Table settings with a touch of whimsy

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Dining Room, Entertaining, House and Home, Party Planning, Trends

Tags

Project Design, spring mantles, tablesettings

Before today’s post I want to invite you to join me, and a talented group of others, this Friday [March 11th] for the next installment of Project Design #ProjectDesignNow. We will be sharing “How to Style Your Spring Mantle Two Ways”. It’s sure to be fun and chock full of ideas for putting some spring touches in your home.

Amber B. Design Studio

ciao! newport beach

classic ⋅ casual home ⋅ home

Dimples and Tangles

Katiedid

Lisa Mende Design

Lucy Williams Interiors

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

The Pink Pagoda

Now to Table settings with a touch of whimsey…

I have enjoyed setting a table since I was a little girl. Once I moved into my own apartment I found any and every excuse to have people over for a meal. It was very brave of my friends to accept since I wasn’t a very accomplished cook back in the day. The joy was, and still is, the creative process of setting the table.

Once a new bride, I used my china, crystal and silver for every dinner party we hosted. With time, I realized that it was just as much fun, if not more, to keep it casual. Today, I still enjoy setting a formal table for the right occasion, but I mostly use my everyday pottery / porcelain dishes, and simple glassware. I interchange my sterling flatware with a couple of other, more casual, sets of flatware depending on the dishes I’m using.

of course I have my ruler handy when setting the table to make sure the utensils and plates are the appropriate distance from each other and the edge of the table. 🙂

{via}

I enjoy the fun of thinking of new ways of setting a table, and find there are lots of out of the box ideas online that inspire creating a table the reflects a season or a theme. A bit of whimsey never hurts.

Last summer my friend Wendy hosted a birthday celebration. I love her use of Lori Mitchell figures that reflect summer fun.

Shells were on the table as well as her beautiful crystal bowl filled with water and floating candles.

{table setting by Wendy M.}

My winter birthday was celebrated at Carla’s, where she used a winter wonderland theme. It was lovely and worked well with our cooler than usual weather at the time.

{table setting by Carla W.}

One year for St. Patrick’s Day I planted little pots of 4-leaf clover that Trader Joe’s sold and then gave each guest a chocolate leprechaun. I enjoy using nursery plants for the table, you can plant them in the garden afterwards. 🙂

Easter of 2014 I pulled out the Beatrix Potter figures and a few of the Beatrix Potter books I used to read to my kids (and now read to our granddaughters). I planted a concrete planter with sweet pea and viola. The violet china pattern was my grandmother’s, and a friend made the runner {thank you Gretchen}

This image inspired a table setting of my own when hosting our birthday group. The guests of honor, Tom and John, identical twins, enjoy an October birthday and I felt it called for something more masculine.

This was my version… {sorry for the glare coming through the window}

Last month I hosted a birthday dinner for Mr. B and our youngest son’s birthdays. I wanted to keep it simple and decided this rusty urn went well with the rustic look of my Jan Barboglio candle holders. I filled the urn with tree fern from the yard and added a bag of Granny Smith apples. The candles could have been taller but we didn’t light them since we ate early.

Moss on a dining table is one of my favorite uses of the sheet moss sold at craft stores. I love the earthy feel to it. Mixed with roses and other flowers, it’s natural and lovely and transports us to an outdoor setting, even indoors.

{via}

Setting the table in an outdoor “room” is where you can enjoy mixing things up a bit. Setting the table with a moss base and using terra cotta pots as the candle holders is clever and fitting for a autumn gathering. The twigs and berries conjure up an image that a gust of wind blew these pieces to the table top. This same setting could be recreated indoors.

{via Michelle Edwards ~ Sweet Something Design}

I’ll end with a table setting compliments of Martha Stewart. Woodland creatures, birch tree-looking candles and small pots of moss or fern complete the look. It’s whimsy at its best. 🙂

{via}

I’m out of time, but I’d like to invite you to visit my friend, Kelly over at “talk of the house” for further inspiration for table setting. This talented blogger takes table setting creativity to a new level.

How do you entertain? Is there ever a bit of whimsey to your table settings?

