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!

Smitten | Baby Russia

I’m having a severe case of style envy over these chic ensembles put together by Baby Russia. I feel like this girl is my style soul mate. Every outfit she shares on her tumblr blog is perfection.  I love the simplicity - note the lack of pattern - and how she uses mostly solid colored pieces with lots of texture then throws in an occasional animal print or stripe. There are lots of basics that can be mixed and matched to create numerous outfit changes. 

Obviously, you can take these outfits as literal fashion inspiration but I also see paint colors, ideas for upholstery, pillows, draperies, rugs, + more. You could scheme an entire house in these hues.  So what do you think?  Are you smitten?

Check out the rest of Baby Russia's Polyvore sets here. 

My Weekend in Pictures

I ventured to one of my favorite Chicago stores for a second time in less than week.
(I sense an addiction coming on...this could become a problem)

Every time I visit I find something to add to my collection. 

The owner has such a great eye for finding unique treasures...like the carved wooden chain pictured above.

I never leave the store empty handed.

I stopped in Anthropologie to return an unnecessary purchase I made last weekend and ended up walking out with Deborah Needleman's new book, The Perfectly Imperfect Home.

Is anyone else as obsessed with Deborah and I am? 

I did a little DIY because this year I was determined - DETERMINED, I tell you! - to have linen herringbone napkins for this year's Christmas tabletop.  The only ones I could find were these Sferra ones at $520 (I need 12) and I just couldn't justify paying that much for an item whose sole purpose is to wipe ones hands + mouth.  

So I took matters into my own hands, bought 2 yards of this Hannah Linen from Fishman's Fabrics ($60 total), found this simple tutorial + spent my Sunday afternoon parked in front of my sewing machine.  I'm thrilled with how they turned out!  There's really nothing I like more than saving money...$460 in this case! 

Now on to a new week, with new projects + new adventures.  The countdown to Christmas is on + I can't wait!  Only 2 more days of work then I'm off until January!  Woohoo!

What do you have planned for the week?

Currently Coveting

Here are just a few of the things I fell in love with this week during my quest to find the perfect gifts...

ONE  beautiful black + white screen print by Petra Borner  (£74)  /  TWO  I'm really into brass jewelry lately.  Loving everything by Samma, especially this "cutout" ring  ($58)  /  THREE  I dying over the color of this wool throw available at Terrain  ($460)  /  FOUR  must use this chic Armelle Settee by Currey and Company in a future project  ($3,036)  /  FIVE  I'm in the market for a new kettle + right now this cork handled one is at the top of the list  ($70)  /  SIX  vintage brass pendants + so much more at my new fav Etsy shop, EpochBeads  ($5)  /  SEVEN  a set of these celestial coasters from Anthropologie may have made their way into my family grab bag (wink, wink)  ($32)  /  EIGHT  loving everything from Noir Furniture, this burlap covered shelf included  ($950).

I hope you have a great weekend!

Mad About Hue | Bluish-Green

I think my apartment could use a nice dose of bluish-green. It's a luscious, unexpected hue that makes a statement when paired with other muted colors like copper, gold, gray and black. I really want this Area Home blanket but I'm on a budget, so for now, I think scouring ebay for a piece of dioptase may do the trick.

(Images 1-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

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)

My Weekend in Pictures

I played around with this gorgeous gold and silver china I inherited from my great aunt (the same aunt that gave me this velvet chair) and tried to perfect this year's Christmas table setting.  I also did lots of Christmas shopping...   

My first stop was Jayson Home and Garden where I found these amazing agate cheese plates.

Next up, Hermès. Despite wanting every home accessory in the store, including these ashtrays, I managed to make only one small purchase for a special someone.

I stopped in the new Tory Burch boutique on Oak Street just to check out the décor.  Fabulous as usual.  Architect Daniel Romualdez incorporated elements of Tory's own home into the store -- jute rugs, pleated lampshades, rich velvet curtains -- so the apartment envy that you're inevitably going to feel if you visit is totally legit.

I did a double take when I walked past this Barneys window display.  I love the simplicity.  It's festive without looking like Santa's elves attacked it.

And after all that shopping I spent my Sunday night wrapping gifts.

How was your weekend?  Did you finish your holiday shopping?

Happy Weekend

Whew, what a week!  I want thank everyone for their kind comments on my "Favorites" post early this week and welcome new readers...I hope you look around and decide to stay a while!

See ya Monday!

(Image Miki Duisterhof)

Mad About Hue | Bedroom Inspiration

Now that my living room is squared away it's time to focus on the bedroom. Right now the design is pretty much nonexistent. I hate to admit it but the picture I posted earlier this week is pretty darn deceiving. The lamp, painting and bedding are just about the only good things going on in the room. I'm in desperate need of a headboard (Santa, Mom, anyone?) and a new dresser. I like the current black + white color scheme but I think it needs to be bumped up a bit.  A punchy coral, edgy chartreuse or muted mustard might do the trick...add in a chocolaty fur throw and a little leopard and we'd have a winning combination.  I know some of my inspiration images aren't of bedrooms but you see where I'm going with this, right?

(Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)