Hide and Seek

Tired of your kiddos and family members getting an early season preview because you’ve once again tried to hide gifts under your bed? Here is a top 10 list of new ideas for hiding places that will ensure the utmost secrecy until Santa officially arrives. 

10. Kitchen cupboards and drawers you never use.

Everyone’s got junk drawers and high cupboards that very rarely are opened. This year, get out the step stool, stash away, and then hide the step stool. 

9. Your car trunk.

If you aren’t someone who is constantly carting around your kid’s soccer equipment and team snacks, this could be a winning way to keep the presents out of the house, and constantly on the move.

8. Your office.

It may be a pain to drag bags of presents to and from your office or cubicle, but if you have the space, it’s one place you can pretty much ensure your loved ones won’t be visiting.

7. The junk pile.

Have a corner in your basement or attic of old boxes covered in dust cobwebs? We all do. For just a few weeks, add another box to the stash, this one filled with packages a little more pristine.

6. Your neighbor’s house.

Assuming your neighbor doesn’t watch your kids and isn’t a regular hang-out, try hiding a few gifts under their bed or in their linen closet.

5. Behind the books.

Lucky enough to have some spacious bookshelves and small gifts? Try stashing what you can in between the books and the back of the shelf.

4. In shoe boxes.

Another winner for smaller packages, if you’re someone who often keeps shoeboxes around as storage for your shoes. Try moving a couple of pairs into a dresser or closet space, and instead filling those boxes with your prettier packages for a bit.

3. Looting the luggage.

If you aren't going to be traveling this holiday season, use those big empty roller bags and trunks as an easy place to keep things all zipped up.

2. Keep it cool.

Have one of those large coolers leftover from tailgating and picnic season? Give it a little off-season life and throw a couple of presents in there.

1. Under their bed.

Best for teenagers and significant others who don’t spend a lot of time playing on the floor. No one expects their gifts to be kept in such close proximity. It will be more fun to show them where their gifts are hidden than to actually watch them open them. 

Hostess with the Mostest

This holiday season, if you can’t be the hostess with the mostest, be sure to honor those that are. Bring stylish, fun hostess gifts your friends and family will love when you head over the annual Christmas open house or cookie exchange. Here’s what we’re loving this season.

From left to right, top to bottom:

1. Adorable hidden animal mugs from Uncommon Goods, $21. Try pairing with a package of your favorite coffee or hot chocolate.
2. Wishbone bottle opener from Anthropologie, $14. Perfect and appropriate for those that cooked the holiday bird.
3. Beautiful tea towels are a lovely addition to any kitchen. Check out a few of these from Studio Patro, $24. Consider wrapping around a bottle of wine.
4. Everyone loves a nice candle this time of year, and we’re loving these Barr Co. Natural Wax Candles, $25.
5. Elephant nutcracker from Anthropologie, $20. Are the chestnuts roasting over an open fire? They’ll need this.
6. Try this little volume on the sophisticated gentlemen in your life, $20. Try something out while you’re together celebrating.
7. A great gift is always even greater when it’s personalized. These monogrammed bottle stoppers from Pottery Barn are fabulous, $20.
8. Peppermint bark is a delicious holiday treat, and if you don’t feel like whipping up your own, Williams-Sonoma makes a delicious version, $27.
9. Coasters are the perfect accessory for occasions that call for libations. We like these from Rifle Paper Company, $18.

Have any other fabulous hostess gift ideas to share with us? We’re looking forward to the holiday party season! 

The Holiday Switcheroo

If you were like millions of other Americans this past weekend, you got busy on Friday tearing down the Thanksgiving décor to make room for the Christmas tree and holiday wreaths. It’s always fun to blast the Christmas music while eating turkey leftovers and decorating the house, but it’s also a lot of work.

Rather than creating the three traditional holiday schemes—Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas—use base elements to anchor the decorations. From there, add and subtract components as the weeks go on. For example, pumpkins (at least those you choose not to carve for jack-o-lanterns) can carry you from Halloween through Thanksgiving, and red berries go from Turkey Day to the end of the year and well into winter if you so choose.

