Knock, knock, who’s there?

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

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

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Door knockers have been used to symbolize everything from hospitality to good luck to warding off bad spirits, so although intricate door knockers are popular nowadays, the origins of that knocker may be something far more regal than it simply ‘looking nice’ on the door.

When we first moved into our current house, the realtor who sold us the house gave us a personalized door knocker as a thank you for your business gift. I enjoyed the hearty sound it made when people knocked on our door. Some years ago we replaced our set of double doors with a single door and sidelights and made the single door a dutch door and never reinstalled the door knocker.

I miss not having a door knocker. They were prevalent in London, and in various villages of the Cotswolds when we visited, and I love their old world charm.

So, while in search of a topic to share with you all, I discovered I have created a file titled “door knockers”. Who knew?! Some of these are charming all by themselves, others are on incredible doors, making for great curb appeal. Enjoy…

Who wouldn’t like this pair of beautiful doors. I wonder if that is mirrored glass or just the light reflecting off the panes?

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This beauty [below] was taken by Debra of 5th and State, during one of her trips to England. She hosts tours of England and France. Maybe one day…

{5th and State, photograph by Debra}

This seems to be a classic design for door knockers, and I love the laurel wreath and the address number—all on a wonderful black door.

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This pretty door knocker is available at Amazon for unbelievably little $$$. I love the bronzed/rusty-looking finish.

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If I ever move to Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod,or any beach area, this would be high on the list of possible door knockers.

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A lion head door knocker is classic. I love this entry. Of course the blue and white porcelain urns and ivy topiaries have something to do with my admiration. 🙂

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…the classic is back for his close up…

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Just as a side note, doesn’t this door [below] seem to have a mail slot in an inconvenient location.

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{tumblr – Barb Dickie Photography}

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Do you have a door knocker on your front door?

Vignettes and their contribution to a room

22 Wednesday Jul 2015

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

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

accessories, antiques, collections, vignettes

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Let’s face it, there are so many details that can make or break a room’s appeal. Details that draw us in, can be (and usually are) different for each of us. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and such.

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A stunning antique piece, a window with special detailing, beams in a ceiling, and accessories are my hot buttons. More specifically, a great vignette can pull me in like a tracktor beam on Star Trek.

Some people are so talented at achieving this magic, that I forget to look at the rest of the room. Here are a few examples I’ve amassed over the past few months…

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An interesting grouping of items can give a room sparkle, make you want to know more about the people that live there. These items can be collections or simply an attractive arrangement of flowers, books and a lamp.

Any room with blue and white accents is already ahead of the pack, in my book…

I love the use of coral and shells. Add nature of any kind to the mix and I tend to take special notice.

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Alison of The Polohouse does such a beautiful job with each tabletop and shelf in her lovely home. Her vignettes are always of interest.

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I tend to rotate my own accessories throughout my house on a regular basis. Seasons, and a need for change, these reasons ~~excuses~~ keep me restless where my tabletop vignettes are concerned. 🙂

Even a chippy bathroom shelf, when decoratively adorned with essentials, can be all the charm a bathroom needs.

Jermaine, of French Kissed has a style that I attempt to emulate. She has a way with collecting, and displaying nature’s treasures and antique pieces that has always inspired me with my own vignettes.

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This particular tabletop vignette [below] is a favorite. The porcupine quill lamp shade, the blue and white porcelain vase with blue hydrangea, and the 2 wooden boxes…simplicity is an appealing factor when accessorizing. Less is more, right?

I believe I got this image from the Barbara Wesbrook Workbook, but I cannot find the exact photograph. Visit her Workbook newsletter, you won’t regret it. Her talents are teamed with talented folks that she interviews and features.

I love this shiney and bright mercury glass display—I believe it’s a holiday season display but I think I like it for its cheery brightness.

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Another favorite, is the talented Heather Bullard, contributing editor for Country Living Magazine. Her stylings are always perfect and obviously, she applies her talents to her own home. Visit her site, you’ll love the recipes and ideas you pick up during a visit. There seems to be a nature-theme to my favorites, doesn’t there?

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Marian of Miss Mustard Seed can turn any homely piece of furniture into a treasure, and she’s a skilled stylist. I love the vignettes she shares from her home and her studio. She’s got her own line of paints and inspires many of us to convert Aunt Ingrid’s hutch into a fresh, country cupboard. I always come away from her posts with wonderful ideas for arranging collectibles.

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The next image, while really a harvest display, comes from a site that no longer posts…and George. They operate a store that sells antiques and one of a kind furniture and decorative accessories. You can visit the webpage and you will see what beautiful items they offer as well as the displays they create.

