heirloom philosophy

Recipe: Lavender Hot Chocolate

2012-02-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with you a recipe that I am absolutely dying to try ~ Lavender Hot Chocolate. I also discovered a beautiful new food blog:

These photos have been seducing me all morning. I feel like I can taste them just by looking at them. I mean, I love chocolate and I love lavender... the idea of combining the two on this frigid Winter day intrigues me.

Let me know if you give it a try!

It would make a wonderful treat for Valentine's Day especially since we are expecting a few snow flurries here on Tuesday!

I discovered this lovely recipe here.

lavender hot chocolate

Since lavender is quite fragrant, adjust amount according to preference. For a creamier hot chocolate, a 1 to 1 ratio of dark to milk chocolate can be used. Makes 2 servings.

hot chocolate:

2 cups whole milk
3 ounces dark chocolate (70% cacao)
1 ounce milk chocolate
1/4 teaspoon lavender buds

whipped cream:

1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or seeds from 1/4 of a whole vanilla bean pod
1/2 tablespoon granulated white sugar

For whipped cream, place cold cream, vanilla, and sugar into a cold mixing bowl. Beat the mixture with a whisk or mixer until stiff peaks form. keep refrigerated until ready for use.

For hot chocolate, heat milk and lavender over medium heat, whisking occasionally until the milk begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let lavender steep for 5 minutes. Strain lavender and return milk to saucepan. Over medium heat, add chocolate and mix until chocolate is melted and incorporated. Whisk milk mixture for 10-20 seconds until frothy. Pour into mugs or bowls and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Italian Grisaille: The Look for Less

2012-02-02T04:09:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this great wall mural from Anthropologie the other day and thought it would make an interesting focal wall for a bedroom. Mimicking the monochromatic spendor of traditional Italian Grisaille (grĭ-zī', -zāl'; French: gris, grey), this graphic mural could easily anchor a blah, blah space. Pair it with crisp white linens for a graphic room with old world charm and add a splash of bright color with an accent pillow such as citron green or raspberry pink. Can you see it?

Check out the chic, modern hotel room at the L'Hotel Particulier in France.

{L'Hotel Particulier in France}

or this classic bedroom with an Italian Grisaille focal wall from Interior Designer, Michael S, Smith

Children's Art

2012-01-30T14:33:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen the floor in the 'friends and family clubhouse' for years until yesterday. That's Madison's 'big girl bed' with the original linens from Pottery Barn. I found the old pine bed at an estate sale here in Winston and after I bought it, I quickly realized why I had scored it for such a great price ~ I had to have a custom mattress made for it.

As I was cleaning out, it was hard not to drift off and remember all the days spent wrapped around a crayon on the floor of our little secret hideaway under the eaves. When we first moved in this was the only space we didn't finish off...it had plywood floors and walls, rafters and just a bare light bulb, but of course, this is where we would find our daughter most days. She made a little sign for the door that said "Friends and Family Clubhouse."

Over the weekend, I started to make good a few of my New Year's resolutions starting with cleaning out the secret clubhouse. I took three carloads to Goodwill, one bag of little treasures to the neighbor, two carloads to the old apartment dumpster and shredded two huge boxes of old checks and bank statements from the 90's. I am still clinging to several million copies of Veranda and Southern Accents. They are currently in purgatory and will most likely find their way to the dumpster this weekend.

My question to you is, when you are cleaning out, especially the mass of children's stuff, how do you decide what to keep?

I kept many of our favorite books. I kept her big girl bed. And ... I kept her art.

I took art classes with my best friend, Anna, from elementary school all the way through High School and was always amazed at how modern and chic her childhood art looked displayed in her home. Her mother had her favorite pieces framed at the local gallery and displayed them prominently in their formal Southern living room like modern art.

I want to do the same with Madison's art.

New York Interior Designer, Jan Eleni, creates these amazing modern art collages from your children's artwork.

I thought you might enjoy these soundbytes from Decor8's interview with Jan Eleni:

Designer Jan Eleni: I am a self taught designer and at a young age I always loved and appreciated beautiful things. I became obsessed with children’s spaces here in the U.S. because I felt like there were all these cookie cutter rooms that lacked any nourishment for an imagination – and so I started a business based around just that – creating spaces and really listening to what can nurture children in an everyday way.

Holly {Decor8}: I also noticed that in addition to decorating, you are also an artist. Can you tell us more?

Jan Eleni: While I was working on children’s spaces – I wanted to time capsule their moment in art – and I started making these beautiful art frames – a way to archive your child’s art in a modern way. It is a labor of love – a time consuming process – the end result is a grid of hand cut miniature images – a gathering of your child’s artwork. It is amazing if you think of how we can influence the next generation of artists and creative types.

