2013 Christmas Tree Inspiration from HGTV

If you are open to new ideas, just about anything can be a Christmas tree because it's all in the presentation.


Funky and fun miniature trees are perfect in a grouping on a sofa table, buffet or even the kitchen counter.

They're made out of ribbon or fabric-covered foam topiaries that are hot-glued into containers and adorned with anything from Christmas light bulbs to feathers to glittery beaded garland.

Since the best gifts come in small packages, these are just the trees for those items!

Here are some other tree-inspired ideas:

• Make a hanging ribbon tree for a corner, the center of an entry or even above the folding counter in a laundry room.

• Use ribbon to tie macramé rings in a variety of sizes together. Wrap each with low-wattage, UL-approved white holiday lights that don't generate heat. Drape beautiful ribbons over the rings to create the foliage streamers, which cover the structure but allow the glow from the lights to shine through.

• For just a whisper of the holidays in your home, purchase several cherry blossom branches from a florist. The flowers give the impression of tufts of snow along the branches, and when placed in a very large glass container, the bouquet can be high enough to allow plenty of room for stacks of beautifully wrapped Christmas packages underneath.

• Use carefully wrapped surprises as part of your holiday decor. One of the best ways to do this is to use paper in colors that either stand out or blend in with the existing decor of your home. A collection of pink and silver packages is certainly eye catching. If the packages look too good to unwrap, use empty boxes and display your creations again next year.

• Turn a white Christmas tree into a snowman (or an elf, Santa and even a reindeer) using felt and fabric for his eyes and nose, top hat and a scarf to keep him warm. 

Make a Citrus Table Runner Spring 2013 Ideas

Layer Ultrasuede circles and triangles to create a refreshing table runner. Using two shades each of yellow and green suede, cut circles, triangles, and leaves.

Materials: 

1/8 yard Ultrasuede Fresh Lime #4575 for eight 8-inch lime circles and 4 leaves (2 large and 2 small)
1/8 yard Ultrasuede Green Apple #4512 for 48 lime segments and 6 leaves (3 large and 3 small)
1/2 yard Ultrasuede Tulip #5227 for ten 7 1/4-inch lemon circles
1/2 yard Ultrasuede Tulip #5228 for 60 lemon segments

How-To: 

1. Cut Ultrasuede circles and segment pieces in two colors of yellow and two colors of green following the pattern. Cut two sizes of leaves from the two shades of green Ultrasuede following the pattern.

2. Glue segments to circles and assemble as shown in photo (or randomly) and glue the pieces where they overlap.

3. When dry, flip over and glue unsecured sections.

I hope you like this Runner ............. enjoy it .

Country Style Kitchens 2013 Decorating Ideas

A country style kitchen is warm, cozy and inviting. It's evocative of a country setting.
The furnishings and decor remind you of the countryside, the outdoors and the gathering of people. Because of its welcoming ambiance, it's currently a popular kitchen style. Always comfortable, it's usually large (although smaller country kitchens work as well).
Decorating a country kitchen involves the selection of furnishings, walls, flooring, windows and accessories.

These English country style kitchen sets from County Kitchen predominantly reflect a traditional style but not without a modern twist on tradition.
I hope you like this collection .....  enjoy it ...!

Patio Decorating Tips For Summer 2013

A charming patio filled with amenities can be a warm weather getaway, right in your backyard. Create a patio you can enjoy with these tips.

In landscapes that include lots of different plant types and textures, too much additional pattern can be overwhelming. Small doses are a good way to provide visual relief as well as interesting contrast to furniture. This patio set's solid-red seating cushions are paired with red and white pattern accent pillows for a pop of style.

Patios that are shielded from the elements can also, unfortunately, be shielded from cooling summertime breezes. If you have a structure overhead either a real roof or a pergola you may be able to include a ceiling fan, which can help drop the temperature up to 10 degrees. Outfit your ceiling fan with a light and you'll have a reliable source of overhead illumination, too.

If you have limited backyard space, you may want to screen your seating area from your neighbors. There are a variety of visually pleasing ways to do that, including attractive fencing, tall trees (which also supply shade), shrubs, or a hedgerow.

Exterior lighting has many functions ensuring safety along walkways, offering ambience as natural light fades and should be an integral part of any patio design. A pendant fixture above this table can cast light on diners lingering after the sun has set.

A paved or bricked patio space that ends abruptly will feel out of place with a larger landscape around it. A better solution is to use materials to gradually transition  and reinforce a connection  between the two. Here, irregularly shaped pavers provide a pathway from patio to lawn, and mulch and containers segue neatly into planted areas.

A deck that's created with materials that are in polar opposition to a house will look out of place indeed. Use your home's architecture for cues as to color and type of construction. Here, stucco walls supply the neutral base, while stonework adds welcome visual complexity to the intimate fireplace area.

Small shifts in color or material supply welcoming visual interest underfoot on a patio. Consider a border, or use different sizes of stones to delineate seating or eating areas like this red brick helps designate the dining area and warms up the blue flagstones.

Decorative elements certainly have a home on a patio, particularly if they're either outdoor-safe or protected from the elements. If your style is a bit eclectic, or favors a theme like this woodsy one, let the decorating scheme reflect that, with sculpture and centerpieces.

In the absence of a change up of fabrics or hardscape, plants can be a welcome way to add living décor to a patio space. Intermix grasses and foliage-focused plants for variety in both hue and style.

Even a small fountain or birdbath lends a soothing sound or draws birds and butterflies. Petite water features can also act as a charming focal point, like this birdbath centered in a small circular brick patio.