Gift Guide Number Two: UNDER $25

In honor of the fact that this is my 125th post, I shall share with you some great gift ideas for $25 or less! Also, I love shopping so it's just plain fun for me. Enjoi (as in joi in french which means joy).

I DIE over this Fleur de Lys tea cup and saucer from Anthropologie for $10.

This would be a perfect gift for me (ahem!). A pocket mirror and its own sack from Anthropologie for $14. You can have them in any letter, not just "A."

Remember what life was like before email and people wrote real letters? I love Crane's stationary and I write my sisters all the time using it! Get back to basics. THESE are $16 for a set of 10. Lots more to choose from on the Crane's website.

How can you not adore Simon Doonan? As Diane Von Furstenburg says. "Who better than Simon to write about glamour and eccentricity? He is both!!!!" This book from Amazon or your local independent bookstore for $24.00

When I have time I really want to make this gift from Martha Stewart. It's Sugar body scrub because I love sugar and I love exfoliating! Priceless.

Here are some fun folders for the person in your life who loves organization and loves to decorate! From this great site Spoon Sisters which has fun creative gifts like this one. $ 9.95

I love cook books dedicated specially to certain desserts like cupcakes or cookies or pies.
This one from Spoon Sisters for $ 15.95.

A bright idea? Wow, that was cheesy. This candle lightbulb from Spoon Sisters again for $25.00 Kind of a cute idea for your environmentally conscious friend.

Nobody likes a moisture ring on the table! They (I) do like these coasters, though. La Mer Coasters (set of 4) for $15 from Williams Sonoma.

Only FOURTEEN DAYS left until Christmas and TWELVE DAYS until the first day Chanukah!

Alicia B.

Thank you, Stephen Drucker.

Designing a space often times means coming up with a new and exciting way of placing furniture and accessories throughout the room. Stephen Drucker, however, makes a very excellent point in the latest House Beautiful that sometimes trying to do something new, you can run into trouble with a difficult floor plan or something of that sort. Basically he's saying, why change something good if it already works. There's a reason that it works in the first place. For example, the living room. You have a sofa up against one of the walls for a reason; people prefer it that way. Why put a chair in the middle of the room just to be different?--it breaks up the traditional seating arrangement. Enjoy.

Despite my admiration for Windsor Smith, in actuality I don't think that this works. A trestle table in the middle of the living room with two bulky armless sofas? Not comfortable or easy to maneuver.

A sofa with its back against the window is a great idea. Easy seating arrangement and enough space to put things like drinks or books. Alex Papachristidis.

Even with a contemporary style like in Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan's new home, a traditional seating arrangement works. Sofa against the wall and two chairs flanking.

Thom Filicia created this cozy arrangement with the sofa off in the little nook, double table to make one coffee table and two chairs. He worked with the space that he was given to make this work. Make it work!

Michael Smith. This idea even works in a bedroom if you have enough space (good for you).

Of course, a Todd Romano. Doesn't this look so comfortable--yet not too traditional and boring!

As Michael Smith said, "When I'm designing a living room, I naturally want to put a sofa against a wall and two chairs opposite it. Some designers might find that boring. The reality is, its soothing. Most people prefer it that way." Well said! Thoughts anyone?


Alicia B.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations to Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler who apparently just tied the knot in California! They've been together for 14 years. Amazing. (thanks ash!)


Alicia B.