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Celebrate the Meaning of Mother's day

The second Sunday in May brings a day for which fathers and children everywhere scramble to prepare every year. Breakfast in bed, flowers, handmade cards, and presents usually signify Mother's Day. This honoring of Mom and her hard work usually brings a smile to her face. Being able to celebrate motherhood and thanking Moms for all they do has become a national holiday.


Click above to explore this special Mother's day present!

Other cultures have had holidays celebrating motherhood since ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans had their own celebrations to honor the mothers of their gods. In the 1600s, Mothering Sunday was the fourth Sunday of Lent when parishioners returned to their mother church to worship. Later it became a day when servants were sent from their duties to spend the day with their mothers and families. It is generally celebrated today as Britain's version of America's Mother's Day.

We at Martelle International wish you and your Mother a very special day!

CHICTOPIA

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Spring forward with these fresh design ideas!

Spring is already here so now is the perfect time to bring the outdoors in! Simple solutions can make your home much more light, airy, and pleasant to be in. Transform the look and feel of your home with these ideas as the seasons turn.

Take down any drapery or curtains that block light from windows – whilst these are cozy during winter months they block out needed sunlight in the spring and summer. Instead, put up a simple sheer light material curtains over openings to maintain the spring feel. Invest in a mirror(s) where it will capture more light and help transform a room.   Mirrors are great for adding light to a room as any light is reflected off the mirror around the room.



Bring the outside in – literally. Place cut fresh flowers in vases in one or two rooms, these will look and smell great. If you want something more long term purchase quality silk leaved plants and place these in corners of a room. You can also buy colorful table centerpieces to bring floral freshness to your eating spaces.



 Also, instantly add character to a room by creating a feature wall. You can do this by painting a wall a stand out colour or pattern. Add a table lamp on an accent table next to the wall to really light it up in the evening. Add photos or paintings for guests to look at – this is a great talking point should you throw a Spring party for numerous guests!


Stay Fresh! , Martelle

 

 


Pergola Decorating for Weddings

Decorate a pergola and set the stage for your ceremony.

A wedding ceremony that includes the architectural element of a pergola can provide a romantic setting for exchanging vows. Dress and accessorize your wedding pergola -- it will provide the backdrop for the most important part of your wedding. Decorate using fabric, furniture, screens, flowers, beads, ribbon, sculptures, vases, plants, ornaments, lights and candles.


  1. Elegance

    • Add sheer wedding ambiance to your pergola with elegant white curtains and tie backs. As an alternative to hanging traditional curtains, decorate with an abundance of crisp white lace netting -- a lightweight, flowing fabric you can tie to the pergola corners and drape on the straight edges as you would see on a scarf window treatment. Pre-made garland from local craft stores can provide the perfect means for holding the lace netting in place. The sheer fabric also works well with additional accents and personal touches like ribbon, beads, flowers -- or small wedding ornaments for a bit of sparkle.

    Adornment

    • Flowers -- real or silk -- will go a long way toward setting the stage and conveying the celebratory spirit of your wedding ceremony. Remember to include flowers for the pergola in your overall wedding planning -- you may not wish to have big splashes of bold colors on the pergola when your entire color scheme is pastels. Beyond flowers, think big. Use tall column planters or large garden urns to display plants or flower arrangements. Potted topiary trees can also dress the pergola up instantly.

    Accessories

    • Decorate with artistic touches such as garden sculptures, large decorative vases or a special pathway of cloth or flower petals leading to the pergola. Think about whether the ceremony requires certain items to be present; a small table -- with a wedding-appropriate table cloth, of course -- can hold ceremonial accessories. Sometimes a privacy screen is useful for one or more sides of the pergola to block out background distractions or a less-manicured landscape view. A pergola that lacks a foundation may require the addition of a special ground cover, platform or carpet for the ceremony.

    Romance

    • Even if your wedding will take place during the daytime, the use of lights, hanging lanterns, candles or a special chandelier will help provide a romantic atmosphere. String small white lights entwined with the fabric on your pergola or hang them separately as a cost-effective wedding-mood enhancer. If your pergola setting includes a pool or fountain nearby, use luminary pool floating candles; a bird bath or pond can be transformed with some water lily candles. Find decorative garden pedestals to hold a trio of column candles. Battery-powered candles provide an alternative to flame candles if wind will be a wedding day concern.

    Martelle

2012 Top Interior Design Trends!

Whatever your style has been in the past, forget the contrary differences between Traditional Classics and Contemporary Design.  A unique and bold change  seen at the end of 2011 and running strong in 2012 is the blending of these previously diametric themes.  The result is a timeless and clean neoclassical style accented with a dash of grunge!  How is it done?  I'm glad  you asked!

The blending of these two themes is not only accomplished through the structure of new furnishings, but is also achieved through patterns, colors, and textures like never before.  Whom would ever have thought of taking your Grandmother's chest and painting it? Then attacking it with a block sander on the edges to reveal the mahogany or hardwood beneath?....and yet that style is very much in play today!

Mixing colors and patterns, textures and styles in calculated melodies create a blend where all rules are broken . Gone are the brass chandeliers, now replaced by multi- colored, classical lighting fixtures like the one below.  Iron and Silver replace the shiny gold fixtures we grew up with... and the change doesn't end there!  Mugatu's "Direlicte'", campaign from the ever so funny movie, "Zoolander" not only glorified ratty fashion but 10 years later and on today's, "rubbish runways" tattered clothing and hobo-chic fashion campaigns has affected Interior design.  The "industrial" or "mercantile" look is used from tables to dining furnishings.

Whatever your style or whatever speaks to you is the most important thing to take away from today's design.  Surround yourself with what makes you happy and evokes your style.  Oddly enough, it doesn't seem you can make any mistakes with today's mix.  Many of these ideas can be seen in the emerging stock at Martelle International and other fine shops.
Keep fresh!

PURE PASSION - PURE STYLE

Martelle


Ceiling Medallions add Style & Interest



When one considers mill-work for interior decorating the ceiling medallion usually takes a back seat to crown moldings, wainscot, chair rail, etc.  However,  with today's modern manufacturing in injection molds, the ceiling medallion is an easy "do it yourself" addition that adds contrast, style, and value!

Value?  Oh yes!  A ceiling medallion will cost far less than crown molding in a room not to mention his cousins wainscot, base, chair rail, etc.  Why?  The aforementioned mill-work requires a trim carpenter and professional painter.  The carpenter has to measure the room, purchase the materials, have them primed, cut to fit, installed, filled, and finally painted once more...not to mention the saw dust and debris now filling your home!

A ceiling medallion can be found finished in one color or purchased in a myriad of gorgeous classical themes.  The contrast brings the eye up and the style fills the room with interest especially if placed above a chandelier.  Let your style go wild with this affordable simple addition!  Keep Fresh! 
Warmly, Martelle