freaky friday: let's have a party

Halloween parties are the best!  Your decoration options are endless, but it really doesn't take that much to create a super creepy atmosphere!

Candle light is obviously a key component to any spooky gathering!  Tapers are always a great option because they have a very old world feel:)  

Grab a few candle sticks from the dollar store to spray paint...it's cheap and completely customized!

How great are these blood dripped candles?!?  This is such an easy and inexpensive decoration...just drip red candle wax over a white candle and that's it! 

Instant atmosphere...

Unlike most dinner parties where an arrangement of fresh flowers sit as the centerpiece, Halloween requires a more deadly feel!  

This is so easy!  Seriously, just grab a few branches (with or without leaves), spray paint black and place in a vase.

  If you are using something swallow, like an urn, then just place a little styrofoam in the bottom to hold the branches in place.  To hide the styrofoam use moss, crumpled newspaper or faux spider webs.  

How awesome are the apothecary jars in the pic above?!?  No more candy in mine...I'm going to start filling them with creepy crawlies!

If you want a more of a Halloween glam vibe and less of a dead and dreary one then add a little sparkle!

All you need is silver spray paint!

Now that your table is set with candles and centerpieces it's time to give everything that creep-sleepy-hollow feel!  Cheesecloth is great for this because it drapes nicely and when combined with dim lighting it just looks super spooky (like in the second pic).

Adding a little Spanish moss also helps to create that haunted/abandoned house feel...

Don't forget the cobwebs!  A must for any Halloween function!

 Now that the house is ready...it's cocktail time!

Have a great weekend...see you on Monday!

~the blonde

(images from Coco+Kelly, Eddie Ross, Hostess with the Mostess, Nie Nie's Diaries, unknown, Shelter Pop, Hostess with the Mostess, Better Homes & Gardens, Eddie Ross (2), unknown, Martha Stewart)

dueling chandeliers

I love a gorgeous chandelier, but lately double chandeliers have caught my eye and I can't decide...

These are the first pair I spotted and I'm in love with them...

I think with this high ceiling and open space, two are definitely needed.

(via cococozy)

This pair, I'm a little less sure about...

(love the room though)

(via myfavoriteandmybest)

These chandeliers are a lot of look, and not a very high ceiling, but somehow it works to me??

(via decorista)

A simple, modern duo...

(via bradbourne farm)

(via house of turquoise)

(image: oliveaux)

(image: elementsofstyle)

(via bradbourne farm)

I'm not usually a minimalist, but this is one of my all-time favorite dining rooms.

I don't think it would look nearly as great with only one...

(via my designer crush: Nicole Hollis)

(via musings)

This wicker pair is really cool to me...

(via gingerella)

(image: decorista)

(image: plush palate)

(image: plush palate)

What do you think?

When it comes to chandeliers, do two lights win the fight, or is one light just right?

~ the brunette

fur frenzy

My obsession began when I stumbled across this stunner at Bakers.

It was love at first sight and I wanted to see more:) 

Mongolian lamb fur seems to be popping up everywhere, but most commonly in the form of bags and pillows!
This pricey J.Crew tote has been on backorder since it arrived online.

I think their mini version is super cute...love all the chains.

Foley + Corinna black Mongolian bag = drool worthy!

Love, love, love the black! 

Speaking of black....
I spot two Mongolian lamb pillows...and remember those plates from this post!

West Elm offers fur pillows in several colors and sizes...

and they have this adorable stocking with fur trim!!

These pillows are great for the cooler months because they add such a cozy and cuddly feel to your room!

I think this white is especially nice on this bed!

How fun is this fur covered poof?

Mongolian lamb fur definitely makes a statement and a positive one at that!
Personally, I'm in love...

~the blonde

a colorful collection

If you're going to collect teapots....

you might as well collect teacups...

and if you collect teacups, you might as well collect tea saucers...

(images via: musings)

I collect playing cards but love these beautiful colored collections!

What do you collect??

~ the brunette

porthole mirrors

These classic round mirrors pack a powerful punch.  I have no idea why I love the porthole mirror so much, but I do.  I think it's just a nice change that softens the room a little.

(I originally save this image b/c I love those extra large, comfy stools in front of the fireplace...they are so inviting)

This is such a simple look but still interesting!

Love the white mirror...actually, I just love this room!  Those super dark planked floor with the soft pink walls plus all the white and metallic accents are divine!

And while most hang these great round little beauties above their fireplace...

some hang them IN their fireplace! 
The mirror might look a little bizarre, but you have to admit the room is good!

Oh...and if you really want to dream...look at this fabulous black and gold version hanging over this super glamorous vanity...I'll take it, please!

~the blonde

freaky friday: creepy crafting

I am making a trip home this weekend and it seems my mom and I always end up doing some kind of craft when I go home.  A craft that benefits me - she never gets to keep them! 

The top of the agenda this weekend is completing (starting and completing) my Halloween costume, which will probably not leave a lot of time for other crafts, but I still love looking at ideas every year - especially dear Martha's!

This porch has so much going on - their black feather wreath on the orange door is simply lovely!

This look is so cute with random sized pumpkins scattered all around and simple white candles. 

I am dying for a black framed lantern because it seems like you can do so much with them - I love how they've anchored their candlesticks on the top of the pumpkin!

Overall this is the greatest porch I think I've ever seen.  I keep looking and finding more and more details that I just love.  This could easily be changed from Halloween to just Fall with a few simple "tweaks". 

Another cute wreath idea - candy!!  What goes better with Halloween than candy?!

Another cute touch for the front door?

Fake spiders!  Creepy!

If you have a path or sidewalk leading to your door, how cute are these pumpkin luminaries??  These just have holes or zigzags cut out of them!

I'm pretty sure everything on here was the genius idea of Martha Stewart, but I know for sure this one was.  This table looks like it's floating - it's actually lopsided on top of a black table with a cloth on it - you can see it if you look closely.

The "floating candy" is actually hanging from the ceiling.  Isn't that the most clever thing you've ever seen?!

I'm a big fan of garlands with text - a simple Happy Halloween on circles is really cute and classic. 

I love this table in general - an antique candelabra with drippy candles, old books, a crow and a bowl of candy - I have all these things!  :o)

As I mentioned the other week in this post, taping paper cut-out shapes inside a lamp creates spooky shadows!!  I love the picture of the old-school wedding too - wonder if that was intentional?

Speaking of old pictures - I would never do this to anyone I knew, but I think it would be super cute to find old photographs in the flea market and put googly eyes on them.  These make me giggle!

Flea market finds are so great for Halloween!  I think these old bottles are cute with their witches ingredients listed on them - I think they could've taken this a step further and been cuter, but I love the idea!

Old doll parts in green liquid are very creepy too.  Maybe too creepy for me!

If you're buying a pack of spiders for the front door, this little window scene is clever and easy!  I wish I could remember what they wrote on the window with - I want to say silver paint pens but I'm scared to say that incase they don't come off.  Surely you could scrape it with a razor blade though??

Another ridiculously easy idea that would look so festive on a kitchen counter is this black bean/white bean mix in a jar.  I also spot some candy corn in the background!

Candy dishes really are the way to go - if you can stay out of them!  I love these black and white M&Ms!

Well that's about all the ideas I have "brewing" today!

Hope everyone has a spooktacular weekend!

~ the brunette

(p.s. really apologize for my lack of knowledge on these image sources - I was just saving these ideas for my personal use and never in a million years thought I would be posting them on a blog!)  It's fairly safe to assume they are mostly Martha Stewart though!  :o)