Sofas & Sage

Sofas & Sage is Now House and Home Defined

2011-11-18T15:48:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Most of you know by now that all the content from Sofas & Sage is now in my new blog, House and Home Defined, and that's where you'll find me from now on. This will be my last post here to let you know where to find me.

http://www.houseandhomedefined.com/

I have loved writing here, but it was time for a new look and better focus. Please come on over and Follow or Subscribe while you're there!

Thanks so much,
Carol

Join me on House and Home Defined

2011-11-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

Sofas & Sage is now House and Home Defined. All the posts and images from Sofas & Sage can now be found here www.HouseandHomeDefined.com. Please join me at my new home!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

A New Post on House and Home Defined

2011-11-06T08:49:00.002-05:00

Click here for a window treatment before and after!

High Point Highlight: Lighting

2011-11-02T22:42:00.000-04:00

Check it out on my new blog House and Home Defined.

If you like what you see, please consider following and subscribing!

Thank you for reading,
Carol

High Point Highlight: Color

2011-11-01T00:02:00.000-04:00

Please join me over at my new blog, House and Home Defined, to check out my review of inspiring color at this fall's furniture market. Please consider subscribing and following while you're there!

Thank you!!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Happy Halloween? More like Christmas!

2011-10-30T16:22:00.000-04:00

The storm that hit New England last night gave us only about 6" of snow, which isn't too bad compared to my in-laws in Connecticut who got 15"! What holiday are we celebrating tomorrow? My daughter actually wanted to play Christmas Carol this morning. Ugh.

Here's a couple of shots of our home with downed trees and power lines. Hope my New England readers and others affected by this craziness are all safe and warm.

If you've been wondering why I haven't been posting, I've been working on my new blog House and Home Defined, in between the craziness that is my life. I've wanted to get it perfect. Who, me? Wanting perfection? Mmmm. A fatal flaw at times. Anyway, it's not ready but I'll be starting posting there in the next day or so anyway.. Dying to share inspiration from the furniture market at High Point, North Carolina.

Talk to you soon on House and Home Defined!

Carol

Fall Changes

2011-09-21T11:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Fall!

photo: Carol Beck

I'm excited to share with you that Sofas & Sage will be transitioning into my new design blog... House and Home Defined. More design ideas and inspiration, and more of Window Wednesday's as well!

Stay tuned as the blog is currently under construction. Thank you for continuing to check in even while I haven't been posting, and for hanging out with me. I hope you will follow along with House and Home Defined.

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Waverly Modern Essentials...Orange Love

2011-08-21T20:42:00.000-04:00

I'm finally keeping my promise to my girls and redoing (or should I say finally doing) their bedrooms for their high school years. You know how much I love orange, so I danced a bit of a jig (not in front of her, mind you, as that would surely mortify her) when one of my girls agreed to this fabric for her window treatments...

This is from Waverly's Modern Essentials line. (The white is very bright, really. I had to take my own picture to show you, as it wasn't on their website.) While I do love for a home's decor to have flow and continuity, there are times when, in the private spaces like bedrooms, you can go in a bit of a different direction. After all, design should reflect who you are, and what better way to encourage your children in self-expression than in the design of their bedrooms? This room will be blue, white and orange. True teenager. All her choice. It will take some time, but...

Stay tuned (and wish me luck! If I say I like it, it may be all over)...

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Colefax and Fowler Speaks My language

2011-08-19T22:30:00.000-04:00

I was on their website today while working and I got lost for a few minutes, picturing myself in these rooms. They are me. In my head, not my life. Are they you?

It's the details, like the barely-there half inch of contrast banding on the drapes, that get me. I love that attention to perfection (didn't mean to ryhme).

The embroidery on these silk drapes is just gorgeous. I could watch the grass grow out that window, in this chair...

What can I say, I will always love checks in any size...

Loving this shot of a living room, too. The thing I love about English Country is that it is so homey and comfortable. I'm not much for the romantic part of it, the big cabbage roses or the chintz. Just the worn-in patina of it.

What style speaks to you?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Success

2011-08-18T21:03:00.003-04:00

"The only place where success comes before work

is in the dictionary."

