The Magic Of Metal For the Holidays...An Etsy Treasury Feature!

Well it is only a week or so until we celebrate Thanksgiving and I am starting to feel a little festive!  I wanted to share a great "back up plan" or "default decor" idea with you for making your home more festive this year for the holidays.

Many of us are trying to save money and perhaps you are entertaining multiple times throughout the season and want to make your home festive without going on a special shopping excursion for a carload of decor?  Well, start going through your home collecting anything metallic with beautiful reflective surfaces.

Everything from silver mirrors, picture frames, candlesticks, votives, ribbon,boxes etc. can be placed in groupings in entry hallways, bathrooms and tabletops to create lovely vignettes.  By simply adding several live plants to the groupings, you have all you need to create instant warmth for the holidays!

Today's Etsy Treasury Feature looks at some amazing and festive metallic finds on Etsy....

The Country Living Fair 2011 - Furnishings!

Country Living Fair Series- Part 2

This year at the Fair, there was a larger variety of antiques and furniture, which was such a treat!  I thought that I would share some images of furniture that really caught my attention. I have also included a list of some of the vendors who featured some really interesting  pieces.

Take note of the hanging lampshades that are numbered...Not only are they great to look at, but the chronological numbers carry your line of sight across the room. This is great for styling a booth where you want visitors to notice as many elements as possible.  I like the mix of vintage rustic and french without too much fluff.  I saw this space and immediately wanted to walk in and sit down, that is a successful booth!

This blue piece was one of my favorites! It was a tough one to pass up, but I was looking for a bench and had to stick to my mission. All I could think about when I saw it was, what a great piece to hold a collection of just about anything...from sterling silver to white hobnail pieces.

Imagine a collection of Delftware filling this piece. WOW!   Blue and white is such a classic combination and it is one that should be done in a "large" way.  Oh well, maybe next time!

Great bench and pillows...I couldn't make it work for me, but I am sure that someone grabbed this one and took it home!  As you can see, the styling was really well done at this Fair and I could tell this was not the first time around for a lot of these vendors.

I really enjoyed the overall composition of this display, with all of the different tones of blue.  This is the type of piece that can inspire the look of an entire room.  If you are changing any room in your home, there are many different ways to initiate that change and it doesn't always have to begin the same way!  A transformation can begin with a gorgeous swatch of fabric, a vintage chair,  a distressed accent piece or even a piece of art.

Here is a list of some of the participating vendors from the Country Living Fair who had vintage and antique furniture:

• www.weatherednestantiques.com
• www.southporchantiques.com
• www.highfallsmercantile.com
• www.antiquesstlouis.com
• www.longwoodantiquewoods.com

I hope you feel inspired and check back for more features on the Country Living Fair 2011!

The Country Living Fair 2011...The First Feature of the Series!

I have returned from The Country Living Fair in Stone Mountain, Georgia and Wow, what an extravaganza!  This year, there were more vendors and even more of a variety of wares!  I will be featuring highlights over the next week, including several talented artists from the fair and many beautiful photos of the booths and artwork.

Today I want to include several photos of the entrance and welcome area of the Fair.  Upon entering, you immediately walk into a stone pavilion with a giant fireplace. This area is beautifully styled and it sets the tone for the aesthetic of the fair, overall.

Enjoy...as you enter the Country Living Fair 2011.  

Did you go to Country Living Fair this year? If so, what was your favorite part?  What did you buy?  Did you discover any new artists or vendors?

Check back for more Country Living Fair highlights throughout the week!

Fire Up The Grill, It's Time For a Fall Backyard Barbecue!

It's Fall Y'all!  Lets get together in the back yard and have a barbecue party!  Today's treasury includes many of the staples for a festive backyard barbecue.  Take a look at some of my amazing finds on Etsy this week.

Life By Design Carolinas: Detailed Services and Rates

Hello friends!  I hope everyone had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend with your families and friends!  It looks like the end of summer is here and the beginning of fall is soon to come!

Today, I want to invite any one who may be interested in Life By Design Carolinas' services to take a look at our newly added pages:  Interior Redesign and Professional Organizing Services. These pages can be found in the menu bar under the main title of the blog!

You will find details on all of the following services:

• Redesign Consultation
• Redesign written action plan
• Redesign Services
• Color Consultation
• Professional Shopping
• Product Research
• Professional Organizing
• Floral Designs
• Holiday and Event Styling

These pages detail our services as well as the current rates for the services.  We always do our best to be as transparent as we can, therefore we post our rates clearly on the site. If there are any exceptions at all, they will be noted with the client at the consultation appointment and before any work is initiated.

Of course, there are multiple companies you may choose to help you within your home, but at Life By Design we recognize that the process of updating your home or your lifestyle is an extremely personal one. Because of this, it is important to work with someone who is genuinely motivated, invested in your priorities and with a sense of humor,  in addition to skills and experience! We are able to offer all of these qualities!  Please give us a call to ask a few questions and get to know us before you make any decisions!  We would love to say hi!

Isn't it time for a little update?

The 39th Annual Village Art and Craft Fair

The Official 39th Annual Village Art and Craft Fair Poster

This weekend Asheville is hosting The 39th Annual Village Art and Craft Fair!  Held in the historic Biltmore Village, this outdoor art and craft fair features 120 exhibitors and never disappoints!  This Fair can draw thousands over the two day period, and since its focus is on arts and crafts, the overall vibe of the Fair is low key and enjoyable. It is in a beautiful setting with large shade trees and is only a couple of steps away from great food and shops in the village.

There is NO admission charge and the fair begins on Saturday at 10am and runs until 7pm.  Then on Sunday it opens at noon and runs until 6pm.  The fair always goes on regardless of weather, so start your planning!

If you are visiting from out of town, The Doubletree Hotel Biltmore of Asheville is just across the street from the fair and is a great choice for accommodations.

Whether you are an art collector or just interested in being inspired, you should definitely consider attending!  There are many types of art from photography to sculpture to yard art and jewelry!  It is a great escape for a summer weekend !

To find out more information about fair and poster:  http://www.bluespiral1.com/nmg/avacf.html