Resolve to Throw THE New Years Bash of the Decade

For those of us not heading to some fabulous venue for New Years Eve here are some tricks and tips to transform you're home and transport your guests to a whole other decade (they are going to end up there one way or not by the end of the night).

Use the Silver and Gold accents from your Christmas decor to enhance your New Years scheme; its a great way to cut back on costs and get some more mileage out of your holiday ornaments. Take a look at this festive wreath from Elle Decor, which would look great hanging on your door or on your table surrounded by candles.

Using fishline and some jeweled tone ornaments a little bling goes a long way to spice up this space in progress.

This look would also look great over the table as a homemade chandelier. Below: it's a work in progress!

New Years is, lets face it, all about the partying meaning you can set a great mood, but if you don't have some great libations its all for nothing.  We are gaga for this Champagne and Pomegranate recipe curtsey of the food network.

Ingredients for each drink:

• 1 sugar cube
• 1 fluid ounce pomegranate juice
• 3 fluid ounces dry sparkling wine
• Pomegranate seeds, optional

Directions

Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne flute. Pour the pomegranate juice over it, then the sparkling wine. Drop a few pomegranate seeds into the glass. Serve.

Post Holiday Sale Has Taken Off

There is nothing worse then the mall after Christmas: half fallen decorations, long return lines and no place to park, so at The Well Appointed House we thought we would give you a chance to shop for the things Santa may have forgotten at 25% off. Save on toys, stock up on presents to give throughout the year or get a head start on some much needed redecorating for the new year! Happy Shopping!

If We Were At Home with Lady Gaga

Richard Johnson's Page Six of the New York Post has declared that Gaga's No. 1 for New Year's.
Lady Gaga that is...

The story goes on to say that Lady Gaga looks to be the big winner on New Year's Eve.  She will be performing at the Fountainebleau in Miami to ring in 2010 and this party is the hottest ticket in the country based on sales through NewYearsEve.com
Over $1 million in tickets have already been sold, and I have to admit that staff from The Well Appointed House will be in attendance at the party.  (can't say who yet, but stay tuned next week for the scoop)

I am a fan of Lady Gaga.  I like three of her songs, to be exact.  I admire her creativity and shall I say, her style?

Since she is so busy keeping us all guessing what she will do or wear next, I assume that getting her to sit down with me to discuss her style at home would be tough.  So, I have taken a few moments to imagine what some of her rooms might look like.  She might be a fashioninsane-ista, but I am not so sure about her status as an interiorista.

Here are a few rooms I have imagined with the help of Polyvore.com, featuring products from my company, The Well Appointed House.

When appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in May, Lady Gaga almost knocked over host Ellen with her wacky headgear.  She brought to mind our fabulous Six Light LeMonde Chandelier (which I might just rename in her honor!) and the Armillary I have in my garden collection.  I could see her right at home with these items, all available on The Well Appointed House

Lady Gaga At Home 1 by melissahawks featuring Juicy Couture accessories

Items in this set:
Juicy Couture Jeweled Dog Collar, $95
The Well Appointed House Armillary with Column Pedestal, $1,864
The Well Appointed House Handwoven Aubusson Black and Brown Zebra..., $1,270
www.wellappointedhouse.com. Six Light LeMonde Chandelier in Antique..., $1,150
www.wellappointedhouse.com Brown Crocodile Nailhead Bedside Table, $475

Another crazy Gaga outfit.  I imagine her at home with our fabulous Black Cocoon Hanging Lamp and the other items pictured here.  We didn't forget her collection of 1950's era underwear and a veil for her face!

Lady Gaga at Home 2 by melissahawks featuring Monsoon accessories

Items in this set:
Carine Gilson Silk and lace shorts, $355
Myla Boned tulle balconette bra, $98
Longline Seamed Satin Bralet, $50
Monsoon Accessorize - Statement Sequin Bow & Veil, 24 GBP
WellAppointedHouse. Indoor / Outdoor Black Bel Aire Chair, $810

We are inspired by the art deco influence to her barely-there lacy getup and we took inspiration from our sunburst mirror and hand painted chest.  We didn't forget some fabulous Monolo Blahnik shoes tucked away in this room, ones that she would surely love.

