#maximalist christmas living room

[hermaximalismhome]

[sunshinesight]

Holiday / winter decor 2022.

[tchaikovskym]

Maybe I'm 23 and maybe I want a fictional character on my wall.

[hermoodymaximalismhome]

[outlawruben]

Modern AU headcannons

The Vandermatthews family edition

When John was a teenager he made slime and got it in Dutch’s expensive Persian rug he keeps in the office. (Dutch was LIVID.)

Hosea reads late into the night, which caused Dutch to buy one of those clip on reading lights so he can finally sleep peacefully.

Dutch and Hosea do embarrassing dances in the kitchen/living spaces when the kids are around. Arthur and John cringe hard at this.

John was introduced to Limp Bizkit and his life was forever changed.

Arthur: “GET OUT OF MY ROOM.”

John *In the doorway*: “IM NOT IN YOUR ROOM.”

Arthur: “dinner is ready.”

John: “OKAY.”

Arthur, louder: “OKAY!”

Arthur tans at the beach, John burns

Arthur has straight A’s, John has straight C’s

John will take a (monthly) shower and get the WHOLE floor wet

John’s favorite Christmas was when he got a bass guitar, and Arthur’s favorite was when he got his blue truck.

Arthur sits on Dutch/Hosea’s bed and just spills the tea to Hosea late into the evening (Dutch wants to get ready for bed soon)

Arthur is a PC player, and John is a console player

John has to go to the mall with Arthur when he wants to go alone because “John doesn’t socialize enough”

They both got to choose their bedroom colors, however, John wasn’t allowed to do THE DARKEST black in the store, so his room is a dark grey with a black accent wall. (Arthur’s room is blue)

Branching off of that, Arthur and John could decorate their rooms HOWEVER they wanted, there was no intervention from the dads

Hosea does the “Dad hand” during road trips when the boys have a snack he wants.

Hosea is the designated driver because Dutch has terrible road rage

They live on a pond, in fact Dutch and Hosea argued over it before buying the house, so much so that Hosea threatened a divorce because the ONLY thing he wants is a pond. Dutch folded, and Hosea fishes everyday.

Arthur loved Percy Jackson and John loved Warrior Cats.

Arthur is a cereal eater, and John is a pop-tart eater

The contrast between Arthur’s masterpieces vs John’s doodles are crazy. (They’re both proudly displayed on the front of the fridge no matter what) (yes this is based on their canonical journal entries, sue me)

John and Arthur took those embarrassing Macy’s photoshoots in the early 2000’s that are out on display for everyone to see in the future.

John has an INCREDIBLY embarrassing graduation photo from when he was in his emo phase in high school, and his dads refuse to remove it. (It’s placed next to Arthur’s gleaming grad photo)

Dutch has slippers he wears around the house, and Hosea just wears his socks.

John still doesn’t know how to swim in this AU, Hosea has tried to teach him, but John refuses to get in the water.

They have taxidermy in their house from when Hosea went hunting more often when he was younger.

Somehow Hosea and Dutch’s aesthetics work so well together.

Dutch is very much old money, and maximalist, and Hosea is definitely Vintage and Woodsy (It works together if you saw their house)

You would be convinced that John’s nails were naturally black and chipped from how much he painted them.

Hosea has a “Shop” in the garage like every dad has to have. (It’s full of fishing supplies, paint cans, and other tools ofc)

John’s room is very dark, messy, and covered in posters from every movie/Tv show/video game he’s ever seen/played. Also, making the bed? What’s that?

Arthur’s room is open and airy, with his own mountain murals painted on the walls, a full art desk, and he also doesn’t know what making the bed means.

[blurbspeak]

more heartstopper headcanons!! someone stop me!! (you can’t)

(tw mentions of mental health things)

- charlie lives a bit of clutter. so it’s canon that charlie loves collecting things, but i feel like he would be a maximalist in terms of loving things to be on display. photos all over the walls, fav jumpers on a rack so they’re all visible, jewellery or hair or skin products out on the table type of person. not messy, just a ‘like it where i can see it’ person

- tara gives me insomniac vibes. idk if it’s the folklore poster or what but i feel like she is a night owl by nature, but also her lack of sleep goes further into maybe overthinking, or just general daydreaming

- i have this idea that the first time nick experiences a panic attack, he literally has no idea what it is. idk how or when or where it would happen, but if charlie was there, nick would be like “omg what is going on i can’t breathe i’m gonna be sick wtf” and charlie would 100% step up and be like “look you’re defo having a panic attack just breathe with me you’re gonna be ok!!” (can someone talented write a fic pls)

- as upsetting as it is, i think darcy doesn’t cut her mum out of her life even though she is a bully to her. i feel like she would come out to her eventually, and her mum would be awful about it, but darcy would still keep in touch even if it’s minimal (christmas and birthday cards and such) even though she doesn’t really want to

- tori is 100% a dan and phil fan. probs charlie and ollie too actually. they all get pizza and curly fries together and watch dan and phil videos in the living room when their parents are away

