heirloom philosophy

My Mountain House Kitchen: Before and After

2013-05-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

I am one of those people that love to bring something old, ugly and tired back to life. Somehow, I think you get a more charming and personal space when you renovate, and pay homage, to what is already there. We could have just gutted the whole space and put in a bright, shiny new kitchen but instead

took the road less traveled and decided to work with what we had.

I shutter as I post these before pictures and can hardly believe how far we have come. We are not yet to the after phase but I thought you would enjoy seeing some of the changes we have made.

As I mentioned in earlier emails, we thought the kitchen had good bones. Now, as I look at the before pictures, I am absolutely floored that I always saw the beauty in this space.

I will also say that I speak confidently here but often times, I second guessed myself. I found a lot of inspiration from blogs and Pinterest and often times just took a leap of faith. I have the greatest husband in the world who trusted me to know what to do. Take down that bank of cabinets. Remove the soffits over the windows. Recess the pantry even with the refrigerator cabinet. Let's replace the bi-fold pantry doors with old french shutters. Leave the planking on the ceiling natural - You should feel like you are in a mountain house.

A traditional galley style, the kitchen was nice and wide yet we felt like the ceiling was falling in on us. The main drag on this space was an imposing fluorescent light box. Notice the lovely yellow-green light cast over the before pictures. The ceiling in the kitchen, as well as the ceilings throughout the house, had stucco texturing that had yellowed over the years. You gotta' love the eighties wallpaper!

The window over the kitchen sink looks out into the garden.

I started by taking down the window treatments that were blocking the view and all of the beautiful mountain sunshine that streams in this window. That wasn't enough so I removed the (lovely) wooden trim piece and then decided to take an even more bold move and remove the soffit between the cabinets. I painted the cabinets and the soffits a beautiful gray to elongate the cabinets.

The before picture is below.

We have come a long way and are almost finished!

Here's a picture of the new sconce in place.

Life Happens Outside

2013-05-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

I love entertaining outside and was absolutely thrilled to be asked by Lloyd Flanders to participate in their spring marketing campaign

"Life Happens Outside."

The Lloyd Flanders invitation inspired me to pull together my ideas for a chic evening on my new terrace. My hydrangeas should be in full bloom in just a few weeks and I look forward to sharing a brisk spring evening entertaining friends using some of these ideas.

I hope you will stop by the Lloyd Flanders idea book on Houzz!

When entertaining on the patio, I like to put a bar at the top of the stairs, so that it is the first thing guests see as they arrive, a non-verbal invitation to relax and help oneself.

My essentials for a well-stocked bar include not only an assortment of beers, red and white wine, water, and nibbles but also flowers and a candle. The flowers are lilacs from my garden.

When styling the bar, I like to bring together organic elements and textures found in nature.

I love the simplicity of the fresh cut flowers, lilacs from my own garden, with the texture of the wicker.

At the bar, I like to feature small decadent treats - something sweet and something salty. Tonight, I am offering Dark Chocolate Almonds with Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar with Asiago Breadsticks.

I found the carved granite bowl during my recent shopping trip to the Antiques and Design Center at the High Point Furniture Market. The antique dealer I bought it from explained that it was from China and was formerly used at the base of the bamboo downspouts. I also think it would be beautiful planted with an assortment of succulents. It should have come with a warning - I am heavy!

One of the things I enjoy most about entertaining is creating the tablescape.

It is something I do at least a week in advance of the evening. I like to play with textures and organic materials and love the juxtaposition between something very fine and elegant with something rustic. I am a big fan of white dishes and linen napkins.

There is something so amazingly magical about Al fresco dining.

I love watching the shadows from the surrounding gardens and the way the light changes as the sun goes down. As the sun fades away, dinner by candlelight is so romantic.

The breeze and the sounds and scents in nature set the tone for a relaxing evening.

I always think it is a nice touch to include place cards in your table setting.

Living in the South, there is always a magnolia tree close by. I thought using a magnolia leaf as the place card was the perfect way to tie together the outdoor setting with the fine china and crystal.

The flowers are arranged in my favorite container, a concrete faux bois stump.

When planning my flower arrangements, I look first to see what is blooming in my garden. This arrangement is primarily greenery from my garden ~ Elaeagnus, Camellia, White Quince, Popcorn, Viburnum and a little boxwood. I added white Hydrangea, white tulips and some beautiful yellow Ranunculus I found at Trader Joe's.

I buy interesting containers when I see them so that I always have something on hand when I am planning to entertain. My good friend, Susan, also owns two of these faux bois stumps. We enjoy borrowing from each other when we need more than two.

One of the small things that I like to do when I entertain is serve one course in a individual baking dish. There is just something about it that is unexpected and makes my guests feel special.

Tonight, I have chosen to serve one of my signature dishes, my very own recipe for homemade macaroni and cheese, in individually baked ramekins.

In honor of Lloyd Flanders, I am sharing my secret recipe:

Gruyere Mac and Cheese with Toasted Pecans

Macaroni and cheese is Southern comfort food at its best!

Always a crowd pleaser, my mac and cheese celebrates everything you love about the classic dish with a few twists that make it especially rich and decadent!

For the sauce:

4 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 ounces about 1 cup grated extra sharp cheddar cheese

4 ounces/ 1 package about 2 cups grated Gruyere cheese

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (important!)

