THE BLOG

Eight Decorative Nights

By on December 20, 2011 in Hanukkah, Holiday

I have a soft spot for the “J Team” considering that one for my very first do-ovah’s was in the home featured at the end of THIS music video! (starting at 2:49) Ok…so it’s a total dance party and MK Design isn’t really featured but for reals…a Do-Ovah happened!  Sorry, back to Hanukkah or is it Chanukah, either way, let’s face it…how awesome is a holiday that may or may not use a silent C!

This year I got my first call to decorate someone’s home for the eight nights of eight lights.  Her seven year old daughter was feeling deprived of holiday cheer and since she had never decorated for the holiday before, she had no idea where to begin.  We jumped in the car, popped a little Adam Sandler into the tape deck, then strolled the aisles of Home Goods for some festive blue and silver.   I wanted to steer clear of any traditional holiday decoration for fear of being goyish (Yup…new word for me) so we decided to create a winter wonderland atmosphere instead.

We bought a package of blue and silver ornaments, silver pine cones, and some glass snowflakes to adorn the entry to her family room.  She already had some glass figurines that we used to incorporate into the winter wonderland theme.

A silver bowl filled with the ornaments and pinecones is just enough!

We flanked the mantel with two snow covered trees in silver pots.  We added the blue beads, some blue and sliver glittery butterflies, some dazzling dragonflies, and topped it off with a glitzy owl.  We even found a string of lights with silver balls attached…the perfect Hanukkah bush!  And what’s Hanukkah without some gelt, dreidels, and a menorah.

Mazel Tov to THAT sparkle!

We also adorned the mantel with some silver snowflake garland.  What a great way to display holiday cards as they arrive!  Who’s your baleboste now?!?

It’s so cozy…don’t you just want to curl up and light the menorah?!?

If you are a chosen one celebrating this week, I hope this gave you a little inspiration.  Enjoy those nights with your family and friends and give the dreidel a spin for me!

SHALOM

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It’s an MK Christmas

By on December 15, 2011 in Christmas Tree, Holiday

I love finding new ways to use old holiday decorations!  My mom was getting rid of this little piece of “Country Christmas” and I snatched it out of her donation bin.

With a little spray paint and some new decorations I whipped this baby into a “brand” spankin’ new tree for MK Design World Headquarters.

Now that’s what I call branding!

Do you decorate your office?  I’d love to see how you use your company logo to enhance your holiday decor.

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Five Festive Fideas

By on December 11, 2011 in Centerpieces, Christmas Tree, Front Porch, Holiday, Mason Jars

I’m a sucker for countdowns anytime of year, but especially THIS time of year!  Now this isn’t the Best of MK Design 2011 (um…blog idea….yes please!) but, here are the TOP FIVE decorations that I love in my own home this year.

5. Mirror, Mirror, on the Table

For my dining room tablescape, I love the look of mirrors under flowers or candles.  I purchased these for about $5 a few years back and have certainly gotten a ton of use out of them.  I may change the colors and the scene, but I always love the dimension it adds!

4. What’s Old is New Again

While shopping a thrift store after being completely inspired from Mr. Goodwill Hunting (Thanks Nate Berkus) I came across this beautiful oval vanity mirror dressing table tray.  My mom has one of these, and of course, rush in childhood memories of a little girl sampling all her scents and searching through trinket boxes of treasure….I digress!  Let’s just say for $2.95 I had to have it.  And just when you think you can’t dress up a candelabra, throw it on this vintage tray with some glass ornaments, some fresh sprigs of holly, and it’s even fancier! (Full Disclosure: I have 2 young boys. They are 4 & 7 and, as amazing as they are, they are two young boys.  I know I probably should have lit the candles for the photo…but I’m real…and in real life that would NEVER happen. Open flame behind a couch spells disaster in the making, just sayin’.  Back to the countdown! )

3. Brimfield Find

Vintage boxes were all over Brimfield last fall, and when I saw this one, I knew EXACTLY were I was putting it.  The only problem was, September was SO FAR away from December (OK, it’s really not, but try buying a fabulous new pair of shoes and not wearing them for two months…ya with me!?)  Anyhoo, Brimfield was a highlight of my year, so clearly it just HAD to be included!

