The Ultimate Home

Does your Home give you a Hug?

We all live such hectic lives, that we all count on our homes for rest, renewal and relaxation.  When you cross the threshold at the end of a tough day, you really need your home to give you a hug and encourage you to reconnect with your family, recharge your emotional batteries, and restore your body and soul.  I encourage you to think about what you need in order to feel restored, and then ponder how your home needs to change to support your 'downtime'.  Perhaps you need to establish a quiet space for reading and writing in a journal.  Mayabe you need to supplement your bath with plush towels, speakers for your iPod, or essential oils to encourage more spa bathing.  Perhaps you need to rethink the purpose for your dining room, and set it up to support weekly family board and card games.  Take a few minutes this week to decide on those activites that could make you feel great, then brainstorm some ideas on how your home layout, furnishings and accessories should be changed or upgraded to support your daily needs.  If you need help, team up with a few friends to come up with your list and evaluate your spaces.  I'm certain that a few small changes will add up to an improved, soul nurturing home.

 

I'm Back!

 

I’m back!   After a very long nap, it is time to get back to blogging.  There are many things to share so hopefully you’ll come back in and stay a while.  Thanks to Michael Hyatt (www.MichaelHyatt.com) for re-inspiring me to come back to blogging, and to start twittering.  You can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/EllenValentine.  While I’ll continue to share interesting products and home design ideas, I’ll also share my insights and tips on personal productivity and organizing.  Is there another topic you’d like to discuss?  Please share.  I’d love to hear from you.

Is it one of yours?

For most people, getting more organized made your top 5 list of New Year's Resolutions.  Is getting organized on your list of resolutions?  My friend Judith gave me a wonderful solution for organizing the kitchen counter clutter:  Magnetic Baskets.   The magnet is very strong on these little baskets and they attach to the side of the refrigerator beautifully.  She got me 3 sizes:   One for recent mail (currently holding some adorable Christmas pics that I can't put away just yet), one for a note cube and pen and the third for business cards.  You can purchase them at the Container Store.  What are some neat solutions that you are putting in place in 2008?

Buckling Down

With only 3 weekends left for holiday shopping it is time to buckle down and get the shopping done.  The best strategies that I have found to accomplish this include starting early in the day, shopping with a list and buying multiples.  I have used each of these this year and have found that I can get an amazing amount done in a very short period of time.  So starting with your list, outline each person you want to gift.  Remember everyone including the housekeeper and mail delivery person.  Also write down those people that you don't plan to gift, but may run into over the holiday.  If you plan on clothes shopping, make sure you know everyone's sizes.  Every year, I try to think of some great, reasonably priced gift that I can buy in multiples.  I buy one of these for many people on my list and even purchase a few extras to have on hand in case I have forgotten someone or get invited to a party and need a hostess gift.  Here are a few ideas:  small travel clock, scarf, thermometer, a beautiful mug or tea cup, microwaveable neck roll, soft lap blanket, cocktail glasses or shaker, bird feeder, small box or tin for storing paper clips, earrings, and a beautiful pen.  Think of the stores where you might find these things and get out early.  Many stores are open at 8 or 9am and if you're smart, you 'll plan on being at your first stop when the store opens.  Good Luck!  If you have other ideas for 'multiples', please share!  Of course, you can always purchase my Ultimate Home Book & Organizer.  It makes a great gift and your friends and family will use the gift the entire time they are living in their home.  You can order at www.ZingPress.com.

Gifts Pictures (L to R):  Levenger Fountain Pen, Restoration Hardware Blanket, Pottery Barn Cocktail Shaker.

   

Stocking up for Holiday Homes

 

Before we blink, Thanksgiving will be over and we will be living in the crazy pace of the Holiday season.  If you can spare a moment in the next couple of weeks to slip into the stores to stock up on some special hostess gifts, I'm certain that you will be grateful that you have them on hand come December.  One of my favorites is Slatkin's Holiday fragrance candle.  About four years ago, I was a Christmas gathering at my friend Lita's home and I got my first whiff of Holiday and it remains my all time favorite candle.  I always have a few on hand for gifts and also make sure that I have one for my own home as well.  Do you stock up on hostess gifts?  If you do, please share your gift ideas.

Framing Art

This time of year, the bookstores and stationery stores are chock full of great calendars.  In addition to making great holiday gifts, consider purchasing calendars for affordable art.  Publishers such as Cavalinni make beautiful calendars and print them on high quality paper.  Each calendar contains at least 12 prints for about $20.  Pick four or six of the best and have them framed.  They give you a great visual statement for a family room, bedroom or bathroom at a very reasonable price.  Tip: to keep the framing costs low, have the prints matted to a standard size frame, then you will be able to save greatly by buying a ready assembled frame with glass or plexi.  These are available at places like Dick Blick  or Aaron Brothers.  Pick up the calendars now at stationery stores or bookstores, but shop now for the best selection!

Valentine Chair

Since my last name is Valentine, I could not resist this chair.  This was at the Paris Decorative Arts Museum.  I MUST find a reproduction!

Knock Out Roses are a Winner!

Last year, my landscaper, Paul Griffin planted several bushes of Knock Out Roses (TM).  These plants are amazing.  In spite of having virtually no rain for a month, these beauties keep on putting out stunning flowers.  If you have an area that needs a splash of color and you don't have the time or energy for maintenance, consider adding these to your landscape beds.

 

Fabulous Flamant

Of all of the shops in Paris, perhaps Flamant Home Interiors was my favorite.  They had a wonderful mix of soft contemporary elements and old world designs that adds up to a total luxury feel.  They also carry a beautiful line of paint (122 carefully edited colors) and wall paper.  Their Paris store features lots of greenery in the front and includes many lit candles for a beatiful vibe.  In the rear, there is even a chic restaurant.  If you're traveling, it is a wonderful place to pick up either ideas or a special accessory.  Found throughout Europe, I can only hope that someday they decide to expand their full-line stores to the US.   

Striking Herve Gambs

One of the most beautiful and unusual shops that I visited in Paris was Herve Gambs.  Herve makes strikingly beautiful artificial fruit and flower arrangements that he calls vegetals.  Less is certainly more in this case.  The colors are beautiful and the quality and simplicity is breathtaking.  To accompany his vegetals, he markets a line of candles and parfums.  There are currently 19 different varieties of parfums that you can spray on the arrangements or use as a home spray.  I bought Fig Tree Leaf and feel like I have transported a bit of Paris back to my home in Atlanta.  Alas, there are no shops in the us.  His only outlets are in France and Japan.  You can read more at www.hervegambs.com.