Make a Love Wreath

Gather, wrap, and wire – it’s as simple as that. Look for heart shaped grapevine wreaths at craft stores. Using real or faux berries, cut in six to eight-inch lengths, and bind several short bunches together with Flora tape. Secure the berries to the front of the wreath by wrapping with wire or stick bunches in front of grapevine wreath. Berries are at their peak now, so welcome your guests with a bright wreath made with love.

Ange Arm Chair

It doesn’t have to be a romantic day to enjoy a great chair. Add a little bit of art and romance to any room or patio with Fermob’s Ange Chair.  The seat reads: “Nose to nose, face to face, mouth to mouth, heart to heart” in French. Choose from all 20 Fermob colors. A great gift for someone special, and a fantastic focal chair for indoors or out. Find them at Fermob USA through gardencentersofatlanta.com or fermobusa.com.

Try a “Pouf”

One piece of furniture and  "pouf “ – you have changed the look of a room. Design your own romantic pouf using the texture, style and color you desire.  Etsy.com offers choices of styles, fabrics, and sizes for this new look in any room. A pouf can also serve as an ottoman, footstool, child’s seat, floor pillow, side table, meditation chair, or just a fun piece of extra seating.  That’s what makes a pouf so wonderful. They are multi-functional furniture.

Set the Scene for Romance

Need a little inspiration for your table setting? Use any great piece of porcelain, crystal, or glass to float one simple flower from the garden or your florist for each place or for the table’s centerpiece. Make it your own creation. Cut out all sizes of hearts from old cards or patterned paper and scatter on the table. Simple white plates work with bold color napkins. Use red or pink candles of any size for added color and voila! – hearts and flowers with a new twist.

Seeing Red

This is a great time to visit pinks and reds, which are synonymous with fun and warmth. A great wallpaper pattern, red shade, or pink door are classics all year long.

Sophia

Lighten Up

Lighting is especially important during the shorter, darker days, since light helps improve our mood in winter months.  Bottomless hurricane lamps or or any large clear containers and strands of holiday lights make a glowing addition to a mantel or a sideboard.  Connect the strands of white lights and voila!  

Fruit for Thought

Create a great look by coring green or red apples for votive candle holders. Use with fresh flowers, foliage and branches from your garden for this simple yet elegant effect.  Light the candles in your kitchen or dining area just for you.

Take a Walk

Enjoy the sunshine when it's out, or just head outside for a quick walk.   Pair a vibrant scarf and fun gloves with your dark parka.  The splash of color will bring a smile to you and those around you.

Collect Pine Cones

Use Holiday Decorative or Natural Pine Cones in cylinders with natural greenery from your garden or sparkly twisted twigs for a great look.

Cheers

Use leftover ribbon to tie around the stems of your Champagne flutes and Stemware for fun.   Choosing a different color for every glass also help guests keep track of their drinks.

Sophia's Simple Suggestions:

De-Clutter a Room or an Area

Don't let a room or an area become a "catch all" when families come home from school, work, or play.  Put out of season things like gardening supplies or outdoor sports equipment in plastic bags or bins.  Label and store them in garage or give things away.  Look around the room you are organizing.  If it is a utility room, is everything either "laundry"  or " landing area" related?   

Daily Comings and Goings

Hang backpacks, hats, umbrellas, jackets, and coats on heavy hooks.  Install a wall shelf with areas for lunch boxes, briefcases, laptops, and purses. Keys?  Drop them in bowl or hang them in same place daily.  Think of what you need near the door, like flashlights or dog leashes, for this area.  Knowing where things are saves time and confusion!

Shoes and Boots

If you take off your shoes when you enter the door, have a seat.  Use an ottoman or chair if room allows.   Make a cubby system that allows everyone a place for their athletic shoes, garden clogs, pool shoes, and rain boots!

Mail and Paper

What to do?  Design an in/out system that works for your family's incoming and outgoing papers.  School forms or schedules go to "in box", while completed ones go to "out box".Place bills and other mail in labeled areas.  A heavy basket is good for magazines.  Throw away unwanted mail in trash, shred, or put in recycle bin.

Calendar

Hang one in this area for everyone to see.  Each family member can add important dates and deadlines using their own "Color" for fun.  Hang different colored pens near the calendar for easy access.  Also, we love artwork hung here!

Hopefully, these quick home organization projects assist for an "Easy Come - Easy Go" home this fall ~!

 Sophia

Better Home and Gardens and Pottery Barn Ideas

Stay Cool ~

Sophia

The Prevailing Trend for Outdoor Living

"For the past few years we seem to move from the inside out.  This time spent outdoors has contributed to the increase in outdoor grilling and cooking, thus the creation of outdoor kitchens.  Bells and whistles found in interior gourmet kitchens are now present outside;  Pizza ovens, ice makers, grilling stations, Viking appliances and wine refrigerators are part of this trend that is continuing strongly.  The popularity of  “Staycations”, which were initially driven by economic forces, has led to the desire to expand the interior home sanctuary beyond the backdoor.  We are now designing and creating lush, relaxing, resort-like exteriors furnished with high-end outdoor all weather furniture, high performance outdoor flat screen televisions, fashionable accessories and rugs, pro-level outdoor kitchens, and outdoor lighting- all of which rivals indoor furnishings for beauty and functionality."

Comments by Marcia Blake

Ylighting Outdoor Pendants

West Elm Outdoor Pillows

Mint Pillows outdoor Blue Hibiscus pillow

Patio 1 Outdoor Furniture

Lantana Flowers

Reading the attached article "How You Can Play With Color" reminded me that we all could use a "pop of color" in our homes now.  As accessories can change an entire look of a dress -- the same idea applies to our interiors for a seasonal update!

Some suggestions for summer designing:

Replace current occasional pillow(s) with bright or printed one(s).

Try some colorful books or a bright tray on a cocktail table.

Use bright inexpensive ceramic pots or vases.

Showcase some fresh bright wildflowers with branches.

Enjoy ~

Sophia

How You Can Play With Color

• “Color in your home is like jewelry, you can add just a bit and still make a statement,” says Polly Lewis, the co-owner of Lewis Interiors in Boston. Kassie Rempel, founder of the Washington, D.C.–based accessories site Simplysoles.com, agrees it’s easy to add subtle-yet-confident hits of color to your home or your wardrobe. “You can always find color without pushing the envelope,” she says. “For example, you can wear purple flats without causing a stir.”

• Jackie Jordan, the director of color marketing for Sherwin Williams Paints, says to look in unexpected places—like travel magazines and art galleries—for tips on fresh-looking ways to update your home’s interior. “It’s great to come home to a bright pop of color, even if your overall design is fairly conservative,” she says. “Look at the art world to see what influences will be coming next—Chinese culture and graffiti art are definitely on the forefront of design right now, and we’ll see them trickling down into mainstream decor very soon.”

• “I tell clients to make an Environmental Family Tree. Look for colors that you associate with happy childhood, look for things that are very meaningful to you, that bring back joyous feelings, and surround yourself with them,” says Toby Israel, Ph.D., the author ofSome Place Like Home: Using Design Psychology to Create Ideal Places ($60, amazon.com).

Simple Living Magazine