Stash and Dash: Hostess Gifts

If you keep a little stockpile of small gifts to give on the go, you may have depleted your stash with holiday parties and opportunities to take a little something as a gesture of thanks for your hostess.  Now is a good time to keep an eye out when you’re out and about or shopping online to gather a few giftable items to have on hand when a dinner invite or impromptu party calls for a token tagalong.

Wooden kitchen utensils with painted handles are a trending kitchen accessory.  You can find some variety with everyday designers on sites like Etsy.com.  They’re simple, pretty, and add a fitting display of thanks when you’re invited to a dinner.  Patterned or monogrammed coasters are a nice hostess gift that offer form and function.  A patterned tray, like a printed acrylic or porcelain serving tray with a graphic, is something any hostess can put to good use at her next function.  A set of appetizer plates, both plain and themed, or a set of etched glasses, pretty tumblers, or cheese knives are all pieces that can be welcome additions to most any kitchen.  

Outside the kitchen, there are a variety of options for small gifts.  A trinket dish can hold jewelry or loose change and look good while doing it.  A stackable set of decorative boxes can be put on display and used for storage, too.  The same goes for a ceramic bowl or glass vase with an interesting shape.  A picture frame with a note of thanks as a placeholder in the glass is a thoughtful touch when you’ve been included in a special event you’ve looked forward to attending.  Scented candles can’t steer you wrong when you choose neutral scents like lavender and vanilla or something mild and woodsy.  A set of 2 or 4 guest towels for the bathroom might be put on display as soon as you gift them.

If you see a party, shower, or other event on your calendar’s horizon this spring and have more prep time, you can look into more personal options.  Taking something to be monogrammed shows you put some special thought in ahead of time.  Finding that great item that really suits your hostess or has a familiar meaning between the two of you – like a printed makeup pouch, colorful scarf, or themed wine stopper - also would be a welcome surprise when you arrive.

It’s easy to see neat finds when we shop that catch our eye but may not immediately bring a specific need to mind.  But gathering a few of these together to stock up for when a gift giving opportunity arises, whether planned or out of the blue, allows you to be prepared and share your design eye with a gracious hostess ready to welcome you and your little treasure into their home.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 25th.

You'll Be Seeing These Again

If you like to stay up to date with what is trending, here’s the rundown of what is in for 2015.  It may influence your shopping list and paint preferences, or it may just keep you in the design loop. 

Neutral palettes top the color list this year, with gray being at the top.  Gray will continue to be prevalent for paint selections, furniture, and décor accents because of its ability to be a great background and accent shade alike.  Soft palette neutrals that lean toward pastels are right up there as well.  Soft pinks, nudes, cool blues, and earthy greens are creating soothing, inviting environments in bedrooms and living rooms while feeling much more grown up than the made-just-for-kids versions.  On the brighter side, indigo and electric blue are lighting up walls and fabrics.  If bold is more your style, rich shades are also trending, with “Marsala,” which looks like red wine, being named as the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year.  

A power couple this year will be the further-emerging gold and white.  Gold is hitting its stride in wall art, lettering, and frames.  And now we’re seeing more gold and white in pottery, glassware, and decorative accents with striping and other geometric details.  In general, warm metals are popular, with a resurgence of gold and brass making their way back into home fixtures like faucets, doorknobs, and accents in a modern way versus the strictly retro styling that’s continually replaced on home design shows.  Also look for this trend in lamp bases, figurines, faux animal head sculptures, and throw pillows.

Wire and metal are now common materials available in small side tables, furniture legs of accent tables, and a variety of pendant light fixtures that opt for a sculpture look over more traditional domes and other bulb covers.  Marble, with its prominent gray and white swirl pattern, is a kitchen and bathroom countertop trend that adds to that high end look.  This paired with clean white backsplashes and Shaker style cabinets will continue to offer quality kitchens that chef appeal. 

We don’t all run out and buy up all these products just to say we’re on trend.  But it’s nice to know what is prominent and what will continue to offer great style when we are in the market for something new, whether that be for a new shade for our walls or a pretty accent piece.  The best styles show themselves when we take elements we love and bring them together in ways that add to the look and feel of our homes.  So we can take this you’ll-be-seeing-these-again trends and choose whether they make our own list of gotta’-have-it looks in 2015.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 18th.

