Holiday Gift Guide - Michele's Picks

Don't freak out, but Christmas is 40 days away, Hanukkah is 27 days away and Kwanzaa is 41 days away. Basically, it's officially not too early to holiday gift shop. When we were in Home Depot in late October and there were Christmas trees everywhere...that WAS too early (sorry Home Depot, the truth is the truth).

Without any disrespect to Thanksgiving, which happens to be my favorite holiday, it's time to start thinking about (and maybe doing) holiday shopping. So, for the next few weeks we are bringing you each of our picks for great gifts this year. Michele is kicking it off and she's hitting all budgets and all types of gifts - for the hostess, for the in-law, for the obligatory yankee swap at work...you name it.

First up are gifts for the home. They are fantastic as hostess gifts, and also great for just about any homeowner (neighbors, teachers, coworkers, etc.).

1. Hiver Loaf Pan - Not only is this loaf pan beautiful, but it's also perfect for sharing your favorite banana or pumpkin bread as a gift all of itself.

2. Boulangerie Jar Candle - This Anthropologie candle is truly amazing. I have the pumpkin souffle scent and I've received so many "your home smells amazing" comments. I imagine the sweet vanilla & cinnamon and vanilla & fig are equally delightful.

3. Gilded Shapes Monogram Mug - These gold monogrammed mugs would make a great teacher gift filled with chocolates or a coffee shop giftcard. Love the upper/lowercase letters.

4. Boulangerie Jar Candle Set - If you can't decide on one of the Anthropologie candles, or you're looking for a bigger gift, go for the set of four.

Next up are gifts for her. Michele may have snagged one for herself already...

1. Dakota Slippers by Ugg - Now that the weather is getting colder, slippers are the perfect bedside remedy for keeping toes warm. The pom-pom is fun and interesting and something different.

2. Elle Drop Earrings by Kendra Scott - I own quite a few Kendra Scott earrings (I'm a little obsessed) and I also love gifting them to friends for special occasions. These red drop earrings are festive for the holidays.

3. Elisa Pendant by Kendra Scott - This is on my wishlist. Hint, hint.

4. Buffalo Plaid Cape - I love layering in the fall/winter, especially when temperatures in New England are chilly in the morning and warming up in the afternoon. This poncho looks great for errands or work or even a casual holiday party.

5. Faux Fur Vest - Because I couldn't decide what I liked more: the buffalo plaid cape or this vest.

6. Paint Stripe Tote by Madewell - I am in love with this bag and you can find it on major discount at Nordstrom Rack right now. I may have already bought one for myself. It's perfect for storing your laptop and other daytime essentials and comes in various colors with or without the paint stripe.

7. Blaze 59mm Round Sunglasses by Ray Ban - The shape and style of these sunglasses are amazing. They're different than aviator or big chunky sunglasses (I have a pair in tortoise and hope they come back on trend...). They're not too round or too eccentric. They're just right. And your gift recipient will thank you kindly.

And, finally, gifts for him. 

1. Hendren Boots by Ugg - My husband lives in these boots all winter. They are perfect for shoveling snow or long, cold walks to work.

2. Soundlink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker by Bose - These quality speakers connect to your smart devices for easy listening to Jingle Bells or Macklemore's new album...whatever he prefers.

3. Aberdeen Carry-on by Tumi - This travel suitcase is fancy and quality. 

4. Alpha 2 Travel Satchel by Tumi - If your hubby travels a lot, this bag is a great investment. It will last for years and should it ever rip/tear/etc., Tumi will repair it for FREE!

5. Smartphone Projector by Luckies of London - He can watch his favorite football teams this winter on a big screen (aka big wall) with this cool tech gift. You connect this nifty little projector to your smartphone and voila.

Happy holiday shopping! Stay tuned for Sonia's picks and my picks!

- Leah

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Making an Entrance

The entryway of any home is sorta, kinda, very important. Today we're going to explain why it's so very important and how to create your own perfect entryway. 

First off, why is an entryway so important anyway? Three big reasons. For starters, it's the first space you see when you enter a home. If you're tripping over shoes, there's no surface to put down your purse and you're constantly losing keys because the key bowl is in the backyard for mudpie purposes, your mood is going to sharply cave. Second, your entryway should give guests welcoming vibes, not deter future visits. Third, an entryway sets the tone for the entire home. Do you want that tone to be chaos...or even just meh? Or, do you want it to be HIGH TEN, this place is the jam.

