The naturalist…continued

20 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Designer, Gardens

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I was wandering around the web this morning in search of inspiration…no surprise, I get some of my best ideas from blog/web sites that share an image or a theory on design. That often triggers an idea and gets my creative juices flowing.

Sea glass colored jars and starfish, a natural for summer. I love the old wood shelf.

A few weeks ago I blogged {HERE} about designers that bring a “naturalist” flavor to their room designs. Rose Tarlow and Tricia Foley are favorites of mine.

The net covered glass buoys are collectibles and so pretty on display with coral and pencil starfish.

So it was with some delight and surprise when I visited the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating site that arrives in my email box a few times a month and discovered their feature on the very topic of decorating with natural elements. Coincidence? No doubt. Still, I found images, courtesy of BHG, that might inspire you to use some of the abundant natural elements in and around your yard to create a wonderful summer mood for your home.

Natural items can be simple plant cuttings. Think outside the box, sometimes seed pods and branches with little foliage make for an interesting and attractive display.

You don’t have to have a house on the beach to appreciate the beauty of natural sea grass (which has been framed here) and when coupled with a book open to a page on starfish, the vignette is complete and wonderful.

This is truly natural…a piece of a tree trunk for the vanity top and what would appear to be the remains of a vine growing on the wall of the bathroom. Perfect for the lodge or cabin. The vine remnants remind me of Rose Tarlow’s room in my previous blog.

I really like the simplicity of a single stem of greenery in an assortment of bottles…various shapes, colors and sizes make this a study in still life. I’ve seen this used on tables set for dinner and it always looks so lovely and has a very calming effect. I believe that is what appeals to me.

Placement of a couple of smooth river stones and a small vase of fern, how simple and still so artistic. The little tray on the larger try appears to have a shell and maybe a baby pine cone. It makes me wonder what the story behind these little finds might be. A nature walk with someone, a discovery while on vacation. It’s personal touches that make our homes interesting and enjoyable.

A grouping of pressed plant material can be impressive and in this neutral palate, the lime green colored plant stands out.

The stone fireplace, natural wood vase and branches and a sisal rug are a trinity of natural beauty.

I love the pendant lights, the Windsor chairs and the antique pitch fork on the wall…very country, very pretty.

This display made me think of a summer project with a child…collecting and placing items in interesting jars could be fun.

Put a birds nest on any table or hutch and instantly I think of spring/summer.

I’m thrilled to see the re-emergence of the antique cloche and various table top green house displays I’m seeing in so many of the design books and blogs.

Do you dress your home for spring and summer? What items do you pull out for the season and then put away for fall/winter?

xxx

The joy of spring

27 Friday May 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, Outdoor living

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my garden

I guess I’ve always loved spring…to be honest fall and spring is on equal footing for me. But spring, more than fall, is a favorite for so many reasons. 1) I love the Pacific Daylight Savings Time, which gives me time after work to work in the garden; 2) The garden is inspirational, even when it needs plenty of work, you can’t stop Mother Nature from doing her thing and in spring that means plants generally look good no matter what abuse they have endured over the winter; and 3) This season more than most holds promise of good things to come, new beginnings.

As I have mentioned, I’ve been working diligently in the garden to try to get it to look like I imagine it should…

Image via Content in a Cottage

This spring I’ve planted a few new (to me) plants in the garden and thought I’d show you pictures before I kill them or they rebel and turn ugly. Wait, that sounds too pessimistic, I just want to show you the pictures while they are fresh and new and putting their best blooms on.

Clematis Sunset Garden book states there are over 200 species available. The plant is deciduous here in sunny, Southern California, or at least the variety I purchased (I confess I can’t remember what it’s called…the tag was accidentally tossed). I found out about the Willow Obelisk Trellises HERE

Oriental Poppy papaver hybridum ‘Lavender Breadseed’ I found this plant thanks to Trouvais HERE. It is supposed to reseed easily and I love the benefit of that…buy 3 plants and over time end up with 30!

Daisy ‘Silver’ Double I think daisies are sweet and I enjoy them in certain table settings or as a simple spring/summer floral arrangement, but I ordinarily wouldn’t plant them, but this one reminded me a bit of a pincushion flower. I grow a lavender pincushion without a problem, but I’ve wanted a white pincushion for years now and when I finally saw one at Rogers Gardens for a mere $10 for a 1 gallon plant I splurged only to have it shrivel up and die 6 weeks later!

I really like shades of blue in the garden. Lobelia is a favorite and I found this columbine that had a trace of blue to it. I’ve planted some delphiniums which were pretty small so it may take them awhile.

