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Emirates Hotel has Second Thoughts on $11 Million Christmas Tree

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

In keeping with the holiday spirit or making a mockery of it? Those are the questions being asked by observers of the $11 million Christmas Tree at the Emirates Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

As you may recall, the 42-foot tall artificial tree – worth about ten grand on its own – was decorated with all manner of gold, silver and precious jewels (some 180 pieces of jewelry in all) to bring its value up to $11 million, making it the most lavishly adorned tree on record. But with many people asking if the Emirates didn't go overboard this time, the hotel is reportedly distancing itself from the display. Which is pretty hard to do considering it's sitting inescapably in the hotel's main lobby.

Is this an early sign that the Gulf Emirates are beginning to tone down their famous opulence? Possibly, but in a hotel that features a gold bar vending machine and a million-dollar vacation package, we wouldn't take too much stock in the reports just yet.

[Source: The Huffington Post]

Tags: abu dhabi, christmas three, emirates, emirates hotel, tree, uae, united arab emirates

Baumraum, Luxury Living in the Treetops

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Garden, Green

I never had a tree house as a kid and although I can't say I ever really felt deprived I wouldn't mind using that fact as an excuse to indulge myself in adulthood! These tree houses by Baumraum out of Germany are absolutely gorgeous, not to mention much larger and more luxurious than what the average 10 year old gets. They build custom tree houses all over the world, although mostly in Europe, and the designs vary from houses built up just a few feet off the ground to designs like this one way up in the tree tops (wonderful to look at but is it really secure balancing up there like that???).

Via Wists

Gallery: Baumraum Treehouses

Tags: baumraum, house, houses, tree, tree house, tree houses, TreeHouse, TreeHouses, trees

Nature's Dryer

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Green

Sunny spring days are coming and there is nothing like drying your clothing outside. But clotheslines aren't exactly aesthetically pleasing. The new Nature's Dryer design improves on nature by creating a piece of metal landscape art that looks like a leafless tree but can accommodate a load of laundry. The tree is made of steel tubes surrounding a PVC cylinder to create the dryer trunk. There are two levels of branches that have galvanized wire wrapped and twisted around them as tendrils. It is anchored in the ground by using a stabilizing pole. T-shirts and blouses can be hung on hangers and then placed on the branches and towels and sheets can be draped over the branches while smaller items can be woven through the wire tendrils. It sells for $670.

[via Design Spotter]

Tags: design, dryer, green, tree

Arbor Day Foundation, Charity of the Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day

There is something magical about a fresh pine tree in your home during the holidays. But consider where that tree came from and what our world would be like without the millions of trees the speckle the landscape. This season you can give a gift to a friend and the world all in one small step. The Arbor Day Foundation has "Give-A-Tree" cards for sale and with a donation of $5.95 they will plant a tree in a national forest in the name of your special someone. Trees die each year because of insect infestation, wildfires and disease. Share your giving nature with the ones you love and ensure a greener world for all to enjoy in the future.

[via Real Simple]

Tags: arbor-day, arbor-day-foundation, gifts, tree

Adopt An Olive Tree

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Green

Here's a great chance to both do something great for the environment and get something fun to show for it: adopt yourself an olive tree! Nudo, an olive grove in Italy, is offering people the chance to support small scale artisanal farming (instead of the large mechanized operations that damage the earth) by adopting a specific olive tree. And when you adopt an olive tree in the grove for one year not only do you get the satisfaction from the environmental effort, but you also get all the produce from your tree. You'll get a Spring Package with the olive oil from your tree, and then an Autumn Package of more olive oil and some handmade olive oil soap. $130/year.

via DailyCandy

Tags: adopt, earth, eco, eco friendly, eco-friendly, EcoFriendly, environment, environmental, green, italian, italy, nudo, olive, olive oil, olive tree, OliveOil, olives, OliveTree, tree, trees

Scandezign Jewelry Tree

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry

I'm horrible about taking care of my jewelry when it comes to storage -- I have a tangled mess of bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings in about 4 different jewelry boxes. But I think that would be a different story if I had one of these Jewelry Trees from Scandezign (or I might need a small forest of them). Exceptionally fluid and simple, its classic and modern feel both holds your jewels safely and shows them off beautifully. Designed by Louise Christ it's made of brushed aluminum and stands 10.1" high and 5.3" wide. $54

Via Design Mind

Tags: aluminum, bracelet, bracelets, christ, jewelry, jewelry tree, JewelryTree, louise christ, LouiseChrist, necklace, necklaces, ring, rings, scandezign, stand, tree

Sycamore Ceiling Fan

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

I remember when I was kid getting such a kick when there was a big gust of wind and all the dried seeds would come twirling down like waves of little helicopters from the trees. Well apparently nature has the right idea, because it turns out the design of a Sycamore seed makes for an extremely efficient ceiling fan. It creates the same air flow with less noise and at slower speeds than traditional fans, and because it runs slower the natural form and beauty of the dynamically balanced blade is visible even when the fan is in use. Plus the Sycamore Ceiling Fan has a great modern look for those looking for something other than the usual 4 or 5 blade design.

