$250 Gift Card Giveaway Drawing Tomorrow!

Don't forget to become a follower of our blog in order to be eligible to win a $250 gift card to The Well Appointed House! Drawing to take place tomorrow night so hurry up; you could be a click away from scoring some serious green for the holiday season.  Stay tuned for other holiday goodies by checking back regularly.

Birdcage Trend

Birds have always been popular in decorating and now I am seeing birdcages everywhere, too!

With over 9,000 products on my site, The Well Appointed House, each and every day I see trends emerging as we add unique new products.  I can't help but notice that these charming little bird houses are popping up in our lighting, tabletop and art collections!  There seems to be a Birdcage Craze...and no, I am not referring to the movie with Robin Williams!

Birds were originally caged for their exotic beauty nearly four centuries ago in ancient Egypt.  Doves and parrots were early favorites.  The first crude bird cages were likely made of twigs, rope mesh, reeds or bamboo.  Gradually, as birds became more popular with the wealthy, cages became more elaborate.  Bamboo and wooden cages were seen in many kitchens in the early American colonies and heavily ornamented bird cages became popular in the Victorian parlor.  Today we see birdcages everywhere, and what better place to look than The Well Appointed House.

Our hanging Birdcage Lanterns will provide genteel, ambient lighting for romantic or festive occasions. Priced at just $165 each, perfect for setting just about any mood!

Another fixture I love is the Handmade Birdcage Chandelier in bright red.  This will add a bit of pop to any setting:

Set your table with our charming Bird in Covered Cage Mirrored Placemat Set ($520 for 12)

Elegant entertaining is all about the little things and with details such as this, you will surely delight your guests!  See our charming Bird Cage Napkin Rings

An interesting alternative to wall art is our beautiful Aged Sage Finished Wall Mounted Birdcage

For a more funky twist on the Birdcage craze, check out our bright Green Polka Dot Birdcage Lamp

Of course birds and their homes make whimsical wall art and here I have selected two:

Showcase a beautiful plant on our elegant Antique Brown Victorian Birdcage with Planter.  I suggest a bright and clean flower like the orchid, place a few potted orchids in the birdcage and place it in a sun room or by a door.  It will make a great conversation piece!

Check out this playful wallpaper from Graham and Brown:

For a less-expensive look, try Target for some fun, playful birdcage wallpaper:

Thibaut has some charming birdcage papers, perfect for a powder room!

Gracie Studio and Tyler Hall have some great birdcage inspired wall papers.  Enjoy!

-Melissa Hawks

A Well Appointed Thanksgiving: Table Trimming Ideas, Hostess Gifts and A Stiff Drink

Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the calm before the storm.  The house is still a mess, the kitchen is beginning to fill and while at work you can't help but zone out, meditating on your lengthy list of things that need to be accomplished before hoards of family and friends storm your front door.  It can get overwhelming, because well, it is, but here at The Well Appointed House we've taken a step back for you in hopes of tying up some lose ends.

Some consider setting a Thanksgiving table too stressful to bother with while others simply view it as an after thought and in doing so don't bother with it.  Bother with it.  Setting a table for any holiday event is important; it sets the mood for what kind of night your guests can expect.  Even the best food can't make up for undressed white table clothes.  Here are some easy ideas to incorporate in your home decor:

First off, skip white as your base.  Ivory, butterscotch and even brown tablecloths will instantly create a warm and inviting feel.  I love our Flay Tablecloth paired with our Chocolate Stripe Napkins.  An American print for an American holiday!

You can also ditch the mailer turkey centerpieces you saw at the supermarket and opt for something a little more pastoral in feeling.  I love putting wreathes on the table with candles in different heights in the middle.  Our Dried Fall Leaves Wreath comes in different sizes: if you are using a long table use a larger one in the center and two smaller sizes on either side.

Of course there is nothing wrong with using a wreath in a conventional way like our Dried Pear and Feather Wreath

Or our Dried Turkey and Pheasant Wreath

Serving pieces and platters can also add some holiday flare to your table.  Our Hunt Collection which includes a rectangular tray, pitcher and serving bowl, is perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

This set is not only great for the upcoming holiday season but I could easily see these being used to display steak at your ski-time getaway and burgers at a BBQ in the Adirondacks. Look below for some more Thanksgiving table inspiration.

