Springtime is around the corner. Want to add some pop to your garden? Nestle pots and planters made of different colors, shapes, and materials throughout your outdoor space. You can find red vintage pots from flea markets or bright blue glazed pots at retail stores like Anthropologie. Want to make your own? Glue clam shells to your planter in a scalloped fashion, and you have a garden masterpiece!
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To me, a piece of coral is nature's most beautiful sculpture, which might explain my obsession with and the abundance of coral in my home. I began collecting specimens about four years ago, and my love for them only grows with each vignette, each display, and each photograph they help to create. Here are some of my most beautiful and prized possessions:
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Of all the architectural features in the world, methinks none are as gloriously romantic as the balcony. In honor of Valentine's Day, enjoy these beautiful images of balconies from around the world.
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Happy Valentine's Week! To prepare our home for the special day, I created heart ornaments to hang in my trees and chandeliers (as seen in the last post, Valentine Trees). These heart ornaments are wonderfully fun to make, last forever, and don't even require a special trip to the store. Below are the materials and step-by-step directions to make approximately 45 hearts.
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It isn't just Valentine's Day that I love creating (or receiving :)) a bountiful bouquet of flowers, but there's something about this time of year that makes a floral arrangement even more magical. As I was searching for bouquet inspiration for our home, I came across these whimsical beauties, each one of them making my heart skip a beat. I hope you enjoy!
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Whenever Valentine's Day rolls around, it's impossible to know what to give my husband. But I know that the true way to his heart is with sweets! Therefore, I've decorated for an afternoon Tea For Two in our breakfast nook that will set the stage for his beloved sweets when Valentine's Day arrives.
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If I could dream of a pink house, it would probably look something like this. In honor of Valentine's Day, allow me to take you on a tour of my fantasy home in pink!
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Okay, truth. Pink is my favorite color. And I know I should be over it -- after all, I'm not a little girl anymore. But when decorating my home for Valentine's Day, I get a few weeks of guilt-free reprieve and go crazy with pink! From subtle soft pinks to hot vibrant pinks, this cheery vignette is fit for the LOVEly day.
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I've always thought that a bed should resemble a cloud -- soft, fluffy, and floating on air. When it came time to choose bedding for our home, the bedding I found that most captures this floating cloud look and feel was soft linen from Bella Notte, Restoration Hardware, and ABC Carpet and Home. These are my favorite inspirational photos.
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Aloha from Hawaii! My husband and I are living it up in Kauai right now, drinking pina-coladas and getting caught in the rain. The last time we were on the island, it was our honeymoon, and we (ahem…I) purchased a few things for our new home that we could treasure from our blissful trip. Among those home goods were these delightfully happy pillows from Yellowfish Trading Company, located in a land called Hanalei.
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Happy New Year 2014! Out with the new, and in with the old, I say -- with gorgeous antiques, that is! I recently discovered this white Italian bead mirror (above) at one of my favorite antique stores in Los Angeles, The Mart Collective. This mirror is one of the many treasures I've taken home from The Mart Collective, a design-lovers' dreamland featuring vintage and antique pieces from dozens of vendors. I'm obsessed with the variety, the beautiful presentation, and lovely owners and staff.
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Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday! New Year’s is just around the corner, so there’s still some time to enjoy the festive decorations and lazy days ahead.
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Traditionally, my family has always had a Christmas feast on the night before Christmas, so tonight, the dining table must be merry and bright. For my Christmas decor, glittered pinecones are the stars of the show as they drip from the chandelier above our table. On the body of the chandelier are silvery green leaves and swags of ivory ribbon cradling larger glittered pinecones.
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If I've spent the time to find the perfect gift, I want to give that gift the perfect wrapping. And it all starts with the wrapping paper! For a blank slate, I love to use brown wrapping paper...it allows me to create designs directly onto the paper, emboss stamps or drawings, and add virtually any color ribbon or accoutrement I desire. Here are simple DIY directions for wrapping the perfect gift:
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As with most things in Nora's Nest, I'm always searching for nature-inspired, glamorous ways of approaching decor and lifestyle. Christmas gift wrapping is no different! This Christmas time, I was inspired by the usual suspects: pinecones, pine-needles, and holly for nature, and glitter, satin, and silver bells for glamour. I've created three lovely gift wrapping ideas to give your Christmas presents an extra punch of natural-glam. Using brown wrapping paper (or brown butcher paper) as a neutral base for all three gifts, the wrapping world is your oyster!
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I'll be honest: When it comes to vintage Christmas ornaments, I've been both naughty and nice this year. My obsession with these ornaments coaxed me into buying them throughout the year (the naughty side), but the obsession also gives me a collection large enough to spread holiday cheer throughout the home (the nice side). In addition to the Christmas tree, I've adorned manzanita branches, clam shells, and chandeliers with these lovely treasures in every room. So what if I've been a little naughty? I think it's worth it! Spread the cheer in your home this year!
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DIY instructions on how to make a Silver Holly Garland
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I love making beautiful Christmas decorations that can be used year after year. This year, I made glittered star garlands that adorn my antique mirrors, trying to replicate the vintage glass chard ornaments I often find in antique stores. Make these shining stars for a garland, or use them as ornaments in your tree. DIY instructions are below, and may your home be starry and bright!
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Four years ago today, I married my husband in a winter wonderland wedding. My family, husband-to-be, and I worked for months to glitter five-thousand pinecones, creating Christmas tree ornaments, pinecone wreaths, and table accoutrements for the wedding day. Today, many of the beautiful pinecones adorn our home for Christmas decor, their presence always reminding me of our sparkling, magical moment. Happy 4th Anniversary, Padraic, my love!
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Nothing makes me happier than seeing my family and friends for a Thanksgiving feast -- and decorating for it, of course! Since the turkey is the star of the table show, I like to keep the table scape simple and elegant using natural elements such as leaves, pinecones, and pumpkins. They bring the warm spirit of Thanksgiving to the table while allowing the feast to shine.
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