What Is In That Box?!

I had a delivery at my house last Friday. And there were two very curious canines ready to help me open two largish boxes. There was a label on the outside from one of my favorite retail websites. But pups can't read....so they were anxious to get them open.

Two of these cross-leg stools were inside! I was in need of some extra seating in my living room and had been searching for some affordable stools for awhile. Originally I was hell bent on finding a pair of these:

Photo from Style and Substance by Margaret Russell from Elle Decor

A pair of Jean-Michel Frank stools like this white one used by Albert Hadley . And mind you....I have not given up the search. But I need something in the meantime.

So Nullah and Cooper kept me company while I opened my boxes. They were very patient and did lots of sniffing and playing with wrappings.

They stood a watched while I moved them and inch this way and that.

So here they are, and here they will stay....until I can track down a pair of Jean-Michel Frank stools in my price range. I saw a stool "in the manner of" Jean-Michel Frank that was priced at over $5000 in my online search, so I do not think my new stools will be going anywhere soon. (Perhaps I can have something made.....always an option.)

But I do think Cooper approves.

Halloween Special: 13 Scary-Cool Home Decorations

It's that time of year again... Kids become costumed candy panhandlers and homes morph into graveyards and haunted mansions. I'm burying my inner-Halloween Scrooge this week to bring you 13 (natch!) scary-cool decorative items that you can bring out every year to frighten and delight guests. A few of them are nice enough to keep out all year, maximizing your investment.

Get your holiday started on the right foot

with CB2's Black Crow Doormat


Illuminate your trick-or-treaters with these nifty candle-holders and candles

This Glass and Metal Tabletop Lantern comes from Target



This Hanging Glass Pillar Holder comes from the Sundance Catalogue



This beautiful 20-Taper Tabletop Candelabrum is also from Sundance,
and stylish enough to use all-year-round!

I spotted these Crow Candles yesterday when I was indulging in some retail therapy at Pottery Barn. Aren't they neat-looking?


Creepy but cute

This Paper Mache Pumpkin Basket from Wisteria will hold all your Halloween trick-or-treat loot


Here's a unique party decoration that will have guests shaking their heads

It's Urban Outfitters' Doll Parts Faux Chandelier...
Have guests come in black and they'll wonder who died for your decor.


Here's another unique decorative or gift item, inspired by Dia de los Muertos
It's a Day of the Dead Shadowbox with Married Couple from the usually-light and bright Wisteria


My latest crush

Pottery Barn's Glitter Skull. Don't know why I'm drawn to this dude, but it was all I could do not to take him home!


Here's an all-year-rounder that can hold candy at your Halloween bash and bath supplies the rest of the year


They're Jonathan Adler's divinely-dramatic Druggist Jars


These can hold Halloween cider or treats for tricksters
You can use these Pumpkin Servers from Williams-Sonoma throughout the season.


Here's another year-rounder that can hold dramatic orange Halloween flowers at your party



And look great the rest of the year in your home. These are also from CB2


Wish you had a crystal ball? Play the wizard at your Halloween fest with these!

Williams-Sonoma Home brings you style throughout the year with their Spheres on Pedestals

Color Notes: Orange Crush

Welcome to the latest Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme. One of my colleagues - the talented and lovely Nikki Harmon - is planning colors for her new apartment, so I asked her whether she'd prefer to see Orange or Green noted next. Her answer was a resounding "Orange," so here you go!


Why orange?

Orange blends the warmth of red and yellow, the two primary colors that come together to create it. So you can pretty much use it in the same rooms you'd use either of those shades - e.g., kitchens, dining rooms, home office, study, laundry room.

A deep pumpkin will enhance a library or study. A bright citrus can add a kick to a teen's room or a man cave.


Where not to go orange

I'd avoid orange in a bedroom, as its red tones might cause sleeplessness. I'd also avoid it in a bath or study intended for relaxation. I also wouldn't pair orange with mid-tone woods like golden oak, as the look will just go muddy.


I love orange with...

Pink and purple

As seen in this Monkeyin' Around Sun N Shade fabric from Waverly

Olive, brown and cream

Shown here in Modwall's Lush Tile blend


Navy and pale green

Seen here in this reproduction poster


Organic Matchstick Sateen Shams at West Elm

Orange you excited?

