A touch of red

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Accessories; details, Paint Color, Valentine's Day

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♥ ♥ ♥

Good morning! Since Valentine’s Day is a short 4 days away, and I’m sure you’ve all bought your valentines and planned your special meal weeks ago, I thought I’d share a few rooms that highlight a touch of red, a traditional Valentine’s Day color. For some of us red is welcome year round, embraced even.

But I understand that not all share my enthusiasm for the color. Still, here are some lovely rooms with a touch of red that even you might like. 🙂

♥ ♥ ♥

{via}

Red doesn’t have to fill the room to be noticed, as my friend, the talented Loi of Tone on Tone demonstrates here. That red apple not only looks good enough to eat, but makes the perfect trilogy of lovely for this vignette.

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The red in this mostly white bathroom adds a welcome brightness, subtle enough to add a needed pop of color. There is a framed picture of the Cat in the Hat to the right of the mirror, this may be a child’s bathroom. It’s very cheery.

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Love this pretty distressed chest in red. This could be a showstopper in any home.

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I really like this hutch that has been painted a contrasting color inside. I like the way it brings notice to the items stored inside.

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…then there’s this. I love this library by Gil Shafer III and somehow the red seems just right!

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James Farmer and this room is an all-time favorite. Yes, I know it’s dressed for Christmas and yes, I know you’ve seen it dozens of times, but it’s so pretty…you don’t mind, do you? 🙂

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The red lamps add such a wonderful touch to this outdoor table.

{James Farmer ~ photographed by Emily Elkins Photographer}

There is a regal look to red in a formal room. Isn’t this a pretty sconce on the red wall, with a stenciled door (?) to the left?

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Layla’s [The Lettered Cottage] reading nook in their first house is so inviting and the smallest touch of red makes the space seem finished.

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Finally, a favorite use of the color! Oh to be in London!

Have a special Valentine’s Day. Celebrate the day with those you love.

Karen ♥

Since we’re on the subject of LOVE, I just wanted to pass along a good word on a soon to be released book. My friend, Kristy Woodson Harvey {Design Chic and Kristy Woodson Harvey} has a new book to be released in April. LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE. The is as entertaining as her first book, Dear Carolina. I’m honored to be previewing the book and will post my review in April. You can preorder here.

{Party} Please join us for a Valentine’s dinner

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Entertaining, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 25 Comments

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Valentine's Day

{Slim Paley}

There was a time when I would have thought of St. Valentine’s Day strictly as a date for two. As I’ve matured I find that any occasion can be more fun with a small group of close friends.

So my post for today is an invitation for you to join us for a Valentine’s dinner…this is pure fantasy, unless all of you can manage a flight to California and join us in real life!

My invitation will be simple, but I enjoy receiving hard copy invitations so I think I’ll order this for my informal dinner party…

I don’t know who the Logan’s (below in sample invite) are but I wouldn’t expect guests to leave my party at 10:00 p.m., lights out at our home would be 10:30…ha,ha,ha. Just kidding, I think parties have a way of letting you know when they are winding down, organically, don’t you agree? Honestly, none of our friends ever overstay their welcome and we all seem to get tired after several hours of good food, good wine and good conversation.

{via Tiny Prints}

All of you will know my house because you’ve been there many times before…

{remember, this is pretend}

For table settings and flowers I can go in a few different directions. Below are some of my ideas, maybe you should weigh in and let me know which table you’d most enjoy…

Here is my Valentine table last year, or the year before, I don’t remember. I could use the same cloth but the Petite Fleur dishes might be too busy for meatloaf, what do you think?

This (above) table is technically one I found around Christmas, but the frosty greens could be traded out for others while the mercury glass and silver and white, especially with the pearl heart, could easily work for St. Valentine’s Day.

The red and white grain sack cloth with the red candles really work for the holiday…I love the simplicity of this with the fire in the grate and candles on the mantle, what could be more inviting or romantic?

I love the detailing on these candelabras, and the tailored feel to the black and white linens and dishes. This is totally a Valentine’s look that I could get behind.

I will have fresh flowers in the house and probably keep to the traditional selection of colors where they are concerned…and I’m sure the price of flowers for that weekend will be astronomical. Is it too late to cancel this imaginary dinner? LOL

If only I could find these beauties in my garden, its still a little early for me to have enough to cut and bring in ~ via Studio Choo

I prefer simple appetizers since I don’t want you to fill up on a first course only to discover you’re not hungry when the main course is served. This (on a smaller but similar scale) is what I’ll set out for guests.

~and~

Because St. Valentine’s Day lands in the winter, I plan to serve you a hearty fare.

Cheese board ~ Olives ~ Bread

1770 house meatloaf

Mashed potatoes

Green Beans Gremolata

Dessert: Brownies with homemade Caramel Sauce

and

Vanilla Ice Cream

{Photo by Jenny Steffens Hobick} ~if you love to cook, please visit Everyday Occasions blog, you will be inspired with her wonderful recipes and beautiful design ideas.

{Peeking Thru the Sunflowers}

So what’s planned for those of you that can’t make it to our house for dinner?

xo, Karen

I’m over at Stone Gable for her Turtorials and Tips party.

I want to send a special thank you to Debby at the fabulous Inspired Design for hosting a book giveaway that I won! {By the way, she’s hosting another book giveaway this week, you may want to stop by and comment to be entered}

This is going to be on my nightstand until I plan my next trip to Paris, then I’ll take it with me on the plane. It’s filled with beautiful images and fabulous insider tips for traveling to the city of light and romance.

Note: On my previous post about my friend’s house I inadvertently made a few errors about the age of some of the lighting fixtures. I’ve corrected the errors HERE.

Valentine’s Day

14 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Valentine's Day

≈ 8 Comments

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Valentine's Day

I’m a positive person, even optimistic, ask anyone…however, Valentines Day, like New Year’s Eve, gets too much hype and would seem to have gotten blown out of all proportion as to what should happen on this day.

Image via Graphics Fairy

Image via Paper Source ~ a great source for paper goods to create your own Valentine for that special someone.

That said I love some of the romantic nods to St. Valentine that appear in blogland and even some magazines. And just so you don’t think I’m a cynic, I love ♥ Hubby and even enjoy sending my kids Valentine’s cards and candy.

Image via Content in a Cottage

I love all of you kind people who take the time to read my ramblings occasionally so this is for you…

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE’S DAY

Images via Victoria Magazine

Image via Slim Paley

If you are planning a special dinner for your Valentine these images (above) are subtle but lovely ideas for a table setting.

This is what my February Valentine’s dinner table looked like:

I used my Villeroy & Boch Petite Fleur dishes, very pink and festive!

I purchased some pony packs of English primrose, violas, nemesia and bacopa to place in the footed dish—I’ll plant these in my garden after the party.

For those of you who read my post about dining room rugs HERE, here is the sisal rug I recently purchased with my birthday dollars. What do you think, was it a good idea…rug or no rug?