The Clement household loves celebrating Christmas and decorating the home. Even though things are proving to be a bit different this year, we’re looking for new and creative ways to have fun and deck the halls this holiday season. Today, I’ll be sharing a few tips on making Christmas special, even if you’re celebrating away from loved ones.

It’s Never “Too Early” – Do Christmas decorations make you cheerful and lift your spirits? If you answered yes, then it’s not to early to start decorating! I might be breaking my own rules this year but our home is already decorated and we couldn’t be happier.

Light up the night! – This year we went bright and bold with decorations and installed gorgeous lights on the outside. This not only makes us smile but is a special treat for our neighbors at night

We even had the help of a few elves from The Elf Squad Charlotte to help bring in the holiday cheer!

Remember What’s Important To You – Even if you’re not attending typical holiday parties, there’s no reason you can’t set up decorations and keep special traditional alive. For the Clement family, Christmas is much more than pretty deceptions, it’s about celebrating our favorite time of the year together and making memories. My girls enjoy hot coco and baking cookies, so I’ve set up a station in the kitchen where they can easily grab and go as needed. What are your favorite traditions? Think about what’s important to you and incorporate into your decorations this year.

Are you feeling festive? Head over to QC Life to view some of my favorite holiday tips: https://qclife.wbtv.com/decking-your-halls/

Creating a work from home environment can be very exciting yet very stressful for some so here are a few tips to help get everyone situated in what looks to be our new normal for the foreseeable future.

1. Make sure that your space has a door. It sounds silly I know but you need to make sure that you can truly focus on your work and you are able to be closed off from any distractions. Especially with kids most likely at home they will need something to help them adjust to the fact that Mom or Dad is home but that does not mean they are available 24/7. A door will also help to keep noises in and out and keeping your furry friends in or out as well!

2. Get organized! Think about baskets or bins or file holders on your desk or a close by hard surface to help keep your paperwork nice and tidy. A clean and crips work surface is important to mentally stay focused on the task at hand.

3. Technology- you may need to consider an ear bud like the Apple Air Pods or some type of noise canceling head phone, especially if you are on the phone a lot. Also think about your laptop, computer or tablet and where you will plug in to stay charged and ready to go. We rely so heavily on technology these days that making sure all devices are easily accessed and charged is vital to a successful work day.

4. Personalization! It is important to WANT to go into your new home office so adding personal touches like a vase of your fave flowers, family photos, some decor in your favorite colors, a cool chair that is comfy and cute, any pieces that warm your space and make it your own will help boost your morale for working at home.

For more advise on making the best use of your home office space, head over to House Beautiful to hear what other designers are doing to create a space that’s functional, inspiring, and stress-reducing.

Home Design Resolutions

How do 2020 New Years resolutions apply to our home?

Once all of the Holiday decorations are packed away it’s the perfect time to take stock of how you want your home to feel, look and function in the new year. You have a clean slate so take a few minutes and ask yourself these questions:

#1. Resolve to reduce clutter in your home – One great way to do this is to take everything off of your bookshelves and start fresh. Put back only those things that are meaningful to you (like family photos) or enhance the rooms’ appearance. You’ll be amazed at how doing this one thing can change your entire room.

#2. Resolve to tackle some of those home renovation projects you’ve been wanting to do for years – Make a list in order of the top 5 things you’d love to do in your home. Then make a game plan to get it done one project at a time. Sometimes we get bogged down because we look at all of the things that we want to do and it seems like too huge of a task, so we don’t do anything.

Painting the kitchen island in my personal home has been on my “wishlist” for awhile and is one of the things I plan to tackle in 2020!

#3. Resolve to take a chance – Take a chance on using a color that you’d really love to have in your home. Take a chance by adding a design element like wallpaper on a ceiling or wallpapering your entire powder room.

4. Resolve to only bring into your home things that you love – This is one of the biggest mistakes that I see clients make — buying things on the spur of the moment — that look great in the store and then they get it home and it’s too big or too small or just doesn’t work.

5. Resolve to have family friendly spaces – You can have beautiful furnishings and spaces that also function for your busy life with kids, work and pets. It’s one of the things that I focus on everyday with every client.

Check out my recent segment on WCNC for more insight on improving your living space in the New Year.

