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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Memorial Day 2011

Whew!  That was quite a weekend!  Between golf, graduation parties, and a bit of gardening, we only had one chance to sit down together for a nice meal, and it just happened to be breakfast.

The weather called us outdoors, and I really wanted to take this one opportunity to do a Memorial Day tablescape.  It was just the two of us and we took  time for a long, leisurely breakfast.

I started with these hand-painted blue and white Portuguese plates made by Mesa.  I have service for four.  Why didn't I buy more? 

I used the "matching" bowls for cereal.  Blueberries and raspberries on Cheerios made it red, white (sort of), and blue! 


The flatware is from good old Target!

These red and white striped napkins are so old, I don't remember where they came from.  In place of a napkin ring, I used a double faced satin ribbon with a Martha Stewart rosette glued on it.

These star plates were picked up at Walgreens.


This tureen became the flower vase.

The white hydrangeas and gerbera daisies came from Whole Foods, and the blue hydrangeas are from our gardens.

Gerberas don't like to be smooshed into oasis, so I created a grid with tape and just placed all of the flowers directly into the water.

It seems that almost all blue and white goes together, so I used this coffee pot in a blue willow pattern from Royal Wessex.

This reproduction sugar and creamer are also blue willow.

Blue willow shows up again on this set of individual salt and pepper shakers.

I like that the coffee mug that goes with this placesetting keeps coffee warm for a long time. 

I think these blue juice glasses came from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Sunshine, the morning newspapers, Mr. Pressed Pants and Cheerios!  It doesn't get much better.

I'll be participating in Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Dinner for the Twelve Disciples!

Mr. Pressed Pants belongs to a wonderful group of people who do a weekly bible study.  It is his Disciple class, and ironically, it has twelve members.  He invited them to our house for their last meeting of the year.  I didn't attend, but of course, I did the set up.  It had to be super simple, since I had only the afternoon to put this together.  My inspiration was these blue hydrangeas and the oak leaf hydrangeas that we have blooming right now.  Just a package of yellow roses from Costco, and a sleeve of white and yellow mums from Kroger, and I'm good to go.  All of the filler came from our yard as well.

I set up things so that they could serve themselves buffet-style from the drop leaf table in the bar.  I threw on this blue and white checked cloth.  All of the linens that I used were from a trip to France.  The stack of white plates are just our everyday dishes.

These blue willow salt and pepper shakers are old, but that pattern seems to go with so much, doesn't it?

I set up these glasses in the bar.  These are caterer's glasses that are a good size to be used for wine, soda, water, or mixed drinks.  Saves finding lots of different sizes.  I just like to use cloth napkins when I can.  These yellow cocktail napkins seem to be used often.

This large old copper pan usually lives in Mr. Pressed Pant's office filled with magazines, but it is just great to hold ice for wine and bottles of iced tea.

I quickly set up the coffee tray.  Nothing fancy here.  You don't see it, but I put a post-it note on it to remind Mr. Pressed Pants to get the cream from the refrigerator.

Since I planned on three tables of four outdoors, I used these same flowers that I had on the buffet table to make three small arrangements for them.

This is what we call the upper terrace.  It is the view as you step outside the bar.  Just down three steps and there's the first table.

This is my favorite set of French linens.  The only thing I put on the table is a napkin with flatware wrapped in it and then tied with raffia, and then I put the glasses upside down so that leaves and junk didn't settle into them.

Up on the round deck, I used another set of linens.

Just blue and white this time.

On the lower terrace, I put the third table.

This third set of linens are also great for this flower arrangement.  I purposely bought these three sets to go together, but not match.

Here's the arrangement on this terrace. 

This very ordinary patio furniture looks much cuter when accessorized. 

These great printed burlap pillows started the vibe.

The little cafe table holds a wicker covered glass bottle filled with some simple grasses and ferns.

