Gratitude + Thanksgiving
November has us reflecting on gratitude and thanksgiving so we couldn’t help but look up the root meanings of these awesome words. And even though somewhat synonymous and used interchangeably, the word gratitude as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary is also associated with “greater happiness”. In addition, it is noted to “improve health”, help people “deal with adversity” and “build strong relationships”. Expressing gratitude can be done in a number of ways. Note the Latin roots of the word gratus mean “pleasing” and “thankful”. Hence, t makes sense that in celebrating Thanksgiving we are expressing our gratitude for the family and friends surrounding us, our successes and yes, our failures, our working and interpersonal relationships and such. And in thanksgiving, we express our gratitude for all the wonderful things in our lives, especially to God.
During the month of November, we will emphasize and continue express gratitude to our military and those leading them; our amazing clients; immediate, extended and faith families; friends – old and new; trade partners, net working groups, sales reps and showrooms; the talents and skills of staff, and of course our health and wellbeing, to enable us to continue working in a profession we work tirelessly to achieve goals set for our business and our clients.
If you enjoy journaling about gratitude and thanksgiving, there are many retailers that stock gratitude journals. Our current favorite journal just happens to be in our neck of the woods. If you haven’t heard of the adorable The Knap Sack Store, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, you need to check it out. Owned and operated by Jennifer Little – who by the way is the epitome of joy and expresses gratitude better than anyone I know – is a great place to source many types of stationary, cards, gifts, jewelry and more. If you are not local to Northern Colorado, you can also find these little gems on their online store.
Setting + Gathering at the Table
One of my most favorite things to do during the holidays is set a beautiful table. I grew up with an appreciation for bringing friends and family together around delicious food and am always excited to explore new options for setting a table, whether it’s a bargain item or a small splurge. Our tip for this, is if it as item that is classic in design and won’t trend out of style, go ahead and invest in that piece(s) and have the budget for it. I tend to shop sales for the more “trendy” items and then recreate and incorporate them into my decor’ every year.
If you like modern holiday decorations or like mixing in a little modern with you classic / traditional style, retail stores such as, Crate-n-Barrel, West Elm and CB2 to name a few offer great contemporary settings at reasonable prices. Retailers such Pottery Barn and Sundance offer more traditional / rustic options. But, if you like unique and like to support those who provide something more handmade and custom, local artisans or the Etsy online store may be your preferences. I also encourage everyone to shop local retailers, to support local businesses, save on shipping and most of all to get into the holiday spirit of wishing friends and strangers holiday greetings in person.
Below are some of our hand-picked favorite items from a few different retailers.
For more fresh ideas and inspiration on setting your Thanksgiving Day table, feel free to click the link below to visit the Larson Design Pinterest “thanksgiving table” board to view some of our favorite ideas. This board offers a variety of aesthetics and styles – simple to sophisticated, color palettes, and where to buy. If you like DIY projects, there are ideas for you as well!
Savory + Nourishing Food
Tis’ the season to be in the kitchen! And, to cook beautiful, savory, and nutritious food is a favorite in our family. In the recent years my attitude towards food has changed – and for the better. I’ve always loved delicious food but have switched my mentality to nourishment. I prefer to not over eat during the holidays like I used to but still like the idea of incorporating some our family’s traditional dishes and of course some sweats, into our meal. Who doesn’t love an apple, pecan or pumpkin pie! I’ve adjusted recipes slightly and have started incorporating more color – which means more vegetables and fruit. Color equals high nutrients. And for health reasons I am gluten free, don’t eat red meat or pork and keep dairy, refined sugar and corn products to a minimum. My body feels better and gives me more energy when consuming “raw” or “Mediterranean” style meals, but in the Fall / Winter months, like warm foods and eat produce “in season”.
When it comes to Thanksgiving, I tend to stay the traditional course for the meal menu, even though how I prep food and recipes have changed. Larson Design is a family affair when it comes to being in the kitchen on the holidays and we LOVE to put the meal focus around the turkey. We appreciate and love a farm fresh, free-range grazed turkey and will use a dry brine recipe this year. There are many options to purchase farm-raised turkeys, but this year will be resourcing Jodar Farms. See link below. We recommend you research turkeys based on what fits your budget and requirements for “farm-raised” poultry and go from there.
