Creating something beautiful and unique starts with using those objects you hold dear and creatively styling them for the occasion . They may be inherited treasures or traditional ornaments gathered over time, but the key is that they belong to you, your family. The object – like the flower – must speak to you.
 

Your creation will be in the ability to create an environment that involves the senses – sight, smell, touch. With that in mind, start thinking of your table as a still life that reflects the season as well as your own tastes.

A nice focal point for a table setting would be a stack of books with a candlestick on top.

Candlesticks are wonderful elements on a table, even without candles.

Think of displaying several of your most unique tree ornaments on candlesticks of different styles and heights, and using low votives for light.

Flowers, of course, are an important part of the story. Capture the season spontaneously, and let the season be your guide.

For the holidays, that means using clementines, pomegranates, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla beans, oranges, citrus fruits, chestnuts and kumquats. All these – plus meaningful bibelots, flowers, herbs, vegetables and spices – provide a structure to create a story using your own eye, taste, color and composition as a guide.

The glow of the holidays is enhanced when you use candlelight to bring the warmth indoors. The objects you have on the table are as important as the flowers and food.

A decanter of red wine with a candle behind it – use what you have in the house.

You might want to try a tablescape that might go something like this: Wrap small bundles of wet moss or oasis in tree bark and tie with raffia or satin ribbon. Insert a stem of mimosa or narcissus in each. Sprinkle handfuls of fragrant dried pink peppercorns across the table, as well as bundles of cinnamon sticks wrapped in the same raffia or ribbon. Put tea lights or votive candles inside carved-out clementines. Add your special objects, and not only will the table be beautiful, the room will smell like Paradise.

Instead of china, try a place setting of two transparent glass plates with small cedar or pine needles in between the layers to add a one-of-a-kind collage effect.

Try not to be shackled to the same old, same old!

In the practice of Feng Shui, we are working with life force energy, known as chi. The Feng Shui principles of the Five Elements: water, wood, fire, earth and metal represent five types of chi; which are at the core of the many Chinese forms of balancing the energy in our environments. Each one of these elements is linked to a season, color and much more.
There are five seasons associated with the five elements, other than the four seasons we normally think of.
The fourth season falls between summer and autumn and is referred to as early autumn. The elements are applied to the seasons in the following way:

• Spring is represented by Wood energy
• Summer is represented by Fire energy
• Early Autumn is represented by Earth energy
• Late Autumn is represented by Metal energy
• Winter is represented by Water energy

It is very important to have the energy in your home environment balanced and less stressful.

Take time to look around your home and listen to what is has to say to you.
Is your living room inviting, cozy and comfortable? Do your guests love to spend time in this room?

Or perhaps the initial impression does not give the feeling of being welcomed.
Maybe your living room’s lack of appeal doesn’t come from the lumpy sofa, but from unforgiving negative chi instead.

Why not give it a Room Makeover?

Now’s the perfect time to start making it feel like a great room again, and have plenty of good chi circulating through out your living space in time for your upcoming holiday entertaining.

Did you know...the average American spends roughly a third of their life sleeping, so it might as well be done in style.
Quality sheets and designer bedding ensembles not only make our beds more comfortable, they also make them a focal feature of any bedroom.

Whether your style is classic and simple, bold and beautiful, or fun and whimsical, the best in bed linens can turn a boring bedroom into a bedazzling boudoir.

 

Here are some tips for getting that show room look.

Layer the bed with a variety of textures and patterns in the same color family. A damask coverlet, a pillow in a faux fur or cashmere, and a mohair throw casually tossed on the end all add the look of luxury. Texture comes from quilted pillow covers, “vermicelli”-stitched coverlets, and matelasse spreads used in place of blankets.

Using a dust ruffle? Stylists will often use two for an extra-puffy look. If you top a long bed skirt with a shorter one, the look is ruffled and feminine.

Instead of just two standard pillows, use two 26-inch-square pillows with Euro shams, plus two or three standard pillows, plus a boudoir pillow or a neckroll.
You can even toss a queen- or king-sized pillow into the mix.

Use coordinating fabrics, and it won’t look haphazard.

Make sure to start with a thick mattress and box spring. If your fitted sheet is big enough to accommodate it, add a thick mattress pad or down pillow top to your mattress.