Vince Lombardi

British Homes & Gardens

The art of decorating may come easily to some, but it is always work, make no mistake. Then, oh, the glorious results when the work pays off in beautiful surroundings...

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Equestrian Inspired Design

2011-08-15T22:10:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I went to my first equestrian competition and I LOVED it! My "niece" (my friend's daughter) was in her first show, and won first place! Is she cute or what?

While I was driving home, I was day dreaming (and got lost). Anyway, indulge me a bit, okay? Let me show you some glimpses of the English Country, equestrian-inspired dream home that lives in my head, ready for me to move in.

First, of course, this is what I look like coming back in from a ride...

This is the view in front of me...


Traditional Home

This could be the living room. Love the stone walls...

Canadian House and Home

This is the chair where I take off my boots (and never put them on that gorgeous chair, lol). It has its own cozy nook...

Canadian house and Home

Because my dream house has lots of spaces to decorate, this one would be my office and sitting area, dark and inviting...

Country Living

I imagine this sofa in the library, where huge windows show the view of the rolling lawn and fences, and tall bookshelves line the opposite wall. You know the kind, with the tall sliding ladder?

Ralph Lauren

The back entry off the kitchen looks like this...

Country Living

I find that while trends come and go, colors change and styles revolve, equestrian looks remain timeless. What do you think?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

On the Side: Sorbet Cake

2011-08-07T21:03:00.000-04:00

I don't know where my friend Karen got this recipe, or if she made it up herself, but check out this incredible cake she assembled in my kitchen last night (I had some designer/foodie friends over -- what a combo!)

Forgive the less than fabulous picture of this to-die-for dessert, but I took it outside on my candle-lit deck, and the lighting doesn't do it justice! It's a towering, seven layers of refreshing summer heaven.

To make it, Karen baked a simple yellow layer cake, and cut each round layer in half to end up with four thinner layers. She then alternated the cake layers (starting with cake on the bottom), with three different flavored layers of sorbet. (She had let the sorbet melt in the same round cake pans, lined with foil, making each into a 1/2" thick disc. She kept them frozen right up until she assembled the cake. I guess she must have 3 cake pans. She made the sorbet layers ahead of time, naturally). Also, ahead of time, she melted some peach preserves with a dash of water to make the finishing glaze. Oh, and Karen used lemon, raspberry and mango sorbets, but you can use whatever you like.

After assembling the layers, she adorned the top with her favorite fruits, and then drizzled on the peach glaze. Out of this world, people. Really! I can't wait to try this myself for a family cook-out next weekend.

Any questions? Send me an email :)

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Newport, RI in Pictures

2011-07-31T20:59:00.001-04:00

Does it get to you, too, the slow breeze of the summer, the heat on your back? Does your world stop spinning, just for a while? Do you feel your heart beat back to a normal pace, all because of the quiet of the mornings or the warmth of the evenings?

Summer is my favorite time of year, perhaps because of the beauty of it, perhaps because it seems so fleeting in New England.

Once again, we spent a week in Newport, RI, one of my favorite places at any time of the year. Come with me for a stroll this summer's day. The doors beckon, the harbor calls you, the shops invite you.

This street we are on is lined with homes whose history is worn on their shutters, where the view past the neighbor opposite looks like this...

Victorians painted like gingerbread houses sit among the stately and story-weary Colonials, all along the old brick sidewalks and the narrow streets.

There is serenity in this neighborhood this summer morning. It is quiet. It is early. I hear the seagulls flying high over the water.

American flags are in window boxes, on sea walls, over doorways. Patriotism whispers on these streets.

Every home says something.

The gates and the gardens...they enchant.

Even the neighborhood church, just as it stood in 1875, lures you with gardens...

It seems every driveway, no matter how small, is dressed with a garden on its side...

Now that the sun is high, it's time to go into town. Ice coffee is on my mind, and I'll show you my favorite spot...

Through this row of shops, and up on the corner, I stop for my drink and walk on (I shouldn't show you this, it gets crowded enough!)...

Tired yet? Just a bit left to see... I'll share my favorite places where you might find me, when you walk these streets...