New ideas for the bathroom

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Bathroom, House and Home, Trends

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

bathroom

I may be dating myself but when I was growing up it was not uncommon for a small house to have one bathroom. I was an only child so that worked out for my family—I believe I probably hogged the bathroom when I hit my teens but by then we had moved and I had a bathroom all to myself.

This isn’t our family bathroom, ours was white, but this is not unlike the bathroom I grew up with.

{via}

Our bathroom was very utilitarian with a bathtub/shower, toilet and vanity with a medicine cabinet above the sink…bathrooms have come a long way baby.

We all decorate our bathrooms much like any room. Wallpaper beautiful sconces and special touches, like a bouquet of fresh flowers.

{via}

Then there’s this…

{via}

Joe & Max (aka 3D Joe & Max) are artists who have traveled the globe creating their artworks for a range of clients including Google, Disney, Reebok, Save the Children and Coca-Cola.

Isn’t this amazing? I’m not sure I’d want it for my bathroom at home, but I could certainly see the appeal if it was on a hotel bathroom floor in Hawaii, or some other tropical destination.

The inspiration for this post came by way of my friend Joyce who sent me these pictures of painted floors {thank you, Joyce}.

So, back to my reality where bathroom decor is concerned…

I enjoy getting ideas for bathrooms as much as any other room in the house. You never know when you might want to redo your bath. 🙂

I love the collage of mirrors and the piece of furniture for the oversized sink. The wall faucets are a trend (?) I really like.

{via}

Even a smaller space carries big style with free floating shelves and this great vessel sink

{via}

I remember the first time I saw a frameless shower door. I thought it was so great. This one has a frame at the top, but still, what a beautiful way to encase the shower without it looking like a giant box sitting in the room.

{via}

This is one of my favorite beautifully designed bathrooms. I’m not sure Mr. B. would want to use this bathroom, even better. It seems to me we should all have our own bathrooms anyway! 🙂

{via}

In juxtaposition to the very feminine feel of the bathroom above, I actually love this more rustic bath. Shown during the Trad Home Napa Valley tour of 2014, compliments of Cindy at rough luxe style. Follow the link for more of this beautiful house.

Do you think you’d have someone paint a 3-D image of the ocean with a shark swimming by in your bathroom, or do you go for a more traditional look?

Dark doors and windows

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Paint Color, Trends

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

dark windows and doors

I want to take a moment to thank those of you sent such kind words of support regarding Mr. B. I shared the comments with Mr. B. and he said I must have very nice blog friends! {I do!}

I can’t be certain of when I first saw a blog post on painting interior doors and/or window panes black (or charcoal), but I was immediately smitten with the look, the contrast seems to enliven a room. I really love the look and have toyed with the idea [on paper and in my mind] for years, maybe next house(?)

{via – above/below}

I’m still not ready to pull the trigger, so to speak, but it gives a room an unexpected “wow” factor.

These bathroom doors appear to be vintage. I would definitely go for the dark trim if I had a similar pair.

Melaine, of My Sweet Savannah, recently addressed this topic and it gave me pause. Here’s what she had to say,

“A few years ago I painted 90% of our interior doors black. I love them. They do require more upkeep as they show more dust and when you have pets they show every little mark.”

You see, like Melaine, I have pets and lots of dust. Mr. B. believes the dust is due in part to the fact that we have the doors and windows open 3/4 of the year due to the warmer weather we experience here in sunny Southern California. Add the fact that the dogs pretty much have free reign of the house—they are in and out a lot. So maybe it’s like owning a black car. Pretty, but high(er) maintenance.

Still, I love the look and will continue to give it serious consideration. What do you think?

Don’t you love this shower? Dark panes mirror the dark grout on the subway tile and the added drama of the black and white tile floor of the shower is a design win in my book.The foyer (below) manages the dark doors with grace; the extra black in the bannister and furniture makes me happy. 🙂

I like this pair of doors. I think the reason this works so well is the trim remains fresh in shades of white, while the doors stand out.

The use of black on these french doors is surprisingly understated in this neutral room. Chairs in black are so pretty.

