Lighting is one of the most important decorating decisions you make in your home. How do you pick the style, finish, and size? All of those questions play a key role when you are finishing your space. As an interior designer I wanted the Katrina & Co lighting collection to reflect a timeless aesthetic that can be mixed and matched together for a cohesive look.  I am sharing my expertise to help make your decision a little easier.

Choose your style

I chose lighting that reflects the Katrina & Co livable luxury style. "Coastal modern with classic southern charm"  Infusing modern clean lines with lots of texture. Scallop edges and soft linen shades with a mix of rattan and mother of pearl details. ALWAYS and ALWAYS picking a mix of metals for the finishes. That is the epitome of classic charm. Pair our Brass Etoile sconce  with our Capiz pendant or Rattan wrapped Bimini Sconce with white and brass French Maid Chandelier

 

French Maid Chandelier as seen in my Va. Farmhouse (AKA The Morris Manor)

 

How does the lighting function?

There are three types of lighting.

1. Task -  Task lighting illuminates the tasks a person carries out in a given space such as reading, cooking, computer work. Desk lamps and pendants over a kitchen island
2. Ambient- It's intended to light up a room in its entirety. Such as table lamps and chandeliers
3. Accent- Accent lighting is used mainly to focus on a specific point of interest or to achieve a desired effect. Just to highlight the area. WAll sconces, under-cabinet lighting, lamps , picture lights for art

 

Here is the Redford Picture light over my FAVORITE Blooming Joy Artwork 

 

 

Floor lamps and decorative bookshelf sconces are such a great way to add style into your home. Our Katrina & Co lighting collection marries both style and function when it comes to southern charm and a modern coastal vibe.  Our blue and white office features a drum rattan pendant with brass sconces and a small vintage floor lamp for reading.

 

 

Katrina & Co. Lighting Collection

1. CAMILLA SCONCE / 2. DOUBLE FISHER SCONCE / 3. ARIEL SCONCE / 4. REDFORD PICTURE LIGHT / 5. FRENCH MAID CHANDELIER / 6. SIGMUND PENDANT / 7. PARASOL TABLE LAMP / 8. PARASOL FLOOR LAMP / 9. SHORELINE STONEWARE TABLE LAMP / 10. HARBOR CERAMIC LAMP / 11. HUGO CERAMIC TABLE LAMP

I hope you will have a new appreciation for how lighting can play a key role in your home. If you have any questions or want me to dig further into the "How to" with hanging lights please let me know in the comments! I am here to make sure your home feels special in every way.

If you have your lighting under control an are ready to move on to setting the table. Read the post below.

How To Set The Perfect Table

 

 

 

Posts on Katrina & Co may contain affiliate links

Summer outdoor entertaining is best spent with friends, neighbors and good food. The kids are outside playing in the yard, most likely catching fireflies. The days are longer and the mornings are slower.

Decorating your patio, screened-in porch, or poolside deck should evoke a casual feeling. Using neutral colors and wood tones brings that sense of well being. Black and white is also a great monochromatic color palette. The Katrina & Co. Shoppe Norden dishes are a best seller great for both indoor/outdoor. Choose dinnerware and serving ware that are dishwasher safe and can be used all year long. We live on the coast of North Carolina so entertaining lasts long into November here.

 

With an indoor/outdoor space like our client's screened-in porch, we were able to bring some indoor elements to the outside. She has a beautiful stone fireplace, which we decorated by putting cutting boards and a boxwood above the mantle. Boxwood’s love the humidity and will thrive as long as they are not in direct sunlight. The cutting boards will also survive a screened in porch.

 

 

 

 

 

Let nature inspire your summer outdoor entertaining

Opt for more natural materials, lines, and textures. Introduce greenery to add pops of color, use sprigs of fresh herbs to mark a place setting, or bring out elements from some of your favorite beach memories by scattering shells throughout the tablescape.

Summer is in full swing and I want to show you how to set the perfect summer table. My family just moved from Virginia to North Carolina and are ready to get connected and start entertaining. We moved into a small rental cottage but that isn't going to stop me from setting a beautiful summer table. If I'm being honest though, I am more excited about opening our interior design studio in downtown Wilmington. More details to follow next week but we will be open to the public! Most importantly everything I share about design and decor will be featured inside the studio AND I will be there to chat with you in person and show you how set your table, etc. I am beyond thrilled!