This quaint British shop where I always look for something for my man (we are both a bit anglophile...)

Speaking of the Brits, you will see a few represented in the neighborhoods, here and there (this house is far off from this shop, but they do look alike)...

And then we walk past Busker's, my favorite pub for fish and chips (remember I am a foodie, and I tell you these are the best in Newport...)

And then there is the best place for a lobster roll, just down the block...

And now I show you our treasured little joint for $1 raw bar in the late afternoons. Fancy it is not, but cold beer and oysters win us over, and the view of the harbour out those little windows is worth everything.

Summer is spectacular no matter where you are. But if you find yourself in Newport, walk through the neighborhoods. They have an affect you can feel. And stop into one of these places and say hello to me. Chances are, I'll be there.

I hope you are enjoying your summer, too!

Talk to you soon (with design in mind!),

Carol

A Year Flies...And 7 Things I've Learned

2011-07-24T23:11:00.000-04:00

Friday was my blog's First Birthday! One year. Wow. Time Flies.

Ginny, me and Corrina

My first post was about my title, Sofas & Sage, and in that first post, the sofa images came from Villa One Twenty in Newport, RI. How incredibly ironic that one year from the date of that first post, I was having dinner in Newport, with Corrina, the owner of the Villa, and my friend Ginny, who introduced us! This dinner was a total coincidence, and when I realized it, I had to have our picture taken!!

Last summer, in the heat of early July, I decided to start this blogging thing, to see how it would go, what I would learn, practice my writing, and mainly to share my passion for design and for cooking. Well, if you've been with me for most of this year, you might ask what happened to the food part. Umm. Found out those two subjects are too big for equal billing in a week. My passion for design, as it is also my profession, bullied food right off the page.

So, what have I learned over this first year?

1. If I didn't have a passion for my subject, I wouldn't have endured the incredible amount of time blogging takes!

2. I've learned that it's easy to let blogging get out of balance in my life. Too much, and other things suffer. The right balance, and I love it :)

3. I've re-discovered my love of photography. What a joy this has been.

4. I've become a better designer. There is no doubt that the constant reading to research for posts has made me continue to grow creatively. What a bonus!

5. I've learned that the blogging community is sometimes like high school. There are blogs that are popular, those that are quiet "sleepers" just waiting to be discovered, those that are brilliant but hardly get noticed.

6. Regardless of #5, I've learned that bloggers are among the most generous people around -- they share their advice, secrets, opinions, talents and time and ask for little else than your comments, to let them know that you are interested in what they are saying, or just to get a conversation started.

7. Most importantly, blogging has taught me that it is possible to make great new friends whom I would never have otherwise found. And that has made it all worth it!

So, to my readers and my followers... Thank You! I appreciate that you take time out of your day to see what's up at Sofas & Sage, to comment, or to send me a quick email. I love hearing from you.

As I start year two, is there anything you'd like to have me address, a topic you'd like covered, or questions you'd like me to answer?

Talk to you soon and thanks again,
Carol

Serena & Lily and a Carriage House

2011-07-18T22:43:00.001-04:00

Isn't she lovely?...

Serena & Lily's Amagansett chair

A client asked me to help her furnish all the rooms in her newly purchased Carriage House. This house is all about a girl-escape. (Okay, I call it that. She called it her "hotel." I'm living vicariously. I digress). She purchased this cozy house to retreat to when she is in town on business. She's had enough of the local hotel. She wanted her own space. So, we are creating a space that's a bit more girly than her primary family residence, one where she needn't consider the design preferences of her husband or son.

The Serena & Lily chair, or at least its fabric, will find a home in the great room. The goal for this entire space is a great flow of color (since it is very small), and a country cottage feel. There are two bedrooms and a den that will be home to a sleep sofa and television. Her daughter gets to choose the decor of the second bedroom, as she will be the one most likely to visit with her mom. She's chosen this Serena & Lilly pillow as part of the inspiration for her bedroom...

Serena & Lilly

I'll be presenting the entire project to the client next week. When decisions are made, I'll share the design details. Our deadline is mid October for a complete installation, and I can't wait to see it finished.

