BRAYTON HOMESTEAD INTERIORS

Lilacs Say Welcome to My Kitchen

2013-05-12T21:17:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to my Federal kitchen at the homestead. Could not resist bringing lilacs from the year into the kitchen, albeit they make me sneeze!

Maybe you remember when I restored the kitchen fireplace wall

to it's 1796 original look..

Under the wood that covered this and the rest of the kitchen walls

lurked a beehive oven and opening for wood storage.

Last post I mentioned that an old portrait of the Brayton Homestead hung over the living room mantle, now over the kitchen mantle. I love the barn board wood ceiling even though it is not authentic!

Baskets on the hearth keep linens handy...

Thanks for visiting

from my kitchen to yours...

Linking with:

THE CHARM OF HOME, COMMON GROUND ,FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

REDOUX INTERIORS, SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE, SOMEDAY CRAFTS,

ELIZABETH & CO., MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBERBIA,

COZY LITTLE HOUSE, A STROLL THRU LIFE,

I SHOULD BE MOPPING UP THE FLOOR, ALDERBERRY HILL, COASTAL CHARM,

THE DEDICATED HOUSE,

Dogs in my living room

2013-04-30T07:26:00.000-04:00

I took some photos of the opposite wall to my living room mantle showed on my last blog post. Thank you for your kind words on my mantle of mementos.

My circa 1796 home still has many of it's original architectural features.

You can get a peak of the lovely raised panel wainscoting that I really love. It is painted a brown color, my fav go to color. Creamy white wallpaper and tapestry old Victorian couch

keep things light.

An old preschool table is my coffee table; it holds a huge silver tray and porcelain dogs.

A side view highlights wood beams, a sculpture form Rome and family photos. I prefer the contrast of dark deep tones like brown, navy blue and burgundy against creams and tans; kind of my decorating signature personally and professionally..

A big tapestry bow holds a reproduction painting and is flanked by wall shelves.

The houndstooth hat that the dog figurine is sporting is actually

Krumpets!

Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

Karen

Linking with these great blogs:

Natasha From Oz, Common Ground, The Brambleberry Cottage,
The Charm of Home, Ivy and Elephants ,  French Country Cottage,
Redoux Interiors,  Primp,  Front My Back Porch to Yours,
Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time, A Stroll Thru Life,
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Coastal Charm, Cozy Little House,
The Dedicated House , House on the Way, Elizabeth & Co.,

Living room mantle : fav items

2013-04-19T19:20:00.000-04:00

Thanks for your emails asking for a larger picture of the living room fireplace! I was especially touched by your desire to see more of my Mom's burlap painting. When I took these pics it was a bit dark in the room, sorry for the blurriness...

Above my living room mantle piece hung an old watercolor painted in the 1920's of my home, Brayton Homestead . I moved the watercolor to the kitchen fireplace that was restored last year to it's 1796 original Federal architecture.

Looking for a piece of art to replace the watercolor in the living room I came across this painting on burlap that mom painted years ago, boy was she ahead of her time, a Burlap country cottage...

Staffordshire dogs that I purchase at the Portobello Road Flea Market in London, England years ago have graced the mantle since they were unwrapped on my arrival home! Doyle's violin fills the middle and great memories of when he used to play it. He stopped playing when he went to college yet I constantly ask for a tune...

hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite things from my homestead to yours!

Karen

Linking with:

ELIZABETH & CO.,

ALDERBERRY HILL, COASTAL CHARM, MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA,

NATASHA IN OZ, REDOUX INTERIORS, FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE,

ROOTED IN THYME, THE CHARM OF HOME, COMMON GROUND,

MY ROMANTIC HOME, CHIC ON A SHOESTRING DECORATING

New bedroom furniture arrangement!

2013-04-16T11:17:00.000-04:00

A new furniture arrangement for my bedroom! For years I have angled my bed in the left corner, thought it gave a more open look and it was sound Feng Sui . I moved this around for a change and find it more open . When I photographed the room there was a good amount of sunlight streaming which is often not my thing; but it was nice. Not a vampiress but not a sun lover either!

Krumpet's little bed lays near the canopy bed, although he does share both. My big old trunk holds so much clothing, do I dare admit 15 pairs of jeans?

It took getting used to the new look, but now I love it and is more authentic to the 1796 homestead than the later design.

Do you like it?