And since we love colorful nutritious packed food, the roasted carrot recipe in the Colorado Color cookbook is a great side to any turkey dinner in addition to some greens sides, potatoes and other family favorite recipes. For a few days to follow we find creative ways to use our leftovers. My kids love creamed turkey on toasted (basically turkey in gravy on toast) but I use my dad’s traditional recipe and add peas and carrots for the “color”. Many of the Colorado Colore recipes can be incorporated into any holiday meal or used for holiday entertaining.
What’s Trending
Color trends always make a strong impact for each season and 2020 is no exception. Here are three of our favorite sources to use for staying up to date on color trends for the season.
Benjamin Moore “First Light” 2102-70
A fresh palette of color for a revitalized spirit; The soft, rosy of hue “first light” is blooming with potential as Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2020, is the backdrop for a bright new decade of color.
Click here to see the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2020 Palette »
Sherwin Williams “Naval” SW 6244
Embracing the Next Decade
Navy is coming out of its comfort zone with you. 2020 is an empowering year of change that focuses on bringing your best self into the new decade. The next 10 years pave the way for wellness of the mind, body and soul – a clean palette for self-nurturance.
Roaring Navy
Giving a nod to Art Deco influences, Naval fuses the striking and bold opulence of Art Deco with the awe‑inspiring power of nature – from the infinite night sky to the mysterious depths of the sea – bringing navy out of its comfort zone to usher in an empowering new year and fresh decade of change. This deep shade evokes a prominent sense of confidence that fuses timeless color with a fresh mix of natural materials and textures that bring navy blue into a new era.
Down to Earth
2020 places an importance on biophilia – our intrinsic need as humans to interact with nature. The inclusion of live greenery and mineral based materials like marble, allow us to create a natural sanctuary that encourages rejuvenation in your everyday life. It’s about slowing down to appreciate the beauty in nature and how you can bring it indoors.
Click here for more information on Sherwin Williams Color of the Year 2020 »
Pantones expect design trend Chiclet Chair by Koket
Pantones Color Trends for Fall/Winter 2020
One of Vogues Fall Fashion Trends for 2020 – and our favorite – is “Preppy”; a descendant from sporty, and includes designs from Etro, Gucci and Celine. We love the mix of different fabrics and especially the tweed. Rich, full-bodied colors are the perfect setting for a dramatic and moody library or den or gorgeous contrast and accent to rooms with lighter color fixed architectural elements.
Current Projects
Again, we are continually blessed to have the business we have. If you follow us on social media, you can see that we have had some great projects this year.
Projects Completed:
- Complete Basement Finish; Fort Collins, CO
- Partial Kitchen Remodel; Windsor CO
- Exterior Reface – residence; Windsor, CO
- Down-sized homeowner with existing furnishings (and some new supplemental items) into new home
Currently under construction:
- Kitchen remodel; Camarillo, CA
- Master Bath partial remodel; Camarillo, CA
Ready to photo-shoot:
- Jack & Jill Bathroom complete remodel (X2); residence in Country Club development; Greeley, CO
- Furniture, decor and wall art installation; residential living Room / dining room; Berthoud, CO.
Current Concept Development:
- Furniture and decor concepts development for Office and Master Bedroom; Windsor, CO
- Fireplace redesign and media wall concept design for residence; Harmony Club Development; Timnath, CO.
Of course, we are grateful for the business we get and may not win every contract, but we are happy and busy writing proposals for all scales of projects. Watch for project photo’s to come soon for these awesome clients and homeowners.
Continued Education 2019 To Date
- Monet Exhibit – Denver, CO
- Mid-Century Modern Exhibit – Denver, CO
- The Brand Of You – Your Personal Brand
- Art Styling 101
- The 411 on Rugs
- How to get the Most Out of LED Lighting
- Culture and the Agreement
- How to Build Strong Client Relationships
- Quartz Fabrication Techniques
As always, feel free to share your holiday family favorites and traditions on this blog site or inquire about any information from this blog.
All Our Best and Happy Thanksgiving 2019!
Larson Design ~ Staff and Family