Lovely Mother’s Day Gifts

Lovely Mother’s Day gifts emphasizing the beauty of all things mom make up this gift-giving ideas list.

Roses- Albert Tibule Furcy de Lavault (1847-1915) (1)

Mother’s Day recognizes motherhood and the love a mother exemplifies by setting aside a day to celebrate mothers.

Dainty Mama Necklace by Caitlyn Minimalist

Dainty Mama Necklace by Caitlyn Minimalist

Mother with long dark hair and Baby

Mother with Long Dark Hair and Baby

May flowers have long been considered a Mother’s Day favorites, however, not all flowers bloom from the stem.

Rose Stepstone Dark Walnut

Rose Stepstone Dark Walnut

Mini Bifold Wallet

Mundi Mini Bifold Wallet

Small Straw Crossbody

Small Straw Crossbody

Bijoux Bar 2 Inch Flower Stud Earrings

Bijoux Bar 2 Inch Flower Stud Earrings

david-austin-roses-garden-arbor

David Austin Roses

LEGO Cherry Blossoms Celebration Gift, White and Pink Cherry Blossom

LEGO Cherry Blossoms Celebration Gift, White and Pink Cherry Blossom

Papier 150pg Recipe Journal Orange Tree

Papier 150pg Recipe Journal Orange Tree

 

The-Pioneer-Woman-Heart-Shaped-Ceramic-Baking-DishThe Pioneer Woman Heart Shaped Ceramic Baking Dish

Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum Travel Spray

Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum Travel Spray

Flower Show Travel Mug Flower Show Travel Mug

Blowfish Malibu Sadie Sun Sneaker

Blowfish Malibu Sadie Sun Sneaker

Beekman 1802 Pure Goat Milk 5-Piece Bath and Body Collection

Beekman 1802 Pure Goat Milk 5-Piece Bath and Body Collection

Blue and white and beautiful.

blue-white-teapot

Blue Willow Teapot

HT-earl-grey-tea-canister

Harney & Sons Tea Bags – 20ct

eyelet-skirt

Time and Tru Women’s Cotton Eyelet Midi Skirt

blue-Italian-mule-flat-shoe

Made In Italy Ginevra Flat Mules

Adelaide 16-Piece Blue and White Dinnerware Set (Service for 4)

Adelaide 16-Piece Blue and White Dinnerware Set (Service for 4)

Garden goodies for the mom who enjoys life in the garden ~

Bunny-Williams-Life-in-the-Garden

Bunny Williams: Life in the Garden

Save The Bees Wild Flower Seeds Collection

Save The Bees Wild Flower Seeds Collection

Flower Show Garden Tool Set, 2-Piece, Created for Macy's

Flower Show Garden Tool Set, 2-Piece

Wildflower Seeds Shaker - Hummingbird and Butterfly Mix

Wildflower Seeds Shaker – Hummingbird and Butterfly Mix

Fresh bouquets are lovely, and for the mom who loves to get to growing consider a fragrant flowering plant paired with a gathering basket.

mother-daughter-in-field-of-flowers

 Liana Mikah

hanging-rattan-basket-with-handles

  Natural Decorative Rattan Hanging Basket

grass-covered-bird-house

 Square Decorative Moss Birdhouse by Ashland®

Summer is soon to come, and mom will be in summer chic style in one or all of these seasonal accessories.

Natural Woven Summer Tote - Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

Natural Woven Summer Tote – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

outdoor-garden-party-sunflowers

Flower Magazine – Photography by Mary Craven Dawkins

Beach, poolside, afternoon on the patio, or a fabulous garden party- summer style essentials gifts make a big splash.

Flower Show Picnic Basket

Flower Show Picnic Basket

I hope the Places In The Home Isn’t She Lovely Mother’s Day Gifts guide does in fact guide you to the perfect gift.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

What’s Your Interior Design Style?

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?

traditional-design-style-dining-room

Southern Living Magazine – Photography by Laurey W. Glenn

Building on today’s topic is this most profound piece of wisdom-

“An empty room is a story waiting
to happen, and you are the author.”

—Unknown

antique-desk-space-mirror

Chauncey Boothby Interiors

Individual style is one of the most crucial components of interior design and decorating.

painted-Chippendale-Dining-chairs

Flower Magazine – Photography by Emily Followill

Is your interior design style best defined as traditional?

Mad for modern?

modern-living-room-blue-couch

 Zoe Feldman Design – Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

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.

modern-decor-style-table

 Aker Interiors – Photography by Michael Clifford

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?

english-country-bath

Veranda Magazine – Photography by Simon Brown

Are you a student of the school of thought that the first rule of interior design and decor is that there are no rules?

