Color Crush: Caramel & Platinum

I am having fun working on this design for a new client! Building a mid-century design with my new color crush: caramel and platinum.

With the new love of copper and brass, this rich caramel color is infiltrating the design world.

I love this entry that I designed (I’m not biased:)) it’s a good example of using the rich hue of caramel in many forms: suede, metal, wood – mixed with various gray, black and white tones. It’s luscious!

Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman, Photos by Jessica Glynn

This is a home I’m designing right now. I’m using these fabrics and finishes in the family room – it will be a mid-century styled home. My color crush works perfectly with that style.

Fabrics: Lazar Pretoria Coffee; Lazar Sublime Cinder; Stanton Carpeting Dixon Silver; Oly Quaker Linen; Jane Churchill Cortege Grey; Jeffrey Alan Marks for Kravet Soto in Sterling; David Hicks Fiorentina Sol Camel

I often find inspiration in these beautiful color spectrums on Pinterest. Here are a few other beautiful ways to use Caramel and Platinum.

Photo Courtesy of Design Seeds

Photo Courtesy of Design Seeds

Nightstands 101

Nightstands are a very important element in any bedroom. They are functional, but should also be stylish. Size and height are crucial. I always say the bigger the better. Get the largest ones you can fit in your space. This is especially important for a room with a king-sized bed. You want the tables to be scale in the room.

There are many items that are great to keep in your nightstand (more than you may think) which is another reason for getting a large one, preferably with at least one drawer. I keep nighttime beauty products in the drawers, as well as my iPad and anything electronic.

Coastal blue nightstand by Pineapples, Palms, Etc.

Lighting is important. Beautiful lamps on each table can make a nice impact here. They don’t have to necessarily be matching, but something else should unify them. It could be color, shape or style. Make sure your lamps are not too tall, and install dimmers for mood lighting. I also like installing a small reading light right into the headboard, perfect for curling up with a great book.

There are many different styles to consider when choosing a nightstand. Many have a lower shelf, which is perfect for holding decorative objects. My rule is that decorative objects shouldn’t just look pretty–they should be either functional, meaningful or reflect your personality.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth Design Studio

Some 3-drawer dressers or bachelor’s chests work well as nightstands. When shopping for a nightstand, be sure to check out these options even if they are not shown in bedrooms or called nightstands. Another tip…if the nightstand is too high for the bed, simply saw off a bit of the legs.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth Design Studio

One great way to organize the items on the top of your nightstand is to use a pretty tray. Everyone in our home has a tray next to the bed to hold their water bottle and other small objects. It’s also a great way to protect the nightstand from water stains and scratches.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth Design Studio

I hope these tips provided some insight into choosing and styling nightstands for your bedroom! My final tip: switch it up. Every six months you can restyle, add some new lamps or switch out the knobs for a completely new look.

Valentine Gift Guide: For the Home Lover

I love getting gifts that reflect love in some way. Whether it’s a meaningful gift that my husband just put some thought into, or it’s an actual heart shaped object, either way it adds more love to my home year round. And I love to get pampering products that look beautiful when I leave them on the counter. All in all gifts don’t have to be big or expensive to express love. They just have to be a kind gesture from the heart.

My Valentine Gift Guide for the Home Lover is really a montage of items that I would love to receive. My favorite is the Guide to Bad Girls throughout History book. That will be a conversation starter, and surely it’s something to be flipped through at a party.

Happy Love Day!

SHOP:

Crystal Heart // Stemless Wine Glass // Bead Hanging

Bad Girls Book // Pay Phone Wall Phone // in the right place

Faux Fur Pillow // Candle // Tassel Table Lamp

Gold Art Print // 2017 Agenda // Trinket Tray

About Last Night: Miami

I loved visiting Ambassador in Miami, the popular Spanish market, which recently opened its doors in the heart of the city. Right now they are celebrating 100 years of the popular Madrid market, La Feria by Mercado de san Miguel. LA FERIA is more than the letters of Mercado San Miguel, it is a gastronomic and cultural experience, which seeks to create a blend between the culinary traditions of Spain by offering products and talent of America.

How cool is this traveling replica? The kitchen, with amazing food is led by Chef Xavi Oteiza, who blends Spanish gastronomy with local ingredients carefully sourced from artisans, bakers, and farmers. Great food, decor and a little history!

These are the chairs made out of shipping palettes…

Ikea Hack: Malm Dresser

Who doesn’t love a great IKEA hack? I am especially proud of this one I did for my daughter’s room..it was so easy. All I did was swap out the hardware and it completely transformed the piece. Loving the gold fixtures.

Start with a Malm dresser from IKEA….pretty boring, right?

Purchase some gold fixtures. These are actually available at Home Depot! Part of the Martha Stewart line.

Drill some holes and screw in the new hardware.

A new dresser that is modern and fresh!

Closet Porn

Ah, January…a time when we dream of organized pantries and closets! I always think if I just had my dream closet, I would have no problem keeping things organized. A big, customized closet is a true luxury. I especially love the ones that are modern, more like a dressing room than a closet. And we all fantasize about a closet just for shoes a la Carrie in Sex In The City, right?! Hope you enjoy my round-up of some true closet porn…

Photo courtesy of decorfacil

Photo courtesy of stylizimo

Photo courtesy of The Paper Mulberry

Photo coutesy of Pink Peonies

Photo courtesy of Places In The Home

Palm Beach Post Chrismukkah Photo Shoot

I thought it would be fun to give you a little peek behind the scenes of a recent photo shoot at my home with my husband and kids.