{Christy Ford photograph}

Open shelving is tremendously popular right now, when I spot a grouping like this, I want to rip out upper cabinets and install shelves to hold a variety of lovelies.

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Is the arrangement of collections something you gravitate towards?

One last thing, if you haven’t read Dear Carolina yet, there is still time left during the summer reading season. Kristy’s book is such an uplifting, feel good story.

Life of a homeowner – laundry day

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home

≈ 31 Comments

Tags

laundry rooms

Note to self: I might be in need of a new exterior shot of our house…this is slightly dated and taken when the Lace Cascade climber (rose) was not in bloom. Still, you get the idea of what the front of our house looks like.

We have lived in our home for 33 years. Hard to believe that I’ve lived in this house longer than in any home I’ve ever lived in, even though I was in the same home from preschool through high school. Hmmm, don’t do the math on this, okay?

Anyway, anyone one who has owned or rented a house understands that things age and break, or they break for no reason! Just about the time you think everything has been upgraded and looks great, something will gasp for its last breath, and die. A couple months ago it was our washing machine.

The good news is that the old machine lasted 12 years without a single repair call. So we decided rather than calling for a repair man we’d simply shop for a more energy efficient model and start fresh. The state of California is offering a rebate for energy- efficient appliances, so this helped with the sticker shock. {If you’re interested we bought an LG top loader and after 2 months of use, I love it}

The point of this post…I want to share some dream laundry rooms with you. Our 1968-built tract house happens to relegate the washer and dryer to the garage. I’m sure to some of you that’s like saying we have outdoor plumbing! {I guess technically the garage could be considered “outdoor”} It’s always been okay for me since it keeps the hot air from the dryer in the garage during the warmer months, and our house is a single story so it’s not much work to haul the laundry out to the garage to wash and dry our clothing and linens. I’m always looking for the silver lining in any less-than-ideal situation. 🙂

I want to start with a laundry room makeover that made me wish Mr. B. and I were more handy than either of us are!

Jenna Sue Laundry Room Reveal — if you love before and after stories, you’re in for a treat.

Isn’t this dazzling? If you read the list of what she and her Mister did to accomplish this, you’ll be even more impressed. Love the barn door!

If I had an actual indoor laundry room I’d be tempted to get a front loading machine and put a smooth surface across the top. This example (below) is great and with an utility sink centered between the washer and dryer, you’d have everything you need.

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The beauty of this laundry room is it does double-duty as a mud room. I like the fresh flowers to soften the tedium that laundry day can sometimes be.

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I’m guessing a large family lives here…why else would you want two washers and two dryers? Still, such a pretty room with the wall sconces and fresh plants. I could love laundry-day in this space.

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From my first visit to my friend’s house on Bainbridge Island (Linda), I have loved the idea of a stacked washer and dryer. Such a space saver and in this instance, the black and white contrast is very pretty.

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If your indoor laundry room was somewhat out in the open, this would be a cool idea. Cupboard doors designed to accommodate/hide the washer and dryer.

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This would be essential if I had the option of a utility sink in a laundry room. The sink has jets so that you can do delicates in a controlled washing arrangement. How great is that?!

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The last thing I wanted to share with you on laundry day is this clever way to dispense your liquid laundry soap. If you buy your liquid laundry detergent from the big box stores, you know it’s a little like weight lifting to put detergent in your washer. This would make things not only look pretty, but you can save weight lifting for the gym!

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Do you enjoy doing laundry? What about ironing? It would take more than a pretty room to get me to the place where I could state without perjury that “I love to iron”

Gardening through a drought, Part II

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

≈ 26 Comments

For those of you who are first time visitors—we live in Southern California. We’re in the 4th year of a drought. It’s serious. I posted some early research on plants that are drought tolerant. To be honest, I haven’t plunged into planting because the garden seems dismal to me right now and I’m optimistic that El Niño will rescue us from this depressing condition!

That said, I’ve soldiered on in my quest for drought tolerant plant material that I could live with. I’m not a fan of a desert landscape and my goal was to find plants that could almost mimic an English garden, but not require much water. Before you laugh so hard you can’t read the rest of my post, there are a surprising number, of what I consider lush, green, blooming plants, that would lend beauty to any garden and they aren’t very thirsty.

