Halloween Party Decor

It is Halloween again, and if it is Halloween, it is party time! If you like Victorian style and wearing black, this is your season. You don't have to own a crumbling maison, with a bit of work and some accessories you can turn your home into a place that Count Dracula would be envious of. 

Method no. 1.:

- close all your shutters and stop cleaning in mid-March. Period. 

Method no. 2.: 

- try those party supplies that are available in the shops. It is also easy to create some of them if you are a DIY enthusiast.

If you chose method no. 2., here is a guide for you:

Halloween decor design elements:

- pumpkins - either in lantern form or as painted/decorated version

- repelling animals like bats, spiders, insects

- fantastic creatures: vampires, Dracula, ghosts, zombies, witches and their accessories (black cat, hat, broom, magic ball)

- dead branches (preferably black, you can hang things on them) or flowers (I skipped them in this moodboard) and anything related to dead things: skeletons, skulls, bones, coffins, zombie bodyparts, tombes

- cobwebs with or without spiders 

- candleholders, candles and lights

- moon and stars to provide background against the shadow of bats/witches

- you can add garlands, lanterns, 'dark' animals like rats, owls or crows

Colours:

- velvety black

- ghostly white

- pumpkin yellow

- shadowy grey

- magical green or purple 

- gold or silver if you are extra posh

I chose a composition based on bats, pumpkins and cobwebs, creating a somewhat spooky but elegant decor set, but next year I could center the decor around something else. Using all possible elements is not really my cup of tea, I would direct the decoration towards a certain theme, this way you can keep an elegant vibe (if it is your intention). 

This year I was inspired by nature, hence came the pumpkin - branches - bats and cobwebs combo. I picked the Philippe Starck Ghost chairs - the orange colour and the name comes handy, the chair itself is elegant. Using pumpkins in painted version is also a stylish feature, and you can do it at home. 

Now... Trick or Treat?

Wedding Planning Part 1.

As I mentioned earlier, a very good friend of mine is currently organizing her wedding. The party itself will be held in an old boathouse - white floors, dark wooden walls and beams. Moreover, the boathouse is located on the Danube bank. Perfect place for a rustic glamour wedding! 

After the reception in the city the whole party is going to drive over to the boathouse. By that time it will be quite dark, and because the venue itself is dominated by dark wood, I figured that the main decoration could be the light itself - tealight holders, fairy lights, lanterns, candles. 

It is fairly cheap if you rent light strings and the effect is great. We could wrap them around beams, coloumns, or hang them above the room, creating the illusion of starry night sky. In fact, anything can be wrapped in lights: pumpkins, boats, anchors, ladders, anything that has a bit interesting shape.

Wall marquee letter lights could be also used, though I think we will skip that one, so far I have not seen tasteful rentable ones in my country. It is a pity, as they are very decorative, just look at the 'Let's Dance' inscription below. 

So yes, wedding fever is definitely on. I will continue this topic on Friday!

Happy July the 4th!

Happy Independence Day to my American readers! 

- Hello, Darling, I just thought I call you before the party starts. How are you doing?

- Hello, Sweetheart, thank you for asking, I have just finished decorating the family room and the terrace, while Hubby is outside preparing the dishes. Since we bought a cute retro pop-up hot dog toaster, he wants to eat hot dog all the time.

- I am sure your place looks fantastic, you are the master of decorating. How does it look like this year?

- Naturally I kept the stars and stripes theme, with star ornaments, the usual colours, but this year I went for a retro touch. Actually the toaster gave me the idea. Hubby found an extaordinary wall shelf, that looks like the front of a retro Chevrolet Corvette. It is temporarily mounted on the wall in the back porch, it is such an eye grabber. I will put the dishes on it. To keep up with the vintage style, drinks will be served in bottles with striped straws.

- Cool idea. Have you decorated the garden as well?

- Yes, the lanterns are hanging from the trees. I also found a smaller striped one with stars, they will be on the porch, I am just about to place them, so I have to hang up for now. I hope you will have a great night!

- Thanks. Happy Independence Day to you!