{Home} It’s time for favorites

28 Wednesday May 2014

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It seems there are at least a couple times a year when my creative juices dry up. I have no original ideas for a blog post and the more I try, the harder it becomes. These blocks have always been temporary, fortunately, but it can be frustrating. I’m a creature of habit and my habit (and joy) is to post a new blog once a week. {Compulsive much, Karen? No, why do you ask?} That’s when I decide to do a “favorites” post. In my files I am forever finding favorite rooms, favorite pieces of furniture, a kitchen or bathroom that makes me dream of one day having it, even ‘unbelievably cute pictures of animals‘ have their own file.

There’s always blue and white favorites. As you probably know, there are entire posts dedicated to Blue and White, something I always enjoy. There are link-up parties dedicated to blue and white beauty in all forms and fashion. I’ll throw in a couple of my b+w favorites.

Food, don’t get me started, gardens, oh my! If this kind of post seems like I’m calling it in, its because I am, sort of. While I search for my creativity this will have to suffice. If you’re bored by Garden, Home and Party’s idea of great images, I’ll understand. Hopefully, by next week I’ll have an idea for a new post. Thank you for your patience.

So, join me and my dog as we walk through this grouping of favorites.

For me, England could be home, I love the city and the country life in England. If I lived in the country I would want my house to be split timber, covered with flowering vines and of course, a cottage garden.

I’d like a fountain in the yard of my English split timber home, surrounded with ferns and flowering plants (but if these are oleanders {they look like oleanders} I’d have to replace them with hydrangea).

This garden might seem a little more French or Italian, than English, but I really like the stone path with the lavender and other plants bordering it.

Any file marked ‘favorites’ will usually include at least a few animal images. My small dog, Madison, is a mix Border Terrier/Jack Russel Terrier, she has this same look of enthusiasm on her face, especially if she thinks we’re headed out on a walk.

When there’s a picnic in a peaceful field with a dog nearby, that’s an image that makes the favorites list.

Who can resist this?!

Mostly, my favorites files include rooms…with lovely furnishings and maybe some old world feel to them.

Isn’t this a great bathroom. I love the use of the furniture piece, I suspect the paint is new but the wall mounted faucets give the piece such an antique look of authenticity, along with the mirror and sconces.

Well done wall galleries always draw interest. I realize you can’t really see the gallery on the right, but I can imagine it. The bell jar lighting, the painting on the left with the art light, all things that make this space a favorite for me.

Buffalo check, a favorite in a room that has so many more formal features create a juxtaposition that I can’t resist.

…and then there’s blue and white. Anything done well and then the added attraction of blue and white, I’m sold.

Um, Carolyne Roehm, where can I pick up a couple of these blue and white planters?

That’s right, it doesn’t have to be fancy to make the cut.

Even these blue and white cupcakes not only look great but are undoubtedly scrumptious, who could resist?

{all images, other than magazine marked pictures, are from tumblr}

Do you keep a favorites file? What kinds of goodies might I find in it if you were to share?

{Garden, Home and Party} A new friend

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home

≈ 20 Comments

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Blog Friends

I have been more than a little surprised at how welcoming and warm people who visit my site seem to be. In more than a few instances, I feel as if these people are people that, if they lived near me, would be close friends. We’d antique and share ideas over coffee, tea or wine. I consider many of them friends even though we’ve never met. If you are a blogger, I know from reading your posts that I’m not alone in this.

I continue to find new places to visit in blog land. Sometimes it comes as a reference to a photograph with the source linked, other times, when its one of those aforementioned “friends” that I feel a kindred spirit with, I’ll click on their blog roll. I want to meet their friends and see what other wonderful talented people I can learn from.

With that, I would like to introduce you to If It Were Mine blog site. The title alone is clever but what Vicki does with If It Were Mine is to my mind, pretty amazing. In her own words,

I like to browse real estate sites and imagine how I would decorate the rooms. Even though this is imaginary decorating, I still am budget-minded, so I focus on furniture placement, scale, and carrying a similar aesthetic throughout a house.

Besides the fabulous rooms she finds to share with her readers, she actually finds examples of rooms that are similar in architectural specifics. As a blogger who has spent seemingly endless hours searching for an image that reflects an idea, I’m always surprised and pleased with how Vicki shows us remarkable ideas for the rooms of each home.

If I were a Realtor I’d want to hire Vicki to give buyers ideas for the homes listed. One of the features that I always enjoy is that initial picture that Vicki shares from the listing of the exterior of the home, done like a water color. I don’t know if she uses Waterlogue, but it makes almost any home look appealing and charming.

Montclair

A fairly recent post featured a home near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Vicki, like so many of us, had read Miss Mustard Seed’s blog post about looking for a new home that would accommodate her growing business. If It Were Mine presented what Vicki does best, a home for sale in Marion’s area and furnished it in her style. As I was touring the home via Vicki’s post, I felt it was certainly reflecting Miss Mustard Seed’s style. If you haven’t ever visited Marian at Miss Mustard Seed you’re in for a treat.

If you like before and after examples, and who doesn’t, this site shares the best of this daily. Here is the ‘before’ living room of the Montclair house.

before ~ Montclair listing

after ~ Nancy Fishelson design

Vicki even did her Photoshop magic for the kitchen that “would be” Miss Mustard Seed’s kitchen and hung a favorite painting of Marian’s over the range.