[spooky-dice]

random specific dndads hcs that are canon To Me (content warning: brief discussion of mental illness)

carol and darryl’s house is very white + millennial griege with dark flooring, open concept minimalism. carol likes interior design pinterest, and darryl can’t stand clutter. they’ve got one of those portrait gallery walls. (stainless steel fridge house)

mercedes and henry’s house is super maximalist with busy, warm coloured patterns and plants and decor on every surface. it gets dusty sometimes but most of their trinkets are gifts from other people or handmade from a craft market so they refuse to get rid of anything. (coloured vintage fridge house)

glenn lives in an apartment, it’s very undecorated bc renting is Like That, and he’s a big believer in buying impulsive treats and luxuries over any investments. big dvd bookcase. intense stereo system setup is the centerpiece of the place. has a bunch of neon signs taken from bars. (white fridge house)

samantha and ron’s place is generally anti-big light. always natural light or little lamps. dark hardwood. periwinkle walls. has a big sliding door to the backyard that’s always open with the screen closed so bugs don’t get in. lots of bookcases and rugs. (black fridge house)

henry and mercedes will keep EVERY drawing or test and put it on the fridge “to celebrate both victories and opportunities for growth!” and teen sparrow gets really private abt his art and shoves it all behind his bed frame so they can’t hang it.

he also doesn’t draw for a year after getting sent to the realms.

lark sneaks out of the house and wanders the neighbourhood/park/gas station at pretty much any chance. takes a lot of buses to random places. henry used to fight with him abt it but eventually just agrees as long as he sends a check-in text after 5 hours. they still fight abt this.

grant has harm ocd. darryl never gets diagnosed with anything but it’s likely he had religious + contamination ocd. they don’t really talk about this.

glenn has the radio or tv on all the time because the silence freaks him out.

mercedes is really passionate abt all types of craftsmanship. she takes up woodworking and upholstery after she retires.

carol had subtly hinted that she wanted one of those fancy hair heat tools for christmas for 3 years straight before caving and buying them herself.

the first time nick smoked he did it alone on their balcony so glenn wouldn’t see if he coughed.

grant and carol go to comic con together. they both pretend they’re doing it to indulge the other person but they both really enjoy it.

terry is a several-hour-long-video essay fan, any topic. sparrow and grant are into those video game lore deep dives so they send each other links.

nicky’s texts are generally incomprehensible. he thinks emojis are unironically funny.

lark has bad taste in music, like folk punk and midwest emo shit. (folk punk fans know it’s bad. don’t complain. im one of you.)

ron does not know geography. like he just doesn’t know any places.

samantha leaves a place for terry sr. at their holiday dinner table. it helps all three of the stamplers feel better.

morgan got tattoos when she was in her early twenties. in the first timeline she got a few more, and in the second she didn’t. she had her tattoos touched up before moving to hell.

the marlowe’s fence has a really busted section where scary used to practice scoring.

link does all those summer library events. he doesn’t like reading he just likes the vibes.

taylor is highly susceptible to tiktok (or whatever the time period equivalent is?) ads. bought one of those electric pots where the guy cooks in his dorm room and never uses it.

normal will rewatch the same movie a million times. he’s also really into those mediocre shows where they run for like 10 seasons even though all the episodes are the same.

rebecca and sparrow are one of those “don’t go to bed angry” couples. it’s not really working but the unspoken agreement is there.

veronica and terry love going out for brunch. scary sleeps til noon. they leave her waffles in the fridge.

scary wants more piercings but veronica says she has to wait til her other ones heal. scary is not very good at taking care of them. her helix is perpetually infected and she keeps toying with her eyebrow bar.

veronica also keeps warning her that black box dye is a bitch to lift. veronica knows this from personal experience.

link has bad posture but worries about it a lot so he’s always correcting himself.

hermie keeps a ranking of his favourite B:TAS/timmverse shows/episodes. he’s also the guy who has to bring up the fact that it’s animated on black paper backgrounds in every conversation about it.

[adeline-chadwell]

Though Adeline lived in a few places by herself at this point, this was the first she'd stayed in long enough to really decorate and make her own. She tried moving back into the Chadwell mansion but if her family wanted her in Rosewood that just wouldn't work out, she needed room to express herself -and to put up her own Christmas tree. "What are your thoughts on mixing silver and gold?," she asked as she held up two rolls of garland, going total maximalist in the craft aisle.

[tylovesmushrooms]

Cactus and/or nutmeg for the ask game :D

Cactus: What's something you're currently learning about?

I'm learning about a lot of stuff recently, but mostly animal care! I'm considering asking for a new pet for Christmas (mostly looking into frogs) so I've been learning a lot about that!

Nutmeg: How is your room decorated? Is there a specific style or theme?

Maximalist!!!! I have a lot of different themes and items and vibes, but the overarching theme is lots of trinkets and friends and art.

My room at mom's house isn't super decorated right now because we moved a few months ago and I'm disabled so I've been struggling to decorate, but I have quite a bit of art on the walls already. I have tons of my own art and tons of local art too! I have lots of tiny paintings filling in the little gaps because I love making tiny art!

My room at my dad's house is not super decorated because I live there less often, but I have a shelf that I've put a ton of trinkets on!

