It's the most wonderful time of the year...

(click on the image to see the deets)

It's my first year living in Savannah, so I have yet to witness this huge event that happens every year in the Downtown Design District - the Holiday Walk! All of the stores in the district stay open late and have what I'm understanding to be a massive block party with great sales, food and drinks, and some serious holiday spirit.

See you there!

-Kathryn

Gift Guide - Monograms

Take a look at your calender. Only 3 weekends left to shop before Christmas! Unless you're one of those crazy last minute people that is out shopping until doors close on Christmas Eve...this post isn't for you. Anyhow, the point is, it's time to focus on your holiday shopping. Thanksgiving is sadly over and it's time to get some get some exercise in - that is, for those that consider shopping a sport. So now, every Monday until the holidays, we're going to list a few items we have in the store that would make great gifts, so read on. We'll start with the monogrammed items this week as you'll want to put your order in ASAP to make sure it's under your Christmas tree in time.

First and foremost, you want to grab a bag or two before they're gone. They barely stay on the shelves, especially around the holidays. We have a few varieties of them -

 

First up is the classic burlap tote with ties, $28 for the bag + $15 for the monogram.  

  

For a more modern look, try the Natural Jute Shopper Tote. You can choose from one of eight monograms and thread colors to personalize your own, for only $25! Totally affordable.

Same deal with this bag, the Jute Overnight Bag, except this one is bigger - it actually fits a rolled up yoga mat perfectly. $25 and it's yours!

Next on your shopping list should be another No. Four Eleven classic - the monogrammed linen pillow.

$75 + $50 to monogram it with one of our standard monograms or, get creative and work with us to create your own monogram for $100.

Now onto your table, our top sellers right now are the SFERRA Festival Linen Napkins. We have added all 101 color options to the website finally. Another item you'll want to place your order for sooner rather than later as we don't carry the colors in stock, we'd be crazy (and out of space) if we did. Buuuut, they look pretty fantastic with a monogram. Also, keep in mind they're machine washable...I've noticed that people are too afraid to actually use the napkins that they buy, especially when they're monogrammed. Seriously people, if you're going to do that, you'd be better off framing them and putting them on the wall as decoration.

$11.25 per napkin + $15 for the monogram for each. We usually sell them in sets of 4 or 8, so you're looking at $105 for a set of 4 monogrammed dinner napkins.

If you're looking for something a bit more casual and fun, take a look at our pom pom throws. A steal at $60 and you can add a monogram for $20. Right now we have two orange blankets, one in blue, and a few white ones and one in a beige-y/off-white color on the shelves.

 

Pretty enough on it's own...

 

...but way better with a monogram.

Speaking of things that look better with something else, who likes a tissue box on it's own? Stylishly cover it up with a tissue box cover from Matouk.

 Take a look at them here. 

 

And here it is, with a monogram. Honestly, who thought of this? Genius. $39 for the cover + $15 for the monogram. This would win for most unique gift.

Okay, that's all I will share with you today. Five ideas which all happen to be for under $125. If you want some more ideas of things to monogram, check out our bath linens, all of our bedding, and our table linens. Oh and don't forget the rest of our pillows, throws, and I haven't even mentioned our baby gifts. It's probably best you spend the next 20 minutes looking through the entire website, you know, just to be thorough.

Stay tuned for our gift guide for those with a tight budget, with no budget, and then a gift guide for those with no time budgeting skills with our last minute roundup of great gifts. Might as well bookmark/follow this blog now, we promise to be well worth your time.

-Kathryn

101 ways to dress your table...

Remember that SFERRA party I blogged about two weeks ago? It was a huge success and even days after the party we had people bringing in their china to match to one of the 101 color options in the Festival Linen collection.

All 101 colors - looks kind of intimidating but that's okay, we can help.

I figured that since not everyone is lucky enough to live in Savannah and be able to stop by the shop and do the same, we wanted to make this amazing collection available to everyone. Now you're probably thinking that you can get colored napkins anywhere, which is mostly true, but it's not everywhere where you can put a custom monogram on them. Since we have a policy where we don't monogram products that we don't sell, it's probably best that you shop with us. We have now uploaded all the color choices for the Festival Dinner Napkins here so you can shop every single color. If you need some help, email us a photo of your china and we'll do our best to match it for you and help you pick out your style and thread color for monogramming. Heck, we'll even gift wrap it for you if you want!

Simple as that. Such a perfect gift during the holidays, hint hint. Thanksgiving may be over but Christmas is a mere 30 days away!

This is kind of a big deal.

Two important things are happening on Friday and Saturday in retail-land. First, we all know about Black Friday, which I think should really be called Black Thursday since apparently all the sales are starting on Thursday night. What's the point of even having Thanksgiving then!? Anyhow, on to the important stuff...

Yes, we're taking part in the madness. Now on to the next big deal...