Anchors that can work for Halloween and Thanksgiving: burlap, mums, gourds, acorns, sunflowers.

Anchors that work for Thanksgiving and Christmas: red plaid, cranberries, birch logs, metallic accents, wishbones, pine cones.

Here are a few transitional ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

• For Halloween, hide decorative spiders, spider webs and bats within a pumpkin and gourd arrangement, and simply pick them out when the trick or treating is over.

• Choose a red and gold tablescape for your Thanksgiving table, as opposed to the typical accents of orange and yellow, to make it easily adaptable for the Christmas season.

Photo credit: Magic Holiday Home

• Move branches of fake cranberries from the Thanksgiving table décor to the Christmas tree, and then on to the mantle for easy, holiday-neutral winter trimming.

Photo credit: This Next

• Consider spray painting late season pumpkins white, and then applying glitter or sparkle paint to make them relevant for weeks longer than normal.

Photo credit: Paint and Tofu

Save yourself some decorating time this season, and use it to do more of what you during the holidays, like drinking eggnog and watching “Elf” (our personal favorite).  What are your favorite holiday decorations? 

Thanksgiving, Toscana Style

Hosting the big Thanksgiving table this year? We are. And this year, we’re looking forward to trying something new. After years of turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, we thought we’d throw something different into the mix. Truly, you can never go wrong when you take your inspiration from Tuscany, so that’s what we’re doing.  Here’s what’s on the agenda.

A Menu Mix-Up 

Instead of the same ol’ same ol’, put something new on the menu. Stick with comfort foods sure to please a crowd, like a creamy polenta, hearty beef stew and luscious creamed spinach. Serve gelato alongside your favorite pie for dessert, and keep tradition alive just a bit. 

The Tuscan Table 

Tuscan style is embodied by a sense of Old World simplicity. Avoid going over the top with your table setting. If you have a beautiful wood table, make it the centerpiece. Highlight using placemats in a single, autumn hue (red or gold are perfect) and keep the wine bottles on the table for decoration and easy access.

Mood Music

Set the proper mood for this modern take on Thanksgiving. Purchase an album dedicated to the sounds of Tuscany (we like “Bella Tuscany”) or search for the Italian Traditional station on Pandora to really transport your guests to the Italian countryside.

Cheers! 

The easiest part of all. The Italians know wine, and it’s hard to go wrong when you stick to this section of the wine store. Full-bodied chianti’s are ideal for those that prefer red, and friulano is an easy-drinking varietal for those that like white. A sweet moscato or Italian port wine pairs delightfully with whatever’s on the dessert menu.

Do you enjoy trying new takes on the holidays? Or are you a traditionalist through and through?

Mirror, Mirror

Want an interesting challenge? Go an entire day without using mirrors to inspect yourself or the world around you (save for in the car, of course; safety first). These days we use them several times throughout the day, often without even thinking about it. But mirrors aren’t just for inspecting your hair or make-up. When used well in interiors, they can both redistribute light throughout a room, making it appear brighter, and visually open it up, making it look much bigger than it actually is.

We all know how to hang a standard mirrors above the sink or dresser, but here are a few more creative ways to inject a bit of mirror intellect into your home.

Headboard Highlighter

Though no one wants to look at their reflection just as they’re waking up in the morning, using a mirror as, or crafting a mirror onto an existing headboard can really open a bedroom, while simultaneously adding a bit of design intrigue to the space. 

photo credit: apartmenttherapy.com

Creative License

Get a little cheeky, or creative, and do something different with the standards. Use paint or other craft items to make your mirror into a piece of art with a practical purpose. We love the idea of using a real hand mirror as a stencil on a mirror in a hallway or powder room.

Photo credit: countryliving.com

Tray Trimming

Repurpose your small or moderate sized mirrors into vanity or coffee table trays for an elegant and stylish alternative to catch-all’s and knick knack displays. They will add a little light to the room and highlight beautiful perfume bottles, jewelry or art books.

