A DENMARK INSPIRED HOLIDAY...

Over dinner the other night my friend, Henriette and I were talking about decorating for the holidays. She graciously agreed to do a guest post with some design and gift giving ideas inspired by her home country of Denmark. There are a few traditions like hanging paper hearts around Christmas that I was fascinated by (hope you are too!), so without further adieu, Henriette...

Modern Christmas Tree

First of all, thank you Octavia & Brown for letting me visit your blog today! I’m heading back to my home country of Denmark next week to spend the holidays with my family. But before I go, I’ve culled together this list of scandi-inspired decorations and gift ideas that are sure to add a little Nordic flair to your home. “God Jul” as we say in Denmark!

Traditional Holiday “cone” to hang on tree 

Wooden Christmas decoration 

The heart paper cuttings at Christmas are a longstanding tradition, unique to Denmark originally inspired by fairytale author, Hans Christian Andersen. Growing up we used to make them every year to hang on our tree. They evoke memories of being a child and the love and excitement one would feel this time of year. 

Heart Clipping Mobile
 

Have a Scandinavian design loving person on your list to shop for this year? Getting your hands on many of these items doesn’t require jetting across the Atlantic, although any of the Scandinavian countries are well worth a visit, especially when it gets a little warmer. Here are a few gift ideas. Enjoy!

pasta bowls

 Brazil coffee press

Pitcher by Henning Koppel

 

Eames hang it all

 Love birds print by Lisa Congdon

  Organic Imperial Duvet Cover West Elm

GIFTS FOR HIM...

Back with another gift guide. This time Gifts for Him, under $50.

*If you haven't yet, check out Grooming Lounge. It's super guy-friendly and has a whole mess of products to keep your guy looking his best. Added bonus, their Embarrassing Issues section addresses everything from odor to excessive hair and it's pretty funny.

Done shopping for him? Check out Gifts for Her, Under $50 here. 

 Left to Right: Vintage Men's Glasses, $24 on Etsy; Glass Mug, $16 at Design Within Reach; Saint James Bonnet Perle Watch Cap, $35 at J.Crew; Lemon Ball, $35 at Hickoree's Hard Goods; Stanley Flask, $11 at Design Within Reach;  Malin + Goetz, $48 at Grooming Lounge; R. Murphy Gulf Oyster Knife, $17 at Best Made Co; Monza Leather Leather Key Fob, $20 at Jack Spade; Wooden Bottle Opener, $20 at Moma Design Store; Lucky Tiger Liquid Cream Shave, $18.50 at Grooming Lounge

 Left to Right: Ride Me Tee, $19.99 on Etsy; Taking Aim, $50 at Chronicle Books; Metropolitan Whistle with Lanyards, $35 at Best Made Co; Russian Mechanical Alarm Clock, $35 on Etsy; Ultimate Fishing Tool, $24 at Restoration Hardware; Field Notes County Fair Edition, $9.99 at Hickoree's Hard Goods; Go Anywhere MP3 Speakers, $29 at Restoration Hardware;   Perpetual Wall Calendar, $42.50 at Design Within Reach

{GALLERY WALLS }

More and more gallery walls seemed inevitable for me. I have a hard time saying "no" to new photos, paintings and prints. The gorgeous circle print I spotted at Housingworks this weekend was definitely coming home with me, so, with a little research and inspiration, I finally tackled my own gallery wall this weekend.  Here's my inspiration...

 Image courtesy of The Un-Martha

 Domino

 (Image found via Abby Goes Design Scouting)

Image found via Abby Goes Design Scouting

 Image found via I Love You Big

  And here's mine (still a work in progress and probably need to go in with a level...)

I think I'll end up putting pictures up and over the doorway.  Let me know what you think!

INTRODUCING THE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE...

Happy Friday! I'm already excited for a big weekend. Among the holiday parties, I'm planning to break out the champagne with friends and dig into the holiday decorations.

In the meantime, I've already started a little holiday shopping. As promised, here's the first installment of the Octavia & Brown Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Her, Under $50. I've found many things I'm really excited about, so look for more gift guides coming next week...

Left to right: P.S. I Made This, $18.95 at Urban Outfitters; Black and White Denim Handbag, $39.99 on Etsy; Oh Darling, Let's Be Adventurers Print, $16 on Etsy; "Sal" Houndstooth Letterpress Notecards, $24 at Hickoree's Hard Goods; Essex Reader, $38 at Terrain; Alarm Clock, $35 on Etsy; Avoca Spool Scarf, $48 at Terrain

 Left to right: Pack of 4 Essie Nail Polish, $20 at J.Crew; Classic Leather Belt, $32 at J. Crew; 101 Things I learned in Business School, $15 at Urban Outfitters; Allegra Hicks, $40 at Barney's; White Gold Medium Paper Bowl, $20 on Etsy;  Jet Set Coasters, $48 at Jonathan Adler; Gold Wish Bone, $48 at Jayson Home & Garden; Cherry Noteset, $32 at Sugar Paper Los Angeles; 

If you want to see what I hope get under the tree this year, check out my Holiday Wishlist on iVillage.

Finally, my friend Tara of the ultra cool The Prippy Handbook, shared a fantastic song with me by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. This is definitely going to be my weekend anthem. Enjoy!

BREAKING UP THE GRAY SKIES...

Maybe it's the weather, but when I went through the inspiration I had pulled recently, I noticed a distinct theme. The photos were filled with the most gorgeous pinks, reds, lavenders and oranges. I think I'm trying to fight the gray skies outside with beautiful, bright color. Enjoy...

 

Lulu deKwiatkowski working in her apartment.

Image Courtesy of Lizzie Fortunato Jewels

** My apologies to the original owners of these images, most of the sources are unknown.

GETTING CRAFTY

There are times that I absolutely love living in NYC and last night was definitely one of them.

It started with a trip to Kate Spade's flagship in Soho where Erica Domesek from P.S. I Made This was hosting a DIY party to promote her new book (which is both fabulous and inspiring!) 

Six other style/design bloggers including Grace Bonny from Design*Sponge and Michelle Adams from Lonny Magazine, led the way. Party goers were bedazzling and lettering their own fabric bags amongst Cherry Fizz cocktails and the cutest mini hot dogs and burgers I've ever seen. I was totally inspired by all the great ideas I saw last night.

I ended up with a cute leopard print bag, courtesy of the ladies from Lonny. So easy and fun! (As a bonus, they told me that the directions for printing out your own iron-on leopard spots will be up on the site soon!)

Grace Bonny transformed her Kate Spade London Tote using imitation gold leaf to create big shiny polka dots. Check out how she did her cool bag here.

(Image courtesy of Design*Sponge)

After leaving Kate Spade, my friend and I headed to 'Ino, an adorable wine/ panini bar in the West Village. I was just in the middle of telling my friend about a Apartment Therapy book signing I'm going to on Monday (details here), when who should appear, but Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, himself. How cool.

STOCKING STUFFER?

The latest edition of Kelly Wearstler's book, Hue is out. How gorgeous would this be on a coffee table? Hope this somehow makes it under my tree this year...