Here's a few of my favorite pieces of Madison's art that I want to time capsule:

Simplicity

2012-01-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

Atlanta Interior Designer Carolyn Malone and husband John's amazing cabin was featured in this month's Garden and Gun. It captivated me with it's simplicity and the story behind the cabin is my dream realized.

You have to understand, as you drive to the coast or take the backroads to the mountains in North Carolina, beautiful old tobacco barns and cabins dot the landscape. Sometimes the cabin is gone and all that remains is the stone chimney. I have an affinity for beautiful old things and have always wanted to 'rescue' my own little cabin and bring it back to life.

My affection for log cabins started when I was in my early twenties.

Years ago my husband and I attended our close friend's wedding at a cabin in the woods off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. It was a very small and intimate gathering with the wedding ceremony down the hill from the cabin by a trout stream. Back at the cabin, a local Blue Grass band played followed by a local chef's dinner by candlelight in the little cabin. Their wedding wrote the definition for spiritual and totally blew my circuits... an old- fashioned Southern girl who had the twelve o'clock wedding and Country Club reception.

The log cabin was actually two 18th century structures our friend and his Dad bought together and spent weekends for a year painstakingly reassembling. His dad died before they were married.

You'll enjoy reading about the Malones...click on over the Garden & Gun to read the full article and see a few more beautiful photos.

Cozy

2012-01-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

I love living in the South and experiencing four seasons.

This year, I wasn't sure if we were going to have a Winter with the daffodils starting to come up and the trees beginning to flower. Today, we have had the most beautiful blue skies but there is definitely a chill in the air.

We built a new patio and fire pit and have been waiting for the perfect night to christan it. So, tonight is the night for a roaring fire and s'mores.

I would love to have a big stack of blankets to cuddle up with.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I am loving this chevron blanket from Tory Burch.

Beautiful Scandinavian Wool Blanket from Spendid Willow Avenue

{first two images from Jill Lauck Pinterest}

Bath in Blue

2012-01-13T04:28:00.000-08:00

I fell absolutely head over heels in love with this bath - the linen cafe curtains, the storage drawers, and that tile...Oh My! You know by now that I have a serious weakness for anything blue but seriously this bath is perfection!

Liz Williams Interior Design

Paris from the archives

2012-01-12T03:49:00.000-08:00

Hotel Saint Germain des Pres

I thought I would do an informal series of posts about some of the pictures I took during our summer vacation to Europe several years ago. I took over 1000 pictures during our trip and found inspiration in every direction. We meet another family in Paris and probably walked over 20 miles the first day as we traversed the city. I snapped these pictures as we rested on a bench and enjoyed a Parisian lemonade just outside the most incredible little grocery in Saint Germain des prés.

The vine covered Hotel Saint Germain des pres was just across the street from our little resting perch..

Passion Flower vine covered a trellis next to our bench. I have just shared this picture with the landscape designer that is helping us with our garden right now with the hopes I can grow my own this Spring and Summer. I had never seen this lush flowering vine before our trip.

The unique paint colors, architectural details and beautiful doors were everywhere and this is just one of the many that caught my attention.

The Fifth Wall

2012-01-09T10:02:00.000-08:00

Do you ever get that deer-in-the-headlights stare when you visit a paint store?

I can completely understand why so many homeowners come away with white paint for the ceiling given the enormous number of decisions it takes to decorate a room. I mean white is the safe choice. It's the non-decision. You can't make a mistake by going with white but you can't have any fun either! This post is meant to inspire you to manage up and consider the rewards for paying attention to the details of a well-orchestrated fifth wall. There are so many choices for creating great style.

The charming blue bedroom above is one of my favorite rooms of all times. The ceiling and trim are painted in French Gray from Farrow and Ball.

The easy choice is actually following nature's lead and going with a blue ceiling.

Interior Designer Melanie Turner

A bold purple ceiling, although interesting, might take the expertise of a trained designer.

A hallway is often an overlooked area when it comes to decorating and should be somewhat neutral as it is the connector to so many other areas in the home. I like the classic details in this hallway and think the rich blue ceiling gives it carisma.

A painted ceiling really shouldn't scream out and grab your attention. Most rooms with a painted ceiling you would hardly even notice the ceiling unless you happened to look up. A painted ceiling just adds that finishing touch, or fifth dimension.

Paint from the Martha Stewart Collection at Home Depot

"Love-in-a-Mist re-creates the serenity of a clear blue sky. Ballet Slipper Pink reflects light to make everyone's complexion more beautiful. Rice Paper transforms even a natural-light-deprived room into a space that feels sunny. Spring Melt complements a range of wall colors and lends an extra level of sophistication. Morning Fog has just enough lavender to make it subtly cheerful without being cloying."