We talked about the "kiddie table" but for those who don't discern between generations this is a cute take on the place card.

Ivory and gold accents paired with deep orange flowers and autumnal fruit make this a table you'll want to give thanks around.

A very traditionally dressed table.  I love the way the designer played with height and shapes here; the tall cylinder candles compared with the short stumpy gourds and spherical pumpkins.

An arts and crafts project waiting to be taken on.  Wrapping felt around these candles and gluing contrasting colored letters add personalization to your table.

 Images courtesy of Country Living

If you don't have the pleasure (feel free to interpret sarcasm) of hosting, you have the responsibility of being a guest, which means best behavior and no left-overs.  Melissa Hawks is among the many who will be visiting family out of town and of course will not be arriving empty handed.

Some baskets of Hostess gifts Hawks will be bringing to Massachusetts this Holiday weekend. Crackers and dip, embroidered pheasant hand towel, Thanksgiving napkins and turkey salt and pepper shakers. 

"Of course, no gift basket is complete without a rhubarb candle from The Well Appointed House thrown in for good measure." Hawks says

If you are a guest asked to bring a dish or a host who needs a little something else as a side, Hawks has a mouthwatering Sweet Potato Souffle Recipe.  She says: "It is from my husband's family in Virginia. I LOVE it. It is a rich, elegant vegetable side dish. Put it in a sterling silver serving dish or a piece of your favorite china and it is perfect for Thanksgiving."

1 quart cooked and mashed sweet potatos (drained)
1/2 Cup Sherry
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped black walnuts
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
In a blender, whip everything. Lightly grease the pan, place mixture there and sprinkle with the walnuts and cook at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

After reading all this (or writing it) then your head must be spinning with ideas and you'll likely be needing a drink.  I assisted (that may be too kind a word) in making this Old Fashioned recipe last year.  For each serving you'll need,

2 ounces of Makers Mark Bourbon

1 two inch strip of Lemon Zest

After slicing oranges circularly dip both sides in brown sugar and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake for a few minutes on low till they brown. Use an orange that hasn't been sugared to line each glass and then dip the rim of the glass in the brown sugar.  The drink is begging to be served in one of these Old Fashioned Glasses.

Keep checking back at The Well Appointed House for my holiday entertaining and gift ideas!

Debunking The Stigma of "The Kiddie Table."

Growing up in a large family means that even at twenty-two I am still relegated to the kiddie table, but even if you don’t have a silly cousin to whip "tofurkey" off the kids mouths and keep them busy we found plenty inventive ways to entertain the kids.  These tips are great for parents who host children regularly and people without kids who have a ragtag group visiting from out of town.  Normally children eat upon phone books placed on mixed-matched chairs and an old card table, which can’t be too comfortable for the kids or too pleasing to look at.  Giving kids their own space will make them feel more comfortable and giving them things to do will keep them preoccupied, which means the big kids can play undisturbed a little longer.

I found this "Kiddie Table" on Country Living.com.  Notice the plaid "drop cloth"... not even the grass is safe from kids' messes and spills. We prefer a round table like our Flea Market child-sized table and chair set to better encourage sharing and conversation.

Use a table their size to give kids autonomy.  When they feel more independent they are going to want to feed themselves and keep themselves busy.

Now, for the keeping them busy part...Create an engaging, useful and cohesive table arrangement.  (Yes, I'm still talking about the kid's table) A good looking kiddie table will separate the real decorating divas from all the wannabes.  I found this turkey/marker centerpiece from Disney’s Family Fun site and think it’s just the greatest idea.  It requires a trip to the craft store (or closet) so grab a pen and make a list.

1. Cut a Styrofoam ball (7inch diameter shown here) and paint brown and let it dry
2. Using brown card stock paper create a turkey neck and head
3. Use googly eyes or create your own (don’t forget to draw the yellow beak and red gizzard!  
4. Use markers to poke holes where they will be creating the look of feathers

And there you go; it’s easier than pie!  Now kids have a centerpiece they can use, but we aren’t stopping there.  Crayola.com has a great selection of free coloring pages that will keep the kids preoccupied for hours.  Simply print out a few of your favorite black and white patterns and create a packet for each kid.  Write their name or initials at the top so they can take their packet home with them at the end of the night.

