Home is in

and hype is out, according to "Changing American Lives," a consumer

study by McPheters & Co. and Beta Research, New York.

"Increased

value is placed on tradition, relationships, familiarity and enhancing

at-home experiences," says Rebecca McPheters, president of the market

research firm that conducted the study. She predicts that decorating,

entertaining and cooking at home all will be rising priorities.

If a wedding

is on your social calendar, there is no better time to turn your dining

room into a romantic backdrop for wedding-related events. Every member

of the wedding will appreciate the warmth and shared intimacy that comes

from bringing the wedding shower, bridesmaids' brunch, or rehearsal dinner

home this year. Equally important, the refurbished surroundings will add

comfort and cheer to family gatherings for years to come.

The current

trend to patterned, rather than painted, walls is another indication of

America's return to romantic elegance. What is more romantic than roses?

Always a wedding mainstay, roses are now also a major home fashion theme.

A three-inch-wide,

tea-stained stripe, paired with a soft cabbage rose wallpaper pattern,

captures the nostalgia of roses beautifully. Both are from the Country

Chic collection by S.A. Maxwell Co., which ensures that they are perfectly

color coordinated.

Borders in

the same collection are similarly coordinated and provide a wealth of

decorative touches for your wedding and other party events. The stripe,

installed from the floor to just above eye level, visually heightens the

walls, while the rose bouquet pattern above it introduces color and drama.

A molding,

placed between the two patterns, can be used to frame the patterns and

also can function as a plate rail to display everyday treasures or gifts

being received by the bride.

Now that the

stage is set, it's time to decorate. The vintage rose border from the

same wallpaper collection makes an ideal decorative runner along the center

of the table. It can also be used to wrap candles on the table or sideboard.

For fun, make

a hat box wedding cake that is full of surprises. Buy three plain, round

hat boxes in descending sizes and wrap each in the striped wallpaper,

or, for contrast, one in the rose border to match the walls and table

runner.

Use the top

of each box as a template to cut circles of the stripe pattern to glue

on top of the lids. Cut three rose bouquets from the border pattern and

glue one in the center of each lid; then give each rim a soft shine by

bordering it with satin ribbon.

Fill the boxes

with gifts for the bride or bridesmaids, or favors for guests. Stack them

like layers of a cake and hold them all together with satin ribbon that

culminates in a generous bow on top. Surrounded by a scatter of rose petals,

this cake makes a delicious looking centerpiece for the sideboard.

Rose border

cones can be used as napkin holders, place cards or decorative containers

for take-home mementoes. Fold sections of the border into triangles. Cut

triangles of the same size from poster board and glue a border triangle

onto the side of each one.

Overlap the

sides slightly and glue two of the triangular pieces together to form

an open cone. You can trim the top edge with ribbon, extend the ribbon

up into a handle, and affix a soft-colored glass Christmas ball that dangles

down from the point.

Cushion the

insides with tissue before filling each with a small gift box, heart candies

or rose potpourri. Each guest's name can be written on a cone placed at

a table setting or hung from a chair. To turn the cones into napkin rings,

trim off the points at the bottom and slip the napkins through.

To locate a

retailer that carries Country Chic and other collections by S.A. Maxwell

Co., call (847) 932-3700 or visit www.samaxwell.com .

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