Sweet Peas I purchased this armillary in Rosarito Beach, Mexico years ago. This year I planted some sweet pea seeds at its base and am happy to report that thanks to the unseasonably cool weather we’ve had this spring they are actually growing and there are a few blooms. (See, I can find a silver lining most any place!)

I talked about planting the wine box HERE. My dear friend Carla gave me the box and suggested herbs. I planted them last year and this year the chives have bloomed. I like the blooms as much as I like the ease of cutting a few chives when a recipe calls for it.

I didn’t take a picture of my hydrangea garden but the Endless Summer I planted it just about to pop. I’ll take pictures later.

What are you growing this spring…I know some of my blog friends in other parts of the country are blessed with peonies and lilacs, lucky you!

Your wish is my command

25 Wednesday May 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Gardens, Maintenance, Misc, Outdoor living, Renovating

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renovating

Hubby and I have been married a very long time. I consider this a good thing and sometimes scary the way we will inadvertently dress alike without seeing the color shirt/blouse the other one is putting on; or thinking we’re hungry for the exact same thing once one of us has mentioned a menu option.

An example of our being in sync occurred recently and I thought I’d share the story with you…am I desperate for post ideas, or what?

A few weeks back I posted about a new storage container I was fond of…this was a surprise to me because I had fought the notion of having storage containers cluttering up my ever so small pantry for years. Anyway, I blogged about the OXO pop storage container HERE in part because I like to share information with my readers on products that are all they are advertised to be and then some, I’m generous that way.

Hubby read the post, which in and of itself pleases me no end. I can’t tell you how sweet I think it is that he takes time out of his busy day to read my ramblings, but I digress.

So, along comes Mother’s Day and he tells me he has a gift for me. I had asked that he give me my usual hand-picked pound of See’s candy and that was more than enough. Alas, he had my requested See’s and a large box which contains a set of OXO pop-up storage containers. I was a little concerned at first that our smallish pantry wouldn’t be able to accommodate the set but low and behold, we managed. Thank you sweetie, for being such a thoughtful guy.

This is the best (IMHO) and I keep my list of favorite specifics.

To that end I thought I’d blog about some other items on my wish list…hey this just might work!

Our back yard is in desperate need of new grass…specifically Marathon sod, with sprinklers. We have never put sprinklers in the back yard and have gotten by without them up until now. We sometimes travel in the warmer months and it would be wonderful to have auto timer sprinklers taking care of business while we’re gone.

Our guest bathroom is a fright. When we purchased the house 29 years ago the previous owner had installed chocolate brown Kohler tub, toilet and sink. Some time about 15 years ago the brown, much like a black car, showed every scratch and scrape that it had endured and we had a company come and coat the tub and sink with white enamel. We replaced the toilet. This lasted us until about 2 years ago…the coating has begun to chip…we now have a tub that resembles the Gateway computer box (except it’s brown and white) and the sink is brown (since the coating came off in nearly one piece there).

Finally, our patio set is from Costco and is made from “tropical hardwood” which is meant to look like teak and mostly does. It has grayed with age (something I like) and is well designed. Here is the catch, the chairs weigh a ton and will not slide on the concrete. No matter what we try, including fancy “guaranteed to slide” feet. So when we entertain al fresco we must warn our guests to move the chair in a certain way lest the chair collapse on them. *I forgot to mention the chairs have a couple of settings and can fold. So I would like to replace them with the Kooboo chair from Cost Plus. You can read about them in detail (and compare them to the Pottery Barn chair) HERE.

So, just in case we hit the lottery and you are looking for gift ideas, honey, here you go. {giggle}

I must see the homes of Atlanta…Jill Sharp Brinson

28 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Designer, Gardens

≈ 8 Comments

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Atlanta home, House Beautiful magazine, Jill Sharp Brinson

I’ve commented here before about the incredible, seemingly endless, stream of beautiful homes that appear to exist on every block in Atlanta. I would be naïve to think the city doesn’t have its share of unattractive regions within its limits, much like every other metropolitan city in the nation, but seriously, I think Atlanta got more than its fair share of strikingly beautiful homes {she whined}. Which is code for having the good fortune to have a wealth of talented architects and designers in the region who can create the optimal home for those interested in owning one.

I was taken with the beauty of a home in the December/January 2010 issue of House Beautiful and yes, it’s an Atlanta home!

The home of Jill Sharp Brinson and her photographer husband, Rob Brinson, is the perfect “marriage” of farmhouse and sophisticated loft. In the House Beautiful interview with Lisa Cregan, Jill says that she and her husband “have a love affair with rural settings” so it is no surprise that they have created a home and garden that gives the ambiance of a country farm, complete with English garden.

