As Simple As Black & White!

Although I am definitely a "color person", I seem to be drawn to pictures lately of rooms done in the simple color scheme of black and white.  Clean and crisp, black and white is often used in contemporary rooms, but works just as well in traditional schemes.  A white sofa often anchors this color scheme in living room settings, with one or more patterns in black and white as accents.  Not only does it work well in living rooms, but also in bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms!  And if you get bored with the lack of "color", adding any accent color (in pillows, artwork, flowers) can change the entire look in minutes. Add a touch of bright yellow or green for spring, cool blue for summer, maybe rust or chocolate for fall, or a rich red for the Christmas season....and your black and white room will take on an entirely different personality!  Check out the rooms below for some examples of black and white at its best.

(And be sure to read to the end of the post to see upcoming shop news!)

 

 

 

We are receiving wonderful new merchandise every day now from my recent trip to the Atlanta Gift and Accessory Show.  And in less than three weeks, we will be hosting our Spring Fling event, with the shop entirely re-arranged for spring with lots of new furniture and accessories. Be sure and mark your calendar for Saturday, February 16 to attend our Third Annual Spring Fling----from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.  Enjoy punch (with champagne added after 1:00!) and spring treats, register for a $100.00 gift card to be given away, and check out everything that's new.  We can't guarantee what the weather will look like outside, but inside Interiors Etc. it will definitely be Spring!

Introducing Emerald --- 2013 Color of the Year!

I have always been a lover of the color green --- in fact, I think I could say it is my favorite color.  There are so many shades, each creating different moods, and yet they can all be mixed, as they appear in nature.  Just think of the many shades of green in the grass, leaves, plants, and moss......and how Mother Nature blends them all to make a soothing, cool palette!  This year the Pantone Institute has named Emerald Green the color of the year, and although it has been a shade we have not seen for a while in decorating, it can be the beginning of a stunning room, either as its primary color or an accent.  Here are some pictures I've found of beautiful rooms featuring emerald green.

I love the picture gallery wall in the picture above, and how they're grouped!

The fretwork-type pattern of the wallpaper above always makes a lovely background, and simulates a trellis from the outdoor world. This coupled with the fern-patterned lamp shade brings a touch of nature to the bedroom.

Accents of other colors create interest in this emerald painted room.

Emerald coupled with black and white create a crisp color scheme for this table-setting.  Don't you love the black and white striped tablecloth?!

Plates grouped together form a graphic piece of art to set off the emerald green furniture.  I wonder how they cut some of the plates for the straight edges??

Again, black and white with emerald green makes a stunning room in the three pictures here of different corners of the same room.

Not quite emerald green, but still in the family, this room would be a cheery one to wake up to.

The main theme here seems to be black and white mixed with emerald, but I can also imagine using yellow or navy as accents.  Or a wonderful coral could be a fun secondary color.  Almost any color mixes well with the "color of nature"!   If you're planning to re-do a room this year, consider emerald as the "jewel" of your color scheme!

Shop notes:   We will continue to have the Christmas items at 50% off for one more week, so if you haven't had a chance to browse these bargains, stop in soon. Also, I am off to Atlanta this week to buy for Spring, everyday, and Christmas 2013!  So expect lots of new merchandise beginning to arrive in approximately 2-3 weeks.  Don't forget to look at the Calendar of Events along the side of this blog to check out the upcoming "happenings" at Interiors Etc.  See you soon!

A Very Merry Christmas from all of us at Interiors Etc.  We wouldn't be here without you--- all of our loyal clients and shoppers!  We hope you have the happiest of New Years.

Our 2013 Calendar has been posted along the side of this blog. (You may also pick up a copy at the shop to post on your bulletin board or refrigerator!)   We have many great special events planned for the upcoming year, as well as lots of exciting new merchandise arriving.  We hope you'll add some of our events to your calendar!  

Having Fun with Christmas Decorating!

It's hard to believe that it's little more than a week until Christmas! (Where did 2012 go??)  If you're still decorating or shopping, all of our Christmas merchandise will be 20% off this week, Monday through Saturday.....  a great way to finish up your holiday shopping!  Also, please note that we will be closed Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 25 (as well as Monday, Dec. 31 and Tuesday, Jan. 1).  We will re-open at 10:00 on December 26 for our After-Christmas Sale, with all Christmas merchandise at 50% off. 