Here's some photos of that shelf :3

As you can tell from the photos (and my username lol) my special interest is fungus

[hiccanna-tidbits]

Jackunzel February Special Week 4 - Winter Winter in the City

Sure, a festive sleigh ride through sprawling fields, rolling hills, and quiet, snowy forest might not be an option, but Jack and Rapunzel can still find ways to enjoy a very urban winter.

It turns out flirty and needlessly-intense snowball brawls are just as much fun at the bus stop or in the city park as they are in a frozen-over meadow. As pleasant as braving woodland trail with a thermos full of hot chocolate might sound for some, it’s equally as delightful to stroll along snow-adorned neighborhood streets, house never too far in case you need cocoa refills.

And that’s to say nothing of the decorations and festivals and cheer. Shop-lined streets could very well be wild countryside, for how many Christmas trees, holly boughs, and pine wreaths line everything in sight. In all honesty, nothing feels more lively than the darkest, coldest days of the year, with the city air filled with singing and laughing and bells and the smell of gingerbread and peppermint and wassail. There are few places better for a wintry adventure than a line of cheery gift shops with snow-covered awnings--and no place where you should keep a close eye on your bank account, for that matter.

But one year, Jack and Rapunzel’s urban winter is different. There’s snowball fights and hot chocolate and fireside storytelling and tacky Christmas gifts that break the next day, of course, but this time, something seems to have shifted by the time spring rolls around.

It probably has something to do with the fact Jack and Rapunzel have fallen back into the hand-holding habits they had as kids, insisting it’s only for warmth because “this winter is especially frigid.” Or maybe the fact they dozed off on top of each other mid-holiday-movie marathon one too many times. Or perhaps something related to them both separately paying a visit to the city’s biggest candy store and purchasing a heart-shaped box of chocolates for the other “as a joke.”

Either way, it turns into a spring of kissing under blooming trees. And they have a feeling they’ll still be doing it when next winter rolls around.

***

YOOOOO, last Jackunzel February Special submission!!! Alas, all good things must come to an end :( But there seems to be a Jackunzel revival as of late, so rest assured that the shameless Jackunzelposting will not be stopping anytime soon :P

Anyhoo, I have all these winter city pics that I’ve been saving basically like. As long as I’ve been making Jackunzel moodboards. And I have so many saved up I do what I always do and am like “what if I made a themed moodboard about it???”

...and so I did XD

I do love the idea of Jack and Rapunzel living in a big city, though. They seem like they’d live for the energy and liveliness of it all, and would have a great time just walking up and down a busy street and people-watching. They’d also be the kinds of people to live in a city their whole lives and still try to hit every tourist trap in it, just to have the experience XD

Continuously enamored with the idea of them at some kind of holiday market and going on a shopping spree for nothing but festive knickknacks and wintry snacks while sipping hot cocoa, and then going home and redecorating their rooms with the most maximalist winter decorations known to man <3 <3 <3

Pic credits available upon request!

[just-some-sad-kiddo]

(Posted December 25th)

We all woke up early this morning to open presents. I got a bear hat and another gift that was delayed by Amazon and apparently won’t be arriving until next month. See, that’s strange because I only added things to my list that said “arriving before Christmas” and a whole month is quite the delay. Oh well.

We went to Des’s house which was the most maximalist house I’d ever seen. They had a whole room that was just dedicated to being filled with things. It kinda looked like a house out of a fairy tale. I know I’d be overwhelmed if I lived there, but it was nice for just a visit. There were so many snacks, a chip table, and a whole ass coffee bar. Also they had bottled water so I didn’t have to have a sensory overload episode from drinking water.

Also, there was a cute baby there named Owen who I played with most of the time. He was nearly 2 years old and just the cutest thing. He enjoyed throwing balls and blocks at me.

We played this game that had to do with solo cups and gaining money which Eris won $13 from.

I got a little burnt out after the games so I put my headphones on and mentally distanced myself from everything. I somehow didn’t hear that the Google Home had detected the sound of glass breaking and the dogs freaking out, so Dad and Shannon went home to investigate. It was nothing, just the sound of the cages rattling.

That’s great because if the house had been broken into, my laptop would be the first thing to go. 

[sunshinesight]

Christmas / winter decor 2021.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This amazing Swedish home was built for a mayor in 1754 and actually still houses the yearly Christmas Market. It goes from crazy-elegant to a rustic barn.

The library with a wall of portraits.

I would call this the “Wedgewood Room.”

This looks like an office or game room. Look at the weird chandelier.

The kitchen has so many things on display and is surprisingly cozy.

Formal dining room- this home is certainly maximalist.

Like the little red & white striped sitting room.

Love this idea- have you ever seen a painting on a door?

Beautiful big bath.

Now, it starts changing over to a rustic style.

This is the farm building part of the property, and looks like it may have been a kitchen.

Back stairs to the courtyard. I like the rustic barn part better.

It’s amazing that this historic home is still lived in and still so elegant.

https://www.rc.se/bostader/OBJ28647_1718354964/

[mi4014lucaswharton]

The World Of Delight - Initial Moodboards

We were first introduced to the idea of developing a basic moodboard to hold a row of three items or people based on a specific topic, whether it would be objects or artists. The moodboard, shown with my examples below, is to give us initial ideas for our own project, which has the basic premise of a train travelling through a unique world created through Maya.

