All About Home, Decor, Entertaining, Holidays, Holidays, Tablescapes

Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating Tips

No Comments

 

Are unexpected holiday guests arriving? Are you throwing a last-minute holiday party? Have you waited until the very last minute to decorate for the holidays? Take the stress out of holiday decorating with these quick and easy holiday decorating tips from Carrie Kelly Designs And Boutique.

The front door of a home is the first thing a guest will notice. Welcome guests with a beautiful wreath hanging on the door. Many markets and home stores have selections of ready-to-go wreaths. Instant decor update.

quick and easy holiday decorating tipsWelcome guests with a wreath

Add candles to give every room a warm glow. My favorites are the flameless candles. They look so real and without the mess. Everything just looks better in candlelight. I sprinkle candles throughout each room.

quick and easy holiday decorating tipsquick and easy holiday decorating tipsAdd candles for a warm glow.

 A quick garland on the mantle is all that is needed to make a room feel cozy and decorated. A pre-lit garland is what I always use. Adding extra bows, pinecones, ornaments, and other natural elements creates a beautiful showpiece in no time.

quick and easy holiday decorating tipsHang a garland over the mantle for instant drama

 

Holiday placemats quickly give a high-end look to a dining or kitchen table. I always use personalized placemats to add just that little extra touch. I added a monogrammed napkin and napkin ring as well.  A simple greenery sprig finished the look.

quick and easy holiday decorating tipsSimple place setting

As an added touch, I place a wreath on the back of each dining chair. A simple gold cord looks elegant against the greenery. A noticed addition when entering the room.

quick and easy holiday decorating tipsA touch of greenery to each chair

These are just a few of my quick and easy tips to decorate a space in no time. By focusing on a few key areas the house comes alive with the feel of the holiday season. Let your unique personality shine with Carrie Kelly Designs And Boutique.

Visit the boutique here!

shop.carriekellydesigns.com

carrie kellyCarrie Kelly is an Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Personal Stylist with Carrie Kelly Boutique, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.

You can find her at:

links.carriekellydesigns.com

All About Home, Decor, Fall, Holidays, Holidays, Tablescapes

Personalized Thanksgiving Decor

No Comments

personalized thanksgiving decor

Thanksgiving will soon be here and this year I am looking forward to spending the day with family and friends. This year I really want to make the day special for everyone and a well-dressed table will really set the stage for the celebration. Dressing the table is easy with personalized Thanksgiving decor from Initial Outfitters by Carrie. A few pieces will give any table that decorator’s look. This is how I do it!

  • Personalized placemats are always my first step. The quickest way to change the look of any table design is to simply change out the placemats. I do it for every holiday and occasion. This design would be perfect all season long. Add napkin rings and napkins and you have an instant place setting.

personalized thanksgiving placematsPersonalized Placemats Set The Stage

  • Coasters sit on all of my tables. I have many different styles for a custom look. It is also nice to mix and match to create a custom set. Coasters will also remind guests to be careful with their beverages.

personalized cork coastersCork Coaster For A Tidy Table

  • A personalized coffee mug at each place setting would make a fun take-home gift. A personal cup also cuts down on waste. We all forget which cup is ours when we set it down. Instead of place cards use a cup for a unique design.

personalized fall coffee mugA Fun Gift

  • Add a floor mat to the entrance of the room. To be honest I have used mine on the table as part of my display. A mat looks pretty at a beverage station and cuts down on the mess. Set out cups, drinks, and an ice bucket on it.

fall floor matA Floor Mat Is So Versatile

  • Flour sack towels are another easy piece. They make fantastic napkins. Place one under each plate to create a beautiful place setting. Also make sure to have one handy at a beverage station, dessert table, or appetizer station.

pumpkin flour sack towelA Flour Sack Towel Makes A Great Napkin

  • Welcome guests to your home with a personalized flag. Your front porch and entry are the first impressions guests will have when arriving at your home, make it a good one!

thanksgiving garden flagWelcome Guests 

Initial Outfitters by Carrie can help you create a Thanksgiving to remember with personalized pieces to fit any decor. Personalization is always complimentary. Let your unique personality shine with Initial Outfitters by Carrie.

