Magical Mantle

I've been looking for ideas for my mantle and when I saw this one I was inspired instantly!  It definitely has a fashion influence, with the garland hanging like necklaces and long ribbons tied at different spots. 
This is Sherri Shepherd's home, decorated by Michael Russo on HGTV's Celebrity Holiday Homes.
She hosted a Christmas In Harlem party, with lots of gold decor (down to the cocktails) and jazz musicians played while everyone mingled.  It was tres chic.

They demonstrated how to make oversized ornaments for less, using a round balloon and ribbon.
1.  Blow up a gold balloon
2.  Tie a big white ribbon around it (I'm sure tape helps it stay in place.)
3.   Attach some string. 
They attached a magnet to the top of the string so it can hang from a metal source.  Nice tip.

Makeover Show Gets a Makeover

I love before & afters.

No surprise my favorite tv shows are MTV's Made, Landscaper's & Designer's Challenge, Divine Design, Intervention & The Biggest Loser. I love to see transformations. Be all that you can be...

Normally, I'm ho-hum about HGTV's Design on a Dime, but they have a new designer Kahi Lee who did some budget design that looks fantastic.

It has a crafty Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie look. This is the before of the kitchen.

See the tops of the drapes? I love the shelves to display her china.

The kitchen table was a thrift find. They created the tabletop pattern using paper doilies.

The cabinets, oh the cabinets! The painted border, bird stencil & wood detail at the bottom are genius.

The chandelier was a plain birdcage they repainted. I love the liner so you don't look up & see the bulb.

They built the cabinet surround to fit the fridge, with a spot for the microwave & bowls stacked overhead. I love the shelves again & the message board backing.

View the entire room & more HERE at HGTV's website. All of the pics are from their website & Kahi Lee's blog. Read it HERE!