Bowood-laundry-room

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

“The first rule of decoration is that you
can break almost all the other rules.”

—Billy Baldwin

silver-gray-grass-cloth-wallpaper

Munger Interiors

Visual impact is heightened through the blending of two interior design styles in traditionally unexpected yet well-received.

worlds-away-leona-pendant-gold-metal-dining-chairs-gold-tray-ceiling

Birmingham Home and Garden

Such is transitional interior design style-the result realized by grouping traditional design together with modern elements.

transitional-living-room-dark-coffee-table

1stDibs – Sean Anderson Design – Photography by Haris Kenjar

Does the high style from the low country guide your tastes as they translate from outdoor rustic to indoor beauty?

low-country-foyer

low-country-mix-foyer

Luxe Interiors + Design – Photography by Dustin Peck

Contemplating the sleekness and the current of contemporary style?

acrylic-waterfall-console-table

Tatum Brown Custom Homes

utopia-large-linear-pendant

Melanie Morris Design

Does rebel with a color my world cause best suit your penchant for the bold and the beautiful?

Elle Decor – Photography by Kirk Davis Swinehart

caribbean-blue-walls

 Liz Caan Interiors

pink-ikat-pillow-top-bench

 Mallory Mathison Design

Summer-Thornton-Interiors-bold-dining-room-colors

1stDibs – Summer Thornton Design
Photography by N. Johnson, B. Ambridge, J. Thornton

bold-lumbar-pillows

 Style at Home 

Layering the canvas in textiles, treasures, and touches of trend, does the allure of Bohemian style capture both heart and eye?

boho chic

 Domino – Photography by Brittany Ambridge

Taking stock of your individual design style, do you conclude your preference lends itself to farmhouse in rustic form?

michigan-farmhouse-living-room

Country Living Magazine – Photography by Nick Johnson

farmhouse-wallpaper

Wildflower Home Blog

Modern farmhouse to reflect the trending tide?

farmhouse-kitchen-island-with-storage

Amber Interiors Design Studio- Photography by Tessa Neustadt

May it be more on the end of the sliding industrial scale?

modern-farmhouse-entryway

Luxe Interior + Design – Photography by Kerry Kirk

Do you describe yourself as an embracer of the eclectic?

eclectic-design-style-house

Miles Redd – Ballard Designs on Pinterest

eclectic-library

One Kings Lane – Photography by Rachel Robshaw

eclectic-living-room-pastels

Anna Spiro – Homes to Love

Perhaps style spotter extraordinaire dancing to the beat of a different but very decorative drum describes your preferred style leanings.

black-white-laundry-room

Possibly one who adores the colors, patterns, and textures closely associated with the nature of coastal design?

coastal-blue-foyer-entryway

Flower Magazine – Photography by Carmel Brantley

elegant-coastal-bedroom

Veranda Magazine – Photography by Carmel Brantley

white-corian-countertops-light-green-cabinets

Coastal Living

cottage-nautical

Architectural Digest – Photography by Nelson Hancock

When home decor ideas are flowing but the home decor budget is not, do you take no for an answer or prove imagination knows no boundaries?

Carl Kleiner via Mary McDonald

Are you influenced by chic and stylish accents, accessories, and home decor, but in the end design and decorate to impress and inspire your taste?

antique-secretary-desk-mahogany

Country Living Magazine – Photography by Lara Resen

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.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

In the Garden Goodies

April is National Garden Month, and the timing grows perfect for digging into a seasonal vegetable or flower garden with in the garden goodies.

This is how we make a garden and a gorgeous video!

wildflowers-garden (1)

Photography by Erda Estremera

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.

burnt-Sago

Sage advice!

turn-off-the-news-and-get-in-the-garden

Happy Gardens on Facebook

Accents and accessories decorate the spaces and the places in the home, lawn and garden.

welcome-to-our-garden-mat

Spring Welcome To Our Garden Coir Door Mat by Place & Time

terra-cotta-pot-wreath-diy

DIY Terra-Cotta Wreath How-To

vegetable-serving-pieces

Staub Ceramic 16-oz Petite Tomato Cocotte – Cherry
Vintage Corn Casserole Dish

personalized-garden-sign-grown-with-love

Personalized Metal Garden Sign

garden-apron

Gardening Apron

Vegetables, fruits, and flowers thrive in growth and production when watered properly with a slower watering period.

vintage-watering-cans-garden

Antique Shoppes At 1100 Barksdale

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.

