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HGTV HALLOWEEN HOUSE CANDY COTTAGE ON THE OUTSIDE AND WITCHES LAIR ON THE INSIDE I absolutely love fall, and Halloween seems to kick off the months ahead filled with holiday entertaining.  I was fortunate to be asked to shoot a Halloween special for HGTV, where I got to design a house both inside and out for Halloween.  I developed my design based on the story of Hansel and Gretel, a charming candy cottage that lured children into the scary witches lair.   Check out the show…. It was a ton of work, and shooting Halloween in 90+ degree weather under hot lights in Fall clothes = lots of sweat.  On the other hand, it was a ton of fun to work with the two other talented designers. Two of the easiest tips from the show, are how to create giant candy.  It makes such a big impact .  To create wrapped candy use inexpensive paper lanterns in bright colors and wrap in cellophane.  Then tie it off at both ends of the lantern and you have a giant piece of candy! And, the lollipops are just Styrofoam discs that we spray painted and then used adhesive spray to secure glitter in a matching tone.  Then we added the stick with hot glue, and tied a ribbon on the top and they were perfect to line the Candy Cottage garden.  Speaking of Candy Cottages - not everyone can create a life size cottage but you can design a tabletop version like I did on Joyus!  Use this giant house as your inspiration and post pics of your finished project.

HGTV HALLOWEEN HOUSE

CANDY COTTAGE ON THE OUTSIDE AND WITCHES LAIR ON THE INSIDE

I absolutely love fall, and Halloween seems to kick off the months ahead filled with holiday entertaining.  I was fortunate to be asked to shoot a Halloween special for HGTV, where I got to design a house both inside and out for Halloween.  I developed my design based on the story of Hansel and Gretel, a charming candy cottage that lured children into the scary witches lair.   Check out the show….

It was a ton of work, and shooting Halloween in 90+ degree weather under hot lights in Fall clothes = lots of sweat. 

Screen shot 2010-09-29 at 11.55.13 PM

On the other hand, it was a ton of fun to work with the two other talented designers.

6a00e55391c48e88330120a672c67a970c-450wi

Two of the easiest tips from the show, are how to create giant candy.  It makes such a big impact .  To create wrapped candy use inexpensive paper lanterns in bright colors and wrap in cellophane.  Then tie it off at both ends of the lantern and you have a giant piece of candy!

CIMG2957

And, the lollipops are just Styrofoam discs that we spray painted and then used adhesive spray to secure glitter in a matching tone.  Then we added the stick with hot glue, and tied a ribbon on the top and they were perfect to line the Candy Cottage garden. 

CIMG2953

Speaking of Candy Cottages - not everyone can create a life size cottage but you can design a tabletop version like I did on Joyus!  Use this giant house as your inspiration and post pics of your finished project.

Link
Fall is here - September 22nd! The thing I love most about this time of year is that people begin to invite friends over for game nights, and long dinners that seem to last for hours around the dining room table. When I think of entertaining I immediately begin to think of the resources that I have around me to use as decor. This pic was taken last Fall in Connecticut - I threw a brunch for a group of friends and pulled in fall flowers and pumpkins.  SO easy.  I also added some of the hydrangea that was drying inside a lantern or two.  Mums aren’t my favorite flower but here, with the branches in this contemporary space. I love it. Mums are truly inexpensive and when they are grouped by color it works. via Unique Designs Of course, orange is an amazing color (I love it even more now that I am at Joyus!), and with the changing of the leaves, it is also prominent outdoors. The pairing of the blue vases with the orange = super fabulous. via Martha Stewart This is a bit rustic for me, but it is an interesting way to display your flowers with your favorite seasonal foods (hello pumpkin pie). via I Love Lolli I adore plaid, and this vintage tin is the perfect companion to the arrangement of fall leaves. via Nic Nac Maniac Here’s a creative way to use grapevine… This is a fun harvest dinner I put together while living in Seattle - the centerpiece: clear acrylic containers with fresh fruit and veggies.  At the end of the party everyone took the fruits and veggies home.  via Seattle Magazine Each place setting had folded card stock under the plate in a copper tone - loved this DIY idea. Burlap bags that I labeled with each guests name held the flatware… via Seattle Magazine So inspired to kick off this long season of entertaining! 

Fall is here - September 22nd!

The thing I love most about this time of year is that people begin to invite friends over for game nights, and long dinners that seem to last for hours around the dining room table. When I think of entertaining I immediately begin to think of the resources that I have around me to use as decor. This pic was taken last Fall in Connecticut - I threw a brunch for a group of friends and pulled in fall flowers and pumpkins.  SO easy.  I also added some of the hydrangea that was drying inside a lantern or two. 

Mums aren’t my favorite flower but here, with the branches in this contemporary space. I love it. Mums are truly inexpensive and when they are grouped by color it works.

http://blog.uniqueuniquedesign.com/simple-fall-decor/

via Unique Designs

Of course, orange is an amazing color (I love it even more now that I am at Joyus!), and with the changing of the leaves, it is also prominent outdoors. The pairing of the blue vases with the orange = super fabulous.

http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-arrangements.html

via Martha Stewart

This is a bit rustic for me, but it is an interesting way to display your flowers with your favorite seasonal foods (hello pumpkin pie).

http://www.ilovelolliblog.com/2009/11/fall-into-a-fabulous-frock-fete/

via I Love Lolli

I adore plaid, and this vintage tin is the perfect companion to the arrangement of fall leaves.

http://nicnacmaniac-nicnacmaniac.blogspot.com/2009/09/autumn-inspiration.html

via Nic Nac Maniac

Here’s a creative way to use grapevine…

227834_282239595210935_826932686_n

This is a fun harvest dinner I put together while living in Seattle - the centerpiece: clear acrylic containers with fresh fruit and veggies.  At the end of the party everyone took the fruits and veggies home. 

0711_entertaining_kelly

via Seattle Magazine

Each place setting had folded card stock under the plate in a copper tone - loved this DIY idea. Burlap bags that I labeled with each guests name held the flatware…

0711_entertaining_table

via Seattle Magazine

So inspired to kick off this long season of entertaining! 

Link
The Art of the Bar Cart I’ve always been a huge fan of a bar cart.  I love that they are compact, mobile, and can be used for so many things.  Since I am an Entertaining Expert (a.k.a. someone who throws a lot of parties) I have in my dining room so my friends can come in and mix their own cocktail.  I had been looking for a bar cart for awhile, and although I love the humor in creating something like the bar above, I really wanted something classic, on wheels, and large enough to accommodate my glassware and bar ware.  Then I found exactly what I wanted and bought one for myself, and decided to sell them on Joyus.  Check out all of the different ways you can use these… I have the gold with the cane top, and love it.  These can be used as a bar cart, nightstand, end table, there are just so many ways you can used them, and it is one of my favorite things. 

The Art of the Bar Cart

I’ve always been a huge fan of a bar cart.  I love that they are compact, mobile, and can be used for so many things.  Since I am an Entertaining Expert (a.k.a. someone who throws a lot of parties) I have in my dining room so my friends can come in and mix their own cocktail. 

I had been looking for a bar cart for awhile, and although I love the humor in creating something like the bar above, I really wanted something classic, on wheels, and large enough to accommodate my glassware and bar ware.  Then I found exactly what I wanted and bought one for myself, and decided to sell them on Joyus. 

Check out all of the different ways you can use these…

bar-cart-coffee-table

the_double_staged2_grande

The-Madison-Mixer-1GG

I have the gold with the cane top, and love it.  These can be used as a bar cart, nightstand, end table, there are just so many ways you can used them, and it is one of my favorite things. 

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