Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas - Some of Our Favorites

Well it's December 24th and we're seriously thinking "where did this year go?"  Do you feel that way too?  Like we just celebrated New Year's a few months ago? 


We have so much to be grateful for this year.  Starting with our families, friends and health.  Elements of Chic was born this year and it's been hard work, fun, challenging, creative and inspirational.  We have lots of plans for the coming year and can't wait to share them with you...but for now we're hoping your halls are decked, most of your shopping done and you can just kick back these next few hours and relax.  Ha...I know... I'm hilarious!  If you're like us, you're trying to finish shopping, work, get those Christmas cards out, wrap presents, finish projects, make your house somewhat presentable and bake like Martha Stewart. 


Well, stop for just a few minutes.  Grab a beverage and a cookie and take a moment to enjoy some of our favorite Christmas inspiration from around the web.  This does not mean that your home should look like this because we don't live in magazines.  It's just a small break to enjoy some beautiful decorating that took a team to do and you can appreciate someone else's work.































Our Wish For You...

Merry Christmas!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda






Pictures courtesy of House Beautiful Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, Ideal Home and Pinterest




Monday, November 21, 2011

Gratitude Giveaway from Elements of Chic

We are thankful...Our First Give Away!!


Last year we decided to join our creative forces and do some holiday decorating.  As we were working on decking halls and trimming trees, we talked about how great it would be to join our businesses of interior design and event planning.  It would be a natural fit we thought...and talked...and planned...and dreamed.  

And that is the short version of how several months, lots of work, excitement (and many a few glasses of wine) Elements of Chic came to be in March 2011.  We all know what a challenging time it is and that just makes us all the more appreciative of the support from our family, friends and clients.

Ssooo....we're going to do our first giveaway to say "THANK YOU" and show our gratitude. 

We've got a $25 gift card for Pier One in our hot little hands and would love to give it to someone...namely you.  It's easy to enter, nothing to buy...honest.  Just leave us a comment at the bottom of this blog post of one thing you are thankful for right now or go to our Elements of Chic Facebook page (just look to your right), "Like" our page and leave a comment there of one thing you are thankful for this year. If you want to ask your friends to 'like' our page that would be awesome too! The winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday from the comments left by everyone.

 We'd love to see all that gratitude flowing out and know that it's flowing right back at you from us here at Elements of Chic.



Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

Elementally,

Michele and Linda

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Orange Can Mean Coziness, Motivation and Health

We thought since it's Autumn and Thanksgiving is only ten days away, it was only appropriate to feature the color orange.  After all we love it for it's boldness and yet it can also evoke a warmth in our hearts and it has had a resurgence in popularity in the past year or so.  It wasn't always love...I mean I've always liked the color orange but the new oranges that range from coral to russet, well they just had me at O.
  
October is out of here (can you believe it?)and November is half over. We have spent time putting out the Fall decor , changing out throws, pillows and cozying up the joint (see Fall Wreaths here) because we're wired that when the calendar says its September or so, we need to start getting ready for 'ol man Winter and orange is not just for pumpkins. It symbolizes coziness, motivation, security and so much more.  So before it's time for mistletoe and holly let's see how orange can show us a few tricks and help turn our rooms into treats shall we!


The color orange occurs on the color wheel between yellow and red.  You can see from the chart above that it can have different meanings; it is a power color.  It can stimulate appetite, enthusiasm and creativity.  Think about Home Depot, where DIY and creativity are king and you don't have to think too hard about what their signature color is...ahem...it's orange and lots of it.
·         American Indians associate the color orange with kinship. 
Orange is the Netherlands' national color, dating back to the Dutch War of Independence and the rebel Prince of Orange.
·         In Ireland, the use of orange dates from the reign of William of Orange, the Protestant English king and a Dutch stadholder.
·         In China and Japan, orange is used to symbolize happiness and love. 



Colors that compliment orange range from blues, grays, purple and chocolate browns.

Orange is a power color and is also a healing color.  It is known to be the color of Lady Luck, something you might want to remember when you're packing for your next trip to Vegas. 


Like red, it can stimulate appetite so a few well placed pops of orange would be great for a dining area.


