Stress and my emotional duct tape

25 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Personal Information

≈ 41 Comments

Can we talk? (remember how Joan Rivers {RIP – I miss her sarcastic humor} always started a part of her comedy routine with that line?) I confess, I rarely share personal stuff here, especially personal stuff that isn’t happy news….this has been because I believe Garden, Home and Party, and blog friendships I’ve developed, is more about the fun stuff in life. I am an optimist junkie.

But we all know life is a roller coaster of good and not so good events. About the time you’re riding high, something happens and you’re knocked down, at least for a little while, then you head back up. I believe this makes us grateful for the really good times.

A little over a year ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer. I confess it was a blow since he hadn’t seemed ill. We dealt with it and took the treatments the doctor recommended and after one step forward, two steps back, we finally got some really great news on Monday, (President’s Day, my new favorite holiday! ) 🙂 Mr. B. is cancer free. We will still have follow up with the doctor, but it was great news to us and our family.

Through it all, when things would get very stressful and I’d be overwhelmed with worry, I found that losing myself in beauty, garden or home, was my emotional duct tape. It helped me put some perspective on the situation at hand, and feel revived. I realize we all have our way(s) of dealing with stress, but it was interesting to me to discover this diversion truly helped me deal with it all.

Here are a few of the images that made me see that the sun, would indeed, come out tomorrow!

{Dan Marty – RIP}

{Jane Moore}

{Lisa Luby Ryan}

{Ralph Lauren}

Thanks for stopping by, you are all a constant source of joy.

♥ Karen

Mirrors and art in kitchens

18 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Kitchen

≈ 40 Comments

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Good morning! Happy Wednesday!

Today I would like to talk about one of my favorite rooms in any house…the kitchen. Have you noticed over the past 10 years, maybe longer, that kitchens have evolved to a higher level of beauty? No longer is it just the functional room where we prepare food and bake the occasional batch of cookies or birthday cake.

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Don’t get me wrong, we’re still performing those tasks, and the kitchen remains the hub of the family for most of us…but boy, has it been elevated to so much more. It now warrants a specific decor.

I love this design transformation. I like the idea of one more room in the house that can reflect personality and livability with style, all the while retaining it’s official duty as sustenance central, counselors office, coffee shop and all round work room.

So, its no surprise that I love the unexpected addition of mirrors and paintings that you find in so many kitchens that grace the internet as well as magazine pages. Why not?! Although there are a few mirrors in locations that make me wonder how often the window cleaner comes out from beneath the sink to shine the glass!

This is one of my favorites, this kitchen appears to be smallish, but the mirror and light fixture gives it style and elegance.

The juxtaposition of a nod to industrial style while hanging a vintage/antique portrait painting, lovely.

{via-above/below}

I really like the looks of open shelving with a little painting, or two….so pretty and adds so much interest to the kitchen.

This kitchen is a little busy for me, but I love the Hermes lamp and the art on the easel at the end of the room.

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Isn’t this the greatest mirror for a kitchen? Notice the clock in the top of the mirror? I also like the refurbished vintage stove.

And last but not least, have you seen these mirrored subway tiles? How great would these be in a kitchen, if you could keep them free of water spots. 🙂

Do you have a mirror or painting in your kitchen? What do you think of the idea?

Thanks for stopping by, it’s always nice to chat. ♥ Karen

Romance at home

11 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home, Valentine's Day

≈ 45 Comments

St. Valentine’s Day, while a sweet notion in theory, is one of those holidays that seems a little overrated to me. It may be that, like New Year’s Eve, there’s too much pressure to outdo the previous celebration. I know this perspective will irritate some, but my take is we should treat the significant other(s) in our life (Mr. B, for me) with thoughtfulness, love, and the occasional unexpected treat, almost every day!

{Can you guess what year we were married? Check the flowers in my hair}

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy bringing out a few hearts during the first 2 weeks of February and buying those darling pink, white and red m&m’s every year! Don’t get me started on other sweets that are symbolic of the holiday…I’m really trying to eat healthy food in 2015. 🙂

So, since my passion (aside from my passion for Mr. B) runs in the home decor arena most of the time, I thought I’d share rooms that exude a romantic vibe (at least to me).

Candlelight is romantic. I love the glow and use it all the time, even when it’s just the two of us.

{for the love of a house ~ Joan recently did a post on using candles}

Lighting certainly plays a part in the romantic feel of a home, mood lighting as it’s referred to, can evoke a sense of comfort and what’s romance without comfort?!

{unknown}

{Furlow Gatewood ~ Veranda}

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A fire in the fireplace is always romantic with the added bonus of keeping you toasty if you live in a part of the world that is experiencing winter right now!

A nice meal, whether it’s just the two of you or you’ve invited a few good friends to join the fun, can be romantic. We’ve been invited to a small (4 couples) dinner party on the big day and we’re really looking forward to it. {Thank you Barry and Carol}

In conclusion, one of the most romantic, charming cottages I’ve ever found gracing the pages of a magazine, Randy Boyd’s Laguna Beach home…

Will you be romancing the one you love at home this year?

Living with what you love; age and decorating

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, House and Home

≈ 42 Comments

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A funny thing happened to me not long ago…I woke up on my birthday last month and realized I’m getting older. I know, it sounds ridiculous, everyone gets older. But this was different, this was the realization that I’m now at an age where I question things that I wouldn’t have given a second thought to a few years back. I don’t feel old in any way physically, or even mentally, but I wonder about my style, is it reflecting my age? Has it begun to look like an old lady’s house, or a cat lady’s house? {That’s really not possible since we have a pair of dogs} 🙂

For example, I’ve always felt confident in my ability to decorate my home in a style that works for my tastes, and seems to be acceptable to our family. And as if validation mattered, I receive compliments along the way from visitors who have stated that our home is pretty. I don’t say that in any kind of boastful way, but rather to make the point that I never second guessed every little decision where decor was concerned.

I still love many of the same things I’ve always loved, English country style with a bit of French thrown in, more Ralph Lauren than Matthew Patrick Smyth, and because of the size of our home, it’s more rustic than elegant. It’s evolved as we’ve aged and I’ve worked hard to keep the tchotchkes edited down. I have always been open to change and like to rotate certain accessories/accents for the season. All that said, I’ve begun to wonder…is my house beginning to look dated? Does this happen to any of you?

I took heart from a recent Charlotte Moss quote I read in Veranda magazine:

“I’m a collector…You know when you lock eyes with a person? I’ve been locking eyes with objects my entire life.”

I’ve always been more riveted by a beautiful tabletop than the table itself. Maybe that’s why I worry about getting carried away with the very treasures I love.

{Phoebe Howard via}

A great vignette, with the right accessories, can make me weak in the knees. My files are filled with rooms that are especially beautiful due to great styling details. Is this the very thing that has me worried? Maybe. I do embrace the minimalists approach which stresses living with what you love, and I do [live with what I love].

That said, I think it doesn’t hurt to be mindful of one’s surroundings, not overly sentimental. So, my dear friends, keep me honest. If I share a room that’s beginning to look one knick-knack short of a hoarders den, gently remind me of this post! 🙂

Do you ever have doubts about the direction you’re going where home/style is concerned? Any remedies? 🙂