Then I set it on this wonderful taupe and white checked cloth with faggoting, which is also from a trip to France.  What's that pink thread doing there?  This might be another one for the blooper file!

Mr. Pressed Pants thinks people who talk to their plants are crazy, but he does threaten them!  He must have scared this hibiscus plant, because a day ago, there was not a bloom open on it, and today it is a beautiful sideshow.

And, of course, no outdoor evening party is complete without offering a helping of bugspray!

Here's Mr. Pressed Pants beginning to cook kabobs as I said goodbye.  I think they had a great evening.  I got home just as they were serving dessert.  How about that!!! 

Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday blog party.  You'll love all the inspiration you'll find from her participants.

Look for this post at Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper, as well.
 Join me each Sunday for my weekly party

 I am also link with Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites.  It's a great blog party to see some past posts that you'd like to revisit!You can see a red/white/blue post I did for last Labor Day.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

More Madison House Tour


  
I've made a new friend in the design world!  His name is Jimmy Stanton and he owns a wonderful home furnishings store in Atlanta.  I enjoy every visit to this happy place and my clients do as well.  He had his beautiful home in Madison on their spring house and garden tour a couple of weeks ago.  I thought you might like a peek at this darling place. 




This house was built in 1818 and is called The Brick Cottage.  It is the oldest brick structure in Madison.  Jimmy and Patrick Greco have lived here for three years and during that time they added the tin roof and the must-have picket fence.  It had a fire in the '60's and, ironically, the timbers petrified and became stronger than ever!

This arrangement of pressed botanicals hang in the entryway.  They make such a great statement,
                          don't they?

 
This is where Jimmy's very lovely mother greeted guests the day of the tour.  She is so proud of her boy and his lovely home.  She absolutely sparkled when she talked about him!

 
The whole place is done in restful grey, khaki, and putty.  This allows the accessories to shine.  This is the family room. 

The dining room is so beautiful in it's simplicity.  It strikes the perfect blend of rustic and refined.
Check out the chandelier.  It's reflected in the mirror.

Here's another view.  I love this French cupboard with it's great hardware and how it is filled with a mixture of treasures.

This grouping of green canning jars with candles flanked a basket simply filled with blue hydrangeas.

Jimmy has such a way putting together vignettes.  Here are three mantles on which he takes a few items and they become an eye-catching grouping of  objects.  This one is in his bedroom.  It is just perfect in it's simplicity.

And look at this one....I wouldn't change a thing or move it one inch.

This mantle is in the living room.  What a knack for asymmetrical placement.  These objects are so disparate, yet just fantastic together.

Here's the entire living room.  I love it ALL....the sisal rug, the nailheads on the stools, the old bench used as a coffee table, and that wonderful statue.



Every good weekend house needs a bar and this one is jaw-dropping.  It is made of reclaimed wood and inspired by an old ship.  I wish I had a photo of the kitchen, but I just went on through, enjoying all the wonderful details and never took a shot.


But I do have this kitchen!  Have you ever seen an outdoor kitchen like this?  Those plates on the "wall" are genius.  And I'm just drooling over those ivory garden seats ever since I first saw them in a showhouse room that Jimmy did.

The garden part of this tour was just as special as their interior.  This fountain!  This fountain!  This fountain!  Their back yard is not at all large, but every inch is charming and beautiful.

Look at this special intimate dining room tucked in the back.  I just love how they have used furniture and walls to suggest the inside, but with the added joy of being outdoors.  Look carefully at the items on the console here.

These books are cement!  Isn't that so clever?

Terry is their cherished pet.  I think this pretty much tells you how they feel about him.

If you are in the Atlanta area, please be sure to stop by Jimmy's store:

Stanton Home Furnishings
1194 Huff Road
Atlanta, 30318
404-351-3890

Atlanta Homes Magazine did a 19 page double feature spread on this home and his city home called "City Chic/Country Calm".  It is the longest spread I have ever seen and every page is spell-binding.  It is so well deserved.

Check it out:

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