Jill is the Creative Director of Ballard Designs. In the HB interview it becomes clear that Jill’s design point-of-view is a home with lots of texture, not a lot of color and a rustic and traditional-styling with a little industrial influence (which clearly over-simplifies the incredible beauty she has achieved).

The rooms are filled with natural light, and because the rooms aren’t stuffy you immediately feel like you would be so comfortable in a home like this! The Brinson’s have 3 dogs and have stated they are ‘hands on’ in their garden.

All of the above images by Simon Upton via House Beautiful

She and her husband lived in a loft (images below) for 6 years before moving into this home. Jill’s photographer husband retains the loft for work and their visiting guests.

Rob Brinson said he uses the wall to display the images he's working on. I love the brick wall!

The sink was a "find" of Jill's.

Natural light floods the space.

Even the bathroom exudes a timeless sense of style.

I've always liked the rustic charm of brick walls.

To visit the website for Jill Sharp Brinson go HERE

Flowers contained

02 Wednesday Feb 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardens

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Flowers

Before I begin this post I must wish Son #2 a very happy birthday…born on this holiday, Groundhog Day!

Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful year and may all your dreams come true! xox, MOM

————————————————————————

If I have any readers that live in states other than sunny, Southern California I apologize in advance. We’ve been experiencing spring-like temperatures, which causes me to think of days where you contemplate sitting by the pool, or in a comfortable chair sipping iced tea or lemonade. Maybe you take a bike ride…

I don't have a pool in my backyard, and my backyard doesn't look this good, but I love the natural appearance of the the stone, greenery and a cool, blue pool.

Maggie, our cat loves this chair in the spring and summer months.

I don't think my little dog would sit obediently in the basket but it sure looks cute having a dog in the basket.

In all fairness (if Mother Nature is ever fair), we had a less than summer-like summer of 2010, followed by, what will certainly be counted as the coolest, wettest late fall into early winter on the books.

These were the flowers for my friend Alison's wedding...the simple Kern's jelly jars were so charming.

Lovely hellebore's!

Truly my favorite "shrub" because it produces these...hydrangea!

So this warm weather has been toying with my seasonal body clock. I keep thinking about spring cleaning and garden work I’d like to accomplish and it’s not even Valentine’s Day!

More white flowers and a lantern, {sigh}.

I said these arrangements were simple, see?

Are you beginning to see a theme here, I do love white flowers.

So, I thought I’d share some flower arrangements that put a smile on my face (and a ♫ song in my heart ♪). Most of these arrangements would be easy to duplicate, mainly because they are so simple and unstudied.

These were simple flowers from the big box warehouse store.

Wouldn't this little chair and vase make you smile?

Even fresh fruit and simple green limbs make things reflect spring!

I realize a great portion of the country is blanketed in snow, I know this can be difficult, but there are times when I wish SoCal would get just a few dustings of the white stuff—but until that happens I guess I’ll enjoy the weather we’re dealt and make the most of it.

Happy winter!

Ten of my favorite posts for 2010

05 Wednesday Jan 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, DIY (do it yourself), Gardens

≈ 14 Comments

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End of the year top ten

Caution: This post may take longer to read than you have time for!

I am still relatively new to regular, weekly (code for consistent) blogging, so I often search sites that blog about similar topics (gardens/gardening; home décor/improvement; cooking/entertaining) to my own for ideas on how to improve my site. Sometimes I walk away feeling inadequate and overwhelmed, but more often than not I’m inspired to “Stay Calm and Continue Blogging”.

I created a file for favorite posts that either a) inspired me to create changes/improvements to my home, garden or even blog site, or b) were so lovely to view and ponder and dream (like a feature in a magazine) that I visited the post repeatedly.

That said, I’ve noticed many blog sites have featured their TOP ____(fill in the blank with your favorite number). Here are my top 10 for 2010 (these were posts that went into my file, in truth there are probably more posts that I simply couldn’t find or have forgotten about):

1. Things That Inspire, April 25, 2010, “Glass front cabinets – form over function?”

Holly lives in Atlanta, Georgia and is currently building her own home. She always has interesting and in-depth information about interior design, architecture and art. The images she shares with her readers are amazing.

2. The Lettered Cottage, April 26, 2010, “Easy, Affordable Ways to Add Character to a Newly-Built Home”

Layla and Kevin Palmer, a husband and wife team that will astound you with their creativity. They truly have a knack for turning the most ordinary into an extraordinary place to live. They are very talented with DIY, something I can only wish I could do, but you get some helpful tips on sprucing up discarded treasures. This is a fun site to visit.

