GIFT GUIDE: A DECOR BOOK CHRISTMAS

All I want for Christmas is...

...so many decor books that I have to put shelves over the windows, a la Kelly Wearstler.

I adore books, and my collection, while out of hand, shows no signs of stopping. This Christmas won't be any exception, with so many decor books being released just in time for the holidays, and I'm giddy at the thought of adding each of these tomes to my already bowing shelves! Most are from names you'll know; a few are first-timers. ALL are full of inspiration and great ideas - and all of them will look great on your shelves, too!

Kelly Wearstler's fourth book, Rhapsody, is just out. Modern Glamour, Domicilum Decoratus, and Hue are her previous three, and all already on my shelves. Modern Glamour was one of my early design book buys, and still a favorite.

Amanda Nisbet is a blogosphere favorite, and it's easy to see why - the cover alone has gold palm fronds, malachite fabric, and mad color. Subtle, it ain't.

Now here's a fun one, and you might find it a touch too portable to shove on a shelf. Mrs. Lilian's Cocktail Swatchbook is full of lovely recipes, and even lovelier design.

Miles Redd's first book, The Big Book of Chic lives up to both size and chic - and that's just the cover. I keep hoping he'll do a book signing in D.C.!

 Another lovely book by Charlotte Moss - her eighth, I believe. I really enjoyed Charlotte Moss Decorates (and I DID manage to get that one signed), so I'm looking forward to this new treat. Bonus:  the red coloring would pair beautifully with the Miles Redd cover above for a little book pile in holidays hues. Maybe Santa Claus can come early?

I'm ashamed to say I first came across Kathryn Ireland as a designer through Million Dollar Decorators, although I was already familiar with her fabrics. The new season just started, and it's already a treat!

Nate Berkus is owning it right now - I feel like he's everywhere! The new collection for Target is a hit (provided you can find it in a store; but that's a little Target Corp. issue, and not his fault). Safe to say this book is going to be a hit too. 

You had me at orange. Blogger Heather Clawson debuts a book on working in style - a must-get gift for any friend who works from home!

Ronda Carmen, of blog All The Best, also gets print credit to her name this holiday season, with a tour de force of interior designers at home, including Charlotte Moss, Celerie Kemble, Barry Dixon, India Hicks, Vincente Wolf, Bunny Williams, Jan Showers, Martyn Lawrence Bullard - the list reads like a Who's Who of 21st Century design greats. It's sure to be inspirational!

Finally, Michael S. Smith's latest book, due out in 2013 but available for pre-order, is, according to Smith, a guide to the "perfect American house." We'll have to stay in suspense until next year!

All of these titles are available at the Shop It On Your Shelf! Amazon store.

/Images/ Kelly Wearstler library, The Coveteur/ All book images, Amazon.com/ 

Monogram Me!

By Dabney Lee At Home.

Gear up girls, wedding season is coming. Oh - I don't want to hear you groan. Yes, your car is still stuck at the end of the cul-de-sac where the snowplow buried it, and your inconsiderate boyfriend had the nerve to be in Bermuda at the same time you needed him to dig it out. Yes, you haven't seen a sleeveless dress since New Year's, and your sweater habit is single-handedly supporting your local dry cleaners. But friends, it is coming. As the snow thaws, your bridal buddies will begin that most cherished of springtime rituals:  pre-wedding panic. Like Weight Watchers participants, they'll open their eyes one morning, spy that honeymoon bikini, and realize the clock is ticking. 

But don't be discouraged:  borrow from the guy play-book, where the best defense is a good offense. Go ahead and pick out those gifts now, or order the special decor for the shower you'll be throwing.  The more personalized they are, the more you'll look like a stunning bridesmaid (even in a scarlet and chartreuse striped gown. I am so, SO, sorry). 

Dabney Lee (above and below) offers a wide variety of gifts for two - order something with the bride's monogram, or the couple's first initials, intertwined. Below: I particularly love the wall mural (LH). For wedding festivities, personalized coasters, ice buckets, and frames are lovely - even for a bridal shower, perhaps? And Dabney Lee offers dozens of patterns to chose from (background).

For exquisite home service, I especially adore Iomoi's customized Lucite trays. Of all the lovely patterns and designs, Iomoi's are my absolute favorite; you can't go wrong (and their name is a palindrome. What more could you want?).

For really creative shoppers, there's always the vintage route. One of my favorite tricks, handed down from the master of re-design, Eddie Ross, is to cull antique linens and silver for new homes. If you're shopping for silver, choose quality pieces with room for a new engraving, and have a local craftsmen (check your yellow pages) personalize the set for the new couple. Here, an antique serving set from Nelson & Nelson in a strawberry pattern would look marvelous with a monogram in the bowl of the spoon and base of the fork.

You can take the same route with vintage linens - since many quality pieces are already monogrammed, choose pieces that have relevant letters. Single letter monograms are obviously the easiest to match. You can also buy a set of three single-letter items - used together, they'll be a complete monogram!

