Natural Christmas Tree Projects

Simple Orange Pomanders

Make natural baubles by evenly scoring orange skins and slowly dehydrating the fruits.

Fruit and Flower Sprigs

For simple, stylish decorations, tie stems of rosehips to dried teazle heads with wire and finish with a loop.

Spiced Fruits

Attach single fruits and dried sliced chilies with colored wire to either end of a decorated orange slice. Even after they have been dried thoroughly, oranges retain enough of an aroma to fill a room with their citrus scent. Get step-by-step instructions for creating dried orange ornaments.

Frosted Christmas Lanterns

Thread a wire through a Chinese lantern and make a knot in the wire below the lantern. Wrap the remaining wire around a few wispy seed heads to give this decoration a frosted effect. Get step-by-step instructions for creating natural Chinese lantern ornaments.

Citrus Slices

Make a hole in the top of a dried orange slice, thread through a length of string, and secure in a knot.

Cinnamon Walnut Bundles

Secure several long cinnamon sticks in a bundle with an elastic band. Attach a walnut at either end of thin rope, wrap the rope around the sticks and glue on a star anise. Get step-by-step instructions for creating cinnamon spice bundle ornaments.


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Cranberry Hearts

Thread thin string through dried cranberries using a needle, secure in a heart shape and finish with a loop.

Snow Clouds

Tie extra quantites of wispy or fluffy seed heads to Chinese lanterns with thin wire and finish with a loop.

Thanksgiving Table Settings

Add a Touch of Glitz

For a sophisticated but not over-the-top look, balance the sparkle of metallics with natural elements, like fall branches or fresh fruit. Erinn's Tip: "Metallics add a great modern touch to a fall tablescape. Deep copper and bright bronze are a lovely additional to a traditional table. I prefer to bring in natural, textured elements like these seed-beaded placemats so the table doesn't get too glitzy."

Contrast Materials

A humble pinecone adds an organic touch to each place setting. Have fun with materials; contrast ceramic with glass, wood and gleaming metal. Forgo the old standby tablecloth and opt for glamorous, polished silver chargers and chocolate-brown linen napkins.

Bountiful Centerpiece

Set the stage for an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast with a centerpiece that exemplifies bounty. A ghost-white pumpkin, chunky pillar candles and metallic-painted gourds add sparkle.

Simple Sophistication

This place setting layers basic elements to achieve an extraordinary effect.A set of white plates is a great standard to have for your year-round table. You don't have to get something special out just for the season. It's all in the presentation — a crisp linen napkin folded into thirds and laid under a bronze glass plate topped with a miniature pear sets each guests' plate off with style for very little money, time or fuss.

 

Gleaming Glass Accents

Golds and ambers pair beautifully with the traditional browns and oranges of fall. Glass vases can be found very inexpensively in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes at your local housewares store. They're fantastic for adding a splash of luminescent color to the room. So go wild! Bring a bunch home, try them out and return what you don't use.

Sexy/Romantic Master Baths

Couples Retreat

Sleek, modern lines and a view of the Potomac River set this master bath apart from the pack. Andreas Charalambous' his-and-hers mirrors are made of sandblasted glass, which allows ample natural light to flow into the room.

What a Flirt

Play peekaboo behind a translucent glass shower with flirty polka-dot cutouts. Design by Andreas Charalambous.

Venus and Mars

This master bath by Gail Drury is the perfect combination of masculine and feminine. Neutral colors are pleasing to both sexes. A balance is struck by softening square lines by using curved glass blocks and a double vanity.

Open Air

This airy bathroom has its own balcony — perfect for stargazing after a romantic shower for two. The unique stone tub adds to the fresh and clean design. Room by Christopher J. Grubb.

Romantic Age

Dark wood, translucent screens and tiled walls create a rich and inviting spa setting. Proper lighting sets the tone for a romantic rendezvous.

Glamour for Two

Take your bathing up a notch by doing it in a raised stage complete with an open-air shower and candelabra. This romantic tiled masterpiece comes from Shelly Riehl David.

Heavenly Escape

Embrace a little danger by having your shower open to the heavens and only partially enclosed. Dave Stimmel keeps his design flirty in this master bath.

