It’s no secret we have a passion for home decorating, and 2011 was a year that we were dazzled by the return of some old favorites plus some fresh new interpretations for the home. Tiffany Harris and Wendy Estes, co-founders of Layla Grayce and Zinc Door, look back over a year full of stylish temptations and came up with their top 5 design trends. Check them out below and vote on which make the top spot in your year end review!

1. A RETURN OF BRASS AND BRONZE: We loved the return of brass and bronze metal accents used in home decor. The warm amber tones look richly elegant in designs ranging from traditional to mid-century modern inspired.

2. RECLAIMED WOOD: Used in furniture, decor and flooring, the utilization of old materials had a historical vintage appeal, playing perfectly into the industrial chic trend paired with iron and steel accents.

3. PLUM PERFECTION: Lilac, plum and purple were colorful additions to the home decor palette this past year in shades ranging from delicate tints to intense darks.

4. WALLPAPER GETS CREATIVE: Used on ceilings, closet doors, cabinets and more, wallpaper patterns bring a touch of the unexpected in designs as diverse as geometric, floral and ikat (another hot trend from 2011!)

5. GATE AND TRELLIS PATTERNS: Like a modernized version of damask, we opened our hearts and homes to gate and trellis motifs. The interlocking repeat of these patterns showed up in everything from rugs and textiles to furniture.

CREDITS:
BRASS & BRONZE (clockwise from top left): DwellStudio Metallic Masala Bronze Pillow, Arteriors Vance Antique Brass Candlestick Lamp, Arteriors Osgood Iron Pendant, Arteriors Pascal Iron/Glass Entry Table, Arteriors Laura Kirar Waterfall Brass Candle Holders
RECLAIMED WOOD: Gabby Decor Barlow Numbered Crates, Gabby furniture, lighting and decor
PLUM PERFECTION: One of a Kind Louis XVI Vintage Dining Chairs (sold out), Rosanna Purple Parisian Glassware, Illusion Reflection Plum Pillow, DwellStudio Draper Stripe Amethyst Throw Blanket
WALLPAPER GETS CREATIVE (clockwise from top): Cole and Son Hicks Hexagon Blue and Grey Wallpaper, Ikat Wallpaper as seen on Decor Pad, Geometric Wallpaper inside cabinets as seen on Decor Pad
GATE & TRELLIS PATTERNS (clockwise from top left): Jamie Young Grey Trellis Shade on White Egg Base, London Print Gold Pillow, Ro Sham Beaux Circle High Side Table, Imperial Trellis Soft Aqua Wallpaper, DwellStudio Gate Rug in Ash/Cream

GAME DAY SNACKS: BREAK THOSE RESOLUTIONS! Spinach Artichoke Dip, Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Habanero Mayo Dipping Sauce, Mexican Layer Dip

GAME DAY SNACKS: KEEP THOSE RESOLUTIONS! Baked Buffalo Chicken Bites, Lime Chipotle Turkey Sliders, Caprese Bites

Ready to cheer on your favorite team New Year’s Day? Even if you’re not a football fan, it’s hard to avoid the battle of the bowls come January first. Which do you go for – Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Gator Bowl? And even more challenging, do you opt for game day snacks from the fruit bowl or strategize the best way to tackle the 7 layer dip bowl? Whether you resolve to keep your diet resolutions or break them, we have some tasty options for the game day hostess to serve, all laden with flavor and texture (and some with a bit more fat and calories than others!) What’s your strategy for 2012?

Time for an end of the year bonus! Save an extra 25% off all our sale prices for the next 3 days. Enter promo code: YEARENDSALE on the cart page. See what’s on sale!

*Coupon may not be applied to previous purchases or combined with other coupons. Discount applies ONLY to products already marked on sale. Promotion ends Wednesday, 12/28/11 at midnight EST.

Holiday Finger Puppets as seen on: Urban Comfort

Gingerbread Playdough as seen on: The Sweet Advernture of Sugarbelle

Hanging Paper Trees as seen on: The Ki Blog

Sugarplums as seen on: eighteen 25

Keep active little minds and bodies engaged this winter break with some clever crafts for kids. Simple supplies and scraps of fabric come together to create colorful Finger Puppets (adding a small screw eye to the top turns them into insta-ornaments too!) Keep younger kids busy making pretend cookies and baked goods with Gingerbread Playdough. It smells delicious, looks like the real thing but is purely for play. Is your little one a decorator in the making? Have them create their own Hanging Paper Tree accents from patterned papers and trinkets – they look adorable suspended from curtain rods as holiday decor. To finish off the day, help them whip up a batch of Marshmallow Sugarplums to share with friends!