Martha Stewart

Another designer I always look to when making decisions about paint colors is Phoebe Howard. I love her paint colors. Here's Phoebe's advise on painting the ceiling:

"As many have said before, the ceiling is the fifth wall in the room. I don't mean to say you need to go overboard and always do something incredible to the ceiling. What I mean is, don't just simply forget about it. When selecting new paint for a room, consider painting the ceiling a complementary color or sometimes I paint the ceiling at 50% strength of the color of the walls."

Phoebe Howard

"We did a high lacquered ceiling in my living room in Jacksonville. It creates a beautiful reflection by candlelight and makes the rather low ceiling seem much higher than it actually is. " Phoebe Howard

The Howards used a light pale sage Ralph Lauren paint and applied "multiple shades of water clear varnish" to create a shimmering effect to the ceiling for their showhouse on the 58th floor of the Setai Fifth Avenue Residences. Watch the YouTube video here as Jim and Phoebe Howard along with House Beautiful's Newell Turner walk you through the "Designer Visions" showhouse and talk about the design decisions.

Orange is definitely a bold choice for a lacquered ceiling even if it is the color of the year. Interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber clearly gets it right in his chic library slash guest room in his New York residence.

Jeffrey Bilhuber

Paint is not the only choice for a statement making savvy ceiling. Barnwood, pecky cypress, painted paneling, rustic beams are great choices for adding architectural interest and texture.

For a more rustic look, try a barnwood ceiling:

Rachel Halverson via Nest Egg

Jill Sharp Brinson

In this hallway natural wood paneling on the ceiling mimics the wainscot below.

Interior designer Melanie Turner uses wide plank paneling on the ceiling and lacquers it in a glossy bright white.

Kay Douglass designed this kitchen with a Belgian aesthetic and natural pecky cypress ceiling.

Designer Kay Douglass via House Beautiful

via Dana Wolter Interior Design

John Saladino via House Beautiful

John Saladino is another designer whose rooms always feel complete..360. He is a master with architectural details and the driftwood beams on this ceiling bring so much to this casual beach home.

John Saladino via House Beautiful

Phoebe Howard

The ceiling adds a subtle warm texture to this room by Phoebe Howard.

This is one of my all time favorite rooms from Dan Carithers featured in Southern Accents. If i remember correctly, this dining room is in a newly constructed home and he added the old beams to bring character to the new house. {It worked!}

Photographer Rob Brinson's Atlanta Studio

And don't forget about wallpaper. I actually shy away from wallpapered ceilings but these few examples are a reason to reconsider. I think wallpaper on the ceiling works best either in small spaces or in rooms that have a very simple color palette.

Love, love, love this wallpapered ceiling!

via Rikshaw Design

And George

I adore the star patterned wallpaper on the ceiling of this closet!

I think Farrow and Ball's 'Brockhampton Star' wallpaper would be a very nice choice for a ceiling.

I like this simple, modern media room designed by Kristy Lee Interiors using Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis {from Schumacher} wallpaper on the ceiling.

In another one of my favorite rooms, Bear Hill Interiors uses Manuel Canovas Trellis wallpaper on the ceiling available through Cowtan and Tout.

Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler uses orange wallpaper on the ceiling of this classically styled entry.

and, of course, who could forget Jenna Lyons nursery with its bold yellow stripes...memorable!

Scrabble anyone?

Expectations

2012-01-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

The exquisite detail in this handsome front door sets high expectations for the home beyond. There's a reason the photographer left the door open...I am in love with the carriage house details of the door and let's just say this welcoming entry lives up to the expectations.

Atlanta Architect D. Stanley Dixon and Interior Designer Nancy Warren

from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

Staying Ahead of the Curve

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Recently as we headed out West for our ski trip, I had hours of time to actually read the pile of magazines that has been building up around the house over the last few months. A small article in the February issue of Elle Decor caught my attention "Cleaning House: five tastemakers on decorating trends that have outstayed their welcome." I drifted off while reading their insights and began to think about the trends that I have noticed over the past year and really liked. I am actually not sure whether you would call these trends or the newest and hottest styles.

Here are my 11 favorite trends from 2011:

{1}

The Library Light

I love the latest in library aesthetics and in particular the inclusion of these chic library accent lights in every room. I love the hand rubbed antique brass finish and have noticed them over the sink in the kitchen, attached to bookcases and as his and hers reading lights over the headboard. I have just added a pair to my built-in bookshelves in our new family room.

Boston functional library wall light in antique hand-rubbed brass finish from Circa Lighting

{2}

The Newest Scale for the Headboard

Have you noticed all the headboards that are climbing the walls? These reaching, soaring, tufted headboards make a chic modern focal point in the bedroom especially when outfitted with his and her library lights.

