Fay's Favorite Things for November

The Christmas Attic owner Fay Carter has a few favorite things as we approach the holidays:

1. The Happy Couple

This winter wedding scene is made of hand-painted German pewter. This piece is a perfect wedding present for those winter weddings.

2. Kiwi Blown Glass Ornament

With Thanksgiving approaching we begin to think of the harvest. Fruit and Vegetable ornaments are a fun and festive way to decorate your house.

The kitchen is the perfect place for a small food tree. Let's face it -- even if you try to keep everyone out of the kitchen at the holidays, it never works. The kitchen is the center of everything so your guests will feel welcome. (And if they feel welcome in your kitchen, maybe they will help you cook the feast)

3. Cherry Blossom Lantern

Ornament designer Eric Cortina makes this beautiful hand-painted, Japanese-inspired lantern. The bright pink stands out beautifully on the opulent gold background. In Washington D.C. we pride ourselves on our spring Cherry blossoms; we always look forward to seeing their beautiful colors. But why wait until the spring? By decorating your holiday tree with one of these ornaments you will be reminded of the Cherry Blossom Festival in December.

4. Santa Stamp Ornament

Considering this is our Christmas Attic exclusive and Fay had a hand in designing it, we are glad this is on her favorite's list. In this unique piece, Santa is surrounded by an assortment of vintage Washington-themed postage stamps. Each piece is unique with a different assortment of stamps. On the back of Santa's cloak is written Washington, D.C., which makes this a great Christmas gift for relatives and friends scattered around the globe. The proceeds for this ornament go to providing free parenting resources through the Learning Community.

5. German Paper Advent Calendars

So many fancy advent calendars are available these days (we even carry a few styles) but the classic inexpensive paper advent calendars are still a favorite. Fay still buys them for her adult children to open every year. The countdown to Christmas is ready to begin.

Industrial Farmhouse

I recently spent a fall weekend in Philadelphia. The weather was crisp and cool, and the air smelled of apples and pumpkins. All over the city, in restaurants, shops, and hotels, were signs of the hottest trend in decorating right now: Industrial Farmhouse.

The hallmark of Industrial Farmhouse -- and yes, it's a comical name -- is the reuse of antique woods that have either been refurbished or are left in their weathered state. I learned that one company has even bought old water-towers and such just to sell the antique wood.

But you don't need to buy a water-tower or tear down a barn to make Industrial Farmhouse part of your decor. Any re-purposed wood is a great place to start. For example, I visited Pumpkin, a restaurant, market, and café that incorporates antique, distressed window panes to their modern, minimalist decor. (If you visit Philadelphia, Pumpkin is a must-visit with only seasonal, local ingredients on their menu.)

A place that I had hoped to go visit but ran out of time to see was Terrain. I have been looking at their website religiously -- not only because as a web master I hope to get some ideas, but because I want almost everything in their store. They seem to have mastered the industrial farmhouse trend effortlessly. Check them out.

French Market is also popular again (which makes me especially happy, considering I adore all things French), and we are starting to see it combined with elements of Industrial Farmhouse such as antique wood. The two work well together, and one sign of a successful trend is when people begin to incorporate elements of it into existing styles. Alternatively, to make your Industrial Farmhouse look a little fancier, you can juxtapose the repurposed wood with the opulence of velvet (again a hot item), or add sparkle by wary of mercury or chandelier glass, as described in my last blog entry.

Returning to the shop after my weekend away, I realized that we have been using the Industrial Farmhouse technique for over 30 years -- we are in an old tobacco warehouse, after all. It's always amusing when you discover that you are on the cutting edge of a trend, when you haven't made any changes. As we all know in the decorating game, everything old ends up new again at some point, which should reassure all of us that the best approach is to take what we like of the latest trends and make it part of our own personal style. Industrial farmhouse or pastoral penthouse, what matters it that it's comfortably your house.

Holiday Hues of the Season

Is it time to give your décor a seasonal make-over? Here are a few trends that will get you started for fall and also carry you into the holidays. The must-have is anything with deep rich colors, and the fabric to covet is velvet. Incorporate these elements into your décor with a mahogany candle or a velvet pumpkin.

To integrate a little sparkle with your rich colors, add a hint of shiny antique silver. Mercury glass is an elegant but affordable way to get a little shimmer. It is a double-walled blown silvered glass that has a mirrored sheen to it. With a few candles near by, it produces a warm glow. Or for a more antique look, choose chandelier glass instead, which will give you a similar effect.

These tips will carry you into the holiday season as well, so with just a few new fun pieces you can decorate for two seasons. When it comes time to get your home ready for Christmas family trees are always special. Adding a set of ornaments in a rich color such as burgundy will give your favorite tree a new look even with all your favorite family ornaments still hanging in their usual places. Mercury glass again makes a wonderful addition, reflecting your lights and making the whole tree glow. Pull it all together with bows you have made from a richly colored velvet ribbon.

As always when decorating, a small change can give a room a fresh, new look. Allow yourself to be inspired by anything you see.