Going back over the years, trends, styles, and blog posts, here is one worthy to be refreshed and revisited. From trends to practicing tastemakers to the tastes of the times and all the choices in between, what’s your interior design style?
When time and trend of the early to mid-twentieth century gave life to monochromatic color palette, clean lines, natural materials, and natural light, modern design was born.
Do your decor choices take a stand against the cookie-cutter effect of interior decorating- firmly debunking the myth that you are a complete and utter failure in life if your decor doesn’t emulate the style or tend of the moment?
Steeped in colors mirroring the lush natural greens and classic floral patterns, do these lovely examples of life at the cottage intrigue and inspire?
There’s no question that staying true to your tastes and decorating your home with that in mind while making no apologies whatsoever for those unique choices is always the interior design style rule to follow.
My gardening skills this past weekend consisted of lopping off the top of the Sago palm and cheering on my neighbors who planted, gardened, and curb appealed with the best of them.
Optimum watering time for your garden is in the morning as it allows the water to soak into the soil before the heat of the day sets in. Watering in the late afternoon works well too. Always avoid watering your garden in the heat of the day so your plants will not run the risk of burning.
Water plants at their base. Try your best not to wet the leaves or vegetables/fruits in order to prevent mildew. Leaves that develop a yellow to brown edge indicate overwatering.
Checking the soil with a soil tester can help to rule out gardening disaster.
On the subject of herbs, garden goodies, and not so garden goodies let’s look at herbs and flowers that are not only delicious, aromatic, and colorful but help to naturally repel unwanted guests who wreak havoc in the garden.
Rosemary
Known for its distinct woody scent, rosemary naturally repels mosquitoes slugs, moths, and flies.
Mint
Menthol present in mint serves as the natural mosquito and company be gone repellent as it is an unpleasant scent to pesky mosquitoes, ants, and spiders.
Fresh and aromatic to humans, mint makes an effective and pleasing natural mosquito repellent. Simply gather mint leaves, crush, and rub on your skin.
Pairing this spring fresh leaf with your garden is mint to be.
Also known as the snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue is a super easy plant to grow. It takes well to indirect sunlight, and thrives well as a houseplant as long as it receives partial sunlight.
Durable and tough to kill (my kind of plant), I call it an auto pilot plant as it doesn’t require much attention to flourish, and only needs a drink of water every 7-10 days or when the soil has completely dried out.
Marigolds
Marigolds come in as the best and most colorful choice of insect repelling plant. The strong scent emitted by marigolds repels garden pests such as mosquitos, aphids, and wasps.
Tomato Ladders, Set of 3 from Gardener’s Supply Company
Tomatoes and other salad must haves such as cucumbers and melons seem to produce their best yield when grown in a support system such as a trellis, ladder, or cage.
Estate and garage sales, antiques markets, and vintage shops become garden supplies treasure troves for finding planters, tools, and decorative garden statues.
Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until sugar is dissolved.
Do not add red dye.
Fill hummingbird feeder with the sugar water mixture and place outside.
Any extra sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Change feeders every other day and thoroughly clean them each time to prevent harmful mold growth
To prevent the growth of mold, a hummingbird feeder should be cleaned and refilled at least twice a week in hot weather and at least once a week in cooler weather.
USDA – Photography by Lance Cheung
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt,
head in the sun, heart with nature.
To nurture a garden is to feed not
just the body, but the soul.”
Easter table decor suggestions are in the spotlight this week.
Invariably at this season of the year my thoughts turn to the bunny discovered in our flower bed.
Cottontail, as he affectionately became known, instinctively knew when it was time for my husband to come in for the day. He would sit in the driveway close to Dave’s parking spot waiting for him to arrive home.
Cottontail hopped to it, following his human best friend into the house. He would wait ever so patiently at Dave’s feet to be picked up and held.
One rabbit themed piece of decor seems to hop its way onto my Easter table decor suggestions in honor of Cottontail.
Bridal and baby showers, brunches, luncheons, holiday dinners, and other celebratory general fancy-schmancy occasions call for upping the iced tea recipe game.