How daring do you feel today? Here are some awesome orange goodies to consider for your favorite room in the house...

Sit pretty on this Egg Chair at Design within Reach


Or on Pottery Barn's Olivia Sofette


Or in Z Gallerie's Soho Pavilion

Go exotic with Gump's Orange Dragon Garden Stool


West Elm's Embroidered Ethnic Duvet Covers

Or Wisteria's Moorish Chest

Go retro with Urban Outfitters' Jet Set Storage Bench
(Reminds me of the 1950s sofa and chairs I grew up with!)


Pottery Barn's Argyle Knit Euro Shams


An Authentic 1960s Phone from Naked Decor, (formerly Home Republic)


Or Urban Outfitters' Velvet Pouf Pillow


Go mod with Jonathan Adler's Capri Bottle Lamp

This surprising Jupiter Bistro Table on Bed, Bath & Beyond's site

An Orange Lacquer Bath Ensemble, also at Bed, Bath & Beyond


Target.com's Pod Chair


Caesarstone's Warm Red Countertops

Enjoy the entire Color Notes series...

Color Notes: A Red-time Story
Color Notes: A Room Full of Blues
Color Notes: The White Album
Color Notes: Purple Haze
Color Notes: Orange Crush
Color Notes: Green Day

Been Working on This:

I have a client who needed a little help pulling an affordable plan together for her little bungalow cottage. She needed things quickly and wanted to be able to buy things herself from retail sources. She did not want to take time to shop at flea markets or antique faires. She just wanted it "done". I think there are alot of people out there who want a pleasing environment, but do not want to spend alot of time putting it together. They have other things that are more important to them. Luckily for us designer types, we LOVE to spend time doing the putting together. And I am all for working within a budget, especially in this economy.

Living Room:
Sofa - Pottery Barn
Chairs - Pottery Barn
Coffee Table - Pottery Barn
Black Chair - Palecek*
Garden Stool - Pottery Barn
Pillows - Crate and Barrel
Side Tables - Crate and Barrel
White Lamp - Crate and Barrel
Green Lamp - Pottery Barn
Mirror - Pottery Barn
Fabric for Drapes: Lulu DK *
Small Cabinet - Owner's

Dining Room:
Large Mirror - Pottery Barn
Dining Table - Ballard Design
Dining Chairs - Palecek*
Sideboard - Bungalow5*
Blue Lamps - Bungalow5*
Pendant Light - Circa Lighting
Art - Oly Studio*
Accessories - Oly Studio*
4 Piece Art - Wisteria

For more information on kd space, click on my website link in the sidebar or just click here.
* These items available through Katie Denham Design

Garden Stools -- Not Just for Gardens Anymore!

I’ve never been a gardener, but I’ve long enjoyed the versatile appeal of garden stools! Maybe you’ve heard of these clever items -- sometimes called drum tables -- as they’ve gained quite a following lately. (It’s both frustrating and vindicating to see them show up as the design tool du jour everywhere I look lately!)

I thought I’d share these flexible seating-occasional table-plant stand-pedestals with you, my readers, as they are a wonderfully colorful, clever way to decorate both your outdoor and indoor spaces!

Here are a few of my recent faves:

From Art & Artifact,
a pair of Lattice Garden Stools combines to serve as a coffee table grouping



At West Elm, their Morroccan Drum Table doubles as a nightstand



Wisteria features
go-anywhere Metallic Chinese Garden Stools in silver and gold



Pottery Barn takes their Ceramic Garden Stool
back outside as a chaise end table

Z Gallerie kicks it up a notch!
Palmer Stools in green or orange add energy to your indoor or outdoor living spaces



Williams Sonoma Home goes traditional
with Decorative Floral Embossed Floral Garden Seat
serving as a side table



While FineGardenProducts.com goes modern
with Angular Ceramic Garden Seat in five colors


Tonic Home gets a little wild
with the Zebra Garden Stool working as a plant stand
(note - photo from Ballard Designs, which is no longer carrying the item)



HOMEdeco-direct makes it rustic
Cinnabar Ceramic Garden Stool could bring Asian flair to country cabin

Coming Soon to Gold Notes:

4/8 Kosher Kitchens - Inspired by Passover Celebration
4/22 Green Theme for Earth Day