Dollar Days

You do not have to spend a lot of money to set a pretty holiday table. Shop the supermarket, the dollar store, and go forage in your back yard.

I did a TV segment about doing this. To prepare for a segment I lay everything out on my dining room table a couple of days before, a kind of sketch and dress rehearsal of what I want to present.

Domino also did a nice little tutorial on easy pretty table settings.

Domino

Domino

Domino

I take photos of my styling jobs for my records, which I now share with you. The settings are not complete, but you will get my thought bubbles.

Use a non Christmas color - This placemat was 97 cents, the ribbon was $2. for a roll, the notecards (which I fold in half) were $5. for a box that will last forever, tea lights in a jar, and all the china and glassware are things I have

This is the nature inspired setting - I use all my white dishes - Bird and nest from the dollar store - Napkin and runner made from a hardware store canvas drop cloth, ditto for twine used as a napkin ring that I tucked a sprig of rosemary into - Place card is a gift tag- Note the frayed edge on the napkin that enhances the natural vibe of the setting - Just cut and rip the drop cloth - It rips in a nice straight line

I foraged in my yard for "flowers", in this case white berries from a night blooming jasmine

Sure you can use paper napkins - These came from the dollar store - I rolled it like a diploma and put a ribbon band around it - Ribbon was a dollar too - And I added little gold stickers (also $1.)  to coordinate with a vintage glass that has a gold medallion design on it - The placemat is paper, and who doesn't have a glass bowl and ornaments to use on the table

Classic red and green  - I used a red melamine plate  and red napkin I had, with a green charger I found on clearance for 50 cents - Cranberries as vase filler, an apple as place card holder -  Plaid ribbon from the dollar store _ I also added a plaid dish towel as a placemat that you can see in the TV segment

Cranberries as vase filler for candles or flowers

The premise is simple:

• Stick to one or two main colors
• Use all of the things you have and mix and match, and layer
• Break up that supermarket bouquet into small posies, and forage in your yard
• Use fruit as vase filler, place card holder,  or in a tablescape
• Use jars for tea lights, use lots of candlelight
• Use ribbons and twine for napkin "rings"
• Get a canvas drop cloth and cut it into a table runner and napkins
• Use a dish towel from the dollar store as place mat
• Use place cards - You can cut a note card in half
• Don't be afraid to use paper napkins or paper placemats 

Enjoy yourself - a pretty table makes even tuna sandwiches look and taste better (so said my TV host Sally Ann Roberts).

Sally Ann Robert and Valorie Hart talk about cheap and chic table settings on WWL-TV

See you at the dollar store!

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I Showed You Mine, Now Show Us Yours

A blogger said that holiday decorating for design/decor  bloggers is like our Oscar time. True enough we enjoy decorating above and beyond normalcy. So my publisher Glitterati wants to see your seasonal decor.

Four years ago - the first tree with Tiffany colors and boxes

Three years ago

Last year

Two years ago in House of Fifty

Last year

Last year

Just go to the Facebook page Glitterati Buzz. Submit photographs of your seasonal decor to the Glitterati Buzz HOLIDAY PHOTO CONTEST for a chance to win a copy of my book House Proud: Unique Home Design/Louisiana! (Make sure to use hash tag #houseproudholiday and tag both Glitterati Buzz and Visual Vamp on your submissions!)

And here's a video of my latest Christmas segment of WWL-TV that I just did.

Valoire Hart with Sally Ann Roberts on WWL-TV December 16, 2013

 I show you mine all the time, now show us yours at Glitterati Buzz. Use #houseproudholiday and tag both Glitterati Buzz and Visual Vamp.

Holiday table settings by Valorie Hart on WWL-TV

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Are You Shopping small?

Today is National Small Business Saturday. I know you all have your favorite local stores, We are blessed in New Orleans with tons of great small local shops, and we love them and support them.
Yesterday I did a segment of WWL-TV to talk about SBS, I encouraged folks to get out and buy local, to get something to refresh the home for the holiday season.

The graphic that didn't make it - It shows things you can add to refresh your holiday decor - interior by Valorie Hart, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

Unfortunately time was way too short and the graphics I sent to show what I was talking about didn't get shown. Instead the director had me do live teasers. I don't mind, but it ate into my prep time, including a quiet moment to go over my notes. Live TV is fun, but it is not without challenges.

The refreshing color of  turquoise is introduced to refresh Christmas decor - interior by Valorie Hart, photo by Sara Essex Bradley

I am very appreciative of all the shop owners who allow me to pull merchandise for my various photo shoots and TV segments. So it bothers me when I think I didn't mention someone or something on air.

Thank you to the shops I pulled merchandise from are: AKA Stella Gray, Nadine Blake, Source, Spruce, Eclectic Home, Tommy's Flowers, Modern Market, Belladonna, Gallery Orange, The Shops at 2011, Caravan Finds,

So here's a round up of all the great things I brought to show on air, and where you can get them.
Get out today and "shop small".