Shop the Thanksgiving Collection HERE.

carrie kellyCarrie Kelly is an Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Personal Stylist with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.

You can find her at:

links.carriekellydesigns.com

All About Home, Decor, Fall, Holidays, Tablescapes

It’s All About Halloween

No Comments

 

October is here and that means it’s time to get the house decked out for Halloween. I have always loved Halloween. I remember growing up we had so much fun that night. All of the neighborhood kids would get together and Trick-Or-Treat. So much fun! When our son was younger the kids would have a great time hitting every house in our little town. Then they would spend the rest of the night trading candy. Here in the Midwest, we had many cold Halloween nights but that did not stop them!

My fall decor is done so I just needed to add a few things to spook up the place. As with all of my decor I focused on a few key areas of our home. The staircase is always a focal point because it is the first thing you see when you enter our home. I also have my front door open most of the time so the staircase is also seen when it is open. This spooky garland came from Target many years ago. It’s black netting full of lights. I added some bats and pumpkins hanging from it too. A quick way to add drama to the home. I love decorating the staircase each season. My fireplace and built-in shelves in our family room. A little garland, witch’s broom, little skulls, and a hurricane finished off the fireplace. On the shelving, I added witches, trays, and pumpkins. The dining room table look was finished off with skulls, scary words, and garlands. I sprinkled pumpkins that light up, skeletons, and garlands throughout the rest of the house. With the basic fall decor done, adding a few things in for Halloween is easy and I was finished in no time. Enjoy your fright night!

it's all about halloween

Until next week,

Carrie

carrie kellyCarrie Kelly is an Interior Redesign Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Personal Stylist with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.

You can find her at:

links.carriekellydesigns.com

All About Home, Beauty, Decor, Everyday Life, Lilly Pulitzer, Monograms, My Favorites, Tablescapes

5 Things I’m Loving June 2021

No Comments

 

Can you believe it is already June? I hope you enjoyed a nice Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer. I love summer, it really is my favorite time of year. Life seems to be returning to a little bit of normalcy. It has been so nice to enjoy the warmer weather and be out in the gardens. My strawberry pot has really taken off and I had to already re-pot it. I can’t wait for some tasty strawberries. My herb pots are growing like crazy too. These make me so happy.

It has been nice to catch up with friends and enjoy some girl time. I had not seen one of my dearest friends since last September, and it was just wonderful to get together, enjoy a leisurely lunch and wander some local boutiques. I have really missed the time spent with friends this last year. Next week, I am heading to Palm Beach for a little Lilly Pulitzer girls trip. I am really looking forward to a little shopping, cocktails, beach, and friendship.

Here are 5 things I am loving for June. Everything you need for summer decorating, beauty, and fashion. These are my go-to products for this month and I’m sure all summer.

Beauty Society Undercover Blue Light Protection Mist. We are all sitting in front of computer screens more and this spray provides protection from harmful blue light rays. Very hydrating and luxurious. I keep a bottle at my desk at all times and spritz my face often when I am sitting in front of the computer.

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
Beauty Society Undercover Spray

ByTerry skincare. I keep going on about this line, but it is just that good. These three products are in my everyday rotation as well as the moisturizer and mask. The rose scent alone makes me love the product but they are powerhouses. My skin feels so soft and under control. Summer tends to aggravate my skin and these just calm it down. Make sure to check out my full review of luxury skincare on YouTube.

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
ByTerry Skincare

Initial Outfitters by Carrie acrylic mini-me collection. I love fun bright jewelry for summer. These acrylic pieces are so fun. Available in 20 different colors of necklaces and earrings and all personalized with a single initial. I plan to mix and match colors and wear these all season. Perfect with sundresses.