OKAY, that was a serious squirrel moment but ya'll, I was put on this earth to inspire you and the fact that I get to do this everyday is like.. AMAZING! Ok, know let's get back to

Setting the perfect summer table

For me, it's all about the neutral tones. It's easy to add a pop of color with beautiful fresh flowers, veggies from the garden, and fruit. The seasons change but who wants to go buy new dishes every season? Not me and I own a home decor shop! My philosophy with both home decorating and setting the perfect table is adding layers. I've been collecting white dishes for years, and have never grown tired of displaying or using them.

Recently, my love for stoneware dishes and vases has grown exponentially. So I created an entire collection around them. Although it's part of  the Katrina & Co. Summer 2022 Collection I will definitely be using them throughout the fall and winter months. Can you imagine some garland and candles weaved through a center tablescape for Christmas?! Yes PLEASE!

I've put all the deets below so you can have the perfect summer table (or any season for that matter)

Layer 1

1. Start with neutral dinnerware (that is dishwasher safe of course)  Here are more neutral options for you
2. Add a table runner ( table runners are controversial but I LOVE THEM!) if you don't skip #2
3. Layers your linens either linen color or white works great
4. Bring that together with a gold napkin ring or if you have a fave use that.

 

 

 

 

 

 Layer 2

1. Add your focal point AKA: centerpiece
2. Add your serving boards and any platters
3. Add height, Cake plates and pedestals are great for visual interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layer 3

1. Add your food to the platters and pedestals, fresh fruit is perfect for your summer table
2. Add garnish to the table and boards. Summer tables are perfect for shopping the fresh aisle of your local grocery store. I add assorted carrots to my table all summer long. It just elevates the style of the table and your guests feel special.
3. Add your serving utensils and mini salt and pepper shakers or fresh salt and pepper grinders for an extra touch.

 

 

 

 

I assure you that following my guidelines for setting the perfect summer table will have you and your guests lingering a little longer. Doesn't food always tastes better when the atmosphere is right?

Now that you know how to set the perfect summer table it's time to serve the perfect summer charcuterie board. Read my blog post here below:

A Fresh Fruit Board for Summer

 

 

Watch my summer charcuterie YouTube video:

 

I am so excited to announce the James T. Davis 2021 Colors of the Year! Six shades- bold, playful, and inspired by nature.

It was my honor to help choose this year’s colors. Having my home decor boutique, Katrina & Co. located inside James T. Davis is a dream come true. It's the perfect pairing of design and style. With home being more important than ever, now is the time to get it right. Follow along as I share my expert advice on how to use these colors! Time to create the home you love.

 

This week we are gearing up for our annual Christmas dinner with our extended family and I have decided to set a traditional red tartan Christmas table. It's casual in style but has a timeless feel that is sure to bring some nostalgic memories.

Gone are the days where red ruled in Christmas decor. If you have read my previous posts you know I don't have red in my living room or home office. I'm ok with that. Although I wanted to create a little WOW factor for our guests.

Whether you are hosting a formal evening with friends or a casual afternoon with family - red tartan is the way to go! We launched a full collection at Katrina & Co. this year. Simple greens expanded in the kitchen are just enough to be festive and marry the two spaces together.

Questions to ask yourself

• The number of guests. You’ll want to arrange your seating so that your table is conversational. Ensure that you have enough seats for everyone.

• What are you serving? This will help you pick your place settings and have every instrument you need to enjoy those yummy, festive recipes you’ve made!

• Is it casual or formal? This is where setting the mood comes into play. You’ll want to set your table based on the formality of the gathering. When setting for a formal, evening event - you’ll want moody candles, classy place settings, and an elegant centerpiece. If it is a daytime event with family, you’ll want to add fun pops of color that will suit all ages.

Traditional Red Tartan Christmas

I chose our reclaimed wood candle holders to anchor the table. Adding our mini boxwood wreaths around the base adds an extra layer. Cedar garland draped down the center and mercury glass balls placed periodically are the perfect touch. I'm all about black and white so layering our patterned dishes was a fun touch. Using the tartan chargers creates a cheerful canvas for the rest of my holiday look. Boxwood cones in the center of each dinner plate finish the table.

This year, my goal was to create an inviting atmosphere for all of my guests. As you prepare for your holiday parties, I hope you will use a little traditional red tartan too! Happy hosting friends!

For more holiday inspiration, read my recent blogs!

Southern Charm Holiday Housewalk

Blue and White Home Office Makeover

Red and white are the traditional themes for Christmas and I have a post coming next week talking about that. Today, however, it's all about our neutral Christmas living room. 2020 has been a crazy year and it's even crazier to think I've had my tree up since September! We had a photoshoot here for the launch of our Katrina & Co. Holiday Collection and I was not going to do all that work twice. So I've had the tree up for almost 4 months and I'm not even mad about it!