As featured in: Bo Dedre Photos: Kristian Septimius Krogh

As featured in: Bo Dedre Photos: Kristian Septimius Krogh

As featured in: Bo Dedre Photos: Kristian Septimius Krogh

As featured in: Bo Dedre Photos: Kristian Septimius Krogh

As featured in: Bo Dedre Photos: Kristian Septimius Krogh

Clockwise from top left: Chloe Console Table, Rose Votive Candleholder in White and Silver, Arteriors Clear Silveria Bottle Neck Glass Table Lamp, Layla Grayce Raymond Slipcovered Sofa, Regina Andrew Hand Braised and Hammered Clover Side Table (2), Jamie Young Etched Glass Hurricane Set, Pine Cone Hill Edelweiss Crewel Black Pillow, Pine Cone Hill Ruched Black Ribbon Pillow, Bliss Studio Chandelier Ikat Embroidered Beaded Pillow

Clockwise from top left: C Chandelier, Oly Studio Tristan Candlesticks, Arteriors Ringo Glass and Polished Nickel Candleholder/Vase, Currey and Company Hera Flask, X Black Dining Table, Beveled Cube Planter, Patterson Host Chair

In the busy, chaotic days leading up to Christmas, we were delighted to discover the serenity and elegance of this 100 year old home in North Sealand, Denmark. Simple swags of pine, glittering lights and candles are all that is needed to transform fashion designer Jeanett Ulrich’s neutral inspired decor into a tasteful holiday showplace. White walls, high-gloss lacquered woodwork and shiny ceilings with exposed beams reflect the winter light and snow, while sparkling accents of silver and gold are artfully displayed throughout the house. The combination of clean, modern pieces mixed with classics is like a breath of fresh, pine scented air this holiday season – merry minimalism!

At Layla Grayce, we love a sweet treat (just about any time of the day or night!) So you can imagine how thrilled we were when Katie Koonce of Epicurean Mom “gifted” us with this inspired cupcake recipe that she created exclusively for us. Mocha Peppermint cupcakes are today’s feature – delish! Katie explains how she incorporated favorite holiday flavors of chocolate and peppermint to create this palate pleaser:

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FOR THE HOME: Jamie Young Washed Coral Drum Lampshade, DwellStudio Persimmon Labyrinth Pillow, DwellStudio Persimmon Cream Draper Stripe Wool Rug

FOR WOMEN: Layered Chroma Cardigan, Richard Weston Orange Petrified Wood Silk Scarf,
OPI Atomic Orange Nail Polish

FOR KIDS: Skip Hop Zoo Zebra Toddler Backpack, DucDuc Alex 3 Drawer Changer,
BabyLegs Orange & Aqua Leg Warmers

It’s hot, it’s bold, it’s Tangerine Tango – the Pantone Color of the Year for 2012! This vibrant shade of reddish orange is not for the faint of heart, but in small doses it can light up your interiors and wardrobe with touches of spark and fire. We especially love the way it injects a jolt of dynamic playfulness to kid’s rooms and accessories. Look for this sizzling color to make a major statement in the coming year, dancing its way into everything from linens to furniture and more.

Aidan Gray Grain Sack Occasional Chair, One of a Kind Distressed Vintage Sideboard

It’s the season for gifting, and we’re giving away a $100 Layla Grayce gift certificate each day! It’s a fun face-off where you vote for which items qualify as “a few of my favorite things.” Leave a comment below or on our facebook page to be entered to win the gift certificate. At the end of the day a winner will be selected from all comments posted here and on facebook (and no worries, you can be a winner even if your choice doesn’t finish as the top pick of the day). Today concludes our two weeks of holiday giveaways, thanks for playing along! Happy holidays from all of us at Layla Grayce!

Little Giraffe Little G Plush Giraffe available in 3 colors, Blabla Wooly available in 2 sizes

It’s the season for gifting, and we’re giving away a $100 Layla Grayce gift certificate each day! It’s a fun face-off where you vote for which items qualify as “a few of my favorite things.” Leave a comment below or on our facebook page to be entered to win the gift certificate. At the end of the day a winner will be selected from all comments posted here and on facebook (and no worries, you can be a winner even if your choice doesn’t finish as the top pick of the day). Every weekday through December 16th is a new giveaway, 10 in all. Happy holidays from all of us at Layla Grayce!

Lollia Wish Eau De Parfum, Shea Butter Soap & Perfumed Luminary Gift Set,
Lollia Imagine Bubble Bath, Lollia Imagine Sea Salt Sachet & Shea Butter Soap Gift Set

It’s the season for gifting, and we’re giving away a $100 Layla Grayce gift certificate each day! It’s a fun face-off where you vote for which items qualify as “a few of my favorite things.” Leave a comment below or on our facebook page to be entered to win the gift certificate. At the end of the day a winner will be selected from all comments posted here and on facebook (and no worries, you can be a winner even if your choice doesn’t finish as the top pick of the day). Every weekday through December 16th is a new giveaway, 10 in all. Happy holidays from all of us at Layla Grayce!

Comment below to be entered for this giveaway!
$100 Layla Grayce gift certificate will be delivered via email.

Congrats to Taylor B., winner of our Day 8 Giveaway!