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
Monogram Acrylic Jewelry

Juliska Seaside Estate plates. I was looking for a new design for my summer dining table when I came across these in a boutique. So fun and that became my new summer dining table design starting point. Exactly what I was looking for and they coordinate with any color palette. This video shows how I created my summer dining table.

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
Juliska Seaside Estate Plates

Summer accessories. I’m heading to the beach and great accessories are a must. The pom pom sunhat from Initial Outfitters by Carrie will be fun for the beach or really anytime. It will match everything. A great pair of Lilly Pulitzer sandals are a must for all of the walking I will be doing. I don’t leave home without a tote. This tote from Lilly Pulitzer caught my eye. The print is all summer to me.

 

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
Lilly Pulitzer McKim Sandals

 

 

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
Monogram Sunhat

 

5 Things I'm Loving June 2021
Lilly Pulitzer Tote

I hope you have found some new products to try out. Summer is a great time to freshen things up. Be sure to watch my video on 5 Things I’m Loving for even more information. If you are looking for more great tips to enjoy summer, make sure to grab the Summer is a State of Mind, 100 Tips for Enjoying Summer here.

Wishing you a fabulous week,

Carrie

Grab your FREE digital magazine, Summer is a State of Mind, 100 Tips for Enjoying Summer Here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFYE0AIPWpgpnNvt8wLhyXUCwa3U7QjNyonsqJjyXNFOqiJA/viewform

 

carrie kellyCarrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Senior Outfitter with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.

Visit my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDW2iJSg7kqylYMuTwfxQmA

Visit My YouTube Channel

All About Home, Decor, Entertaining, Everyday Life, Tablescapes

Summer 2021 Dining Table Design

No Comments

 

Happy Memorial Day. I hope you are enjoying the day with your family and friends. I have been busy around here this last week. I did a small refresh in the master ensuite. It’s amazing what new draperies and artwork can do for a room. Eventually, that room will get a full makeover, but I am not ready to tackle that yet. Summer decorating is finished outside and inside. I am enjoying nice walks in the evening and time to relax by the pond. Installing a pond was one of the best things that we have done. Just hearing the water is so soothing. We have been trying new recipes on the grill and Finn and Ruby are happy to be spending so much more time outside enjoying the sun.

If you have been following me for a while you know I always change my dining table decor each season. Simply changing the dining table and adding a few more accessories creates a new look in the dining room each season. My kitchen, foyer, mantle, and fireplace get a refresh each season too. I really like the change without spending too much on redecorating.

This year I really changed things up. Lately, I have been pairing down my decor and going for something a little simpler and not so dramatic. The drama really comes out during the holidays and winter. My bamboo table runner was the first step. One tall bamboo-style lantern sits in a tray from the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection. Instead of the usual tall vases of hydrangeas, I added glass hurricanes again from the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection. I repurposed the hydrangeas and used them in the formal living room. Something completely new this year is the flower balls. I saw these on Facebook, and they aren’t exactly what I was expecting, but I knew I could make them work. Normally, I add a floral garland down the middle of the table, but I added the floral balls instead for a different look. I like it. Of course, a few flamingos, candles, and flamingos finished the look.

spring 2021 summer table design
Summer Table Design

 

summer 2021 dining table design
Fun With Flamingos and Pineapples

My place settings had a makeover as well. The Juliska Seaside Estate plates are new, and I knew they would be perfect for my dining table. I started with flamingo placemats that I picked up at a shop in Charleston. Pink metallic chargers were next with Kate Spade dinner plates on top. The Juliska plates look perfect on top of the Kate Spade plates. I finished the plates off with acrylic place setting toppers from Initial Outfitters by Carrie. I love these acrylic pieces and can think of a million ways to use them. A combination of napkins and napkin rings made the table complete.

