Kristin Drohan Interior Design

2010 Color of the Year

I know in my last post I was dreaming of a White Christmas.  Who knew that was going to equate to several inches a few days later.  How about DC getting more snow than Boston.  In the combined 6 1/2 years we lived in the DC area, we only had one bad snow storm.  I happened to go into to labor that night with my first child. Nothing like having a southern husband drive his wife to the hospital in a snow storm on an empty tank of gas while painful labor pains were occurring 3-4 minutes apart.  I'm sure I don't need to paint any more of a picture for you of that car ride.  Especially when he stopped to get gas.  Enough about the white stuff. Pantone has announced the color of the year, and it isn't White.

 

I love it!  What do y'all think?  Since it is Blue, I'll be joining Smiling Sallie's Blue Monday party. 

I'm Dreaming of a White... and Black Christmas

I'm not going to lie.  I'm seriously in the weeds with holiday tasks.  The gift shopping is only half done.  The cards aren't even ordered yet and the teacher and friend gifts have hardly been given a thought.  The move has finally caught up with me.  We only got about 90% moved in before life interrupted.  That wasn't too big of a deal until we threw in the holidays.  Trying to manage my business, the furniture line, and the family was about all I could handle.  Add the holidays, and I was toast.   In the past I've suffered from CPS.  You know, Christmas Perfection Syndrome.  Try as I might, it just isn't going to be remotely close this year.  My kids had begged me to put up the Dept 56 New England village up (hasn't been up in 9 yrs).  It is such a pain .  So, in honor of actually being in New England,  I relented and let them do it.  It was actually pretty funny listening to my son make up stories as he put the people and animals out.  He has the palace guards marching next to the mail carriage.  Animals down the middle of the road.  The important point... I don't care. 

Notice the bales of hay and animals in the middle of town and the palace guards marching down the street guarding the gift carriage.  Some CPS recovery?  Perhaps...exhaustion could also be an explanation. 

Then we were slow to the outdoor decorating.  So slow that we ran out of lights and so did the stores.  The only ones my husband could find were the LED ones.  Now I have blue lights mixed with the white ones.  I hate it, and I actually think I twitch a little looking at it...but I left them mixed in the topiaries.  This is definitely some sign of recovery...or is it shear defeat?

Okay, it doesn't look quite as bad in the pic as it does in real life.  

Enough kvetching.  Here are some pics of some stuff I've actually put a bit of effort into.

My tree is a very unconventional, faux Black.  I think I have enough bling on it that it disguises the Black.

Here is my Black and White mantel.  We do need to update those stocking pics.  I think they are about 6 years old.  Hmmm,  on second thought, maybe just the children.  I hope y'all are doing better than I am.  I'm developing some new martinis in honor of my CPS recovery.  Look for the recipes next week.  I'll be joining Hooked on Houses Holiday House Party.  Be sure to hop on over and see some great holiday decorating.

 

Where do the extra guests sleep?

Are you gearing up for visitor's arrival in the next few days?  I know I am.  This is the first house I've lived in since we've had kids that I have an actual guest bedroom.  It is appropriately sized, at about 9' x 9'.  Tiny for sure, but it is the perfect amount of sq footage dedicated to a space that gets 5 % usage throughout the year and in my town costs about $325 a sq ft.( I know, YIKES!).  Since, this is the first time I've had a guest bedroom I have experimented with all sorts of ways to sleep visitors in the past.   Sofa-beds, daybeds, air-beds, you name it.  I've tried them all.  Here are the solutions I have found to be the most comfortable.  The first is a daybed I designed specifically for this purpose and will be included in my new furniture collection. 

Here is another option.  What is so great about these pieces (besides being eco friendly) is that they are 7 ft long and 34" wide.  That is almost the size of a twin bed but is the scale of a sofa.   The point was to have them be usable as sofas with the option of sleeping extra guests.  Even though they are little smaller than a twin bed, twin bedding still works great.  The mattress is super comfy and can be done in a bio hybrid soy base cushion (eco friendly) or with a spring down cushion. 