With the start of a New Year as you plan for a successful year ahead, there is no better time to refresh your space to best reflect other changes and goals you have set for the upcoming year.

Today, I’ll be sharing tips on refreshing a master bedroom. The master bedroom is often one of the most overlooked rooms in the house. Clients will mention wanting to save this area of the home for last because no one else sees the space but themselves. However, this should be all the more reason to make the space pleasing. If it is the first and last thing you see each day. Think comfort, function and of, course style.

Details + Plan + Layout – What kind of bedroom refresh are you hoping to achieve – swapping out bedding for a quick fix, or a complete refresh with new furniture, paint (or wallpaper) and fixtures.

Things to consider – What is the function of the bedroom? Do you use this space simply for sleeping, or could you benefit from a setting area for reading, answers emails, and sipping morning coffee? After determining the function of the room, you will be able to better select the furniture layout.

Soothing Colors – Research suggests that a soothing, natural color palette in a bedroom is one of the best ways to calm the spirit and yield a good night’s sleep

Lighting – I have found that lighting is one of the most overlooked concepts in homes, although when properly done it has the impact to completely transform a space.

Things to consider:

– Swap out bright white bulbs for warm white bulbs

– Install a dimmer to assist with controlling lighting throughout the day and night

– If you have lamps on your nightstands flanking the bed, 30” sized lamps will provide optimal lighting for when you’re seated in bed

– If your bedroom has large, open windows, install draperies with blackout lining to block unwanted light

Quality Makes A Big Impact – Now is the time to invest in your happiness. Splurge on pieces that will make a lasting impact – bedding, window treatments and lighting. While this might be a large investment up front, the quality of the pieces will uphold for years to come – making the right decisions up front means you won’t be buying twice a few years later.

New year, new designs!

It’s hard to believe we’ve rung in the new year. After watching 2019 come to a close, I’m looking back on trends that were relevant throughout the past year and thinking ahead to a new year filled with new design trends.

Today I am sharing several of the top home decor trends to consider when updating your home in the new year. These trends are simple, fail-proof ways to increase both the functionality and aesthetic of your home.

What’s trending in the bathroom?

Bold Color is back – In 2019 we saw a slow but steady transition in the home steering away from neutrals and heading back to bold pops of color.

The simplest way to follow this trend is by adding a fresh coat of paint to the cabinets creating that “wow factor” your looking for.

Contrasting Tile Patterns – Completely transform your bathroom by arranging tile in unexpected ways to yield big results.

Stray from traditional tile placement and experiment by creating unique patterns and making a statement by placing multiple tiles throughout the space.

What’s trending in the kitchen?

Anything but White Kitchens – In 2019, we saw an influx of all-white kitchens, but 2020 will show that it’s time to incorporate more interest in the space. So, how do you do you incorporate color without overdoing it? For this recent renovation, I started with neutrals and then built upon that with blue cabinets and a striking chandelier. All the while simplistic, but a nice step away from the traditional all-white kitchen.

Not just a place to cook – It is becoming more and more popular for kitchens to be designed with functionality in mind. Kitchens are no longer seen as the room where you can only cook and eat. In this kitchen, I took advantage of the extra cabinet space and created a corner perfect for organizing household items (mail, bills, etc.) and even a perfect spot for the kids to work on homework while dinner is being prepped.

What home design trends are you eager to try in 2020?

Head over to WCNC Charlotte-Today to hear more about the top trends I’m looking fowrward to in this new year.

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are right around the corner! From gatherings with friends, to formal dinner parties, and even hosting the extended family for a seated dinner – how are you prepping for the holidays season this year?

Last month I shared last minute tips on getting your home ready for the holidays, but today I’m sharing a glimpse into what’s going on this week at my personal home! The halls are decked and I’ve been putting finishing touches on the formal dinning room table setting that I have set up.

I’ll be sharing a step-by-step process on how to recreate the look in your home this season.

1. Select an Overarching Style/Theme – In my day-to-day life I am a farm girl at heart with a longing for a touch of glitz and glamour that serves as a striking contrast to natural elements. The holidays are all about making new memories and cherishing the old, so I wanted the table setting to reflect that.