Karen

Linking with these great blogs:

FROM MY BACK PORCH TO YOURS, MY UNCOMMON SLICE OF SUBURBIA,
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE, ELIZABETH & CO., A STROLL THRU LIFE ,
A COZY LITTLE HOUSE , ALDERBERRY HILL, TWIGG STUDIOS ,
I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR, FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE,
COMMON GROUND, NATASHA IN OZ, SIX SISTERS STUFF,
LITTLE INSPIRATION, THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE, REDOUX INTERIORS,

My Spring Homestead Table

2013-04-06T07:50:00.000-04:00

My Spring brunch table, tea with a nest? My Mom and Dad's 25th anniversary coffee pot, now an antique is one of my favorite possession.

Bead springs make perfect egg holders, no the eggs are decorative only, but I guess your could polyurethane them. Um, my next project! Piled up vintage linens and burlap jumbled are nest like too...

Raffia and lace everywhere!

Rustic and elegant materials just belong together!

Enjoy,

Karen

Linking with:

BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE, FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE, REDOUX INTERIORS,

COMMON GROUND, THE CHARM OF HOME, THE THRIFTY GROOVE

FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS, ROOTED IN THYME, NATASHA IN OZ

MY ROMANTIC HOME, CHIC ON A SHOESTRING DECORATING

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE, SOMEDAY CRAFTS, ELIZABETH & CO.

I am Remaking skirts 70's style

2013-03-25T08:31:00.000-04:00

Creating recycled skirts to sell on Etsy and reliving my college days? Does anyone remember cutting off the bottom of the legs to worn out jeans and making a skirt?

I like to find gently worn or new skirts and recreate them into something unique..Some are new, never worn like this Ann Taylor corduroy that I added a tartan plaid pocket and hand dyed doily accent with lace around the pleat.

This simple but flattering knit skirt just wanted coral lace around the bottom and bow made from the same lace...

Here I made the elastic waist skirt myself and added a signature pop art flower that reminded me of Andy Warhol. Love to know what you think of my designs and suggestions you have,

thanks for looking...

Linking with:

THE DEDICATED HOUSE

KNICK OF TIME, COMMON GROUND , COASTAL CHARM

COMMON GROUND, REDOUX, SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE, FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

HOW SWEET THE SOUND, THE CHARM OF HOME

NATASHA IN OZ

Karen

I'm making homemade lip gloss, you must try it

2013-03-05T08:22:00.000-05:00

I have made my own lip gloss and it was fun .I got the idea from Pinterest: it was surprisingly simple.

It starts with a bit of left over red lipstick, the piece that is always in the bottom of the metal tube that you cannot get out. The color looks deep and dense but it goes on to make a stained look, very natural.

I took a tube of Vaseline and squeezed half of it in a small ramekin. Add to that the lipstick of your choice. I used only a half an inch of the red lipstick. Put it in the microwave to melt together. To be cautious I kept melting it at 15 second intervals and mixed each time. One minute and 15 seconds was all it took.

I placed the gloss in a clean mini mint container. So pleased! Not only does the Vaseline work wonders on winter dry lips but is has a lovely reddish tone as well. I hope to find some pretty new containers and make some for friends, but will of course use a new tube of lipstick.

Try making some yourself and let me know how you liked it,

thanks,

Linking with:

Karen

Ode to School Vacation week

2013-02-21T08:14:00.000-05:00

This is my ODE TO SCHOOL VACATION week.

From my years of teaching art I fondly remember how much I loved the vacations! These are items past, present and those to be listed from my Brayton Cottage. To those in the midst of it, enjoy...

Karen

Tan & Black warms my country kitchen

2013-02-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

The colors of tan and black are always present in my homestead kitchen but never more than during the wintertime. The golden browns add a warmth to a New England weather, especially in this 216 year old house!

A favorite egg basket sums up the tan/ black love affair I have...

Kitchen drawers that have been replaced with baskets add extra texture and contrast against my fridge I painted with chalkboard paint...

A chicken egg plate and little white faux eggs fill the bottom shelf basket.

I took off the wallpaper on my kitchen walls to expose the original plaster walls, a bit rough but I love it...

A barn board ceiling hides a far too gone ceiling and makes the kitchen very cozy. The old game board, in my winter combination of tan and black pull it all together . I hope you enjoyed and thanks for visiting...

Karen

Linked with the lovely marketplace at COMMON GROUND- do not miss it every Monday.

and

My Uncommonslice of Suburbia

Savvy Southern Style

& How Sweet The Sound

Have you ice skated this year?

2013-01-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

Has been years but I really do love to go ice skating...

This photo creates such memories for me. It is not me but has such a resonance for me. Here she tries to appear composed yet still uncertain and praying not to fall, yup that was me...

Have you been skating this year?

I will most assuredly drag my friends to a rink and give it a whirl! love the cold on your cheeks, the numbness of one's toes and my old red corduroy skating skirt my mother sewed for me...

