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Monday, September 30, 2013

Giveaway- Gorgeous Trio Velvet Pumpkins from LoveFeast Shop!


Today, I have a fabulous giveaway for you, thanks to the lovely ladies from LoveFeast Shop. Are you familiar with this online boutique?


In case you are unfamiliar, LoveFeast Shop offers curated unique, high-quality, beautifully hand-crafted and artistic pieces for home decor and gifts.

Below are some of my favorite items from this wonderful boutique.





















Such pretty pieces, right? 

For today's giveaway, LoveFeast Shop have decided to give one Mix And Chic reader a trio of Velvet Pumpkins of his/ her choosing! 


These lovely pumpkins would be the perfect addition for fall decorating, don't you think? I can envision them displayed on a fireplace mantel, console table, dining table, coffee table, inside an apothecary jar or bowl, etc. The possibilities are really endless!

These could be yours! Just follow the 3 simple steps below to win a trio of gorgeous velvet pumpkins of your choice (worth almost $100) from LoveFeast Shop!

This giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry, my international readers)!

To enter:

*Be a follower of Mix And Chic via Google Friend Connect (click on the button located under 'Followers' on the right sidebar) and let me know which Velvet Pumpkin Trio you will pick if you win (with a link included). After you have done both, please leave a comment followed by your email so I can contact you if you win. 

 For example: I am now a follower of Mix And Chic via GFC and I would pick these set of pumpkins if I win: http://www.lovefeastshop.com/velvet-pumpkin-snow-trio/

(enter your email here)

(one basic, mandatory entry)


For additional entries (an extra entry for each of the following) (optional): 

*'Like' LoveFeast Shop on Facebook and leave a separate comment. (Let them know I sent you.)

*'Like' Mix And Chic on Facebook and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

*'Follow' LoveFeast Shop on Twitter and leave a separate comment.

*'Follow' Mix And Chic on Twitter and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

*'Follow' LoveFeast Shop on Pinterest and leave a separate comment.

*'Follow' Mix And Chic on Pinterest and  and leave a separate comment. (If you are already following, please leave a separate comment to let me know as well.)

*Mention this giveaway on your Facebook status (include a link back to this post and leave a separate comment.)

*Tweet about this giveaway (include a link back to this post and leave a separate comment.)

There is a maximum of 9 entries per person! Hurry, enter now. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to win these beautiful pumpkins to jazz up your home for fall!

The last day for entries is October 9, 2013. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Thursday, October 10, 2013. Good luck, everyone! 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Guest post- Man caves remain as popular as ever!


This article is provided by Paul.

As far as interiors go, whatever is currently in or out is entirely of your own making. We are, thankfully, now a million miles away from those dark days of the 1970's into 80's where every house was a carbon copy of the one next door and every room was in the same colors, with the same carpets and even the same curtains. While the subtle changes of the décor have evolved over the years, one interior has basically never changed as far as function and effect is concerned is the man cave.

For those not familiar with the term, the man cave is a house that screams testosterone the minute you walk in the door. This is the lair of the alpha male and despite their protestations to the contrary, men love putting their own homes together, albeit with a more sombre feel than if a woman does it. A bachelor pad is more useful than it is cute, and while the choice of décor will be quick in a decisive ‘man’ way, there is a lot of planning that goes into the rest of the lair.

There will be an area, if there is not a spare room, for entertainment and games. There could also be a bar, yes men still like these in their own place, a media room and eventually they will sort out the general living space and the bedroom. Outdoors is no exception, and even a single man will have a bbq big enough to feed a small army, for when the lads come round with their cans and favourite football strip on.

Modern men seemingly do not have an issue with stamping their male pride into their abodes. This is the new generation of fun lovers who, rather than blow a fortune in the pub, would rather invite their mates around to their place, throw a few steaks and burgers on the barbecue, then relax while playing a round-robin on the Xbox or PlayStation.

One major difference between modern man caves and those of the past is that now they would not be strewn with dirty plates and pizza boxes, the owners nowadays take great pride in their pads and the latest technology rubs shoulders with leather and furniture with high gloss surfaces. Do not be misled and think 21st century man caves are reminiscent of student digs; these are young professional men who like their own space, and want it to be a cool as possible.

There will be stripes, a hefty dose of glass and cool but manly colours such as black and grays. While they will have all the ideas in their head, and can happily spend an afternoon knocking together some flat pack furniture, it is unlikely they will have the time of the inclination to do the 'dirty work'. This is where the interior designer steps in, and thanks to sites such as why not compare these are easy to find in your area.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A product review- Lamps.com Tube Top Table Lamp by Pablo Designs!


Confession time! Most of you might not know it but I have a serious lamp addiction. Why, you might ask? Because I think lamps and lighting in general are one of those things that make the biggest design impact in any room. In my opinion, lighting serves as decorative objects when they are not lit but once they are lit, they create a delightful ambiance and lift your mood, don't you think? Anything that is both pretty and highly functional is a winner in my book!

