All Wrapped Up

Now that a few gifts have been purchased it's time to start thinking about how to wrap them. During the year I'm usually a kraft paper and black bow kind of girl but I like to spice things up a bit for Christmas. And no that does not mean red and green Santa paper. This year I'm dreaming of a white Christmas -- solid white paper (purchased at The Container Store), dressed up with beautiful ribbons, small trinkets that I've collected over time and labels from Sugar Paper. I'm going to use this peacock theme for family's gifts and switch things up a bit for my friends -- I'll share that next week. Time to start wrapping!

Happy weekend!!

(Image by Kristin Kerr for Simply Smitten)

Trimmed with Tassels

This weekend, why don't you trim your Christmas tree with homemade tassels?  Inspired by this pair of Oscar de la Renta earrings, I used a spool of silver string that I had tucked away in my craft box to make large tassel ornaments.  They look just lovely on my tree but come December 25th I plan to take them down and use them instead of bows on some of my Christmas gifts.  Below are the steps to create your own tassel-trimmed-tree:

ONE wrap the string around the palm of your hand to create a loop.  The thickness of your tassel will depend on the number of times you wrap the string around your hand--I did around 150.

TWO with the string still wrapped around your palm, take a 6 inch piece of string, feed it through the center of the loop then tie a knot to secure the pieces.

THREE remove the loop from your palm and lay it down on a flat surface. Take another 6 inch piece of string and wrap it around the bundle several times--this should be about a 1/4 inch from the top. Once you have the look you want knot the string and trim off the excess.

FOUR hold the tassel by the top string and use scissors to trim the bottom loops.

Ta-da...a tasseled tree in less than an hour!!

(images by kristin kerr for simply smitten)

Gift Guide | The Luxe List

1. Nothing says luxe like a rich, brown Faux Fur Throw $128 | 2. This solid brass Round Match Striker is the perfect coffee table accessory $190 | 3. Assorted pearls, smoky quartz and pyrite make the Ready Steady Girls Necklace the ultimate statement piece $736 | 4. Cabernet Cashmere Snood will keep you warm when you can't get your hands on a glass of wine $168| 5. This Leather Bulldog may not be a real but at least you don't have to let it out  | 6. It's hard to belive that this limognes malachite-patterned pot houses a candle $125 | 7.  Add a small but powerful shot of modern glamour to your dresser with this Mini Bauble Box $150 | 8. The Hermes scarf hanging system (available in stores) comes complete with five wall mounts that magnetically hold scarves in place—without damaging the silk  $305 | 9. Inspired by Florentine stone tiles just about every piece in the Pierre Hardy Cube-Print Collection is on my wish list $895

Happy Easter!

I'm just stopping in to wish everyone a very Happy Easter!  See you tomorrow!

(Image via feltjar)

My Christmas Tabletop!

I know, I know, Christmas is over but I've been avoiding opening my computer so I'm just now getting around to sharing my final tabletop design. Inspired by the beautiful silver + gold china I inherited from my great aunt (and blogged about here) I created a sophisticated little table using mostly pieces I already owned mixed with a few newly acquired goodies.

It was a tabletop filled with memories + meaning.  The crystal wine glasses belonged to my grandmother, the silverware was my great grandmother's, the silver bowls belonged to my aunt + the pewter salt + pepper shakers were gifted to my parents for their wedding.  The only items purchased were the gold chargers from Save-On-Crafts, the decorative birds + the champagne-colored mercury cachepots from Pottery Barn.

I made the herringbone napkins with linen I purchased from Fishman's Fabric (blogged about here).

I purchased peonies, hypericum berries, dusty miller, bay laurel + gold magnolia leaves from my favorite Chicago wholesale flower market + made four different arrangements.

I love how the flowers compliment the metallics + mercury glass.  The Dusty Miller leaves are my favorite because they look like they're cover with frosty snow.

This smaller arrangement was placed at the "kiddie" table -- I purchased the vintage silver footed bowl at P.O.S.H. a few months ago.

So, what do you think?!  I'm absolutely thrilled with how it turned out!

(Images Kristin Kerr for Simply Smitten)

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Naughty or Nice?

There's nothing better than picking up a magazine that you don't usually purchase + finding something wonderful. In this case, a unique holiday entertaining idea as published in the December issue of Southern Living. It's no secret that I perfer metallics around the holidays, just look at yesterday's post, but this glam "naughty or nice" Christmas Eve cocktail party designed by the folks at Gatsby has me rethinking red + green. The details are what make this party so darn cute...lumps of coal and cocktail napkins printed with "naughty or nice" confessions to Santa. It seems like the type of party that encourages one to let their hair down and enjoy the company of others... it's whimsical (I usually hate that word) but sophisticated.  I mean, c'mon, who wouldn't want to score an invite to this bash?

(Images via Laurey W. Glenn for Southern Living)

A Silver, White + Gold Christmas

If there's one thing I love more than designing interiors it's putting together a fabulous table setting. My parents host Christmas every year so I get to indulge in some serious tabletop designing this time of year. Talks of the table settings usually start just after Thanksgiving with my mom and I emailing pictures back and forth but after inheriting my great aunt's china this year's design kind of felt like a no-brainer. Red and green for Christmas? So predictable. This year I'm reaching for my favorite basics--natural Belgian linen, gray herringbone and crisp white mixed with my vintage silver collection, mercury glass, shimmering gold and something bright.

In seeking some inspiration I discovered this tabletop created by Camille Styles and I'm completely smitten.  Camille knows her way around the table and I just love the way she mixed the modern metallic rimmed dinnerware from West Elm with the Horta etched champagne flutes from Anthropologie. Heavenly!