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 pound Penne Pasta

For the topping:

4 tablespoons butter

1 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup Gruyere (reserved) cheese

1/4 cup (reserved) cheddar cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup toasted pecans pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

For the sauce: Melt the butter in a large saucepan and slowly add the flour to make a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk and bring to a boil while constantly whisking the sauce. Reduce to a simmer and continue to stir as the sauce thickens for approximately three minutes. Add the cheeses, dry mustard, and nutmeg. Salt and Pepper to taste. Remove from the heat.

For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the Penne pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta while reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Stir together the pasta, cheese sauce and reserved pasta water. Transfer to a buttered baking dish or individual ramekins.

Toast the pecans and set aside; Melt the butter in a saucepan and remove from the heat; Stir together the Panko bread crumbs, cheese and pecans and spread over the mac and cheese.

Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven until golden brown and bubbling - about 20 minutes.

This decadent Mac and Cheese is equally at home with fresh grilled burgers, roasted chicken or beef tenderloin. Just add your favorite salad for the perfect summer meal!

Special thanks to Lloyd Flanders

for inviting me to participate in their spring campaign!

They will be sending me a gorgeous all weather wicker Nantucket rocker for participating! I love it so much that I have pinned it onto my Terraces, porches and outdoor rooms board on Pinterest here!

Spring Crush

2013-04-04T06:56:00.001-07:00

So many ideas, so little time!

I don't know what it is about Spring that makes me want to start fresh, try new things and get creative!

I just don't feel like there is enough time in the day for all of my creative thoughts!

Yesterday, I cut my hair!

Yes. And short!

Do you ever feel like everything you ever learned about hair and make-up is from your college days?

I found this picture on Pinterest and took it into my hairstylist and ta-da, I love it!

But, now I have to style it all by myself, something my 18 year old daughter pointed out prior to cutting all of my hair off. I am leaving soon to purchase one of those new curling irons that you wrap your hair around for this wavy curl look.

Wish me luck...

I have been working Pinterest for a new Spring uniform...you know, thirty minutes to get dressed (and look good) throw on jeans, white blouse, cute shoes...

I love the new Madewell Spring look book...I just wish my legs were that long!

Lovin' these camel flats from Tory Burch, a great wardrobe basic.

Of course by the time I found them on Pinterest, I can not find them on the website anymore. That seems to happen a lot...I plan out my look on Pinterest and wrap my arms around my spring look only to discover, it's old news.

Love this slouchy leather tote from And George! I would like it in a lighter color.

I thought this would be a great outfit for cruising the booths at Marburger Farm at Round Top, happening right now in Texas.

I have always wanted to go and hope that maybe next year, I will get the chance.

Happy Spring!

My New Garden

2013-03-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

{My new boxwood garden in progress last spring}

As you may remember, last year, we started on a little home renovation project with the main purpose to add a new garage. With the new garage came the opportunity to add a new garden where we used to park behind our house. I have always wanted a vegetable garden but didn't want it to sit barren in Winter or look disheveled next to our terrace.

As I look forward to getting out in the garden again, I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you the before and after pictures. Keep in mind that I really don't want to ever get to the after stage as I like the process of planting and recreating, adding and updating.

Here are some before pictures as the construction for the new garage is underway. I have a small butler's pantry off of my kitchen that used to have a desk under the window. We removed the desk and made a doorway where the window used to be. I REALLY miss having my desk just off of my kitchen!

This is where a new garage now resides.

And here is a different point of view, standing in the backyard and looking towards the street. Our garage now fills this space and my new garden was built just to the right of the bulldozer.

The elevation of our lot drops off significantly from the front of the driveway to the backyard so we had to bring in huge loads of top soil to bring this area up.

The image below is one of my favorite inspirational pictures from the gardens at the shop Merci in Paris. I know my garden looks significantly different but this is the image I shared with our landscape designer to get the design process started.

I worked with a very talented landscape designer, Amy Priode, from Piedmont Carolina Landscaping. She worked closely with my husband and I to put our vision into a workable plan. We had two main structural issues we had to solve before moving onto the decorative (and fun) phase of design. We had to plan for the sea of water that runs down this path and into our backyard every time we have a downpour and we had to bring the level of the garden up by about two feet, no small task.

Here are a few of the drawings Amy presented to us offering different graphic patterns for the boxwood parterre garden. The site for the garden dictated the shape of the garden. It was a hard decision.

In the end, we actually combined a couple of the plans to create our garden.

Here is the final working drawing (below).

And here are the photos of the garden just after it was installed.

I wish I had taken pictures when they were lining up the boxwood and making sure they were perfectly aligned, a very meticulous task. I bought the little expandable willow hurtles so that I could grow tomatoes in the middle and climbers such as squash, zucchini and cucumbers on the sides.

My long term plan is to plant an espalier fruit tree at the end of the path against the garage wall.

Sadie is starring at me because I am standing in the middle of the hydrangea.

Here is the view looking down the path and into our backyard. We continued the path on the other side of the terrace.

You can see here to the right boxwood lining the path, an area that we created to let the water stream through when we have a big rain. We created several "catch basins" to take care of all the water.

Amy suggested we add Knock-out Roses and Limelight hydrangea on the other side of the path from the garden for color. They bloom all summer long and into the fall.

Sadie is never very far away when I am planting. Here I am planting yellow squash and cucumbers.

An iPhone picture from later in the summer.