Another option that works pretty well is the new air mattress top sofa beds.  Hickory Chair has one that it really convenient and comfy.  Here's how it works.

The pump comes with the sofa bed and inflates to a 8" thick mattress in 30 seconds.  It has a foam base and the air cell inflates over top.  The air mattress  is sandwiched between a padded mattress cover that also eliminates the cold temp that air beds sometimes have.    I have laid on this mattress (that somehow sounds wrong) and it is really comfortable.  No metal bar poking you in the back.  I know these options won't help for this Holiday, but for the future you have some great alternatives for comfortably sleeping your guests. 

Holiday Tables... Which one do you like Best?

We are in the thick of it now.  Decorating, entertaining, attending holiday parties, gift shopping, and card sending are all in high gear.  It is the busy season.  Do you need a little holiday table inspiration?  Homegoods is sponsoring a tablescape contest on Facebook.  I do love that store.  I have perused the 200+ entries and have found the ten I like the best.  I just picked the Winter/Christmas entries even though there are some really good themed tables for just about any occasion.  In fact, if you'd like to help out a blog friend you can vote for Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking here.  She has a really awesome 4th of July table.

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

 
Number 5

Number 6

Number 7

Number 8

Number 9

Number 10  

  They are really good aren't they?  Which one do you like best.  I have three that I can't decide between.   I'll be joining Hooked on Houses blog party today so hop on over to see some great holiday decorating.

Peacock Decor Everywhere

Lately, I've noticed that Peacock stuff is popping up more and more in my vendor catalogs.  Here is a sampling.

Peacock Rug from Delos.  This is completely custom.  You can pick the colors you like and they make the rug.  I just did this rug recently for a client in more of the sea glass colors.  It turned out gorgeous.  The room is nearing completion and I can't wait to get it photographed.

 

 Peacock pillows from Surya above and Kylie wall covering from York below.

 
 
 
Beacon Hill Peacock Silk and Peacock feather trim from D"kei.
Recently Hostess with the Mostess did a Peacock themed party for Chambord. You can read it here. This was the place setting for the party.  What do you think?  I think I'm diggin it.  Of course I'd be remiss in not linking to Smiling Sally's Blue Monday party with all the Blue. 
   

Attention Bloggers! Do you get stuff for FREE?

Man, I do not like returning from vacations.  I did not do any work for six days including checking email.  It was really nice while it lasted, but returning to 300 emails, piles of mail, and loads of unpacking...not so much fun.   Writing a blog was the collateral damage.  I didn't get around to reading the newspaper (Boston Globe) until last night and found a really interesting article regarding bloggers.  You can read it here.  The title was We're Bloggers We Get Stuff For FREE.  The article goes on to explain a new law that requires bloggers and Twitterers who write a review or endorsement of a product to disclose when they receive free merchandise or payment for writing about the item.  Hmmmm... interesting.  I'm not really sure how they would police that, but I thought it could provoke some interesting conversation.  Is this also a way for the government to track these freebies for taxation purposes?  I don't know,  just asking.  I guess some of the real benefactors are the "Mommy bloggers" and fashion bloggers.  Last year, Proctor and Gamble invited 15 influential bloggers who routinely get freebies like plush toys and strollers (WHAT?!!) to an all expense paid trip to their corp headquarters.  While there,  execs asked for feedback and informed them of their charitable efforts.  I know that Hickory Chair has done something similar.  In the past, they have invited bloggers to Hickory Chair University which is all expense paid class.  Having gone to a business school that Proctor and Gamble heavily recruits from, I just think these companies are savvy and smart.  The article was a bit of a buyer beware.  Essentially, the goal was to have readers understand the relationship between the the company from which the products are being reviewed and the reviewers.  So, what says you?  For the record, I haven't received anything for free.  However, I did attend HCU on their nickel, but I have an account, and have been buying from them for a year. I'm not sure that counts but I'm disclosing just in case.  For the future, if I don't love it, I won't be writing about it.  Discuss!