Float On

A few floating candles and a mirror turn this monochromatic area into the perfect place for a sexy soak.

Mindful Steam

Multicolored blue and gold tiles cover the benches and ceiling in this Zen-inspired steam room. LED lighting and relaxing fountain complete this design by Shelly Riehl David.

Make your Bedroom Restful

Tone down the colors in your bedroom to create a calming environment before you fall asleep.



Choose artwork for your bedroom that makes you feel calm and peaceful.



Bed placement in your bedroom is crucial to getting a good night's rest.



Nature is always relaxing — try to imitate nature through colors and artwork in your bedroom to create a naturally soothing space.



Don't underestimate the importance of comfortable fabrics in your bedroom.

Design Ideas

Designer's Notes

In the Living Room, the custom triptych from AndreasCharalambous.com is a dramatic backdrop to the B+B Italia sofa and the concrete Cha-Cha cocktail table. The wool and silk area rug is also from ChaChafurniture.com. I love the comfortable, stylish feel of this sofa!!!!!



The kitchen area was opened up to the rest of the house in this open plan. Poliform cabinetry and stainless steel appliances were inserted in the burnt orange wall that becomes the organizing element. The dining room table is attached to the island and becomes an extension of it, with the same silestone top.



The drama of the open tread stair against the burnt orange wall within the two story entry foyer gives the visitor the first taste of the open plan that organizes this Lake Barcroft home.



The large custom Mirror from ChaChafurniture.com hangs above the wenge console table and greets the visitor off the elevator that opens into the apartment. To the left, the game room furniture sits on a wool and silk rug from ChaChaFurniture.com, while the dramatic photograph on the wall is from AndreasCharalambous.com.



The burnt red wall that houses the kitchen cabinetry and appliances is an organizing element within the plan. The stair to the upstairs bedroom is attached to the red wall, around which all the rooms revolve. All extraneous walls have been removed, so this dining area feels like an integral part of a greater whole.



The intimate “Theater” area within the Family room pays homage to the silver screen with a series of movie posters that adorn the right wall. All that’s missing is the neon sign of the theater marquis.

Outdoor Spas and Patios

Triple Threat

The triple waterfall in this design by Paul Wrona provides a soothing and relaxing environment. The square shape of the hot tub is an interesting twist on traditional round designs.

All Stacked Up

This stacked design by Scott Cohen incorporates all of the necessary elements for a great outdoor area: fire pit, hot tub and swimming pool. A raised stone wall provides privacy for a hot tub built for two.

Natural Reflections 

Natural elements like boulders and tall grasses provide an organic feeling, as well as privacy to a backyard hot tub. Flame-lit torches are a more romantic form of lighting than electric lights.

Stairway to Heaven

An intimate spa awaits you at the top of the stairs in this backyard paradise from Scott Cohen. Once you're done in the hot tub, cool off in the lounge chairs located in the pool's baja feature.

Roman Retreat

This elegant hot tub has an Old World feel. Picture yourself in a Roman bath as you drift away into bliss. Hanging wisteria adds a romantic touch to the pergola.

Behind (Almost) Closed Doors

If you're lucky enough to have an indoor pool, why not add an indoor hot tub? This room from the Four Seasons is designed to bring the outdoors in.

The patio is being used today during summer and winter......adding fire and water with a little ambiance of back ground music and a glass of merlot, what better way to have that vacation feeling all year round on your own patio.

Homemade Infusted Oils

Homemade infused oils are a wonderfully instant way of adding an extra shot of flavor to your cooking, salads and marinades. They make a perfect gift for food lovers and serious cooks alike, so bottle a selection of flavored oils and add gift labels, or include one or two in a gift basket. Good flavorings to use include fresh herbs, garlic, whole spices, pink peppercorns or dried chilies.
Infused oils have the potential to support the growth of bacteria, so you should follow the procedures for bottling flavored oils carefully, and make sure that any ingredients you use are washed and thoroughly dried first. Use pretty recycled bottles or jars for these oils.