Lady Gaga at Home 3 by melissahawks featuring Manolo Blahnik shoes

Items in this set:
Hangisi, $945
Bocek, $865
BB, $575
The Well Appointed House Hand Painted Flame Red Chest with Floral..., $6,600
The Well Appointed House. French Julia Chair in Red, $580

Lady Gaga never fails to raise eyebrows and here we have featured our beautiful demilune chest, Harlequin patterned mirror, Elsie stool and some fabulous Gaga-worthy aluminum cow heads.  We didn't forget the Reynold's Wrap Aluminum Foil!  She gives new meaning to recycling!

Lady Gaga at Home 4 by melissahawks on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
The Well Appointed House Harlequin Patterned Mirror, $2,200
The Well Appointed House Coromandel Demi-lune Two Door Chest, $1,680
The Well Appointed House Antiqued Mirrored "Elsie" Table, $1,400
The Well Appointed House Crystal and Wrought Iron Globe Pendant, $570
WellAppointedHouse. ALUMINUM COW HEAD, $138

In this photo, it honestly looks as though Lady Gaga has left a finger painting session with my 14-month old son, so I drew inspiration from my Children's Collection.  I could only assume that instead of a pricey celebrity makeup artist, she chose to let some neighbor's kids come over and help with her primping.  Either that or she secretly has my popular Art Activity Desk and a secret stash of Crayola.

Lady Gaga at Home 5 by melissahawks featuring kate spade accessories

Items in this set:
Moon river pearl bracelet, $195
The Well Appointed House Handmade Bafta Black and White Polka Dot..., $1,680
The Well Appointed House Dr. Hunt Bird and Cage Floor Lamp-Black and..., $550
The Well Appointed House Art Activity Desk, $260
Yahoo! Image Detail for -...

Last but not least, in this outfit it almost seems as though Lady Gaga could morph herself into one of my mirrored chests.  There are so many products that I sell from my mirrored collection that would be ideal for her - I chose the Ray Starburst Chest and Mirrored Sconces.  Since Lady Gaga seems to be a solitary creature who beats to her own drum, I chose the Great Auk Oil on Canvas to feature in her imaginary room.  I figured she would like it...

Lady Gaga at Home 6 by melissahawks featuring Thakoon shoes

Items in this set:
Thakoon Mirror mosaic strappy sandals, $575
WellAppointedHouse. Blue and Silver Lamp with White Shade, $253
The Well Appointed House Great Auk Oil on Canvas, $1,400
The Well Appointed House RAY MOTIF MIRRORED CONSOLE TABLE, $1,200
The Well Appointed House Mirrored Starburst Wall Sconce, $790

Though I'll never tell who,  The Well Appointed House sells to rock stars, Duchesses and Oscar winners! Maybe we'll even make a client out of Lady Gaga!

-Melissa Hawks

Inspirational Sand Art

On this Christmas Eve, I leave you with an inspiring YouTube video of Kseniya Simonova.  She is a 24 year old Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent".  She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII.  This video has already been viewed more than 10 million times.  If you haven't seen it, take a few minutes to watch.  It is quite moving:



Sand art has been something I have been rather unfamiliar with, and seeing the video brought to mind some of the sand tables that I sell for children.  It made me see them in a whole different light and opened my eyes to the creative expression possible with sand.  Kseniya Simonova has revitalized a medium that has been around forever.  This isn't the stuff of nursery school children, however her performance can certainly inspire us to give sand trays another chance at home with our kids.  We sell a great Child's Sand Tray, shown here.  It will make an excellent gift in 2010 in the spirit of Kseniya!

Merry Christmas to all!

Inspiration From the Top Christmas Movies

For this Christmas Eve post we have decided to count down some Holiday movies that don't just spread holiday cheer, they also give us some serious home decor inspiration.

 It's a Wonderful Life

Undoubtably the best Christmas movie of all time, It's A Wonderful Life brings a tear to all those who watch it, no matter who many trips through the DVD it's taken.  People are drawn to the movie for it's emphasis on family above all else.

The house George and Mary once threw rocks at becomes the house that holds their family later in life.  The top heavy tinsel job and hodge-podge of eclectic ornaments adorn this tree adding to the home's "lived in" feel.

A family that decorates together stays together!

Elf

The newest Christmas classic would have to be Elf, the story of a man raised by Elves who comes to New York City to reconnect with his father for the holiday. Will Farrell is hysterical as as the Elf who never grew up, Buddy, whose childlike spirit is reflected in the film's decor.

Buddy and Jolie decorating the tree at Gimbals.

