Hot In The Hive: Decorative 30 Gallon Oak Wine Barrel

imageMost everybody likes a good bottle of wine, but there are certain people out there who live and breathe wine. These are the people that not only have a small collection of reds and whites at their disposal near the dinner table, but probably also have a cellar of some sort that houses the best bottles. Besides multiple bottles of the good stuff, their house probably also has framed pictures of wine and wine accessories around the kitchen, a monthly subscription to Wine 4 Life, and multiple coffee (wine?) table books on the subject scattered about. Maybe it’s your father or father-in-law, a dear friend, or your loving husband who’s the wine aficionado and you’d like to get them something they’ll really like that pertains to their hobby. One problem. You have no idea about anything to do with wine except that it’s good with dinner. What year Chateau Ste. Michelle was supposed to be good? Is the 2007 Merlot better than the Cabernet? Forget all the worrying and get them something that will make their wine collection and cellar even better, without you having to research the history of the grape. This 30-gallon oak wine barrel not only decorates and adds authentic appeal to any room, but it can double as a table top or be used as a table base. Versatile and perfect for the wine-lover in your life!

Price: $329.00, but many wineries have (empty) barrels for sale that go for under $100, and if you’re not a fan of the unfinished look, you’re a DIY project away from a new table!
Who Found It: idabone was first to add the Decorative 30-Gallon Oak Wine Barrel to the Hive.

10 Unique Camera Gifts And Accessories For Shutterbugs

imageGift-giving is often made simpler when the person you’re shopping for has one prominent interest or hobby — let’s say… photography, for the sake of this post. But even after you’ve narrowed the spectrum of present possibilities down to camera accessories and photo goods, how do you even begin to choose the perfect photo gift in a day and age so technologically diverse?! My advice is to aim for the unique — while a photography fanatic can spend all the money and time they want trying to track down the latest release in digital cameras, they won’t necessarily have a sturdy waterproof case to go with it, or a self-taking revolving tripod for it to sit atop! Browse the slideshow for 10 nifty gifts for the photo enthusiast, including frames, gimmicky gadgets, and more!

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Be Our Guest: 10 Chic And Charming Hostess Gifts Under $50!

imageI don’t know if it’s true for every culture in the world, but I know in most Asian cultures it’s incredibly rude to show up at a friend or family member’s house completely empty handed. Maybe that’s why I have enough oranges to fill a grove on my kitchen table so I’m prepared to give out to any homes I go to (it’s a Chinese thing). Anyway, I’m sure some of my friends hosting holiday parties this year will be confused if I bring a sack of oranges, so I’ve been on the hunt for affordable hostess gifts. For the tea lover, a set of English teas in a hand-carved box is a thoughtful gift. If your host is a budding cupcake maker, give them this cupcake making kit which includes recipes, baking liners, a pastry bag and piping tips. Take a look at my slideshow to see more hostess gifts she’ll appreciate and love!

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Furnish Your Home With Authentic Decor From Kiku Japanese Imports!

imageListen up, Asian decor hounds: Kiku Japanese Imports has a selection of Japanese furniture and antiques — known as “tansu” — that will surpass your wildest dreams. Think folk crafts, lacquerware, textiles, dolls, ceramics, screens, scrolls and basketry representing designs from 1870 through 1930. Praised as one of America’s largest direct importers of antiques from Japan, Kiku carefully restores each piece before making it available for purchase. So forget silly souvenirs and knockoffs. Doesn’t your home warrant the real deal? Click “See Video” for a tour, then visit San Francisco’s Modern Luxury page to see more luxe amenities the city has to offer!

Have The Best Dressed Tree With Our Top 10 Christmas Ornaments

imageThere are many people I know who decorate with a holiday theme immediately after Thanksgiving dinner and then there are people who don’t start until the last minute (aka the day before Christmas Eve). Either way, the tree is almost always the most important aspect of any Christmas decor. While some may argue the virtues over real versus faux trees, what good is it if it ends up totally naked? That’s why I’m here with ornaments of all shapes and sizes that will get your tree totally covered up. From collectible limited edition Swarovski crystals to the cutest cow ornament ever, there’s a whole world of ornaments out there. Add some DIY cranberry and popcorn garlands, tinsel, maybe some fake snow and you’re all set to wait for Santa to deliver his presents. Take a peek at my slideshow to see them all!

