If Halloween is the one holiday when ladies can dress scantily and not be judged, then Christmas is that one time of year when kitsch is perfectly acceptable!  According to Heloise, “you can’t have too much Christmas.” She even has a Santa Claus costume for the commode.

So whether you stick to white lights on your tree and fresh garland across your mantelpiece or colored lights and retro reindeer on your bookshelves – there is no wrong way to decorate for the season!

If you’re looking for inspiration for your Christmas table, here are some tips for a merry table your guests are sure to love.

1. Start with a runner or a tablecloth to set the vibe you’re going for. Whether a tartan table runner or a crisp white tablecloth, this sets the foundation for everything else.

2. Decide on a centerpiece or focal point for the table. Do you want one large piece in the middle or 2-3 smaller pieces with space in between? This can depend on table length and personal preference. We did two to balance the weight of the large floral arrangements.

3. Once your centerpieces are set, you’ll want to fill the space in between. Fresh seasonal greenery is a classic choice and a great backdrop for some color. We opted for pops of red using pomegranates and then added subtle silver and gold pieces for sparkle.

4. Next you’ll coordinate your placemats and napkins. Don’t forget to accessorize with chargers and napkin rings, if you desire!

5. Stack your plates and put out your silverware and glasses.

6. Now you’re ready for the most important part – the guests!

It’s been a little over a year since our last post, and with good reason. Now we’re back to let you know what’s been going on behind the scenes with the Mintwood Home team. Here are some fun facts about what we’ve been up to the last year:

• We have been to markets all over the country sourcing exclusive new brands to add to our site! Here are a few of our favorites. 

  • Bungalow 5 

  • Aidan Gray 

  • Newport Cottages 

  • Duc duc 

  • Momeni Rugs

  • 

• We’ve worked countless design hours to create beautiful spaces.  

• We’ve designed six nurseries this year alone for expecting clients across the country. And speaking of babies...

• 

• Heloise had a baby girl last April, Kavanaugh. Things really change when you are trying to manage two companies and a little one. A big thank you to my clients for being understanding while I figured out how to mom and manage work. See below for some examples of this.

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• To keep pace with all these changes, we’ve grown our Mintwood Home team. We are all working moms to young kiddos. In fact, the sixth Mintwood Home baby (Caitlin's second) is joining the team this winter! 

We’ve been busy for sure, but what hasn’t changed is our love for beautiful spaces and our dedication to bringing you a beautifully curated collection of gifts, furnishings, décor and designer fabrics and wall-coverings. We look forward to bringing you many exciting new things as we overhaul our site, including glimpses into some of Heloise’s recent design projects. Stay tuned to see what’s in store.

Welcome Home!

We are thrilled to finally reveal one of our favorite projects from this past year! We had the privilege of designing Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum's twin girls’ nursery. Hillary reached out with a vision for a feminine while still fun space for her two newest additions.

Because we are based out of the Washington, DC area and Hillary’s home is in Nashville, we did the majority of the space plan and design through phone and email. We stared out creating this mood board and went from there!

 Hillary has the most amazing house manager, Shauna, who helped us run the day by day in the house. All things carpets, painting, electrical she was able to have done without us flying to Nashville. 

To accomplish the look, we designed the room with light pink walls and a beautiful blush accent wallpaper by Philip Jeffries and added some sass with a fun Worlds Away black and white bone stool and colorful blue rug by Surya.

We knew we had to have these sweet animal prints from The Animal Print Shop and partnered with them for these pieces!

Gorgeous light fixture fit for a princess (or two!) by Circa Lighting. 

Acrylic cribs by Pottery Barn Kids. 

Custom draperies by The Shade Store.  

Get the look:

Check out the nursery featured on People Magazine!

Y’all already know we have a thing for blue…so we rounded up our favorites for you. And—we’ve also included our favorite greys. Color magic, friends. A fresh coat of paint changes EVERYTHING.

Blues

1. Farrow + Ball, Inchyra Blue

Image via Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets

2. Farrow + Ball, Stiffkey Blue

Image via Farrow + Ball

3. Benjamin Moore, Hale Navy

Image via Houzz

4. Benjamin Moore, Constellation

Image via Remodelholic

Greys

1. Farrow + Ball, Cromarty

Image via Remodelista

2. Farrow + Ball, Lamp Room Grey

Image via Farrow + Ball

3. Benjamin Moore, Grey Owl

Image via Home Bunch

4. Benjamin Moore, Nightfall

Image via Pinterest

There are lots of paint options when it comes to neutrals, but nothing is as tried and true as a clean white. Grays are pretty and beiges have their moments, but a white wall just speaks to us. It’s like it's begging us to design the space. Trends are fun and will come and go—white walls are simply not one of those trends.

