed so perhaps not for bathroom spaces.

Take away idea:

{Install double doors in a standard doorway.}

Look at Sarah's doors with that brass hardware! So gorgeous!! Along with her contractor Dan Shanks, she designed the bookshelf in such a way that the doors open unobstructed to the side. 

She's such a smarty.

Photo credit Sarah Winchester

Here are some other snippets from my stay at the Savoy.

Hummus, avocado and poached eggs. Yes.

Black Kitchen Cocktail

My crush on the glossy black kitchen began back in 2005 with the episode of Nate's Manhattan apartment on Oprah. Those glossy cabinets; so chic, so sophisticated. 

Later, I was completely taken in by the beyond fabulous Kelly Wearstler kitchen. No surprise that she would have an amazingly sexy kitchen, and gown worthy cooking included. 

via Elle Decor

And now, with the latest Lonny Magazine spread of the fabulous, black kitchen designed by Marianne Brandi, I must say that I am committed to a black kitchen in my next home.  

It's just too divine to ignore.

 (That horn chandelier is brilliant!)

  via Lonny Magazine

Loving the inspiration...

 via Architectus.com

 via Elle Decor

 via Just the Design

Take an average kitchen to an entirely new level with glossy black. 

 via pinterest

Here are the must have's in my black kitchen design cocktail. 

And of course a few of our favorite wall bursts!

 Brass Wall Bursts

Emiliano Salci Ceiling Lamp

  

Let the planning begin!