Black enamel dutch doors, so pretty. {our front door is a dutch door, this is very tempting.

{via – above and below}

Have you been tempted? I love the color of this door with it’s brass hardware.

Have a great Wednesday!

♥ Karen

{GHP} A blue and white infusion

30 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Misc, Trends

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

blue & white decor

I’m revisiting this post so I can join Pink Pagoda for her blue and white link party (originally published 2/9/12).

Since it’s raining here and since it’s only 5 days until St. Valentine’s Day when most of us will be thinking shades of pink and red, I thought I’d provide an infusion of blue and white.

Martha Stewart

What is it about the combination of blue and white that appeals to so many? Its classic—I mean it’s never experienced the phrase “So dated!” of say dusty rose and sage green (remember how we all admired that combination even if we didn’t use it?) of the eighties, or chocolate brown and white of the seventies (When I was first married everything had to be chocolate brown and white). Blue and white clearly knows a popularity that remains timeless.

French Kissed

I have a few touches of blue and white in my home and a guest room that is blue and white, but I’ve never been able to afford the complete switch. You know how it is, you get down a path with one color palate and to change would involve some pretty major discarding of items that no longer compliment the blue and white theme, I’ve never been able to convince myself that I want it that bad. And I don’t mean I have to have everything matchy-matchy, but I do like some cohesion where my color palate is concerned…is this just me?

Color Outside the Lines

Classic Casual Home

So, for now, I’ll dream in blue and white and delight in the images I find on the various blogs I enjoy reading each week. I hope you’ll indulge me and maybe get as much pleasure as I do from the clean, crisp look of blue and white in the home.

Lori Tippens Interiors

Tobi Fairley

Joe Minton Designs

Veranda

Ralph Lauren, Jamaica

Belclaire House

The Enchanted Home

Traditional Home, Joseph Minton

Do you long for a different color palate for your home?

I’m linking to The Pink Pagoda for her blue and white party…take a peek.

{Home} Dark trim

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Architectural elements, House and Home, Trends

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

paint, windows

When we moved into our 1968 tract house 31 years ago, my vision for replacement of the aluminum sliding windows and doors was FRENCH, MULTI-PANE AND WOOD. I set about having these installed with a clarity of purpose and determination. I believe it took us close to 10 years to trade out all of the aluminum windows and sliding glass doors that had been installed by the builder.

This picture was taken last summer when Olivia was visiting (child latches in place)…you can see the French doors off the atrium, and Winnie~keeping an eye on things.

At the time, in Southern California, screens were out of favor. Back in the day, if you were going to install French doors, the trend was to skip the screens. As a young wife I followed the trend, and probably still do to some small extent. Another preference/trend was to paint the French windows and doors in a high gloss enamel in some shade of white. Guilty as charged. We love(d) the look, and I still lean toward the fresh appeal of some form of white paint on windows and doors. That is until I started seeing dark trim (black) on windows and doors.

I know that in some cases the dark mullions you see in pictures are actually steel doors, another new-to-me trend. I have seen steel doors in a couple of homes and absolutely would have them installed without delay if it wouldn’t be certain to cause divorce in my otherwise great marriage.

So, typical of me and my daydreams where my house is concerned, I compiled a group of images of dark painted (or steel) doors and windows, that I think of as swoon-worthy. I hope you enjoy!

{source}

{Traditional Home}

{Design Chic}

{Haus Design}

{Marianne Simon}

I’d love to be able to tell you that this final image is a reflection of my widow on a rainy day!

Do you like this look, do you have it in your home? Would you installed steel windows in any part of your home?