We are rounding up some of our personal favorite whites that we tend to turn to over and over. We’re sticking to Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball, because we almost always choose their brands. Why mess with perfection, right?

Crisp
1. Benjamin Moore, Chantilly Lace

 
Image via Dana Casey

2. Farrow and Ball, All White

 
Image via Farrow + Ball

3. Benjamin Moore, Decorator’s White

 
Image via Lily Spindle 

4. Farrow and Ball, Wevet

 
Image via Farrow & Ball Instagram 

Gentle

1. Benjamin Moore, White Down

Image via Writer & Residence

2. Farrow & Ball, Strong White

Image via Emily Henderson 

3. Benjamin Moore, Dove Wing

Image via Home Bunch

4. Farrow & Ball, James White

Image via houzz   

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO SHOP! 

 Destination: Palm Springs

Image via Architectural Digest

There’s a reason why Palm Springs has been called the most instagrammable city in the world. We may be a little biased when it comes to our love for this place—our intern, Gionna, calls Palm Springs home, and Heloise just got back from a Palm Springs bachelorette party—but we are not exaggerating when we say this place is a designer’s dreamland.

Image via Studio DIY

From the ACE to the Avalon to the Parker to the Saguaro to the Korakia, the list of boutique hotels goes on and on. Not to mention, the dining and spa selections aren’t bad either. Palm Springs embodies mid-century modern architecture as well as an old Hollywood glam, while completely maintaining its totally unique, one-of-a-kind feel.

Image via Refinery 29

With inspiration from picture perfect Palm Springs (and because we’re so looking forward to sunny days outside) we’ve added lots of outdoor furniture to the site! From bold hues to patterns that pop, we've curated a list of some of our favorite Palm Springs-esqe products. Even if you can’t make it to SoCal this year, get that Palm Springs feel in your own home. 

6. Curtains: Hang curtains closer to the ceiling than the to the top of the window. This will draw the eye up and makes the ceiling seem taller. 
7. Mantle: When hanging things above the mantle, as a general rule of thumb leave seven inches between the mantle and the bottom of what you are hanging.
8. If you really need help, hire a professional! We offer E-Design packages and in person designer services to those in the DMV area! Click the link below to read more.               

1. Elements Of Style | Erin Gates

Erin has the best style. I love her look--she even has her own line now! Her coffee table book is hysterical, I laughed out loud and learned a ton. A definite must read and a must have for your own coffee table.

 

2. Little Green Notebook | Jenny Komenda

I have been following Jenny for years--really for as long as I can remember. Not only does she have a great look that is modern and fresh, but I also learn so much reading her blog. I love to DYI things and she really teaches you how. She dyed curtains a couple a years ago--I'm still waiting to do that one day. 

3. Bliss at Home - Kristin Cadwallader 

Kristin might just be the sweetest blogger out there. I had been following her for a while when I reached out to collaborate. She is extremely professional and does everything she says she is going to do! The way she uses black and leopard in rooms is just so chic.

 

4. Hunted Interior | Kristin Jackson 

She does the best job helping you find your own style why doing it on a budget. Her ideas are totally original and fun. Love her use of color.

5. The Zhush | Sue de Chiara

Sue always has the best pictures and her posts are oh so inspiring. I was swooning over her recent post about wallpaper. I don't know where she finds all her images, but they will

6. Cuckoo 4 Design | Julia 

Nothing like a little European inspiration, right? Julia is from Germany and living in the US. Her overall neutral color pallet is to die for: chic mastered.

7. Young House Love | John & Sherry

John & Sherry have fixed up multiple houses and have the absolute go-to blog for home DIY projects. (I've mentioned my love for DIY, right?)

8. JWS Interiors | Jennifer Wagner Schmidt

10. Simple Stylings | Summer Hogan
I met Summer this past year and was introduced to her blog. She does the best job writing about real life and uses that simple style to decorate a home for your family. I love all of her posts!