While this holiday season might look different than years past, my family & I still have traditions that we look forward to each year. My favorite is decorating the tree while playing Christmas music. In a close second is watching ALL the Christmas movies especially ELF, and The Grinch. Thankfully we don't have any Grinch's living here so no one minds how crazy I go for this season.

Decorating the Christmas tree

When decorating the tree, I always start with the large ornaments first. Tucking them into the tree. Next, it's all about layering in the smaller ornaments and finishing with picks and ribbon. Although this year I left the ribbon off.

I stayed neutral with most of my ornaments, focusing more on texture & different shapes. The depth was added by mixing metals with velvet striped balls and flocked snowflakes. I finished the tree with a beautiful collection of hand painted custom ornaments from my friend and local artist Little Miss Felt,

The stockings were hung

Satin ribbon, sugared birch picks weaved into cedar garland, and large lanterns bring a cozy vibe to the mantle.. Our TV isn't going anywhere as much as I would like it to.

But seriously, If you have a mantle you must hang the stockings. For the last few years, I have hung neutral stockings and this year was no different. Our custom heirloom stockings are everything! If you are local you need to make a trip here before Christmas to purchase your favorite decor from the collection.

With how much time we spent at home this year, being comfortable was essential for my living room this holiday season. Fur blankets and pillows are all needed to make our home extra cozy for the holidays.

Decorating this bamboo dresser from Renovative Home each season is one of my favorite things to do! We used the James T Davis oil-based black paint to revamp this piece and I love how it turned out. The best part, It went on smoothly without having to do a lot of prep work. The high gloss finish gives this piece a luxe look without the price!

I hope our Neutral Christmas living room tour inspired you to add a few special elements to your space. After all, home is a feeling.

For more holiday decorating inspiration, visit the rest of my home with the links below.

The Morris Manor Southern Charm Holiday Housewalk

Blue and White Home Office Makeover

Welcome to our home and the 10th annual Holiday Housewalk, hosted by my very talented friend Jennifer Rizzo. This is my second year and I’m giddy with excitement to be a part of such an amazing group of bloggers. It's time to get cozy and enjoy my Southern Charm Holiday Housewalk.

We are on day 5 of the Housewalk but I recommend starting at DAY 1 to get the full experience than clicking through to each home.

If you are coming from The Yellow Cape Cod, Welcome! Sarah's decorating skills are so inspiring! I look forward to her creativity every season.

A Warm Welcome

Our foyer greets you with a big dose of southern charm. Navy grasscloth on the walls and ceiling add immediate character and invite you to explore the rest of our home! As an interior designer, my goal is to create trends and inspire creativity. To help you think outside of the box and create a home that speaks to you and your personality. Our home is 101 years old and we love to entertain therefore it's important to us that you feel that hospitality from the moment you walk in the front door. You can see our original flyer here.

For my Christmas decor for the Holiday Housewalk, I wanted to keep it simple yet have that wow factor. I used a thick cedar garland to hang on the mirror and come down the stairs. It’s dramatic but won’t take me long to remove after Christmas. Since I have layers of texture and pattern with the stair runner and grasscloth it automatically elevates the decor without having the clutter.

A Simple Color Palette

Our Home Office is to the right as you walk in. We just finished this room and revealed it HERE.  It’s my new favorite room and I enjoy sitting by the fire reading. Sounds cliche but it’s the truth. The room doesn’t feel like an office and that was my intention. Most of the decor came from my brick-and-mortar home decor boutique, Katrina & Co.  I just opened in March of this year...a week before COVID shut the world down. However, it’s thriving and I am thrilled with what 2021 will bring. In fact, we have a few announcements coming soon.

Our powder bath is simply decorated. A lil’ tree and festive hand towel. Again, the wallpaper and large scale custom art are enough. I only need to add a few elements to spice it up. Check out our powder bath reno here.

The back of our home is completely open and I used more neutral elements. High contrast black and white, mixed metals, and a touch of greenery. I hear people say you can’t mix black and blue but I want to prove whoever they are, wrong. The right color blue acts as a neutral and we need a touch of black in each room. I hope my holiday housewalk will inspire you to mix it up too.

Southern Charm in the Kitchen

Nothing says Southern charm more than fresh fruit at Christmas. Oranges, cloves, and cinnamon in a gold bowl on the island. Whether it’s our Christmas Home tour or a summer day I always have cutting boards and something green on my counters.

