New Holiday Decorating Ideas

It's time to decorate your home for the holidays. Maybe this year you don't have room for a holiday tree, you're in a larger space and need additional decoration or you're just in a creative spirit. There are many ideas to put a twist on the traditional Christmas tree décor. Try a few of these inspired holiday decorations.
 - Place vintage ornaments on a cake stand nested with leaves for a stunningly simple centerpiece.
 - Are you serving holiday dinner buffet style? Wrap each dish in a sheet of parchment paper and tie with a length of ribbon before stacking it. Guests will be rewarded with a pretty presentation.
 - Lush greenery draped around the house, especially doorways, creates an inviting atmosphere and a woodsy aroma.
 - Use a string of pinecones to make an easy swag. Tie a big bow in the middle so you can center it perfectly over a doorway, then tack it up with nails.
 - Decorate a small, artificial white tree with objects that share a color scheme--such as candy canes, peppermints and red bows--then place them on a side table or coffee table.
 - A grouping of old-fashioned ornaments hung from the ceiling makes a whimsical chandelier effect.
 - Tie big silver bells to the front doorknob with festive ribbon. Visitors will jingle all the way in to your home.
 - For an elegant look, trim the mantle with a row of white votives and dramatic white amaryllises.
 - Use leftover ribbon to tie around the stems of your Champagne flutes or wine glasses for an extra bit of festivity. A bonus: choose a different color for every glass will help guests keep track of their drinks.
 - A five-second centerpiece. Mix clementines or oranges and peppermint balls in a single glass compote or a grouping of three.
 - Add a little sparkling style to your dining room table by filling a snifter to the brim with an array of shiny silver balls.
 - Wreath filled with wishes. Hang an unadorned twig wreath in a spot where guests can't miss it. Set out red Magic Markers and small plain cards on a table next to it. Post a little sign asking visitors to scribble a greeting or a wish for the upcoming New Year, along with their names, and have them slip the notes into the wreath.
 - Decorative photo collage. Up on the mantle, collect your family's holiday picture cards from previous years and clothespin them to a long, slim stick suspended between two vases. Put them in chronological order and you can date the pins.
 - A staircase looks lovely with a garland of greenery. Easier than looping it around and around, lay evergreen on top of the banister, fasten in place with floral wire and wrap with extra-wide ribbon.
Have a happy holiday season!

Chicago Source for Right Size Furniture

There is so much focus today on the interior design trend of downsizing. I prefer the term rightsizing because that's really what you're doing---making changes in your living space to reflect your current lifestyle. With this has come the need to adjust the furnishings in your living space.

You still want your furniture to feel comfortable, look luxurious and meet your room functions. You may have smaller rooms. You may have fewer rooms. And your rooms may serve dual purposes, such as, your living room also serves as a family room/den, the dining area doubles as an in-home office or a second bedroom has workout equipment.

One of the solutions is the right size and scale for your furniture pieces. Most retail furniture stores do not offer a variety of sizes for furniture that still has a sumptuous, generous look. That's where A. Rudin Inc. fills this niche nicely.

Located in The Mart in Chicago, A. Rudin Inc. is a family owned furniture manufacturer since 1912. Based in Los Angeles, all A. Rudin furniture is made in the U.S. The line includes upholstery and casegoods, along with fabrics, leather and Novasuede. Their furniture designs have been made larger to fill the scale of Beverly Hills mansions and small enough to fit a New York City pied-a-terre.

To complement the line, the Chicago Showroom also features contemporary stainless steel and wood tables by Henry Royer of Wisconsin, contemporary lighting and casegoods from John Pomp Studios of Philadelphia, Phoenix Day classic lighting from San Francisco and Matsouko of Japan tables and casegoods.