I’m going to start with two plants that Cindy of the fabulous Rough Luxe blog left with me in comments. She followed up with a post on her drought tolerant garden, located in California, that requires very little irrigation. The two plants she recommended are incredible and will be the first things I buy for the back yard when I order. They are Nepeta Faassenii

This beauty requires full sun or morning sun, afternoon shade and works for zones 4-9. It blooms late spring to late summer—that works for me. It’s considered waterwise. Maybe it will impart some wisdom to the plants around it. 🙂

The second plant that Cindy recommended and I like the looks of is Teucrium

Teucrium chamaedrys -This evergreen or deciduous subshrub is grown for its attractive, dark green aromatic foliage and its light pink to deep purple flowers, which blossom in summer and early fall. This garden workhorse can be used in troughs, containers, low hedges, knot gardens, rock gardens, or as edging…encouraging, right? But wait, there’s more…

This is a plant we used in our landscape jobs a lot. It was for those who wanted pretty flowers but didn’t want to do very much work in their garden. Mexican Sage. The great thing about this plant is that you can trim it back if it gets too big for surrounding garden and it happily returns within a matter of a few weeks, blooming and happy. (Note: this is Southern California conditions, no frost here).

You may be wondering what I’m going to do for contrast in the color palate, since I have selected pinks and purples so far. I hope that my Iceberg shrub roses (white) can continue thriving (so far, so good).

The next plant on my list is Yarrow (achillea) which comes in a variety of colors. Good in zones 3-9. The appeal for this plant, besides its low water needs, is that you can divide it every few years and make more plants for other areas of your garden and it attracts butterflies. The plant that gives back! 🙂

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A surprise to me as far as drought tolerant plants is the Alstroemeria. I buy these flowers as filler from Trader Joe’s. They come in a wide variety of color and are planted from a bulb (similar to day lily) and bloom every summer. Zones 6-7 and 9-10. For those with deer issues, they are deer resistant. They require part sun/sun.

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The final installment for this drought busting plant list is Belleza Gaura. It’s easy to grow, full sun loving and drought friendly

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If you’re in a drought plagued area, you may be interested in some tips from Dave of Dave’s Garden. I’ve been saving dishwater and using it around the garden as a result of his suggestion. Happy gardening wherever you are.

All Vintage Garden Graphics via Fairy Graphics

July 1st – Happy Independence Day

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Family, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Independence Day

≈ 23 Comments

Before I start on the fun of celebrating Independence Day, I’d like to thank all of you for your prayers, positive thoughts and general care and concern you expressed in response to the news of Mr. B. and his health/surgery. I’m happy to report he’s doing very well and has only one more hurdle to cross before we can once and for all put this behind us. I was touched and brought to tears by your thoughtful good wishes! Thank you so much for your support, you are all such dear blog friends.

{Martha Stewart}

As you all know, we’re on countdown to the 4th of July! This holiday has always marked the official start date of summer for me. Let the games begin, as they say.

Now that I have grandchildren, I’m making note once again of kid friendly holiday ideas. Our 4 year old granddaughter always decorates her wagon (with mommy and daddy’s help of course) for a neighborhood parade.

This year she may tackle her bicycle. Martha Stewart has some great ideas for this annual neighborhood contest.

We typically enjoy a backyard barbeque with good friends to celebrate the big day. Everyone brings a dish to make it ~~less work~~ fun for the hosting couple. When I was growing up my mom would make onion dip, served with Ruffles potato chips for a party crowd. It was made with a package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix and a 16-oz. container of sour cream. I came across this Sweet Onion Dip recipe from Martha Stewart that reminded me of that dip and thought it might be a fun update this favorite by using fresh ingredients.

Sweet Onion Dip – Martha Stewart Summer Appetizers

The recipe for Chicken Skewers and Blistered Potatoes from Pottery Barn was our Father’s Day feast. It was delicious and seems like a dish I’d prepare for any summer barbecue, including 4th of July. I substituted the rub in the recipe for this marinade. We used the sauce in the original recipe to baste on the chicken as it grilled. Both marinade and BBQ sauce proved to be keepers. {Thank you, Leslie}

Pottery Barn: Star Melamine Salad Plate, Water Hyacinth Round Place Mat, Isa Ikat Yarn Dye Napkin

Who doesn’t love cupcakes…Cupcake Flag from Country Living would be the perfect dessert for Independence Day and easily made the day before , always a benefit to me when entertaining. (add the fresh berries just before setting the cupcakes out)

With the menu for our festivities selected, let’s have a look at a few pretty rooms that feature red, white and blue, shall we? Homes are where the heart of any holiday begin…

Country Living ! Keith Scott Morton photo

Love this toile! George Washington?

House Beautiful ~ Bjorn Wallander photo

House Beautiful ~ Victoria Pearson photo

Country Living ~ Bjorn Wallander photo

Blue and white rooms always capture my attention. You could throw an American Flag throw pillow on the sofa and you’d be set for the holiday! This room (below) seems like it could be in a cottage by the beach…I feel relaxed just gazing at the simple and inviting space. 🙂