The Crosby Street Hotel in London features an extra tall headboard covered in Galbraith and Paul hand block printed fabric - 'Spring Garden in Robin's Egg'

{3}

The New Shade of Chic - Black

Jenna Lyons' bedroom and bath featured in Domino might have been the root cause of the popularity of black rooms...no mystery here, these rooms are gorgeous, chic and worthy of trendsetting. I’m also smitten with the exposed tarnished brass plumbing — she weathered it herself by soaking it in salt water to remove the brassiness. Visit the blog Habitually Chic to see some updated photos from Jenna Lyon {creative director for j.crew}.

{4}

The Stylish Living Room Bar

I love to entertain! Having a bar set-up in the living room keeps my guests out of the kitchen and encourages them to serve themselves creating a welcoming and casual atmosphere.

{5}

Fiddle Leaf Fig

{via one of my favorite blogs And George}

Flip through the pages of Elle Decor, House Beautiful or Architectural Digest and images of the Fiddle Leaf Fig will dance off the page. The addition of lush green plants and flowers to an interior completes a room in my opinion. I wonder if this is the choice of the stylist or the homeowner and whether these large scale lush plants are easy to care for?

{6}

Global Influences

Architectural detail like this interesting shaped shower entry is just one of the many inspiring ways the latest obsession with Morocco is influencing design decisions. Suzani's draped over the foot of the bed or hung on the walls and hand blocked textiles with a nod to other cultures.

The bedrooms above and below are from one of my favorite designers, Amelia Handegan. The antique Suzanis add a wonderful wit and warmth to these bedrooms.

{antique Suzani covers the bed}

{hand block textiles from Galbraith and Paul}

{7}

Open Shelving in the Kitchen

The styling for this open shelf is stunning! I want to wake up every morning like this with fresh eggs, citrus just picked from the tree, fresh flowers and hot brewed espresso...

I love the simplicity of this kitchen from Atlanta Homes Magazine...so clean and fresh with everything you need at your fingertips. Notice the library light accenting the glass front refrigerator {maybe not a good idea at my house!}

{8}

Antlers

Another view of Jenna Lyons New York Home features a random collection of blackforest mounted antlers. Antlers provide a great third dimension, a sculptural quality and organic element when used as art. From antlers to cow hide rugs, I am intrigued by the latest obsession with natural curiosities.

{9}

Banquette Seating

I am in love with banquette seating and presented my favorite inspiration here! The images above and below are from interior designer Rachel Halverson who authors the popular blog Nest Egg. I love seeing designers real-life design projects and love everything about this kitchen renovation here.

{10}

Focus On Our Home's Busiest Spaces

I have noticed a lot of attention over the past year dedicated to working spaces within the home ~ the laundry room, closet, mudroom, pantry and office. Right now as the whole world is looking for a fresh start in the New Year, inspiration is everywhere. I have a new mudroom that was added with the new garage. I have been gathering ideas and look forward to sharing my thoughts. I would love to have a cozy place for my lab {Sadie} to sleep.

{11}

The Interior Barn Door

{the home of Virginia Mary Brown via Traditional Home}

Here are some of the comments from the column in Elle Decor that started this whole blog post:

Cleaning House:

five tastemakers on decorating trends that have outstayed their welcome

"I adore books and cannot imagine life, or my home, without them," says Ronda Carman, of All the Best Blog, But for her, books as props have a short shelf life. "Rose Tarlow put it best: "An object added for effect instead of affection will always look like an affectation."

Antiques dealer Richard Shapiro has modernism malaise, calling out the "monotony of one midcentury room after another, all with predictable, gratuitous, gimmicky accessories." He lobbies for collecting objects from different periods and styles that all have a bit of a soul."

It's time to retire brightly lacquered Hollywood Regency furniture says decorator Mary McDonald: "I think we all have seen enough garage-sale junk sprayed in high-gloss Skittles colors to last through the next century."

Designer Mario Buatta singles out "dysfunctional decoration," his term for interiors that don't relate to people. "Everything is done for styling, and nothing has to do with living- there's no place to have a conversation or set down a drink," he says. "The best time to look at a room is the day after you've had a party because you see the way people used the space."

The DIY craze has run its course, says decorator Sheila Bridges, who has seen her share of "earthy, handmade concoctions. Just because it can be reclaimed doesn't mean, it should be."

I would love to have a conversation with you. Please leave a comment.

What design trends inspired you in 2011?

Which trends have outstayed their welcome?

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has enjoyed a wonderful holiday week. We have just returned from our annual trip out West for a little skiing. It was blissful! We returned to brilliant blue skies and Spring-like weather here in the South, perfect conditions to get a jump start on some of our New Year's house and home resolutions!

Do you actually set resolutions and write them down?

Every day in my prayers I express my most fundamental wish for everyday and that is that I be the best Mother, Wife, Daughter, and Friend that I can be. I think a lot about what would make me a better me but have never written it down. This year, I plan to write it down and open it next year on New Year's Day to see how well I have done.