AirExpect 2 Pack Soil Tester

AirExpect 2 Pack Soil Tester

When it comes to watering herbs use enough water in order to moisten the root zone at least 6 inches deep.

herb-garden-1

Pinterest

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.

fresh rosemary

Rosemary

Known for its distinct woody scent, rosemary naturally repels mosquitoes slugs, moths, and flies.

basket-of-fresh-mint

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.

Snake-Plant

Snake-Plant

Mother-in-law’s Tongue

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 (1)

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.

Folding-Garden-Kneeler-Seat-Portable-Gardening-Bench-Stool-Soft-Kneeling-Foam-Pad-W-Tool-Pouch

Folding Garden Kneeler Seat with Tool Pouch

Successful gardening begins with beneficial tools and helping hand solutions for maximum results.

Marble-Sink-Devol-Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

fresh-tomatoes-in-basket-summer

Around the Places In The Home dinner table we do love good conversation and fresh tomatoes.

tomato-salad

Photography by Nadine Primeau

Tomato tips:

Tomatoes at room temperature release more flavor compounds when cut up compared to the taste of tomatoes that have been refrigerated.

tomato-cages-twine-grow-pouch

Twisted Jute Twine, Natural

Boxer Brown Breathable Fabric Planting Containers and Pots with Handles

Giant Belgium Pink Tomato Plant

tomato-trellis

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.

Ring Tomato Cage

Ring Tomato Cage

Keeping the fruit from making contact with the ground keeps the plants healthier and promotes a cleaner grow.

Patio Raised Garden Bed Grow Box Kit with Watering System and Casters in Evergreen

Patio Raised Garden Bed Grow Box Kit with Watering System and Casters

in-the-garden-goodies

Outdoor Wooden Garden Potting Bench

Outdoor Wooden Garden Potting Bench

Totes Ladies Clog

Totes Ladies Clog

Faux Bois French Inspired Oversized Chair

Faux Bois French Inspired Oversized Chair

garden-ornaments-bench-planters

Atelier de Campagne LLC

Estate and garage sales, antiques markets, and vintage shops become garden supplies treasure troves for finding planters, tools, and decorative garden statues.

vintage-globe-garden-ornament

Louisiana Gardeners

gardening-supplies-spring

Tools

Ozark Trail Heavy Duty Steel Folding Shovel

The Pioneer Woman Geo Print Women’s Nitrile Gardening Glove

Fiskars Designer Stainless Steel Pruner and Snip Set

DeWit Tulip Trowel

EG Expert Gardener 12.6 inch Steel Cultivator

Get to Growing

Expert Gardener Tomato & Vegetable Garden Plant Food Fertilizer

Preen Garden Weed Prevent + Plant Food

Large Capacity Black Growing Bag Raised Garden Flower Planter

30 Packs Assorted Heirloom Vegetable Seeds 30+ Varieties

Supplies

The Pioneer Woman Goldie Decorative Hose Hanger, Teal

Expanding Garden Hose

Gilmour Heavy Duty Multi-pattern Circular Sprinkler

Expert Gardener 2-Gallon Plastic Watering Can, Green

In the Garden Goodies

12″ Spring Iron & Terracotta Caterpillar Yard Stake by Place & Time

13 Gallon Spring Garden Grow Bag by Place & Time

Women’s LC Lauren Conrad Scalloped Straw Floppy Sun Hat

Round Cement Stepping Stone

fresh-green-lettuce-garden

One of the best parts of the vegetable and flower garden process is the garden to table recipes and dishes reaped from the harvest.

Counter Art Glass Cutting Board Our Farm

Counter Art Glass Cutting Board, Our Farm

Spring into summer salad season is here, and I love to serve a simply delicious salad on a garden themed plate.

Flower Show Melamine Salad Plate, Created for Macy's

Flower Show Melamine Salad Plate, Created for Macy’s

honeycomb-embossed-appetizer-salad-plates (1)

Honeycomb Embossed Appetizer Plates, Set of 4

4pk Melamine Appetizer Plates - Threshold

4pk Melamine Appetizer Plates – Threshold

hummingbird-feeding-from-Lilac

Hummingbird Nectar 

Ingredients

granulated white table sugar

Water (tap is fine)

Directions

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.

bumble-bee-purple-flower

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.”

— Alfred Austin

Honey Bee Hand Wash

Honey Bee Hand Wash

Burt's-Bees-almond-hand-cream

Burt’s Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream

Here’s to good gardening times!

