Christmas Decorating in the Kitchen

The greenery is going up in the kitchen. I love the way it smells!

Christmas in the Dining Room

I know that I said yesterday that I don't decorate the same every year BUT some things stay the same. I love the greenery from Home Depot! $10 for 15' of mixed greenery. I just added some frosted pinecones from World Market. So much bang for the buck!

Pantry Wreath

I have always loved these old cookie cutters from my grandmother but I don't like to use them because they make the cookies too thin and crispy. I have been trying to find a way to incorporate them in my décor and today, as I was walking around my house with this bare wreath, I figured it out. I decided first that I wanted the wreath on my pantry door and then it just clicked. Pantry ~ cookie cutters! A HA!  It just came together like: "You got your peanut butter in my chocolate and you got your chocolate in my peanut butter." kind of thing. Don't you just love it when that happens?

sharing with ~

Beyond the Picket Fence

Savvy Southern Style

The Shabby Nest

Halloween Then and Now

  I changed up the Halloween exterior this year a little bit. It's all about pumpkins and crows. Oh, and a few skeletons are hanging around too. I don't know why but it is taking me a long time to decorate this year. I can't believe that Friday is Halloween already. I really need to get my act together.

Halloween Dining Room Table Setting

I love candles year round but I think they're especially fitting at Halloween. Nothing says Halloween to me more than a silver candelabra. I can just see someone in the 1800s walking up a creepy staircase with one. I decided to go with a little more sophisticated table setting than in the past. Last year, you might remember the head on the silver platter. I'll probably let the kids do their thing with the breakfast table.

Touring Through Blogland

Hi ya'll! Welcome to the Decorating Duchess. My name is Alyssa. Whether you are an old friend and follower or are just visiting for the first time, I'm so happy you're here.



With my boys Jackson and Gage

 I don't usually do tours so I'm new at this, but I couldn't say no when my friend Christine at Little Brags Blog invited me to join in. She is by far the most friendly blogger I have "met" and has been very encouraging to me. Her blog always makes me smile especially when she adds in that cute little bunny of hers. She has a very warm rustic style in her design which I, of course, appreciate. Be sure to stop by there too on your tour!

Junk Gypsy Inspired

HGTV Magazine

I'm taking a little break from the Master Bedroom to give a shout out to two girls who totally inspire me to be more creative and fun. If you haven't heard of them or had the pleasure of watching their show, you can check out The Junk Gypsies on GAC (Great American Country channel) on Thursday nights at 9/8c. Their new season started last week. I spent the entire day last Thursday binge watching last seasons episodes and I was so impressed by their ability to take junk and transform it into treasures. Their style mixes rustic with glam as you can see from the photo above. Their look is not very practical but boy would I love to live in their world. Their look is dreamy and whimsical and as one of their customers said on the show, " I want to be a Junk Gypsy when I grow up."

How to Make a Really Long Curtain Rod

After I painted the bedroom white, I knew that I needed to add drapes for some color. The problem was that this is a very wide expanse of windows and I was having trouble finding a rod long enough, even one that expands. I'll show you my solution...

"This Year was a Blast" Bulletin Board

This year the school's theme was space so it was easy to stay with that theme for the end of the year bulletin board because it was a "blast"! Here are some close ups...

"Spring into Action" Bulletin Board

This Spring we had our school walk-a-thon, bike rodeo and field day so it made since to do a "Spring" into action board. Here are some close up details...

Valentine's Day School Bulletin Board

Hi everyone! I know it has been a long time since I posted. Both of the boys have their birthdays in January and love to stretch them out as much as possible. (A trait they learned from me.) If they were younger, I would be posting about the elaborate party decorations, cake and goodie bags all in the theme of the event of course, but we are beyond all of that. Now it is bowling and laser tag, pizza and candy. Not as much fun to plan but definitely easier for me!

Chic Closet Inspiration

In Style

I needed a little inspiration to start on my closet. What is more inspiring than this? There are so many things that I love about this closet. It is so chic! The cedar plank wall is genius. I love the mix of its rustic vibe with the elegant mirrored vanity. Who wouldn't want to stand on that rug with bare feet?! I also love the risk-taking twist of a black chandelier. Just dreamy and so original.

Getting Organized in 2014

 I don't know if everyone that likes to decorate is like me in that they thrive on being very organized. It all started when I was a child. I remember arranging and rearranging my room and closet so it was up to its maximum efficiency.  I had to know where everything was and always put "like" things together. I wasn't one of those "messy" kids. I was a parents dream. Often, it didn't stop in my room but would spread into the rest of the house as well, organizing drawers, cabinets and anything else I could find. The organizing would then lead me to notice that furniture needed to be moved and these pillows would look better in this room, etc. Do you see where I am going with this? If you're like me you do. Organizing leads to decorating and is a major component of it . Basically, I think having a functional room is where all decorating should start.

HGTV