A Little Luxe in our Holiday Decor

Our 2011 Holiday theme is "natural + color" . . . but that doesn't mean there's not room for a little glamour. Inspired by the holiday bling in the fashion world (like this spread from Harper's BAZAAR), this year we decided to mix in just a touch of gold to raise the sparkle quotient.

On our tree, we purchased some gold chain at the hardware store (thanks for the tip, Emily Henderson and HGTV) and turned it into a festive garland, hanging it right next to the color pop garland purchased at Anthropologie. Then we bought some shiny gold fabric and bunched it artfully into our tree skirt. It's all topped off by our golden moon (a nice alternative to the traditional star).

We wove a similar gold chain into the garland that decks our stairwell.

We love the juxtaposition of the shiny gold with the natural greenery.

Top: you can see how simple twinkle lights enhance a rustic straw wreath. Bottom: The gold chain appears once again above our bench . . . leopard + gold + green = subtle holiday glamour!

We added mini-trees made of different materials all around the space. Left, feather trees offset a vase of glowing branches. At right, a rosemary tree sits next to a tiny pine cone tree. The bright turquoise wall, fuchsia ornaments, and red table bring merry shots of color to the scene.

When you're decorating this week, don't be afraid to combine materials and colors. We created a mix of color, rustic textures and a touch of gold . . . what can you create? Let us know in the comments below!

Using Autumn Colors in a Modern Way

Even though it's close to 80 degrees right now in Berkeley, there's no doubt that Autumn is here. The leaves are changing colors and there are pumpkins everywhere. If you want to incorporate the gorgeous Fall golds, oranges, greens and browns into your home decor -- but dried corn husks and squash centerpieces just aren't your thing -- try these more modern ideas.

On your wall: the classic George Nelson Spindle Clock adds just a pop of orange; artwork such as Homage to the Square 1964 by Josef Albers radiates warmth.

On your floor: the on-trend chevron pattern in rich autumn colors. (From Home Decorators Collection)

Above are our own fall-colored treasures . . . throws, pillows and little accessories that we have collected over the past few years. Notice the modern mix of patterns and textures.

Finally, the October 2011 issue of Elle Decor shows the power of persimmon -- on textiles, tableware and even lamps. You can see these items online at Elle Decor.