{GHP} Happy Easter

05 Thursday Apr 2012

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

Tags

Happy 2 Days before Easter! ♥ Happy Spring!

Good Housekeeping

When our kids were young we were always the house where Easter dinner was held. We’d plan an Easter-egg hunt in the morning followed by a game of Bocci Ball for the group and a feast that included Honey Baked Ham, scalloped potatoes or potato salad, fresh fruit bowl, chocolate dipped strawberries, coconut cupcakes and a hollow bunny for each and every guest.

Miss Mustard Seed

Stone Gable

Now that half of our family lives in Austin we celebrate with soon-to-be in-laws and our youngest son and his lovely fiance.

Fotobank

Veggie Belly

Belclaire House

Jane Packer ~ Party Resources

What are your plans this Sunday? I wish you a day willed with spring sunshine, good food and the love of your family and friends.

{Home} Doors

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

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doors

Curb appeal is important to me. When driving around a neighborhood I am often tempted to stop in the middle of a street to view a wonderful house. (I know, its unsafe to stop dead without warning—but it can be tempting). Sometimes it’s the landscape design or a beautiful flowering shrub or vine, or it can be the front door. A front door can definitely stop me in my tracks.

When you think about the impact a front door can have on the overall curb appeal, and with very little investment, you wonder why more folks don’t paint their doors. Some of the brightly painted doors below are definitely show-worthy.

We replaced our front door with a Dutch door some years ago. We had it converted from a double-door with one side panel to a single door with two side panels. Best investment we’ve made in our house. Our west-facing house now captures the wonderful westerly ocean breezes that manage to waft over the range of low hills between our home and the Pacific. We thought about painting the door and side panels red, but the door came painted and so we stuck with white. When the time comes for a fresh coat of paint I’m painting them red, or some other tempting color.

Haus Design

Coastal Living

Organize Your Stuff Now

Jacquelyn Reese Baby & the Kids

Content in a Cottage

This entry welcomes you with the vines and pretty periwinkle blue.

Better Homes and Garden

House Beautiful

Haus Design

My door…during the winter

What color is your front door, is it painted or stained? Stop by, I love to hear from you.

{Home} Plaid

31 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Traditions, Travel

≈ 26 Comments

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plaid

When I think of plaid I think of…

Scottish Villages

Balmoral Castle

President Reagan & Queen Elizabeth

tumblr ~ walks in the country with my dog

I have had a long standing crush on plaid. Hubby likes to say it’s my favorite color {smile} and he’s not completely wrong. There is something about the traditional plaids, in particular, that always attracts me.

I count my red check as plaid, is that fair?

Plaid used to immediately take me to the cooler seasons (fall and winter), but now I see plaid as a pattern that can serve spring and summer with equal relish.

House Beautiful

Photo by Keith Scott Morton ~ Country Living

Photo by Anthony Ferrie ~ Architectural Digest

House Beautiful ~ Sun Valley

House to Home

Country Living

SMW Designs ~ The Adventures of Tartanscot

So, I’m thinking I need to buy some of these clothes…

the Steward

search for some Tartanware for the tables…

and head out in this car…

What do you think? Too much? Have I gone too far with the whole plaid thing?

I’ll be having some plaid fun this week at:

The Polohouse

Vignette Design

Upstairs Downstairs

Hyacinths for the Soul

{Entertaining} Champagne Chicken

29 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food, Party Planning, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 13 Comments

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Champage Chicken

It’s been awhile since I gave you a recipe…I am not always mindful of posting recipes when there is so much to think about, chalk it up to spring fever.

We had some friends in for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day and one of our guests only eats chicken, no red meat, no pork no fish. So the search was on for a new recipe for chicken that would fit my entertaining criteria.

I used to be in the Junior League and during my tenure I found Junior League cookbooks to be a reliable source of really good food. I find a lot of the JL cookbooks provide recipes for busy women who want to entertain family and friends but not spend 3 days in the kitchen. This suits me just fine. In fact, I look for recipes that take that philosophy a step further, make-ahead as much as possible.

While reading through my cookbooks in search of a tasty chicken recipe I pulled one of my ‘go to’ JL cookbooks, “Stop and Smell the Rosemary” by the Junior League of Houston, printed in 1996. I can’t begin to list all of the great meals we’ve had using this book, it’s never let me down. I found a recipe called Champagne Chicken and gave it a try. It was delicious and so easy, so I thought I would pass it along.

