Organic ChristmasTablesettings

Herb Centerpiece

Gather a selection of fresh, seasonal herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme and bay leaves, and use them to create an alternative table centerpiece.

Fresh Foliage Centerpiece

Pick a selection of whatever fresh foliage and winter flowers you may have growing in your winter garden for this variation on the evergreen centerpiece.

Individual Place Setting: Ivy and Red Berries

Fill an egg cup with sprigs of bright red berries and tuck in a few short lengths of ivy around the edge.

Individual Place Setting: Fresh Flowers

Cut fresh flowers from plants that flourish in a winter garden, such as Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis), or witch hazel (Hamamellis mollis). Put them in a small foil-lined box or pot and add a little water.

Terracotta Pot Candleholders

Turn three simple terracotta pots into stylish candleholders: line the base of each with recycled aluminum foil, put a beeswax candle in the center, pack sand around each candle and cover the sand with a pretty arrangement of fresh foliage and bright berries.

Decorated Chair Backs

These simple arrangements, made up of a few stems of trailing ivy (Hedera), mistletoe (Viscum album), and holly (Ilex), roughly tied together with natural raffia, and attached to the back of each chair, will lend a lovely rustic detail to your decorated table.

Dried Napkin Decoration

Make a simple napkin decoration by gluing together a dried leaf, a dried orange slice and a cinnamon stick. Rest it lightly on a folded linen napkin, or secure it with a length of natural raffia.

Gather a few short stems of fresh mistletoe and a sprig or two of bright berries, bind them together with some garden twine and rest the small posy on a folded linen napkin.

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Designer's Notes/Bath Suites

Designer's Notes

A Mediterranean feel was achieved in this powder room with the warm wall finish. The walls were faux-finished with plaster relief arabesque motifs scattered about. A soft glaze was washed over for an aged feel, which complements the mirror and etagere.

A 1950's vintage bathroom can still be revitalized. A custom-designed vanity with an open storage compartment can visually give the illusion of more space. The area below can be used to stack towels and other toiletry items in neat boxes. The walls were covered in a coral-colored grasscloth for a wow factor.



A small powder room can benefit from a unique vanity cabinet. Here, the vanity cabinet is floating above the floor and has a capiz shell inlaid panel. This detail is repeated in the custom Venetian plaster finish on the walls and the border of the mirror.



Don’t be afraid to use a dark paint color, as long as you balance it with colors and textures that reflect light easily like glossy white wainscoting and polished metals. This is the color I used on my own bathroom, I added a terrazzo floor to pick up the colors in the wall and retain the white onto the floor.



Black-and-white marble tile, silver blue paint and charcoal gray concrete counters add trendy charm to this 1940’s home.

This completely gutted and redesigned  bathroom  includes a steam shower, large tub and double-sink vanity. The custom cherry blossom tile mosaic is from Ann Sacks and makes the bathroom feel unique and luxurious. Because the mosaic was an expensive addition, simple, inexpensive tiles were selected for all other areas of the bathroom to avoid breaking the bank.

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Entertaining/Holiday Table Ideas

Modern Mood

A green and brown table can be a welcome departure from the traditional red and green of the season. Stylishly wrapped gifts serve as place cards.

Time to Sparkle

A holiday table with sparkle is as simple as adding low arrangements of red blooms and laying on the crystal stemware. A decorated mantelpiece contributes to the setting without cluttering the table.

Pattern Plays

Pull that holiday china out of the cupboard and use it often during this festive season. Layer it with your regular china for a lavish look.

Serene Setting

With green as the dominant color, this table is elegant but undeniably festive. A centerpiece of hydrangea blossoms arranged over greenery in the shape of a cake is a surefire conversation starter.

Flight of Fancy

Ornaments make great party favors. A clip-on bird with a feathery tail perches on an overturned compote. I love this idea.

Beautiful Berries

Cranberries aren't just for Thanksgiving. Mounded in a glass bowl, they can serve as a place-card holder.

Classic Christmas

Blue and white china with fresh yellow roses is a classic combination any time of year. During the holidays, add a touch of red detail and evergreen branches for seasonal notes.

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Entertaining/Centerpieces

Got a Light?

No matter what you're serving or what your table looks like, simple votive candles add elegance and instantly dress things up. Also try this simple row of lights on a buffet.
Purchase unscented votives in bulk, and place a candle in the bottom of each glass. When one burns out, simply replace it with another.
Champagne flutes and evergreen sprigs form a centerpiece when interspersed with forest green tea lights in clear votive holders.
Prunings from some junipers stay fresh for a month or more in water. Other short-needled conifers for this use include Arizona cypress, Atlas cedar, Douglas fir, and noble fir.

Firmly Planted

When you want something a little more than just candlelight, add a few topiaries. These, planted with succulents, can be transferred to the garden after the party. Potted plants and herbs also add instant interest to a table.