I actually wanted to create this vegetable garden so that my daughter could experience the joy of growing her own vegetables something that i remember fondly from growing up.

My daughter Madison loaded up with her fresh picks.

One of my favorite Instagram photos from this summer...gotta' love the blue fingernails!

I hope you enjoyed my garden tour. Today is a beautiful Spring day and I have been working in the garden adding some Winter blooming plants.

Have a joyful Easter!

Bedside Table Bliss

2013-03-26T07:56:00.003-07:00

{Bunny William's bedside table from NYTimes The battleground on the Bedside Table}

I read a really interesting article last week in the New York Times that I thought you might enjoy as well ~ The Battleground on the Bedside Table.

The article really made me think about my own bedside and what I could do to improve both the way it functions and the way it makes me feel as I pursue a good night's sleep.

I also loved the opportunity to peek inside the bedrooms of a few of my favorite designers and bring home a little of their advise on styling the nightstand.

{Alexa Hampton's bedside table from NYTimes The battleground on the Bedside Table}

Here's the scoop!

For a blissful night's sleep, the bedside table should be a marriage of beauty and function and answer your specific needs. The bedside is one of the most private spaces in your home so "styling" should be about creating a personal sanctuary and keeping you organized before bedtime.

A Great Bedside Table. Consider the tabletop size and whether you prefer open or closed storage or a combination of the two. Always, always have his and hers nightstands! I love a room with an antique table at the bedside or a quirky piece with personality converted for use as a bedside table.
Good lighting ~ a pair of beautiful lamps or swing arm sconces. A sculptural lamp provides height and adds interest to a bedside table vignette. Don't overlook the lampshade! There is nothing more beautiful than the filtered light coming from a pleated silk lampshade.
Beautiful tray or box to gather glasses, electronics, cell phone, jewelry, coins and electronics.
Notepad, Journal and a special pen reserved only for bedside.
Personal items that make you smile such as art and family photographs. Consider leaning and layering art for a more interesting tablescape.
Fresh flowers or a touch of greenery adds softness, texture and another sculptural element to the bedside. A touch of something from nature always makes me smile.
Books and magazines. An essential element if you like to read before bedtime.
A Favorite Scented Candle. I wish Charlotte Moss still made the Virginia Candle (hint, hint)! My current favorite is the Baies Candle from Diptyque.
A Stylish Alarm Clock
A Way to Organize and Store Electronics - think about what you need at the bedside - the iPad, Kindle, cell phone, remote(s), docking...ugh! The latest electronics have made designers rethink the bedside table. Many of the latest options have special features built-in for corralling electronics and managing cords.

If I were to follow my own advise, I would need to do a little spring cleaning and rethink how I might organize and plan for the things I need next to the bed.

Allison's favorite things for bedside bliss:

Chelsea Textiles Gustavian Bureau
White porcelain lamps from Christopher Sptizmiller
My favorite scented candle - Diptyque Baies Candle
A Silver Tray to collect jewelry and electronics
Fresh flowers, preferably white, arranged in a simple glass vase or antique goblet
A journal for my thoughts - One Line A Day

I am also particularly fond of this little honeycomb porcelain plate in grey available at Jayson Home and Gardens. It is handmade in a Connecticut workshop using an object made for use in beehives.

It would make a nice little catch-all on a bedside table.

Interior Curtains

2013-02-27T05:17:00.000-08:00

Although I love today's open floor plans sometimes they beg for just a little intimacy.

I also love how steel windows and doors connect an interior to the outside garden and flood the interiors with natural light. It would ruin the simplicity of the window to add curtain panels...

Solution: Add a floating interior curtain!

It's one of those details I have noticed a lot lately that I just adore.

I included two views of this kitchen designed by Beth Webb Interiors because I personally love to see the stylist's touch.

Pam Pierce's famous Houston home appeared once again in Veranda Magazine this month. I love seeing how Pierce has reinvented her beautiful home. Notice the sheer linen curtain that so elegantly floats next to that old beam. It's a chic solution for privacy and for screening away a working kitchen.

Here's older view from Vernada with a different perspective of Pierce's kitchen. A burlap curtain is hiding on the right hand side of the image.

I first noticed interior curtains in some of my favorite rooms from architect Bobby McAlpine. His interiors have inspired me to rethink the way we live.

I also love the interiors from John Saladino. His work is full of inspiring details including the use of interior curtains. In this dining room, the curtains are not exactly "interior" curtains as they do flank the large stone bay window but I thought this particular image best illustrated his unique style of curtain. I love the way it is tied to the wrought iron curtain rod.

And don't think an interior curtain has to be old-world to feature an interior curtain. Here Lindsey Bond of Birmingham uses an interior curtain to close off her office shelving. They are beautifully styled right now with no need to hide away but I can imagine if it were my own office the day would come.

And here, Lindsey Bond uses an interior curtain to give some definition between the living and dining spaces...clever! It also brings softness to a modern interior.

What do you think of interior curtains?

Details I love: Antique Shutters

2013-02-06T05:25:00.001-08:00

The next detail I am exploring as I search for charming ways to update my 1970's mountain house is the addition of antique shutters to the pantry in the kitchen.

As I explained in my last post here, the bones of the kitchen will stay the same - the cabinetry, the black appliances and the basic floor plan and layout. I will be adding hardwood floors, a plank ceiling with old beams, recessed lighting and new pantry doors and shelving. I am also planning to paint the cabinets a soft gray similar to the picture above.

