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