It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas

I'm sitting here looking out of my kitchen window at 50 foot pine trees blanketed in snow. It still falling steadily and I feel truly surrounded by this wintry wonderland and I must say it really helps to get one into the Christmas spirit as I listen to Vince Guaraldi Trio Holiday radio on Pandora. The only downside to this beautiful weather is that it has caused us to postpone our family Christmas party tonight. It is a Christmas tradition that my entire family looks forward to all year, it is filled with food, family and fun. C'est la vie! We will have the party in a few days when the weather clears up and the roads are not so treacherous!

So here I am at home with nothing to do! (ha!) My plan is to spend the next two days sifting through all of my magazine clippings, photos and interesting new design discoveries so that come the new year I have a ton of great ideas to share with you! I also think I might cook something delicious for dinner & make a few more batches of cookies.

Until I post again, enjoy my photos of our first big snow of the winter!

Merry Christmas

Overwhelmed with Christmas Spirit

I feel like I have abandoned you! I have been so busy in the last week getting ready for the impending holidays and on top of it all my cute little macintosh computer is having some major issues. It has decided that I should get a new computer for Christmas! So there goes my savings account!

Anyway, my cards are mailed cookies baked and presents are wrapped. I can't believe Christmas is only a week away and I really can't wait until I am free of work for a few days!

On Sunday I had a couple of girlfriends over for a Christmas cookie baking party. It was a ton of fun and so simple to throw together last minute. I served a delicious eggnog complete with Irish Whiskey, an assortment of cheeses and veggies and a friend made a fabulous Cidercar drink!

Here are some photos of what I have been up too!

Eggnog is so delicious. Check Martha's reciepe here.

The infamous kitchenaid mixer. A must have!

My Christmas wrapping! The brown paper came from my office and the cute birdy paper from Paper Source, so economical. For other wrapping ideas go here!



We made Gingerbread houses at work.
Being architects we went all out, yellow snow and all!

Our completed rustic cabin. For more gingerbread construction ideas you should buy the book The Gingerbread Architect

A very talented colleauge recreated a famous SOM building in gingerbread.
The Airforce Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs.

Fill You Home with Holiday Smells

My favorite thing about Christmas are all of the wonderful smells that seem to fill the home around the holidays. From the fresh pine tree, sugar cookies and cinnamon baking in the oven and the woody smell of a log burning fire. All of these smells remind me of friends and family and being together during this special time of year.

One of my favorite things to make that really brings the best of holiday scents together are traditional Orange Pomander Balls. These decorative balls have a long history dating back to the 15th century when they were used to freshen closets or drawers. Even queens wore pomander balls on their wrists so that a wonderful aroma would follow them around. I like to make a half dozen of these and sit them in a beautiful bowl or add a ribbon and hang them from the most unexpected places~

I must admit, I haven't made my pomander balls yet so this picture is from one of my favorite blogs Habitually Chic

You can made your own gorgeous holiday aromatic using oranges, and whole cloves. Here are some simple directions.

Cocktail Party Part Deux

Okay, so hopefully you read my previous post where I mused about becoming the hostess of the century, throwing lavish parties and pulling together casual soirees with the flick of my wrist at a moments notice.  But seriously, we should continue where I left off. 

I hope you have set up and stocked your holiday bar by now with all of the essentials.  Now you need to serve those cocktails.  There are all sorts of rules and thoughts about what glasses are appropriate for each type of drink but I don't think it needs to be all that complicated.  You should own, at a minimum, some all purpose wine glasses (about 12), some low tumbler glasses (old-fashioned glass), taller high ball glasses, beer glasses (pint) and if you want some cocktail glasses.  

I was out shopping the other day and I went into The Hour Shop  in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  They sell a great assortment of vintage & new bar ware, glasses, trays, tools, etc.  This would be a fabulous place to pick up a gift for that hostess / friend who has everything.  I would relish anything from this store (hint, hint)!  

So back to your spectacular party, no bar is complete without the tools to make your lovely libations.  A beautiful bar set makes another great gift and is essential to the home bartender.  However, buyer beware, this is an area where you may want to splurge for something that is well made and will stand up to heavy use!  I trust almost anything Williams-Sonoma sells so I am recommending these bar tools and this shaker.   I am also partial to Design Within Reach so I would recommend this as well. 