This beautiful table setting by Carolyn Roehme in House Beautiful shows how to pair natural elements with a complementary blue and a few pops of orange.  Not sure about the antlers but you could always use them as coat hooks...just kidding.
Pinterest

 Here's another way to add some orange to your table...so easy to spray paint these candlesticks and add complementary candle colors.

If the thought of an orange wall freaks you out...how about putting some color on the floor.  This is a great way to introduce a bright color.



Love this chair from Anthropologie

Want to add a little excitement in the bedroom...I'm talking with color of course.

 Johnathan Berger


Ken Faulk



Love, love, love orange and turquoise together.  Notice the two tone walls and carrying the blue on the ceiling.  The room sits back and lets the comforter do the talking...what a bright, happy room to wake up to!


Now for a completely opposite look.  This room is drenched with warmth of gold, apricot and terracotta.  The sheers on the window allow light to flood the room and keep it from being too heavy.  Wouldn't this be cozy on a cold Fall night?  The trunk completely marries the colors and the wood furniture...beautiful.


 Pinterest

This room with all white walls, lets the artwork and furniture provide the color.  The mantel is not overdone but the color of the vases says this person is not afraid to let their color flag fly.


Tom Samet, Designer

Love the pops of orange provided by the lampshades and reflected in the mirror.  Now this is a room that looks like people actually live here.  Wouldn't you like to join us for a glass of wine and hang out here?

So whether you're into traditional, boldly contemporary, or like most of us, somewhere in between, orange can provide a little spice and warmth to wood tones or a pop to white walls and woodwork.  Take your cue from natures earthy brown tones, soft apricots or that Jack o'Lantern from a few weeks ago and play with adding this versatile color to your space. 


Elementally,

Linda and Michele








Wednesday, October 19, 2011

2011 Tablesetting - Raising Money For The Mansion

Yesterday was the 2011 McHenry Mansion Tablesetting Fundraiser and this year we thought it was for the birds...no really, that was our theme...Birds of a Feather!

this pic is from my phone

The creative process is a strange and wonderful thing and it's that process that makes doing events like this so much fun.  We knew we wanted to use china and glassware from Linda's grandmother which has green, yellow and brown in it and we wanted a lighthearted theme without being "cartoonish" (is that a word?)  How we arrived from a cardboard carpet roll to our finished table design is that intangible thing that just happens when we start thinking out loud and then go shopping.  

This is McHenry Mansions' biggest fundraiser of the year...more than the Holiday or Mothers' Day Teas and a lot of work goes into organizing it.  There were thirtysix tables this year and what is so much fun is that in most cases, the tables created represented something personal to the tablesetter.  The first day it is open to the public for viewing for $10 and the following day is the actual luncheon.  This year it was catered by Green's Market...one of our faves and I should have taken a picture of our lunch...Delicious!  
We always seem to take the DIY approach to many of our projects so armed with glue guns, lots of moss, birds, sticks and a few other things we came up with our creation and we'll show you some of the other tables that were our favorites...enjoy!


We cut down the cardboard tube and secured it in a gallon can filled with plaster of paris.  Doesn't it look great?  Ummm, no!  


Here is the table being setup.  Building the layers is wicker for texture, a green charger and the china.


Now, let's bring in some color and our bird notebook favors for our lovely ladies...

Each placesetting had a different color napkin, pulled from the color of the tablecloth.  You can see how lovely the china is here.





It's very tall...people asked us where we bought it.  Um, we made it actually.  We should have taken pictures of putting it in the car...YouTube worthy!

Little birdies...

We rented chairs and decided to dress them simply with burlap and ribbon as the centerpiece was, did we say it before?  quite large.

   Now some more inspiration.

Autumn beauty

CandyLand...there's enough to last til Halloween!

 a little honey for you


This table incorporated items brought back from a trip to China

Can you tell this was the guys table...

You can take a trip to Africa...

or go to a nine year olds birthday party...

See how everyone's inspiration is a little different?


Ok, so Grand Events has a little advantage over the rest of us...


and finally with Christmas just around the corner, some little elves made an appearance!


 how cute are these chair covers?

Very Creative People...!
McHenry Mansion has a dedicated group of docents who were the servers and committee members...they did an awesome job and we can't wait for next year!

Elementally,

Linda and Michele















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