Think outside the box sums up the attitude to take when decorating for the holidays -

Ginormous chandelier crystals are great ornaments, and I love the box -  all from AKA Stella Gray

I love this color to mix into holiday decor - A vintage silver dish filled with spools of turquoise velvet ribbon - A nice alternative to ornaments n a bowl - both from AKA Stella Gray

A trio of vintage brass reindeer are so fabulous that they could stay out after the holidays- from Caravan Finds at The shops at 2011 - Small preserved wreath from Source

Bejewelled picture frame and glass dish with vintage graphic from Source

New Orleans pillows are an exclusive at Eclectic Home - Tie them with a ribbon to make them "holiday" - the luscious Pappellina throw is from Modern Market

This vignette has it all! Vintage style mini tree, vintage style turquoise reindeer, and glitter balls from Belladonna - Jonathan Adler ornaments from Spruce - Small preserved topiary from Tommy's Flowers, fabulous oyster painting by Carlos Lopez from Galley Orange

I love these Jonathan Adler ornaments from Spruce - the come in white and silver in a pretty blue gift box

Adding a new piece of art will instantly refresh your decor - Painting by Carlos Lopez at Gallery Orange

Preserved topiary in French pots are good for the holidays and will last you all year long - from Tommy's Flowers - I festooned them with a single Jonathan Adler ornament from Spruce

I love this turquoise vintage style reindeer! Get it at Belladonna

This pouf is for the pets! From See Scout Sleep you just plop it on your furniture to keep pet hair at bay - See Scout Sleep is a line of pet accessories  designed and made in Louisiana using natural materials - The leashes and collars are so designer with gorgeous brass hardware - the Hermes of dogs! You can get the See Scout Sleep line at Nadine Blake

See Scout Sleep - the Hermes of pet collars - but affordable!

See Scout Sleep - The Billie Jean pet bed with a reverse denim cover in hemp and organic cotton filled with recycled fiber fill made from plastic bottles - Shown is the coordinating island (pouf) made to be placed on your pets favorite spot to protect your furniture - get then at Nadine Blake

And check out my segment on WWL-TV!

Add a little sparkle to you holiday decor - Valorie Hart on WWL-TV

Have fun shopping local today where you live!!! 

And don't miss Merriment on Magazine Street tonight 5 - 9. I will be stopping by to sign books at The Shops at 2011.

Cholo shops small and local

List of shops I pulled merchandise from:

Magazine Street
AKA Stella Gray - 2105 Magazine Street
Source - 2103 Magazine Street
Spruce - 2043 Magazine Street
The Shops at 2011 - 2011 Magazine Street
Caravan Finds - 2011 Magazine Street
Belladonna - 2900 Magazine Street
Modern Market - 3138 Magazine Street
French Quarter
Gallery Orange - 819 Royal Street
Tommy's Flowers - 533 St. Louis Street
Nadine Blake - 1036 Royal Street
Oak Street
Eclectic Home - 8211 Oak Street

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Easy Kitchen And Bath Ideas

Vamp TV! Well really WWL-TV in New Orleans who invited me back to talk about kitchen and baths.
So I gathered up some great merchandise from our local Stein Mart, who always has a great selection of home decor accessories, and headed to the television studio.

Watch Sally Ann Rogers and Valorie Hart on WWL-TV

Here's a round up of some images to inspire you to make some quick and easy changes in your kitchen and/or bath.

Add a  lamp in the bathroom (John Saladino)

Hang some art in the bathroom (via Apartment Therapy)

Put art in the bathroom,  and a little table or stool to stack things on, and get a new shower curtain too

Art work and fresh towels are an easy update - get some new scented candles too

Think outside the box

Add art work,  a small stool or table, fresh towels, candles, containers

Add a lamp in the bathroom (Brooke Giannetti)

Add art work and a little stool

A lamp on the bathroom counter is so nice - Get a new soap dispenser and soap dish too

Art work, lamp on counter, and outside the box placement of the mirror

Watch Valorie Hart talking about kitchens with Sally Ann Rogers on WWL-TV

To refresh the kitchen add an oversize clock, fresh linens, and a new piece of kitchen equipment - Stein Mart has some cute letters to display - I spy a letter hanging on the wall

Clean the kitchen! Add a lamp on the counter, art work, a new rug, utensil holders, and fresh linens

I really love a big clock in the kitchen

Get some new accessories at Stein Mart for your kitchen and bath

Need I say more?

It's all here - art work, plates on the wall, lamp on the counter, fresh linens, a new rug...You can do this!

Thank you Stein Mart!

5300 Tchoupitoulas,  New Orleans 

It's really a friendly local store that's been at this location for 24 years!

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http://thevisualvamp.blogspot.com
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