Okay so your all set, right?!  Well if you are anything like me you are wondering what drinks to serve and how to make them.  I suggest that if having a small intimate party with friends you let them mix their own drinks, if your bar is well appointed then they should have no problem finding everything they need.  If you are having a larger party you may want to help serve drinks.  For this I would suggest picking one or two signature drinks of the evening and mastering these, before the party.  You could even let everyone know what you are planning to serve on the invitation, "Come Celebrate with Merry Christmas Manhattans."  There are about a million cocktail recipes I couldn't possibly begin to scratch the surface but according to the website Art of Manliness these are the top 5 classic cocktails that every man (and woman) should know how to make.

Riedel "O" Trio Wine Tumblers- 

These are great for red wine, when shopping for wine glasses pick something that is all purpose.

Set of 3, $30.00

Pottery Barn Essentials Wine Glasses 

These are great all purpose wine glasses.  Another important wine glass feature is the thickness of the lip, the thinner the lip the finer the glass and the more enjoyable to drink out of.

Pottery Barn Set of 8, $49.00

Crate & Barrel High-ball and Old-Fashioned Glass

A high ball glass is used for drinks with a liquor base and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer (think gin & tonic or jack & coke).  An old fashioned or low ball glass is a tumbler used for drinks on the rocks (with ice)

$6.95 each

Williams - Sonoma Dorset Highball and Old Fashioned Glasses

These have great styling and have a very hefty weight to them.

Highball Set of 4, $88.00  Double Old Fashioned Set of 4, $72.00

Pottery Barn - PB Classic Stemware Martini Glass

This cocktail glass, often called a martini glass has classic proportions.

Set of 6, $21.00

Pottery Barn - British Pint Glass

I absolutely love this pint glass, it has the measurement markings that are required by law in all British pubs!

Set of 6, $28.00

Happy Thanksgiving

Good Morning! I hope everyone is at home with family and friends, baking pies and watching the Macy's Day Parade.
Last night we made REAL homemade pumpkin pie, with fresh pumpkin and homemade crust. We haven't tried it yet but it smells delicious!

Cooked Pumpkins

Pumpkin Puree

Canned Pumpkin or Beautiful Pumpkin Puree- Pick One!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baking Bonanza

I spent the weekend searching antique stores and baking! Two of my most favorite things to do. I decided I had better start getting all of my holiday recipes under control and start testing out any new recipes that I want to add to my repertoire. Yesterday I made a pumpkin roulade with marscarpone butter cream filling, which is delicious. Its a great alternative to a pumpkin pie.

You can find the recipe here

I also made these amazing Chewy Molasses Cookies from Martha Stewart. They turned out crunchy and chewy at the same time and are not too molasses-y but just right! I think I am going to make these along with my traditional Snowballs (aka Russian Tea Cakes) and either a Chocolate Crinkle Cookie or Snicker doodle. So while I was baking I got to thinking about how to package all of these delectable treats. There are so many great, inexpensive ways to present your holiday gifts I had to share a few with you.

These are my Chewy Molasses Cookies packaged in a mason jar!

You can find most of these gift packaging ideas at Martha Stewart

The Cocktail Party

Picture this....in a by gone era couples gather casually in each other's living rooms or front yards in their suburban neighborhoods, drinks in hand to gossip about the neighbors or compare golf scores.

Now I'm not advocating we all move to the suburbs, start a family, get dogs and start the inevitable heavy drinking - but I am advocating the return of the cocktail and the cocktail party. I often contemplate what it would have been like to live in the early 60's a la Mad Men. Would I have been a chic housewife like Betty or a working woman like Joan? Regardless of my career situation, my 60's fantasy always includes me as the ultimate hostess at my very own cocktail party. Dutifully freshening guests' drinks while laughing at witty stories among friends.

My 60's bar, complete with cigarettes and spam.

