Oh Christmas Tree...

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday of the year.  I just can't wait until it's socially acceptable to start playing Christmas music at the store.  The rest of the year I have to secretly listen to it so I'm not subjected to ridicule by the masses.  So what if I make my niece and nephew listen to Mariah belting out "All I Want for Christmas is You" while dropping them off at summer camp?

Christmas is the season of giving and there are memories to be made around every corner.  People are at their best at this time of year.  So get in the spirit, decorate early, and spend some quality time with your family while giving something back.

We at The Summer House are all decked out for the holidays.  Stop by to see our ornaments and holiday decor so you can get inspired for your own holiday design.  P.S. we are open on Sundays from noon to 5 until Christmas!

White feather tree available by order only. $350.  Various ornaments from $4 to $20.

6' birch poles add a classic holiday feel without going overboard. $23 each.

Our Christmas display.  Set of vine reindeer $98 each.

Pair of vintage Flexible Flyers on loan from Megan's family.  Love it piled high with presents!

Antique dough bowl filled with moss balls, crackle spheres in two sizes, and oversize pine cones.

22" round holiday wreath. $90.

A carved deer head gives a great cabin in the woods feel.  $500.  Merry Christmas glass vintage style ornaments $12, glitter reindeer ornament $18, and vintage style candle ornament $17.

Glass Christmas trees again offer a hint of Christmas without being too overwhelming.  $56, $81.25, and $112.50.  The Fifth & Madison candles have been a huge hit with the gift giving crowd.  The wonderful holiday scents become even more festive when you hear the crackle of the wood wick. $35 each.

Glowing mercury glass Christmas tree. $30.  Glitter pillar candles $20.  Hand blown hurricanes $30 and $40.

Collection of mercury glass hurricanes, candle sticks, and votive holders. $10-$56.

Gold holiday collection with Holly tea towels.  Gold bird plates, mugs, and dipping dishes each come as a set of four.  Gold votives and gold glitter candles.

Close up of the gold bird plates! Black or clear lucite placecard holders.

Another quick hostess gift or stocking stuffer already wrapped.  Small silver frames in round, square, or rectangle. $12.

This youthful blue house is covered in glitter and definitely adds something special to your holiday decor. $115.

One of our favorite holiday treats!

New Pillow Line at The Summer House

We are so excited about a new line of pillows that we are bringing to the store.  These pillows just arrived on Saturday and I don't think they are going to stay long.  They are handmade and totally spectacular.  They'll add an interesting accent to any room that could use a quick refresh.  We can take orders and other colors and styles are available.

Our Caroline sofa pairs well with these linen pillows in aluminum and crystal detail

13x20 silk pillow in blue.

20x20 natural linen pillow with matching blue silk piping and blue embroidery.

Aluminum linen with Greek Key embroidery in cream.

Can't get enough of this crystal button!  The reverse has the button without the crystal.

 

Hurricane Relief Assistance

We are all too familiar with the devastation Hurricane Sandy has caused in parts of New Canaan and the tristate area.  We at The Summer House want you to know that we are all in this together and are here to support you.  The Summer House is doing its part by offering a few different things to pitch in and assist with recovery and bringing a return to normalcy for you and your families.

First, we are offering a 15% discount from now through Thanksgiving on any special order to replace items that were damaged during the hurricane.  Please come see us and we will extend the 15% disaster relief discount on anything from lighting to pillows, and dining rooms to sofas.

Second, from Monday, November 5, to Monday, November 12, we will be taking 10% of every sale and donating it to the disaster relief efforts.

Finally, Kathleen Ho, our Manager and a professional home organizer, is extending her services at a 20% discount to help get your home back in order in time for the holidays.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help and know that we are here to support the community.


Thank you,
Margaret Schwartz & Megan Freyer
Owners, The Summer House

Return of Wallpaper

Ponti by Osborne & Little

We are having a love affair with wallpaper.  For years wallpaper fell out of favor because it was too traditional and overpowering when minimal was on it's way in.  Lately wallpaper has been making a comeback in a majorly fabulous way.  

At The Summer House we are recovering two of our walls in a funky Osborne & Little wallpaper called Ponti (pictured above.)  We love how it looks like corrugated metal.  You have to really touch it to see that it isn't three dimensional.  This wallpaper is a good fit for us because it complements our industrial space and gives us a modern vibe that we love.

Whether adding glitter to a traditional stripe, jazzing up with some fun colors, or creating modern patterns, wallpaper has come a long way.  We're building our collection so let us know if there is something you want to see.  Here are some of our favorites!

Etosha by Thibaut

Fitzroy by Osborne & Little

Foxglove by Osborne & Little.  My favorite flower.

Kirkos by Thibaut

Best in Show by Osborne & Little.  Adorable for a mudroom.

Mandara by Osborne & Little

Panthera by Osborne & Little.  Also a glittered print and so fabulous in person!

Pirandello by Osborne & Little.  An alternating glitter stripe makes this wallpaper pop.

Trifid by Osborne & Little

Zanetti by Osborne & Little.  Everyone is loving chevron right now so why not put this bold version in your powder room?

Table Top

Flora Danica Royal Copenhagen

I spent four years working at Martha Stewart Weddings and during that time I developed a deep love of table top.  I had such fun going to the table top markets and selecting what I'd have when I own a home.

The great thing about table top now is that the same old rules no longer apply.  You don't need only one pattern for all your pieces.  You can mix and match to make a statement.  Get a funky charger, tea cup and saucer but balance it with an understated dinner and salad plate.  A few hints, make sure you pick a clear concept so it looks cohesive.  And make your silverware is a matching set.

We are coming up on a big entertaining season so before that arrives, go through your table top and see what might be missing or need updating.  Here are some of my favorite patterns that range from traditional to modern.  All photos are from vendors own websites.

Waylande Gregory available at The Summer House now

Waylande Gregory jars special order at The Summer House

Arvington Orange William Yeoward

Flora Danica Fungi Royal Copenhagen

Darley Abbey Royal Crown Derby

Blue Fluted Royal Copenhagen

Blue Dragon Mottahedeh

Ballet Icing Pearl Waterford

Ashbourne Royal Crown Derby

Ruche Royal Crown Derby

Signature Platinum Royal Doulton

Dentelle Blush Waterford

Kilim Wedgwood

Roof Deck

contemporist.com

I visited The Whitney museum this weekend and through one of the windows I saw the most beautiful roof top deck in the middle of Manhattan.  These roof top decks can be an urban oasis or offer a stunning ocean view.  Regardless of town of country, they are perfect for evening cocktails, dinner parties, and some day time lounging.  Summer has flown by but it did get me thinking about projects for next summer.  There are so many creative ideas out there and here are some of my favorites!

designscouting.com

apartmenttherapy.com

elledecor.com

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dornob.com

housebeautiful.com

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houzz.com

inhabitat.com

pinterest.com

veranda.com

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decktiles.org