The First Moodboard:

Artists:

Gyuri Lohmuller: A Romanian painter whose work features a surreal vibe.

John Greenwood: One of my art influences come from my own fascination of the surreal art movement, with this artist in particular being one of my favourites. Greenwood’s oil paintings usually explores an elaborate environment full of unique creatures (seemingly based on food and body parts), viewed in a single perspective like you’re looking through a prison cell.

Stephen Wright: This artist is recognised for his “House Of Dreams” project, comprised of an elaborate collection of objects, written pieces, and recycled items packed into an ordinary home. Wright’s maximalist style allows the general public to view his eccentric rooms.

Designers:

Phil Wolstenholme: In the early 90′s, 3D graphics of the period were not as advanced in comparison to today’s standards. I am fond of this designer’s artwork for album covers, as they take a give this imagined sense of futurism that, was once seen as groundbreaking, is now a relic of its time.

Oscar Niemeyer: Throughout his extensive career, Neimeyer had commissioned a range of peculiar structures based on the neo-futurism movement.

Nathalie du Pasquier: The founding member of the Memphis Group often worked on the designs for textiles, carpets along with many others. Like what the art group did at the time, her work often makes use of vibrant geometric patterns to counteract the dullness of everyday objects. Like it or hate it, the designs she and the group produced were undoubtedly influential for years to come for products and aesthetics.

Writers + Quotations:

Bjork: This Icelandic songwriter has always been a favourite of mine when it comes to producing music that’s distinct from others. As a pop art musician, she mainly makes use of eclecticism when it comes to producing her tracks, exploring both natural and digital instrumentation.  

Arthur C. Clarke: This famous futurist and author often explored themes surrounding innovative concepts throughout his life.

Philip K. Dick: This renowned science-fiction author is an inspiration to many, exploring many philosophical themes in his works on what the world could look like in the near future.

The Second Moodboard:

Senses:

Creme Eggs: Though they can be sickly and messy, the Creme Egg will always go down as a favourite treat amongst many.

Bath Bombs: This smell was largely to do with a childhood memory. When I was young, I would remember my Mum taking me to the cosmetic retailer Lush, having my sense of smell bombarded by the aroma of mixed goodness. I would describe the sensation as a pleasant attack that goes right up the nose, and I’ve always thought it came from the bath bomb section of the store. These objects have always been a favourite of mine when it comes from not just the smell, but also the sight of it; the psychedelic patterns the bombs form in the bath once it disintegrates by the touch of water.

Fairy Lights: From a Christmas tree decoration to a bedroom staple, these have always been popular amongst many whenever it comes to giving a room a touch of light. They can become irritating when tangled into a web

Places/Views:

Reykjavik: Iceland has always been the one country I have always wanted to visit for a long time, with this city being the one place I would love to visit to in future.

Sonoran Desert: For someone who has always enjoyed solitude, I can always imagine myself living somewhere peaceful and away from the hustle-and-bustle atmosphere of cities. From what I see about deserts, they tend to feel rather unearthly and are like a dry planet in a sci-fi film.

Arcades: As a fan of computer games, I would always enjoy the thrills - and the occasional disappointment - of going to an arcade to play some of the games inside.

Objects:

When we were given the question of the three items that we would take out of a burning house, I figured that my own responses would not provide enough ideas for the project. Instead, I decided to take a look at the objects I have always been intrigued by:

PCBs: Even though my knowledge in circuitry is poor, I have always liked the look of them found in a typical piece of technology. I can imagine the look of these ordinary objects to look similar to a city in a future far beyond our eyes.

Lava Lamps: These retro pieces of decoration are rather therapeutic things to look at.

Exotic Plants: For such a broad idea in the object category, I can gain many ideas from plants through the usage of biomimicry.

Some of the items was replaced with others for the sake of receiving feedback and to help further develop my own concept of the project.

[todragonsart]

Cinnamon Roll

Merry Christmas to the one and only @magehir! I hope you like my imagination on Blitz/Rook, because I enjoyed the production phase so much! <3 This is pure sugar, so call your dentist before! 

Since Rook wanted his first Christmas together with Blitz to be perfect, he planned everything step by step. From the food he would cook for this lover, to the candles he would lit in the bedroom, he worked out every detail. He wanted everything to be as perfect as possible, like the maximalist he was, and he worked on the plans for two whole weeks.

First he was so puzzled about the activity they should do. He thought about going to the cinema or theatre, looked up pretty hotels to visit, romantic trips to make, restaurants with cheesy advertisements for couples. He even considered to go horseback riding, but unfortunately he happened to be deadly allergic to making a fool out of himself, so he changed his mind. In the end, he decided to stay home, and make the masterplan a little different:

As he calculated, Blitz would arrive at 7 o’clock, and he would bring a bouquet of flowers - maybe roses - and a bottle of red wine. Nothing too fancy or expensive, but not too cheap either, just something good. Blitz loves wine, Rook was sure he could count on him with this.