Then I snap out of it and wonder why young people don't get together in this way as frequently anymore? In this age of cell phones, text messaging & twitter updates are we just too busy to commit to something as concrete as (oh no!!) a relaxed evening with friends? Does it always have to be "hey, I might stop by so and sos bar tonight, if I'm not too overbooked that is."

Why don't you start a new tradition with your friends. Invite everyone over for casual cocktails on a tuesday night, or make it an event on a Saturday. All you have to do is create the perfect bar and set the mood. In the next couple weeks I'll post about all of the essentially for hosting a fabulous cocktail party! But if you need immediate advice don't hesitate to call.

Setting Up Your Bar

- Designate a bar area: you don't have to have a real bar but having everything you need in a beautiful set-up will make your like easier and impress your guests. A side table or even an area on your bookshelf could work well.

- Stock your bar with all the essentials. This is an investment to be sure, but you will be able to host plenty of small gatherings with this supply. Also, you could always ask your guests to bring something to share.

I love the idea of putting all the liquors in a large low basket. It keeps everything organized and can be a year round accessory.

Bar Essentials List:

Liquor

blended whiskey
sour mash whiskey
bourbon
brandy
champagne
gin
vodka
tequila
vermouth (dry & sweet)
scotch
rum
liqueures (coffee, orange, cherry)
sherry (dry & sweet)

Mixers

tonic
club soda
ginger ale
cola
fruit juice (pineapple, orange)
bottled water
sparkling water

A beautiful summery bar.

I picture this bar surrounded by deep chestnut leather sofas and a crackling fireplace.

Stay Tuned for Cocktail Parties Part II

Sneak Peak

Sorry this is a short post. I am working on something for tomorrow that I hope you will like. Here is a little hint...it has to do with the characters below and bringing back a party from the past!

Barns

I have always had a great love of barns. Maybe it is a product of growing up with a Grandfather who loves to paint barns and the landscape of the east coast. I remember passing this great dilapidated tobacco barn every time we visited my grandparents in southern Maryland, so I always have that nostalgic feeling when I see these beautiful structures. This particular barn has since been taken down but my love of barns and their architecture lives on.


Typically barn site seeing happens by chance. It usually involves us speeding down some country lane or coastal highway, spotting an amazing barn, and then my boyfriend making an illegal u-turn at 50 miles an hour so we can get a better look. We have seen barns all over the place, in Vermont, Maryland, Virginia and Northern California and it seems that each new barn is my favorite. Unfortunately I don't always think to take a picture, although I am getting better about documenting things like this.

This was a great barn near Whiting, Vermont. I really loved the size, the crisp
white color and the window placement.

Another photo of the Vermont Barn.


Okay, not just a barn but a beautiful farm house and barn
in Northern California. I could live here forever!


I'm cheating on this one, I have not visited this barn but how awesome is it?!
Well the Grand Tetons in the background help a lot.

Do you have any cool barn photos. Send them my way I would love to see them!

Holiday Gift Guide

I thought I would start my gift lists early this year. There is nothing more stressful than trying to come up with gifts for people who have everything, and I seem to know a lot of these people. I also think men are extremely difficult to buy gifts for, especially a certain guy in my life who is very attuned to all things design, quality, and function. He accepts nothing but the best and he helped me compile some of this list. The other "person" that I find hard to buy for is that individual on your list who you don't know well enough to buy something completely personal for but whom you want to give a little something to show how much you care for them. For this individual I suggest something for the home. I love all of these brightly colored gifts that will bring a smile to any one's face!

molton brown re-charge black pepper lotion, moltonbrown,com $28.00;
john w. nordstrom cashmere leather lined gloves, nordstrom $59.50; paul smith striped cufflinks, paulsmith.com 55euro;
map of new york city, bluemonocle.com $53.00, rubis grooming set, dwr.com $150.00, rubis swiss cross slant, dwr,com $35.00
tumi adaptor with leather case, nordstrom $65.00; ugg australia fingerless lambswool gloves, nordstrom $65.00

This Molton Brown body moisturizer smells masculine enough for your guy but delicious enough for you. I just bought a vintage map of washington dc from blue monocle maps and had it framed and it looks splendid, any man loves a great map! Grooming sets are always on men's gift lists but this one from design within reach is so elegant and completely well made.

