merry merry

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday filled with friends, family, laughter and love.

 

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let us bring him silver + gold

Yes, I made a cheesy Christmas song reference in the title of this post but I just couldn't help myself! I love the holidays and coincidentally my current design conundrum involves the delicate art of mixing metals. I remember over a decade ago thinking I would never like gold, it was for "old people." Either times have changed or I have become one of those old people (no comments from the peanut gallery please) because I love all shades of gold. In fact, I have been wearing dual-tone jewelry for years now.

David Yurman earrings; I almost never leave home without them

I'm a little stuck when it comes to the correct way to mix metals within my own home. As you've seen in previous posts (here, here and here) a lot of our fixtures and appliances are chrome. While I wouldn't change a single decision that we've made thus far I want to warm up our open floorplan by adding some gold tones. Instead of simply choosing accessories in one color or the other the trick to a smooth combination is finding key pieces (like those earrings) that are both silver and gold. They introduce the relationship and will then provide continuity as you layer solid items in the room. Here are a few of my favorites:

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Do you think I should stick to one metalic tone or go for the combination? If you like the combo, how do you go about mixing metals in your living space?

holiday tablescape

I'm so excited. This is the first holiday season my husband and I have a dining table so, naturally, I've got three dinner parties on the books. Thankfully the Barefoot Contessa was available to help me plan the menu but when it came to my tabletop I was in need of inspiration. Feining for luxurious neutrals, I turned to the fabulous design blog Sacramento Street. I'm obsessed with the way Caitlin uses neutrals to create traditional settings. White can often take on a more modern feel but she manages to keep it current yet timeless.

As luck would have it she recently created a wonderful tablescape for a contest put on by the monogram king Mark + Graham (a perfect place to purchase hostess gifts, btw). From the flower arrangement to the antlers, it's perfect for my holiday entertaining.

Tip: To make neutrals more sophisticated and luxurious, layer them. You don't need "pops of color" or crazy patterns to make a room feel interesting. A few strategic accessories will complete and ground your look, like the black and gold charger plates above.

* This advice came recently from an interior designer I know well regarding my own home. Thanks Mom!

towels

I have a strange obsession with bath towels. I have been known on multiple occasions to choose hotels based on the quality of their cotton. Let's just say I've done some research.

Remember this post when I told you Macy's Hotel Collection was the bees knees? Well I stand by that statement, however, someone has successfully knocked them off! Target (that's pronounced Tar-jé) has created a luxury line under it's proprietary Fieldcrest brand and these towels are legit. Instead of the steep $12 to $40 price tag you can snag these fab alternatives for $9 to $20. They come in solid colors or white with stripes and the line even includes bath sheets. I'm always looking for ways to save some money without compromising quality so I just had to share this with all of you!

**Disclaimer: Copper + Walnut is not liable or responsible for guests who accidentally "miss their flight" or linger longer than they are invited. We can not control the power of these towels.