2. The Essentials (Glassware, Plates, Utensils, and Napkins) – Start with the basics, taking inventory of what you already have in stock and work around this to create the perfect holiday look.

Ask yourself these questions – Do you already have a set of holiday china? Is your year-round china neutral or a statement piece?

3. Make a Wishlist – After pulling out your current stock, make a wishlist of key missing essentials + statement pieces your would like to work into the overall setting.

Pro-tip: you don’t have to break the bank here! After making note of what was “missing” from my desired table setting, I went to the local Pier One to grab a few things.

3. Centerpiece / Decorations – Finding the a balance between a perfectly styled table without forgetting the table’s man function – serving and eating food.

When selecting a centerpiece, try to avoid overpowering floral arrangements, candles, etc. that will disrupt/block conversation flow.

The elements pulled for the centerpiece (pinecones, leafs, berries, antlers) all work together to further enhance the theme of the table setting – Woodys Chic.

Head over to WCNC to learn more about enhancing your everyday holiday living by setting the table.

After another successful High Point Market, I am back in Charlotte and in the midst of projects but still reflecting on my favorite finds throughout market. Being able to experience HPMKT each Spring and Fall is one of the most educational and inspiring things I can do for my business. Being able to touch, feel and see the products each season helps me create functionally beautiful spaces for my clients.

When designing with life (and mess) in mind for clients that have pets and multiple kids, I am drawn to Sunbrella’s line of extensive fabrics that are gorgeous but are sure to withstand pets, spills, mess, kids, you name it!

Follow along for several of my favorite Sunbrella finds throughout market and stay tuned to see if any of these fabrics make it into my upcoming projects.

First stop – Lancaster Custom Crafted Upholstery. With an increased widespread popularity in performance fabrics, Lancaster has partnered with Sunbrella to offer a large selection of beautiful fabrics that are engineered to combine the highest level of design and performance.

Absolutely swooning over this pattern with impeccable detailing and stitching!

Next up – the She She live art installation at the Rowe Furniture Showroom, where illustrator Kate Worum and interior architect Jennifer Jorgensen used a food palette to create a beautiful masterpiece on stretched Sunbrella canvas.

She She used the vibrant colors in ice cream and chocolate syrup to paint the canvas. And the best part? Everything washes off because of Sunbrella’s performance durability!

Don’t believe the magic behind Sunbrella threads? Try it out yourself!

I made a mess with wine, salad dressing, and ketchup…and the result? 100% squeaky fabric!

Capris Furniture has an extensive live of Sunbrella fabrics for their indoor and outdoor furniture lines.

Thank you, High Point Market for leaving me inspired to get back home and begin souring new product and textiles for upcoming projects! Until next time, see you in April High Point Market!

The end of summer is always bittersweet. No more long vacation days spent with my girls, but I welcome the schedule and routine of a new school year! For all the busy moms out there, I suggest taking time during the last weeks of summer to prep and organize key spaces throughout the home that will help set your kids (and yourself) up for a successful school year!

Get the Drop Zone Ready! – Make sure every backpack has a hook and every kid a cubby. Let’s not forget about a sweatshirt or light jacket, because those chilly mornings will be here before you know it! And the shoes…baskets and bins for each kid with only school shoes as options….flip flops up to the closet! With a well thought out drop zone the mess and chaos will turn into an organized control system by the entryway to help avoid having jackets, bags and shoes thrown all over the home.

Prep Homework Stations – Whether it’s a kitchen island or a desk in the kid’s rooms, make sure it is a consistent place that they associate with homework and studying. Don’t forget to stock up on all supplies now and that the space is clean and tidy and ready for work.

School Wardrobe – If your kids do not wear uniforms (hallelujah mine do!) go through their closets and dressers and clean out anything that does not fit. If an outfit is not school appropriate, put that aside in a separate space designated for weekend wear. Now’s the time to talk to your kids about selecting outfits the night before – nothing like a hectic morning with “nothing to wear”. Give your fashionistas a bust or mini mannequin to play with for a fun fashion activity and to help plan ahead with outfits.

If your kid’s room is organized prior to the first day of school, it’ll help you combat the craziness that comes with the back to school schedule throughout the rest of the home!

For more tips on organizing the front door “drop zone,” check out WCNC Charlotte-Today.