A Valentine's Tablescape from One Pretty House Interiors

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  For some, it is a "Hallmark Holiday" barely worthy of the hype.  For others, it is a day to feel the warm fuzzies that love - all kinds of love can bring.  As we celebrate Valentine's Day 2010, here's an insprired tablescape for friends or lovers from One Pretty House Interiors...

Inspired by my new favorite move Julie and Julia, we've time traveled  to a 1950's Valentine's Dinner party for six at The Child's Paris flat.  Although the setting itself is simple and uncomplicated, it's warm, fun and made a fabulous setting in my own dining room.  Thanks again to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting us for today's Tablescape Thursday.

I began with my grandmother's white lace tablecloth over a plain hotel cloth.

                                                                                 

Handmade construction paper hearts, place cards and decorative chain garland add to the charm and nostalgia.        

Long stem red roses in a turquoise clay vase and taper candles completes this lovely table.

Whether you're inviting five friends over for a girls night or hosting couples to celebrate your great love for each other - like Julia and Paul - this tablescape is just the right blend of whimsy and elegance to capture the true spirit of Valentine's Day.


One Pretty House Interiors is a boutique design firm specializing in one day redesign and real estate staging.  Check out the Decorating Chit Chat from One Pretty House.

Blow-up Holiday Decor

What's the deal with the blow-up Halloween decorations on front lawns?  I want to know who the genius was that came up with that little nugget?  Who comes up with this stuff!?  Funny thing, it's really caught on.  Seriously, there seems to be an epidemic (albeit a tacky one!)  In fact, my neighborhood seems to be blow-up central!  I understand the concept of decorating for the holidays.  In fact, I really love that people go all out with stuff on their porch.  Pumpkins, hay bales, scarecrows.  Wooden Santas, poinsettias and wreathes.  These are fun, whimsical and very festive.  But the lawn decorations?  Well, I have to admit that although I thought it was tacky when I first saw some of them a few Christmases ago, I did get used them.  Okay, so I'll fess up - last year I actually got on the bandwagon and put up an animated penguin wearing a Santa hat and scarf.  The arms flap up and down - he really is kind of cute.  But it's made of wire and pipe cleaners or some such material - not air.  I can't quite wrap my head around the blow-up stuff.  I always thought those were for the pool or maybe a football game - you know, like beach balls. Surprise - apparently the blow-up stuff is now for the lawn.  AND it's expanded from Christmas decor to Halloween.  I've seen grim reapers, huge pumpkins, ghosts - you name it!  One set of neighbors even have this massive ghost train complete with a pop-open casket and a skeleton conductor!  My dog went nuts when she saw it!  Makes for an interesting evening walk.  Can you imagine having this thing on your lawn?  Oh the horror!  And I'm not talking about the skeletons!  So my question: what in the world will they think of next?  Blow-up Easter Bunnies?  Valentine hearts?  Leperchauns?  I can't wait to see what will liter the lawns of my neighborhood next.

photo courtesy of Halloween Inflatables

Dreaming Decor (And A Little Help from One Pretty House Interiors)

My new found interest in home decor has me not only thinking style and function, but actually dreaming it as well.  Oy vey! Visions of furniture placement, fabric choices and accessory usage dance around my subconscious instead of the wonderful and restful REM sleep that I so desperately need.  My latest nighttime epiphany came in the form of re-purposing a desk and two dining room side chairs.  My sister, interior designer extraordinaire,would be so pleased.  I am taking her Decorating Chit Chat to heart and tackling my decorating dilemmas!

My Entry way problem seems to have dreamed itself solved by simply reusing two of the six existing dining room chairs to flank the welcoming console table.  Perfect solution for a bizarre space that never seemed to have that just right look.  Now the Entry feels complete and flows nicely into the dining room.  This also leaves new possibilities for arm chairs or more elegant, stately head-of-the-table chairs - something I have to admit, I've always wanted.

The master bedroom issue, which I must confess to have created by purchasing the wrong dresser (note to self, note to all: measure the wall and the space in the room before buying!) had its aha! moment after a nightmarish, tossing and turning fest upon which I woke up with eureka! (This exclamation frightened the poor puppy right out of doggie dream land!)  By moving my now office desk - a petite, vanity like piece - into the master, I created not only a very usable area, but also a new balance in the room which will under-emphasize the too tall, not quite wide enough dresser.  The decorating angels are weeping at the sheer genius.  Of course this now gives me license to hunt for the perfect desk both for function and style which after all, is every decorator's quest.

So now I have some solutions, or at least some good ideas for a quick redo of my entryway, dining room, office and master bedroom.  Naturally this all sounds wonderful to the lay decoratur that I have now become, however, I will still be consulting my favorite designer at One Pretty House Interiors - a Washington DC/Metro boutique design firm specializing in one day redesign and real estate staging.  After all, every amateur needs a little help from a pro.

Putting Up Drapes

I decided to take a cue from my interior designer sister and "nest" my rental. You know, hang artwork, put up drapes, add the decorative accents? I should point out that I am not a nest-er by nature. I would say that I am more of a gypsy but only in the no-roots, no attachment to houses kind of way. Still, I had been here over a year and had to admit that it was time to make my 1900 square feet more of a home. This of course meant several trips to Home Goods and Bed Bath and Beyond - the thrifty decorator's paradises!

Now the artwork, was pretty easy - pick what you like and hang it up. The decorative accents, no problem - go with your decor and display in pleasing vignette's preferably in sets of threes. The Drapes? A whole other story! Who knew? First there was measuring. Here we should all take a lesson from Norm Abram, "measure twice, cut once." I definitely should have measured at least twice before attempting to attach the rod to the wall. Spackle anyone? And not only that but when the top of the window to the floor measures 84", do not think you can get away with 84" panels! Hello! As my sister told me, go about 4" above the window and let the curtains pool beautifully on the floor. Back to Bed Bath and Beyond did I go.

Once I had the rod up, it took me a few tries to get the rings on. Now, I am a college graduate but let me tell you, the drapery rod should really come with some suggestions for hanging the drapes. I think I had to unscrew the finial off both ends of the rod about half a dozen times not only to position the rings, but also to ensure that I was accounting for the wall brackets and the panel hanging outside the bracket. It was hilarity at it's best - like a Laurel and Hardy moment with the dog nipping at the curtain, the little clips falling off the rings and me trying to get the finials on without moving the rod's position.

I am happy to say that in the end, I do have lovely drapes in my dining room. It only took 4 trips to the store, two different rods (the first one was too short!), two different sets of drapes (the first set were too short and I changed my mind about the stripes), a little spackle and paint and voila! Hanging drapes. Now, I have to tackle the family room! Wish me luck.