Less is more!

Hello dear readers,

In this year end, full of glitter, glitz and lights, we are always thinking about how to outdo last year's holiday decor. Should I go with a real tree? What colour scheme should I do this year? Did I miss the Bay's Holiday Decor sale?
Well, you can stop right now! Because like the old cliché says: Less is more!

Why not go minimalist? or simple?
Let's not forget to take a breather this Holiday season and return to simplicity.

With that motto, I am showcasing a few directions one can take when deciding to go for less while searching for your Christmas tree:

• Restoration Hardware "Starry" lights

Bendable copper + LED = Win!

You can mold the lights to whatever object you want! And it comes in warm yellow or cool white.

So what to do:

Get yourself a tall cylinder vase, and some branches. Wrap the wire around the branches and you got yourself a lit-up simple Christmas tree!

• Be creative! Hanging Christmas balls on strings.

This idea is genius! Just get your Christmas balls from last year and some fishing line. You can hang them off a light fixture of attach them to the ceiling. It's airy, it's flowy, it's simple!

• West Elm's wood chips tree

I love everything that is recycled, repurposed, reused! These little cuties come in 2 different sizes and complement a cool urban, condo-lofty Holiday decor.

• Ornamental branch or log

This would look amazing over a sideboard, console table or hutch. You can pick a few of your favourite Christmas tree ornaments and hang 3 to 5 just for a little shine. This is simple and uber inexpensive.

• Oak blocks tree and tea lights - For the handy ones or good friends with carpenters :-)

This is absolutely beautiful and completely translates the essence of simplicity. I was only able to find this for sale from a website in Australia, even though it's manufactured in Germany. But if you have some tools and a handy guy, this is totally doable with blocks of oak or any other wood, stained and nailed together. At the tip of each block, you put a tea light and ta da! Cool and unique!

So that's it! You don't need to go overboard to make a statement!

Like the plaque in my home office says: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication".

Theo Flamenbaum

- Style + Function + Love + You - 

Christmas party table essentials

Happy Monday everyone.
So, are the Christmas parties getting lined up and dotting your calendar?
And you decided that you will host one yourself?
Throwing a party can request quite a Herculean effort. From planning and buying things, to prepping food and beverages. You also have to make sure your friends RSVP, and the list goes on.
So I won’t help you with the menu, or the food and drinks, but I will give a few recommendations on some stunning “must-haves” for your own Xmas party!

Cheese boads:

Slate stone cheese board - Kitchen Stuff Plus

A definite steal! For only $7.99 this cheese board is stylish yet practical, easy to clean and very very wallet friendly! It comes with felt footings and it’s just under 11” x 7”.

• Olive wood paddle board - West Elm

Rich looking, the beautiful grains of the olive wood are intensified by an organic oil finish. They come in 3 different sizes and serve as beautiful decor elements when not being used. Also, they come with a leather string for hanging.

• Marble cheese board - William Sonoma

The cool and smooth surface of marble, if refrigerated before the party, can keep the cheese and fresh fruits nice and fresh for hours on.
It’s simple yet sophisticated! This piece comes in a matte finish that will not show as many scratches as a glossy finish would.
Not inexpensive, but a piece you would keep for a lifetime because of its classic look and versatility!
Remember, in Design, spending money on timeless pieces is always a good investment.

Ice Buckets:

• Royal Doulton "Pop in the drinks" collection

Contemporary spin from the British quintessential house of china. It’s “grown-up and chic, but still cool. Available at the Bay, averaging $136 CAD.

• Sunny Life - Blue Bucket

Cheap and cheerful, only $12 on Fab.com, this piece is in acrylic and dishwasher safe!. And good for outdoors for your summer parties too!

• Stainless steel "Shiny" Ice Bucket - CB2

My fave! It’s urban, it’s sleek, it’s sensual and it is shiny!
Perfect size and double walled so that the outside wall doesn’t drip! Good news: RIGHT now on special at the Queen/Bathurst store for $32.



Centerpiece:

Simple and inexpensive, these 3 festive centerpieces will create a focus point on your table and a more organic holiday decor for your place.
- 1 Extra tall cylinder vase
Your choice of 1 of the following:
- Birch logs
- Fresh pine tree branches and leaves with needles (I prefer Western Cedar because of its textured tips in the needles). Also remember to add water to the vase
- Extra large pine cones with pomegranates

I hope this article has provided you with some fresh and useful Holiday party hosting ideas.
Have a fantastic week!

Theo Flamenbaum