Rustic Christmas Table Decorations 2013 Ideas from HGTV

Bring a rustic yet elegant look to any holiday table with wool, knits, fresh greens and tons of woodsy texture.

By : Marian Parsons

Think Beyond the Linen Closet

Fold a vintage wool blanket and use it as a runner. It sets the color scheme and softens the warm wood of the table.

Bring Texture to the Table

A woven placemat adds rich color and texture to each setting. Remember to have an open mind when shopping: These mats were meant to be used on an Asian-style table, but they are right at home in a rustic theme. 

Mix and Match

Vintage Bakelite flatware from slightly mismatched sets looks perfect side by side. Don’t be afraid to mix and match silverware, plates and glasses. It often looks more interesting than using pieces that are made to be a set. 

Ditch the Paper Plates

Treat your guests to the luxury of using different plates and bowls for each course. Serve soup in simple wooden bowls, follow with a salad on a delicate ironstone plate and finish with dinner on a square wooden plate. A crystal goblet adds a touch of elegance, but the wheat pattern ties in to the natural theme.

The Season of Giving

A soup bowl doubles as a place card holder and carries an ornament for each guest to take home as a gift.

Tag It

A bundle of fresh cinnamon sticks is wrapped and tied in hemp twine. Write guests' names with permanent marker on a shipping tag and tie to a cinnamon bundle to assign seats. Arrange guests in a way that will encourage conversation and new friendships

Forget the Florist

Trim evergreen branches from your yard or an obliging neighbor's tree to serve as a centerpiece. Place fresh boughs in a galvanized bucket and swag a wooden bead garland around the greens. Use leftover Christmas tree clippings to fill in the base of the tablescape. 

It’s All in the Details

Embellish a simple galvanized sap bucket with humble hemp twine and an inexpensive snowflake ornament. Wrap twine several times around the top of bucket, then tie together and create a loop to thread snowflake on. Tie one more knot to secure the snowflake. 

Layer Upon Layer

Fluffy white snowflakes, knit "sweater" ornaments, twine-wrapped candles, fresh greens, pinecones and a stack of old books bring visual and textural interest to this centerpiece. Be careful where candles are positioned in relation to fresh greenery, and never leave candles unattended.

Keep it Natural

Egg-shaped fresh cranberries provide an unexpected pop of color against a craft store bird’s nest. Shop the farmers' market, garden center and the great outdoors to find accessories for this rustic table setting. 

2013 HGTV Smart Home : Kitchen Pictures

About the Kitchen: 
The beach blue wall color extends into the kitchen, where cottage style maple cabinetry and oversized pendant lights carve out vintage style, belying the room's high-tech features, including refrigerator and freezer columns and an induction cooktop with both speed heating and full-touchscreen interface features. "It's the kitchen I would like to have  it's very forthright, it looks great and I absolutely adore the island," says interior designer Linda Woodrum.

Walls, the ceiling and even the island cabinet base boast a vibrant beachy blue hue that invites relaxation. "It's just that really great, highly functioning kitchen," says Linda. "What you need when you are at the beach."

The 6 foot island, capped in quartz, serves as both workspace and casual chic dining area. Bamboo leaf counter stools were selected for their weathered driftwood gray finish and beachy feel.

The kitchen backsplash is clad in clear glass subway tile with strips of random linear tile sandwiched between rows to lend depth and interest. "I love the tilework," says Linda. "I think it's so clean and crisp."

A launch port adjacent to the kitchen houses two smart tablets that allow the homeowner to control the home's security systems; heating and cooling; lighting; the whole-house audio system; shading and swimming pool functions; plus energy monitoring.

Under the 10 foot cook surface, storage space includes drawers and roll trays that keep spices and cooking devices close at hand.

The beverage center offers a picturesque view of the back deck and six feet of counter space dedicated to preparation of cocktails and drinks. A beachwood trimmed undercounter cooler offers three distinct temperature zones for storage of white, red and sparkling wines.

Semi sheer floor to ceiling linen drapes may be drawn to close the kitchen off from the adjacent dining room.

To maximize square footage, walls and hallways are eliminated with one room flowing seamlessly into the next. Unique ceiling and floor treatments designate spaces.

A single bowl undermount sink makes short work of messes, big and small. The natural quartz countertop surface is nonporous and both mold  and bacteria resistant.

Elegant place settings continue interior designer Linda Woodrum's focus on bright turquoise hues. Alabaster glass plates and bowls are paired with bubble glass goblets, recycled glass drinking vessels and porcelain coffee mugs.

Both sleek and hard working, the island conceals storage cabinets, a double wastebasket pullout and a six wash cycle dishwasher.

A bowl of citrus fruits  a nod to location  becomes a focal point when paired with white and turquoise hues.

"I think it's fun in a house like this to go overboard with the color theme," says Linda, who herself mixes and matches colors and patterns of blue and white plates in her kitchen. "You establish color or a theme and then you build on it."

The perfect pairing of vintage and contemporary, pendant lights become the room's piece de la resistance. "I wanted something with pow because the ceilings are tall," says Linda. "I just needed lots of functioning light and I thought they were perfect."