Buddy brings his holiday cheer to his father's Manhattan apartment. He takes sugar for breakfast to the next level as his handmade paper snowflakes.  Below Buddy's handwork is displayed in preparation for Santa's arrival. Too bad they get ruined when Buddy outs him as an impostor saying, "You don't smell like Santa. You smell like beef and cheese!"

Little bed, big man.

Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a quirky Tim Burton tale of a Jack the Skeleton King who, no longer happy with his success in the Halloween world, looks to take over Christmas.

With the best intentions at heart, Jack doesn't so much spread holiday cheer as much as holiday fear.

A scene a little like The Grinch.

 Eyes Wide Shut

Although not a movie you would see in the Holiday section of Blockbuster, Stanley Kubrick's Eye's Wide Shut follows the surreal adventures of a wealthy Manhattan couple one night at a Christmas party.  Why the details are more than blush-worthy, the interesting take on christmas lights is inspiring.

photo

The Holiday

A great romantic comedy about two women on opposite sides of the pond who have given up on love find it come Christmastime.  It takes about five viewings before you notice anything other than Jude Law, but once you finally do, you are sure to be taken by the English country cottage, perfect for Christmas.

Could you think of a better place to cuddle up by the fire on the 25th? We would think Cameron would be happy there, but it took her a chance encounter with Jude to make her stay.

Watching christmas movies is a great way to unwind with your family, especially Christmas morning after you lay in a cookie coma with shredded wrapping paper swallowing you up! The Well Appointed House wishes everyone the very merriest of christmases!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

The most significant holiday symbol is undoubtably the Christmas Tree and as any interiorista worth her curtains knows, a well decorated tree is just as important as any other room in your house.  Here are some snapshots of Well Appointed Christmas decor for some inspiration, courtesy of Country Living.

This little Charlie Brown Tree, paired with the vintage Santa Ornaments (like our Antique Father Christmas Ornaments) makes this a nostalgic accent tree to your holiday decor.

Below is an example of a very traditional Christmas setting.  These homeowners took a tree that by today's standards isn't too beautiful and made something memorable. Everything from the paintings on the mantle, to the throw blankets and red balls makes this a flashback to the colonel era.

On the opposite side of the taste spectrum there is the below room, where this holiday home owner has opted to replace the traditional red with plums and purples, which pop beautifully against the green pine.  The one thing both have in common? Perfectly coordinated wrapping paper; its a little touch that goes a long way. (Certainly makes looking back through old holiday albums a lot less cringe inducing.)

Below, another great example of a modern take on holiday decorating. Take special note on how beautifully the ribbon is hung from the mantle and how it alludes to the shape of the chandelier.

A very Shabby Chic Christmas.

An American Christmas Classic.

What's old is new again as the retro look makes its way up the trend scale.  The ice blue pops beautifully against the white tree.

At The Well Appointed House we think this look is totally fun.  Snag it with our Artificial White Tree and Retro Wreath.

      

Above is a great example of how white lights really are the way to go when it comes to all things holiday.  The white rug and "snow" dusted wreath in the center of the fireplace brings the winter wonderland into your home and plays with height. Lastly, we have a very preppy Lily Pulitzer inspired tree thanks to Monkee's.

Its a really fun alternative to your traditional red and green Christmas, especially if you are celebrating somewhere warm like Palm Beach.  It would look great with our Flamingo Ornaments!

Merry Merry!

Tis The Season To Don Tartan!

Tartan for the holidays is an old standby, but it can look really fresh when it pops up in some unexpected places.

Domino

An Aesthete's Lament

Country Living

Apartment Therapy

The Tartan pattern dates back to 100 years before Christ, used by Scottish warriors to discern between clans.  Presently, tartan is a little more, shall we shall, polished(?), used by top designers such as Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen and Tommy Hilfiger. At The Well Appointed House we have put together a collection of our favorite tartan finds with a random sampling of some fun pieces you can sport well after the tree comes down.

Tartan by gkatz on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Sperry Top-Sider Shoes - Official Site - Buy Authentic Sperry Shoes,..., $75
WellAppointedHouse. Hand Painted Queen's Tray with Spaniels on Tartan..., $598
WellAppointedHouse. Nature's Preserve Boxwood Garland, $370
WellAppointedHouse. Scotch Plaid Tree Skirt, $275
Psycho Bunny - Tartan Scarf - Saks.com, $117

Holiday Inspiration For You and Your Home

The Holidays really are the best time of the year; when else can you shop and party with such abandon? The best part of the Holiday season, second only to opening presents, is without a doubt the serious spike to your social calendar.  At The Well Appointed House we have put together some looks to style you and your home no matter what party you'll be attending.