Ingredients

bottles or jars for storing
1 large sprig (about 6 in.) of rosemary
3-4 large ribbons of lemon peel
3-4 whole chilies
2 cups light olive oil

Directions

1. It's important to sterilize all bottles or jars and their lids before adding any ingredients. After washing, place them upside down in a cold oven and heat them for 10–15 minutes at 300 degrees F. Leave them upside down on a clean cloth until you are ready to use them so dust or dirt, which could contaminate the oils, can't be trapped inside. Tip: Alternatively, you can boil the bottles in a large saucepan covered with water for 15 minutes, dry them thoroughly with a fresh clean cloth and turn them upside down on another cloth until they are ready to be used.
2. Make the flavored oil a week before you want to give it as a gift. For Rosemary oil, bruise a large sprig of fresh rosemary with the end of a rolling pin. For Lemon oil use 3-4 large ribbons of lemon peel, and for Chili oil use 3-4 whole chilies cut in half lengthwise.
3. Put your choice of dry ingredients into a clear, sterilized glass bottle (at least 2 cups in capacity) and add 2 cups of light olive oil. Make sure the dry ingredients stay below the surface of the oil, or they may turn moldy.
4. Secure the lid firmly and shake well once a day for a week to allow the flavors to develop. Add a gift label with instructions to store the oil in the fridge and use within a week.

Headboards

Trash to Treasure

A headboard made from salvaged materials can add tons of charm and unique style to a bedroom. In this space, an old door found in a burn pile was paired with a vintage gate — reclaimed from a dump and brightened up with a mist of white spray paint. The end result is a whimsical, one-of-a-kind headboard with enough substance to balance the king-size bed. Design by Funky Junk Interiors.

Industrial Chic

Who knew metal roofing could be so stylish? Designer Kara Paslay created a rustic yet glamorous headboard by cutting an ornate shape out of corrugated tin, bringing out its subtle sheen and wavy texture. The silhouette may be traditional, but this headboard is anything but ordinary. Best of all, this DIY project only cost about $30!

Rustic Romance

In this airy bedroom, a headboard made from a pair of reclaimed doors adds visual weight and a hint of ruggedness to an otherwise dreamy space. The weathered doors retain just enough white paint to complement the room's crisp bedding and sparkling chandelier. Design by Dreamy Whites.

A Good Sign

After a thorough scrub and a bit of paint to touch up the faded lettering, this reclaimed convenience store sign looks as good as new and makes an eye-catching backdrop for a daybed. Not only does the vintage sign provide a theme and color palette for the room, but its historic significance also makes it an exciting conversation piece. Design by Funky Junk Interiors.

Organic Element

Sometimes, an unexpected headboard can be just what a bedroom needs. In this modern loft bedroom, a slab of roughhewn wood adds a natural touch and warms up the industrial-looking space. Design by Daniel Bodenmiller.

Soaring to the Ceiling

To make the bed the focal point in a small studio apartment, Rate My Space user 4oclock created a striking headboard by securing 1-1/2-inch MDF pieces to two strips of iron. A headboard that extends all the way to the ceiling creates visual interest and defines the space.

Coastal Chic

Shutter headboards are a perfect fit for a beach house or cottage-style bedroom. To give new, unfinished shutters a weathered look, paint them with a "dry brushing" technique, then sand the outside edges and the front edge of the louvers.

Pallet Perfection

Echoing the navy-and-white stripes painted in the closet, a headboard made from wooden shipping pallets is a standout feature in this nautical-themed boy's bedroom. To create a coordinated look, designer Lakeitha Duncan paired the pallets with two wooden nightstands in a natural finish.

Country Goes Contemporary

Who would guess that this modish headboard was once a barn door window? The window was first fashioned into a mirror, which designer Jessica McKay of Birdhouse Interiors frosted to reduce distracting reflections. With a modular look and monochromatic color scheme, this formerly rustic window now makes a distinctive, modern headboard.

Bonus Shelving

This salvaged door not only serves as an attractive headboard, but also provides a small shelf above the bed for displaying vases and other accessories. Even against a bold, custom-painted harlequin wall, this headboard makes a statement. Design by Suzanne Lasky, S Interior Design.