Can you see it?

{Mountain House Project, Before: Pantry Doors}

I am always very shy about showing before pictures especially when I don't have the after pictures to give you that eureka moment...but here is a picture of the bi-fold pantry doors that we will be replacing with old shutters. My fabulous sister is en route to Atlanta as we speak, on her way to the Scott Show, with measurements in hand! I am dying with anticipation!

We are also planning to add new shelving to the pantry's interior. It currently has old wire shelving. The new look will have modern, clean lines with a wide, flat stile like the image above and rolling baskets for paper towels and basics.

Details I love...

2013-02-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

{Jeannette Whitson - Garden Variety Design}

My husband and I are in the process of renovating a house in the mountains that was built and decorated in the late 1970's...let your imagination paint the picture!

I will post before and after pictures at a later date but for right now I am decision mode trying to add details that will give my home character and charm. Much of the bones of the home will stay the same - the floors, the cabinetry, the floor plan - which leaves us with an exciting challenge to use paint and creative ideas to add charisma.

I have put together a series of posts that will highlight some of the things that I like and am trying to incorporate into the design. Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest? It is making my job as weekend decorator a whole lot easier!

The first detail I would like to highlight is a skirted counter. I love the softness and cottage charm it brings into rooms that typically do not have soft furnishings. We plan to skirt a little section of the kitchen counter to hide the recycling and also plan to update the master bath cabinetry. We are using a neutral Belgian linen similar to the first image in the kitchen and a brown ticking stripe in the bath.

I am still searching for a source for the small diameter brass rail and rings...anybody?

{m.elle design}

{Heather Chadduck - favorite from the old Cottage Living}

{Jackye Lanham}

Design is in the Details...

2013-02-01T06:36:00.000-08:00

{Circa Interiors, Designer/Owner, Cindy Smith}

When I was first married in Charlotte, my husband and I bought an old cottage that we lovingly restored all by ourselves. I have such fond memories of sanding floors, hanging wallpaper and making curtains. We painted the hardwood floors in a little hallway between the bedrooms and mixed custom paint colors that most would have thought at the time were strange.

I know you are thinking..."What on earth does this little story have to do with these gorgeous interiors from Circa Interiors?"

When I was all of 26 years old, I went on the Mint Museum's Tour of Homes and had the delight of touring Cindy Smith's home, owner of Circa Interiors. I'll tell you a little secret - shhh! - I purchased another tour ticket that year so I could go back through Cindy's home a second time and take note of all the special details!

I toured her home at a time in my life when I was formulating my own personal sense of style, busy creating a home and making it mine. To this day, I am fascinated by the unique details and warm, inviting interiors that come from not only Cindy but the other talented designers that call Circa home.

These gorgeous new photographs are from Circa's newly designed website that showcases the portfolios of Circa's designers.

And there's good news for all of us obsessed with a good design book...

Jane Schwab and Cindy Smith, owners of Circa Interiors have a new book coming out in March,

THE WELCOMING HOME: The Art of Living Graciously

Click over to Circa's new website and get a sneak peek inside the book!

Here are just a few of my favorite rooms...don't miss all the special details!

{Circa Interiors - Designer/Owner, Jane Schwab}

{Circa Interiors, Designer Heather Smith}

{Circa Interiors, Designer Patrick Lewis}

{Circa Interiors, Designer Kathy Smith}

{Circa Interiors, Designer Catherine Walters}

{Circa Interiors, Designer Heather Smith}

DIY: Create A Personal Style Collage for 2013

2013-01-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

It's a snowy morning here in Winston Salem which means my calendar has been cleared for me!

How fortunate!

I took the morning off and have had fun creating a personal style collage on PicMonkey.com. I thought you might enjoy playing around on this fun website as well...

First, save nine or more of your favorite pins from your Pinterest to your computer. Next, it's so easy. Go to: pic monkey.com and click on "create a collage". Use the blue button "Open Photos" on the left side to upload the pictures you saved onto your computer. After you upload your pictures, you click on the layout tab on the left and drag your photos into the grid. Move the images around until you get the desired look. I used the "square deal" layout for the first two collages and "L-egant" for the last collage. Give your collage a name and save it to your computer.

I would love to see what all of you create.

Can you share a link in the comments to your collage? Pretty please!

Creating a style collage was an interesting way to start the New Year, a motivator to take some of the images that inspire me and use them as a springboard for new projects around the house.

I wish I were more of a purist...you know the people that Pin something on Pinterest and you can tell who's Pin it is before you even look at their name. I am not that disciplined. I like a variety of styles that range from the latest crush on anything Belgian to the juxtaposition of rustic and luxe. I also go nuts for a modern farmhouse or simple cottage and even like a little bit of Bohemian mixed in. I crave the clean lines of modern design and love it when antiques and modern art successfully come together....

so I created three different collages...

I call the first two collages The City Mouse and The Country Mouse.

The third collage, I'll call Southern Sunshine.

If you are not on Pinterest yet, you should give it a try. Seriously!

It's a great reference tool for creative thinkers and do-ers.

Let me know if you create a style collage...I would love to see it!

Living With Antiques

2013-01-11T09:59:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Although I have not been posting a lot recently, I have been reading....

