Gratitude Give Away

Three days before Christmas and I'm excited about still being a design blogger going into 2010. There were times this year that I was ready to throw in the towel and put my time and energy into something else....For a while I stopped writing. When I least expected it I'd receive emails that encouraged me...Again, I was excited to get back to my computer and write about one of the activities I absolutely love writing about....design.  I've met wonderful fellow bloggers, clients and a few vendors too. In saying that I'm offering a gratitude give away! Between now and New Year's Day you can enter the give away by leaving a comment telling us what you are grateful for as we enter 20010.... It's that simple.
The winner will be announced on my birthday, January 2nd.  This is a great give away selection.... Pillows from the Thomas Paul pillow collection. There are two 100% cotton pillows with a neutral canvas background and dark chocolate print. These pillows will the perfect accent  on a multiple of solid and patterened sofas.

Thomas Paul Pillow Collection - "Zinnia" & "Nest"

Looks Like Christmas

Here, in northern Virginia it just began to feel like Christmas. I can't remember the last time we had snow during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, but oh boy it's beginning to feel like Christmas today.  The entire east coast has more than enough snow on the ground, malls are closed in some areas and I can't help but get outside. I couldn't take pictures today...too hard to walk in 18" of snow without snow boots. So I'm posting these beautiful holiday exterior  doorways to get excited about....enjoy.

The Nate Berkus Show

For those of us who are huge fans of decorator Nate Berkus, we're about to see more of him. We know Nate from appearing on Oprah for the past six years and now it's paying off for him in a big way. Harpo and Sony Pictures Television will announce next week they are creating a show for Berkus that will probably appear this fall...look for, "The Nate Berkus Show", in September.

Washington White House Christmas

The First  family opened the Christmas season this week with festivities at Presidential Park and the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a tour of the decorated White House.  More than 80 volunteers from 26 states worked on the decorations.... I wonder how you get on that decorating committee... .If you missed it I'll share some of it with you here....

The annual White House Christmas Tree Delivery... This year an 18 foot Douglas fir is delivered to the Blue Room which is the official location of the White House tree. 

Lions tigers and bears....Oh my!

 

This is a beautiful LED tree....Yep it works Mr. President.

Wednesday was the official lighting of the national Christmas Tree in Presidents Park.

The Douglas Fir decorated in the Blue Room.

 

I absolutely love the decorated Red Room.

A nod to Christmas past Former First Lady Laura Bush...East Room, Christmas 2008

 

Then First Lady Hillary Clinton, Christmas 1993.

  The Reagans in the Blue Room... Christmas mid 1980's

 The Kennedy's, Christmas 1961

 

The last time we had young kids in the White House... Christmas, 1962

Holiday Tablesscapes

This is holiday week and we open the holiday season with Thanksgiving this Thursday... I can't wait!! This is also the time when we decorators like to pull out all the stops with beautiful tablescapes and imaginably creative wasys to decorate our houses or someone elses... Organic tablescapes... colorful dining rooms... mix old with new. It's also the time to use what we have. Haven't we all acquired so many beautiful things over the years?.... Something old accompanied with something new, something borrowed mixed with something blue. This tradition need not wait for the wedding season.  I'm going to California for Thanksgiving.  I plan to take a few items with me to add to the family table... my favorite napkin rings, maybe a silver platter.... hope to post some pics in a  few days.... Until then....I'm thankful. I'm grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving.... Red River Inteirors.

Make it Special

Make it Organic

Make it Beautiful

 

Make it Blue

Make it Red

My Design Picks

Today I'm posting a few of my top design picks in home furnishings. They're unique and would be a great addition to any space. They're fresh...and  stylish.... that's what I like about these designs.The companies represented by these picks have an international flair and represent contemporary style... click the links below to discover more.

 Imola Chair - Bo Concept

The Imola comes in leather,vibrant felt colors and additional upholstery fabric.

 

Kikko Modern Chaise -Contemporary Furniture.com

What a great place to lounge. The headrest are movable...made in the Netherlands

The Austin Chair - Outer Limits

Ya gonna love it...it hugs the body

Metal Blinds in Umber - The Shade Store

A stylish metal shade works well in a contemporary space. Try it in the office or at home.

String Panel Window Treatment - The Shade Store

This innovative window treatment can be used in a small or large space as well as a room divider.

Window Fashion Dealer

I love window treatments. I started selling blinds about ten years ago but decided to become a dealer of several vendors this year. Red River Interiors has always sold drapes and has lots of fabric vendors to choose from... But now we're excited to add the following companies to our line of window treatments... Click the links below for more product information and email us to set up a design consultation.

Hunter Douglas

click on company name to link

Horizon Blinds & Shades

Skandia Window Fashions

The Woven Company

Holiday Guest Room

It's November. We're about to enter the holiday season. Airline ticket prices are down...so, isn't this the perfect time to fly home for the holidays? I plan to head to the coast. No staycation here. I've done enough of that. I do remember my way to San Jose.... California that is... silicon valley... the Bay Area. It's time to visit family and friends. But, if you're staying put and having overnight guest....why not spruce up that unused guest room? You know the one that doubles as an office, craft room and a catch all.
Airline travel can be tiresome and rushed during the holiday season so before your guest arrive pull out all the decorating stops. Paint, de-clutter, buy new bedding, update accessories. Give the room the formality of being the designated guest room. If... only for a week.

Transitional and Glamours
This room has the feel of a boutique hotel

image: Coastal Living

Sleek and Contemporary
Just a bit moody.... Love It

Traditional and Refined
Anyone traveling to the low country?

Where's the girly girl?
Ya got ta love her.

image: Red River Interiors

'Country Living"
Serene small space in the attic

Image: Country Living

For the lady who loves red... I know I do.

image: Red River Interiors

Office Style

I love style and style makers. The designers that influence the style of First Lady Michele Obama have interior style of their own. I love to see offices of creative people....what inspires them and how they work. The shots below of fashion designer Jason Wu and J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons are Mrs. Obama's top style choices. Take a peak with me of the inside of their work spaces. See what inspires them.

Jason in his New York office.... he gets great light in there.

Mrs. O, You're so Vogue... she loves the sweater set look. I'm also loving that comfy velvet couch.

The office of J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons.
Mrs. O and the girls have a special relationship with this retailer.

Things that inspire Jenna Lyons.

Color is still King

Since my last post on color I've searched for more inspiring color combinations and I've found them. These designers style and use of color inspires me. I love the way designer
Mary McDonald uses orange with blue and green. I also like the subtle use of color by designer Lindsey Harper in her small New York bedroom. Strong color and not so common color combinations are outside the box. Innovative designers are pushing color in design in a greater way. After all who would have thought of painting walls chocolate ? Just a few years ago it was unheard of. Now chocolate is used freely adding drama and sophistication to any space.

Paint manufacturers introduce new colors yearly and many homeowners are willing to take the plunge to update their spaces. I believe....if you're not sure how to use charcoal gray and cherry red in the same room of course....call a designer that specializes in....Color.

Magenta and Lime

Pumpkin and Lime

Persimmon and Blue

Green and Rust

Suzani and Brown

Red and Blue

Blues and Soft Red