{My Southern New Year's Lunch - Hoppin' John}

As long as I can remember, I have welcomed the New Year with a heaping plate full of collard greens, black eyed peas, rice and salsa otherwise known throughout the South as Hoppin' John.

Eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year filled with luck. The peas are symbolic of pennies or coins as they are thought to resemble coins as they shimmer and shine when added to the pot. Collard greens are often served along with this dish and are symbolic of money and are thought to bring wealth in the year to come.

I wonder why I don't make Hoppin' John throughout the year. It is really quite delicious. Just in case you would like to start this popular Southern tradition in your own home here is a link to an old Charleston recipe from John Martin Taylor and Hoppin' John's Lowcountry Cooking and several interesting variations for collard greens.

{Suzanne Kasler's Office from Atlanta Homes Magazine}

As for those resolutions, one of the things on the top of my "house and home" list is to spend some quality time refreshing the interiors of our home.This resolution will include cleaning, organizing, donating, painting and decorating. In order to write this goal down, I think I will need to take a close look at what I have and set manageable (specific) goals for what we can afford in the coming year.

2012 House and Home Goal Number One:

Refresh Interiors

I love the interiors created by designer Phoebe Howard. They have a certain "Je ne sais quoi" or intangible quality about them that I adore. The first time I visited her store in Atlanta, I was speechless. A Phoebe Howard room exudes warmth, serenity and order - the qualities I crave for my home.

{from Merci in Paris}

2012 House and Home Goal Number Two:

Create a family vegetable garden in my backyard.

I grew up with a vegetable garden and creating a family garden of my own has been a goal of mine for many years. It's a goal that has not been realized in the past because I have not taken the time to put in the infrastructure to make it successful. I guess the true end-goal would be to work together as a family to create something wonderful and prepare our daily meals with things we have grown. To me, there is nothing more gratifying than to watch your garden grow and make a meal with vine ripened veggies.

I have selected a sunny spot and begun to enrich the soil. I plan to build raised beds that will make gardening more manageable and add irrigation. I can only hope that it will be as chic as the garden above from Merci in Paris.

In addition to these goals for House and Home, I have also set goals in other areas that, if achieved, would make me a better me. I have categorised my resolutions and set goals for each:

Spiritual Growth, Family, Health and Happiness. House and Home, Creativity and Knowledge

{A Sneak Peek: My new family den and office - a blog post for the New Year}

One of my goals for "Creativity and Knowledge" is to enhance the quality of my blog posts and make them more interesting, better researched, unique and personal with lots of product links, recipes and resources. I would like to read, at minimum, 12 books a year and hope to share some of my favorites. Creative expression is at the core of my being and brings me great Joy.

Happy New Year!

May your year be filled with happiness, prosperity, good luck and joy!

Thanks for reading!

Christmas Dinner

2011-12-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Wishing each of you a joyous holiday.....

Food for Thought...

2011-12-22T04:53:00.000-08:00

Dietlind Wolf

Today, I plan to spend my day doing a little Christmas baking and gift wrapping and thought I would share a few of my favorite new foodie finds. These images from Dietlind Wolf have me motivated to bake!

I also discovered several new cookbooks I would love to own while shopping for gifts at Anthropologie.

Donna Hay is Australia's leading food editor and best-selling cookbook author. Her newest cookbook is filled with gorgeous photographs and the best recipes from her magazine.

Donna Hay Seasons at Anthropologie

Miette Cookbook at Anthropologie

When I visited San Fransisco last summer I was quite smitten with Miette, a modern American pastry shop with amazing cupcakes and pastries and delightful displays. Miette means "little crumb" in French

I know that time is at a premium right now with just a few days until Christmas but thought maybe you might have a little time to browse leisurely over the holidays. If you have not yet discovered Sweet Paul Magazine and their blog, you will get lost for hours discovering their lovely foodie centric photograph, recipes and entertaining spreads.

Sweet Paul Recipe: Figs with Brie

Another site I could easily get lost in for decades is the foodie photography blog What Katie Ate all the way from Sydney, Australia.

Are you hungry yet?

Christmas Dinner for Two

2011-12-19T05:40:00.000-08:00

This warm and intimate space has me dreaming of a special dinner for two! I think the most precious gift we can give ourselves this Christmas season is the gift of time. Take time to share a special moment, cup of coffee or conversation over a long meal with those you hold dear...just the two of you.

Wreaths a plenty..

2011-12-16T05:50:00.000-08:00

Knock, Knock...can I come in?

Don't you just love visiting friends and family during the season, standing on their festive front porch and admiring their decor! I have to admit their are a few houses in town, I walk by on a daily basis that I would love an excuse to ring the bell and get a closer look! Every year I make the wreath for the front door and am always looking for creative new ideas to dress the door. I have been collecting ideas for next year already given I will need them well in advance of the holiday season. I learned something new this year, a florist's secret for creating the most lush, fresh wreath. You start with an oasis, floral foam wreath as the base and soak it in water and then grab your gardening sheers and head for the woods.