Photo credit: countryliving.com

Get Sporty

Don’t just toss or donate that old athletic equipment that’s been upgraded a dozen times since you bought it. Upcycle those with a little nostalgic or pretty antique feeling and create an unusual mirror decoration perfect for a living or guest room. Check out these tennis racket mirrors, but the possibilities are endless—an old canoe as a floor length mirror, perhaps?

Photo credit: countryliving.com

Have you ever used mirrors in a non-traditional place or way? If so, please share! 

Sophisticated Edge

With the weather turning chilly and the leaves falling off the trees, this is our favorite time of the year to reach for our stylish leather jackets, boots and bags. Leather (and leather-like) accents bring a subtle yet sophisticated edge to our outfits, and they can do the same for the home. Leather accents in the home don’t have to mean “bachelor pad,” and here are a few ideas for how to walk that line.

• Pair leather pieces with softer materials, to amp down the impact.

 We love the look and feel of leather beds in an assortment of neutral hues, in part because they easily bring just the right amount of style to a bedroom. A leather bed works great against your favorite, tonally complementary duvet and comforter sets, which are automatic pieces of the look. 

Our Freemont bed is the perfect pairing for neutral bedding.
http://www.hillsdalefurniture.com/s/1602BQR/Fremont-Queen-Bed-Set

• No need to go all-out.

 Not sure you want to go all out and purchase that leather recliner? Instead of committing to an all-leather sofa or chair, try adding leather trim around the base of a sofa or chair skirt or leather “picture framing” on the back of a chair. Professional upholsterers can do this for you, but easy DIY instructions are available online if you’re the crafty type. 

Photo credit: cheekychicago.com

• Get cheeky.

Whether in your closet or in your living room, leather will get noticed. Make it even more fun by looking for creative yet practical touches that will make you (and your guests) smile. We love this leather kangaroo desk organizer, perfect for an office and ready for the day to day wear and tear.

Photo credit: momastore.com

• Consider new jobs for old favorites.

Repurposing old standby’s that have lost some of their practical edge is one of our favorite tricks in general, and it can come in really handy with leather. Old, leather trunks—the kind you’re more likely to find in your parents’ attic than in stores nowadays, make gorgeous coffee tables when the thought of using them for travel makes you cringe. 

Photo credit: houzz.com

Leather is durable, easy to care for, and often looks even better with age. We highly recommend adding a dose of it to your home. 

If you already have some around, what are your favorite ways to use it?

If you are looking to add some, check out our leather and faux leather options at hillsdalefurniture.com.

Basking in Bohemia

The first rule about Bohemian design, is that there really aren’t any rules. It is a style meant to capture freewheeling spirit as embodied by a mix of patterns, colors and textures. We see on the runways of major fashion shows all the time, but it’s an aesthetic that works just as well for the home (in the right dose). Check out a few of our favorite Bohemian interiors, along with a few tips if you decide to choose your own Bohemian adventure. 

Bohemian design is sort of like having a blank canvas—the possibilities are endless. That being said, don’t assume you can just throw whatever you’ve got together. A little consistency can go a long way, so consider a dominant color or texture that appears throughout. 

This particular style is the exact opposite of clean and streamlined. It is important to not leave any part of your space bare or basic, so keep your decor busy, full and a little random. Really let your artistic side loose and express your personality throughout the design. 

Choose furniture and antiques with a bit of history and meaning. Those that tell stories make great anchors from which the Bohemian spirit can really run wild. Your mother’s favorite painting hung to face her father’s old rocking chair would be a beautiful arrangement.

Often associated with Moroccan textiles, colors and patterns, Bohemian design can be created by using a variety of fabrics and upholsteries on sofas, rugs, walls and chairs. Add a layer by throwing on a mixture of cushions and pillows. 

Bohemian interior design is on the rise as people look to put their own unique stamp on their homes. Fashion is always recycling the old to make it new and trendy, and now interior design is in on it as well. It’s a warm, welcoming style with an unlimited number of interpretations, and a great way to use what you already have.

Have you used the Bohemian aesthetic in your home? Tell us a bit how you incorporated the look into your home. 