For those of you hoping from crowded apartment to crowded apartment, have a little fun with your outfit by employing some modern updates on classic staples.

Apartment Party by gkatz featuring Forever21

Items in this set:
Ashish Sequined off-the-shoulder top, $815
Fab Turtleneck Top, $8.50
Feather Mini Skirt, $199
Sequin Cocktail Short, $69
Christian Louboutin Miss 120 platform ankle boots, $1,075

These metallic Calypso shorts and black fringe skirt add an unexpected twist to your standard holiday dressing. Both "models" are wearing the very trendy bib necklace. Our artificial tree is adorned with our set of six fashionista ornaments, which both add to our very New York Christmas look.


Many of you will be rocking around the Christmas tree in the suburbs where all you need for a successful night is a killer dress, a good drink and well behaved kids (whether you bring them or not!)

Christmas In the Burbs by gkatz featuring Milly

Items in this set:
Milly Elizabeth ruffle sleeveless dress, $365
Girl's Shop By Category - weddings & parties - Girls' silk taffeta..., $228
Christian Louboutin Frouprive 120 slingbacks, $965
Girl - jackets - Girls' velvet novella jacket - J.Crew, $30
Alexander McQueen Skull satin box clutch, 640 GBP

For those of you who will be traveling off to an Apres Ski destination, your holiday outfit can be as playful as you want. Instead of big furry boots and tight spandex for this holiday party our "model" is wearing a floor length silk skirt, hunter boots, a plaid blouse and faux fur hat.

Aspen Christmas by gkatz featuring Hunter boots

Items in this set:
McQ Tartan Ruffle Front Jacket, $238
Women's shoes/bags: Hunter Original - Black, $115
Disco fever link bracelet, $225
Smoky cosmos ring, $94
Atelier Mayer - Mink fur pill box hat, 115 GBP

She will be able to bare the elements in high style!


At The Well Appointed House we wish everyone the happiest, safest of holidays as you begin to prep for your many holiday parties this weekend.

All Good Things Must Come To An End: Final Winner Announced

Closing out our 12 days of fun filled holiday giving the winner of the Present Salt and Pepper Shakers is...

Maureen!

Congratulations Maureen! Please contact me at gkatz@wellappointedhouse.com with your information within a week.  Thanks to everyone who signed on to become a follower; in addition to great giveaways you can always expect The Well Appointed House Blog to deliver original and top reported news and ideas spanning the design, home living, fashion and arts fields.  Congratulations to all our winners and happy holidays!

The Well Appointed House Featured in People Style Watch!!

While reading the "What's In, What's Out" section of People Style Watch's December/January issue the other night, a really cute pillow caught my eye.  After doing a double take it finally sunk in that, "Hey! That's our King of Spade Needlepoint Pillow!"

Blogger Nick Olssen isn't a fan of the Casino Royale look but we happen to think that James Bond's sexy, sleek, modern sophistication can be made quite homey, with the right accents.  In this polyvore set we have used our designer "Bond Series" console, side table and desk.  Made of a light burled maple wood and lucite these pieces make a statement alone or with each other as backup.

bond by gkatz on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Queen of Spades Needlepoint Pillow, $95
Metro Decanters in Three Designs, $148
WellAppointedHouse. Jonathan Adler Bond Console, $3,800
WellAppointedHouse. Jonathan Adler Bond Desk, $2,750
WellAppointedHouse. Jonathan Adler Baxter Loveseat, $2,650

The King and Queen of Spades pillows look great in this sitting room; the needlepointing is classic but the modern artistry means they can transcend styles. We also used our new double cloth lacquered coffee table, which adds another warm texture to the already comfy leather sofa. With these monogrammed playing cards you can add a personal element to game night with friends! (They also make a great gift!)


Speaking of James Bond, my sources tell me that his favorite Miami hotel (the Fontainebleu of course) will be hosting a spectacular New Year's Eve bash complete with Lady Gaga. Melissa Hawks will give us a full report on the evening's festivities. If you haven't yet made your New Year's plans, stay tuned for our next blog on New Year's celebrations!