Puzzle Pieces = Napkin Ring Bling

Puzzle Pieces = Napkin Ring Bling Most of us have that maddening puzzle that's missing five or six key pieces. Reinvent those extras like snowflake napkin holders. Spray paint the pieces white, then glue a couple of pieces together and attach to basic rings with hot glue. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Tin Cans = Cake Stand Risers You do not have to splurge on a costly cake stands in order to make an eye catching display. This 3-tiered stand is produced by stacking cake wedges (available at baking supply stores) of different diameters onto stationary-wrapped food cans. Secure each tier with hot glue, then high the rounds with fake snow. Style by Cristina Riches, Bird's Party



Ceiling Medallion = Textured Wreath These fairly accents aren't just for remodeling jobs; you can also use them as unexpected holiday decor. Leave a medallion white to get a modern appearance, or spray paint in your favorite glossy hue. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Old Door = Dining Table Holiday parties can have hefty guest lists, but that does not mean you need to splurge for a new or rented dining table. Top your smaller variant with a classic door or a sheet of plywood cut around six inches bigger than either side of your desk, then pay with a tablecloth. Voila, seating for a crowd! Layout by Brian Patrick Flynn



A Few Paint Chips = Favor Tags Paint chips may pile up following a house improvement project. This year, put them to great use as vibrant tags for favors. Cut chips into a tree silhouette, then add each recipient's name. These will work equally well as playful place cards. Layout by Brian Patrick Flynn



Lots of Paint Chips = Bloom-Covered Wreath As soon as you've built a larger collection of paint chips, transform them in a wreath filled with brilliant blossoms. To create the flowers: Cut the close of the chip at a 45-degree angle with scissors, then twist until a conical shape takes shape. To keep it from unraveling, add a generous bead of hot glue to the back where the two borders of the paint chip meet. Make enough flowers in various colors to fill a foam wreath, then attach them using hot glue. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Pennant Banners = Sport-Savvy Tree Skirt Relive your high school glory days or holiday memories all holiday season with this unique tree skirt made of classic pennant banners. It'll be an instant conversation piece when guests arrive. Layout by Brian Patrick Flynn



Vintage Aprons = Homespun Tree Skirt For the more domestic-minded decorator, retro aprons can also stand in for a traditional tree skirt. Photo courtesy of Matthew Mead



Metal Stencils = Painted Ornaments Switch cardboard or metal stencils from past craft projects to modern, picture Christmas ornaments. Use them to deck out your tree, or make decorations with every guest's first for custom favors. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Drop Cloth Drapery Hardware = Faux Mantel If your living area lacks a fiery focus, make your own whimsical version working with a drop cloth, drapery hardware along with chalkboard paint. Bonus: It can double as a canvas for pint-sized houseguests. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Cookie Cutters = Christmas Ornaments Cookie cutters aren't only for slicing up dough. With a couple stationary scraps and some ribbon or twine, turn more metal cookie cutters into colorful Christmas ornaments. Design by Layla Palmer



Sheet Music = Whimsical Christmas Trees Turn vintage sheet music into a keepsake you'll be able to enjoy year after year: a mini Christmas tree. Group three of the trees together to make a statement from the dining room or entryway. Design by Marian Parsons



Sheet Music = Pitch-Perfect Placemats If you'd rather leave favorite songs in 1 piece, utilize connected sheets of music as a creative and sophisticated placemat. Here, it adds an unexpected whimsy to this traditional silver-and-white table. Design by Marian Parsons



Mason Jars = Outdoor Luminaries Transform extra mason jars to a glowing accent to greet holiday guests. Fill jars with Epsom salt to emulate freshly-fallen snow, then add little votive candles and put along your front walkway. Design by Melissa Michaels



Mason Jars = Waterless Snow Globes You can decorate with mason jars within the home, also, like Michelle of Sweet Something Design did here. She created waterless snow globes by hot-gluing little evergreen trees to the jars' lids, then pouring fake snow in the jar and then screwing on the lids. Group several together for a wintry scene it is possible to leave up all winter long.



Extra Wrapping Paper = Homemade Wine Charms After the gifts are tucked beneath the tree, repurpose leftover wrapping paper and ribbons to earn season-perfect wine charms. Designer Rima Nasser added every guest's initial to help partygoers recall which glass to sip from. Extra ornaments? Tie them on for a different festive touch.