{Oh, and on the screen issue, I wish I had screens on every door, I do have them on all of the windows and we have installed an invisible screen on the French door going out to the back yard}

{Home} Keeping things neutral

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, House and Home, Paint Color, Trends

≈ 20 Comments

Tags

neutral color palate

Since many are still experiencing winter at her snowy best (or worst) I thought I would stay indoors and ponder the beauty of a neutral color palate for a room…

This is Wikipedia’s definition of neutral color:

Grey or gray is an intermediate color between black and white, a neutral or achromatic color, meaning literally a color “without color.” ^[2] It is the color of a cloud-covered sky, of ash and of lead.^[3]

In Europe and America, grey is the color most frequently associated with the elderly, humility, reflection, boredom, dullness, uncertainty, and indifference.^[4]

Pretty funny. Grey isn’t the first or only color that pops into my head when I think of a room reflecting a neutral palate. I usually think of white or a soft beige and maybe a little grey. And what’s up with the second paragraph…who entered this opinion?

I am attracted to neutral rooms, and yet I know I am not one to want to live in a home that is primarily decorated in shades of neutral.

Today, I’m sharing today, rooms that are primarily neutral. I love each and every image I’m sharing but I’ve soul-searched and I can’t make the leap. Maybe when I move to that cottage in the Cottswolds?

{queen of white ~ Tricia Foley}

{Nancy Fishelson ~ Litchfield, CT}

{El’lefebien via Belgian Pearls}

{Brabourne Farm}

{Architectural Digest}

{Cote de Texas}

{Segreto Finishes}

{Home Bunch}

{Photo by Antoine Bootz ~ Southern Accents}

{Belgian Pearls}

{Providence Ltd. Design}

The promise of spring is just around the corner. I hope you are warm and dry and may spring shine on your home soon.

{Home} Neutral ground

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Paint Color, Renovating, Trends

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

neutral color palate, paint color

I’ve always enjoyed color. I admit, when we moved into our smallish home 30 years ago {I was but a child :-)} a designer friend of mine gave me some very good advice. She recommended that I choose a color palate and use it as a guide with each room. A small house, she explained, will feel more spacious if there’s some uniformity within the overall décor. {Thank you, Gretchen} I would say it has worked well for us. I’ve always kept the baseboards, door casings, raise paneled doors, paned windows and French doors painted the same white throughout the house (Antique White to begin with, Porcelain now).

Maybe the sofa IS looking a little tired, it’s not that old but it does see a lot of wear.

Overall I had a cohesive color scheme that originated with hunter green as the bold color for carpet and even the walls of the family room. Later, as we added oak wood flooring throughout, the carpet was changed to a neutral and kept only in the bedrooms. Years passed and I needed a change. I switched the color combination to red, khaki and black, and boldly painted our family room and kitchen Benjamin Moore, Classic Burgundy. That was probably over 15 years ago. I bet you can see where this is heading.

I’ve recently been attracted to neutral rooms. I don’t want to go overboard with a neutral palate, and with budget constraints and upholstered furniture that isn’t overly worn or in need of re-upholstery work, will remain as it is right now. But somewhere down the line I think I’d like the family room and kitchen walls painted a taupe/gray. I would also love to introduce a bit more blue and white. As you can tell from the photographs, I’ve got a few items but I could see blue and white ginger jars on the mantle, maybe a neutral sofa at some far-off date, with some blue and white tapestry or other fabric pillows.

Tina’s shop at The Enchanted Home had these lovelies:

…and the most recent online issue of Lonny Magazine featured Christy Ford’s home, the author of …and George blog…isn’t this lovely…

There’s been no end to the inspiring neutral rooms and as I said, I believe I’ll always want color but I would like a change, and with it, maybe some calm in my surroundings. Early inspiration came from fellow blogger Joan, for the love of a house. I found the room’s of her restored farm house to be what my mind’s eye had envisioned…

John Saladino creates an understated beauty with his simple and neutral rooms.

This next room (I believe I found the image on Cote de Texas) features burlap curtains, but it’s the casual comfort and neutral color palate the room displays that draws my attention.

I fell in love with Michael Bastian’s apartment when adventures in tartanscot shared some of the space with his readers.

This room from a post at The Enchanted Home has neutral and blue and white touches {sigh}

I would love beams in our home, I have one that was created when we remodeled but check this dining room found at Ivy Clad…so pretty AND neutral.

Any Pam Pierce room is beautiful, this one is especially remarkable.