Currently, I have over 22 lamps (table lamps, desk lamps and floor lamps combined) in my home and I predict there will be more lamps in the near future. I remembered when I was working part-time about 10 years ago, I bought two beautiful lamps that costs me almost $400 (half of my paycheck at that time) that I had been eyeing for a while. It was definitely a splurge for me but it was worth it because I really enjoy looking at them. 

So, when Lamps.com contacted me if I would be interested to receive a lamp for a review, of course I agreed immediately.


Lamps.com offers high quality lighting with products range from classic to contemporary with every category of lighting fixture included.

For this review, I was given six table lamps to choose from. Usually, I am undecided when I was given a few good choices but this time, it was a no-brainer for me. You see, I have always admire the Tube Top Table Lamp so I was pretty excited when it was one of the six lamps offered for this review!

Picking a color for the Tube Top Table Lamp is hard when there is eight vibrant colors to choose from. 


Aren't these fabulous? I was torn between getting the green (my favorite color), blue and pink table lamp. I think the green and blue lamp is more gender neutral and can be easily transferable to my son's room and any other rooms in the future but my heart was yearning for the pink lamp. Finally, I decided to go with what makes me happy so I selected the pink Tube Top Table Lamp by Pablo Designs.

Here is what it looks like!





I am absolutely in love with my gorgeous table lamp for its minimalist and sculptural design! Not only is the design strikingly beautiful, it casts a lovely, pinkish glow on my walls when it is turned on. As a bonus, it also includes a full range dimmer, a favorite feature of mine. The lamp base is made of high quality acrylic and the shade is made of lightweight polyester mesh. Oh, and did I mention it comes with a free light bulb as well?

Measuring at only 14 inches, I wish this pretty lamp comes in a taller version as well. Nevertheless, I am still very, very satisfied with my Tube Top Table Lamp for its beauty and wonderful quality. I will buy another one in a heartbeat. I would highly recommended this product to everyone*!

*I received this product to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are my own.

What do you think about my lamp? Which color would you pick if you were me? You can get yours here.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Guest post- Three things to remember when designing a classy new bedroom!


This article is brought to you by Laura.

Sometimes in life, it is important to treat both yourself and your home. Though some people may feel that grandiose décor is something of the past, the truth is that it is more prevalent than ever.

Whether you simply enjoy the luxury of sleeping in one of the most elegant bedrooms imaginable, or you simply want to try something new, there is nothing wrong with aiming high in terms of your décor.

Here are a few ideas that may be able to help your quest for a fabulously classy bedroom:

Invest in only the best furniture.

If you really wish for your room to be authentically grand, then you simply have to buy only the most beautiful and elegant furniture in the land.

So what is the best range of furniture to achieve this?

If you are after authenticity, then there is nothing more so than ivory bedroom furniture available from OakFurnitureUK.

Designed with the rococo art movement in mind, ivory bedroom furniture features pearl white finishing, illustrious floral patterns and aristocratic swirls; giving the overall impression of a dignified, yet expressive design.

Elegance, does not define grand furniture however, as even the most simple, yet beautifully designed solid oak furniture can leave an impression of grandeur and quality.

Treat your floor like any other surface

One of the largest mistakes that a person can make is to forget about the stylistic aspects of their floor.

Though this may sound a little odd, a floor can leave a lasting impression on any guest. So what is the best type of flooring for an exclusively styled bedroom?

Quite simply, one of the classiest flooring styles currently found in the UK is parquet flooring.

Used in manors and prestigious homes in 16th century France, parquet flooring used to be one of the most expensive and exclusive flooring designs in the world.

With only very few craftsmen being able to master the art of laying the floor, only the wealthiest of families could afford the privilege of having parquet flooring in their homes.

Today however, parquet remains elegant and beautiful and is often only found in larger homes in the UK. Due to this, it is often considered a luxurious stylistic approach to any floor.

Accessories are important

If you have already gone this far, then there is no harm in treating yourself to the most prestigious accessories for your bedroom.

Though you probably would not find what you are looking for in your average IKEA store, by searching through the internet you should be able to find a range of beautiful additions to your bedroom.

Whether that is simply a dressing table, a white arm chair or a pearl rococo mirror, if your bedroom accessories are not up to scratch, then they could be the missing elements to your almost perfect bedroom.



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Product review- Cardstore!


A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by cardstore for a product review. Have you heard about this wonderful company?


Cardstore lets you create and customize the perfect card for every occasion by offering the very best of design and messaging into a top-notch, ready-to-mail product.

Here are some of my favorite cards from Cardstore.












Aren't these cards fun, stylish and beautiful? For today's review, I picked this photo card design.



Here is what mine looks like!





I really love how my card turned out. The quality is great! My card arrived fast and well-packaged. The customization process is pretty simple and straightforward. Fonts, colors, number of photos and layouts can be customized on the inside of the card. The wonderful people at cardstore even included two envelopes along with my card in case I make a mistake, how thoughtful! Creating this photo card is definitely a fun and easy experience! I am looking forward to give this card to my husband on our 8th year wedding anniversary next month!