Tags: air, airflow, ceiling, efficient, fan, seed, seeds, sycamore, tree, trees

Tree of Enchantment Glass Orbs

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

We all have things that consistently appeal to us, and I always find myself drawn to art that represents the seasons. These 4 Tree of Enchantment Glass Orbs, designed by Stephen Kitras, are hand blown with a "trunk" in the center that branches out into the orb. Meant to represent winter, spring, summer, and fall, spots of jewel tone colors form the leaves of the trees (or in the "winter" one it could be snow) in corresponding colors like greens for spring and browns/golds for fall. The whole set would look beautiful hanging together in a bright window, or one alone switched out every few months. 6" diameter, $45 each.

Tags: ball, balls, enchantment, fall, glass, kitras, orb, orbs, season, seasonal, seasons, spring, stephen kitras, StephenKitras, summer, tree, tree of enchantment, tree of enchantment glass orbs, TreeOfEnchantment, TreeOfEnchantmentGlassOrbs, trees, winter

Xmas Light

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

In the spirit of the season, designer Tord Boontje has come up with the Xmas Light. Shaped like a Christmas tree, it is made up of a mass of bright white stars and snowflakes. The shade, which looks quite like it is made of paper snowflakes, is tear, temperature and water resistant, as well as reflective enough to allow a good amount of light through it to light up a room while also retaining a bright glow within the "tree" itself. It measures 18-in. across and 30-in. high. Price: $85.

Tags: Boontje, christmas, christmas tree, ChristmasTree, holiday, tord boojtje, tree, xmas

Spode Coaster Set

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

Instead of going all-out with Christmas decorations, it's nice to just have a couple little touches around the house to give things a festive atmosphere. Spode has a lovely line of Christmas Tree plates and tableware, but their coaster set is a piece that really works well as a stand-alone item. The set includes four coasters and a stand with a 3D Christmas tree that, of course, matches the coasters' design. Best of all, the seasonal set is only $25.

Tags: christmas, christmas tree, ChristmasTree, spode, tree

Glass Raindrops

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Few things in nature are more beautiful than the early morning sunlight glinting off a tree that has been kissed with dew in the night. The little drops of water are like nature's ornaments and the only way you're going to reproduce the effect inside is with multiple sets of Glass Raindrops. Each of these drops is 1-inch long and is sold in a set of 24. A few sets, along with a string of lights, would make a Christmas tree look amazing. Price: $15 per set ($12, on sale).

[via cribcandy]

Tags: christmas, decoration, dew, drops, glass, holiday, lights, ornaments, tree

Snow Frosted Tree in Pewter Urn

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

This Snow Frosted Tree in Pewter Urn looks a bit like something that was a prop in The Chronicles of Narnia last year. Fortunately, that only adds to the romantic, natural look that this tree brings to a room. It stands 5 feet tall and has no lighting built in to it, although you could certainly add an ornament or two if you wanted to bring some color to the elegant, but monochromatic, base look. Price: $160.

Tags: christmas, holiday, narnia, snow, tree, winter

A Tree of Lights

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Real candles used to be the traditional decorations for Christmas trees, but the fire hazard presents far more risk than the average person is going to want to take in his or her home. Electric lights are a fine substitution, but this stainless steel Tree Tealight Holder presents a way to enjoy the flicker of real flames on a tree in a very safe way. The tree stands almost 23 inches tall and holds 13 candles. Price: $205.

[via designmilk]

Tags: candles, christmas, holiday, lights, tealights, tree, trees

Barney's Gumdrop Tree

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

If you don't want to deal with putting up a large Christmas tree, or if your kids live in apartments, dorms or other places that are short on space, the Gumdrop Tree at Barney's is a cute way to introduce the holiday spirit without introducing the need for cleaning up pine needles. It stands 16.5 inches high and is decked out with multi-colored spiced gumdrops, all sparkling with a sugary coating. It is inadvisable to try and string lights on this tree, but it does have the advantage of being edible, ensuring that the season will be a sweet one. Price: $88.

Tags: candies, candy, christmas, gumdrop tree, gumdrops, sugar, tree

Steuben Tree of Lights

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

The Tree of Lights, from Steuben Glass, is a new seasonal design from artist Robert Cassetti. In the piece, he tries to create the magical warmth that comes from seeing a brilliant holiday display thorough a window on a cold December night. And he succeeds. The delicate glass tree reflects any nearby lights and gives off exactly that feeling. Price: $3,500.

Tags: art, christmas, glass, holiday, sculpture, steuen glass, tree, tree of lights, TreeOfLights

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