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Decorate Your Home On The Cheap With Stylehive’s Decor Deals!

imageThe best part about finding sales is not that I can shop for my favorite things for super low prices. The favorite part about sales is that I can share the sales with all my friends so they can save too! Decorating your home can be a huge expense since there are so many things to buy like furniture, bedding, and even artwork. Luckily, there’s Decor Deals, so it’s even a greater joy to share the deals that can be found for over 50% off the original retail price. If you’re going to be entertaining a lot during the holiday season, a nice pair of stainless steel salad servers is a must have at any dining room table. The Dorado salad servers used to be over $40 but you can snag them for $16.95. Mirrors can also be a huge expense (and totally worth it when you glimpse your gorgeous self), but I’ve found the Turner Portrait Mirror for $149.99 down from $500! Click over to my slideshow to see all the must have deals that will keep your home well decorated and your wallet happy.

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Bake Christmas Cookies In Style In An Adorable Anthropologie Apron!

imageYes, I do a little bit of baking. I’ll even cook at times if I need to. While I’m not claiming to be a domestic goddess by any means, I can at least look the part while preparing for upcoming holiday parties. Recently I made a fantastic purchase in hopes of it inspiring me to become an overnight chef success. Anthropologie’s 3-D Toile Full Apron is a pretty sweet deal! It’s not your grandmother’s “kitchenwear” either. The apron I bought has gorgeous ruffles and ruching; I found myself not wanting to take it off when I was done baking. I wore it this past Thanksgiving, while I whipped up my pumpkin gingerbread trifle. My dessert was a hit, but that didn’t mean I came out of the kitchen unharmed. Thank god the apron was machine washable! Holiday cookie time is upon us, and I plan on wearing it to protect my clothing. The apron is so cute; I swear it makes me want to find another excuse to wear it. Maybe I’ll attempt a roast… with the number of a good take-out places within my reach! Head over to WhatsWear for more festive finds for a fashionable holiday season!

Get Into The Holiday Spirit With Festive Home Decor!

imageI really love the holidays. All the stores are playing my favorite Christmas songs, coffee shops have special holiday themed drinks, and the overall sentiment of goodwill and cheer is as infectious as H1N1. Unfortunately, my home still looks like it’s summer with linen pillows on my sofa and patio furniture still hanging out in the backyard. So it’s definitely time to have my house catch up with the holiday season. That doesn’t mean I’m covering my home with reindeer and snowmen though! I can’t wait to add a few faux fur throws to cozy up to when the nights get chilly. The holidays are also a time where guests come and go through my front doors so these holiday guest towels would be perfect in my bathroom. Take a look at my slideshow to see more decor items that will get you ready for the holidays!

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Hot In The Hive: QOOQ Kitchen Computer

imageImagine a world where stuffy French culinary academies are rendered obsolete. Where you don’t need to spend thousands on a personal chef… and you don’t need a talking rat under your chef’s hat to lead your way around the kitchen. Enter QOOQ — your sleek touchscreen guide to mouthwatering masterpieces! The device, equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities and 500 preloaded recipes, takes you step-by-step through meal preparation and even teaches you tricky-to-master techniques with tutorial videos. Sauteed your way through all of its default recipes? Subscribe to monthly downloadable updates for 12.95 EUR a month and you’ll never run out of creative things to concoct. It would be the perfect gift for any Jacques Pepin in training… but as of now, the device only comes in French. So if you have anyone on your list who has mastered the French language but doesn’t have the culinary mastery to go with it, look into the QOOQ!

Price: 349 EUR
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add QOOQ Kitchen Computer to the Hive.

Add Some Scottish Influence With Houndstooth Home Decor

imageHoundstooth always reminds me of Sherlock Holmes and pants that chefs always wear, but lately I’ve been seeing it in a variety of places. The print may have originated in the woven wool cloth of the Scottish Lowlands, but it has universal appeal in any way you can find the print whether it’s on clothing or furniture. In the home, it can be an unexpected accent amidst monochrome colors or even floral prints. Don’t be afraid to mix and match because it can definitely work as a neutral. Add some to your dining room table with the Houndstooth Placemats found at World Market for less than $6 for a set of 4! For a more subtle houndstooth print, go for the Anywhere Sofa in Modern Houndstooth which features a teeny tiny houndstooth pattern. Click on my slideshow to see more!

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