If you've been wondering why I haven't been blogging much, well, family and work come first, and lately, there just hasn't been a whole lot left for the blog! But, I'm glad you stay with me and continue to read! I promise, there will be some fun projects to reveal :).

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Let's work together for the home you've always wanted. Email me at SofasandSage@gmail.com.

Bedrooms and More Bedrooms!

2011-07-16T19:44:00.000-04:00

If you haven't discovered the blog Conspicuous Style, you're missing out! One of the things I love most is the incredible effort put into exhaustive numbers of images on most every post.

Stacy just posted about bedrooms, and I was so enthralled with all the images, I thought it was worth sharing. Check these out! Click here to be taken to Conspicuous Style, and I guarantee it will have you wanting to change your bedroom immediately.

Hope you all are enjoying a restful and wonderful summer!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Tobacco Sheds in Black and White

2011-07-08T18:49:00.000-04:00

Yes, you are still on my design blog. No, I have not taken up smoking or the cause of the tobacco farmer, but I am taken with the tired, rustic beauty of abandoned tobacco sheds in North Carolina. (All photos by me.)

I was in North Carolina with my family visiting our friends over the 4th, and as we went here and there I kept being drawn to these sheds. There was something so beautiful and so tired about them, languishing in the hot summer sun, defying defeat. So, I made my girlfriend take me out early one morning to capture some images. And yes, if you saw from your window earlier this week a woman taking pictures, that was me in your field, in my pajamas and bed-head, with coffee waiting in the car.

Here are more...

And here, in honor of the 4th of July and love for country , I end with this...

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Let's work together for the home you've always wanted. Email me at SofasandSage@gmail.com.

Home Takes Time

2011-06-29T23:18:00.000-04:00

Home wasn't built in a day.

Jane Sherwood Ace

I love that quote. It fits the 200 year-old home of one of my favorite clients, who really has become like a long lost friend rather than a client. (I love when that happens.) I did most of her first floor four years ago, and it struck me while visiting today that "home" is a word we ought to reserve for a sanctuary; one that has taken on a warm patina from the lives that it holds within its walls. Home tells a story. And when you walk into this home, you know exactly what kind of people live there, even if you never were to meet them. That's a home.

Sometimes, I think we can get caught up in the make-it-beautiful-now emotions of decorating (especially when you do it for a living!). But keep in mind that taking your time can be the quickest route to home. (Hey, can I quote me on that? lol)

Thoughts?

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Let's work together for the home you've always wanted. Email me at

SofasandSage@gmail.com

Antiquing with a Mission

2011-06-26T22:47:00.000-04:00

Steve's house, An Urban Cottage

I told Steve from An Urban Cottage today that his style, to me, is "eclectically perfect." (If you read his blog, you know what I mean.) Or maybe it's just perfection. Anyway, it resonates with me, and when we went antiquing at a new place to both of us, in Cambridge, I understood why his home is so pulled together. This guy understands his style and he can focus.

This is where we went, list of desired things in hand...

I had my camera with me today, but I was so engaged in the four-story antique mart that we were exploring, that I didn't bother to take pictures. (Sometimes -- gasp -- a blogger has to just be in the moment, not photograph it, and I was having way too much fun on the hunt for treasures to stop for the call of the lens!) Check out Steve's pictures for a peek at the place.

We left with several things for Mr. Urban Cottage, and I, thankfully, went with an empty wallet (oh,but the most gorgeous French mirror with the reasonable price tag is haunting me..)

It was a great day, but I think the best part of it was something Steve said as I was pulling out of the driveway, when he saw some decorating books in the back of my car. When he commented about the books, I asked if he wanted any of them. He said...

"I've stopped reading decorating magazines and books, it makes me just want to copy the looks I see. If I don't read them, I can stay focused on what I really like and do my own thing."

How's THAT for great advice? (And, undoubtedly, the secret to his cohesive, eclectic style).

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Let's work together for the home you've always wanted. Email at SofasandSage@gmail.com

Outdoor Living to Match or not to Match?

2011-06-20T20:41:00.001-04:00

We hear about "bringing the outdoors in" all the time in decorating. So I ask you, do you think your outdoor living spaces should coordinate with what goes on inside your home, or do you prefer a totally different look?