Last Minute Holiday Decor

I was way behind on my decorating this year. And I killed our first Christmas tree (yes that’s real), we have since bought another one and I’ve yet to decorate it. These are some tips for last minute holiday decor.

So I collected my coupons, researched sales, and took a trip to Home Goods, Tuesday Morning and Michaels. Voila! I was able to embellish a sale wreath and fill most surfaces in my home with holiday decor for under $900! I even decorated my stair banister.

Embellish a Store Bought Wreath

All I did here was add some faux greenery to beef it up and burlap bow. Done!

Banister Decor

I can’t do the everyday greens on the banister. I took a styrofoam wreath, wrapped it in burlap, then added a bunch of faux florals, a little glitz, and hung it on the stairway. I also had a bunch of silk magnolias around and added them to some bows. It came out beautiful, if I do say so myself.

Spruce Up Your Tree

I like a nice, full tree so I bought some greens at Michael’s and filled in the holes. It really works!

Surface Accessorizing

I added some vases filled with yard clippings (magnolia leaves in keeping with my theme), bought some cute Christmas and Hanukkah decor (we celebrate both) and just had some fun. Using framed family photos as part of your montages is a great way to keep it personal.

Mantel Decor

You can see I used a lot of white as a backdrop for the entire room. More yard clippings and it is a pretty, modern yet warmly styled mantel.

Gift Guide 101: For The HGTV Lover

Is your wife, friend, sister, aunt, etc. in love with HGTV? Specifically, HGTV Magazine? I am (of course, I used to be on the channel and I’m still obsessed). I decided it would be a fun gift guide to direct gift givers toward treats that the HGTV lover would appreciated. These items are colorful, happy, and unique. A gift from this guide will make any home-obsessed individual swoon.

SHOP:

Ampersand Paperweight // Agate Box // Geometric Nesting Trays //

Lilly Pulitzer Pillow // Wall Phone // Marble Table Lamp //

Gold Trimmed Place Setting // Framed Wall Art // Monogrammed Mug //

Turkish Throw // Flamingo Candle // Round Bar Cart

Gift Guide 101: For The Little Designer

So, yeah, I put together a gift guide that is perfect for my own kids. Sorry! I’m very selfish with my blog topics. Usually they directly relate to something I need help with and I can’t find personal time to do. That’s when I decide to use work time and wrap it (no pun intended) into a fun, tip oriented treat for y’all!

Honestly, I look for toys that will take my kids time to do, play or create. Yes many of these are crafty but they are cool-crafty. Something the rad auntie may supply under the tree or on the first night of Hanukkah. Decorating punk rock headphones, designing your own marble maze, and let’s not forget the hours and hours of Simon we all played as a kid! These are gifts for the little designer or architect. They spawn creative discoveries, help open the mind and see the world in a more three dimensional way. Not to mention, every little designer or architect needs a good sense of style and fashion (hence the Chuck Taylors).

My personal favorite here is building your very own model of a modern home. Plus I’m OBSESSED with Happy Socks (I bought them for the entire family). And I know my son would LOVE the plasma reactor. Give them a cool tent to make it all happen (if I have to build one more blanket tent…ugh) –um, yes, voila! Instagram worthy fun right in your very own home.

SHOP:

Design Your Own Maze // Chuck Taylor H igh Tops // Chuck Taylor Metallic

Headphones // Modern House Kit // Simon // Instant Camera

Linen Teepee // Plasma Reactor Lamp // Speaker Craft Kit

Happy Socks // Happy Socks Stripe // Ukelele Kit

Gift Guide 101: If You Love Her

Who doesn’t love diamonds, faux blush fur and expensive shoes? Sparkly purses and bracelets that say loving words? Sexy lingerie (that I’ll actually wear) and other uber cool, girly, rock star gifts??? All the ladies I know, crunchy, chic, fun, understated — there is something here for you. Gentlemen, get out your wallets, investigate shoe sizes and get to shopping!

Hint: If my man bought me lip gloss, I would kiss him all over:) And most of these gifts come with beautiful packaging!

SHOP:

Juicy Lip Oil // Charm Necklace // Cuff Bracelets

Noise Cancelling Headphones // Pointy Toe Pumps // Lip + Cheek Tint

Diamond Bangle // La Boheme Leather Watch

Bralet // Fur Scarf // Crystal Hoop Earrings

Leather Clutch // Glitter Clutch

Place Settings 6 Ways

Do you like to play with all your dishes and glassware? I’m obsessed with trying new place settings with whatever I have laying around the house (including a little champagne and some yard clippings). I have lots of fabric remnants and sometimes they provide that tiny bit of inspiration I need to create something unique. Below are a few cool place settings in six different variations. I mix brass with nickel, glass with china with herbs from my yard and….yes… champagne or wine (red + white). Don’t think that just because a holiday is traditionally a certain color palette that you have to follow those rules. Think outside the box and go pink during the winter months or red during the summer months. Defy tradition!

Think Pink: Pink and lime are fresh and new. No reason to have a holiday that follows a norm. Be whimsical and fun. Surprise your guests!