Nurtured by Nature
Chunky candles nestle in bay leaves
and berries, and a whimsical
Kangaroo Paws plant in a plastic pot
gets dressed up with burlap and string for
Linda's Wine Country client's holiday table.
Salvage for Soul
Architectural objects add history,
depth and soul to this remodeled
1950s tract home.
Faux Flagstone
It's really just concrete, colored
and shaped to look like stone.
(Curb Appeal, December 2)
Give the Gift of Glow
...and get a free wick trimmer and
regular shipping before Christmas.
Visit our website or click above for more
photos and information on this comfortably
elegant great room, featured this month
on Sensible Chic.
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Get Creative with Nature's Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorating is big business, and it's easy to have your head turned with
fancy and pricey decorations of all kinds. But they're not really necessary to
create a warm and elegant holiday atmosphere in your home. We prefer to use our
imaginations and nature to adorn the things that are already in place. You can
embellish your planters, candle holders, mantels, columns, chandeliers and accessories
with lush and colorful plants, greens and fruits. On the festive dinner table
in the photo at left, a persimmon and matching kumquats pick up the color of the
velvety blooms of the Kangaroo Paws and reflect the light from the candles. Look
for all kinds of interesting shapes and colors at your local flower market or
farmers' market. You'll find exotic pods, pomegranates, hedgeapples, buckeyes,
berries, monkey pod ferns, hydrangea leaves and lots more in addition to the traditional
juniper and holiday greens. And don't forget to look in your own backyard for
more of nature's bounty at your fingertips to incorporate in your holiday decorating.
You'll be surprised what you find.
Linda Loves Letters
!The living room you designed in the "Go for the Gold" article [Better Homes and Gardens Color Schemes, Summer 2005] is just stunning!
Where do you find all those great architectural pieces?
I love to browse antiques stores and salvage yards, both locally and when I travel
- it's amazing what treasures you can find. Some of my favorites here in the Bay
Area and beyond are Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley, Artefact Design & Salvage in Sonoma, Ancients and Jan de Luz, both in Carmel Valley. FYI, that living room happens to be my former home,
and it is also featured in the Portfolio section of the website under Interior/Colorful Cottage, and in the Media section under Magazines/Creative Home Fall 2003 and California Home & Design, January 2003.
!I was watching HGTV and caught the end of the Sparkling Christmas Suburban Home episode [HGTV's Curb Appeal Special Presentation - see below]. I was impressed
with several aspects of the remodel, but especially with the driveway. What technique
did you use for the driveway? Is it actual flagstone or faux? You do fantastic
work and thank you for your time.
Thank you so much - this was a really fun project. The old driveway and walkway
received an overlayment of integral colored concrete in three colors, which was
then scored and grouted to look like stone. The cost for this three-car garage
driveway and walkway was about $8,000 and can be done by a good concrete contractor.
FYI, you can see the episode again on December 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, and visit
HGTV's website for information and more photos (search for Sparkling Christmas).
Free Wick Trimmer and Shipping on Appleglow Candles
It's the perfect gift for the person on your list who has (almost) everything
for their home. In our mission to convince everyone to trim their wicks regularly,
we are offering a complimentary wick trimmer (regularly $10)on all Appleglow candle orders received between now and Christmas. Wick trimming will win you
over - your candles will burn longer and brighter. This one has a whimsical shape
and is pretty enough to leave out casually so everyone will know you're serious
about your candles. And since this wouldn't be a true holiday online newsletter
without the words FREE SHIPPING, we'll include that, too. (Click the candles at
left to see the wick trimmer, or visit The Store page on our website and click on View Candle Accessories.
HGTV Dates for December/January
Sensible Chic
Country Chic Family Room #710
December 14, 2005 1:30 PM ET/PT
January 16, 2006 1:30 PM ET/PT
Mediterranean Dining Room #809
December 22, 2005 1:30 PM ET/PT
Bold Dining Room #603
December 29, 2005 1:30 PM ET/PT
California Country Dining Room #512
January 4, 2006 1:30 PM ET/PT
Elegant Whimsical Bedroom #302
January 13, 2005 1:30 PM ET/PT
Curb Appeal
A Very Merry Curb Appeal #HVMCA S04
December 2, 2005 6:30 PM ET/PT
Rental Curb Appeal #706
January 13, 2006 7:00 PM ET/PT
Color Change #713
January 24, 2006 7:00 PM ET/PT
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