In my opinion, the most successful outdoor living spaces coordinate with and reflect the personality of their environment first, and the interior of the home second. What's that I'm saying? Decorate to the colors and mood of the landscape, the garden, the ocean or lake view (lucky you), and then choose furnishings that speak to the style of the furnishings in the house.

BHG

Check out the example above. The chairs and the tablecloth in this lovely little setting coordinate so effortlessly with the blue and purple in the garden that it just belongs there, doesn't it? It beckons you to sit and stay a while. You picture the kitchen that leads to this slice of heaven to be a bit rustic, maybe it has an old farmhouse table as an island. Wouldn't you be so disconnected if I said it was the yard of a very modern home? Of course.

Now this outdoor shower area below is so fun, and it just screams happy summer color. You can see the interior -- it just has to be full of white slipcovers and bold, beach ball colored art and stuff -- wouldn't you be surprised if it wasn't? I'll bet there are oars hanging on the wall.

Coastal Living

Here's another one I picture having white slipcovers, but more sophistication inside, like sisal rugs, lots of glass, maybe some dark wood pieces, etc...

Coastal Living

In this next image, the color palette is all about coordinating with the garden and I love the connection. And you can feel the vibe of the house it must belong to. No formal Federal style home here...

BHG

Here a two images from the interior of a house in North Carolina. Look at them for style.

Veranda

Now, check out the next two images of the outdoor living area of this home.

Veranda

You expect the outside rooms of this house to look like this, don't you? What if they were decorated in the bold colors of the outdoor shower image -- wouldn't you just die and say 'what were they thinking?" Instead, you want to go sit and look at that gorgeous view because it is all so harmonious.

So, what is your take? Is your outdoor area a free-for-all departure from your home? Or are you like me, and seek a bit of flow inside to out?

Talk to you soon,

Carol

Window Wednesday: An updated Tudor

2011-06-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back I posted that I was at a client's house measuring for dining room window treatments, and showed part of their family room here. I thought you'd like to see what we're considering for the drapes and roman shade.

First, here are the windows up for a new look. Is this the most gorgeous molding ever? The homeowner and his buddy did it themselves. Impressive.

Now, a look at the plan I'm proposing. The bump-out window will be dressed in a Roman shade in a flax-colored linen with a slate blue crewel pattern. It will be "held up" by straps of a flat braid Robert Allen trim. The crewel linen is a gorgeous-in-person Telafina fabric. I am in love with this one, people. I wish you could see the quality of it. The windows will wear drapery panels, done in a blocked design of a solid flax linen on the top portion and the crewel linen as a bottom boarder, divided by the same braid, and starting at the window sill height. (Sounds like I'm describing the red carpet, doesn't it, lol? Well, this room deserves that kind of treatment.) The goal is a relaxed formality, and I believe this achieves that look.

First, here on the fabrics. I promise they are dead-on coordinated in person. The lighting was weird today, and the colors are a bit off, but you get the idea...

Here are the sketches of what it will look like all done-up. My scanner was cranky and low on ink, so the second image is a bit more lame than the first. (Work with me, it's late at night as I post!)

Hmm. These sketches don't look that great, but this is all I've got in me tonight! The end result, though, I can't wait to show you. Different treatments in the same room, you might be asking? Read my thoughts about that here.

Oh, and please remember...

If you would like me to solve a window issue, suggest a treatment, critique what you have, or anything window related, please send me an email and picture to SofasandSage@gmail.com. The only requirements are that you 1. Become a Follower in the right hand column, or let me know that you already are, and 2. Leave a comment on this post.

What are you putting on your windows these days?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Let's work together for the home you've always wanted. Email at SofasandSage@gmail.com

An Opinion on Bedding?

2011-06-13T21:33:00.000-04:00

Gorgeous bedding. Luxury? Necessity? Something you dream about?

You all know by now that I've joined the design team at Perfect Touch Interiors. We're now carrying this to-die-for line of semi-custom bedding to give our clients more choices than ever when designing a bedroom, and I'm just curious...which would be your favorite?