Vicki does a great job of linking her finds to the source. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed seeing Nancy Fishelson’s design work and was happy to spend some time perusing her rooms from the link provided.

Briar Hill ~ Syracuse, NY

Earlier this year If It Were Mine introduced us to a home in Syracuse, NY. Briar Hill captured my interest by name alone. Wouldn’t you love a name like that for your home? The foyer Vicki selected to “design the space is that of Hal Williamson and Dale LeBlanc’s home {below}. It epitomizes Southern beauty with its soft lighting and elegant chest, flanked by a pair of velvet upholstered Bergere chairs.

Attention to architectural design of the home is noted and the selections for the home are fitting, like the dining space at Briar Hill. As Vicki explains describing the Wendy Meredith designed room, “It’s respectful to the era, but not stuffy”.

{Wendy Meredith}

The final example of the great work Vicki does with her blog is a home in California called Sunset. {I forgot to mention, Vicki lists the designers and the states she’s used for her posts on the sidebar of her site}.

Sunset, California

This little bungalow has a foyer that could use some help…

and with If It Were Mine to the rescue…

{Photo by Sandbox Studio}

The living room captures the relaxed feel of California living.

{Muskoka Living Interiors}

I love the bedroom, I know, I know, not everyone likes antlers, but I do and think it looks great on the wall above the bed.

{House Beautiful}

I hope you’ll stop by If It Were Mine and say hi to Vicki. I know I have enjoyed recently discovering her site and I think you will to. Thanks, my “friends” for stopping by.

{Home and Party} Mad for Plaid

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home, Misc

≈ 25 Comments

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plaid

As some of you may remember, plaid is my favorite color, and, no surprise, I’m not alone. “Plaid Day” is May 18th, but there’s a new celebration of plaid as well. Plaiddurday is the first Friday of every October, so Plaidurday this year is October 3, 2014. Since I love plaid, I figure I might just celebrate both. It is a holiday, right?

Plaid Day, May 18th, is the day where the sheer magnificence and general wonderfulness of plaid is celebrated around the world. Plaid Day is celebrated by wearing plaid on your person. Those who refuse to adorn themselves in the Sacred Flannel are duly sacrificed. Serious Plaidies indulge in tribal plaid face paint and the ceremonial burning of a kilt. Common phrases used on Plaid Day include, “I’m plaid with that,” “You’re TOTALLY plaiding today,” and “That’s SO plaid.”

{via}

{M A C}

{via}

I used to want to collect Tartanware. After spotting so few pieces at the antique stores I frequented, and noticing the prices, I decided I would do without a collection.

{via Marcus Design}

{via}

I saved the best for last…an old Elle Decor feature on Glen Feshie Lodge. Never did so much plaid look so great!

I realize plaid isn’t for everyone, especially today with our Scandinavian influenced neutral palate with lots of gray and weather worn woods, but a room like this wins my heart every time.

{Home} Home Tour II : Guest Room

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Bedrooms, Decorating, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

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Guest Room

I promised to share more of our home with you so…walk this way. I have shared this room before, it was in my post about finally having a blue and white room, thanks to a major remodel my friends Carol and Barry completed a couple of years ago. During their remodel, they bought a king size bed to replace the queen in their guest room. The custom blue and white linens were offered and I was like a kid at Christmas with joy.

The walls are painted Brown Tepee, Behr. {they look like there’s more green to them than in person} My painter talked me into eggshell finish and I’m not thrilled with the glossy look of it. I understand from a few friends that know more about design trends than me, that eggshell is the preferred finish on walls now. Share your thoughts on this with me, I’m curious. Is it just me? Am I the only person that doesn’t care for eggshell finish?

The blue and white toile is so pretty and Carol had a round table covered with a cloth of this fabric, so I was able to upholster the little French chair you’ll see below. The framed prints are from a family art book which I posted about HERE.

I know you will understand when I say almost everything in our home has a story and a memory attached to it. This little French chair was in the back room of an antique warehouse I used to frequent with my friend Carla, back before I was working 40 hours a week. It was dusty and the seat was missing, but as Carla pointed out, it had great detailing and because I had a store credit from a return, I bought it. It’s very sweet and works well in our guest room. A place for our guests to sit and put their socks on.

The same goes for this nightstand…it came from one of my favorite antique stores in San Clemente, Stanford Court Antiques. It’s one of those places where there are many different stalls but the owners are very particular and the stalls are staged and very appealing.

This mirror started in our guest bathroom years ago. When we remodeled the bathroom I decided a mirror in this room could come in handy so we hung it where it can reflect light from the window on the other side of the room and I hung a few of my favorite blue and white transferware plates {which were part of the generous gift of blue and white goodies from Carol and Barry}

On this side of the bed is a repurposed Pottery Barn lamp from Mr. B’s year long job in Northern California. I always liked the lamp and with a new shade, it works in the room.

This French nightstand used to have feet that elevated it, don’t hate me, but I had them removed because I like the height better for the bed. The chair is Ikea, I personalized it for our granddaughter’s visits.

The Beatrix Potter books were well-used during our son’s years of a story before bed nightly. The Van Gogh print was brought back from the Museé d’ Orsay by our youngest son, Kevin, on his trip to Paris during his spring break his senior year of college. It’s “Siesta” and seems appropriate for the guest bedroom, right?