A few of my favorite things about the season

08 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Entertaining, Traditions

Tags

details of a home, Entertaining, holiday, Table Settings

I love this time of year…everything about it makes me happy. I like cooler weather (I realize there are two distinct camps on this, I have friends that are warm-weather fans) I must have lived in Iceland in another life time! Anyway, here are a few of the things I like best about the season…

image via BHG

I guess it goes without saying, I like the decorating part of the season the best. I think it’s fun to create new ways to dress up the house. I’m a traditionalist at heart but its fun to try out new ideas for the home using greens and seasonal fruit, nuts and the like. I’ve not done this (above image) but once—hanging wreaths in windows side-by-side. I think it looks great indoors and/or out. The reason I haven’t hung live wreaths since the first time is that the hardwood floors were constantly filled with pine needles so maybe I need to find a different spot…but it does look festive and pretty, don’t you think?

image via Slim Paley (you will enjoy her site, visit HERE)

Right up there with decorating is entertaining. I’ve said it before, my house is definitely a winter house. It looks it’s best when I have a fire in the fireplace and candlelight is emanating throughout. (Maybe we all look better in candle light, I know I do). But having good friends over for dinner with Christmas music in the background—good conversation, decent wine and comfort food, what could be better? (Fans of summer need not respond :-))

image via Country Living

Along with entertaining comes using my Christmas Tree dishes by Spode. Many of you may know of my disease—I’m addicted to dishes, all patterns and makes, and I’ve read that there is NO cure. By the way, I don’t have the red transfer ware pattern above but believe me I’ve eyed it with more than faint enthusiasm!

image via Country Living

And at the end of a beautiful day of holiday traditions I like to climb into bed, between my flannel sheets and catch some zzzzz.

Don’t forget to get your rest during this busy month! Happy December.

Details: Accessories or Knick knacks?

11 Wednesday Aug 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Decorating

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

details of a home, home accessorizing

I love accessories, I don’t especially love clutter. I realize that one person’s accessories are another person’s clutter but I don’t think I’d enjoy my home nearly as much without the “stuff” that I treasure.

Sometimes something as practical as an umbrella stand can add the touch that an entry may need. Image via Southern Accents, Carol Glasser home.

I take my lead from a lot of magazine pictures {Veranda, Traditional Home, Southern Accents before it closed}, blog sites {Cote de Texas, French Kissed, The Lettered Cottage} that inspire and friends whose homes I admire.

For me, Charles Faudree of Tulsa is KING of accessories.

Who knew a picnic basket on a sofa table could add charm to an already lovely room? Image via Country Living Magazine.

But…there is always a little self doubt that plays in my mind when I’m arranging my “stuff”…like is my house starting to look like my Grandma’s used to? Loaded with knick knacks?

I love the simplicity of these silver items and only one of the footed pieces has anything on it, so pretty.

I guess we all have to figure out what we love and arrange things and maybe even change them out as seasons come and go to create interest and to avoid “over accessorizing” if there is such a thing, right?