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Fun Halloween Decoration Ideas for Your Home – Inside and Out

It will be October soon and that means pulling out pumpkins, spider webs, witches brooms and other utterly eerie Halloween decorations to create a spooky entrance to your home. Whether you’re a minimalist or prefer a little bit of everything, here are some Halloween decoration ideas you may want to consider. And best off, most are inexpensive DIY projects.

Illuminating a walkway with jack-o-lanterns is an inviting way to guide visitors to your front door. Martha Stewart suggests carving various shapes onto a pumpkin using cookie cutters – hearts, stars, clovers and diamonds.

Created an eerie invitation into your haunted house. This is a simple DIY project I found at Better Homes and Garden. After coming up with the message for your invitation, select a spooky Halloween font like Chiller or Jokerman to be printed on wood-pattern paper. Then paste the message onto balsa and tack the pieces to the wooden steps. If decorating brick or concrete steps, using removable double-stick poster tape seems to do the trick to keep your message in place.

Love the creepy flock of bats swarming this front door. Bat cutouts are a super easy DIY project – you just need black paper and scissors. For more details and a bat stencil, visit Country Living.

A pumpkin covered with orange and chocolate lollipops enables trick-or-treaters to help themselves if they are not too frightened by the paper bat hovering over and witch’s broom propped by the door. The pumpkin is carved from synthetic foam – avoid using a real pumpkin because the moisture from the flesh will turn the lollipops’ paper sticks soggy. To find out more visit Martha Stewart.

There is just something about black crows that freak me out. These decorative birds crows are perfect to perch outside your front door to add more spook factor. They are available at Pottery Barn along with all of the other autumn inspired house decorations (above) including my favorites – the Mixed Leaf Garland, Malta Lanterns and Rattan Pumpkins.

These chic Mercury Glass Glass Pumpkins are out-of-stock at Pottery Barn – darn it! But if you are up for a small craft, visit The DIY Show Off for a fantastic version you can easily do at home.

Here is another great way to decorate a pumpkin without needing a carving set. I spotted this adorable collection of festive painted pumpkins at Tiny Talk. I am going to be pulling out my gold spray paint and pens for sure!

If throwing a Halloween party decorate the ‘green’ way with fun prints perfect for any age group or gender. Green Planet Parties offers an adorable and sustainable Halloween Decorations Party Kit. The kit includes: two trick-or-treat bags, ten flag banner and tablecloth with a dozen bat appliques that are sustainable tabletop confetti.

These folk art inspired Pirate Pumpkin and Halloween Cat figurines at Gumps would be perfect to dress up an entryway. The cat’s glitter-dusted tulle collar is the best. And their heads are set on springs and move!

These aged terra-cotta cubes decorated with vintage lettering spell out an eerie warning to your guests. Perfect to arrange on the buffet, fireplace mantel or dining table. Also available at Gumps
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Read full story By on September 24, 2009 in baby and children, Entertaining, Halloween, holiday decor

Butterfly Summer – VIVRE Tablescape

I’ve done it again! This time I entered AphroChic’s VIVRE Summer Tablescape Contest and my entry is below. “Butterfly Summer” was inspired by Phoebe Howard’s gorgeous bedroom design in the Atlanta Showhouse (above). The room’s neutral palette is peaceful and airy. It reminded me of a lazy summer day and the life the warmest season brings us – butterflies, sunflowers and sunshine. The moodboard’s images also evoked fond memories of my Grandma Virginia and her love for sunflowers.

The fabulous tabletop items showcased are all conveniently available at VIVRE – (top to bottom) Naja & Merveilles Gilded Twig & Foliage Tableware, New Arcadia Sunflower Rocks Glasses, Butterfly Napkin Rings and Glass Butterfly Plates by Siecle, Sazingg Butterfly & Chain Necklace, Garza Butterfly Tray, Tall Butterfly Vase and SURevolution Small Feather Cake Knife.

Take a look at more VIVRE tablescape moodboards and vote for your favorite here.

A life without love is like a year without summer. ~ Swedish Proverb

*Images from VIVRE, Phoebe Howard, Martha Stewart, Flickr and Lolliblog
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Read full story By on July 12, 2009 in bedrooms, beds, Entertaining

She’s a Grand Ole Flag – July 4th Decor

“The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.” ~ George Washington’s Farewell Address, September 17, 1796

Americans spend Independence Day with family and friends, barbecuing and watching fireworks light up the night sky. Here are some designer interiors and patriotic party decorations in the spirit of July 4th.

Ashley Whittaker designed this darling red, white and blue scheme boy’s bedroom. I recognized the white table and red chairs from Pottery Barn Kids – my girls have the same table with pink chairs. The white and red bedding is from Leontine Linens. Whittaker pulls this room together nicely with an American flag print by Maureen Andrews for Posh Papier.

In this lake house bedroom, designer Suzanne Kasler makes a strong patriotic statement with the American flag as the focal point. Love how she painted the ceiling blue.

This beautiful red, white and blue bedroom was designed by Meg Braff for her son. I love the geometric print in the Roman shade and bed skirt. The monogrammed red bed throw adds a nice personal element to the room.

Star-spangled family room! Designer Jason Bell kept this space fresh by painting the walls stark white. The armchair, upholstered in pale blue and navy chrysanthemum fabric from Osborne & Little and square woven coffee table help break up the navy elements. I just love those stylish and practical skirted ottomans in navy with nailhead detail.

This traditional red, white and blue living room found in Coastal Living is ideal for the seaside setting. I love the combination of red and blue striped furniture with coral-themed throw pillows to bring the outside in.

No 4th of July celebration is complete without festive decorations. Dress-up a gazebo or porch with box-pleated bunting and hanging star medallions as seen in Martha Stewart.

DIY and decorate your table by making firecracker pom-poms and table runners. Use ribbon to string stars inspired by colors and patterns in the American flag to make your own garland – both crafts from Martha Stewart.

Have a wonderful and safe July 4th!

Four freedoms: The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of everyone to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want – everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear – anywhere in the world. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt U.S. President

*images from Coastal Living, Martha Stewart and House Beautiful.

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Read full story By on June 28, 2009 in bedrooms, boy's bedroom, Entertaining, interior design, living rooms, upholstery

Bali Breeze

OK, now I’ve done it. I’ve entered the tabletop contest being hosted by the very chic online store, VIVRE. (eeeek!) Take a look and if you like what you see, please vote for me or build your own at coco+kelley.

It doesn’t get much better than dining beach side in balmy Bali. Set the right mood with these “Bamboo” Candlesticks. Enjoy a fresh Balinese Rujak salad served with this Seashell Salad Set and atop the Coral Salad Plate. Sip a Tuak – the “toddy” of English colonialists – in a hand-painted Goto Glass. But, this tabletop is just not complete until the guests arrive, therefore I have included a fabulous hand-dyed Ikat-print Tunic by Janavi, gorgeous turquoise, citrine and red shell trilogy ring by Bounkit and chic Olive “Chinese Buckle” sunglasses by Shanghai Tang (all conveniently available at Vivre). Now set yourself free and gaze into the sunset. ahhh…

This weekend I’m hooked on Bali Breezes, Vivre and blogging. Check out Julia’s Hooked on Fridays post to see what other bloggers are hooked on. Have a wonderful weekend!

* All merchandise images from Vivre
* Sunset in Bali image from
Flickr
* Gamelan gong image from
Gamelan Anak Swarasanti

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Read full story By on June 20, 2009 in Entertaining