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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Queen Mom's Bedroom

 
 
As I have promised (and promised), I'll continue my tour of our home.  This is a photo-heavy post so get a glass of wine and settle in.  We have an unusual bedroom layout, and this is the only second floor bedroom.  Because my mother prefers to stay in this room, Mr. Pressed Pants calls it the "Queen Mom's Room".  It is serene and comfortable.  The walls are the only ones that we didn't paint when we moved in.  I don't know the name of the color, but it is a warm, very light coffee-color.

The previous owners had their two little boys in this room.  They were only here for five months, poor things, so, as you can see, they didn't even have pictures hung.

Here's another shot of this room when they put it on the market.  Those green things at the windows are the underside of the canopies that were hung outside, not an interior curtain.  You can be sure that those are history!
 
The focal point of the room is, as usual in a bedroom, the bed.  It is a cherry four-poster queen-size that we've had for some time. 
 
In the center is this wonderful old world landscape.  It is actually painted on paper, not canvas, and it has a small rip in the upper left hand corner.  I'm ok with that, though.
 
On either side of the art, I placed two brown and white oriental subjected plates.

Here's the mark from them.

These linens look a little washed out here.  The sheets are a pale celadon green, but not as pale as they show here.  Then I had two European-sized shams covered in a linen envelope and trimmed with a copper-colored flat trim.  Then I placed two Peacock Alley quilted shams and a fern themed needlepoint pillow which doesn't show here.  I don't starch these linens when I iron them, but I do use a spray fabric sizing on them. Guests often comment on the sheets, so I guess they appreciate it! The matelassĂ© coverlet is a simple diamond-patterned off white. 
 
Folded at the foot of the bed is this quilted throw that we brought home from France.  It is in a wonderful cafĂ© au lait color.

Here's the tag.  We bought it at a street market in Isle Sur Le Sorgue.
 
On one side of the bed is this end table with a few handy things for guests.

Here's a better picture of the table.  It is an old piece with great patina and a very pretty little back apron, or gallery that you can't see here.

I love to find an interesting finial for a lamp.  This one just wouldn't be the same with the little round brass ball that it came with.  The shade is silk.

On a tole hand-painted tray, I always put some bottled water.

Here you can see the corner of a bleached bird's eye maple framed clock.  It apparently ticks too loudly, because I have found it hidden under the throw pillows when guests leave. Beside it is a chalk-ware candle stick.  I wish I had more of this.  I'm always on the lookout for it at Scott's.

I put some turquoise stones in this lid-less stone-ware tureen.
 
The other side has a cherry end-table with a black candlestick lamp.

I always leave a little reading material for our guests here.  I also have a cord-less phone, but I am thinking of taking it out, as everyone has a cell phone these days.  With this in mind, I could probably take the ticking alarm clock out of here too, and let the guests set the alarm on their phone.

This is the other end of the room.  You can see the sitting area here and the window.
 
If I were really good, I would photoshop the outlet from here, and lighten it, but this is real life at our house!

This is the embroidery on the natural linen Roman shades from France.  I'm very attached to these and I brought them from our last home.

Here's a close-up of the valance made of linen and twigs.  Yep!  These are just straight twigs with a bit of lichen on them that I found in our woods.  I glued them on then I embellished with a few pinecones that are also hot-glued onto the valance.  I can't count the number of photos that have been taken of this.

The chandelier is a carved and gilded five-armed wood piece.  Soooooo much better than a ceiling fan, don't you think? 
 
Sitting in the corner is a lovely chair that I found in an attic of a home we bought.  I have re-covered it quite a few times.  The needlepoint pillow was a gift from a lovely guest. I forgot to take a photo of the other chair on the other side of the table.  It is bamboo-carved and covered in the same fabric.  There is a coffee-colored cashmere throw on the arm.

If ANYONE has any of this fabric they would like to sell, please let me know.  I found it years ago at Calico Corner and it was made for Martha Stewart.  I have used it for several projects and had this table covered in my office in our last home. 

This is a close-up of the lamp base on this table.  It came from Boxwoods several years ago and I am crazy about it.  It's very appropriate for this house, as we are surrounded by deer.  Too many, in my opinion, but I do admit to being so charmed by the doe and her twin fawns this spring.

Here's another example of improving a lamp with the perfect finial!

You all know my love for faux bois and here's a really cool piece of it.  It's a metal watering can that I filled with some of our dried hydrangeas.

Over the table is a small collection of more brown and white transferware, topped by an old carved wooden remnant.
 
This needlepoint runner is from a rug dealer at Scott's.  I can't remember what his name is, but he's been at the same space for years and I could walk right to it any month.

I love the colors here.  A dark blue/green, celadon, salmon, and blue.
 
This is a terrible picture, but I'm too lazy to re-shoot this birch and twig covered footstool.
 

So, what do you think?  Would you like to make a reservation?
 
