TRICK OR TREAT?

The air is chilly and the leaves are turning brilliant colors. Halloween is a favorite autumn holiday, a fun time for seasonal celebrations and for decorating your home with festive colors and ideas. Kids and adults alike and the term enjoy Halloween, "All Hallow's Eve" lets us explore our dark side and have some mischievous fun.

Trick or Treating

The custom of trick or treating evolved in Ireland, centuries ago. In preparation for All Hollow's Eve, the poverty stricken would call upon the affluent people and request money, gifts and food. The food was gathered for a huge feast and celebration. Now today, children and adults alike enjoy walking through their local neighborhood and collecting treats.

UNICEF

A popular tradition in America, trick or treating for UNICEF began in 1950, when Philadelphia youngsters decorated milk cartons and collected money to help less fortunate children. UNICEF increases public awareness and raises funds to provide health care, nutrition, immunizations and clean water, around the world.

 

DECORATING YOUR HOME

Decor for Halloween can be spooky and scary, or it can lend itself to be playful and fun. Many people find bringing in the signs of autumn, or celebrating the fall harvest with seasonal pumpkins, gourds, and other natural decor makes their home feel special.

Decorating ideas that you can easily make by yourself. Halloween decorations can make use of items that you already have, such as candles, beans, and other natural decor to bring about warm traditions.

 

The most celebrated Halloween decoration is the jack-o'-lantern, traditionally a hollowed-out pumpkin carved to resemble a grotesque face and illuminated by a candle placed inside.  The jack-o'-lantern derives its name from a character in British folktales. 

According to these tales, the soul of a deceased person named Jack O'Lantern was barred from both heaven and hell and was condemned to wander the earth with his lantern.  Orange and black, colors associated with pumpkins and darkness respectively; figure prominently in most Halloween decorations.

Halloween is right around the corner, but there’s still plenty of time to incorporate many of these ideas into your home. From fall colors to playful front porch ideas, Halloween is still adored by the young and old. How will you decorate your home this season? I’d love to hear!

 

GREEK KEY INSPIRES DESIGNERS

The Greek Key has been a symbol that dates back to ancient Greece and is still used in many forms of architecture, designer interiors, as well as fashion runway.

The Greek key design was the most important symbol in Ancient Greece as it represented infinity and unity. Most ancient Greek temples incorporate the sign of the Greek key. Even the shield of Philip, the second king of Macedonia, was decorated with multiple symbols of the Greek key. – Courtesy of Things That Inspire

Since I’m an Interior Designer in Greece, I thought I would show you how this one symbol has inspired so many. From metal finishes and textile fabrics to gorgeous jewelery as seen above, the Greek Key is timeless.

FURNISHINGS AND BEDDING

Furniture designer have long used this symbol for tufted ottomans, sofas, pillows, drapery and more.

I love how bedding can transform a bedroom. This bedding uses the Greek Key in a bold yet sophisticated way. Try coordinating your bedding, along with your interior decor and finishes seasonally to give your bedroom a new aesthetic.

Horchow Lamp with Greek Key Symbol

 

For added luxury to your bedroom, try adding these sumptuous linens from Bella Lino with gorgeous Greek Key detailing.

 JEWELRY

 

The Greek Key can be found in your interiors around your home, but designers have also been inspired for you to wear gorgeous jewelry adorned with it! This ring from Bin Bin is a piece that anyone would love to wear!

 Elegant Open Work Pendant 

If you love cutting edge pieces in your home and in your fashion, than this silver Greek Key necklace is for you. I love the hammered and textured finish!

HOME INSPIRATION

Designers have also taken the Greek inspiration all the way to crafting! This gorgeous gold ribbon can be used in arts and crafts, or adorning throw pillows and furniture. 

Stationery, personal letterhead and picture frames can be adorned with the Greek Key. Here around the perimeter, the symbol is almost hidden in this intricate pattern. A subtle way of Greek inspired design.

What is always impressive is when furniture designers use inspirational design elements in their work. Here, the Greek Key symbol used in the armrests is a classic and bold statement in these lounge chairs.

Greek Handcrafted Pillow 

Whether you like your furnishings subtle and traditional or modern with punches of color. There is Greek Key inspiration wherever you may turn. This bench is a beautiful representation of a subtle designer touch intertwined with the legs.

From your intimate bedding in your bedroom to your comfortable furnishings that adorn your living spaces, designers have been inspired by the Greek Key symbol for centuries. Now that you’ve seen some ideas of mine, how will this iconic symbol earn a place in your interiors or lifestyle? I bet you can’t just pick one!

 

 

 






 

BLACK TIE DECORATION

The use of white and black in decorating can create a stunning and dramatic decor. Find out how to best take advantage of the combination of these two simple colors to maximize your decorating statement.

There's a rule in decorating, which states, "Every room can use a touch of black." You might think this is strange if you have a room of pastels or jewel tones. But think a minute.

Using the color black adds a focal point of color that grounds, anchors, and adds a sophisticated look to a room. 

