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Greetings from Miami everyone!

Chrys and I wanted to wish you all a Happy Holidays as we are taking a bit of a break from the blog all next week. We will be back in the new year!

Thank-you thank-you for reading and we hope we bring a bit of sparkle to your day!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Here is a really cute post on the art of gingerbread houses and how the tradition started in Europe and continues today.

P4D reader, Debi from Virginia, shared with us her fabulous and festive holiday decor. Love the purples! Thanks for sharing!

We love hearing from our readers so please feel free to share any DIY projects or fun finds with us! Send pictures or links to primed4design@gmail.com!

If you have have a clear glass/crystal chandelier, dress it up with some red festive holiday beads and ornaments like the photo above from Country Living. Here is a slideshow with over 90 photos that will really get you into the holiday mood and great inspiration for decorating! Cheers!

A few more days till Christmas! If your still looking for ideas on how to create a show stopping table, Pottery Barn had some great inspiration this season. As seen above, a natural yet festive looking centerpiece using potted branches with a nice selection of antique looking ornaments.

Another one of my favorites this season are the Paper Music Star Vase Filler. In their December catologue, they combined these with German Glitter Birds and some fake snow and it was beautiful!




Another idea I love, and I have a few in my house year round are bird cages. Pottery Barn filled nests with gold Christmas balls and gave them some height with books stacked underneath.

Here is my use of a bird cage in our holiday decor. A gold bird cage filled with red Christmas Balls.


Good luck with your final decorating touches!

{Image via Lonny Magazine}

Check out the December issue of Lonny Magazine online. 189 pages full of party tips, festive decor and entertaining ideas. Online magazines are fun because you can sneak a little decorating reading in during your lunch break. Enjoy!

For every human being- water portrays a vital role for its existence and survival. Man can not exist exclusive of water in view of the fact that earth itself is made up of more water than land. Thats why; man has for eternity given grand reverence to water and even treated it as God. Even when we look back at the early times, majority of civilizations have been shaped in places where there was great quantity of water accessible for farming and cultivation, irrigation, drinking and bathing. Loads of battles have been fought and clashes arise even today over dissection of rivers and other water resources amid states and countries.
Hence, water is of great significance and no wonder why man uses it in its everyday activity no matter how grand or simple it is. Further than the indispensable uses of water in aspects like agriculture, water was used for adornment in the form of fountains. Historians draw attention that water fountains instigated in the ancient Middle East region, in particular in Egypt where gardens were found to be ornamented with water fountains. Roman and Persian cultures also included water fountains as part of their culture. The Mughals, who ruled in India had built many architectural wonders such as the Taj Mahal, and their gardens which were always bejeweled with flourishing and abundant trees and fountains. Mughal women are inclined to stay indoors most of the day and that's why these gardens and fountains were a basis of relaxation and leisure for them.
Fountains have always been an essential element of existence in the Far East countries akin to China, Japan etc where water is regarded as a form of energy in Feng shui.
In numerous countries, fountains have been the heart of social life. This would mean that people would draw together around them, while gathering water for drinking, cooking and bathing and many a romance, friendship and political schemes and plots are said to have risen from there.
In the beginning, Mother Nature has created many fountains with the natural flow of water due to gravity, commencing from the higher surfaces to lower surfaces. The geysers, which are found in national parks and waterfalls, are illustrations of nature created fountains. Soon after, with the discovery and development of hydraulic apparatus and gears, artificial water fountains were built. In the early days, the fountains were simple in design, with its main purpose of supplying water for everyday living. Afterward, they were also ornamented and adorned with statues, sculptures and figurines.
Up to date fountains have become more highly developed and sophisticated for they now offer musical fountains, fountains with colored lights and animated fountains and are used more like a showpiece. The Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas are a work of art in artificial fountains and never fail to captivate and charm the people.
In the present day, we notice that a lot of water fountains are being used basically all over the places from shopping complexes to hospitals, to business establishments and parks.Not only do they improve and boost the furnishings of the building, but they also bring relaxation and untainted delight to people.


Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains
Marble Water Fountains

There's no better way to get excited about Christmas than starting the time-honoured tradition of decorating your home and once you've decorated your house it's officially Christmas... but many people never really know when to start these festive preparations.

