Whittington Design Studio

Simple Chic (last minute) Holiday Ideas

2011-12-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

We love this time of year at WDS, especially getting our homes ready for the holidays. And we know just how stressful this season can be. Here are some simple chic decorating ideas and a few tips for stress-free last minute entertaining.

We like to approach decorating for the holidays much like we would any other time of year. Holiday touches should enhance your design, not overpower it. Working with your existing color scheme is one of the best ways to incorporate holiday decor, even if your home isn't done in traditional red and green. Blues and browns can look festive too. So can hot pink!

via Lea

via Rhonda

via House and Home

Traditional Home

via House and Home

via Southern Living

via Lea

A simple way to add some "chic" to your Holiday decor is to use a monochromatic color scheme. It's easy to do and the look is so fresh and modern, even if your decor is more traditional.

via Caitlin

via Lea

via House and Home

Another way to streamline your Holiday preparations is to keep it simple in the wrapping department. Brown kraft paper goes with everything. You can glam it up with some shiny glittery ribbon, or go retro with red and white. Wouldn't these look great under any tree?

via orangebeautiful.com

via Kimberly

Here are a few or our favorites for the outside of your home. The outside can be decorated simply, just think lights, lights, and more lights! We love fresh greenery, its so pretty you don't need to do much to it.

via Cottage Living Christmas

via House and Home

via Cottage Living Christmas

via Lea

via House and Home

Its a good idea to have a few entertaining staples around the house, for unexpected guests. Having a good sparkling wine chilled would be lovely on it's own, or with the addition of a few extra ingredients you could serve a "house cocktail" that everyone will remember! The recipes for these crazy easy cocktails are on Martha Stewart, check them out here.

drinks via Martha Stewart

So easy and refreshing!

Its also a good idea to have a few things for your guests to nibble on. Cheeses, nuts and crackers are an easy appetizer, spiced nuts and a bit of fruit preserves or salted honey add at little something extra. And even though they are super easy to make, with a wooden cutting board or a big white platter they look simply elegant.

via Taylor

Try to find locally made or grown items for your spread. Here in Virginia we are known for our peanuts and hams, but we also delicious apples, peaches and fresh seafood. Any or all of those would be great for a quick get together.

Oysters and Bubbly would impress anyone, they don't have to know how easy it really is!

We hope these little tips help make your Holidays merry and bright.

Wishing you a joyous Holiday Season

Whittington Design Studio

Get your Halloween on!!

2011-10-24T06:18:00.001-07:00

With the leaves beginning to change and Halloween right around the corner, it's time to get festive with your home! Try these fun decorating tips that can even carry you all the way through Thanksgiving!

www.marthastewart.com

Create an inviting entry with pumpkins and corn garland. It will add a perfect rustic and festive vibe to your home and will even look great in November.

Southern Living

We love these pumpkins stacked along the stone entryway. Try incorporating pumpkins of different textures and color to create this interesting arrangement.

www.marthastewart.com

This garland would be so adorable along a fence or doorway to bring in a touch of fall.

www.marthastewart.com

Try a fall window box with straw and little pumpkins. It's a great alternative to flowers for the fall!

Southern Living

If you're feeling really crafty this weekend, try painting pumpkins for a unique display in your home. We love the geometric patterns incorporated in this display.

www.marthastewart.com

For an intimate gathering, try creating votive holders out of pumpkins. It will give off the perfect amount of light when you have the girls over for cocktails!

Southern Living
We love this table setting (and secretly wish we could use it year round)! It's the perfect way to dress your table for a cocktail party this fall, and actually not that difficult to create. You only need a few platters to secure to the tops of pumpkins. Add a vase of orange flowers and you'll be good to go!

www.marthastewart.com

These silver pumpkins are so fun and will be an unexpected treat for your Halloween guests!

Canadian House and Home

This room is fabulous! It's perfect for fall in so many ways. The stacked wood in the fireplace is a perfect way to create a cozy setting when it gets cold outside. The pumpkin arrangement on the mantel is so unique. We love the way the white pumpkins are mixed in with the black pumpkins to create this super chic fall display!

Canadian House and Home
Try carving out mini white pumpkins for a different look this Halloween.

Southern Living
White pumpkins with tacks are the way to go this season. Try a variety of pumpkin sizes and patterns to create this chic fall display.

www.marthastewart.com

Jack-o-lantern tin cans are a cute alternative to pumpkins!

Canadian House and Home

These claw-like glasses are perfect for a Halloween get together!

www.marthastewart.com

Spooky candlesticks are an easy way to create a Halloween table scape.

Canadian House and Home
Try using jack-o-lanterns in your buffet for a party.

Canadian House and Home
These skeleton servers are adorable and perfect to have out in your kitchen throughout October.

www.marthastewart.com

Mice cutouts are the perfect creepy decoration for your house on Halloween.

www.marthastewart.com

Try cobwebs in your tablescapes too. It will make anything look a little haunted!

Cool, Calm, Collected.

2011-07-21T12:00:00.001-07:00

Summer's not over yet and neither is the Washington DC heat! Cool yourself off this summer indoors by creating a refreshing oasis. By using a variety of blue tones, you can create a very calm, cool, and collected sanctuary for yourself in your own home.

Photo: House Beautiful

The milky pale blue of the curved wall reflects light into the room with a great glow, and really highlights the intricate design of the art on their wall.

Photo: House Beautiful

This rustic room is really softened by the feminine china flatware hung on the stone wall, as well as the soft fabric and bold ash blue on the chairs.

Photo: Traditional Home

We love the dynamic contrast of this stark white against the bold royal blue in this shot. The geometric versus the floral pillows are also a nice contrast.

Photo: Traditional Home

This sitting area looks like a great way to cool off and relax with a cold drink and some friends. The bright blue fabric on the chairs paired with the textured floor really adds dimension to the room.

Photo: Lonny Mag

The mix matched patterning of the wallpaper, pillow, and ottoman really work well with this perfectly symmetrical room. The ash blue of the walls paired with the fresh green in the pillow and ottoman give a surprisingly comforting contrast while staying in the cool color family.

Photo: Lonny Mag
Just a nice quiet place to get work done or read, the super faded blue on the wall is a nice subtle use of color.

Photo: House Beautiful
The beautiful marine blue curtains really give height and elegance to this formal living room.

Photo: Lonny Mag
A great aquamarine color on a bedspread gives the room a bright yet soothing feeling. The toned down aquamarine on the walls compliments nicely.

Photo: House Beautiful

This classic, country staircase really gets a pop of color with the antique blue and gold in the framing along the wall.

Photo: House Beautiful

Multiple blue tones are used right alongside each other here to produce this harmonious sitting room.