Can’t help but think about New Orleans today.  All the fantastic food, architecture and music make it a go-to city anytime of the year.  Personally, I’d rather forgo the mayhem on Bourbon Street and head to the shopping available on Magazine Street.  One of my favorite New Orleans artisans is Julie Neill who creates original, creative lighting as shown here with a few shots from her website.  New Orleans style melds so many of the influences that contribute to the culture of the city and she captures those in her creations.  They will bring a little french flair to any decor, even if you aren’t residing in the Big Easy.

Just a word about the food…any restaurant by John Besh won’t disappoint!

As in life, furnishing a home is easier if you achieve a balance.  Know how you live and where you want to invest your hard earned money.  When I married, many of my friends had declined to add formal china, crystal or sterling silver flatware to their registries.  They reasoned that they did little or no formal entertaining and  the pieces would never be used.  I truly loved those pieces and knew if I had them, they would be used.  Indeed, they have been and treasured, too.  Holidays tend to mean there are more dinners, more guests and I want to make sure all the pieces look their best.  China can now go in the dishwasher, that was a gift from the heavens.  And the only real danger with crystal is making sure you don’t break it.  Easier said than done, just cross your fingers and party on.  It’s the sterling silver and silver-plate that will tend to show the most wear and tear if not properly maintained.  Anyone who has stood at a sink with that foamy sponge knows what a chore polishing can be.  No wonder people don’t use what they have!

Last spring, the knowledgable folks who own the Silver Vault on King Street in downtown Charleston shared their preference for Hagerty’s cleaner while I was attending an educational seminar about sterling.  I only opened mine and used it this week.  It was head and shoulders over the other brands I have used.  There is a spray that is great for spot cleaning and a paste that is safe for all metals - I even used it on the polished nickel hardware in our bathrooms.  Again, LOVE it!!  Knowing you can set a table with your beautiful sterling and not have to invest hours in the clean up process makes it much more likely you will use those treasured pieces.

Last year the creative folks at Pantone gave us Honeysuckle.  This year they are rolling out Tango!  It’s a deep orange color that they think will be mood lifting.  Goodness knows, we are all looking to be uplifted these days.  Attached is a swatch including the range of colors they are introducing in the Tango family.  They are earthy, trending to terracottas and also vivid, bright as you would use in a commercial setting.  A bit much in a residential setting.  Colors like this one are great for that pillow or ottoman that serves as a POP of color in a neutral room.   Pantone colors are used by all graphic, fashion and interior designers.  They create the colors and predict the trends.  Look for these tones to appear in home and fashion decor in the year to come.

I have decorated the tree, the house and now I’m ready to sit back and soak in the beauty of the season.  I’ve already seen my childhood favorite Christmas shows..you know, the Grinch, Rudolph, et al and it’s too early to watch It’s A Wonderful Life and the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol – the ONLY version, as far as I am concerned.   Sooo, I curled up in front of the fire and the tree to enjoy Father of the Bride.  The Steve Martin, Diane Keaton version.  I know Elizabeth Taylor is a beauty and Spencer Tracy is phenomenal but I love the house in the newer version.  Yes, the house is the allure.  Granted, I was crying ten minutes into the movie because it is one of the sweetest movies of all time but the house is the quintessential family home.  Elegant without being over the top (like the ones the in-laws live in).  It’s classic architecture and the vines growing around the home are welcoming and comforting.  This is a house you could love and never tire of….just why I’ve seen this movie almost as many times as It’s A Wonderful Life.  Enjoy the holidays and the homes.

I recently had the pleasure of spending a few magical days in Paris.  It was my first trip and I was in awe of the architecture and the sheer mass of beauty surrounding you in the city.  I snapped a few photos with my trusty iPhone that I thought were worth sharing.  If you’re like me and have sought out the windows of the major department stores in cities like Chicago and New York to get your fix of over the top Christmas  decorating then you’ll appreciate these shots. I am in the City of Light which would captivate on any occasion, only I am lucky enough to be there at a time when I can tour the Christmas Village and light extravaganza that is set up all along the Champs Elysee, the life-size snow globe in the flocked courtyard of our hotel which allowed you to sip champagne amid faux snow and all the Christmas displays in the windows of Printemps created by design icons like  Karl Lagerfeld.  Little mini Lagerfelds in the form of marionette puppets are snapping pictures of the tourists who are snapping pictures of them.  Joyeux Noel.

Two enterprising women, Sunny and Hayne, are launching their first Refurnish sale tomorrow, November 3rd in Mount Pleasant at the old Zinc restaurant location in the Ness Motley law building.  They have gathered merchandise from local stores and interior designers (including Moi).  The merchandise runs the gamut from Kate Spade china – my FAV – to an extra large but vintage-y looking sectional, original works of art and bolts of old fabric.  I encourage you to go by and see if you can snag a bargain.  The sale runs through Saturday.  Also, go to Facebook and Like them because they will be hosting more sales in the future and you’ll want to know about those too.  I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you there will also by yummy food trucks on site!http://RefurnishCharleston.com

The first cold snap hit a bit early this year.  Around Charleston we all know that it will get colder when the Coastal Carolina Fair comes to town (yes, it’s here right now).  But the rest of the eastern seaboard is dealing with much more than a little cool air.  I readily admit that I am happy we seldom deal with snow.  However, when the chill comes in there is no better place to be than curled up in front of a fire, wrapped in a snuggle blanket.  Whether you plan to curl up in one of the faux furs shown here or a handsome houndstooth weave you can find all manner of throws in stores right now.  They serve a valuable purpose but also add another layer of color and texture to any room they grace

The High Point Market is still in full swing but I did my time in the first few days.  Great strategy for avoiding the crowds and covering ground quickly.  There is little time for lounging with so much to see.  As you move from vendor to vendor, building to building trends will begin to present themselves.  I was especially pleased this year because one of my favorites is creeping into all aspects of design.  Peacock blue and the actual depictions of peacocks abound.  Paint colors in the brilliant blue, sometimes with a hint of green, fabrics and carpets with the shape of the feather in a multitude of colors, etc.  This photo from the Global Views showroom captures most of the trend in one vignette, including the majestic bird.

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Enough with the grilling and swimming and general laziness! Time to lay on the sofa and watch the U.S. Open, after that it’s time to kick your feet up and take in some football. This kitchen, family room combination has all the ingredients necessary for enjoying the great indoors. Slipcovers on the sofas are machine washable and forgiving of sticky fingers, the round wicker coffee table has no sharp corners so rambunctious children are free to roam. In the kitchen we leveled off the island and increased it’s size to accommodate all comers and allow for a tailgating spread. Let the games begin…