janel holiday interior design: 2012

Sunday, December 9, 2012

...the JHID holiday gift guide...!

All the cool kids on the internet are going "gift list" blogs so I decided to cave in and whip one up myself, dear readers. I've tried to think of everyone on your list...let me know how I did!

1. for the host/hostess...glass Pantone ornaments.
2. for the design loving spouse....a beautiful etched metal candleholder by Tom Dixon.
3. for the wine lover....a canvas Angela Adams wine tote made from recycled sails that have been around the world.
4. for the kiddos...Maharam memory game.
5. for that crafty, hippy aunt/mom/sister..."Diameters are a Girl's Best Friend" necklace.
6. for the book lover...The Complete Universe of Piero Fornasetti.
7. for the bachelor/brother/dad...George Nelson night desk clock.
8. for the boozer/bartender cousin/local bartender...brass bottle opener by Oji Masanori.
9. for the stylish sister/friend/main gay...powder coated steel "Kaleido Trays" by Clara von Zweigbergk.
10. for your friend who loves to entertain....Midas Glassware dipped in gold by Swedish design group, Front.
11. for your architect friend with kids....or no kids...Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye in LEGO format!

For this holiday posting I'm listening to the Ramsey Lewis Trio's Sound of Christmas....it's essentially 29 minutes of jazzy perfection that my girlfriend Kathy reminded of recently:

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

....a holiday party at GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU...!

I was super excited to get an email a few weeks ago announcing that famed, family owned (California's oldest family owned vineyard in fact) Sonoma vineyard, "Gundlach Bundschu" (gun, lock, bun, shoe), or "Gun Bun" as it is affectionally called, was hosting it's annual member's holiday party. I had just joined in July (I have allowed myself three wine club memberships...this was my third so I had to make it good) and was thrilled to learn that they would be hosting the member party in their amazing hillside caves....! Even more thrilling was my hubby agreed to accompany me along this tasty trip North into wine country. Not usually one for the grapes, that guy.

Gun Bun has been family owned since the original 400 acres were purchased in Sonoma in 1858. Today you'll find sixth generation wine makers and family members running the business and doing a darn good job doing so. The grounds of Gun Bun are beautiful.....several areas to picnic and take in the sweeping views of rows and rows of vines and the Sonoma landscape.

We braved the stormy weather that was brewing over the Bay Area the whole week and ventured into wine country for an afternoon of holiday cheer, gift giving (GB collected toys for children and waived their tasting fee all day), tasty snacks, delicious wines and a favorite part for me....sharing an afternoon doing all of the above with my hub.

"When It Rains, We Pour" was the first sign we saw getting into Sonoma.....you know you're going to have a good day.

Hello Kitty and Star Wars toys from us...'natch!

a beautiful handmade dollhouse by a local artisan

entrance to the Gun Bun caves

private dining/tasting room

knocking it back

heaven!

us!

We'll skip the soundtrack and go straight to this hilarious clip about our dear friend, "Merlot":

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

...a few of my favorite (HOLIDAY) things.....!!

oh....hello, December....my little friend! It's a well known fact amongst my closest friends and family that I am a total FREAK for Christmas. Not the I'll-wait-in-line-and-pitch-a-tent-for-a-42"-flat-screen-TV (that I will NEVER understand)...but a big sappy, nostalgic, gift-giving freak lover of Christmas. I remember just being pumped to get our tree when we were kids. We usually had to wait until after December 1st to get the tree so we could properly celebrate my little sister's birthday which lands on that same day. And can I tell you? I was a jerk about it!?! I remember being actually pissed at my sister for her birthday landing on that day....because it meant having to wait a few more days for the tree to GET INTO our living room. Wow. Well, thank goodness I am well past that stage of hurried frenzy. Sort of. I do start the vintage Xmas tunes in our house a bit early. Sometimes before Halloween - I'm not going to lie.

I don't know what it is about Christmas that makes me so sentimental. Perhaps it's the memory of the huge cousin celebrations at my grandparent's house....with open access to sweet treats, fun gifts, belly laughs and late night movies.....the rare moments of seeing your parents relax and laugh when you're a little kid is always the best. I remember plugging in the tree lights when I was a kid and relishing in the moments alone I had in our typically busy living room.....laying under the lights and doing my homework....putting my head completely under the tree and gazing up at passed down ornaments...each one telling a story and making it's mark on my young heart.

So, where was I? Oh, yes! I was going to share a few favorite things I have been spying this year in terms of holiday decor......enjoy! And Happy Holidays!!

1. architecturally pleasing gingerbread homes.
2. i like the idea of wishing a Happy New Year (full of possibility + optimism!!) and World Peace.
3. pink tree?! I say YES, the husband says NO.
4. There's that cute and festive cocktail set again by Altuzarra for Target!
5. A simple, chic, felt wreathe by the folks at West Elm.
6. The most beautiful nativity set by Alexander Girard.
7. the Confetti System did a fun collab with WE this year and this folded + metallic garland was a fav!
8. Modern, gilded, geometric ornaments from LEIF.

What's always on the holiday forefront 'round here:

CB Christmas.....best. soundtrack. ever.

Nat King Cole's version of "The Christmas Song" is quite possibly one of my top 3 songs EVER. Sometimes I listen to it in JUNE just to hear that voice.

I love a white tree loaded with vintage ornaments....!

a Technicolor explosion of goodness. One of my fav movies that I will start to watch on a weekly basis ...starting NOW.

seeing my girlfriend's and family members celebrating and setting traditions with their new families....so dear. Starting their own collections of ornaments and tender stuff like this beautiful stocking made by one of my BFF's for her firstborn. Swoon!!

Do we even need a soundtrack, folks?!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

...the Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection for Target...!

Remember when I posted about the Missoni collab with Target? Thinking I may actually get a few of those pieces? Well that turned out to be a hot mess. The stores couldn't keep stock of anything and the sad single little glass or candle that was left....often shoved and misplaced on a random shelf in the kid's section - was lacking in quality. If you're gonna do Missoni, you gotta match up the stripes and zig-zags, people. The anticipation leading up to it fell pretty short for me, although some cute things did come out of that collab. My co-worker rocks her Missoni for Target umbrella and I love it! I am hoping that Target learned a few tips from that frenzy and that their Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection launching on December 1st, doesn't end up on eBay for triple the price two minutes after those red shirted, beige-pant-wearing peeps place in on the shelves. And hopefully the quality has stepped up a bit. Judging from their pricing on this collection, I am hopeful it has. So, here are my favorite pieces from their look book. You can see the whole book here.

Happy Shopping!