A few tips:  while the rules these days are fast and loose when it comes to etiquette, if the bride is more traditional, keep in mind that you should choose a monogram composed of her maiden, not her married initials. While it seems odd, monogrammed items, particularly linens, were once part of a trousseau - something a young women would have begun to work on long before she was engaged. 

Once married, however, a traditional bride may chose to incorporate her maiden and her new last name, in which case, her monogram is properly first name, maiden name, married name.

But that doesn't mean you have to do it that way - take your cue from the bride. If she isn't changing her name, the choice is easy. Otherwise, maybe she'd enjoy something that incorporated both "his and her" initials. 
Tip:  if you're not sure what to do, and don't want to give away the details of your gift, ask her if she's planning to use monograms for the wedding. If she is, you'll find out what she prefers. And if she's not, it's an easy way to bring up the subject!

Finally, if you're using a three-letter monogram, remember that the height of the letters determines the order. If the letters are all one height, the order is:  first, middle (or maiden), last. If the middle letter will be larger, the proper order is first, last, middle (or maiden).

For more help on monogram etiquette, visit Crane's.

All images, companies as attributed above. Vintage linens, www.antique-linens.com.

Wear That Flower!

OK - Christmas decor break! I'm pining for a little fashion, and just in time to satisfy my smallest whims (most of which, tragically, go unnoticed) I found Emersonmade. And I am in love! Emersonmade handcrafts exquisite fabric flower accessories such as brooches, belts, buttonholes, and some home decor - even for guys. And everyone looks fly!

One of the most delightful things about perusing this little store was not just the (gorgeous) flowers and (darling) photography and (quirky) humor, but the wonderfully inventive way that the flowers are worn. No color is too bold and no pattern unmatchable!

These would make a great holiday gift for the woman, man, girl, or mouse (see the blog) in your life. Enjoy!

All images, Emersonmade.

The Luxury Game

I've never been a good game-player. My whole life has been a celebration of non-team activities: reading, biking, writing, reading.... But this holiday season, I'm rethinking my "game plan" (ouch). Of course, since this is Sanity Fair, not Goodwill Fair, I gambled with some choices that aren't cheap... but if the prices make you say "no dice!" or you're scared to overplay your hand, enjoy the checkered splendor below, and then remember that cards are a wonderful hostess gift!

A backgammon board, beautifully detailed in lavender leather. To be honest, I'm not really sure what backgammon is (dice meets a Navajo weave, judging by the picture) but I could pretend if I owned this. Backgammon set, $425.

Lipstick case? No dice baby! It's a dice box, in white alligator no less. The dice are studded with Swarovski crystals (not exactly penny stakes, huh?). Dice set with case, $95.

For the rich, verbose nerd who has everything. You can spell out "bankrupt" (66 points!) in the silver lined squares. Pink Scrabble in leather and enamel, $3,995.

A chrome and leather inlaid rubix cube - not for the niece and nephew - no matter how naughty or nice. Maybe the boss instead? $155.

Green and white! I don't play chess, but I enjoy watching movies about people who do. They appear to lead very exciting lives, probably because no game ever lasts more than 30 seconds, and there's always a reliable band of misfit sidekicks to cheer them on. If you want to feel like a champion too, try this set of chess pieces. They're pretty enough to just sit around - which is all they do anyway. Chess piece set, $150.

Finally, here it is: the caviar-leer-jet-saudi-prince of the game world: the $500,000 chess set. Crafted in white gold and and white and black diamonds, I have to say that I think this is a TRAVESTY. It is absolutely absurd in this economy to be waisting such extravagances on something so mundane. Fools! This clearly should have been made into jewelry instead!

Images, www.zontikgames.com.

Kate Spade Kristmas

A stunning gift display by gifted "wrapper" Sande, of a Gift Wrapped Life.

Here's the skinny (low-fat, sugar-free) on my view of Christmas this year. It goes something like this: every November, I have a psychotic breakdown when I visit the mall three weeks prior to Thanksgiving and see columns trussed up like candy canes. I shout insults at Christmas commercials featuring shiny wrapping and sprinkled snow scenes, while outside the trees are golden. I picket local radio stations who dare to broadcast carols while the Target is still clearing out its Halloween candy sale.

But not this year. I pretty much missed the last two Christmases (crazy job) and this year I find myself feeling... nostalgic. Craving egg nogg. Humming jingle bells. Wanting to soak it all in, every minute. And so I'm going too. Gift giving guides? Hostess gifts? Holiday soiree outfits? It starts NOW! So if you're me last year - relax. Pour yourself a cup of hot coco, shake on some cinnamon, and take a breath, because it's OK to get yourself a gift too! :)

My favorite so far: Kate Spade's $50 and under gift guide.

Bow hair pin, $45.

Red Letter Day candle, $48.

Lady Marmelade Studs, $42.

Perry Scott Clock, $40.

Grammery Park Coin Purse, $50.

All images, Katespade.com