Have you heard what's happening on Saturday? American Express is sponsoring Small Business Saturday, a day to support small business owners, help fuel the economy, and invigorate communities across the country during the busiest shopping weekend of the year (yeah, I copy/pasted that from the website). We love this idea, obviously, so to support it and thank the customers that will hopefully shop with us, we'll extend our 25% off Black Friday sale through the weekend. If this isn't enough of an incentive in itself, get this - if you have an American Express card, you can get a one-time $25 statement credit when you register an eligible American Express Card and use that card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26th. I don't know about you, but I'll take free money whenever I can! This Small Business Saturday deal is a win-win situation if you ask me.

In case you're in Savannah, we'll be open 10-5:30 on Friday and Saturday, and 12-4 on Sunday. See you then!

Decorating with blue & white...

Some of my happiest days are when I open my mailbox and find my favorite magazines sitting there just waiting to be poured over during my next free moment. The December/January issue of House Beautiful was the first one to catch my eye this morning. Take a look at the cover below...

 

A pretty neutral cover but I love the pops of blue, especially the blue and white porcelain. I saw that stool and thought it was the exact one we have in the store! Once I got to work I checked it out and realized we have a really similar one, but the scene is different and the colors are too. Good job, Kathryn, you're way off. I blame my blonde hair. Regardless, it's kinda close, right?

So that got me thinking about all of the blue and white porcelain kicking around this place, especially after I flipped through the spread on the cover house. It's pretty amazing. The abundance of blue and white porcelain acts as the common thread that ties the entire house together. The homeowners collection makes me think they could be borderline blue and white porcelain hoarders, in my opinion, but it definitely works for them. You should really pick up a copy of this issue, you won't regret it. Then, after you've flipped through the spread, you'll want some blue and white goodness for your own abode. That's where we come in.

We have a pair of these large ginger jar lamps that have a very similar landscape to the one painted on the stool on the cover, $480 each but so worth it. Email us to snag the two we have in the store.

(Please excuse the fact that it's sitting on the floor. They were sitting on these Derby side tables but they've been taken away on approval. Sidenote: blue and white lamps look really great on washed grey furniture).

I kept snapping photos of our products with my beloved iPhone, so check out all of the blue and white we can offer...

We have two of these blue and white porcelian jars.

 We have one of these ginger jars.

 These are the most adorable little blue and white lamps.

We have two of these taller blue and white ginger jar lamps, which look really great as a pair.

Now if your purse strings are tight but you still want some blue and white, may I recommend these?

 

Let's all let out a collective "awww!". Who can resist these cocktail napkins and guest towels? Made by Iomoi for Matouk, these have been a total hit in the store. 

There you go. No more excuses for a lack of blue and white in your home. The best part about blue & white porcelain? It never goes out of style so you know you're making a worthwhile investment!

Mini GTL (get the look, not the other GTL).

Does this image look familiar? Thought so. Chances are if you've read a decor blog lately you've seen this image re-posted a hundred times. Well, here it is for the one hundred and first time. 

I first saw the shot in the November 2011 issue of House Beautiful. At a first glance I love the dark wall in one of my favorite Benjamin Moore colors - Iron Mountain. Contrastingly (yeah, that's a real word, I looked it up) anyone that knows me knows how much I love white, especially white on white on white, so I love the white lamps on the white marble top tables next to a white bed with white linens. Which brings me to the point of this blog - the bedding. I'm pretty sure it's not the floral-y, bird-y (not real words), colorful coverlet that makes the bed stand out, it's the bold monogrammed pillow shams. 

I always tend to lean towards more modern designs, so I like the super simple and clean lines of the black border. Although it's not done very frequently, I like just one letter on each pillow, and I like it even more when it's two different letters.

Do you like this too? Well, you're in luck, we can recreate this very look right here for you. I would suggest using a Matouk sham, which you can order by clicking this, with the same black on white color scheme. For some similar styles, try these: 

 Lowell

 Newport

Mayfair

 

Meridian

The next step is to go here and pick a monogram. Want us to design a custom monogram for you? Click this and shoot us an email. Then, once we have everything, we'll embroider the pillow sham right here in the store. Our girl Skylar is a total pro and they come out perfectly every time. 

So there you go. From the pages of House Beautiful right into your own home. Oh, and Christmas is in 39 days, might want to get on this ASAP if you're thinking about gifts!

Telfair Art Fair today!

I really want you to read this blog post but right after you're finished you need to turn off the computer and go out to the Telfair Art Fair. Got it? Good.

In the store we like to feature and sell the work of local artists, I mean, who doesn't? One in particular has been great to the store and her work is stunning. Katherine Sandoz is definitely one to keep an eye on as her success just keeps getting greater and greater. We had a few of her landscape paintings of coastal Georgia scattered around the store and everyone loved them. You can also check out her work at shopSCAD and 1704 Lincoln in Savannah, and I encourage you to shop at her online boutique.

I was browsing her website this morning and took a few screen captures of my favourites...

get it here.

 get it here.

get it here.

 get it here.

get it here.

Seeing this should be enough of a reason to head down to the fair to see Katherine, no? Besides her there are many, many other artists showcasing their work - everything from baskets, to jewelry, to sculptures and textiles and fibers. There are only a few hours left to enjoy the fair! It's a beautiful day in Savannah, go enjoy it and get cultured. Tell Katherine we said hi.