I have been particularly inspired by many of the posts I have read regarding New Year' s resolutions. Most of the posts are more about living the life you have always dreamed of rather than getting rid of nasty habits or losing weight. I like the thought of honing in on the things that I find most important and spending more time simplifying my life and living with only the things that I find most essential.

While reading my email this morning, I clicked over to the latest issue of Lonny Magazine for a quick flip-through and discovered the enchanting home of Houston antiques dealer Kay O'Toole.

Five years ago O'Toole built her dream home in the courtyard of her Houston antiques shop, Kay O'Toole's Antiques and Eccentricities. The most amazing thing about her home is that it is just three rooms. She was inspired by a narrow, one-room deep home she once admired in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Maybe it's because I just celebrated my 50th year on earth but the idea of paring down and living with only the best and the things that I love sounds compelling.

Move over Kay...I am coming home!

But, seriously, Kay's home is such a lovely reflection of a life. Her home, filled with treasures collected over a lifetime, art from local artists and even rescued architectural elements from old Houston homes has everything that I have ever wanted - a home that feels serene and personal.

There's no doubt that there is only one home that looks like this....

The range hood is a renovated wooden altar from a 19th century french chapel.

The marble in the kitchen was rescued from a demolished Houston post office.

"Light, says O'Toole, is the ultimate luxury."

I was smitten with O'Toole's elegant bedroom the first time I saw it {Veranda Magazine/March 2010}. I have always loved an all white bedroom!

A display from O'Toole's shop - Kay O'Toole Antiques and Eccentricities.

Antique french garden chairs and an antique faux bois table grace the front courtyard.

A charming garden with more faux bois and a potted lemon tree in the her private garden.

Working with Murphy Mears Architects, O'Toole designed many of the architectural features around a large cache of steel windows and doors she reclaimed from a 1920's mansion being demolished in the exclusive Houston River Oaks neighborhood.

The upholstery throughout O'Toole's home are covered exclusively in Fortuny - How luxurious!

New Year's Resolution 2013

Simplify

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

Leonardo da Vinci

The Language of Doors - Knock, Knock

2012-12-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

I have always had a fascination with dutch doors and fell hard for this beautiful side entry decorated for the holidays by Nashville resident Jeannette Whitson. She has recently opened a new online store specializing in garden inspired antiques - Garden Variety Design.

You'll love her tips and advise...

to see more beautiful photographs and learn more visit: Style Blueprint.

Inspired: Visiting New York City at Christmas Time

2012-12-12T08:02:00.001-08:00

One of my most favorite things to do during the Christmas season is take a quick trip to New York. I come away filled with the holiday spirit and enough inspiration to last throughout the year. This year, my sister and I went in celebration of my 50th birthday for just a few days starting on a Sunday - note to self, this is a great way to avoid some of the traffic, crowds, expense of visiting NYC and you can start the trip with an over-the-top gorgeous Sunday brunch. The best in New York City has to be the elegant brunch at the historic Waldorf Astoria.

I plan to share some of my favorite things from our whirlwind trip but for now will just share a few of my favorite snapshots with hopes you share my enthusiasm for this wonderful city.

I should also note that the New Yorkers we encountered during our trip were incredibly gracious hosts. Thank you for the holiday cheer and kindness you showed us!

Love, love these glossy black doors adorned with natural evergreen wreaths...notice that the magnolia leaves have been painted gold.

Christmas trees planted in wine boxes adorn one of the street corners.

The ABC Carpet and Home Santa Claus with his latest visitor

Charming rabbits peek from under an antique garden chair in the window at ABC Carpet.

Stockings at ABC Carpet and Home.

The Christmas mantle in the Drawing Room of the Crosby Street Hotel.

I love the variety and scale of the greenery that is available from the neighborhood florists, especially the large bundles of sticks and branches.

A handsome pair of Labradors waiting patiently for their morning walk...reminds me of home!

Flowers and red berries at a street vendor on Lexington Avenue.

The Mecox Gardens window.

My favorite place to window shop, Treillage.

A gorgeous gift from Treillage elegantly wrapped and ready to gift.

The large illuminated wreath at the Waldorf Astoria.

Merry Christmas!

Chic, Affordable Host and Hostess Gifts

2012-12-07T13:33:00.003-08:00

Looking for the perfect little host and hostess gift?

I am always looking for something really special for the host or hostess to express my sincere gratitude to them for opening their home during the holidays.

I absolutely flipped over these chic glasses from World Market. The picture above, for the host, is a not-so-good instagram picture of the stag etched cocktail glasses ($4 each). They would be amazing as a gift all by themselves but would also be nice packaged with a good bottle of scotch and whiskey stones.

For the hostess, these stemless wineglasses ($4 each) also from World Market are handblown. You can tell the second you pick one up as they are slightly different in weight and shape. I plan to package these with some of my favorite Christmas cocktail recipes or a bottle of wine.

Pomegranate Prosecco

Limoncello and Prosecco Cooler with Raspberry Ice Cubes

Sparkling Pear and Thyme Fizz

Pomegranate Margaritas

Noel Spritzer

Have a nice weekend!

The Christmas Wreath

2012-12-07T05:17:00.001-08:00

I am not a red person even at Christmas time. My tastes always align with a lighter palette usually highlighted with a touch of blue. That's why it was no surprise that I fell hard for this gorgeous wreath from the pages of Traditional Home.

