Reviving Lost Art of the Dinner Party
By PAShopGirl | July 25, 2008
One of the greatest joys in entertaining is pulling off a dinner party where everyone raves about the ambiance, the conversation, what a great time they had. The inner workings of a dinner party, however, start with a great place to dine. Attention to detail is an important trait here as everything from the location to the table settings will make an impact on the feel of your meal.
First, interesting tableware can really embellish your presentation. Sets like Polish stoneware are eye-catching and hefty, a great way to present a meal. Just imagine a hearty chicken in cream sauce served on a colorful Polish pottery dinner plate equals the beginnings of ambiance. Beneath the solid tableware, think of placing a fabric placemat in a complimentary color or even a linen tablecloth if you wish to be more formal. Coordinating accessories such as decorative napkins and napkin rings next to the place setting will make a enhance a formal statement while wine charms in matching colors at the bottom of the wine glasses can add a whimsical feel. Candles are a welcome addition to any table setting, though you will want to refrain from using the scented versions which will interrupt the taste of your meal.
Another tool to create a great dinner party is a good theme. It doesn’t have to be a kitschy theme like a luau, which can be fun. In fact, it can be as easy as the type of food you’re serving. For example, Italian or Indian food will permit a more casual family serving style which the table settings should reflect. More formal styles such as French or Japanese would require a different layout. Though the décor does not have to match the food style served, the accessories should support it. A wooden cutting board for cutting cheese and bread would be appropriate for a French meal. A three tier iron plate rack would be a perfect service for hors dourves or dessert presentations.
Finally, it is important that the host make sure that the food and beverages are served in a manner conducive to both easy enjoyment and steady conversation. Whether it is a casual barbeque or a five-course experiment in cuisine, it is vital that the timing allows your dinner companions to enjoy each course and refreshment. Nothing ruins a meal faster than the meat needing twenty minutes longer while the side dishes get cold. It also helps if you keep the refreshments readily available for refills. With all these tips in mind, you can create a wonderful evening for your friends and loved ones to enjoy.
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Design a Unique Garden Getaway
By PAShopGirl | July 22, 2008
Increasing the usable space in your home is one of the greatest ways to both improve your own enjoyment of your space and appeal to buyers down the road. One fabulous way to do this is to utilize the outdoors during the nicer seasons as living space, such as a garden as an outdoor living room. It’s surprisingly easy to do and gives a lasting impression on visitors.
First, think about the garden. No two gardens are alike: size, shape and contents are always different. A small garden may only permit a cedar bench while a winding English garden could be large enough to hold parties in. The contents of the garden will also dictate what can happen there. Planted beds of flowers will evoke an entirely different ambiance than a vegetable patch or a plot of wildflowers. Let the natural elements help dictate what kind of escape the space will be.
After you have decided what kind of retreat will fit your garden space, consider the furniture set up. If you are looking for a quiet retreat to read or paint, your getaway can be as simple as a cedar garden swing nestled in the middle of the flower beds. You can go more elaborate, something for dinner parties for example with a garden arbor shading a patio furniture set. This kind of arrangement would create a beautiful setting for an intimate celebration.
Next, think of enhancing the space with home and garden décor accessories. Set up a bird feeder or birdbath nearby to bring natural inspiration into the space. A sundial in the middle of a close flower bed would be a point of interest during the day. At night, small white twinkle lights can be strung up through an arbor or trellis to provide mood lighting that enhances the outdoor feel. Even a wheelbarrow full of plants can be used to decorate a garden getaway – it is only limited by the imagination!
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Celebrate American Independence with Americana Décor
By PAShopGirl | July 17, 2008
This summer, consider extending your Independence Day celebration beyond the 4th of July weekend and the leftover fireworks. Instead, think about making this season a celebration of all the wonderful things that evoke summer, which is at the heart of American nostalgia.
The great thing about Americana home décor is how simple it is to integrate into your festivities and how diverse the options are. For example, for picnics and family gatherings think about going back a century or two with the Americana décor. Throw a red gingham tablecloth on a wood picnic table with picnic basket loaded with fried chicken, corn on the cob and cornbread with the aforementioned apple pie for a rustic feeling. Put some wildflowers in a vase as the centerpiece and you will feel like something out of a Mark Twain novel. For pool parties, you only have to go back a few decades to the height of surfer culture for your inspiration. The classic 1950s beach party brings to mind images of long boards, sand, boardwalks and tiki torches. Make some hot dogs and s’mores over a bonfire and you are sure to have a memorable and thoroughly American evening.
Indoor affairs will require a somewhat different take on the presentation. Anything that suggests a diner atmosphere such as a soda fountain straw jar dispenser, sodas served in classic glass bottles and a neon wall clock will bring the height of American popular culture to mind. If you are looking for something with a bit of Western zest, think of adding some Southwestern kitchen décor into the mix. Items that mix wood and wrought iron, generally known as Mission style, and brightly colored woven linens are a fun way to bring the American cowboy feel into your home.