 

Black in accessories, light fixtures, trims, paint, or in one bold piece of furniture will help to catch the eye and sharpen any decorating scheme. It will serve as an outline that sets off specific areas or objects. Black by itself is striking and dynamic! 

To get real drama and spark, pair black with white. The use of black and white in decorating gives a fresh, clean, and unquestionably sophistication and elegance to any room. 

Black and white is a perfect color combination for any decorating style. Contemporary interiors often combine black and white with sleek metals. Country French decorating is often set off with this color combination. 

If you're afraid of using just black and white, add variety by adding areas of yellow, pink, camel, red, or purple for a striking look. Keeping black and white prominent, however, preserves the elegant affect.

The combination of black and white is a powerful color duo. Try using dark accents as major components of your space or try the interplay of light and darks combined to make your room feel balanced. Use these inspirational ideas and images to transform your home with the simple techniques of using black and white in your decor.

 

 

 

MY PRINCESS IS GETTING MARRIED

For every mother there are monumental times throughout her life. When her child is born, their baby takes their first steps, the first day of school, and ultimately their wedding day. For me the day was doubly magical because I designed every detail AND my husband and I gave our daughter away to gain a new son!

I've watched each phase
Of your life unfold,

Leaving beautiful memories
For my heart to hold,

Impressions left in my mind,
That cannot be erased by time.
As I turn the pages made of gold,
I see the baby I used to hold

And there you are at every age,
As I turn to the final page,

We've reached the end of volume one
But volume two has just begun…

Her friends helping her to get ready for her Big Day

The hustle and bustle of a wedding day is frantic, exciting, scary, and memorable all bottled into one. My daughter’s friends helped her make sure every detail was as beautiful as she was!

Her dad is helping her wear her wedding shoes. (Greek custom)

It is Greek custom to have the father of the bride help put on her wedding shoes. I love this photo as it symbolizes father and daughter sharing an intimate moment without any audience. Both of them will cherish this moment, as the start of a new life.

 

Night image of the ceremony site (Thessaloniki – Greece)
  
I chose these beautiful baskets with white flowers to highlight the aisle. The gorgeous backdrop of the architecture, coupled with the simplistic white draped chairs makes for the perfect wedding location. Everything is ready and waiting for the couple to make their debut and be married.

When choosing the decorations I decided that a designer wouldn’t know my daughter as well as I did! I knew what would make my daughter’s wedding beautiful and lending my design ideas and expertise to her day, made me feel closer to my daughter as well. It truly felt like a once in a lifetime event to plan, and I was fortunate to be at the forefront.

We designed these handmade rice bags, perfect for a keepsake for our guests afterwards too! After the ceremony every guest throws rise to the wedded couple to have a long and prospering life together, completing their family with children. These bags were placed on each guest’s chair, to use them at the end of the ceremony.

As the wedding began her proud father lead her to the man of her life.

As the couple resides at the front of the ceremony, the two maids of honor stand behind them. Everything is set for the ceremony to begin.

Later that evening it was time to get ready for the reception. The entrance has a long alley and it was decorated with hundreds of candles hanging and placed on the ground. I wanted the scene to feel like an illuminated storybook forest, to take away from the long alley aesthetics. I think we achieved it beautifully.

All the tables were set under the dusk sky, and every detail had been thought through carefully. After all, we all love the ceremony, but the reception is where everyone gets to enjoy themselves and have fun!

The welcome buffet at the end of the alley welcomes the guests with wedding candies and welcome drinks before they find their table.

At each table there were wishing cards for each guest to write something for the couple and they could hang them on the centerpiece. Every table had the same wish tree so the guests wouldn’t have to wait in lines to leave their wishes for the couple at the entrance.

 
I enjoyed making the centerpiece and wishing trees, as they symbolized unity, but they also looked dramatic and beautiful coupled with the candlelight.

A view of the reception area as the evening carries on.

The warm whites, lanterns, and centerpiece were a simple yet elegant way to bring light in the seating area, but also cast a glow amongst the guests. It made for a designer’s dream to be able to have daytime and evening decor work beautifully together in this decorating corner.

The wedding cake is the second ‘guest of honor’ for the reception, and it sits amongst gorgeous flowers, and toasting glasses for the couple to make their first cut of the cake together.

For the guests to take home, the wedding favors (a bride and a groom) were waiting at each place setting, along with the wishing card to fill out well wishes for the bride and groom. On each card it read: “give us your blessings” .

The party favors were purchased from an online retailer, but then made special by us wrapping each of them individually in tulle. This added uniqueness to each one, which made each guest feel special when unwrapping it.


For the invitations we chose custom made ones, so that the bride and groom would have a one-of-a-kind invitation to be cherished for years to come.

May your love conquer all obstacles that come your way

May you always be as happy as you are today

I will miss the little girl you used to be

I cherish the woman who stands in front of me…

Have a wonderful wedding day, my Princess

What a magnificent day it was, and I appreciate you sharing it with my family and I.  I hope all of you get to share the tradition, the magic, and the joy of being an integral part of your child’s wedding day!