These photos remind me of the Somerset marsh where we skated, sans the gorgeous backdrop!

My twin brother and I would be dropped off and that was the last I would see of him until we were picked up...

The boys played ice hockey on the prime ice spot , the girls would skate nearby vying for their attention, my how not much has changed,...

thanks for visiting and Happy Skating,

love hearing your skating memories,

LINKS:

check out COMMON GROUND and her wonderful vintage marketplace

and the fun party at

EVERYDAY IS A HOLIDAY

Karen

Winter Kitchen Entrance Table

2013-01-03T13:30:00.000-05:00

Was so busy with Christmas festivities! Great parties, get togethers, shopping and more. Additionally my son just bought his first house. So much we are blessed with.

my Kitchen winter entrance table, enjoy...

Linking with:

A STROLL THRU LIFE

Karen Doyle

I'm dreaming of a White & Pink Christmas

2012-12-02T11:12:00.000-05:00

I'm dreaming of a white & pink Christmas.

just like the ones I used to know...

grew up with my own little tree in my bedroom. covered with pink ornaments,

I still have some of them!

A vignette from my mantle, gllitter predominates, pink charm makes me smile with memories.

hope you enjoyed.

Linking With:

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

COMMON GROUND

Karen

My Feather Tree

2012-11-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

Hope you enjoy my Thanksgiving white feather tree. This tree was a great investment, it works for every holiday and season. It looks great if it simply adorned or elaborately laden.

Here atop the kitchen table, a giant acorn ornament boasts most of the attention but feathers and sugared smaller acorn ornaments add a deeper color to the tree.

Sorry for my absence, had a small health matter.

A closer look beyond the tree shows the beehive oven in my Federal 1796 kitchen...

and a stack of old basket boxes cover the opening for firewood.

How have you decorated for the coming holiday, love it would share your ideas!

Linking with:

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

thanks,

Karen

Fall Weekend

2012-10-14T11:05:00.000-04:00

HAPPY WEEKEND FRIENDS!

A perfect weekend to pick apples and pumpkins, bike ride , gather sunflowers or antique shopping .This photograph reminds me of Paris, does it to you?. Hope your weekend is perfect!

Karen

Classic British Black & Tan

2012-10-02T18:44:00.000-04:00

Tans and black, so classic, to me an all season color combination. It reminds me of Burberry plaid, which I do adore.

Anything English makes me think about my constant companion , my Yorkshire terrier,

KRUMPET

Always British, the classic detective Sherlock Holmes. Of course, I visited this pub when I visited London.

With the last name of Doyle, could I not? Have I mentioned that my Dad was a real detective?

Checks on floors, checks on walls,

compliment black tones in my office. The egg shaped wood box originally held to hold tea.

Kitchen Fall design at the homestead includes whites, golds, tan and yes black.

Acorns are dropping in the neighborhood, my trees are about to drop chestnuts.

Really feeling like Fall now,

enjoy,

Karen

Fall fell into our living room

2012-09-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

Fall fell into our living room and Krumpet is pleased!

Dried flowers abound and exude the fall look. Tapestry fabrics/ old leather books and wood tones always welcome me to sit and read.

A comfy chair and a cup of tea call for soft background music. This room was originally a dining room/ kitchen when the homestead was built in 1796.

Mostly a library now except for the holidays when the whole family gathers.

Thanksgiving is coming, love it!

Karen & Krumpet

Linking with the beautiful blog:

FADED CHARM

THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE

FISHTAIL COTTAGE

REDOUX INTERIORS

COMMON GROUND

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

Soap Dispenser Revealed

2012-09-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

Summer flowers always dress up my guest bathroom with just the right amount of color.

Blue hydrangeas, correopsis, beach roses and a butterfly bush's blossom happily adorn a handmade stone

countertop. Do you remember a post awhile about my inability to select a soap dispenser for my guest bathroom?

here: http://braytonhomesteadinteriors.blogspot.com/search?q=soap+dispenser

Yes, I finally selected one, do you like it?

I like the way the dispenser compliments the antique pitcher and bowl my mother gave me, but it is new so functions well...

Yeah, I think the room might finally be done...

Well, not really. Decorating any room is never finished, isn't that the fun of it?

I am so thrilled to have my vintage PIANO BABY from my Brayton Cottage shop

featured in Debra's fantastic Monday Marketplace weekly post at

COMMON GROUND

Karen.