However you choose to enjoy this summer, Americana décor is an easy way to celebrate all summer long the varied and diverse styles that are all as American as apple pie.
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The Many Uses of Wrought Iron
By PAShopGirl | July 8, 2008
One of the greatest trends in home decorating is doing the unexpected. Bringing the outdoors in is one of those surprises and a great way to do this is by using wrought iron, a material used almost exclusively outdoors for centuries, inside through accessories. Since modern wrought iron is made to look more graceful and clean than it once did, it transitions nicely even in the most modern of spaces through both traditional and surprising accessories.
For more traditional rooms, a wrought iron tiered plate holder on a table paired with square white porcelain plates will really highlight the stark differences while keeping a sleek appearance. Using a hang from the ceiling pot rack to mount a painting on the wall, for example, would be an unexpected yet thoroughly modern presentation. Another fun integration is an iron table frame with a glass table top, the perfect marriage of an airy quality in the glass and the solid heft of the iron. The key to keeping this trend as up to date as possible is to mix smooth lines and textures with the slightly aged look of modern iron which will present a fresh twist on a rather age old material.
If Old World is more your style, there are a several ways to introduce this trend into your home. The key to using wrought iron in this fashion is to pair it with softer textures to give a more romantic feel. Candle chandeliers, for example, add both soft lighting and a focal point of interest into a space. Crystals or vines can be hung to from the chandelier to really make a statement. Another lighting option is candle holders on the fireplace mantel holding tapered candles will definitely make a soft, romantic touch. Plants or silk panels can be woven through a room divider to add more visual interest and compliment the floral and leafy designs which are quite common with this material.
Whether going for a contemporary twist or a traditional presentation, the uses of wrought iron are limited only by your creativity which is what makes this material an interesting choice in any room.
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Pampering Your Favorite Furry Friend
By PAShopGirl | June 29, 2008
Who doesn’t love to spoil their favorite Fido or Fifi? The ways to lavish your pup have seriously compounded over the past several years and we Americans love our ‘puppy-children’. More importantly, we love to lavish man’s best friend with the best in toys, food and accessories as evidenced by the thousands of dog boutiques found across the country. Though places like these offer accessories like ceramic dog bowls and squeaky toys, which are still classics and with good reason, there are now more styles to choose from as well as more fun frills to add.
Let’s say your Bruno is a big boy - then an elevated dog feeder is the ticket. These help keep the spine in a more neutral position as the dog eats and drinks instead of having him stoop to chow down which can cause bloating, joint stress and choking. Make sure to put a coordinating canvas dog placemat beneath the dishes to catch any dropped kibble or excess water, this way it doesn’t end up on the carpet. For the regular dog, this is a pretty nifty feast. But for the extraordinary dog, why not walk him after his meal with a personalized studded leash and Harley Davidson t-shirt. It’s an option!
And for your little Lady, who also needs some pampering, what about a personalized placemat with coordinating pink ceramics dog bowls. In fact, a matching cookie jar for her favorite treats would also look adorable on the kitchen counter. But if you really want to lavish Lady with some cute accessories, you can also dress her with a pink leather collar, pink doggy sunglasses and even a designer doggie dress to match your own!
There are personalized dog accessories, dresses, wigs, jackets, backpacks, carriers, jewelry – the list goes on and on. Believe it or not, it’s all out there – but that’s the fun of dog accessories today. From Hello Kitty to Prada and Gucci, it all depends on how style-conscious you are and how much you want to lavish upon your dog.
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A Quick Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Bird Watching
By PAShopGirl | June 24, 2008
Bird watching is an age-old pastime, especially during the spring and fall months. What makes this hobby so popular is that it requires little equipment, easily enhances your appreciation of your own backyard, and provides a rewarding quiet moment in the morning.
The best way to ensure that there are plenty of birds to watch is to guarantee that there is a steady food supply. Bird houses and feeders are the perfect way to do this and there are many attractive options to choose from. Platform bird feeders are simple, made as a platform to be either hung from a hook or perched atop a post. The birdseed is poured onto the platform and left for the birds to consume. This allows plenty of open air for the bird watcher to view the feeding and the birds interacting. Another popular option is the tube bird feeders. These feeders are typically clear vertical tubes filled with small holes and perches on the sides or bottom or both which are meant to be hung. This allows several birds to perch and feed from the side or bottom, allowing for greater viewing of individual birds. Depending on the native wildlife, squirrel proof bird feeders might be a good idea otherwise squirrels or larger birds like grackles or starlings will steal the birdseed. Don’t forget the favored standard of backyard feeders, the Droll Yankees hummingbird feeders which will attract these small and interesting birds to the backyard daily.