In the mornings, I take the dog on a long walk around our neighborhood. It is one of those simple pleasures that helps me to start the day off on the right foot. During the Christmas season, my walks are even more pleasurable as I love to see how my neighbors have decorated for the season. I am amazed at the diversity of ideas for something as simple as the Christmas wreath. I like to make my own wreath with fresh evergreens from my garden. I usually use a combination of magnolia, boxwood and cypress and collect pinecones that look like roses from my neighbor's hemlock tree. I like my wreath to be fluffy and a little unruly so that it reflects its handmade status.

Here are just a few of my favorite Pinterest images of wreaths that are inspiring my decorating choices this season followed by my own Christmas wreath.

Enjoy!

I love a Christmas wreath hung prominently indoors. It brings that needed touch of nature inside and fills the house with the scent of evergreens.

Here's the wreath I created yesterday from tidbits from my garden, a blue burlap ribbon and silver bell garland from World Market.

Merry Christmas, come on in!

Christmas Cards

2012-12-03T04:14:00.001-08:00

Are you still shopping for Christmas cards?

I fell in love with these bright and beautiful cards from Sugar Paper.

and these artisan made prints and cards from Oh My Deer on etsy.

Christmas Cards

2012-12-02T06:20:00.000-08:00

Do you love to receive Christmas Cards as much as I do?

I received my first card in yesterday's mail. My first is almost always from my friend Blair, a close friend from my college days. I have loved saving my Christmas Cards over the years and have accumulated a sizable collection. I like to see my friends' families grow and reflect on how they resemble their parents.

Every year as I get ready to send my own cards, I like to pull out the large basket of cards I have collected over the years and look through them. This year, I decided to use one of the ideas I discovered while blogging. I have bundled all my old cards and tied them with pretty ribbon and placed them on a silver tray at my back door. The original idea was to bundle old cards and tie them with ribbon and place them under the Christmas tree to fill the empty space before gifts arrive. We haven't put up our tree yet so they are filling the silver tray where this year's Christmas Cards will go.

I thought you might enjoy seeing yesterday's outtake from this year's Christmas Card photo shoot. Let's just say we will be taking pictures again today.

Of course, I saw this really cute picture of a newlywed couple all wrapped in Christmas lights and thought it would make a nice Christmas card with my daughter and dog, Sadie. The photo shoot lasted all of five minutes because we promptly broke the bulbs. It wasn't even dark yet!

Christmas Bulbs for the home or gifts

2012-12-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Okay, that's the first Merry Christmas for me. I am getting in the spirit as I am making my wreath, draping the front door with evergreens and planting paperwhite bulbs. With everything on my holiday list, I always start by filling the house with beautiful evergreens and sweet smelling flowers.

Do you plant paperwhite bulbs?

It's a tradition I began the first year we were married and one of my favorite ways to bring natural decorations into my home for Christmas.

I love this simple picture from the blog antiqueaholics.

It is exactly the way I want my home to look for Christmas.

I think this creamware tureen is actually filled with white hyacinths but it would be equally gorgeous if filled with paperwhites. This is my inspiration for my container below.

I love this simple holiday table.

It's one of those great Pinterest images that anyone could use to inspire their own holiday table - natural, textural table runner, a series of blooming paperwhites, simple glass vases, hurricanes with candles, pine cones and white dishes.

A classic red and white striped holiday ribbon keeps these paperwhites upright.

Here's a snapshot of the paperwhite bulbs I am planting right now for my own home. I like to select a different container and use them in a new way each year. I bought this white tureen from TJ Maxx a long time ago for something like $9.00. It's not precious so does not need a liner. I love these blue river stones I bought many years ago from the now defunct Gardener's Eden. I wash them and use them over and over.

Ideally, you need to allow three weeks for paperwhite bulbs to bloom. My favorite greenhouse owner recommends watering them with warm water and putting them near my gas logs to accelerate their blooming cycle. I bought a different variety of bulb this year that has a lighter scent.

Here is a picture of my living room mantle with the bulbs that I started a few weeks ago. They are planted in a pair of hand blown glass hurricanes from Belgium that I bought at the High Point Furniture Market.

I look forward to sharing more holiday inspiration as I begin to blog a little more. Sorry for my long absence! Life definitely gets in the way of blogging...it's a good thing!

Sneak Peek - Antiques at High Point Market

2012-10-12T05:24:00.002-07:00

If you are in town for the High Point Furniture Market be sure to stop by the Antique and Design Center at Market Square and say hello. The Antique and Design Center opens this morning, one day before market officially opens so if you are in town already, we would love to see you.

If not, I thought you would all like to see a few snap shots from our space.

Framed French document, set of six French chairs in a luscious pumpkin velvet, Swedish desk, architectural scroll fragments...

My friend Chris hand makes these vintage Fortuny pillows.

This faux bois tabletop terrarium from France is amazing...It is from my friend Kathy's offering.

A display of French culinary antiques in our space.

Here's more information about the show....

Antique and Design Center - High Point Market

2012-10-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

{Luisana Antiques at the Antique and Design Center in High Point}

I thought you might enjoy a sneak peek from the Antiques and Design Center at the High Point Furniture Market. If you are in town, please stop by and join us. Here's a list of what's happening....

Fall Market Events Schedule

Open for early buying...

Friday October 12th ~ 9am

"Welcome to Market Party"

Friday October 12th ~ 4-7pm

Live Jazz and Bluegrass with...

