Decor: Mirror Mirror

 If the eyes are the window to the soul, then mirrors are a gateway to a room. Mirrors are a great addition to any home no matter what your design taste. Giving the illusion of more space, mirrors reflect light and serve as centerpieces to your homes decor. In my living room alone, I have a total of three mirrors, plus a mirrored Borghese chest. Vanity? Not in the least. Mirrors in the living area just mean I don't have to run into the bathroom every time a guest arrives!

Place a floor-to-length mirror in an entry way, or try a large mirror over the fireplace, or two mirrors behind your sofa. Or you can place a mirror in a foyer in front of a chest or credenza.  Do mirrors have to match? Not necessarily. Find one you deem unique and build your room around it.

In Feng Shui it is considered bad luck to place a mirror directly in front of your bed. Put mirrors on either side of your nightstand, or on the wall above your dresser or chest of drawers off to the side. Compliment it with a nice vase filled with fresh flowers that match your decor.

Need inspiration? Browse Interior Design, Traditional Home, or Elle Decor for great ideas for mirror placement. 

Great Picks:

Ikea's Hemnes Mirror, $99.99

Brocade Home Ruffle Edge Wall Mirror, $599

Empire mirror, Z. Gallerie, $449

DuBois Mirror Set, Crate & Barrel, $159

My $99 find at TJ Maxx Home Goods. Haute!

Top Pic: Courtesy of BrocadeHome.com

Home Accessories: Light it Up - Chandeliers Add Glam & Style

 Regency 100% crystal fixture.

I love chandeliers! They are so elegant and add so much drama and glamor to a room. Chandeliers may be placed in dining areas or foyers for the most effect. Dark walls in black, purple, navy, gray, or even red will make your chandelier stand out. They are best used in clean, uncluttered rooms where of course they can be the center of attention.

Check out Gallery for great chandeliers.

Featured Home: A Peek Inside the Obama's Martha's Vineyard Retreat

The Obama familyretreats to this secluded yet comfortable Martha's Vineyard home when they want to get away from the bustle of D.C.

The main house.

The living room designed by New York designer Richard Keith Langham. 

The mint-hued dining room with a pewter American chandelier and painted ladder back chairs from London.

A Patterson, Flynn & Martin rug adorns the master bedroom.

Get the Style: Art Deco Cool

Photo: Courtesy of HouseBeautiful.com

The pale hues in this art-deco style living room sooth while the chocolate black evens out the space. 

Luxury: Affluent Consumers Want More Than Bubbly

A report in Women's Wear Daily listed the top ten wine and spirits purchased by affluent consumers. The top choice? Rum. Nearly 50% prefer rum over everything else. Favorite brands include the family owned Bacardi spirits, Ketel One vodka, the Glenlivet scotch.  The surprising loser? Cognac.

Top 10 List:

1. Rum (48.9 %)
2. Vodka (15.8%)
3. Champagne (9.3%)
4. Wine (8.6%)
5. Scotch (2.3%)
6. Other wine, liquor, and spirits (1.5%)
7. Bourbon (-2.5%)
8. Whiskey (-2.5%)
9. Sherry/Port (-15.2%)
10. Cognac (-25.5%)

Welcome to the Chocolate Home Blog

The Chocolate Home Blog asks...

Is your home your castle or cave?

How does your home make you feel when you walk through the door?
Do you get excited when you leave work to go home? 
Or do you dread going home after work?
Does your home reflect you and your tastes?

Think about those questions and we'll get your feedback on them later.

The Chocolate Home Blog is designed to be a go to site for people of color who wish to make their home their castle. Get news on furniture and housewares sales, interior design, home profiles of celebs and other guests, food and wine tips and more!

So come in and take a seat so we can make you feel right at home.