Blitz would admire the clean flat, and the perfect decoration with Rook’s Christma tree. This year, his tree was gold-red, and he had some pretty present for the love of his life, beside himself.

On their way to the kitchen, Blitz would notice the mistletoe hung up on the doorway, and they would stop for a short, but perfect kiss. Well… hopefully not short… Maybe he would have the chance for a tiny booty grab?

Blitz would open the wine still a little flushed, while Rook prepared the perfect dinner; roasted beef ribs with strawberry sauce, and mashed potato. He took the receipt from a movie, and during the test cooking it turned out to be perfect.

He would light three candles, put on some not too Christmasy but still holidayish music, then they would chat during dinner. Blitz would take his hand, they would gaze into each other’s eyes, then the German would give a small kiss into his palm, because he is a real gentleman. The blond prince on a white horse.

After dinner, they would cuddle up on the couch, watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and from time to time, they would forget the movie and just kiss, touch, grope, feel each other. That would be a good foreplay for the upcoming events.

They would take a bubble bath together after the movie, he would even wash Blitz’s perfectly muscled back and shoulders while the man’s strong hands would travel on his silky-smooth thighs. He would moan softly and…

Rook shook his head. Not in the bathtub, it was way too small for their love!

He would moan softly and Blitz would blush a little, then suggest to move towards the bed.

Yeah, that’s better!

Blitz would cover him with his strong arms and a fluffy towel, and they would get lost in each other’s eyes for a moment. Rook would put his hands around his waist, as they start to kiss slowly. Blitz would lift Rook up and take him next to the fireplace where they would make sweet, sweet love...

Rook sighed dreamily. He really wanted to have a fireplace to make this possible, but he was living in a small flat. Bedroom it was then. Later he would fall asleep next to Blitz and the morning after, he would wake up buried under layers of sheets and the strong arms of his lover. Yeah. Perfect! He couldn’t wish for a better Christmas Date.

He looked into his notebook, where he wrote down everything what was needed to make the plan work, then looked around himself. Fortunately nobody cared about him at the moment.

He was sitting in the canteen at Hereford, waiting for his next meeting session with the others. He had a week to make the dream-date possible, and he was filled with determination to do it perfectly.

He looked up, and saw Bandit and Blitz arriving to the canteen, so he shut the notebook and smiled at both. Bandit looked at him with a grimace. He caught them the other day in his bed, because Blitz’s…

Well, okay, they fucked up the rooms, and bed, but they were riled up, okay? Like Bandit never made out in other people’s bed with Montagne… Well… Montagne wouldn’t let that happen, but who cared, they are only human!

Rook put his elbow on the notebook to cover it from the approaching Blitz, giving the man a brilliant smile. “Hello handsome! How was your morning?”

Blitz sat next to him, hugging him sideways, giving a small peck on the mouth. “Nothing, really. I was after your Christmas present, and I thought that maybe we can cook something together for dinner that day! What do you think?”

Rook smiled. “Don’t worry, I got that already! Blitz gave him a kiss on the cheeks. “Alright, Julien, but if you need anything, just say it, okay?”

Rook nooded. “Of course, I know! I-I just want to make this… you know, perfect. This is a big step, our first Christmas together, as a couple, and… I want to make a surprise for you, okay?”

“Okay, honey” Blitz smiled at him with a disgustingly loving expression.

Across from the table, Bandit made noises similar to vomiting, to ruin their mood, but they just didn’t care. They were happily lost in each other, and nobody could ruin it. Not even a very grumpy German, who didn’t have his lover in his pocket until Christmas, because said French was visiting his family before the holidays.

As the Big Day was getting closer, Rook was getting more and more nervous and excited. He cleaned up his flat, bought everything from food to bedroom equipment, even decorated his tree four times in a row to make it as beautiful as possible. He was so annoyed at himself at the end, instead of cleaning again and again, Rook started to stay at base for longer sessions of training.

Two days before Christmas, he even agreed to help the Russians with their training. It took place in the frozen, snow covered forest not far from the base. Kapkan asked Rook to hide 10 targets in the woods for them to find, so he spent two and a half hour outside in the brutal winter of December.

He shivered non-stop as he was on his way home. His boots were soaked with icy water, his knees trembled with each step and his hands and lips looked blue. As he got home, he jumped in a big tub of hot water, to relax a bit, and that night he didn’t have problems sleeping.

He was working on the 24th of December too, in the evening he even prepared the Christmas dishes. He somehow felt weaker that day, but he didn’t care about that really. His mind was full of the Dream Christmas Date, and all the possibilities for the perfect finish. He found himself fantasizing about that damn fireplace scene again.

Short before midnight he counted everything; the tidy rooms with beautiful decoration, the marinating sheep, the presents under the tree, his clothes for the next day, the movie on the coffee table and the damn fluffy towels.

He was satisfied with himself when he got to bed. Tomorrow would be the biggest day in his life, and he was so ready for it he couldn’t even tell. He fell asleep in an instant, covered in thick sheets and blankets.