Leftover Cardstock = Graphic Christmas Ornaments Once you've made holiday cards, then recycle the leftover cardstock into 3-D paper ornaments. All you need is patterned paper, a circle punch and some double-sided tape. Layout by Layla Palmer



Deck of Cards = Sudden Holiday Wreath Poker fans will get a kick out of repurposing a deck of cards as a cheery holiday wreath. Create multiple layers of cards with thick mounting tape; this offers the wreath more dimension. For extra whimsy, attach red and green poker chips in 1 corner to resemble a sprig of holly. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Starlight Mints = Sweet Serving Tray A fresh way to use holiday mints? Melt them in a sweet menu. To make, lay peppermints side by side on a cookie sheet, then put into a hot oven until the mints have melted. Remove from the pan and allow to fully cool. The shiny, slick surface is ideal for holding vacation cocktails. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Scrabble Tiles = Personalized Place Cards Bring the trend of repurposing wooden match tiles into the dinner table this Christmas with these personalized place markers. Using hot glue, attach tiles to spell each guest's name on twine or ribbon. These may double as decorations or prefer tags. Layout by Brian Patrick Flynn



Last Year's Cards = This Year's Cocktail Markers Get your glassware into the holiday spirit with cocktail charms created from last year's greetings. Locate an area with lots of color or an attractive design element, then cut a small hole in the centre for those glasses' stem and a slit so guests may easily slide the mark on and off. Vary the colors and patterns so every partygoer can easily identify her or his glass. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Wooden Clothespins = Clean Snowflake Ornaments Steal a couple clothespins in the laundry room to decorate the tree this year. Glued back to back, clothespin halves transform into crispy white snowflakes. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Covered Cake Plate = Holiday Terrarium Transform an extra cake rack to a Christmastime "terrarium" with candles, ribbons, ribbons and boughs of greenery. Vary the heights and textures indoors to make a visually pleasing screen, then tuck all of it under the glass dome. Have an excess cheese dome? Create the identical impact on an entry table. Design by Layla Palmer



Cake Plate Ornaments = One-Minute Centerpiece Stack extra ornaments atop a cake plate to put in a fast hit of holiday cheer to any room in your home. Hold decorations with double-sided tape. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Wool Blanket = Warm Table Runner A classic wool blanket is an unexpected but cozy base with this rustic table setting. By folding the blanket rather than cutting or sewing it can warm your table for the holidays, then return to warming your toes for years to come. Design by Marian Parsons



Glassware Collection = Temporary Tree Collections can be reimagined for the period as part of your Christmas decor. Here, Matthew Mead used a group of turquoise glassware placed on a bookshelf to resemble outline of a Christmas tree -- it's even dotted with silvery orbs such as the real thing. Photo courtesy of Matthew Mead



Drawer Pulls = Heavy-Duty Napkin Holders Scrolled drawer pulls add unexpected style to easy white napkins. To create a more modern appearance, spray paint the brings in a neon hue. Photo courtesy of Matthew Mead



Glass Jars = Colorful Candle Holders Little glass jars become colorful votive holders with a fast coating of spray paint. Have an range of sizes? Spray them in 1 colour and arrange the down the middle of the table for a mood-setting centerpiece. Layout by Camille Styles



Old Wine Bottles = Outdoor Candelabra Wine bottles seem overly sturdy to throw away, but they can accumulate quickly. Put them to good use this year by turning them into a dramatic outdoor candelabra. To make, spray paint the wine bottles using matte black paint, then fit each bottle with a tall taper candle. The drips will obviously run down the sides as they burn bright throughout the day. Design by Brian Patrick Flynn



Everyday Novels = Holiday Accents Need extra holiday color? Raid the bookshelves. Everyday titles may get bright accents when coated with festive fabrics that coordinate with the rest of your decoration. Layout by Brian Patrick Flynn

White walls and neutral upholstery fabrics do not distract the eye from breathtaking views of the Hudson River. "It's got unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty of both Ellis Island and the Hudson River. You see amazing iconic New York structure from each area," says Vern. "I knew that was something I wished to feature and celebrate."

White walls and neutral upholstery fabrics do not distract the eye from breathtaking views of the Hudson River. "It's got unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty of both Ellis Island and the Hudson River. You see amazing iconic New York structure from each area," says Vern. "I knew that was something I wished to feature and celebrate."



An 18-inch ceramic figure presides over the living space. The sculpture was purchased at Pearl River Mart, a SoHo department shop that specializes in Chinese products. "Only in a town such as New York do you have access to numerous bits, so many one-of-a-kind bits and rare finds," says Vern.