     

Top 5 Home Resolutions for the New Year

Just as many have vowed to lose weight, get in shape, or make some other change for the better in 2015, your home can have its own set of New Year’s resolutions you decide to implement to make improvements this year.  What tops your house-proud list?

1.  Kick the Clutter – Trying to tame the clutter can feel like trying to tame a wild animal.  But making a conscience effort to kick the clutter to the curb in your home can have lasting benefits.  To succeed, you need support from family members and a willingness to work at maintenance.  Set up good organizational systems that make putting things away effortless.  After all, clutter develops when items don’t have a designated home and they end up being placed around randomly because that is easier than finding a proper spot.  Banish those hot spots where items pile and find good homes for the things you actually use.

2.  Pare Down – Right along with tackling clutter, paring down your household contents can be a priority to many.  “We have too much stuff” is a common sentiment.  Choose less by determining what is being used, what is being properly stored for future use or as genuine keepsakes, and what is just excess.  And then get rid of the excess that’s taking up your limited space through donation or trash collection.

3.  Have a Clean Routine – If your regular cleaning routine could use a little more structure and a bit more effort (or consistency), decide to up your cleaning game.  Set days for specific tasks to be handled and determine by whom.  A little at a time can go a long way to stress-less home maintenance.  Clean out your cleaning products and toss what you’ll never pick up again and instead invest in products and equipment you will be willing to put to good use in a timely, repeated manner.

4.  Showcase Your Style – If you look around and feel what you’re seeing doesn’t say “2015” to you, contemplate décor items you would be willing to part with in favor of some new pieces.  This doesn’t have to be an overnight makeover; instead, make a few new purchases over time to pull a fresh, updated look together. 

5.  Get Out the Toolbox – Home repairs and general maintenance can pile up over time when a short list gets ignored until it feels unmanageable.  What needs attention?  A roof or ceiling crack repair?  A flooring issue?  A paint job?  Make an actual list and discuss budgeting and perhaps hiring someone more capable to get things marked off this year.

 Make your own list of home resolutions for 2015 to enjoy your everyday spaces to their fullest potential.  That is worth being resolute about.    

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 11th.

A Fresh Start

As much as we love the holidays, there is something that just feels good about the sense of newness that January's fresh start brings with it. If you're getting your home back to normal and the Christmas decor back in storage, there are some steps to consider to get the New Year off to an organized, prepared start. 

Decide not to store things that you are not interested in reusing again next year. If you first got into your Christmas containers and left some pieces back and didn't display or use them this year, determine if that pause was temporary or permanent. Also take into consideration items that could have been damaged or now look too worn out to display. If you don't see those pieces in your decorative future, choose to donate them now instead of store them another year. More storage space for ornaments and accessories means room for new pieces in the future. 

Replenish your supplies. If you wrap like I do, you're likely running low on tissue paper and gift wrap tape. Instead of waiting for the next gift wrapping occasion, which can pop up and feel last minute, go ahead and restock your gift wrap supplies with a stack of all-purpose white tissue paper and gift wrap tape in bulk. You'll thank yourself when you don't have to dash out for some when you need it right away. If you have a pile of boxes from gifts that could go or stay, sift through and pick some good ones to keep to wrap future gifts in. For easy storage, break the larger ones down for flat storage and keep a short stack of shoe box and shirt box sizes with your wrapping supplies. Also look through Christmas wrapping paper on sale that doesn't expressly look like Christmas, like a chevron pattern ‎in black and white or lime green and white. That could be used for many occasions throughout the year. 

As you get your treasured gifts situated in your home, it's a good time of year to purge some items. If you received a gift that essentially replaces something older that you have, decide if a "one stays and one goes" policy would help with your space and your organization. I received some glass kitchen storage that is superior to another set I owned. I'm definitely not into cramming things into cabinets, so I took the opportunity to assess my new quantity and remove ‎the superfluous pieces that just didn't measure up now.  If you didn't go through this process with the kids' toys back in the fall in preparation for Christmas, now is as good a time as any. When they have their new toys to compare to, they may be more likely to scrutinize old items and be willing to donate to free up some room in their rooms. 

January is a time of starting anew.  Take some time to put that into practice to get your home off to a fresh start in 2015.

DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star January 4th.