HOME STYLE: It's the simple gifts in life

Have inexpensive, sure-fire presents at the ready to warm homes and hearts

By Mary Carol Garrity, Scripps Howard News Service

Friday, May 16, 2008

SHNS / The Gerson Cos.

Welcome a new neighbor or surprise an old friend with a small but thoughtful gift for the home. Little treasures like bud vases, coasters and interesting boxes suit the occasion well.

Every time I drive past my neighbor's house, I feel a pang of guilt. Back when the moving van pulled up, I was brimming with good intentions, eager to select just the right little gift that would tell them how happy we were to have them in the neighborhood. A few weeks went by, then a few months, and before I knew it, so much time had elapsed that the new neighbors had become old-timers.

Now the House of Shame serves as a powerful reminder for me to never miss a moment when I can surprise someone with a special gift.

To keep my new resolution, I'm going to keep some gifts on hand I can pull out in a pinch. If you want to do the same, here are some simple and inexpensive no-fail presents you can use as hostess, housewarming or thank-you gifts.

* Petite bouquets in beautiful dishes: I know I'm a dishaholic who believes dishes are the answer to all of life's biggest questions. But seriously, a beautiful silver creamer, glass bud vase or ceramic pitcher filled with a sweet bouquet of fresh flowers makes the perfect housewarming gift.

I was wild about a simple gift I received from a friend: a gilded antique wine glass cradling a solitary rosebud, the stem cut so low that the bloom almost floated.

I was so crazy about this look that I've copied it hundreds of times. Whenever I have company, I pull out that wine glass, dress it with a tightly pruned rose and use it to brighten my powder room.

Next time you're browsing through a home-decor shop, an antiques mall or a flea market, be on the prowl for perfect little pieces you can use as vases.

How about a sugar dish that's lost its lid, an unusual vase or a small gravy boat?

Don't worry if you don't have a clue about the recipient's tastes, because these happy bouquets look perfect in anyone's home, whether perched on a windowsill, standing atop a stack of books on a desk or showcased on a bed stand.

* A journal: I love the possibilities presented in a gorgeous blank book, with page after snowy page just waiting to be filled.

Consider giving your new neighbor or friend a journal she can fill with family memories, an account of her latest travels, a sketch of her new garden design, decorating projects she wants to tackle, addresses or personal thoughts.

* Tasty treats: There's nothing like taking new neighbors a home-cooked meal or yummy goodies on their first night in their new house, when their dishes and cooking supplies are still packed away. Since I can't cook worth a lick, I've had to come up with variations on this home-cooked theme, opting instead for carry-out delicacies from restaurants.

If you don't want to do dinner, how about filling an inexpensive ice bucket with ice, fresh strawberries and a bottle of sparkling wine? Or pick out a wooden box and stock it full of candy from a shop.

Find a cute picnic basket and fill it with scones, jam and coffee for breakfast, or artisan bread, imported cheese and salami for lunch.

* Survival bucket: How about putting together a treasure chest of little gifts to surprise your new neighbors or friends?

How about a galvanized pail packed full of home fix-it fare, like a picture-hanging kit, a hammer, an extension cord, wood glue and a tape measure?

If your new neighbors have young kids, put together a playful plastic pail filled with items that will keep the little guys busy while Mom and Dad unpack, such as a coloring book and crayons, bubbles, sidewalk chalk and a jump rope.

If your neighbors are new to the area, fill a basket with brochures and cards from your favorite restaurants, shops, historical sites and parks, then add a city map they can use as they explore.

Mary Carol Garrity is the author of several best-selling books on home decorating.