In a Box

When you’re tight on time, take advantage of what’s plentiful. Simply gather small wrapped presents, a tiered pedestal, and some holly or other greenery. Within minutes, you'll have a centerpiece that will last the entire season (or at least until the gifts are opened). I love the elegance of this centerpiece idea.

Budding Idea

You're sure to have potted poinsettias around the house this time of year. Take a few clippings and place them in bud vases or glass bottles to quickly dress up a table. Set the vases in a row or in clusters on either end of your table.

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Glass Houses

If you follow my blog you are aware I love glass houses, this one truly gives you the
experience of bringing the outside indoors. The Fireorb fireplace frees up floor space, and the spindly tables, chairs, and even kitchen counters help the home feel uncluttered.



The dining room opens onto the semi-walled entrance area. The open floor plan and careful window placement eliminate the need for air-conditioning.



The result of a design/build class taught by Jennifer Siegal and Michael P. Johnson, it’s a dynamic, livable house that honors Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy while tackling important design issues of today, from innovative prefabrication to sustainable systems like solar panels and rainwater and gray-water collection.



Sustainable features and native plants up the ante on a seamless integration of indoors and out.



A grassy roof helps keep the kitchen from heating up in warm months.

Sliding doors let evaporation from the swimming pool cool the house.



The use of a structural steel frame allowed for more flexible floor plans: Someday, for instance, units A and C could be combined to make an apartment large enough to house a home office, an aging parent, or a growing family.



The roof's deep overhang keeps the rooms cool even though the walls are glass.



Geothermal systems that heat and cool the house, and solar panels providing power, let this house sit relatively lightly on a dramatic landscape.



This largely glass house slices across the steeply sloping site, taking advantage of the mature trees, which help preserve some privacy.



As wildfires often ravage this part of the Santa Barbara coast, the architects chose fire-resistant materials (steel, concrete) for the construction.
http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/Type/Featured

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Dining Room Ideas

Energizing Palette

Designer Troy Beasley adds vibrant pops of red, orange and blue to this streamlined, contemporary dining room. Neutral gray walls allow the colorful accents to shine.

Happy Hues

A vibrant yellow and blue color scheme gives this small dining room a sunny and almost tropical aspect. Design by Lori Dennis.

A Taste for the Exotic

Designer Angelo Surmelis brings Indian flair to this space with the addition of intricately carved and painted wood panels. He adds interest to the tabletop by layering plates, napkins and chargers in varying colors and patterns.

Designer Troy Beasley opts for a pair of oversized, modern pendants to illuminate this lofty dining room filled with soft grays, warm tans and a fresh pop of pear green.

Warm and Family Friendly

Designer Angelo Surmelis creates a warm and inviting space for entertaining with a soft yellow paint color on both the walls and ceiling. Enlarged black-and-white family photos add graphic punch while a dark-stained table and upholstered chairs create an elegant and comfortable place to linger over a home-cooked meal.

Tonal Stripes

Designer Genevieve Gorder creates a bright backdrop with a creamy tone-on-tone paint treatment. A modern, oversized drum pendant and traditional table and chairs painted charcoal gray give this dining room a modern twist.

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Colorful Contemporary Kitchens

Even the slightest touch of color can make a bold statement. Dark wood cabinetry is toned down by the pale-green glass backsplash and the white granite countertops. Lavender chairs and a flowing violet flower arrangement deliver a lively touch of color to this modern kitchen. Design by Daniel Bodenmiller.

A unique peacock feather painted on the ceiling sets the color scheme for this transitional kitchen. The pretty blues of the mural are reflected in the soft wall color and seating, and bursts of orange are found scattered throughout the space. All of the colors are effectively pulled together in the tiled floor and artwork. Design by Ken Kelly.

This kitchen reflects the owner's love for artistic expression. Custom cabinetry made from hand-painted exotic woods creates a creative palette for the space. Stainless steel appliances and hardware work to give the kitchen its contemporary feel. Design by Lou Ann Bauer.

This kitchen's unique use of color against the taupe cabinetry and pale accessories is both unexpected and elegant. Fresh green walls extend to the ceiling and to the upholstery of the barstools. Green is also reflected in the island's centerpiece. Design by Shelly Riehl David.

A gorgeous burnt orange adds warmth to this modern kitchen. With crisp stainless steel countertops and white lacquered cabinetry, walnut floors, orange seating and a focal point wall of natural stone balance the modern, sleek look of the kitchen. Design by Andreea Avram Rusu.

A neutral wall color is the backdrop for this transitional kitchen designed with a Southwestern flair. A mix of light and dark wood tones combines well with subtle green dining chairs. Bright orange flower arrangements and a yellow fruit arrangement lend a sunny splash of color. Design by Amy Bubier.

This contemporary kitchen gets its burst of color from the unique cabinetry, tileworks and furnishings. Light wood paired with deep-blue cabinet details and barstools provides a bold contrast. Mixed with the other colors, the overall effect is eye-opening and aesthetically pleasing. Design by Lou Ann Bauer.

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