2. Let It Snow

I am all about the indoor blizzard!  Seriously, that fake snow stuff isn’t just for a big mall store trees.  Pick up a bag and I’m guessing you’ll have a hard time putting it down.  It adds such a beautiful layer to your Christmas Tree and, quite frankly, it’s super fun to apply.  I like to call it “Hucking Handfulls”!  Even the biggest Grinch’s heart will grow three sizes while throwing handfuls of snow onto their tree.  Oh, and don’t worry too much about the mess, I like to think that the snow looks prettier than the pine needles that inevitably drop.

Here we are at my number one favorite decoration this year…DRUM ROLL PLEASE…

1. Pretty Little Lanterns

I bought almost 50 mason jars and filled them with epsom salt then added votives and lined the stonewall along walkway to my front door.  They look so purtty as the epsom salt snow glistens with the twinkle of the candles.  Such an easy and inexpensive way to add just a little more sparkle to your holiday!

What are your favorite decorations this year?  Post pictures to my facebook page…I’d love to see what festive things you are up to!

 

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Ruffle Things Up!

By on November 29, 2011 in Christmas Tree, Holiday

I am aways looking for new ways to spruce up one of our many Christmas trees.  In the basement we have a Disney themed tree (with, you guessed it, Tinkerbell at the top)  This is, by far, the tree my kids enjoy decorating the most!  They get free reign to decorate it however they want (which usually means that all the ornaments are clustered to one section close to the bottom, but not this year, my 7 year old finally figured it out and undecorated behind my 4 year old)  and when they are done, I come in and add some decorative ribbon around the tree.  This year I discovered a fabulous new trick with the help of Sarah from Ace Hardware in Acton – RUFFLED RIBBON!

It’s such a simple way to spruce up your tree and add another dimension to your decorating.  Start by unraveling an entire roll of wired ribbon and find the center point. (My sister-in-law’s dog Tia was clearly a huge help!)

Holding the wire on one side of the ribbon begin pushing the ribbon along the wire toward the center point.

As you move along, the ribbon will become tighter to push in, so you will need to go toward the center point and start pulling it out until you reach the desired size of your ruffle.  Once you have reached the center point, start on the outside edge of the same side and work your way back (pushing and puling) to the center until you have created a full ruffle along the entire length of ribbon.

As you get closer to the end you may find yourself lost in a sea of ruffles.  I found it easier to judge the look of my ruffle by tying one end to a doorknob at this point.

You’ll be left with a whole lotta wire at the ends of your ribbon…I just made a little knot and snipped off the rest.  Once it is complete, start from the top and wrap it around your whole tree!

I’d love to see new ways you might be sprucing up your tree this year!  Please share some of your photos while you are having fun Decking the Halls!

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I’m Sitting Where?!?

By on November 20, 2011 in Thanksgiving

My boys love to get involved with the decorating for every holiday (I wonder where they get that from?!?)  and I love finding things for them to “help” with while we are scurrying around the kitchen getting ready for our guests to arrive.  Every year we set up a “creation station” on the coffee table and I put them to work while they watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Last year my oldest came up with the idea for these adorable turkey place cards. (Ok…maybe he did get a few pointers from his mom)  He also discovered how to make bubble letters a few days earlier…so this was his big debut!

I’m hoping one day I will be organized enough with photos of all of our guests to make these adorable napkin rings featured in Family Fun.

The “Big Kids” are always dying to graduate to the adults table…who wants to be stuck with the babies anyway!   Well, with some of these super cute ideas from Fiskars, even the grown-ups will want to switch tables!

And while you are at it, check out my friend Sarah’s column, for an adorable idea for putting the ‘Thanks’ back into Thanksgiving for your kids this year!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving day.

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