flowers

The Friday Foursome

January 29, 2016

Hello Readers! In an attempt to do more blogging in 2016, I thought I’d try doing a little feature on Fridays called the Friday Foursome. Just a few swoon worthy things that have caught my eye during the week. I hope it will help in inspire you as well!

A creative way to hide a TV

Next time I need to send flowers, I’m ordering from here.

Loved getting a video peak inside this designer’s gorgeous home – a great example of mixing traditional and modern elements.

A great article on all the different patterns you can create with subway tile … I really like this 90 degree herringbone pattern.

Enjoy your weekend!

Spring Inspiration

April 30, 2013

Who out there isn’t super excited to see things start blooming outside? Even the grocery stores and flower shops are filled with new and luscious varieties of flowers that just make my heart sing. Having cheerful blooms around the house is my favorite springtime accessory … what about you?

I recently discovered the website of Amy Merrick, a florist and stylist in Brooklyn, New York. Let me just say, I would have LOVED to have this woman do the flowers at my wedding! Even now, I would kill for her floral styling for some upcoming client photo shoots.

Her work is gorgeous, but in an unfussy, just plucked from the countryside kind of way …

I love the idea of fresh blooms in a teapot … perfect for a kitchen island or windowsill.

Don’t you just LOVE the saturated color in this arrangement? It would be amazing in an otherwise neutral room.

This one is just perfect in a yummy kind of way …

Even an assembly of wild greens makes a statement.

I know succulents are kind of trendy right now … but they really are so pretty gathered together like this in a shallow dish.

Wouldn’t you love to have her style your next dinner party?

In my living-in-New-York-City fantasy, I would have definitely visited her here …

You know …. I would have just walked there from my Tribeca loft … after having lunch with Nate Berkus, of course.

I would love to see how she puts together these sweet little creations.

In the meantime, I’m just waiting for things to bloom in my own yard so I can experiment with some haphazard bouquets. The flowers on my Viburnum bush are getting close … they first bloom in a vivid lime green color and then quickly turn into to fluffy white snowballs. They only bloom for a few weeks but when they do, I try to bring some inside and enjoy their heavenly scent.

both photos via Centsational Girl.

What flowers do you like to fill your home with?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas …

December 4, 2011

I always love to see how people decorate for the holidays so I thought I’d share a little bit of our holiday decor.

One of may favorite ways to add a little Christmas to the house is with natural elements like poinsettias, paperwhites, amaryllis, red berries, fruit, boxwood, magnolia leaves, and seeded eucalyptus … I just tuck these things into little spots around the house where I think they fit ….

It’s hard to see but there are magnolia leaves tucked into the pot rack over our kitchen island. There’s just something I looooove magnolia leaves. The colors are so warm and earthy.

I also love to fill a vase with seeded eucalyptus. It is so full and lasts forever. You can add in other flowers before company arrives.

Instead of garland along the staircase, (not so good with kids) I like to hang a few of these preserved boxwood stars.

Some of my other favorite things and spaces …

The boys think it is hilarious that Daddy is on the naughty list.

I am always a huge fan of mercury glass … so these holiday bottles were perfect.

On our kitchen table …

On top of our entertainment center … (The reindeer is new and I just got it from Wisteria. Love him!)

In the kitchen …

On our living room mantel …

My mother-in-law handmade a stocking for each of us, including our two cats, Luke and Leo. The amount of detail on each one is amazing and they will always be treasured family heirlooms.

I got these little “present” stocking hangers many years ago from Ballard Designs and I love the way they fill up the mantel. The lids come off, so you can even stick an extra little gift inside!

My kids like to hang these 12 Days of Christmas ornaments on this little tree …

Without going overboard, I might replace a pillow or a few pieces of art …

Last year, before I found these vintage Santa pictures, I just wrapped my existing pictures in a pretty wrapping paper and tied with raffia and little vintage gift cards.

I’ll also tuck a few other holiday critters in among bookshelves, side tables, etc.

Of course, there was another house we decorated today …

(In case you’re wondering, Kyle likes to make his own NBA basketball jerseys by turning old shirts inside out, cutting off the sleeves and using a black marker to add all of the appropriate details. It is pretty much standard weekend attire at our house.)

On another note, the frosting or “glue’ for the gingerbread house is surprisingly easy to make yourself … egg whites and powdered sugar beaten until shiny and stiff peaks form.

So there you have it … from our house to yours … a little holiday cheer.

(And yes, that is The Nate Show on my TV.)

Sometimes it’s the little things …

May 25, 2011

When you look at the beautiful homes or rooms in design magazines, there is one thing that almost all of them have in common … whether it’s a kitchen or a bedroom, modern or traditional … do you know what I’m talking about?

Elegant Homes

Elle Decor

It’s that perfectly placed vase of flowers.

More often than not, it’s a big, puffy ball of a single variety of blooms.

While, obviously, the rooms themselves are wonderful eye-candy … there’s a reason why stylists always add the flowers. They just bring life (literally and figuratively) to the room.

I’m a big believer that flowers should not just be for special occasions or when company is coming over. Anyone can get that “magazine-styled” look so easily. If you notice, none of the flowers I’ve featured here are perfectly “arranged” or look like they came from a florist. A vase and a big bunch of the same kind of flower and voila …. anyone can make any of these arrangements.

Pick up flowers at the grocery store, Trader Joe’s, your backyard. It’s like jewelry for your room …. or a great pair of shoes, or a spritz of perfume. It’s those little things we add on to an outfit or a room that just pulls everything together and makes you feel good.

House Beautiful

I have a few favorite go-to vases that are perfect for that big-puffy-ball-of-flowers look. The one below I bought recently on Hautelook for $15. I love the smokey blue-gray color, the texture and it’s worn rustic look. Unfortunately when it arrived, one of the handles was broken off. I called to see if they could replace it but there were all sold out. So they refunded my $15 AND gave me a $15 credit. So somehow I actually made money on this vase!?! I got out my super-glue and was able to put the handle back on. Since the vase has some imperfections anyway, it looks fine. Hydrangeas from Trader Joe’s complete the look.

Just a little something that makes me swoon ….

Getting ready for Easter

April 22, 2011

So even though there was no semblance of spring outside today, I tried to create a little bit of springtime inside in preparation for the Easter brunch we are hosting on Sunday.

(I love this vintage bunny …)

Found these great paper flowers at Hobby Lobby …

I also started setting the “adult” table … (the kids table in the kitchen will have to wait until Sunday morning) For the adults, I wanted kind of a “rustic elegance.” Simple yellow roses in one of my vintage blue ball jars, (I added some of my favorite ribbon), wicker chargers …