Christmas gift giving is upon us and since we are a generation that seems to have everything we could possibly need already, I’ve been shopping and wracking my brain hard for distinctive gifts for friends and customers.

These gifts are a little trickier to buy because an accent has to fit the home or room of the recipient - and as a Christmas gift you’ll want them to be truly special and well thought out. Thankfully my range is wide because most of my friends and clients are into country decorating, so easy to mix the old with the new.

Accents, collections, distinctive pieces. They give a house personality, make a house a home. Accents can be furniture, rugs, blankets, statues, framed prints, and even lighting. The possibilities are endless when looking for an object that creates a unique and original ambiance.

Here are some creative ideas I’ve been toying with for a few close friends…
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Lighting has got to be one of the most important elements of a room’s decor. It sets the mood, tone and style of the room, and can generate an entirely new atmosphere with the flick of a switch or a turn of the dimmer.

Switch from intimacy to excitement - or the other way around! Whichever way you find more fun!

There are essentially four types of lighting available to us as designers or redecorators…

Accent Lights - truly my favorite. Don’t leave their function just for show. They can endorn a treasure, antique or artwork. They work great in corners or nooks of any room.

Ambient Lighting - the big gun. This is the main lighting source for a room. I love putting dimmers on these so I can have lots of light when I need it or just a general wash of light overall, with the accent lighting turned on for effect.

Local Lighting - Lamps and pendants set about the room for specific activities such as reading, cooking, or game playing. These lights are a little tricky for the designer, who must know the family they’re working for well, to understand how each area of the room will be utilized. read the rest…