2013 HGTV Smart Home : Dining Room Pictures

About the Dining Room: 
Open to the kitchen, great room and back deck, the dining area transforms to a cozy cocoon when linen drapes are drawn. Formal furnishings in a dark finish elevate the design, while a graphic print area rug grounds the space and lends a contemporary element. "Most of us have lost our dining rooms, which is fine, but sometimes you want that formal, intimate space," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "That's what the drapes do: All that wonderful fabric creates the feel of an intimate party without losing that open living concept."

The area rug's bold graphic print, in a dark espresso color, grounds the space and lends a contemporary aesthetic that counters the room's formal furnishings and dramatic Empire style light fixture, fashioned from wrought iron and washed wood.

A concave dining chest, neoclassically inspired, served as a springboard for the room design. Interior halogen bulbs shine a spotlight on porcelain dinnerware and resin-cast white ribbon coral.

Clear glass taper holders, in chess piece style shapes, lend drama while keeping views unobstructed.

Seating up to eight guests, the trestle style dining table carves out a formal dining space. Dining chairs, upholstered in a celadon-hued fabric, echo the home's subtle beach theme.

The open concept dining area flows seamlessly into the kitchen. Clear glass subway tile, which clads the kitchen backsplash, sparkles gem-like in the distance.

"It almost feels like a cabana out on the beach," says Linda of the dining area. "It's so uniquely special and it's very applicable to people's own lives  having the ability to shut the kitchen off even if you're draping just one wall."

2013 HGTV Smart Home : Master Bedroom Pictures

About the Master Bedroom: 
Inspiration for the bedroom design came from two raffia inlay accent chests that flank the bed. A tone on tone color palette spells serenity while the layering of damask and trellis patterns evokes Hollywood regency style. "I tried to keep it light, airy, clean and very serene because it's a master bedroom," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "And the sandy colors in the palette are very peaceful and relaxed."

With its own private deck and easy access, via telescoping glass doors, to outdoor spaces, the master bedroom offers a luxurious retreat. Hickory floors and an ashwood bed, finished in a dark hue, ground the space and make light colored fabrics pop.

Creating a cocoon like feel, the queen sized bed nestles inside a wall niche. Green accent pieces connect the space to exteriors.

The bed is dressed in linen sheets with a linen box stitched quilt complete with French knot details. The damask pattern of the area rug lends drama and continues the room's focus on bold pattern and design.

Tabletop accents help to tell the story of serenity and compelling design. Pagoda style lamps are paired with faux tortoise jewelry boxes and a scented soy wax candle.

A bedside iPad controls the mattress base, which adjusts to accommodate several ergonomic rest positions. The user can adjust head and leg positions as well as head, lumbar and leg massage, and preset both position and massage modes.

A bed and breakfast style experience is served up for the lucky winner. Crisp white porcelain dinnerware and bamboo style stainless steel flatware comprise a lovely place setting.

Trellis like upholstery fabric elevates the design of a sand colored lounge chair. A creamy wool throw blanket invites one to curl up and nap.

Interior designer Linda Woodrum, not a fan of all-white interiors, selected an ashwood bed in a dark finish to complement creamy linens. "You have to have something to ground your lights." she says. "You do need darks it might be a piece of artwork, a coffee table, artwork or pillows."

A dressing table near the room's entrance commands attention. Graphic design comes in the form of the Greek key fretwork mirror, a trellis fabric tablecloth and filigree embroidered lampshades. The mirror frame and potted ferns add the needed pop of green.

A petite ottoman, upholstered in a refined lattice print fabric, serves as seating and doubles as a tabletop surface.

Wall mirrors reflect light and visually expand the room's already generous footprint.

An LED TV offers the luxury of cinema in bed. Media equipment and DVDs are easily stowed in the travertine topped cottage style server, which doubles as a media cabinet in the master bedroom.

An oversized photograph draws the eye in the room's far corner. "We thought it was really graphic, strong, and had a nice contrast to all the peacefulness in the room without being jarring," says Linda.

Master Bathroom Pictures : HGTV Smart Home 2013

About the Master Bathroom: 
An effective layering of materials and patterns spells success in the spa style bathroom, where honed travertine and glass tile blend seamlessly. The "tone-on-tone, clean" look, says interior designer Linda Woodrum, complements the room's high-tech features, including a toilet/bidet and programmable shower and tub features.

Travertine tile clads the floor, wall and ceiling in the glass enclosed shower and bathing area, where a series of windows beams light into the space without sacrificing privacy.

The room's wet enclosure includes a soaking tub, nested in the 6 foot deep by 3 ½-foot wide bathing area. Why a shower and bath combination? "You are at the beach and maybe you want to come home and have a long soak but first you shower off and then you soak," says Linda.

The 7 foot vanity, capped with quartz, offers his and hers sinks. Bayberry bouquets and an African violet lend an infusion of color and pop when paired with ceramic candle lanterns and condiment plates topped with imported French milk soaps.

Clear glass encompasses the wet enclosure, while a wall of frosted glass offers a buffer of privacy in the water closet area while allowing sunlight to stream through.

The oversized vanity mirror reflects light and visually expands the size of the space. A mercury glass lamp placed atop the counter surface continues the focus on reflective surfaces.

2013 Small Modern Apartment Decorating Ideas from BHG

A trip to the homeowner's closet provided the design inspiration for this small modern apartment.The statement making patterns, timeless silhouettes, and fun accessories found in the wardrobe were translated into this home design for a look that mixes classic with modern, and sophisticated with fun.