People used to decorate their homes on Christmas Eve, believing it unlucky to bring an evergreen into the house any earlier - but of course the tradition of 12 days before and 12 days after for taking them down, is still popular with many. However, for people who feel that decorating the house seems pointless, lets remember why it is so popular (and enjoyable!) The tradition goes back to a pre-Christian custom of bringing in evergreen branches for the spirits and putting them out again in Spring when buds began to appear on the tree, but eventually people decorated to celebrate the Birthday of the Son of God.
There are many superstitions around the background of Christmas Decorations and some superstitions have been retained, indeed hanging mistletoe is still popular. Although there are different interpretations for its use people still believe that luck favours those who kiss under it and goes against those who avoid it. However, apart from the fact that Christmas decorating is an inherited activity, it basically makes people feel excited about forthcoming festivities... even for those who make a fuss about it (but still do it!)
Perhaps especially for those people these time saving tips on how to decorate your home will be of use (and you may still have time to get a bit of gift-wrapping done too!) Decorating the tree is the obvious decoration to start with - but the way you put away your tree decorations is an important part to making this easy. Don't just throw your lights and baubles into a carrier bag when taking them down (you know who you are!) - make life easier by untangling lights and boxing your tinsel and baubles separately.

christmas designs for home
christmas designs for home
christmas designs for home
christmas designs for home
christmas designs for home

{pair of organic napkins - large mermaid print in teal OOAK}

Good morning everyone! Here is a fun interview with katherinejlee about her creative process, and at the bottom of the interview is her etsy shop featuring various organic home decor she screenprints her designs on.

Viva Terra'a Agate Ornaments are beautiful, colorful, and a unique holiday decoration.

I spotted this funky chandelier at Art Basel down here in Miami last week. It's made out of different art glasses and vases, and the one vase is actually functioning with water and a flower sticking out of it. It also has a bowl that is holding a few pieces of fruit. It's as if a still life painting came to life in the form of a chandelier! :)

Whether your seeking the opulence of traditional French decor or a more quaint comfort of French provincial living, here are some ideas on how to bring Paris or the French countryside to your doorstep.


{Image from French Country Decor Guide}


{Image from In-house Designs}


{Image from Interior Blogsite}


{Image from New House of Art}


{Image from Interior Design Reviews}

Here are some French inspired accents from Ballard Designs to get you started.
Antionette Bench

Bergere Chair and Ottoman

Avignon Table Set

The Camille Toile Bedding

Preserved Boxed Topiaries

Paris Places Print

{Photo by Claudia Uribe Touri}

Good morning everyone! I had the pleasure of working with Abby Kellett, an amazing British interior stylist here in Miami for a photoshoot on Wednesday.

She studied interior design and interior styling in London and has worked for Elle Decor. She is absolutely amazing at her job and I had so much fun working with her! Let me tell you she had some beautiful props to use for the photoshoot ~ everything from vases to fresh flowers, art books to artichokes! :)

Abby is also the owner of Gretel, my new favorite online store! Check it out here at gretelhome.com. She really has an eye for modern taste and style. Gretel is in her own words, "carefully curated and uncluttered, so that your home can be too."

We love meeting and working with other design professionals ~ it's really inspiring.

Have a great weekend everyone!

{Photo by Steve Mercado of ShadowMonster Design}

Here is a photo of me (Jen) and an amazing portrait of Micheal Jackson at the Mr. Brainwash Art Show during Art Basel last week.

From far away it just looks like a painting of him, and when you get up close you realize that the portrait is made out of actual pieces of records!

Art can be fun and meaningful at the same time. I thought this portrait was very fun, yet tasteful and really interesting to show a musicians portrait literally made out of pieces of records. There were also Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix portraits done in the same manner. Music icons literally "made" from records, it's really inspiring.

Check out this gorgeous & very large chandelier I spotted in the Design Miami Tent across the street from Art Basel 2010. I saw so much amazing art and design the past 4 days, I'm still trying to process it all.

I have no idea how much it costs but I'm pretty sure its out of my reach...nothing wrong with looking though! :)

Stop to stare! Red is red hot this season in the home. Here are some ideas of how to use red as your dominant hue and how to just add a splash!

Inspiration to take the full plunge...



{Images from Country Living}


{Image from Home Interior Design Themes}

Or just stick a toe in...


{Images from Live Your Style}


{Image from Twolia}