Pepper Design Blog

Home for the Holidays

Since this is our very first Christmas at home (we usually travel to one of our original hometowns) we’re opening up the house for family to come and visit us!

My family arrived just yesterday afternoon and I had just a bit of time to add a few final touches to our Christmas decor. I wouldn’t have worried about it considering the mall madness this time of the year, but I came across this feathered wreath on a recent outing which reminded me very much of these DIY trees. Plus at 50% off at Z Gallerie, I just couldn’t resist.

A bit of ribbon and two thumbtacks on the reverse of these frames for hanging and our bathroom received a bit of Christmas cheer.

This is definitely a doable DIY project as well, the wreath is actually made of styrofoam (hello Michaels or Joanns) and the feathers are layered just as the trees are. That added glitter detail is fun too. Note: if you attempt to tackle this on your own, choose the lightest wreath material possible. The thumbtack trick was great but definitely wouldn’t work for a thicker, heavier wreath base.

I tackled a bit of holiday baking earlier this month and these cookies were delicious! I highly recommend this Ultimate Ginger Cookie recipe for a cookie exchange or just nibbling around the house. Those big chunks of crystallized ginger seal the deal.

AND before I leave you today, check out this really neat time capsule ornament idea (thanks for sharing, Anna!). I think I might start this tradition with my little one next year – what a great way to capture the memories (I would insert funny words, phrases, likes and dislikes, etc.) of your kids as they grow up.

Can you believe it… tomorrow’s Christmas!

A Merry Modern Christmas

This Modern Christmas photoshoot by Sitting in a Tree is so fun. I love that it’s full of non-traditional colors (no red or green to be found), shapes and patterns - it’s creative, contemporary and a neat spin on the usual this time of the year!

The playful patterns are the best! Oh how I’d love a linen closet full of turquoise stripes and yellow geometric prints. Mix that with a bit of fuchsia, glitter and gold and you have yourself a very merry modern Christmas.

A few of my favorite ideas to steal: individual trays as place settings (you can buy these for just a couple of dollars each at online stores such as Oriental Trading and paint em up any way you choose), confetti ornaments (another great DIY project) and tree branch centerpieces wrapped in book pages (a quick coat of white spray paint and a dash of white glitter would be another sparkly alternative).

The entire design, including home decor inspiration, can be found here.

The shoot was set in San Diego and staged to replicate a new couple’s first Christmas – out with the old traditions while welcoming in the new. Photography by Joielala.

“Christmas is Coming…”

Do you remember singing that song in grade school? It went something like “Christmas is coming the geese are getting fat…” – that first “Christmas is coming” line has been playing again and again in my head all week! Odd Christmas carol to be singing, I know.

We dressed up the home as usual this year and I thought I might take a couple of quick pictures to share what the holiday spirit looks like at the Spenla house.

This year we added a new baby stocking to the mantel! We’re expecting baby S any day now (my official due date is the 29th). We put up our tree the first week of December and my love of all things bulb ornaments quickly took over. This year I added lime green, hot pink and baby blue sets to the mix but we usually keep it pretty classic in terms of the ol’ green and red theme.

A few of my favorite new details include manzanita branches with mini ornaments (next to my diy sweater vases which are staying for winter) and a great Kohl’s ceramic deer head find (he resembles a reindeer for now but I think I’ll keep him out all year long).

I found these two red bulb candlesticks on the 90% off shelf last year at Von’s – surprisingly their little floral department has the neatest holiday decor and it’s always heavily discounted the week after that holiday (be it Easter, Valentine’s Day or Christmas). Here are my white feather trees again and a red beaded garland strand (cranberry-ish) hanging from a window and full of our Christmas cards from family and friends.

Sorry for the poor lighting – I love how the room looks lit up at night but I realize that it doesn’t capture too well on film.

One of my favorite pieces to pull out each year is a thrifted gold star that I use for the top of the tree. I also made a simple tree skirt out of faux sheepskin fabric from the local discount fabric shop (inspired by this awesome duo), kind of reminds me of snow (especially since we don’t get a white Christmas in San Diego) at the base of the tree.

Feeling inspired to crash a few more holiday homes? Check out this link party by Nesting Place. Just five short days until Christmas!