The McIver 3 Jazz Trio

The Family Eversol

Tasty Food and Beverages by1618

Lecture Series Sponsored by VandM.com

Saturday and Sunday October 13 -14
Antique & Design Center Lecture Room on Mezzanine Level of Historic Market Square.

Bidazzled Live Auction & Cocktail Party

to benefit

Habitat for Humanity

Second Harvest Food Bank

Sunday October 14th 6:30pm
Market Square Courtyard
Auction Items on display at Antique & Design Center MS-G
Friday, Saturday and Sunday

A&DC Open Friday October 12 - Thursday October 18

9am-7pm Everyday except Thursday when we close at noon.

Social events scheduled throughout the week in various exhibitor spaces.

A vignette from Tuesday's on the Boulevard.

{Andrew Harley Antiques Ltd.}

My friend Andrew who lives in Germany hand picks these vintage botanical charts in Germany. He has the best assortment I have ever seen.

An amazing selection of chic antique rugs in today's bright and happy hues....of course, my favorite is the one on top with the more muted blues and browns.

{Tusk Old World}

A collection of Black Forest mounted antlers from my brother's space.

I love the creative displays from Fanshawe Blaine Antiques.

Love these old wine barrels!

The Wind Rose Antiques

We hope you will plan to stop by if you are in town for the market. here's more information about the show:

A Fall Vignette - Bringing Branches Inside

2012-09-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

It's starting to feel a lot like Fall!

I spent the weekend outdoors adding Fall annuals to my urns and the beds next to the front walkway. I picked some of the last veggies from my garden and made homemade salsa.

How did you spend your weekend?

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite tablescapes and vignettes featuring trees and branches.

The crisp Fall air has me wanting to bring the outside in....

I love the color in this vignette and the fact that the leaves in the branch match the leaves in the black and white art.

I love the skirted table in this entry.

The dressmaker details for the skirt are impeccable!

Notice that the console is topped with a piece of limestone.

I am a big fan of driftwood and love this table.

I would like to see more of this house after seeing this little snippet because I am loving the natural floors, banister and horizontal planking. I love the compact composition of this vignette.

In a more traditional setting, the branches give this room relief and provide a 'free form' in a room that is very structured.

There is a lot to love about this dark, rich dining room especially the color palette and of course, those incredible lanterns.

These are obviously spring flowering branches but they illustrate how easy it is to cut a branch and put it in a hurricane of water...it adds so much to this vignette and the cost is NOTHING!

This is a corner of John Derian's Sag Harbor living room. I have no idea what kind of branch this is but would love to know. I love the textures, especially the aged mirror.

The first day of Fall is this Saturday, September 22nd. I love the changing of the seasons and look forward to bringing the outside in at my own home.

First Impressions: A Stylish Entry

2012-09-14T03:52:00.000-07:00

This stylish vignette leaves me breathless. You?

It's actually not an entry but a lovely serving console in a chic dining room.

{via}

Wabi-Sabi What?

2012-09-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

I have heard the term Wabi-Sabi used to describe a certain bohemian design style but never really understood what the philosophy embraced. I was doing a little research on the photo above from Axel Vervoordt's farmhouse in the Swiss Alps and learned a view things that I found interesting.

Axel Vervoordt, based in Antwerp, Belgium, is respected the world over as an antiquarian and interior designer. He began collecting antiques as a teenager with money loaned to him by his father, a sophisticated man with sophisticated friends, all of whom influenced Axel from an early age. His well-honed eye is drawn to objects from all cultures, continents, and time periods. It’s the mix he is after, as well as authenticity.

I really never knew that wabi-sabi was part of my own philosophy until I read this:

"Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered – and it reveres authenticity above all. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, not warehouse stores; aged wood, not Pergo; rice paper, not glass. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind."

{via}

I have noticed over the years that antique-lovers also seem to embrace the organic. I love the simple beauty found in nature and never really understood how the two passions were related....

maybe the wabi-sabi philosophy explains a few things.

I actually don't know if I could live this simply but it has a certain 'je ne said quoi?' that attracts me.

Fall is barely making a presence here in the South yet I can't wait to build a fire.

This might be my favorite shot of all - I love those rustic shutters and the idea of having an al fresco meal, with wine of course, slope-side under the eaves.

This post must seen strange coming from me right on the heels of yesterday's post of modern, edited black and white spaces. The two posts actually have a lot in common. Wabi-sabi embraces living a simpler, more edited lifestyle. I think the black and white interiors from yesterday were the perfect backdrop to display timeworn antiques, rich with patina, from a well-loved life. It was that black and white, edited environment that turned those imperfections into art.

The Timeless Aesthetic of Black & White

2012-09-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

I have been away from my desk for the last few months, enjoying summer!

I hope all of you have been enjoying your summers and have spent a lot of time outdoors, traveling, reading and, in general, recharging and relaxing. Thanks to all of you who have reached out to me over the summer. After my little break, I am bursting with inspiration and look forward to great blog conversations this Fall.

Let's talk about all the chic black and white interiors I keep seeing. Do you like them?

They remind me of the elegant, timeless look of Jackie Kennedy Onassis wearing a crisp white cotton blouse, skinny-leg black trousers and exceptional jewelry and accessories.

I am attracted to the chic simplicity of these spaces. I love seeing these spaces punctuated with a very edited collection of beautiful antiques.