Photo credits: onekindesign.com and architectureartdesigns.com

Trick or Treat

Tomorrow is Halloween, and the neighborhood ghouls and goblins are sure to be out in full force. Be sure to make the night frightful in a tasteful way, by trying out a few of these clever and delicious treats on your family and friends as they stop by.

Forked Eyeballs

Pick up (or bake) your favorite donut holes and dip in white chocolate. Once the chocolate has set and cooled, using frosting and chocolate chips to make the treats resemble eyeballs, and skewer on a fork for maximum affect. 

Graveyard Gingerbread

Have a favorite recipe for gingerbread men? Follow it through (perhaps using some Halloween-inspired cookie cutters) and then use a simple white frosting to draw edible skeletons the men, cats, bats and witches for a seriously spooky scene.

 Zombie Guts

Looking for something savory, healthy and deliciously scary? Bake or microwave a spaghetti squash until done, then scoop out the flesh. Mix the “spaghetti” strands with your favorite tomato sauce and present in individual cups or portions for a frightful sight straight out of “The Walking Dead.”

Finger Food

Using a paring knife, cut pieces of string cheese in half, then slice in knuckle joints and carve in a shallow nail bed. Slice a green pepper into strips, then into about half inch squares that can be pressed into the cheese “nail beds” to serve as the nail. Another healthy option, if you can get past the stomach-turning suggestion.

Pizza Mummies

These are ideal for Halloween parties without a lot of formal dining space. Simply spread a little tomato sauce onto half of an English muffin, set olive slices with green pepper pieces in the center as eyes, then adorn with shredded mozzarella cheese for the full “mummy” affect. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese is melted but still white in color. 

 What are some of your favorite treats to serve and share around Halloween?

(All photos and recipes from spoonful.com)

Luxury for Less

The Metro Bedroom Collection

Always dress to impress. This mantra should be applied not only to wardrobes, but to homes as well. Everyone should be able to enjoy beautiful interiors they are proud to bring friends and family home to, for the holidays, for the party, for the evening. Hillsdale Furniture is working to make luxury and elegance attainable, affordable, and easy to care for. Our products are designed in-house, and capture the trends, themes and styles popular with high end dealers and designers, at a price point that’s far simpler to stomach. Luxury for Less is a regular series meant to highlight some of our favorites.

Modern, streamlined design meets chic practicality in Hillsdale Furniture’s Metro Bedroom Collection. Three unique designs, available in both warm cherry and rich espresso finishes with the option for a storage base, make adding a touch of upscale design to your bedroom a breeze.  Pair any of the beds with the matching dresser, mirror, nightstand and chest, and you’ll make a statement.

The Metro Liza

Straightforward and chic, the Metro Liza Bed is a streamlined anchor for your bedroom décor. Constructed of solid hardwood in a cherry or espresso finish, the Metro Liza keeps it simple with a vertical slat design in the headboard.  No box spring necessary, this bed has slats that support your mattress, keeping its presence light and airy.  The bed is constructed from hardwood with veneers, and is available in the espresso or cherry finishes. 

The Metro Martin

The Metro Martin platform bed is a lux, multitasking anchor for your bedroom décor.  The Martin platform bed features two dark brown vinyl cushions in a tufted style.  Again, no box spring is necessary;  this bed has slats that support your mattress, unless you prefer the storage base, which boasts a variety of drawers to conveniently house your pillows, blankets and linens.  Like the Liza, it too is constructed of hardwood with veneers, and is available in the Metro’s signature finishes—espresso or cherry.

The Metro Riva 

Mod style and classic construction come together in the Metro Riva platform bed.  The Riva features an elegantly arched headboard with dramatic open panels.  No box spring is necessary, and it too is available either with or without the storage base, depending on which kind of visual statement or (level of practicality) preferred.   

The Metro Collection

All three of the above beds are wonderfully complemented by the rest of the Metro Bedroom Collection, which includes the unique nine-drawer dresser, a matching mirror, five-drawer chest and two-drawer nightstand. These beautiful pieces come in the Metro signature finishes, and are constructed of hardwood with wood composites and veneers.  All of the drawers have pulls in an antique pewter finish, dovetail drawer construction and full-extension ball-bearing drawer glides to ensure years of reliability.  