[Note: You will have to copy and paste this onto a page for keeping; photo via FotoSearch, royalty free]

In addition I have included 6 table settings that inspire me to set the table for spring, with a nod in at least one of the images to recognize St. Patrick’s Day.

Champagne chicken ~ serves 4

[Adapted from Stop and Smell the Rosemary]

1 ½ cups champagne (or sparkling white wine)

18 sprigs fresh thyme, minced

5 tablespoons fresh lime juice

6 cloves of garlic, chopped

3 large sprigs of fresh rosemary, minced

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

¾ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Combine champagne, thyme, lime juice, garlic, and rosemary in a medium baking dish. Add chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 375°. Remove chicken from marinade and place in small roasting pan. Roast chicken 20 to 30 minutes. Spoon pan drippings over chicken and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs.

I get the chicken ready for the oven early in the day, refrigerate until 1 hour before baking.

I served this with roasted baby Yukon potatoes *not baked potatoes smothered in sour cream that you see in the image above 🙂 and fresh Blue Lake green beans. Here is the Roasted Baby Yukon Potato recipe:

ROASTED POTATOES

1 1/2 pounds small yukon gold potatoes (or new potatoes)

2 tablespoons butter

1 large shallot, minced

1 large clove of garlic, minced

salt and papper

Pierce potatoes in several places with a fork. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook potatoes until almost tender, shaking skillet occasionally, about 25 minutes. Add shallot and garlic, reduce heat to medium low. Cook until potatoes are tender and brown, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Hermes of Paris

Unknown

Garden, Home and Party

Daniel Desantis Interiors

French Essence

House Beautiful

I hope you’re having a wonderful spring and that you will drop me a line and share your favorite ‘entertaining’ recipes. I love to hear from you!

I’m visiting:

No Minimalist Here

Ivy and Elephant’s: What’s it Wednesday

{Home} Devil in the details…accessories

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

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

≈ 12 Comments

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accessories

While I appreciate the beauty of any room with the right furniture, proper scale, beautiful wall color or covering and plenty of natural light, my heart skips a beat when it comes to accessories.

Joni of Cote de Texas displays some of her collections in her book case. The vintage globes and bronze figures lure you into this corner of her family room, I want to have a closer look and my overall impression is that this is a room I’d be comfortable in. I love the ambiance of this room!

I’m not sure where this comes from since my mom had more of a minimalist approach to accessorizing, but I really love collections out on display in most any room. Antique or vintage items complete a space for me, the icing on the proverbial cake.

Dan Carithers

(Below) Dan Marty is one of my favorite “detail/accessory” designers. There is magic to his assemblage of baskets, vintage medicine bottles, books and shells.

Dan Marty

The challenge for me has always been getting the “arrangement” just right. I have a few friends that seem to have mastered the skill, or were born with the artistic talent for compiling items in such a pleasing way that you want to study what they’ve accomplished.

I began collecting bronze-like dogs and other creatures some time ago. I find they are increasingly expensive and sometimes hard to find, but the quest is more than half the fun, don’t you agree?

I don’t have to tell you that blog land is filled to the brim with amazingly talented folks that have a knack for vignettes. In fact, one of my favorite “must read” sites are titled Vignette Design. Delores has the gift for arranging her treasures beautifully. Another favorite is The Polohouse, a new site to me. Alison is a designer and I share her love for all things traditional English Country style. I can always depend on a visit to her site fill my mind with inspiration for my own home. Jermaine, at French Kissed is a stylist and her vignettes and her photography guarantee beautiful eye candy.

Vignette Design

The Polohouse

Photo by Jermaine of French Kissed

My Friend, Carla, has a collection of Staffordshire figures that rivals any I’ve seen. Little Red Riding Hood and her twins reside near her stove, their cape guards them from the heat!

My friend, Linda, just started collecting French confit jars. I hope to visit her (Bainbridge Island) in the fall and can take some pictures of her home for you.

Even a collection of cloth bound books can bring interest when placed on a table or shelf with fresh flowers.

Ralph Lauren

I love this shell collection in this vintage urn…so pretty.

New England Home

Bottom line, rooms, at least for me, are so appealing with just the right amount of detail. Collections of those things that are dear to you, found while traveling, inherited, scavenged from antique stores and discoveries along life’s path make a home more interesting and welcoming.