My flocked tree from King of Christmas is loaded with Katrina & Co. ornaments. It’s soft and not overdone. Mixing in mercury glass balls, shiny silver baubles, and sprigs of gold glitter.

More cedar garland on the mantle and two lantern-style hurricanes flank our massive and NOT aesthetically pleasing T.V. but Scott says it has to stay so there it is! The stockings and pillows are also part of my Katrina & Co. holiday collection. They are the perfect finishing touch for the living room.

Warm and inviting. Bright and airy. That sums up what I want my home to feel like all year long but at Christmas time it’s all about the twinkle! Starting at dusk I cut on all the lamps, light the candles, plug in the trees and garland to create a calming atmosphere.

Thank you for visiting our home. I hope you enjoyed our Southern Charm Holiday Housewalk 2020. Click the image below and head to my friend, Jeanne Oliver for the final stop of this year’s Holiday Housewalk. She is truly an artist and her design never disappoints!

To visit last years Housewalk or get more Christmas Inspiration click the photos below.

This year we tackled our home office for the third time and thankfully we finished up right before the holidays. I was dying to decorate and enjoy cozy mornings by the fire! I chose blue and white for the home office to add that southern charm.

2020 has certainly taught me the importance of having a dedicated home office. In the midst of quarantine, both Scott & I were working from home. We were juggling the kids being out of school, me preparing my brick and mortar boutique for our holiday collection launch, and tackling more home improvement projects. The home office became a necessity for both of us.

Adding Character

I have always wanted a gas fireplace. For two reasons; We live in an old home that's drafty and to decorate each season. After renovating our powder room, I knew a blue and white home office would be perfect! As I was designing the space I was inspired to release a blue & white holiday collection for my decor boutique Katrina & Co. You’ll see a lot of my exclusive pieces throughout the room. Our boutique is not offered online yet but 2021 is coming!

As I mentioned in the beginning, we have changed this room three times! Here it was originally. This last transition is not changing...at least for a few years. It's my favorite room in the house. Below you can see how we...I mean Scott built the fireplace wall. Renovation is ugly ya'll and takes grit but the final outcome is always worth it.

Texture, Patterns, and the Focal Point!

The fireplace is obviously the focal point. We purchased our setup and logs from Francis Oil. They were amazing to work with! If you are local, I highly recommend using their company. Tell them Katrina recommended you! 

I wanted our home office to catch AND hold your attention so selected this blue and white plaid wallpaper from James T. Davis to wrap the entire wall. Plaid is a timeless pattern and feels like a Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater.

On each side of the fireplace we have builtins. I painted them the same color blue as the fireplace for a chic look. The navy I chose is a custom color mixed at James T Davis but it’s similar to this blue from Sherwin Williams. If you are local to Lynchburg come in, we have samples ready for you to take home and try on your walls. The rest of the room needed to be a neutral canvas, as I knew my furniture and decor would be where I would add the pops of blue.

Southern Charm

High contrast colors and tailored furniture mixed with the traditional patterns give our home a very Southern farmhouse feel. I wanted our home office to have that southern charm feeling with a mix of both masculine and feminine details. The space needed to be comfortable, yet refined. I want guests to sit and linger without feeling it's a stuffy home office. The two small ottomans in front of the sofa are part of my very own furniture collection made in North Carolina! Scott added vertical shiplap in our original makeover. It's painted a soft putty color for a neutral canvas.

Where to buy all the things

Most all of the design elements and decor came from James T Davis Paint & Design Center and my boutique Katrina & Co. In case you didn’t know, I partnered with James T Davis in March 2020 (the week before COVID shut the world down!) to have a 4,000 square ft. home decor and specialty gift boutique located inside their Design center. It's a dream for me to help you create a home you love!

holiday decor

This was my favorite room to decorate for the holidays. I was able to use so many of my exclusive holiday collection pieces it made me even more sentimental about my business. My tree is Balsam Hill and I adorned it with hand painted ornaments and mercury glass balls. These gorgeous ornaments were hand painted by Little Miss Felt. The beautiful blue and white abstract art is from Blake Driskill Studios. Both artists I carry in the shop.

I used magnolia garland on the mantle and hung our handmade heirloom stockings from Katrina & Co. holiday collection. The mirror allows light to bounce off and create a brighter effect in the room during the day, while the candles give it a soft, warm glow in the evening. Speaking of glow - did you see the chandelier? ALL the heart eyes! This leather tassel chandelier was love at first light! It's so versatile in style. It could go in any home and be a showstopper.

The Ultimate Home Office

My family loves this room and that matters more than anything! I believe this year we will put the presents under this tree.