A 100-year-old Peruvian rug adds a graphic element that Vern finds attractive. "It's a crude quality which makes it more sophisticated," he states. "It's soul, and it has depth and you can't necessarily get that same thickness in a rug that is new."



Two recycled aluminum side tables lend a hint of shimmer. "They've a built-in stain resistance with their metal surfaces, thus removing the need for coasters," says Vern. "They're also easy to move when you want the sofa to slide out and have a reflective surface that helps expand the visual plane."



"Novels populate the entire unit," says Vern, who picked titles that celebrate New York, its own history and culture. "I collected all of them throughout the trip," adds Vern, who snatched up books while he shopped for other apartment furnishings.



Flooded with daylight, the apartment demands few light fittings aside from desk lamps which Vern purchased at Haus Interior. "The store is run by a woman who's really up and coming from the world of design," says Vern. "She has restricted square footage but everything within her store is carefully thought out"



An Italian-made couch, upholstered in charcoal grey, turns right into a chaise. "I really like the low lines of it and the polished chrome legs," says Vern. "It's a great looking sofa. The simple fact that it's added functions is just fantastic."



The sofa converts to a bed, ideal for overnight quests. Vern, whose very own one-bedroom New York City apartment comes with a sleeper couch, considered it a must-have. "It's so important in New York to have things that actually serve several purposes," he states.



A leather duvet, bought at Oly at Tribeca, serves as equally seats for company and a place to relax and revel in the view. "I can envision someone lying on this chaise longue and reading the Sunday New York Times or taking a nap, falling asleep to the views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River," says Vern.



Vern topped the lace using a baby alpaca wool throw blanket and Olympus field binoculars. "You can just waste your day away, taking a look at the boats going by," says Vern.



When entertaining guests, your party can easily spill in the dining and kitchen area into the living room. Additional seating is offered by window chairs.



Walls of windows offer a bird's-eye view of the southern tip of Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island along with the UNICEF Headquarters building (a nonprofit company near and dear to Vern's heart) are one of the historical landmarks visible from HGTV Urban Oasis.



"Those are one of the most crucial items in the entire unit to mepersonally," says Vern of candle hurricanes he placed in the corner of the space. Vern decorated the landmark Cipriani for the 2009 UNICEF Snowflake Ball, an iconic nyc event, and incorporated the accessories into table settings. "All those faces are faces of kids UNICEF has helped," he adds.



Purchased in a shop on the Upper East Side, a circa-1970s glass and chrome bar cart doubles as an end table in the living room. Vern enjoys its dual purpose. "I just think it's so good looking," he says.



A iron figurine, spotted and snatched up at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, stands guard over the living area. "I really like the nature of it along with the patina of this," says Vern. "To me, it felt authentically New York."



A driftwood mirror, set under the console, balances the area's industrial-style features. "It has a natural quality to it," says Vern. "It's really about balancing out the general aesthetic."



HGTV Urban Oasis combines luxury with the most recent technology. A Samsung 3D Blu-ray Disc Player includes 3D capacities and brings online content into the TV display via web-connected Samsung software.



The winner of HGTV Urban Oasis 2010 will obtain a Samsung Starter Kit which includes two pairs of 3D Shutter glasses and a Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Blu-ray film disk.



Escaping Elephants, a black-and-white photo by artist Matthew Pillsbury, makes a statement from the living room. Pillsbury, that specializes in long-exposure photography, captured a late-night picture of dioramas at the Museum of Natural History, situated near Central Park. "If you look closely in the bottom right corner you will see the subtle outline of a security guard who was making his rounds at that area," says Vern. "It's mystical and ethereal -- I love that quality about that picture."



Proving that small spaces can indeed be luxurious, Vern sprinkled the living room with extravagant touches, such as velvet and wool-blend felt pillows.



A wrought-iron flag brace, circa early 1900s, holds court at a far corner of the apartment. The rusted artifact, rescued from a building scheduled to be demolished, finds new life as a candle sconce. "It's such incredible, beautiful detail," says Vern.



Contemporary Asian-style porcelain dinnerware and bottles of IZZE sparkling juice invite guests to sit back and unwind. Vern served up colour in tiny dollops to maintain all eyes focused on the magnificent views.



A Deco-style three-tiered side table complements wire-brushed walnut flooring. "The timber flooring has thickness and heat, and I wanted that at the unit," says Vern. "I needed it to feel like it was a house."



The apartment takes on added elegance as the sun sets along with the big lights of the city sparkle in the night skies.