If I Forget Thee

The Catalogued Fancies of N.C. Stewart

Share your collection interests with me, I’d love to hear from you.

I’m joining:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesday!

{Garden} Here come Peter Cottontail…bunnies in the backyard.

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Outdoor living

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

bunnies

Spring his here, at least the calendar says it is. In anticipation of Spring and Easter I puttered in the back yard a bit and thought I’d share some of the bunnies that are visiting my yard.

I think Peter Rabbit is stealing eggs and maybe has his eye on the cabbage!

I also stumbled upon a great deal from a consignment store for the blue and white garden seat. I’ll put the cushions out as soon as the threat of rain leaves our 7-day forecast.

I hope these birds don’t eat much!

Happy Spring! I hope the rabbits are not eating too much of your garden this spring.

I’m visiting Sherry’s Open House today and

French Country Cottage, join me!

{GHP} Happy Spring 2012

20 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Gardening

≈ 10 Comments

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Spring

♥Happy first day of spring! Spring Equinox!

I surprise myself in my enthusiasm for spring this year because a) we’ve had a very mild winter and I’m really more a fall/winter person than a spring/summer person, and b) there’s no way around it, spring signals warmer weather, even though it never gets truly sweltering, I dread the stifling hot days of the season that follows spring…talk about putting the cart before the horse, right? I maintain this has something to do with my age, my red hair and my love of turtlenecks!

There are so many wonderful options when setting a table for a spring meal. Flowers are plentiful and come in every color ever put to pottery. Dining al fresco is a favorite during the warm evenings that you find during late spring (in Southern California).

I use a lot of citrus during spring and summer in both my cooking and as a natural accessory.

For some reason this year, I’m more than giddy to get into the garden and work on some projects I’ve been thinking about and I’m ready for the change in menu planning i.e. more grilling and dining outdoors.

Maybe I’ve gotten wiser and more appreciative in my ~~older~~ more mature years when it comes to recognizing the beauty of each season.

Spring is here and I’m embracing all of the joy it brings, especially the burst of energy I feel during this time of year.

I find great comfort when working in the garden. The planning and searching for the right plant material is exciting to me. Spring, like no other time of year offers promise of new beginnings, both in the garden and in life.

Polished Pebble

Better Homes and Gardens

I enjoy the process of bringing the outdoors IN with fresh and potted flowers, found nests and blossoming branches. I lighten the feel of our living spaces in the house by introducing lighter pillows and throws, where possible. The windows are washed and open for any breath of fresh air that can be captured.

The Paper Mulberry

So, goodbye winter, I’ll think of you often and await your return following fall, all the while delighting in your warmer cousin spring.

Content in a Cottage

Do you have a favorite season…I’d love to hear from you.

{Home} Library, chapter 2

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Renovating

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

library, upholstery

You may recall that nearly a year ago I painted our library. You can read about it HERE. I knew I needed to recover the sofa in that room due to fading but had to find the right fabric and save the necessary dollars.

As you can see in the “before” pictures, the wall paper and sofa fabric had faded from the direct south facing sunlight. We believe we’ve remedied the issue by extending an overhang outside the bay window and by tinting. Crossed fingers that this will be a permanent fix. We’ve had to have the finish on the ladder back chair repaired due to sun damage. These renovations sure can get expensive!

BEFORE (ABOVE)

Last month, call it an anniversary present, we had the window seat cushion, sofa and pillows made and I thought I’d share the final images with you.

I choose a cotton velvet in a taupe color for the sofa. I had my upholsterer add the nail head detailing and replace the straight wooden feet with bun feet. What do you think? I was happy with the way it turned out.

I was able to buy a soft throw on Josh & Main to add a splash of black. Since the sofa is love seat size I wanted to avoid throw pillows but felt something more was needed.

I apologize for the lighting in the picture below, this table sits to the right of the love seat. {Note: I’m currently taking photography classes in an attempt to learn how to use my DSLR camera. Hopefully, there will be vast improvement in my photography once I know how to set all of the buttons and settings}

This vignette is on a tray on top of the wicker hamper I use as a coffee table. I used to have a butler’s tray table (actually still do, it’s in our attic) but I liked the gray wicker hamper and have found the added storage to be a bonus.

The window seat and cushion for the windsor chair is this quilted taupe fabric with a small black leaf pattern; the pillow looks to be embroidered but its machine embroidery.