Mary Ann at Classic Casual Home lives in California, as do I, and I’ve noticed she shares some beautiful rooms, many of them have this neutral look I’m talking about, like…

And this final image I can’t recall where it’s from, but it sure is pretty.

{via Maison Decor}

I will always lean towards some amount of color within the room’s decor, but I might be ready for a more neutral palate.

All input and opinions are welcome. Share your thoughts with me, I love our chats!

xo, Karen

I’ve attached the link to the image above, {thanks to my blog friend, Kifus, at Inspiring Interiors)

I’m visiting Savvy Southern Style at her Wow us Wednesday, join the fun.

{Home} TV over the mantle

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Trends

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

television

Not too long ago I posted some images of pretty rooms, no specific theme or particular area of the home, just some “Calorie free, eye candy”

This room designed by Daniel Brisset prompted me to look more closely and see if this trend is taking fireplace/television placement by storm.

This doggie is requesting the Animal Planet channel, please.

I brought up the question, what do we think about mounting a flat screen television over the fireplace?

So here’s some images I’ve found, I’d love to hear your thoughts on mounting a television over the fireplace.

This Veranda “Paris in Pebble Beach” feature showed us how an antique door from Burgundy, France could be installed to hide the television when not in use. I really like the room and the fireplace! {Photo :: Roger Davies} Sorry the image is small.

Then there’s this…if one TV is good, four must be better! [Note to self, do NOT let Hubby see this image]

I’m not completely sure how I feel about it. It seems practical in certain rooms and certainly convenient…if you’re watching something boring you can divert your eyes to the fireplace. If the fireplace is lit that works for me, I love watching a crackling, well laid fire; if the fireplace isn’t lit, not so much.

I guess the traditionalist in me loves a painting or mirror over the fireplace, and plenty of pretty accessories on the mantle.

Still, if this is the best alternative for a family room due to floor plan, I think I’d do it…

Let me know what you think…do you like the idea of a television over your mantle? Even if you don’t have a fireplace, share your thoughts with me, I love to hear from you.

I’m over at Sherry’s Open House ~ No Minimalist Here, if you’re looking for me.

and

Favorite on the First with Alison at The Polohouse

{GHP} The business of blogging

24 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Misc, Traditions, Trends

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Blog business

***Just a word of caution regarding random following on Pinterest***

Before I launch into the pretty minor topic below, I had an unsettling happening with Pinterest. I am not the most tech-savvy computer user (due in small part to my generation) but I’m learning. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Pinterest. I was receiving increased notices of new “followers” on my Pinterest account and for some time I just trashed the notices, but then thinking it might be like discovering new blog sites, I began to check the boards of each “new follower” to determine if I would want to follow them. After briefly checking a person’s boards, I clicked to follow some that seemed to have similar interests as my own. The next time I logged into my Pinterest account I was surprised to see the page filled with soft porn images of nearly nude men. I’m not sure how this happened but I really do not have interest in creating a board on that topic! I guess you aren’t supposed to “follow” random people…my bad.

I’ll now return you to your regularly scheduled post by Garden, Home and Party…

Here are some office/study spaces that I wouldn’t mind using as my office when I type my posts…

via Griege

I realize the title of this post must make me sound like I’m a blogging professional! Excuse me while I laugh myself to tears…I fly by the seat of my pants even after blogging for 3+ years. I confess, I do learn a new trick skill ever so often, but all in all I’m still worried I’ll push the wrong button, say the wrong thing or just generally mess things up. Insecure? No, why do you ask?

via Brabourne Farm

Casey Sills

That said I need to provide just a little bit of history about my blog. My two adult sons talked me into this, I wouldn’t have attempted blogging if it hadn’t been for them. I do believe in keeping as current with technology as my age will permit so I agreed to jump into this pond [pond=blogging]. And I confess the water is fine. Before I totally mix up any more metaphors, let me just say, as a creative outlet, (I work full time in the corporate setting as an Executive Assistant) it (blogging) satisfies beyond my wildest expectations. Readers have been slow to come by but I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every sweet and supportive reader I’ve met (figuratively speaking).