At Hillsdale Furniture, we make elegance attainable. For more ideas on how to integrate our furniture into your daily life and special occasions, check out our Facebook and Pinterest pages. 

Neon Punch

For us, bright neon hues scream “the 80s,” but in a fun, nostalgic sort of way. For the past few seasons, fashion designers have been experimenting with bringing back these bold statement colors in small punches—on accessories like belts and bags, integrated into graphic patterns, etc.  Lately though, interior and furniture designers have also been getting in on the action, and we’re especially liking what a neon green, pink or yellow can do to brighten up organic neutral tones and wood surfaces in rooms throughout the house.

In the bathroom

Towels and bathroom accessories can be a fun place to play with neon (a neon yellow rubber ducky perhaps?), but we’re most liking the morning pick-me-up provided by a bright, solid-colored shower curtain. Just try to keep yawning while taking a shower behind this.

Photo Credit: Remodelista.com

In the living room

We have discussed this on the blog before, but throw pillows and blankets are a great, inexpensive, and most definitely not permanent way to experiment with patterns, colors and textures. This makes them ideal ways to play with neons, and we like the intersection of pattern and color provided by this cool throw pillow.

Photo credit: apartmenttherapy.com

We also can’t help but love what this bright pink coffee table brings to the industrial vibe of this living room.

Photo credit: apartmenttherapy.com

In the bedroom

Go big or go home when it comes to the bedroom. If you aren’t ready to REALLY commit, give it a whirl in the guest room, or find a cheaper, used bed on Craig’s List and give it your own paint job, but we really love the design punch packed by this neon canopy bed in an otherwise low key sleep space. You really don’t need much else going on.

Photo credit: apartmenttherapy.com

 In the dining room

Less is often more, but especially when it comes to neon colors. A subtle approach can often serve to highlight the other key design choices, like how these pink dining table legs seem to underscore the gallery wall living above them.

Photo credit: apartmenttherapy.com

 What do you think? Are neons making a comeback in the home, or should they stay relegated to 1980s nostalgia?

Reframed

Here at Hillsdale Furniture, we love clever, crafty ways to repurpose everyday household items. Sometimes we call these ideas “life hacks” or “upcycling,” and picture frames are some of our favorite items to play around with. We tend to collect a lot of them, and when old pictures get a little stale, it can be more fun to use the frame for something other than an updated family photo at the beach. Here are a few cool ideas for picture frames:

So Vain

Repurpose an old frame for a vanity tray that’s pretty as a picture. Give it a quick new coat of paint, then place a piece of colored paper or fabric inside to match or complement the surrounding décor of your bathroom, closet or bedroom. 

Fridge Flair

This one is handy for the unfortunate leftovers of mantle falls. Have a frame without the glass or cover handy? Glue on some magnetic strips to front frame (easy to find at craft stores) and then use them as refrigerator photo frames! There also great for framing part of a school drawing or A+ test grade.

Key Catcher

Framed hooks are a much more aesthetic (and organized) way to keep keys in check than the usual key table by the door. Eliminate the glass and paint the backing or cover it with fabric or paper. Then attach key hooks using super glue.

 Objet D’Art

Take the glass out of a beautiful frame, hang it, then mount an actual object in the center for a lovely and unique alternative to the shadow box. As far as the objects go, as long as it is light enough for wall mounting, the world is your oyster (this would great with travel souvenirs).

Solo Stunners

Who said picture frames needed pictures? Beautiful, vintage frames can be quite the sight all on their own, especially when painted in unexpected colors or covered in patterned papers. Try grouping together frames of various shapes, sizes, colors and patterns. Layering them on top of one another and mixing in other objects, like vases and small prints, can make for a unique display.

 Do you repurpose old frames? What are some of your favorite ideas for them?