Linking with:

A STROLL THRU LIFE

FADED CHARM

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

SOMEDAY CRAFTS

THE DEDICATED HOUSE

FISHTAIL COTTAGE

STUFF AND NONSENSE

ROOTED IN THYME

HOW SWEET THE SOUND

BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

COMMON GROUND

Red Roses equals Paris Chic

2012-09-08T14:16:00.000-04:00

Red Roses for this lady. My own personal favorite color combination mixes tawny pinks, pinkish tans, claret and burgundy contrasted by rich black tones.

My bedroom best highlights this Victorian influenced color ensemble. Think faded burgundy oriental carpets, dried pink roses edged with tea stain browns, and the soft peach of a cherubim face...

Old roses painted on old fabric and perfectly dried blossoms say natural elegance...

and create a style I call "Paris Flea Market meets Shabby Chic".

another bedroom view, just begging for all these fabulous lampshades.

These eye candy shades are lovelies that I hope to recreate for my decorating clients and my Brayton Cottage shop..

linking with:

THE BRAMBLEBERRY COTTAGE

COMMON GROUND

HOW SWEET THE SOUND

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

MY CHARM OF HOME

REDOUX

STUFF AND NONSENSE

BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH

FADED CHARM

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

HAPPY INSPIRATION TO YOU TOO!

Karen

Tapestries, textures and tones

2012-09-03T20:54:00.000-04:00

A vintage statue, it's position on my kitchen fireplace mantle designates it's important place. A serene face and colors always calm me. The tones and textures really represent my personal style...

Tan and browns, woven baskets and wood tones are found in my office as well as the kitchen...

what? Yes the dog even has complimentary tones,

plaster and...

the real thing,

Krumpet!

linking with:

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

Stuff and Nonsense

Th e Charm of Home

The Brambleberry Cottage

A Stroll Through Life

Faded Charm

My Uncommon slice of Superbia

Karen & Krumpet

Kitchen updates in white

2012-08-30T16:55:00.000-04:00

Painting everything white in my kitchen! Cannot seem to stop. It all started with changing my drawers to basket drawers and adding creamy white vintage dishes.

I took an old frame and first painted it white.

I had painted the bricks white too and used the seem gold glaze on the frame as I used on the bricks.

I am pleased how it is coming out. The plaque was given to me by the town, that is the year the house was built.

Plan to put a chalkboard in the frame.

More of the painted brick with kitchen utensils.

So much brighter and fresher.

what do you think?

Thanks for vising the Brayton Homestead!

Karen

Brayton Cottage is pet friendly!

2012-08-21T09:13:00.000-04:00

At Brayton Cottage we are very pet friendly!

Krumpet always greets with a grin!

Well, we are really an online shop, but Krumpet is still always smiling...

pet poodle boxes, animal figurines and more are available here

BRAYTON COTTAGE

and a hand made pin cushion protected by a happy cat!

yes, we love pet lovers!

visit Common Ground for her great Monday Marketplace

and White Wednesday at Faded Charm

linking with

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

STUFF AND NONSENSE

2805

COMMON GROUND

and have a great weekend!

A gondola wedding for my son!

2012-08-14T10:01:00.000-04:00

The perfect smile, a happy groom, love you Doyle...

walking into the reception...

Beaming mom , oh

blessed me..

My Son's Wedding

2012-08-13T19:39:00.000-04:00

My son Doyle and Ivy are married!

Yes,, on a gondola. No more romantic a ceremony has taken place. I witnessed the magic in the second gondola right near it. Adding my own share of tears to the waterways...

Italian gondola drivers sang love songs in Italian. The groom was perfect, the bride stunning..

Friends and family overlooked from the arched walking bridges overhead...

Stunning Ivy in tears of joy...

My beaming son, Doyle...

the vow exchange was simply magical...

had to take a close up shot of the exchange

and the gondola detail...

more of the ceremony later.

Enjoy...

Wedding, decorating and shop updates

2012-08-01T23:12:00.001-04:00

Between decorating work and wedding plans have been adding items to my Brayton Cottage shop. Seems like creams and pinks predominate here. Other cottage tones are present too, but theses are my fav. I think creams create such a welcoming look in home decor and pinks and rose tones flatter many in fashion accessories.

Is there enough to get everything accomplished and done well? A challenge I hope to meet, wish me luck...

Thanks, Karen

BRAYTON COTTAGE SHOP

Preparing for son's wedding day

2012-07-29T10:22:00.000-04:00

Wishing you a wonderful weekend. Mine is chock full of wedding details. My son's wedding is right around the corner, cannot wait! Will probably have to fast to fit into my silk dress that maintains absolutely no give!
I have never understood the magnitude of a family wedding before this one, ok , the tears are back, so blessed. Be prepared for a barrage of wedding pictures soon...
Karen