Governor’s Mansion Summer Peach Tea Punch
Ingredients
3 family-size tea bags
2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1 (33.8-oz.) bottle peach nectar
½ (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
½ cup Simple Sugar Syrup (see recipe below)
1 (1-liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled
1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled
Garnish: fresh peach wedges
Directions
Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add tea bags and mint leaves. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
Discard tea bags and mint. Pour into a 1-gal. container; add peach nectar, lemonade concentrate, and Simple Sugar Syrup. Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
Pour chilled tea mixture into a punch bowl or pitcher. Stir in ginger ale and club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.
Simple Sugar Syrup
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Directions
Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
Vintage pieces possess charming features, distinguishing colors, and delicate patterns able to gracefully stand alone or easily mix with new traditional favorites.
Easy-to-download free printable Easter gift tags from the talented Ann at On Sutton Place beautifully enhance any Easter basket or gift, and make a wonderful addition to the Easter table as a napkin tie or place card.
Click here to be taken over to On Sutton Place for download instructions.
This photo serves no purpose other than being just a pretty reminder of the in full bloom splendor of spring coming to a lawn, garden, planter, or centerpiece near you.
Fresh, faux, or a mixing of both, remarkably gorgeous flower arrangements need not be expensive. Some of the most impressive flower arrangements are simple in nature and elegant in statement.
Begin in your yard and garden, and build your arrangement from there.
Garden roses mixed with dusty miller, bridal wreath, fern fronds, and fresh seeded eucalyptus brings spring beauty to your dining table or sideboard.
Yellow may be color blocking the best of spring at the moment, but without a little pollen the vibrant and pastel colors accenting spring’s palette wouldn’t be.
New spring blooms provide a pretty in pink landscape throughout the neighborhood.
Fresh flowers, delightful fragrances, visually stunning table settings, and the scent and sight of spring’s calling card in the late afternoon or evening gorgeously set the scene, mood, and table for spring entertaining.
Recently I rewatched the episode of “Sex and the City” I Love a Charade – my idea of a spring on the beauty garden party and the essentials for success.
Early spring into Easter color awakenings through spring color palette choices are upon us.
Colors of the season shake off the last of winter’s remnants with the help of warm mid-afternoon breezes, hints of pastel petals, the yellow dusting of pollen (you want pretty flowers, don’t you?), the hum of lawnmowers, and seasonal treats featuring fresh strawberries.
Easy and affordable ways to incorporate the best of the season into your home and garden is to update and refresh through accents and accessories.
Accents and accessories in fresh, lively, and warm colors of spring renews our interiors and exteriors, elevates our moods, and brushes away the heaviness of winter.
“Only those who love color are admitted to its beauty
and immanent presence. It affords utility to all,
but unveils its deeper mysteries only to its devotees.”
Nature’s timing doesn’t always cooperate with early spring into Easter plans for fresh stems and bouquets, so to that I say pick a few faux fabulous stand-ins and let the spring preview begin!
Many areas of business and commerce work off variables of the 3 P’s.
In similar fashion pairing antiques with modern accents also works off the 3 P’s of Past + Present = Personality.
In my experience I’ve never encountered a decor style that in some shape, form or fashion does not take beautifully to sharing the spotlight with antique pieces.
We’re thrilled to announce our contribution to the Redfin article on, ‘Timeless Fusion: How to Blend Vintage and Modern Design According to Experts’, where we were recognized as expert designers sharing insights on modernized vintage aesthetics. Whether updating your new apartment or revitalizing your home’s space, our tips are tailored to help you achieve the look you desire. Dive into our curated advice to seamlessly infuse vintage vibes into your place, unlocking the potential for a captivating and personalized design aesthetic.
Seize the style moment to not only think outside the box of standard design and decorating rules, but to drench the spaces and places in your home with a definitive sense of you.
Continuity assures visual flow is achieved when layering modern decorating styles with timeless period pieces enriched with a notable breadth of character.
Decorative accents, pattern at play textiles, visual art, architectural pieces, period chandeliers and lamps, and whimsical accessories contribute to the overall story the space is telling.
Stunning best describes the finished look produced by mixing and mingling modern accents and fixtures with a 19th-century oak side cabinet repurposed as a kitchen island workspace.
Introducing one or more antique pieces and accents into a predominantly modern decorating style scheme anchors a space in character and charm while striking a balance between visual flow and focal point finery.