He dreamt that night. He was with Blitz, of course, they were visiting his parents. Blitz was nervous, Rook was happy, his parents seemed to be really proud of his good-looking boyfriend, and they welcomed the German into the family in an instant. He introduced Blitz to his siblings too, they were so happy for him. In his dream, the German held onto his hand the whole day, as he was a little embarrassed.

Every time he looked at Blitz, he felt his heart skip a beat. Every exchanged smile, touch, glance made him so happy, he wanted to scream it out loud to let the whole world know about his happiness.

The next morning, he woke up with a decent headache, sore throat and feeling dizzy. As he opened his heavy eyes, he knew that something was wrong; he felt like shit. When he coughed, his voice was so bad, he sounded like an old, angry grandpa.

Somehow he fought his way into the bathroom, looked at himself in the mirror and instantly he wanted to cry. His face was white as a wall, hands trembled as he held onto the faucet with weak fingers, he had dark circles under his eyes too, and he felt really bad.

He got back to his bed and collapsed on it. He considered crying, but he knew that he had a big event coming right up. He needed to make the food, and get himself together for Blitz! He was the biggest part of the Goddamn present, he didn’t have time for breaking!

Filled with determination, he got up, made himself a tea and looked up at the clock. He had almost eight hours till Blitz’s arrival, so he had plenty of time to get healthy again!

Well, Blitz didn’t get there at 7 o’clock, but was late thirty minutes, and Rook started to panic. He somehow managed to compose himself a little. He took a long, hot bath, drank tea pumped with vitamins, took medicine for his aching head, and he looked like a functional human being at the end.

But Blitz was nowhere and he started to get scared. What if his lover wouldn’t come? Why wouldn’t he call him? Rook walked to the kitchen and stress tested the strawberry sauce for the ribs again, and sighed. No. Blitz would be here, he was just a little bit late.

As he finished this thought there was a small knock on the door.

Rook jumped to his feet and adjusted his clothes. He looked like a million dollars with those tight jeans he bought for this evening. He was sure he could seduce Blitz into the bedroom with these.

At the door stood his lover, smiling bright like the sun. In his hand Rook saw a bottle of wine - he felt proud - and a wrapped box with a pretty bow. He didn’t see roses, but who cared? Blitz was here, finally! “Sorry, I’m late, Bandit wanted me to wait for Gilles with him, because it’s Christmas and he needed some support!” Blitz gave him a kiss on the cheeks.

Rook smiled at him. “That’s alright, Elias, the food needed a little more oven time anyway! Let me get your coat!”

Blitz placed the box and the wine on a shelf and took off, his boots then his coat, handing it to Rook. “I saw a bird with a knife in its beak on my way here! I am sure it was in some sort of a mafia or something!”

“A what…?”

“A black bird, with a knife! I instantly bought it a croissant, I didn’t want it to rob me on my way here!” Blitz grinned at him. Rook shook his head smiling. “You don’t believe me, but I took a pic about it!” with that, Blitz flashed him his mobile phone with a picture of a bird, sitting satisfied next to a croissant and a butterknife.

Rook blinked a few times then burst out laughing. “Oh, God… This is so dumb! I think this might be a magpie.”

Blitz grinned at him then looked around. “You cleaned up with a magnifying glass? This flat is so tidy I could eat on the ground!”

Rook flashed him a brilliant smile. “Now come, I hope you are hungry!”

“Well, I didn’t have lunch, because you told me you would cook, and Doc said you are a brilliant chef, so…” Blitz gave him a quick hug, and as they were walking towards the kitchen, Rook looked up at the mistletoe, clearing his throat.

With a questioning expression Blitz followed his gaze and started to smile. “You smooth little shit! Come here!” He put his hands around Rook’s waist and leaned in, to place a kiss on his lips. Rook slowly leaned against him, but instead of deepening the kiss, he hid his face into Bliz’s shoulder and inhaled his scent. It felt really good to be in the German’s presence.

Blitz placed a hand on his neck and started to massage it slowly. “Are you okay, Julien? You seem a little tired!”

Rook nodded against his neck. “I missed you so much, that’s it,” at that, Blitz started to smile. “Open that wine, I will get the food, okay?”

Nodding, Blitz unfolded himself from Rook and as he opened the bottle of wine, he poured some into both of their glasses. He looked up at Rook, who was busy picking the perfect ribs. He looked like an angel to Blitz; the French was handsome, sweet, sometimes stubborn or a little bit sassy, but in a good way. Rook was a good man with loving heart and their love life was the best he had ever experienced.

Blitz was so in love, at first he didn’t even notice how Rook’s hand trembled when he took the big plate of food. He stepped closer to the table, placed the ribs in the middle and as he turned to get a match for the candles he suddenly felt dizzy. He needed to hold onto the counter for support. Damn headache was back again.

He took a deep breath to steady himself. He needed to do this, for the Dream Christmas Date, he needed to compose himself and be healthy for Blitz! He turned around again, and lit the candles on the table.

“Did you cook all of this?” asked Blitz. “It looks delicious, Julien!”

Rook nodded with a faint smile on his face. “Of course! The strawberry sauce was the real challenge, but I think it is perfect, and I really hope that you will enjoy it!”

“You are a little bit pale, are you sure you are okay?”