Madison has given me her full approval of the changes. This is one of her favorite places to nap.

I was able to keep the toile on the ladder back chair…I really like toile and fortunately I was able to find coordinating fabrics that worked in the room.

Are you beginning to sense that I like dogs?!

The print over the sofa is a sentimental favorite because my grandma bought it for me and I think of her whenever I sit in this room.

So, that’s it. I hope you see some improvement and will leave me a comment. I always enjoy our chats!

Catch up with some really great ideas over at No Minimalist Here open house party.

{Home} Small tables

13 Tuesday Mar 2012

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

≈ 13 Comments

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small tables

I recently did a post on chairs {HERE}. I have two very dear friends that have a weakness for chairs so I was sure the post would strike a chord with a couple of people. One of my chair-admiring friends suggested that I do a post on small tables. Unable to resist a challenge where blogging is concerned, I jumped right in. My search was fun and I think small tables could become a weakness of mine. They seem to add something special to any room, especially when there are wonderfully interesting accessories adorning them.

The simple table (just inside the door) probably holds keys and sunglasses for its owner. With a basket under the table this sweet table performs both beauty and function.

Amelia Handegan Design ~ Architectural Digest

I love the detailing on this metal table, which appears to be placed in front of a heater. Clever use and a great disguise…I believe this might be a bedroom.

Photo: Bernard Dozel ~ Inspiring Interiors

I think this Chinese alter table makes this room. The twin beds and twin bedside lamps are in perfect symmetry. So pretty.

Heirloom Philosophy

Such great detail with the carving and flower basket detail at the base, this table with the chair beside it welcomes you into the room.

Color Outside the Lines

Lady Grantham probably wishes the small table behind the gentleman to her right were closer, she could place her glass of port on it.

Downton Abbey

Even this petrified tree trunk makes a striking table and vignette.

Photo: Jeremy Samuelson ~ House Beautiful

A simple glass and iron table provides the perfect spot for a towel and toiletries in the wonderful bathroom below. I love the antique piece on the wall behind the bathtub.

Photo: Simon Upton ~ House Beautiful

The small gray-finished table next to this settee is a nice touch.

New England Home

I recently found this site thanks to Brooke at Velvet Linen, looks promising for its charming everything!

Tone on Tone Antiques

The look of a marble-topped table adjacent to an island is very useful. Upon closer inspection you’ll notice it’s actually made to look like the table is independent of the island when it really is one slab of marble. Love the French bistro bar stools.

Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo ~ John Oetgen Design :: House Beautiful

Another little table with only a lamp as an accent, but very pretty, don’t you agree?

Inspiring Interiors

This little blue table was in my post about chairs, but I truly was captivated by the unique color and lines of this little accent table.

Liz Williams Interiors

I really like this hallway, the paint color, picture gallery, molding details and paint color and the charming wicker table makes it picture perfect.

Take you pick of the either or both of the smallish tables in this lovely room!

Veranda

Do you have a favorite piece of furniture that you can never get enough of?

{Garden} Daydreaming gardens

08 Thursday Mar 2012

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

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Flowers, gardens

The hint of spring hit us these past few weekends when temperatures hit the eighties. Every year around this time I begin daydreaming about all I want to accomplish in the garden.

Last week I was in the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas for business and took pictures of their ever-changing botanical gardens. The hotel was celebrating Chinese New Year. (as intricate as the garden exhibit is, I would imagine they keep them on display for at least 30 days or longer). Seeing the beauty of their display only increased my eagerness for some sprucing up in my own garden.

I felt like I was viewing a Rose Parade float—each part of the costume and surrounding background was made of flowers.

Further inspiration was provided by my good friend and gardening guru, Carla. Who needs the Bellagio when you can visit Carla?

My entry has been an area I wanted to replant. The urn to the left of the door needed a change, the Japanese boxwood that had been planted there for a couple of years had started looking woody and sparse. With Carla as my adviser we went nursery hopping…I picked up a lovely mother fern, grape hyacinth and some white violas. They will certainly announce SPRING with green, white and blue beauty!

The juniper that sits in the large planter to the far right of the front door needed to be replaced and I used a new variety of juniper (I apologize, I don’t have the name with me, if you’re interested I can look it up) and surrounded it with cineraria.

The crested planter has a couple of ferns and some cyclamen that are still doing well. Once our warm weather becomes a daily occurrence they will need to be replaced.