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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Window Magic

My good friend, Barb, told me how to put these three ingredients together to make a magical elixir to wash even the dirtiest windows.  Yep!  I had me some of them!!!!  Our pool got a new surface last week, and somehow, all of the windows had grit and yuck all over the outside of them.  So I pulled out her "recipe" for window washing and man, oh man!  This stuff was great.  And easy to make!  And so cheap that it was almost free! 

I used it with this little wonder......made by Good Grips.  It has a squeegee on one side.....

and a Velcro closed terry-cloth side.
 
My windows looked almost this good when I finished!!! 
 
Here's the recipe:
 
1/4 c. white vinegar
1/4 c. rubbing alcohol
1 T. cornstarch
2 c. warm water
 
Whisk this together and pour into a spray bottle.  Be sure to shake the bottle frequently.
 
Really people!!!!  This stuff is great!
Thanks, Barb! 
 
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Monday, September 9, 2013

Labor Day 2013

Labor Day was grey and drizzly, but I wanted to start the morning with a small nod to the red, white, and blue.  We were only home for breakfast, so everything had to be quick and simple.
 
Sorry for the glare, but it was so dreary that I had to have the overhead lights on to even see.  I thought I'd use these plastic, Ralph Lauren look-alike plates. 

For this table, roses are too formal, gerberas are too whimsical, but carnations are just right if you mound them closely with no spaces in a pave style.  I used an off-white container and a couple of flags for fast details that made it more holiday-like. 
 
This old quilt top keeps popping up for a red/white/blue event.  Some folks have berated me for using a quilt for a tablecloth, but it is not a precious piece and it easily washes by hand.

A red napkin with a blue willow napkin ring and some red handled flatware makes this come together so easily.

And these small blue goblets were just the ticket for juice.

Just the two of us, rearranging the day because of the rain.
 
 
I'm posting at:
 
Cuisine Kathleen's
 
Between Naps On the Porch's
 
Savvy Southern Style's
 
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Monday, September 2, 2013

Dahlias and Tomatoes

Last week, on my way home from Cashiers, N. C. (post to come on that), I passed a darling couple who were selling dahlia plants and arrangements.  If you've ever driven that area, you know how I risked my life when I turned around at my first opportunity and went back to buy some.  That mountain is steep and the curves are wicked.  Here's what I chose: mixed dahlias in a commercial sized empty tomato tin can.  Here they are sitting on the railing of our deck when I got home.

Well, I originally intended to put the flowers into another container, but as I looked at them, I decided to celebrate the humble tomato with a yellow and red tablescape. 

I haven't used these dishes or these linens in ages.

These French linens from Souleiado fit the bill.  Actually, the French do red and yellow together pretty often, and these small prints were just about perfect to go with this can label. 

I used these wicker chargers from World Market and added a dinner plate made in Portugal by Vista Alegre called "Bahia".

Then, to make a break from the busy tablecloth and dinner plate, I added a salad plate by Over and Back, Inc., made in Italy.  The bowls were some I picked up at Homegoods last year, made by 222 Fifth and fittingly called "Heirloom Tomato".  Each one of the four is different and the variety is depicted on the outside, as well as the inside.  This one is all red......
 
This one all yellow.......

Another red one......
 
And a red and yellow stripe.  I served gazpacho in them, of course!

I think this red and yellow flatware came from Target many moons ago. 

This red goblet is pretty old.  I can't even remember where I got it.  The clear stemless wine glass beside it is Reidel.

Even though there were just four of us, I put out place cards, mainly because I wanted to use these small, red zebra tomatoes with them.  Aren't they cute?  And, man, oh man, do they taste good!  All of the tomatoes come from a wonderful road side fruit stand called Osage Farms in Rabun Gap that I passed on the way up to Cashiers and couldn't wait to stop at on my way home.  Incredible stuff!
 
It made a pretty table.  Kind of different, and certainly a tribute to the end of summer.

Overhead view.

Just before our company came, I was in the refrigerator getting cheese, and I spied this quart of heirloom cherry tomatoes in all of these great colors, so I sprinkled them around the base of the tin and shot one more photo.  Brilliant, huh????  I love the way they look.

Ahhhh!  Daliahs.  That north Georgia/ North Carolina area grows some mighty fine beauties. I had heard that all of the rain this year spoiled them, but the sweet lady I bought these from said that God shone on her fields and she had plenty!  I love that!
 
 
I'm posting at:
 
Cuisine Kathleen's
 
Between Naps On the Porch's
 
Savvy Southern Style's
 
Open House
 
 
 





Sunday, September 1, 2013

Thanks for Asking!

So many of you have been so kind to inquire about my well-being.  I am just fine, but I decided to take the summer off from blogging.  I was loosing my mojo, and I needed to decided if I wanted to continue.  This has been a very unusual summer for us, but we are all fine and I'm recharged and eager to share my interest in design and entertaining.  I've got some parties that I have shot, but not put into a post, and I know I keep promising, but I will post more shots of our home.  I have still followed my favorite bloggers, and you have all inspired me!  I guess I have a couple of good posts left in me, so jump aboard and we'll share this beautiful world I'm blessed to live in.

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