The antiques take on a sculptural quality and the space takes on the feeling of a serene gallery.

It's that juxtaposition, of old and new, sleek and textured that has me intrigued.

My guess is that it takes a very sophisticated eye to create one of these beautiful spaces. Probably, a lot harder than decorating in color.

Take a black and white photo of any room. You will know right away if your 'composition' is worthy. There is something about seeing a space in black and white that brings all the basic interior design principles - balance, scale, proportion, harmony, rhythm even color - into focus.

Two rooms decorated by the legendary Albert Hadley illustrate the timeless qualities of a black and white interior. French, English and American antiques mix easily. Although these spaces were put together many years ago, they still feel fresh and current. Notice the floors in the photo above are painted white and those below are painted black.

I personally love the way the painted floors give these rooms a fresh, edited more modern aesthetic.

If you look closely at many of the images from Albert Hadley's own home, you may notice pieces of furniture that 'float' from one room to another. I am particularly fond of the little bench in the foreground. It is also featured in the first room, in front of the fireplace. In another picture, you will notice that it resides at the foot of a four-poster bed (below}.

I think that is one of the magical qualities of a house with a black and white palette...the rooms are united and form a serene yet modern backdrop where the furnishings can move from room to room and a desperate collection of personal treasures can live in harmony.

"While I like things that I own, I don't have anything that I could not live without. I am constantly moving things around, passing them on to friends - a sort of sharing - and when it is appropriate, using things I own in decorating schemes. When I use something that I have owned for many years in a project for a client, I don't think of it as getting rid of something. For me, it is like keeping things in the family."

~Albert Hadley

You can't pick up an issue of one of the latest magazines without noticing a signature home designed by Darryl Carter. A lawyer by education now a self-taught designer with a thoughtful eye and passion for antiques. He creates over-the-top gorgeous gallery-like spaces. Darryl Carter embraces white, in all its possible tones. One of his favorites -Benjamin Moore’s Moonlight White. In fact, he has just released a new collection of signature paint colors through Benjamin Moore.

Whether you embrace the black and white palette or not, you can learn a lot from Darryl Carter about creating edited spaces and incorporating antiques into modern interiors.

"By pairing classic, time-honored forms with unorthodox textiles. Many antique pieces have a striking simplicity when executed in an unexpected fabric. Typically, I juxtapose these pieces against modern art in a relatively monochrome palette."

~Darryl Carter

“A room is complete when you are called to it for respite. If, while still stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on your drive home from a long workday, you see relief ahead in the form of a chair in a particular room, perhaps with a good book or a glass of wine, you have finished.”

~Darryl Carter

"Part of creating interesting and unique environments is juxtaposing furniture pieces and objects that have no obvious relationship to one another but that simultaneously counterbalance one another.”

~Darryl Carter

“When buying furniture, be thoughtful and disciplined. Choose fewer pieces of greater quality and interest. You should first go looking, not shopping. If something flirts with you, trust that you will later find something that seduces you; discover what uniformly appeals to you before making any purchases. While an object or a furniture piece may be beautiful standing alone, imagine it keeping company with other furniture pieces as you see the room evolving. You will discover that certain styles or periods appeal to you.”

~Darryl Carter

Designer Betsy Brown of Birmingham creates beautifully modern spaces that leave me breathless.

I have been smitten with her elegant interiors from the first time I saw her chic, little bungalow featured in House Beautiful here. Her interiors are a study in contrasts. I absolutely love how she incorporates antiques and modern art into all the spaces she designed. "Modern" has always had the bad reputation for being "cold" and her interiors, although clean and edited, have a certain warmth to them.

"To me it just feels appropriate and comfortable. I love color, but I think it should either declare itself as the major player in a composition or quietly add the crucial notes that balance a room and make it intriguing. I usually opt for the latter."

~Betsy Brown

"Betsy Brown teases classical and modern elements into elegant harmony."

~House Beautiful

"We expand upon the authentic and delete the superfluous. Modern sensibilities form the foundation while antiques inform and balance providing a delicate tension and subtle energy."

Betsy Brown Interiors

Black and white photography can add a graphic punch and contrast in white spaces.

Designer Phoebe Howard unifies a collection of family photographs with matching black frames and crisp white matting creating an elegant and personal family stairway. I love the ebony stain on the floors and chic black lacquer railing.

Architect Bobby McAlpine and Interior Designer, Susan Ferrier create a dramatic and graphic passageway with an interesting palette of black and white and soft gray. The elegant gold sconces are a nice contrast to the modern aesthetic.

It's hard to play favorites with all the beautifully designed homes we see everyday

but I fell in love with this house featured in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine and find that I keep referring to it for inspiration. I love the texture and timeless quality these spaces have but also find myself falling for the contrast of the black & white palette. It feels modern and current and incorporates beautiful old materials and a warm collection of antiques.

This small kitchen is a perfect example of how simply elegant a black & white palette can be! It's timeless, chic, fresh, masculine, feminine and modern all at the same time.

Have you noticed all the black and white rooms popping up lately?

A Blissful Night

2012-08-12T04:35:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with these bedrooms from the latest Lonny Magazine and thought you might also find some nuggets of inspiration.

I love how personal and warm these spaces feel and the juxtaposition of antiques, vintage textiles and modern elements.

Hope you are having a wonderful Summer!