Here are just a few of the wreaths that have caught my attention this year followed by the wreath I created this Christmas for my new mud room entrance just off our new garage.

{Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles}

{Dana Wolter Interiors}

{Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles}

{Martha Stewart}

My Christmas wreath on my new mud room door.

Since I took this picture, I have added a big burlap bow. I started with boxwood and then added lots of greenery from my garden. A neighbor trimmed her curly willow bush earlier this fall and I came home with an armfull that I have been keeping in the basement for the right opportunity. I added the little birds that are covered in silver glitter, jewels and real feathers. I discovered the silver bell garland at World Market and also weaved it through the garland of greenery that surrounds my front door.

Here's a couple of before pictures...

Deck the Halls

2011-12-16T04:23:00.001-08:00

(Traditional Home}

I just thought I would check in with all of you to see if you are enjoying your holidays. With only a little over a week to go before Christmas, I have an amazingly long to-do list. I have had the chance to swag a little garland here and there but thought these two images where worth sharing just in case you still needed a little inspiration.

{from Suzanne Rheinstein's book At Home: A Style for Today with Things From The Past}

Cheers! Holiday Entertaining and the Well-Stocked Bar

2011-12-08T10:15:00.001-08:00

Martha Stewart

Are you entertaining in your home this holiday season?

You know the familiar saying "If you as the hostess are relaxed and happy, your guests will be, too!" One of the easiest things you can do as a good hostess is to set-up a well-stocked bar in the most warm and welcoming room in your home. Your guests will be comfortable helping themselves to their favorite cocktail and the bar alone will help keep your guests out of the kitchen. I love mixing a seasonal concoction or signature cocktail that is pretty and a little exotic. Freezing the vodka with seasonal greenery or cranberries is such a beautiful touch!

To create your own bar at home you will need the basics - stylish stemware and tumblers, a small flower arrangement, an ice bucket, essential bar tools, a pitcher of water, lemons and limes and basic mixers such as tonic water, cranberry juice, club soda, and Coke. For a simple bar start with vodka, rum, whiskey, wine, and beer. The experts say to plan on two drinks per person for the first two hours, one drink per person for each extra hour. Assume 40% drink beer, 30% use hard liquor, and 30% sip wine.

Be sure to make something special for guests looking for a non-alcoholic drink.

"Mix fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice with a splash of seltzer to make a light cocktail. Also try sweetened, diluted lime and lemon juice served over crushed ice, or whip fresh or frozen berries in a blender with ice and a dash of lime." from Party Planning Guru Martha Stewart Here is the link to some of Martha's favorite non alcoholic drink recipes.

Cheers!

{from And George}

Phoebe Howard

Eddie Ross

Steven Gambrel

Lonny Magazine

Phoebe Howard

Steven Gambrel

Let the Decorating Begin...

2011-12-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

{Atlanta Homes Magazine, Photography by Rob Brinson}

I have just returned from our last soccer tournament of the season and after a six hour car ride was so happy to be home and especially to see all the pretty twinkle lights and Christmas decorations that had gone up over the weekend. It is such a comfortable feeling to pull down your street and up the driveway after a long weekend away. Of course, I have not put up one single thing and actually still had my pumpkins on the front porch...ouch! I have a busy, busy week ahead to catch up and spread some holiday cheer.

I was also VERY excited that my Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles magazine had arrived in the mail! It features the lovely home of stylist Jill Sharp Brinson and her talented husband photographer, Rob Brinson. I was excited to learn that this talented husband and wife duo are publishing a book.

My Chrsitmas decorations will be centered around natural greenery with touches of silver mercury glass and twinkle lights. I love to forage in the yard for seasonal greenery and pine cones and tuck them in all around the house. I'll add texture with satin, velvet and burlap ribbon.

{Home of Jill and Rob Brinson; Atlanta Homes Magazine}

I like to see a little bit of Christmas in every room espeicially in the kitchen since we spend so much time in the kitchen over the holidays.

I thought this simple arrangement of pinecones would be so pretty in the window over my kitchen sink. I'm not sure if I can find these long elegant pinecones around here.

{via Traditional Home}

Just a little greenery tucked here and there.

{via Good Housekeeping}

{Interior Designer Pam Pierce via Southern Accents}

This family room was featured in Southern Accents many, many years ago and continues to be one of my favorite rooms. I especially like the little lamb in the foreground under the tree probably from an old nativity scene and the simple flower arrangement on the table.

{Veranda magazine; Interior Design Pam Pierce}

I love the simplicity of fresh greenery and creamy satin ribbon.