Give your duvet an especially fluffy look by using a duvet in the next-largest size.

Evaluate your bed from the perspective of touch. What adds softness? What invites relaxation? Controlling the color palette lends serenity, while a blend of textures adds interest and appeals to the senses.

 

Our new bedding collection for 2007 will be arriving in a few weeks. We will have over 40 collections to show you!

Custom Bedding
Made-to-order luxurious Collections, ships within 3 weeks.

Sophisticated yet tailored. Sumptuous yet livable. our collections are hand crafted in the finest fabrics for lasting quality.

Magnificent textures – silks, damasks, tapestries, velvets and elegant trims – are thoughtfully selected and matched to assure a bedding ensemble of enduring appeal.

Or you will be able to customize any piece in any size from our bedding fabric portfolio.

Each Custom Collection is comprised of up to 16 components, including reversible shams and duvets.

Quick-Ship Bedding
Elegant Collections, ships next day. Good things come to those who can't wait.
Each Collection includes up to nine pieces to layer, duplicate, or enjoy individually.

Upholstered Headboards
Handcrafted, ships within 3-4 weeks. Complete your bedscape with an upholstered headboard using one of our luxurious fabrics or your own.
Whether you choose a traditional tufted camelback, a tufted or modern straightback, or any other of our seven styles, our headboards are sure to harmonize with your bedding Collection.

Are you serious about building an interior redesign and home staging business? If you are, then, the Spaces School of Interior Redesign Training program will show you all the techniques as well as the ins and out of running your own home staging and interior redesign business.

Most students do not have an interior design background, but what they do possess is a passion for decorating and real estate.

In this program, we will walk through a interior redesign/homestaging consultation and recommend sources for design ideas.

The business aspect of home staging and redesign is a very integral part of the business as well. We cover this in detail and visit four site homes for the hands-on experience.

You will be trained in how to interpret the lifestyles of a client into a room's redesign. This is achieved with an eye toward balance, scale, texture and color.

Your deposit to hold your seat will be due the second week in December.

Classes will be offered over Five Saturdays, or over a two week period, with two days one week and three the following week.

Classes are scheduled to begin Saturday January 13th through February 10th, 2007.

The two week class will begin January 23, and 24th and then the following week January 29th, 30th, and 31st.

Six Week "Decorating your Home" Class - This is a perfect class for those that are in the process of renovating, remodeling, purchasing a new home or redecorating their home. It is for the Do it Yourself decorator.

Our class is very comprehensive and you will learn how to choose colors for your home through color theory and color psychology.

You will learn about differnet types of lighting ,space planning, Focal points, Scale and Balance, Kitchens, Master bedrooms, Guest rooms, Family rooms and the History of furniture.

Our class is guaranteed to be very informative, hands-on and fun-filled.
A Designer Color Wheel, a binder with the lessons and a furniture template kit will be included in the fee.

The class meets for six weeks, once a week, for two hours. Our classes are held on Thursday evenings or Wednesday Mornings.

Our Schedule for January through March 2007 will be as follows:

Thursday evenings - January 25th, 2007 through March 1st , 2007 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Wednesday Mornings- January 31, 2007 through March 7th, 2007 9:30am to 11:30am

Come and visit the studio to touch and feel our new Bedding Collection for 2007.

Take 20% off on all our Custom and Quick Ship Collections,as well as our Custom Upholstered Headboards.

Offer Good through January 31st, 2007.

We combine the art of decorating with that of interior arrangement to bring you everything from full-service decorating, including imaginative custom window treatments and custom furnishings. We will also consult on color and design as well as doing one-day interior makeovers and virtual room makeovers!

Your needs determine the scope of our involvement, but no matter the size of the project, working with clients to create a personal, joyful, and liveable space is our goal.


Coming soon...Our very own Virtual Lighting and Accessory Showroom.

If you are interested in visiting our virtual showroom, please email me, and I will give you your own password to enter our exciiting new virtual site for your shopping pleasure.

Please feel free to forward our newsletter with the button that is provided at the end of each newsletter to friends or relatives who can benefit from our decorating tips and advice.

Joy Nan Rodia