wood chopstick set, dwr.com $35.00; bosa's meilito honey pot, aplusrstore.com $44.00;
tsubota pearl's stick lighter, aplusrstore.com $32.00; marvis toothpaste, drugstore.com $9.00;
multi-colored bowls set of 7, williams-sonoma $179.00; silicups set of 12, williams-sonoma $24.00

How fun is this rainbow chopstick set? With a jar filled with fortune cookies you can have awesome hostess gift. I also enjoy the unique honey pot which will look perfect displayed on the kitchen table for everyone to see. These elegant matchstick lighters come in many colors plus gold and silver and are beautiful and practical. My favorite gift is the set of bowls from Williams-Sonoma, we actually own these bowls and using them makes cooking and baking a joy and our table always looks cheery!

I am filled with gift ideas so let me know if you need some help with that special someone in your life!

PS- stores are already having sales so take your time and ease into the gift giving spirit, start by outlining your list of recipients and jot down thoughts as you are browsing stores and online!

Personal Holiday Consultant

Bookscases, Shelves and Things to Put Things On

I am writing this post especially for my Mom. She has a great little house on the South River near Annapolis were she has lived for about four years. Anyway, she had done a lot of painting and re-painting and put on a sun room addition, but she hasn't gotten down to really adding all of those special touches that make a house a home. I know she wants to have book shelves flanking her fireplace which I think is great! I am always a fan of symmetry, (a product of my slight type A personality, I'm not sure?) so of course I want to help but "styling" a bookshelf takes a certain finesse. I went on a search of interesting ways to dress a bookcase. Books are almost always the main ingredient but not necessarily, using accessories, paintings, collections, and dishes will add variety. Try employing a few of the following techniques to update your look!

Start with a clean slate- take everything off the shelves its easier than trying to work around preexisting conditions. (yikes! too much talk about health care i think)

Chose objects that that relate to each other- a collection of plates, a group of white ceramics.

Whole rows of books look more balanced on the bottom shelves and stacking them in rows from tallest to shortest isn't always the best option. Try stacking them randomly to create a very natural look.

Monochromatic look

I love how they hung a great piece of art on the shelf it adds a whole new dimension

Adding color to the back of the bookcase is a great way to freshen up a boring shelf

If you are like me you could fill your whole shelf with books. Try stacking books to add a different look. Display your "best" books at eye level, I really like large design/art books. Martha Stewart recommends rotating books stacked horizontally to prevent warping of bottom books.

Covered books- I think covering books can look awesome, especially when it helps bring color, or lack of color to your space. However, am I the only one who finds this a bit impractical? I occasionally want to read the books that I have on my bookshelf or at least be able to locate a book to lend to a friend.

Wrapping your books in brown or white craft paper could look really cool and you could label them with your best architectural lettering! Or try this simple Pottery Barn trick and turn your books around to create a more consistent look.

This is so clean and simple!

An interesting display which has a lot of smaller accessories without looking too clutter-y.

Use baskets to conceal unattractive items like dvds or to store blankets

Have fun creating your new look.
Not sure where to start? Call W Design Studios and we can create a great look for you!

Holiday Home Spruce Up

Happy Halloween!

I know its only October 31th! But that means less than two months until Christmas day and Hanukkah starts December 11th! While I am definitely not an advocate of department store displays any earlier than a week or two before Thanksgiving and I most certainly am not one to listen to Christmas music prior to December 10th I do believe that starting to think about the holidays early pays off.

After spending a beautiful (and oddly warm) fall day driving through the country north of Washington, DC my thoughts have some how turned to cleaning. Maybe its that I saw my first fully decorated Christmas tree in downtown Bethesda that got my heart racing or that more of the leaves are suddenly on the ground rather than on the trees. So, I plan on spending the day tomorrow working on all of those little things which need to be taken care of around the house. Cleaning the kitchen is on the top of my list, I want to be prepared for all of the upcoming holiday baking and cooking that I plan to do. I love Meyer's Cleaning Products, they are good for the earth, smell awesome and most importantly actually work! Check out a few of my other favorite household products!