{via Cottage living}

Paperwhites

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

(via Affari}

This weekend would be a great time to plant a few paperwhites. I have gathered a few pretty old containers from around the house and bought my bulbs and am looking forward to sharing this favorite holiday tradition with my daughter. We have been planting Christmas paperwhites together since she was four years old. She is now 17, gasp! It is a great activity to share with your children as it is so easy and gratifying.

{via And George}

I did a little research to learn how the tradition of planting paperwhites at Christmas started. I discovered:

"In the eighth century B.C., the Hebrew prophet Isaiah praised the Narcissus tazetta, saying in Isaiah 35 that, "It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing." In other Hebrew writings, the daffodil, which is in the genus of Narcissus, is a feminine symbol of fertility and beauty. This fertility attribute was taken up by the first Christians in the symbols of death and rebirth as personified in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To this day, the narcissus and daffodil are often present at Easter celebrations."

{via And George}

This simple arrangement is probably my favorite and the one that is inspiring my holiday decor.

{via Affari}

{via Southern Living}

Who hasn't planted paperwhites only to have them flop over right as they reach their peak? I love this simple solution from the editors of Southern Living. The wide satin ribbon provides an interesting punch of rich color and texture and picks up the color in the old container.

{via Martha Stewart}

The simple elegance of these paperwhites just add to the understated beauty of this Swedish inspired interior. I love the paint colors!

{via Martha Stewart}

These tall glass hurricanes make a great container for the mantle because they support the long paperwhite stems but still showcase the long and elegant paperwhite foliage.

{via Martha Stewart}

Create a lovely gift with a vintage glass, decorative pebbles and paperwhite bulbs. I adore the way Martha Stewart packaged her gift in linen and satin.

When I visit flea markets and antique malls, I am always on the look out for vintage punch bowls. They make a beautiful container for paperwhites and can often be purchased for a song... happy hunting!

The Heart of the Home: Kitchen Time

2011-11-21T04:22:00.001-08:00

{Steven Gambrel via Elle Decor}

Milk-glass light fixtures are suspended over vintage chairs and a stone-top table in the Manhattan townhouse of decorator Steven Gambrel. A fireplace in the kitchen would be the ultimate luxury.

With Thanksgiving just a few days away now, it's only natural that my thoughts are increasingly centered around the kitchen. I like kitchens that are warm and welcoming and might be described as 'unfitted.'. Don't get me wrong, I definitely want all the modern conveniences and functionality of a great kitchen, I just want it packaged into a handsome room that flows with the rest of my home.

Looking at the kitchens I have selected for today's post, I have tried to identify what it is that makes them attractive to me. All of the kitchens I am drawn to have an amazing tapestry of interesting textures and materials ~ warm woods, stone, linen, glass, pottery, copper and stainless steel. They give these spaces a warm and welcoming feeling and make you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. Many offer a farmhouse table and chairs. I think it is a must to have comfortable seating in the kitchen so family and friends can relax and keep me company while I cook. I often have small dinner parties in my kitchen because it is more intimate and homey than the dining room. I like kitchens that have limited upper cabinets, open shelving and are furnished like the rest of the house with old world accessories and beautiful old things that are not just collectibles but are put into use everyday. All of these kitchens have great lighting. Great lighting sets the tone for the space and offers an opportunity to make a style statement. It's the jewelry of the kitchen.

I would love to know what makes a kitchen worthy of inclusion on your drool-worthy list. Please tell!

{Heather Smith of Circa Interiors}

I love the cabinets in this kitchen, the copper detail and especially this clever hidden storage.

A basket is a great way to bring texture into the kitchen and provides a simple solution for organizing oils and spices on the countertop.

{Southern Accents: Amelia Handegan Interior Design}

This Charleston, South Carolina kitchen has been a favorite of mine for many years. It was featured in Southern Accents and is the work of one of my favorite designers, Amelia Handegan. It's old world charm will never go out of style.

{Charlotte Home and Garden; Kitchen: Heather Smith}

If I could pick just one of the kitchens featured today to be my forever kitchen, it would have to be, Heather Smith's kitchen. I love the cleft face bluestone she chose for the countertops!

{via Cote de Texas}

{Jackye Lanham Interior Design}

{Steven Gambrel}

(Steven Gambrel}

{House of Windsor via Veranda}

Thanksgiving Inspiration

2011-11-17T12:10:00.001-08:00

{Dan Carither's Kitchen}

My thoughts these last few days are filled with family and home, food and tablescapes. And you? Did you know that 'the experts' say that one of the main ways we experience happiness is in the in the anticipation of an event? This actually makes perfect sense to me! I love spending the days just before Thanksgiving reading magazines and cookbooks searching for the perfect recipes for this year's feast and thinking creatively about my Thanksgiving table.

Here are just a few of the images inspiring my thoughts and contributing to my pre-holiday happiness.