3. Peggy & Fritz, August 19, 2010, “Finally a little sunshine”

Ann is a SoCal blogger and her site always makes me smile. She shares images of her travels and I get some great ideas for everything from table settings to furniture and fashion design.

4. Cote De Texas, May 5, 2010, “The Stone Turret House”

Due to computer issues I was not able to successfully download an image of the house, but you can click on the link I’ve provided and see it.

Joni is the rock star of blogging and for good reason. Her site always educates and provides solid information on her topic (interior design and prominent designers). Her images are the stuff dreams are made of.

5. Limestone & Boxwoods, May 23, 2010, “Ride-by: A Peachtree Battle Beauty”

I had the same problem with images from Limestone & Boxwoods

This site doesn’t post frequently, but when he does post it is wonderful! I believe he lives in Atlanta—I really must visit Atlanta some day. They seem to have some amazing homes.

6. Velvet & Linen, May 30, 2010, “A garden dining room…

Brooke was recently mentioned by the New York Tiimes which featured her recently remodeled pink bathroom.

Brooke is a talented interior designer located in California. Her shop is always filled with treasures I’d love to incorporate in my own home. Her husband is an architect and between them there is always something beautiful being developed.

7. French Kissed, December 30, 2010, “Cashmere Epiphany”

Jermaine is an amazingly talented photo stylist and her vision is evident in every room of her lovely French inspired home. She finds second hand treasures and manages to create such an old world ambiance that you would swear her home was actually an historic country house outside of Paris.

8. The Inspired Room, June 3, 2010, “Charming Potting Shelves”

Melissa is located in Seattle and I always look forward to reading her post. She keeps me grounded and reminds me what is important when hearth and home are concerned.

9. Trouvais, December 31, 2010, “Happy New Year’s Eve”

Trish takes me on a journey into some of the most beautiful historic and present day castles, homes, estates—she always surprises and delights with her images.

10. Brabourne Farm, December 24, 2010, “Love…flowers @ Brabourne Farm

This site is strictly images driven. How she manages to find so many beautiful pictures of my favorite things in the world is impressive.

If you find yourself with spare time in 2011 (I know, I know, WHO HAS SPARE TIME?!) visit these sites. I believe you will have fun!

It’s a small world…after all

22 Monday Nov 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Gardens

≈ 4 Comments

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English gardens, Petersham Nurseries

The world of blogging has taken me to some amazing sites where talented and enthusiastic folks write (blog) about home, garden and entertaining. I find it almost overwhelming (in a good way) at the number of creative individuals living in our world, and there are hundreds more that don’t even use a computer!

I recently visited one of my favorite blog sites, Trouvais, and marveled at the beautiful magazine photographs she posted on this particular day—her question was “who do you think lives in this house?” and the home in question was grand, by my standards. I say that because I’m aware that there are people who participate in blogland that might in fact believe the house was no different than their own homes or that of their neighbors.

Imagine...

images via Trouvais via Vogue Living-Australia

As I scrolled down and took in the beautiful details of each room I thought to myself, well this is probably a U.S. East Coast “country manor house” where a) a successful businessman and his lovely wife live or b) a 5^th generation blue blood and his lovely wife live. In my fantasy they are always happily married!

So when Trouvais revealed who owned the house, Gael & Francesco Boglione the name meant nothing to me. There was a link to their business and I was still in the dark (for a second) because I first saw that the Petersham Nursery and estate was located in Richmond (so I was thinking of the U.S., Richmond, Virginia. Then it dawned on me, they live in England. What surprised me is how the internet has made our world smaller—I believe that can be a good thing. And trust me, I realize this is a huge “duh” to most of you, but when I think of what you can see, sort of up-close and personal, with the click of a mouse it astounds me and makes me very happy.

an excerpt from Petersham Nurseries website…“If the nursery itself wasn’t photogenic enough, it is set at the centre of an Arcadia created in the 18th century. Just over one hundred years ago, threatened with development, an “Indignation” Campaign ensured the view from Richmond Hill, of which this Arcadia was key, became the first and only view to be protected by Act of Parliament. Running alongside the Thames, this exquisite area of woodland and water meadows has inspired poets, writers, composers and artists such as J.M Turner and Sir Joshua Reynolds”.

In addition to the beautiful estate and the breathtaking nursery, they own Petersham Properties—a company that rents out manor houses for holiday for ordinary folks like you and me—well, maybe. I’ll have to check the prices and get back to you on that.

This lovely little country house in the Cotswold sleeps 8---yes, please!

Where in the world would you like to visit today or over the Thanksgiving weekend?

Note: When hubby and I were first married we worked at Disneyland—hubby wore the cute straw bowler hat and was supervisor for the Fantasyland ride, It’s a Small World!