“Of course. You worry too much, honey, but it’s endearing.” Rook laughed a little and served the food for both of them. As he sat down, they started to eat, chatting about their days, families, work and stuff.

“Have you heard anything about Maxim and Timur?” Blitz smiled at him.

“No, why? Has something happened to them?”

“Yeah! They were training the other evening in the forest, you know when the temperature dropped under -5 C° and there was that icy wind! Who knew that even the Russians can get sick in cold?” laughing, Blitz took another bite of his meat.

Rook nodded, but his smile wasn’t that honest anymore. So they were sick too, great!

“Alexandr told me that you were helping them, how come you didn’t get sick?”

Rook smiled. “I was feeling a bit down  yesterday, but now I feel better than ever, really! My feelings for you healed me!”

Blitz started to laugh. “You are so cheesy sometimes, I want to kill you and hug you at the same time!”

Rook winked at him grinning. Since he finished his meal, he wanted to get the dessert, so he stood up, but dizziness hit him again, and everything went white for a second as he started to fall. He heard a faint “Julien!”, then darkness and cold took him.

When he got to himself, he didn’t feel cold anymore. He was lying on the couch, under a thick blanket. In his panic, he sat up, but almost fell back because of his throbbing headache. He looked up at the clock. It was half past eleven, and in his sudden panic, he started to search after Blitz, but he couldn’t find him anywhere. The man disappeared along with his coat and boots.

Rook stood in the hallway, moments away from crying. Blitz was gone. He knocked himself out with the damn flu and the love of his life left him, because who would want to stay like this?! Rook planned a happy, sexy evening, but ruined it and now he was to spend Christmas alone!

The doorknob turned in that moment, and as the door was opening, he saw the German with a big bag in his hand. Blitz eyes turned furious as he saw him. “Get back to the couch, now! You got fever, you walnut!”

“N-no, I am good, I feel better, everything is-”

“Julien, Julien… Babe stop already! You fainted in the middle of the kitchen and were asleep for two and a half hours. You look pale, you are shaking, so be a darling and go back to the couch before I take you there!”

“B-but our d-date..!” Rook burst out coughing.

Blitz looked at him meaningful. “Go back to the couch now, and I will be there too in a minute!”

“E-elias…!”

Blitz put down his bag and walked closer. He gave a kiss to his forehead, and gently petted his hair. “You planned a miracle date I am sure, but now you are sick and I want to take care of you, so please let me, okay?”

Rook nodded but didn’t move an inch.

Blitz smiled. “Do you want me to bring you back to the couch?”

Rook nodded again with a weak “Please”.

The german took him into his arms laughing and carried him back to the couch. He placed him there and covered him again with the blankets. “We can still watch the movie you picked, cuddled up, but I make you a tea and you take some pills, okay?”

Rook nervously started play with a button. “Okay. But… are you sure, you are not mad at me?”

“Why would I be, darling? Everybody gets sick from time to time, and I am planning to spend the rest of my Christmases by yours side, so we will have plenty of occasions to make your dream date possible.”

Rook looked up at him touched, and he looked as Blitz walked into the kitchen.

Blitz made some fresh tea, with honey in it, got Rook’s favourite mug, and some medicine for the headache. As he got back, he pushed his lips against Rook’s forehead and waited for a second. “You have a really bad fever, babe”

“My head is hurting so much.”

“And you are shivering. Would you like to have my shirt?”

Rook’s eyes lit up with fire. “Is that a real question?”

Laughing, Blitz took off his shirt, and Merry Christmas Rook, since all the German was wearing under, was a black muscle shirt. Rook almost started to salivate and he felt even worse for not being able to take the conversation to a more horizontal position.

As he got his hand on Blitz’s shirt, Rook put it on and sunk into the smell. “I feel better already. Especially if I can look at you like this. You look like a million dollars, Elias!”

“I noticed that you like this shirt when I wear it during training, and I thought that you can… you know, rip it off from me later, but now, I will heal you with its sight!” Blitz laughed. “Can I watch the movie lying on your shoulder?”

“Of course, darling!”

“Then I will be healthy by the end of the film!” Rook gave him a small grin, and waved at the Dvd case on top of the table. Blitz turned to get it, and when he read the label he grimaced a bit. Rook picked it so Charlie and the Chocolate Factory it was then.

He put the disc in and sat down next to Rook, hugging the man to himself as the movie started. Rook settled against his shoulder as he wished and they began to watch it.

As they got deeper and deeper into the movie, Blitz felt more and more uncomfortable. If he wanted to be honest, he loathed the movie. Everything about it made him self-destruct, but Rook seemed to enjoy it, so he couldn’t complain. After all,the French was the ill one, so…

When Blitz saw the first Oompa-Loompa, he turned away his face and instead of the TV, he just watched Rook in his arms. The man was pale and looked drawn-out, but the way his eyes sparkled under the lights of the movie, he was simply beautiful.

Soon, Rook noticed Blitz observing him, looked up at his lover. “What…? Am I looking this bad?”

“Oh, no-no! Nothing like that. You are just more interesting than the movie, to be honest!” Blitz smiled at him.