{Country Estate from Juliska}

Get your menu printed here

{Sweet Paul}

{Photographer Peter Frank Edwards for Foster's Market}

{Garden & Gun}

The Road Lined with Trees

2011-11-10T03:55:00.000-08:00

As soon as you turn off the Blue Ridge Parkway onto the little road that leads to the cabin, the trees arch over the road and welcome you home. The trees were planted over a century ago and line the road, almost a mile in length. They have been blessed with time and create a comforting little passageway that makes the road seem as if it falls off into infinity. This is the road that takes you to a good friend's mountain cabin that has been in her family for generations and the trees were thoughtly planted by her ancestors who considered what the road could be with time.

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

~Nelson Henderson

The last few days have been filled with a gentle rain that has brought down most of the fall leaves. It has been the prettiest fall I can ever remember. I shared this picture with you last year of the little road lined with Maple trees and a white picket fence that takes you to the farmhouse on my favorite country road here in Winston Salem.

There's something so peaceful about the way the trees frame the road and the light off in the distance.

The Mount, Edith Wharton's Berkshires home

I love the way trees line the driveways of old Southern plantations. They have a way of building your expectations and foreshadowing what is to come.

I am particularly fond of the Live Oaks that line the historic streets of small Southern towns like Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. The Live oak is the southern symbol of strength.

'Rowan Oak' William Faulkner’s white-columned house in Oxford, Mississippi

Monet must have also seen the beauty of a tree lined avenue and even planted the 'Grand Allee' at his home in Giverny to elongate the view between his home and his garden.

By definition, an allée is a straight route lined with trees or large shrubs. Its French source venir ("to come") indicates, to emphasize the "coming to," or arrival at a landscape. In most cases, the trees planted along an avenue will be all of the same species.

Travel to France and you will quickly fall in love with the tree lined formal garden promenades and centuries old tree lined roads of the French countryside.

a view of the tree lined walking path at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris

a Sycamore lined road in the South of France

The trees are like good architecture and look just as beautiful in Winter.

Wishing you safe travels and a beautiful journey as you travel home for Thanksgiving.

Mountain Home Envy and a Wedding

2011-11-09T04:54:00.000-08:00

Undoubtedly, one of the most memorable and enviable homes I encountered last year was the incredible Mountain home designed by M. Elle Design in Sun Valley, Idaho featured in last November's Elle Decor. I love every last little detail of every single room of this special home and thought, although these images have been shared many times before, they were worth repeating.

As many of you may know, my beautiful niece, Caitlin, is getting married over the weekend. Our family is excited beyond words! This brings me back full circle to my inspiration for sharing this spectacular mountain house with you. I recently stumbled upon some incredibly beautiful wedding photos set against the mountain backdrop of this Sun Valley residence and wanted to share the link and share some blog love with the very talented wedding photographer, Hillary Maybery, who captured it all.

The bride's wedding dress hangs on the wall of bookshelves...

I have been totally obsessed with lavender and gray as of late and adore the wedding table design. I mean ADORE it! If I were getting married tomorrow this would totally be my inspiration...

"Table linens from Sonoma, Linen napkins from France, hemstitched linen cocktail napkins, hand blown plum water glasses, and olive trees, fresh lavender shipped in from growers. There were even more details like ’65 Ford Falcon, flip-flops, lavender pashminas, and cowboy hats were given out. Champagne towers and lavender infused french macaroon cookies with a butter cream huckleberry cake! I wish I could have photographed the fragrance from the wedding throughout the day…WONDERFUL!"

a quote that speaks to the attention to detail from Hillary Maybery's wedsite

and just in case you missed the ten million blog posts that followed this home's debut last November in Elle Decor, here is a room by room mountain high to inspire your thoughts just as the first frost settles in.

{Elle Decor photos from Photographed by Miguel Flores-Vianna}

High Point Inspiration

2011-11-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

I thought you might enjoy seeing the High Point Furniture market through my lens. Here are just a few of my favorites from Fall 2011.

I was so excited to see Tara Shaw Maison in person. I loved just about everything in their line but am especially 'taken' with the little chest featured below.

This is the bed that Tara Shaw recently featured in the bedroom of the Veranda 'House of Windsor'. You can see the magazine spread open on the bench at the foot of the bed.

Bliss Studio is an always-visit booth at market that offers lots of great accessories and natural curiosities.

Gabby

I loved this new lamp from Bungalow5. I noticed a lot of new items at market in this shell pink colorway.

These ribbon pillows had great texture in person.

Sugarboo Designs

This is really not a very good picture but Lowcountry Originals is a South Carolina based company that has interesting lighting and this amazing porch swing. They featured lots of great lighting perfect for a lake or beach cottage. This was my favorite new Southern resource from market.

I feel in love with these sturdy bleached elm director's chairs from Noir.

Dark Shadows

2011-10-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

Just some dark and interesting images and a great simple recipe to put you in the spirit for tonight's festivities.

Happy Halloween!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Three Ways