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Spring Curb Appeal Enthusiasm

Warm weather and longer days put us one stepping stone closer to spring curb appeal enthusiasm.

spring-curb-appeal-front-yard

HGTV Magazine – Photography by Ball & Albanese

Exterior charm rates key in the overall design flow to create curb appeal.

curb-appeal-accents-spring

Updates, changes, additions, and refreshes to the exterior of your home don’t have to break the bank.

English-cottage-garden-curb-appeal

Better Homes & Gardens – Photography by Bob Stefko

Spring into summer color combinations such as bright and bold or classic château chic neutrals put an emphasis on welcome.

Spring Flowers on Brown Coir Door Mat 1

Spring Flowers on Brown Coir Door Mat

'Come In' Coir Doormat Natural - Threshold™

‘Come In’ Coir Doormat Natural – Threshold™

Seasonal colors make a most effective statement.

petunias-spring

Southern Living Magazine – Photography by Alison Miksch

Front yard flower beds and planters are ripe for the planting in an elevating  by cultivating way.

Better Homes and Gardens offers their readers an informative how to mulch guide here.

how-to-mulch

extras-graphic-1

browns-tans-benzara-wall-mount-mailbox

Spacious Brown Copper Metal Wall Mounted Mailbox

Natural Elements Lawn Plaque with Stakes

Natural Elements Lawn Plaque with Stakes

Round Cement Floral Stepping Stone

Round Cement Floral Stepping Stone

Outdoor-Faucet-Bird-Spigot

Outdoor Faucet Bird Shaped Spigot Solid Brass Antique Finish

Large-Terracotta-Red-Concrete-Planter-Pot

From the curb to the front door, color on parade is both a preached and practiced way to instantly pump up the spring curb appeal enthusiasm.

Alyssum Seeds

Alyssum Seeds

Ember Gray Resin Planter

Ember Gray Resin Planter

Better Homes & Gardens 8in Plant Bracket

Better Homes & Gardens 8in Plant Bracket

japanese-koi-piped-spitter-statue-verdigris

Design Toscano Japanese Koi Piped Spitter Statue

double-front-doors-polished-brass-knobs

 Alyssa Rosenheck

Creative Co-Op Gold Cast Metal Butterfly Door Knocker, Antique

Creative Co-Op Gold Cast Metal Butterfly Door Knocker, Antique

Knock, Knock!

Who’s there?

Theodore.

Theodore who?

Theodore knocker is beautiful!

Bronze door handle fist & ball door knocker

Bronze Door Handle Fist & Ball Door Knocker

Ressi Victorian Scroll Iron Outdoor Rocking Bench

Ressi Victorian Scroll Iron Outdoor Rocking Bench

Portside Dark Roast Outdoor Rocking Chair with Cushion

Portside Dark Roast Outdoor Rocking Chair with Cushion

Burchett-Outdoor-Acacia-Wood-Club-Chairs

Burchett Acacia Wood and Wicker Outdoor Club Chair

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, in what direction will your garden hedge design grow?

geometric-boxwood-hedges

Better Homes & Gardens – Photography by Gabriela Herman

Train up a vine in the way you want it grow, and when it thrives it will beautifully create curb appeal.

espalier-graphic

Espalier is the art of growing a plant along a flat surface.

1 : a plant (such as a fruit tree) trained to grow flat against a support (such as a wall)

2 : a railing or trellis on which fruit trees or shrubs are trained to grow flat.

white-shake-siding-garage-with-black-doors (1)

Collins Interiors

Click here for a great diamond patterned trellis vine wall tutorial.

copper-lanterns Better Homes & Gardens

Simple changes such as the addition of new house numbers, exterior lighting, and decorative fencing can produce big results.

casa-marseille-17-inch-high-textured-black-outdoor-wall-light

Casa Marseille Textured Black Outdoor Wall Light

Warwick 28 in. Aged Copper Finish Hardwired Outdoor Wall Lantern Seeded Glass

Warwick  Aged Copper Outdoor Wall Lantern Seeded Glass

garden-lighting-landscape-curb-appeal

Butter Wakefield – House & Garden Magazine

Santa Barbara Dark Sky 1-LT Outdoor Wall Lantern

Santa Barbara Dark Sky 1-LT Outdoor Wall Lantern

Luxury Industrial Chic Outdoor Wall Light

Luxury Industrial Chic Outdoor Wall Light

Here’s to  decorative and affordable curb appeal ideas that create spring curb appeal enthusiasm.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Easter Table Decor Suggestions

Easter table decor suggestions are in the spotlight this week.