A flush coloured Rook’s face. “R-really? Am I more exciting than your favourite movie?”

Blinking with sudden confusion Blitz tilted his head. “My favourite what?”

Rook seemed equally confused. “Isn’t Charlie and the Chocolate Factory your favourite movie?”

“No!” Blitz started to laugh. “I hate this fucking waste of celluloid! The Oompa-Loompas are so scary, when I was younger I cried when I saw one!”

Now Rook was even more confused. “B-but… Oh gosh! I’m so-so sorry, Elias, I-I didn’t knew! Geez, I’m such a jerk!”

“Where did you get the idea of this being my favourite movie?” Blitz couldn’t stop laughing.

“I asked Dom.”

Blitz got serious all of a sudden. “That little piece of shit! I knew that somehow he would take revenge on us for having sex in his bed! It was a mistake to tell him my secret on a drunk night!” and again, he burst out laughing.

Everything clicked into its place in Rook’s head. “That fucker! Oh, gosh, I am so sorry, Elias, really!”

“Don’t worry, at least I will have stories to tell our grandkids!” Blitz grinned.

Rook flushed again, this time with a deeper shade of red. “Grandkids?”

“I said it already, I plan with you for lots of Christmases! What about now we shoot down this, and I help you get a cooling bath, and we get to bed?”

Nodding, Rook slowly got up, and turned off the TV. “Can I sleep in your shirt?”

“Do you want to keep my shirt?”

Rook face lit up. “Is that a real question?”

“Would you like me to carry you to the bathtub?”

“Why are you asking obvious questions, Elias, I don’t understand!” hearing this, Blitz lifted him into his arms, like the prince he was. Rook put his arms around his shoulders. “You spoil me, darling.”

“That’s my final goal!” with that, he walked them towards the bathroom. He helped with everything without hesitation, he even washed Rook’s back, and gave him a shoulder massage.

When they got out, he helped Rook into his shirt again, then to bed. Under the covers, he hugged the French to himself with a fond smile on his face.

“You really don’t mind that we are just chilling now, do you?” he looked up at Blitz.

“Nope, not really. I didn’t have plans for this evening honestly, I just wanted to spend Christmas with you, and we did exactly that, so I’m satisfied!”

Rook smiled at that. “How did I deserve you?”

“I don’t know, just being this amazing like you are?”

Sleepy, Rook rubbed his eyes with his knuckle. “You are too sweet, my teeth will rot!”

“Well, you are like the middle of a cinnamon roll for me!” Blitz looked at him, filled with love.

“Now what is some serious poetry there, dude!” Rook flushed.

Blitz shook with laughter, hugged his favourite French to himself and shut his eyes. “Good night, babe!”

“You too, darling” came the response.

In the end Rook’s Dream Christmas Date didn’t happen, but as he looked back at the master plan the day after, he needed to acknowledge that it was a close call.

As he calculated, Blitz brought delicious wine, admired his flat and the decoration. They did have a perfect kiss under the mistletoe, and instead of a booty grab, he found shelter in his lover’s arms.

They spent the dinner as he planned if he didn’t count the collapsing thing, and okay, Blitz didn’t kiss his palm, but he was there to support him while being sick.

They surely cuddled up on the couch, watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and they did forget about the movie just not for kisses, touches, groping or feeling each other.

They took a bubble bath together, and Blitz washed his back while he was weak and feverish. Sure, they didn’t make out on the couch or in the bathtub, but Blitz certainly took him into his arms and carried him wherever he asked.

Okay, they didn’t make sweet love as he planned first, but he had never been more sure about Blitz’s feelings towards him, and this made him happier than anything he wanted to try.

He surely fell asleep next to Blitz, and the morning after, he certainly woke up covered in layers of sheets, and the strong arms of his lover. As he turned towards the man lying next to him, he felt a smile bloom on his own face.

He had never felt this safe and loved in his entire life, and he knew that he wouldn’t exchange this for anything ever.

Merry Chirstmas again! <3

[acsversace-news]

The 2018 Emmy Awards are just around the corner, and while we've been binge-watching all the nominated shows, something besides the powerful acting, stunning costumes, and brilliant directing caught our eye: the interior design.

Gone are the days when impressive set designs were reserved for the big screen. Now, with an influx of big-budget television series on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, the masterminds behind the scenes are creating worlds more realistic and intricate than ever before. Take Netflix's dramatic series The Crown, for example. The show has managed to re-create Buckingham Palace in all its prestige with immaculate details and absolutely beautiful furnishings and décor. On the flip side, shows like Stranger Things may not portray the most aspirational interiors, but the '80s-era sci-fi phenomenon certainly made a lasting impression with its quirky set design (see Christmas lights hung across the living room).

Ahead, we're highlighting some of the most memorable TV show interiors spotted in just a few Emmy-nominated series. Take a look at their unique designs and be inspired to bring some of their looks into your own home.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Filmed inside of the Versace mansion—now an over-the-top hotel with rather maximalist interiors—The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is brimming with memorable interiors. From leopard-print couches to handpainted ceilings, the set is nothing short of spectacular.

1stdibs Mid-Century Leopard Print Sofa ($3400)