David Easton

French Country Style at Home ~ Sebastian Siraudeau

House and Garden

Unknown

My question to you, readers and fellow bloggers…

Elle Decor

Unknown

Ward Denton Design ~ Photo: Pieter Estersohn

…when I first started blogging, anytime someone would leave a comment I would answer it with a comment in the “comments” area on my blog. Then a friend of mine, who is also a loyal reader and commenter mentioned that she doesn’t receive my answers via email, she goes to the post and reads them. I was under the misconception that when I replied in the “comments” section that it would automatically send an email to the person who left the comment.

So I began answering all comments via email AND via the post itself. All the while I noticed when posting comments on the many blogs I follow daily, I rarely heard back. Which was okay since I know it takes time and some of these bloggers had twenty or more comments. Now I’ve begun to think that answering via email (which appears in the notice section of my email from WordPress) is easiest…what do you think, what do you do (if you are a blogger) or prefer (if you’re a visitor)? I just figure that if folks take the time to comment, maybe it would be nice to answer them, but is that being silly? I’d really love to hear your thoughts. There is no right or wrong answer. I honestly don’t mind if folks don’t comment, I still enjoy blogging and I mostly do it to fulfill a creative need.

{Garden, Home} Symmetry

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, Gardens, Trends

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

symmetry

I waffle on the topic of symmetry because I see great examples of both symmetrical and asymmetrical gardens, furniture layouts, kitchen cupboard arrangements and accessories. I guess most of the time I’m most comfortable with symmetry, but there’s always an exception.

via

This (above) garden vista is symmetrical for the most part. The astilbe on the left and pittisporum shurb on the right are pretty and asymmetrical. The posts on the gate invite you into the formal garden space, so pretty.

Designer, Mary McDonald (via Veranda Magazine) says,

“I always like to pair very symmetrical elements with something that’s asymmetrical, because the symmetry cleans up the asymmetrical parts and keeps them from getting too crazy….You always want to make sure when you’re putting together a tablescape for a vignette that’s symmetrical…that you have groups of all different heights, because that creates an artistic sense of release.”

via

The above dining room is more symmetrical then not and so attractive with the matching candle holders on the buffet, the matching windows and window treatment with matching chairs in front are a nice back drop to the table adornments.

This is such a restful image…the simplicity and understated look of white fireplace, white chairs and throw and then the large, dark stained coffee table. Very nice.

Such a pretty library, one I would enjoy spending time in!

That makes sense to me. So today I’m posting beautiful examples of both. In the world of design there seems to be good argument for both asymmetrical features and symmetrical. No matter what your preference, there is attractive support for both.

Amy Meier Design

I love the matching lantern-style lights on each post over the bar…there are some positive asymmetrical features in the kitchen as well and it all works beautifully.

Atlanta Homes Magazine

Don’t you love the pair of arched cabinets at the end of the room? The beams in the kitchen and the credenza style cabinetry on the left side topped with shutters are such a wow factor for me.

Symmetry in the garden is always impressive when your speaking of a formal garden…the “juxtaposition” and “axis” conversation must have been lengthy in this garden.

Phoebe Howard Design

The above room is one of my favorite examples of a study in the beauty of asymmetrical design.

via decorpad

Love the matching towel bars in this bathroom.

A beautiful example of asymmetrical accessorizing.

Suzanne Kasler Design

Now this is commitment to {above} symmetry.

How do you feel about this topic? Do you need symmetry when decorating your home? Do you mix it up? I’d love to hear your ideas and thoughts on this topic.

Garden, Home & Party

~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Category Archives: Trends

Table settings with a touch of whimsy

Amber B. Design Studio

ciao! newport beach

classic ⋅ casual home ⋅ home

Dimples and Tangles

Katiedid

Lisa Mende Design

Lucy Williams Interiors

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

The Pink Pagoda

New ideas for the bathroom

Dark doors and windows

{GHP} A blue and white infusion

{Home} Dark trim

{Home} Keeping things neutral

{Home} Neutral ground

{Home} TV over the mantle

{GHP} The business of blogging

{Garden, Home} Symmetry