*I received this product to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

You can get your own fun, affordable and customized cards  here.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

And the winner of the giveaway is ..........


I am happy to announce the winner of the recent giveaway brought to you by The Vendome Press.










Photo credits: Francesco Lagnese

I have used random.org to draw a lucky winner and here it is! The winner who will be receiving the beautiful "Tom Scheerer Decorates" book is


the lovely Brooke from Inside-Out Design.


Congratulations, Brooke! I will contact you soon. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this giveaway. There will be another fabulous giveaway in the near future, so don't forget to stop by and check back regularly. Have a beautiful day, my lovelies!

Guest post- Top 5 pool and landscape designs!


This article is provided by Lacey Chic.

Swimming in your swimming pool can be one of the most relaxing and joyful parts of the summer.  And when you are entertaining guests at home, your pool and landscape are sure to be the center of attention.  A pool is a great place to lay around and socialize into the night, and a nice waterscape can make the party that much better.  But spending the time to transform your waterscape into a beautiful haven can seem like an arduous task, and there are so many different ways to approach the project.  Here are a few design ideas to help you determine what kind of landscape you want to design around your pool to make it more inviting and peaceful.

1)  Shade

The first thing to decide on when landscaping your pool is how to create shade throughout the area.  The most common way to shade a pool and enhance your poolscape is by planting trees around the pool. When choosing a tree though, make sure it is something that does not shed leaves such as an evergreen or tropical trees.  Another popular way to create shade is to install a gazebo either over part of the pool or even in the patio area.  Shade is a very important part around a pool, and can be fun to experiment with.

2) Height

If you are designing a new pool, make sure to add height around the pool.  Height can have a big effect surrounding a pool as it adds depth of perception due to the pool being perfectly horizontal.  Ways to enhance height around a pool can include building waterfalls or adding higher walls to different parts of the pool.  A great poolscape will normally have a raised bed next to the pool which you can plant various flowers and trees in.

3)  Pergolas and trellises

The pergolas can be categorized as a shade item, but what pergolas and trellises have in common is that it is possible to grow ivy and vines from them, which creates more vertical and natural appeal.

4)  Fire area

Fire pits and fireplaces make for a great place for entertaining, and there’s no better place to have a fire pit than by the pool.  Fire pits are great because they offer you enjoyment of your pool, even when it is too cold to go swimming. 

5)  Choose the right plants


It is important to have lots of plants around your pool to create a comfortable and relaxing poolscape.  You must choose wisely though.  It is ideal to pick up plants that do not have large leaves, thorns, or large roots which can all be detrimental to a pool. 

Author Bio: After your pool scape is all finished up, it should be furnished with one of the fine outdoor patio furniture sets from All American Fine Outdoor Furnishings.  A beautiful and reliable outdoor furniture set makes for optimum relaxation around the pool.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Guest post- Choosing Close to Ceiling Lights- Right Size and Right Style


This article is provided by Decorausa.com.

Lighting fixtures have metamorphosed into key décor pieces from just being sources of light. The ever- changing lighting trends and the plethora of designs available in the market might just leave you confused. Choosing and picking lighting options for large spaces is not very difficult.


But what do you do when you do not have the luxury of space and high ceilings?

Well, close to ceiling lights come to your rescue. Perfect for small rooms, they don’t require you to loosen those purse strings too much. One reason why we really loved them is because they seem to convey a more casual setting than fancy chandeliers. 

Sift through the variety of close to ceiling lights on DecoraUSA and take your pick from flush mounts and semi-flush mounts. Here are some simple tips on what you need to look out for while choosing the best close to ceiling lights for your home.

The first question pops up-Which close to ceiling light do I choose-a flush mount or a semi-flush mount?

Let your ceiling height do the talking. For ceiling heights below 8’, you can install flush mounts. These lights are attached directly to the ceiling leaving absolutely no gap between the ceiling and the fixture, giving you more space to walk underneath. Consider semi-flush mounts for ceiling heights between 9’ to 10’. They hang down from the ceiling, but not very low, so again you get adequate space below.

Depending on your requirement, you can use these mounts in compact spaces like the dining room, entry-way, bed room, bathrooms, kitchens, and closets. With antique brass, polished chrome, gold, pewter and more finishes, you get a wide selection of lights. 

In the closets, lights fulfill a practical need so make sure that they do not make a loud statement themselves. You can even get in dimmers next to the bed in the bathrooms to create a subtle light effect. We loved the modern flush mounts too. They look fabulous with their clean, contemporary lines and blend easily with any interior (Always try to match your lighting fixtures with the central decor pieces of the room for a neat presentation). Crystal and glass flush mounts definitely add more zing to the surroundings.

Despite the fact that you get limited bulb options with close to ceiling lights, the light effect is lovely. Decorating with close to ceiling lights can be even more fun because they call for easy installation (a DIY many times!) and hassle-free maintenance.

The Bottomline: While choosing close to ceiling lights, it is all about striking the right balance between the ceiling height, room dimensions and the lighting fixture.