Table Mates

A new season is upon us, and with it, a whole new set of table linens—table cloths and napkins in a variety of autumn hues ranging from deep plums to burnt oranges. Luscious, thick textures and a new color palette are enough to make anyone want to entertain every week this time of year. This fall, go beyond the basic white tablecloth, and check out a few of these seasonal lovelies to spruce up even the most basic of family meal times.

Print Inspiration

This Autumn Wheat Jacquard Tablecloth from Williams-Sonoma has an elegant, harvest-inspired print that is tasteful without being over the top. Its muted orange hue will make an ideal backdrop for whatever other autumn accoutrements you decide to decorate the table with. 

Photo credit: Williams Sonoma

Leaf Love

A little literal interpretation here and there never hurt anybody. We adore the vintage, shabby chic feel of the leaf-shaped and autumn-hued placemats. They would be a fun addition to a simple, single-colored table cloth or on a pretty, wood table top all on their own.

Photo credit: Macy's

High End Halloween

Halloween decorations are a lot of fun, but some things are better left a little understated. This damask table runner in a high sheen orange and black palette says “Happy Halloween” without all the witches and spiders—though you can certainly add those things to the table scape if so desired for an extra spooky evening.

Photo credit: Pier 1

Plaid Perfection

Simple plaids are beautiful, welcoming and comfortable. They warm up a dining room table all on their own. Through in some fall hues, and you have the perfect workhorse you can leave on the table all season long. This table cloth from Kohl’s will work just as well for easy lunches all on its own, or dressed up a little more formally for five-course dinners. 

Photo credit: Kohls

Paisley Favorites

Not always associated with the season, paisley is a colorful, graphic print reminiscent of bandanas and fall fun. These napkins from Williams-Sonoma up the ante, putting a Provencal twist on an old favorite and classing up an old school favorite.

Photo credit: Williams Sonoma

How do you like to dress up your dining tables this time of year? 

Every now and then we like to share with our blog followers some of what we’re most proud of, and likewise sell the most of. Check out this fun round-up of the best of Hillsdale Furniture—the MVP’s of each of our collections.

Dining Dynamo

The Cameron Collection

Hillsdale’s Cameron collection beautifully combines a warm chestnut brown, wood finish with dark grey metal to create an ideal dining set for your home.  Start with the non-swivel ladder back stool that features 3 rungs and brown faux leather seat.  The round wood table is 42” in diameter and features a wonderful metal accent on the base.  That’s just one set too—rectangular options in both bar and counter heights are also available, so you’re sure to find a Cameron collection that suits your family size and aesthetic choices.

Bar Stool Bestsellers

The Montello

Drama and style defined in the Montello Swivel Bar Stool. Sweeping interlocking circles, intricate complimentary castings and elegantly curved legs combine to create a collection with grace, movement and elegance. Available in both counter and bar heights and with 360-degree swivel. It’s finished in a dynamic old steel with distressed brown faux leather seats and wood accents in a brown faux leather veneer.

The Norwood

Our Norwood Stool has expanded on one our most popular design features. Insetting our hammered copper metal back into a distressed black wood frame and accenting the stool with a metal turned rope motif at the crown adds substance, depth and style.

Bedroom Raves

The Wilshire Collection

The Wilshire Bedroom Collection displays both quality and craftsmanship. Each piece features old world construction with corner blocking, wood on wood drawer glides, thick drawer sides with tongue and groove drawer bottoms, English dovetail construction and hand-rubbed finishes. The Wilshire Collection blends Americana and English Country design elements to create a casual elegance perfect for any home. The collection abounds with options, offering three choices of beds, a bookcase bed, a panel bed (both also offered with under bed storage option), or a post bed, a large selection of case goods to mix and match.

The Montgomery Daybed

The Montgomery daybed is the perfect fit for any design aesthetic, from contemporary to eclectic to whimsical.  This stunning sleigh style daybed has both a modern edge and a practical side. Covered in an easy to care for warm brown faux leather, this daybed also offers an optional matching trundle.  The Montgomery daybed is a great fit for any guest room, office or teen’s bedroom.

What are your Hillsdale favorites? See anything you have on the list?