I thought I'd share just a few pictures of my own Christmas decorating at home this year.


 

Even though I am very traditional, and my main Christmas tree at home (shown above) features ornaments from
35 plus years of Christmas's at the shop, as well as lots of vintage ornaments, I always have the most fun doing something new and different.  This year was no exception!  I added a small tree in my bedroom, decorated entirely in blue and white vintage ornaments.  I had a great time searching out and choosing all the vintage ornaments, and I'm sure by next Christmas, I'll need a bigger tree to accommodate the additional ones I am certain I will find and not be able to resist!

My mantel has become the stage every year for what seems to be my latest collection (of which I have many!)  One year it featured my tartanware collection, another year my collection of antique red baby shoes, and last year, my Belsnickle Santas.  This year, I decided to showcase my recently acquired assortment of vintage trophies, some holding fresh greens, and others holding plaid Christmas balls or candy canes.  Books for platforms and risers, plus lighted arrangements and and a garland highlighted with vintage beads complete the grouping.

 

On my dining room buffet, I decided to do a Christmas/winter garden, with live poinsettias, cyclamen, tiny Norfolk pines, baby's tears and ivy.  Hopefully my little garden will last way past Christmas, although my history with poinsettias might predict otherwise!

And on my front porch, I added two antique plaid trunks topped with a lantern holding one of our new very real-looking battery-operated candles.

And last, but not least, also on the front porch, my kitties enjoy their heated basket with plaid blanket while waiting to be let back in after their nightly stroll.  Here are Missy May and Pippin..........

And Baby Toby!

Hope you're having fun with your Christmas decorating!  

Girls' Night Out -- Holiday Style

 It's that time of year again for one of our very favorite events ---the Holiday Girls' Night Out.  This Thursday evening, December 6,  from 5:00 - 8:00, our bartenders extraordinaire, Tony Simeri and Mike Collins, will be mixing and fixing their fabulous cosmopolitans, appletinis, and (drumroll please!) chocolate martinis!  Not only that, but Joe Probst will be entertaining us with his Christmas music and other favorite tunes on the keyboard.  To top it all off, everything (except antiques and clearance) will be 20% off, we'll throw in a few door prizes, and it will definitely be an event you won't want to miss!  Wear something festive, be in your best holiday mood, and we will see you Thursday evening!!

(And guys, just because it's called Girls' Night Out, doesn't mean that you are not welcome!  Come join the fun.)


Note for later:  We will be closed Dec. 24 and Dec 25 for Christmas Eve and Christmas, as well as December 31 and January 1 for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  Our after Christmas Sale will begin December 26.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  At Interiors Etc., we are grateful for all of our wonderful clients and customers.  In this day of big-box stores and online shopping, we feel fortunate to have so many loyal and appreciative customers.  Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives!

 

 Although we won't be open Thanksgiving Day or in the wee morning hours the day after, we will be open 10:00 - 5:00 both Friday and Saturday, with holiday punch and cookies ready for all of our shoppers.  We have re-stocked and re-plenished many of our best-sellers, and have lots to choose from for your holiday decorating and gift-giving.   We hope to see you then!

Maybe you've decided not to put up a large tree this year, or maybe you have trees in several room, including some of smaller stature.  One of the fun things about a small tree is finding a unique container to "plant" it in.  Following are some darling little trees, each in a unexpected or antique container:

This cute little tree is anchored in a large silver punch bowl.  A large antique bowl of any kind could work as well.....maybe a glass punch bowl filled with artificial snow or a wooden bowl for a more homespun look.

A silver ice bucket becomes the base for this little number, while the other little brush trees at its base are planted in various and sundry silver containers.

An iron urn is always a good bet to hold a smaller tree, here placed on a silver tray.

 An extra tiny tree planted in a silver egg cup becomes a favor at each place setting.

Another iron urn holds a "bare branch" tree decked out all in white and silver.  An antique toy truck and wooden crate below hold additional white and silver Christmas decor.

 

A smaller tinsel tree, nestled in antique clock faces, makes its home a silver creamer.

Various white ironstone pottery pieces become the containers for a grouping of real boxwood and evergreen trees.

 

Layering adds personality to this little feather tree --- in an urn----surrounded by vintage ornaments----on a platter---on a silver tray----- on a vintage linen!

Add a little tree to one of your rooms (we have a few great little pre-lit trees available for sale), and find a unique container to make it your own.