I hope you enjoyed our home office! I'll be back Friday with our full Christmas Home Tour! WOOHOO!

For more holiday inspiration check out these previous posts

Red and White Christmas Tour

Neutral Christmas Tour

Gift Wrap How To:

Ready or not Thanksgiving is tomorrow! But, don't freak out, in this post, I am showing you how to set a neutral tablescape that lasts through winter. You probably already have most of the items but if not I will share all my sources.

Most of the year I keep my dining table pretty simple. However, as we approach the holiday season I want to decorate in a way that transitions easily from one holiday to the next. Let's do this!

Start with a Great Foundation

Begin with magnolia or your favorite faux branches. Layer them first as wide and long as you need the centerpiece to be.

• For Fall and Thanksgiving simply add pumpkins, pinecones, acorns, and gourds.

• For Christmas add ornaments. My favorite are mercury glass

• Layer on real branches to offer more varied color and texture

• (BONUS) Leave the Magnolia and add lemons for spring and summer!

Set the Mood

Add taper candles and votives to your table. I'm loving brass but this is the perfect opportunity to mix metals here. Our Katrina & Co. ceramic branch holders are also great all year long. This layer adds a cozy ambiance to all of your gatherings. 

Neutral Place Settings

White and cream tableware is always a good idea. Chargers with a natural woven texture paired with Seagrass-wrapped glassware adds the perfect dimension. Lastly, horn and leather napkin rings with patterned napkins complete our neutral tablescape that lasts through winter.

Relax and Enjoy

I hope this post inspires you to set a cozy and inviting table that causes lots of lingering and laughter. Whether you are able to get together with family or just have a quiet day of thankfulness, my wish for you is to simply reflect on all the good that surrounds you.

Love to each of you.

Katrina

For more holiday inspiration check out these previous posts

Red and White Christmas Tour

Neutral Christmas Tour

Gift Wrap How To:

Taking a break from the red and white decor I'd like to share my favorite room, our home office. We renovated it in early spring and it has quickly become the room I gravitate to most when I'm not in the kitchen. Take a minute and see where this room started HERE  I hope enjoy this timeless black and white farmhouse Christmas home office tour!

A mix of small white rustic trees from my exclusive collection with Curtis Creation can be found HERE . They add the right amount of contrast to our timeless black and white christmas farmhouse home office.

The clear ornaments are part of our collection with Little Miss Felt this Christmas season. She cut the paper curls and place them inside, then hand-painted the front in my favorite Christmas wording.

I used a combination of textures in the same color scheme to keep it from being visually distracting. This timeless black and white farmhouse Christmas home office created a calm, uncluttered atmosphere.

When I start the process of designing or decorating a space I focus on local small shops first. Supporting other women and entrepreneurs like myself is very important to me. I know that with every sale or new opportunity someone is doing a happy dance!

This handmade beaded cross is handmade by my friend and fellow blogger Marci, owner of Lemons to Lovelys.  If you want more home decor inspiration you should check her out!

The artwork below is a commissioned piece by another long time friend and local artist Blake

http://www.blakedriskillstudios.com/portfolio.html

Classic Black and White

We chose a flocked tree from King of Christmas for the first time and I absolutely LOVE IT! I recommend every home having at least one flocked tree. There is something very special about having a tree covered with snow in your home. Also, I used outdoor string lights and for a more rustic touch. It's a little messy setting up but soooo worth it. I'm excited to offer you a coupon code to get your own flocked tree from King of Christmas! Use THEMORRISMANOR for 10% OFF!!!

Wrapping the Presents

I knew I wanted the presents to make a bold statement. First, I searched my home for any boxes (save them..it will save your budget). I found the wood garland I purchased two years ago. The black and white buffalo check is actually Magnolia Home wallpaper from Joanna Gaines. I used it at our  Bloom Market as the table runner and photo wall.

We also had black grasscloth leftover from the study renovation. I cut it into strips and you can see it below layered with inexpensive white wrapping paper and the wood garland. Next, I grabbed rolls of paper from T.J. Maxx and Homegoods. Of course, the boxwood wreaths are a staple in my Christmas decor. If you want this look I have linked the same or similar papers below. The green Kate Spade added the perfect bold pattern I needed to complete the look. Due to the cost I only used it on small boxes that I sprinkled throughout the larger gifts, therefore, creating a visually appealing display.

Our exclusive candle collaboration with Naked Goat Soap Co. smells so yummy! (coupon code below) It smells like leather with a soft sandelwood undertone. Next to the handmade tic tac toe game from the uber talented Marking Remarks, this room is the coziest of all! 

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