 

summer 2021 dining table design
Acrylic Place Setting Topper

 

summer 2021 dining table design
Juliska Seaside Estate Plates

I will say it took me a little time to get used to this design. It was something completely different, but I am really liking the change.  Stay tuned for updates on the rest of my summer decor and how to freshen up your kitchen for summer in 5 minutes with 5 products.

Until next week,

Carrie

Enjoy a FREE digital magazine, Summer is a State of Mind, 100 Tips for Enjoying Summer Here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFYE0AIPWpgpnNvt8wLhyXUCwa3U7QjNyonsqJjyXNFOqiJA/viewform

carrie kellyCarrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Senior Outfitter with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.

Contact Carrie at: 

pineapplesandmonograms@gmail.com

 

                Visit My YouTube Channel Here

 

All About Home, Decor, Entertaining, Everyday Life, Food, Tablescapes

Springtime Brunch For Two Tablescape

No Comments

 

What a lovely weekend it was here in the Midwest. I was able to finish my pots and hanging baskets and enjoy spending time outside in the sunshine. My herb pots are center stage right outside my kitchen door. One pot is full of herbs for cooking and the other is full of herbs for my tea. There is nothing better than picking herbs fresh from my pots. I also planted a pot of strawberries and a pineapple. I really hope the pineapple produces some fruit this year. I also spent a lovely afternoon enjoying lunch and shopping with a dear friend. We had not seen each other in quite some time. I am looking forward to everything Spring has to offer.

Spring is the perfect time for a brunch for two. The weather is warming up and I think we are all ready to get out and enjoy time with our friends again. I love spending an afternoon with a good friend and catching up. It seems like we all have so much to catch up on. I created a beautiful and spring theme table design for a brunch for two.

My Mackenzie-Childs pedestal table is the perfect backdrop for a spring-themed table. The minute I saw this pedestal, I knew that was the table that I had been looking for. My backsplash at my cooktop is the coordinating tiles to match my table. So unique and custom. My chairs are from Pottery Barn, and I love how they complement the table.

spring brunch table for 2
Spring Brunch Table For Two

Pink dinner plates from Kate Spade with Juliska Seaside Estate appetizer plates were the inspiration. Seaside Estate is my new favorite pattern from Juliska. Perfect summer pattern. Personalized pieces are a must for me. I added personalized napkins and napkin rings from Initial Outfitters by Carrie. The acrylic place setting toppers from Initial Outfitters by Carrie is so fun and versatile to use anywhere. Personalized pieces are a quick way to add a custom designer look to any design. Lilly Pulitzer wine glasses and drink glasses completed my place setting.

 

 

 

juliska seaside estate
Juliska Seaside Estate

 

initial outfitters
Initial Outfitters Monogrammed Table Decor

Fresh flowers in a pretty vase are really all you need for a pretty centerpiece. I have been using my Mackenzie-Childs Royal Check pitcher as a centerpiece. I love the blue and white check mixed with the pinks and bright colors. A monogram platter from Taylor Beach Designs will look so pretty with tea sandwiches or cupcakes on it. Nora Fleming pieces are also some of my favorites. I love having one piece and just changing the mini on it for a new look. The flamingo looks perfect on the napkin holder. My monogrammed ice bucket in a Lilly Pulitzer print is a piece I have had for so long. I have a matching tray as well. And brunch would not be complete without a bottle of Veuve chilling in a Mackenzie-Childs wine bucket.

 

lilly pulitzer ice bucket
Lilly Pulitzer Ice Bucket

 

taylor beach design platter
Taylor Beach Design Platter

 

mackenzie-childs wine cooler
Mackenzie-Childs Wine Cooler

I think this is the perfect table for a lovely brunch My brunch menu would be a delicious quiche, salad with a champagne vinaigrette, fruit salad, and of course cupcakes. Check out my YouTube video featuring my Mother’s Day brunch table for two. Are you looking forward to entertaining again?

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also a Senior Outfitter with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog, and co-author of the #1 best-selling book The Art of Connection.