Easter-script-graphic

Invariably at this season of the year my thoughts turn to the bunny discovered in our flower bed.

Easter bunny basket pastels

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.

cottontail-rabbit

One rabbit themed piece of decor seems to hop its way onto my Easter table decor suggestions in honor of Cottontail.

resin-rabbit-pink-bow

Vintage Rabbit Figurine, Resin

Adding to my Easter table decor suggestions bag of tricks is using a vintage glass basket for garnishes.

FENTON ART glass Rose Colored Open Basket With Handle, Ruffled edges

Fenton Art Rose Colored Open Basket With Handle, Ruffled Edges

Recipes Upon The Spring into Easter Table:

Asparagus-Tart-recipe

Asparagus Tart with Gruyere and Tarragon Recipe

Iced tea is the house wine of the South.

We steep, sugar, and serve the stuff year round.

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

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).

– Southern Living

Heirloom Basketweave Pitcher

Heirloom Basketweave Pitcher

Spring Rock Candy Sugar Sticks

Iced tea served with a rock candy stick adds an extra kick of sugar sweet swizzle and stir.

Lemon Buttercream Cakes

Lemon Buttercream Cakes Recipe

Delicious desserts have become works of culinary art.

Floral Porcelain CAKE PLATE

Floral Porcelain Cake Plate

Vintage pieces possess charming features, distinguishing colors, and delicate patterns able to gracefully stand alone or easily mix with new traditional favorites.

Hertford Set of 4 Bread Butter and Appetizer Plates,

Hertford Set of 4 Bread Butter and Appetizer Plates, Service For 4

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.

free-printable-easter-gift-tags-scissors-cherry-blossoms

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.

lilacs-deep-purple (1)

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.

pink-yellow-roses

Begin in your yard and garden, and build your arrangement from there.

Hershey's Solid Milk Chocolate Cross Easter Candy, Gift Box 1.8 oz $1.24/oz

Garden roses mixed with dusty miller, bridal wreath, fern fronds, and fresh seeded eucalyptus brings spring beauty to your dining table or sideboard.

bouquet-valentine's

Hull Woodland Ewer Pitcher Green Pink Pottery Vase

Hull Woodland Ewer Pitcher Green Pink Pottery Vase

Vintage Hull Art Pottery USA Two Handled Flower Vase

Vintage Hull Art Pottery USA Two Handled Flower Vase

Container ideas range from serving bowls and art pottery baskets to faux or fresh ornamental cabbages and decorative planters.

Pink Woodchip Basket

orange-yellow-light-pink-roses

spring-diy-flower-arrangement

Cabbage Arrangement

Large Cabbage Head by Ashland®

Large Cabbage Head by Ashland®

Figural Leaf Bowl

Figural Leaf Bowl

These Easter table decor suggestions invite simple yet elegant charm to the spring get-together and Easter celebration.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Spring On The Beauty

Spring on the beauty time is here, and my heart is full of expectation for the best of the season to show up and beautifully show out.

spring-on-the-beauty-2024

It’s time for spring.

blue-Dutch-door-spring

Southern Living Magazine – Photography by Hector Manuel Sanchez

Officially.

white-dresser-with-blue-tassel-hardware

Grapevine Interiors

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.

And without bees…

Treillage-Serene-Sky-fabric

Treillage Serene Sky Fabric

New spring blooms provide a pretty in pink landscape throughout the neighborhood.

in full bloom azaleas

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.

spring-blossom-yard-flowers

Country Living Magazine

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.

Butterfly on Lilac

Butterfly on Lilac

essentials-graphic-1

Good friends.

Seasonal dishes.

Smooth tunes.

Beautifully accessorized tables.

Lilacs.

Butterflies.

Comer+Wheelbarrow+Salad+Bowl

Comer Wheelbarrow Salad Bowl

Spring influences salads, sides, and sweets.

colorful-vegetables

Colorful Vegetables

What’s in a garden salad?

salad-paint-colors

Benjamin Moore Tomato Red
Benjamin Moore Mayonnaise
Behr Asparagus
Benjamin Moore Cucumber

Spring Crudités Board with White Bean-and-Pea Dip

Spring Crudités Board with White Bean-and-Pea Dip Recipe

Tory Burch Home lettuce ware dishes

Tory Burch Home

Many evenings we’ll dine al fresco on the patio or front porch for the spring of it all.