Bird houses, on the other hand, are very specific to the kind of bird you wish to attract. The right kind of bird house will allow the birds to build nests inside of the houses to protect themselves and their young from predators and the elements. If the birds do this in your yard, your window of opportunity to view the mating and nesting processes is increased significantly.
Once the food supply is steady and the nests are established, birds will come regularly to your yard. Early morning is usually the best time to observe the birds as they are on the hunt for food at this hour. After spending time feeding, they will leave the area unless there is more to attract their attention. Hanging bird baths hung around the yard will keep the birds in the vicinity longer as they need to bathe regularly to maintain their feathers. They will fluff and dip themselves in the water to clean their feathers, then fly to another area to dry and further groom themselves.
Combining all of the yard preparations with diligence, patience and a good set of binoculars will make a successful bird watching experience in which you don’t even have to leave your home. Make it a hobby and it will create a deeper appreciation of the wildlife that still exists, yes, even in your own backyard.
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Create a Fabulous Outdoor Living Space
By PAShopGirl | June 20, 2008
One of the greatest and probably most functional trends in home decorating is bringing the indoors outside. Using a patio or garden area as a lounge or entertainment space is an opportunity to maximize the square footage of a home and create an extra but usable ‘room’. The anchor of a great outdoor living space is furniture. Wood outdoor furniture is both classic and modern, offering years of lasting use. Teak patio furniture in particular is a popular choice due to its durability against the elements as well as against pests that can make it last for generations. Another popular wood choice is cedar, also for durability but specifically because of its color which starts at a red or brown and ends in a silvery tone. Other popular choices of wood outdoor furniture are cypress, knotted pine and Brazilian hardwoods.
The most important thing to keep in mind when selecting which wood to use is the outdoor environment of the home and then the features of a particular wood. If the living space is to be on a lawn or garden, then there will be different durability and style requirements than that of poolside patio furniture. Teak patio furniture would be best in a lawn or garden setting due to its strong moisture and rot resistance whereas Brazilian cherry wood paints and stains well (teak does not) and would look fabulous next to a glistening blue pool.
Once the furniture is chosen and the style is established, it is time to bring in the right personal touches. First consider the fabrics. Choose cushions with weatherproof covers if they are to be used or a warm thick blanket if the space will be used during the evening or winter. Next, think about the kind of dishware to use. What is an outdoor entertaining space without some drinks and snacks? Finally, choose the items that make the finishing touches: the lighting and decorating accessories. These accessories should compliment the outdoor furniture chosen for the space. Candles in tall hurricane glasses with sand would compliment poolside furniture. A string of small paper lantern lights would soften and illuminate a patio space. Once these finishing touches are applied, your outdoor space can become like a second living room.
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How to give your kitchen a rustic country look
By PAShopGirl | June 11, 2008
The rustic country look is a classic motif in home décor, especially those with an Old World feel. A great way to do this is to start in the heart and hearth of the home, the kitchen, in simple and useful ways.
The kitchen with a country feel should always be about good food, good drink and good company. Remember that the country look is all about homey practicality where the everyday items are on display, so don’t be afraid to show off what is regularly used. A few great ways to bring this trend into the home without breaking the bank is through accessories like spice racks and countertop wine racks. Accessories like wine racks come in various styles so make sure to choose one that fits the feel and size of the kitchen. For example, a wooden rack will be more country whereas a wrought iron wine rack will be more Old World rustic. Wrought iron wine racks can also be very appealing and affordable in both the countertop and the full standalone versions whereas wood tends to be more expensive. Countertop wine racks are better for small spaces with the wrought iron wine racks tending to hold more wine bottles in a more compact fashion than wood.
There are other great ways to display the most used and beloved items fashionably. Hang some favorite mugs from small hooks under the cabinets by the coffeemaker or just take off the cabinet doors to display your wares. Glass jars on the counter full of staples like pasta, coffee beans, and legumes will add a true country feel. Another option is to hang the pots and pans from a wrought iron pot and pan rack either from the wall or the ceiling. Add a spice rack with clear jars and a wrought iron paper towel holder and already the kitchen will be getting that homey feel.
If you really want to bring more than a touch of the rustic in your home, think about bringing the same look of the kitchen into the dining room. Wood in particular makes for a warm space. The wood can be bare for a more cabin feel, stained for something a bit more polished or even painted in bright but deep colors like crimson or forest green for an Old World vibe which will saturate and add depth to the dining room. Think about adding a wooden bowl of fresh fruit or a simple vase full of fresh flowers as the center piece on the dining table. To really go country, add some colorful patterned fabrics into the room through table runners, chair cushions and even wall hangings. If a more refined pastoral theme is the goal, then make sure the accessories are wrought iron and the fabrics have a solid color pattern. If there is room, bring in a buffet where some of the serving china can be displayed and of course, keep those wine glasses handy and the countertop wine racks well-stocked because people will be making good memories in this space.
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