Are you as inspired as I am for a classic white Christmas?

(Images via Kelly West Photo for Camille Styles and Statesman)

Tied with a Tassel

Happy Friday! I may have jumped the gun with my holiday posts earlier this week but now that it's December Christmas is just 23 days away! If you're anything like me you've already started to think about how you're going to wrap your gifts. I usually stick to kraft paper and a beautiful velvet bow but this year I'm thinking I might switch things up a bit.

I have a gift wrap post planned for next week but in the mean time I thought I would share this tinsel tassel tutorial (try saying that 10 times) that Megan from MaeMae Paperie posted on her blog.  Pretty amazing, right? I think the tassel is a really fun variation on the traditional bow.  And if the tutorial wasn't enough, Megan has so graciously provided a downloadable pdf of all the custom gift tags she designed. Now go put on your best holiday mix and enjoy some happy wrapping!

Pretty in Polka Dots

Ever since I spotted (catch that?) this dress in Oscar de la Renta's resort collection I've been craving a generous helping of glittery dots.  Enter Martha Stewart Fine Glitter and Aleene's (incredible) Tacky Dots.  I picked up a box of inexpensive white ornaments from Michael's, added a few tacky dots, sprinkled a little glitter and ta-da!! I'm officially satisfied!  Have you decorated your Christmas tree yet?

(Images taken by Kristin Kerr)

Gifts | A Framed Letter

It's that time of year again, folks. Holiday season or as I like to call it "the gift-getting crunch between Thanksgiving and Christmas."  I don't know about you but if there is one thing that stresses me out it's finding the perfect gifts for my loved ones.  Every year I inevitably end up waiting until the last minute for a few purchases then end up making hasty decisions.  But not this year!  Nope.  This girl has got her act together and has already purchased a handful of gifts.  And these aren't you average run of the mill mall gifts, they're thoughtful and legit.  My goal this year is to try to personalize each and every gift I buy.  First on the list, dadder (translation: my dad).  Lucky for you, he only reads this blog when I email him the link so I get to share his Christmas with all of you. 

When my grandmother passed away earlier this year she left me a box full of my father's childhood memorabilia. Sorting through the piles of Birthday cards, report cards, and letters from boarding school and Vietnam has really helped me understand how my dad came to be the man he is today.  Take the framed letter pictured above, for example.  It was written by my father's nursery school teacher in June 1950.  The first line reads, "Towne is a good looking youngster with a sturdy, well-proportioned body."  Seriously?  That sentence alone makes the piece frame worthy.  That and the fact that I'm pretty sure my dad has never seen this letter.  I can't wait to see the look on his face when he opens it!

So back to the point of this post.  I encourage you, dear readers, to think outside the box this holiday season.  Something as simple as a framed letter or card will make a great addition to an art collection and will serve as a constant reminder of family.  After all, that is what the holidays are about, right?

(images 1 a letter from Estée Lauder to her grandaughter, Aerin / 2-4 letters found throughout Kate + Andy Spade's home / 5 my father's Christmas gift) 

Eggcellent!

Wishing you a happy and stylish Easter! 

In need of some last minute decorations?  Check out these decadent designer Easter eggs on Vogue.com!

I'm seriously coveting the Eddie Borgo gilded egg — isn't it lovely?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Painting by Caitlin McGauley

Carnation Centerpiece

I'm absolutely smitten with how my Christmas table setting and carnation centerpiece turned out!  This is definitely a project I will keep in mind for future dinner parties - it took about  30 minutes to make and still looks beautiful 5 days later.  Inspired by a Martha Stewart centerpiece I posted about last week, I purchased a white compote from Home Goods for $15 then filled it with floral oasis and 60 red carnations.   The large mound of red in the center of the table made for the perfect pop of color.  What do you think?  I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  I'm truly enjoying my week without work.  Cheers!

Presents & Pinkie

Christmas is right around the corner - the rest of my week will be spent listening to the Glee: The Christmas Album (I highly you download it if you need a little somethin' to get you through the week) and wrapping Christmas presents.  Luckily, today is my last day of work until January!  Woohoo!  I can't wait to hang out with Ms. Pinkie and check things off my "to do" list.  

Aerin Lauder's Holiday Chic

Sadly, the December 2007 issue of House & Garden was the 100-year-old magazine's last issue ever.  As a teenager I loved flipping through my mom's copies but I realize now more than ever that the magazine always had a timeless quality.  This spread, featuring Aerin Lauder's Greek Revival home, is no exception.  Lauder’s weekend retreat, which she inherited a decade ago from her legendary grandmother Estée Lauder, features beautiful blue-and-white Chinese porcelain in several rooms, and many of those rooms remain exactly as her grandmother and decorator Mark Hampton left them. 

Lauder honors Estée's love of blue and white with an unexpected and modern twist. The dining room is a lively shade of Donald Kaufman china-blue edged in white trim; a crystal chandelier outfitted with azure candles repeats the motif. That striking color combination appears again, vividly, in what was Estée’s bedroom and another guest room, in fabrics used for curtains, bedding, upholstery, and even on the walls. Lauder describes her style as "heritage with a twist". I think her description is dead on - the home is a lovely example of how you can tweak tradition to create a young, fresh space. Equally beautiful pictures of the East Hamptons home have been published in Elle Decor but there is something about Christmas decorations and a fire burning that really makes a house feel like a home. I'm smitten!

(Images via Habitually Chic and unknown)