Dust Pan and Brush Set $55.00, dwr.com; Mrs. Meyer's All Purpose Cleaner $7.99, mrsmeyers.com;
pomegranate candle, jo malone; pop up sponges $14.00 for 12, Willliams Sonoma;
Apron $35.00, Anthropologie; All purpose kitchen towels $18.00 for 4, Williams Sonoma;
Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Kitchen Basics Set $9.99, mrsmeyers.com



Whitney's List of Things to Do (First Week of November)
- Deep clean kitchen
- Inventory pantry: do I have all of the flour, sugar, etc I will need for the upcoming season?
- Finish unpacking winter clothes
- Summer clothes washed/dry cleaned and packed away
- Don't Forget to Set the Clock back tonight!!

This is also a great opportunity to get around to things you have been putting off all year long. Start a list now and spend the first weeks of November getting things in order. There is nothing like the anticipation of holiday guests to get your butt in gear! Dusting those giant cobwebs out of the front hall, organizing your closet, and sprucing up your living space. Take a look at your space, often creating better flow is as simple as reorganizing what you already have. Also, adding a few new accessories can really pull a room together. Need help re-organizing your space- no time like now to get me involved in updating your homes' look!

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Terrific Tablescapes

Creating a beautiful table is the first step towards a wonderful meal and a great dining experience. Eating hot dogs and baked beans on a well designed table somehow becomes an event and something to remember.


Start with something simple- a large white dinner plate or a neutral simply patterned plate will work great. You don't have to have fancy stuff to make something fantastic. Then begin to layer on items that you have around the house. Jewelery can be a great embellishment to any simple place setting. A pile of vintage books can make an intriguing center piece and maybe even stimulate some literary conversation.

Mix & Match- layering differing colors and textures creates visual interest. Glass adds sparkle and an element of transparency. Displaying the meal in unexpected ways can be just the touch you need to create the right atmosphere.

Mixing old with new can create lovely contrast. Here I layered on some wooden fans that I had around the house and used wooden chopsticks as an element of the tablescape. The monochromatic color scheme with the strong punch of red creates impact.

Holiday tables can be really fun to create. This one is very simple but I used the best silver and added little touches like the individual salt and pepper shakers and the glass bowl of bright green baubles.

Here I used empty jam jars for wine glasses and I love the blue checked table cloth. There is a lot happening on this table but I kept the colors simple so that it is not overwhelming. I also added dried pasta as an interesting element to add texture and to introduce the theme of the meal.

I love to play up a theme. Creating a tablescape for appetizers and drinks can be really fun and an opportunity to be creative. I added a small painting to my table, a glass filled with matchbooks and used a great cutting board to display my cheese and apples.



Some other tips:

- multiple types of glasses will add sparkle to your table. You don't even have to use all of the same glasses at each place setting

-serve water in a cool french water bottle, I buy lemonade in these bottles at wholefoods and then keep the bottles filled with filtered water in the fridge

-cloth napkins and table cloths add so much to a table, you can find inexpensive table linens in many places, start collecting beautiful linens and use them!!


plates and chemistry beekers, anthropologie
table linens, worldmarket, lorina lemonade, wholefoods market

How Can I Help?

Let me create a tablescape for your next dinner party. We can work together to plan the right look and atmosphere for your table using things you have around your home. I will take care of all the details.

Welcome

Good Morning! I am so excited to finally start this blog. I am working on setting up a true website but until then this is where you can find all the information you need about design, lifestyle, event planning and home organization.

I started W Design Studios last year as a full service interior design and lifestyle consulting business. The ultimate goal is to make your life more organized, simple and beautiful. Let me keep your home organized, well-supplied and running smoothly so that you have time to spend with your family and friends. Does a room in your house need an update? I can work with your existing furniture and create a fresh look.

Focus on the Holidays: The holidays are fast approaching. Before you know it they will be upon us. Let me take care of the little details that will make your holiday a joy instead of a burden. Check out the list of services that I will be providing. Everything from decorating the Christmas tree and gift wrapping to planning the perfect holiday event.