Now mind you, these are not bedding sets -- any style can be done in several different fabrics, it can be mixed, layered or done simply. And the linens, the sheets, oh my, they are wonderful.

In my dreams, I would have several sets of bedding to mix and match because I love beautiful bedding. I always have. What about you?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Deer Baby and My Garden

2011-06-05T09:21:00.000-04:00

Hello gorgeous Sunday! Just had to share this picture from my sister-in-law. She was in her garden this week when the plants rustled and a brown head popped up, scarring the ba-jeepers out of her. After her heart beat returned to normal and she realized what it was, she ran in the house to get her camera. Amazingly, this sweet morning gift was still there...

Does that make you say "awww..." or what?

While I didn't find such a treasure in my own garden this Sunday morning, I thought I'd share a few shots from the front of my house...

He may not be a baby deer, but he is my baby, my gardening partner, and the official deer chaser....

What's the biggest surprise you've ever had in the garden?

Have a great day everybody!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Before and After: Challenging Style

2011-06-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Traditional meets fresh Southwest. Quite a combo, huh? But this describes my clients perfectly. They love Southwest style, and wanted to incorporate some rustic bits of it with some fresh color and their traditional furnishings. I thrive on a challenge. And I love eclectic mixes.

I visited this client today to measure for the living room window treatments, which are in phase two of the plan. The chairs and sofas have arrived, the walls have been painted, (the rug was existing), and the coffee table and custom pillows are due to arrive any day. Forgive the re-scanned copy of this before pic, where the walls are white and the two old silver-green chairs got the boot!

Here's where things stand now. The color is off a bit -- the walls are blue-green, not so blue, but you'll get the idea.

The two soft white sofas will have a rustic pine-topped, strong and clean-lined iron coffee table in between them.

The front foyer in this open home is at the entrance to this room. Here is what it looked like before (again, a crummy re-scanned copy...)

To introduce the eclectic, rustic Southwest feeling and tie it to the living room, I put in a significant pine piece and suggested the wall be a darker accent color. The artwork was the homeowners, and the lamps we added gave the space much more presence.

In the background of this foyer picture, you can see the first project I did for this client -- the family room window treatments -- the colors of the foyer are echoed in the textured pattern and the color of those panels. We all know flow in an open plan is critical.

I can't wait until the living room becomes more complete and I can show you the rest. In the meantime, what would you say your most challenging eclectic mix has been?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

For professional help with your home, please email me at SofasandSage@gmail.com

Window Wednesday: First Update

2011-05-31T21:40:00.001-04:00

So you know how when you're a kid, and you see your teacher in the store, and you can't wrap your head around it because your teacher doesn't have a real life...she's your teacher? Well, that's sort of what it felt like stopping by to visit with Steve from An Urban Cottage. Blogger and husband meet Blogger. And see the house. Fun, I tell you. It wasn't weird-out-of-context, but more like hanging with an old friend.

Steve was the first reader to send me pictures for my Window Wednesday series last year (see the post on Steve's dilemma here). I've loved doing the series, and hopefully, it's been helpful. Steve sent me pictures last week of his guest room progress, which looked like this when he wrote to me that he needed to solve the gap problem between casing and ceiling on his very low windows.

Remember his windows...

I suggested doing something like this, perhaps with a woven blind (I used color for highlighting purposes, not as color suggestion)...

Now, here's Steve's progress. After clearing out the room, he glazed over the wallpaper to soften it (read about that here), then he installed and painted new windows, then the window treatments, and, like usual, took an artful shot of a bit of the room as it is now...

Don't you love it? He never ceases to amaze me with his creativity or his photography! And believe me, the house is just as cool in person as it looks on his blog.

I hope you've enjoyed this update. I'm looking forward to doing more Window Wednesdays, so...

If you would like me to solve a window issue, suggest a treatment, critique what you have, or anything window related, please send me an email and picture to SofasandSage@gmail.com. The only requirements are that you 1. Become a Follower in the right hand column, or let me know that you already are, and 2. Leave a comment on this post.

Talk to you soon,
Carol

For professional help with your home, please email me at SofasandSage@gmail.com