When you are at the craft store picking up your Styrofoam ball you can also get a roll of thanksgiving themed stickers and sprinkle them around the table; kids will love to incorporate the stickers to their drawings and they will look festive on the table.

Just as kids don't want to feel like they are being separated from the rest of the group they want to feel useful, especially when mom and dad are entertaining.  An easy, safe and fun way for kids to be of some helpful getting ready is by going to the backyard and collecting a bunch of leaves you can use on the "grown up table."  Thanksgiving is a celebration of America's farming history just as much as it is about giving thanks and because of that, incorporating nature into your decor creates an appropriate rustic charm.  Use the leaves the kids have collected to decorate clear vases, hurricane lamps, etc.

Image Country Living

I would prefer to fill this mini rectangular lantern with leaves and candles in different heights; it feels rustic while still being modern and would be a little dash of the unexpected.

Another great use for the leaves: using a string and adhesive have kids paste the leaves onto the string to create a fun garland.  It is something that will be predominately displayed so your children can feel proud that they contributed to making Thanksgiving memorable.  Keep checking back here at The Well Appointed House Blog for more holiday tips, table dressing, gift ideas and yummy recipes!

Don't Forget! Our Follower Giveaway Drawing Is December 1st!

To celebrate the launch of our revamped Well Appointed House website and our blog we are giving away a $250 gift card to one lucky follower! In order to be eligible you must click the "follower" button and enter your email address.  Followers will have the benefit in automatically being entered in other Well Appointed House giveaways and stay plugged in to all things fashion and furnishings! Best of luck to all!

Screenspiration: Breakfast At Tiffany's

Breakfast At Tiffany's is the standard by which we measure style. In this film Coco Chanel's "Little Black Dress" was realized, Audrey Hepburn became synonymous with Holly Golightly, creating a super-icon and America defined our fashion aesthetic as playful-sophistication. Breakfast At Tiffany's as a Screenspiration is long overdue (and not just because Patricia Neal plays one hell of a naughty decorator).

Hepburn plays Holly Golightly who goes lightly on having any real responsibility in her quest to marry a wealthy man. Her easy going lifestyle shows in her decorating skills, or seemingly lack thereof.

The $50 to go to the powder room she gets from dates doesn't go into her apartment; luggage and boxes are her surface areas. TIP: When using a hand me down table you aren't crazy about or some crate that used to cart bananas and is now the focal point of your apartment, try covering it with vintage magazines and coffee table books, as seen above. It is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to add a little bit of the past to your space (not to mention guests' minds will be sure to "reel" at all your cool finds).

Improvising, as Holly does with a sheet, is key for this single girl living.

On the other hand is Mrs. Failson, or 2-E, Paul's older lover, interior decorator and keeper. She is a Queen of Park Avenue and has the style to prove it. When she decorates Paul's apartment she uses a lot of gold leafed furniture, which is meant to clash with the more bohemian lifestyle Paul and Holly live.

Here we can see the power of great great set design; below 2-E looks at home in Paul's apartment yet in the black and white photo Paul looks... well, not so much.

We love our heroine Holly, but she could use some help finding her design identity. Below are pictures of her revamped apartment when she is with her Brazilian boyfriend. Like her at the time, it's confused to say the least.

We took the liberty of designing a room for Holly and Paul when they get their happily ever after drawing upon their free spirit attitude.

Holly Golightly by gkatz on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Wellappointedhouse.com, $2,200
Wellappointedhouse.com accent table, $1,438
Wellappointedhouse.com rug, $1,050
Wellappointedhouse.com, $80
Wellappointedhouse.com, $148

Fun Fact: Holly and Paul's brownstone on the Upper East Side is at 169 East 71st Street should you be in the neighborhood and want to check it out for yourself.

Well, we are pretty stylish so let's end things stylishly (as Paul says) and say to check out more great products for the home visit us at The Well Appointed House and be sure to browse our every growing collection of over 9,000 products.