Now we're clear on the why, let's dive into the how. How are you going to create function, charm and beauty all in one, often little, space? The formula is pretty straightforward: storage + mirror + texture = entryway goals. The storage is for all the stuff you enter a home with and immediately want to take off/put down. The mirror is to bounce around whatever natural light is available and is also for the much needed hair and teeth checks before you head out or settle in. The texture is to provide that sense of cozy, comfort and welcome you want to feel when you come home.

rug / wood milk crate with chalkboard / mirror

This entryway is from our Essex Project. Talk about entryway goals. The storage is fantastic and covers all the bases. Shoes and school bags will be tucked away in drawers, coats neatly hung and everything else hidden in crated storage. The crates even have chalkboard fronts for beautiful, functional labels. The mirror is a little hidden in this photograph, but it's across from the bench. Check. And we added texture with the herringbone tile pattern, beadboard, chevron rug, basket and that sneaky plant hiding in an upper cubby. 

Now the Essex Project entryway is pretty big. What if you don't have as much space? What if you have a lot less space? The formula still works.

rug / similar basket planter / mirror

The entryway from our Southend Project is minimalist by design, but still hits all the key elements. The bench and baskets are surface and storage to handle the stuff. The storage element was not as critical in this design because there's a large closet (not photographed) to handle most of the clutter. The mirror is extra large because the natural light in this entryway is extra limited. Texture is everywhere to balance the minimal vibe: under bench baskets, rustic wood, tufted pillow, patterned rug, and a snake plant in a basket planter.

Mirror (get 5% off with code 4E318) /  Console Table (get 5% off with code 4E318) / Rug

This entryway is from our Windsor Project. Like the Southend Project, storage wasn't overly prioritized in this space because a separate, family entryway has storage galore. The console table and large baskets are just enough. The window pane mirror hits the mirror element and also provides some texture. More texture comes from the rug, cotton stems, baskets and plant, which give a polished, but cozy feeling. 

For the record, we didn't add a separate plant element to the formula because plants are covered under the texture element and because we assume you know that plants should be in every room...and space...and corner. 

We would love to hear about and see (tag us on Instagram) your entryway makeovers! Did the formula work for you?

Other Entryway Favorites

Windsor Project - Entryway

If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook, you may remember seeing this moodboard a while back. 

Today we're showing you how this vision came to life with a mini reveal of a BIG project we've been working on. It's kind of a sneak peak. A trailer. Who doesn't love a good trailer?! 

This is the entryway of our Windsor Project.

And here's a side-by-side before and after photo - such a fun transformation.

BEFORE

AFTER

This is the formal entryway for the home - there is a separate, family entrance off the garage. This meant we didn't need to focus on coat and shoe and key storage (much like our Southend Project). Instead, the goal was to create a beautiful and welcoming space with a touch of function.

We started with the key pieces - a console table, mirror and light fixture. Proportion was key. This is a relatively big space, so we needed pieces to fill it but not overwhelm it.

The console table is great because it's substantial and at the same time the open, arched design keeps it light. We chose a window pane mirror because it's elegant and almost architectural, which plays well with the wainscoting and crown molding. And, of course, it reflects the natural light streaming through the front door. The pendant light has no glass (easy to clean) and the open, round design compliments both the mirror and the table.

Next came the fun, finishing touches. The faux cotton stems are so beautiful we had a hard time parting with them. They look so real! The little plant (pepperomia), on the other hand, looks so fake...but it's real. And the cute, gray/blue pot is self-watering. Did you know such a thing existed? Perfect for the plant lover whose love isn't shown in proper watering. The vintage books are another favorite find. Sonia went to a local used bookstore and scored as many vintage art books as her little body could carry (hint: you'll see more vintage books when the full project is revealed). 

This transformation is a wonderful example of how small spaces can have big impacts. Don't underestimate how changes to small and seemingly insignificant corners of your house can affect your whole house (and mood!). Starting in the nooks and crannies of your home is a manageable way to give you motivation to tackle the bigger projects.

Here is your source list to shop these finds. Enjoy!

Console table - Houzz (get %5 off with our code: 4E318)

Rug - Magnolia Home

Mirror - Houzz (get 5% off with our code: 4E318)

Pendant light - Boston Interiors

Recycled glass jug - Houzz (get 5% off with our code: 4E318)

Cotton stems - Terrain (We got ours at Anthropologie but they're sold out. Boo. Thankfully the dried cotton stems at Terrain are seemingly identical!)

Hurricanes and candles - HomeGoods (here are two similar ones from World Market: here and here)

Baskets - West Elm

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