Cabbage Oval Platter

Cabbage Oval Platter

This is the sweet spot time before mosquitoes and humidity become unwelcome guests at the dinner table.

pea salad recipe

English Pea Salad Recipe

We design and decorate spaces and places in the home for the season with great anticipation.

Why not carry the theme through to spring cuisine?

frosted-lemon-cookies

Frosted Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe from Butternut Bakery

Color, texture, pattern, and taste repeats throughout chosen spring favorites.

Butterfly-Meadow-Gazebo-Cookie-jar

Butterfly Meadow Gazebo Cookie Jar

Wares and decorative pieces inspired by spring set the loveliest of tables and trays.

Eden-pitcher

Eden Pitcher

Our senses alert us to spring’s arrival, and color-rich gardens treat the eye and heart to the beauty of spring.

How I love a season that shows out!

Enjoy!

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Early Spring Into Easter

Early spring into Easter color awakenings through spring color palette choices are upon us.

multi-color-tulips-spring

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.

strawberries-in-season

Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Unsplash

Color wakes up a space in the same manner that spring wakes up color from its winter hibernation.

Farmers' Market Herb Live Wreath & Garland

Farmers’ Market Herb Live Wreath & Garland

Spring moves the clock forward, presents the perfect time to organize and clean, and wakes up the color all around us.

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Amal Kapen Interiors

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.

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Machine Washable Indoor/ Outdoor Chantille Floral Rug

Charlotte Moss Flowers Book

3d Floral Ceramic Table Lamp

Seria Hand Embroidered Pillow

Botanic Garden Sweetpea Boxed Ceramic Candle

Embroidered Daisy Pillow

More Monet Framed Wall Art

Modern Ceramic Temple Jar With Lid

Fairy Statue Collection Leaf Angel Girls Resin Home Decor

putting flowers in vase

 

 

 

 

 

 

de-gournay-Bayville-Chinoiserie

de Gournay Bayville Chinoiserie

Wallpaper or paint?

In certain situations, coupled with certain tastes, here’s where I stand on the matter.

Why not both?

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Photo by Clay Banks

Touches of color, texture, and pattern can automatically pack a space with immediate focal point potential.

green-pendant-light-breakfast-room-Cameron-Ruppert-Interiors

Cameron Ruppert Interiors

“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.”

— Johannes Itten

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Flower Magazine – Photography by Paul Costello

Subtle in nature and brilliant in execution, the color white does indeed make a strong and complementing canvas for the space to show its true colors.

nordic-ware-honey-hive-loaf-pan

Nordic Ware Honey Hive Loaf Pan

Uncomplicated updates translate into simply elevated elegant selections ready for the spring into summer season.

Easter Basket Flower Cake

Easter Basket Flower Cake

Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand

Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand

spring-vase-faux-flowers

7″ Spring Yellow Glass Urn Vase by Place & Time

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!

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Flickr

Running Rabbit Garden Statue

Running Rabbit Garden Statue

You say planter, I say perfect serving piece for the Easter dinner table.

rabbit-statue-salad-bowl-serveware

Color breathes life into the space to freshen and renew the look.

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Photo by James Wheeler

“The day the Lord created hope was
probably the same day he created Spring.”

– Bernard Williams

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Pairing Antiques with Modern Accents

Pairing antiques with modern accents strikingly proves opposites attract.

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Hilderbrand Interiors – Photography by John Merkl

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.

past-graphic

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.

Pairing Antiques with Modern Accents

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.

contemporary and transitional

Luxe Interiors + Design – Photography by Angie Seckinger

Pairing antiques with modern accents entrusts the plot of the story the space aims to visually tell to thicken.

Do I have antique furniture in my own home?

Yes!

Strictly antique furniture?

No!

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House Beautiful – Photography by Nicole Franzen

All traditional, modern, contemporary, coastal or transitional makes the personal decor style of the Jack or Jill decorista a tad too tedious.

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Architectural Digest – Photography by Nicole Franzen

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.

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Caleb Anderson

Continuity assures visual flow is achieved when layering modern decorating styles with timeless period pieces enriched with a notable breadth of character.

Thos. Moser dining table and chairs

New England Home – Photography by Mike Van Tassell

Attention to contrast is not to be overlooked as it elevates and adds dimension to an established aesthetic.

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Annette Tatum

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House & Garden – Photography by Alicia Taylor

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.

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Leanne Ford Interiors – Photography by Amy Neunsinger

Unexpected points and pieces of interest inevitably lay the groundwork for inspired conversation, hence the term conversation piece.

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Mona Hajj Interiors – Photography by Laura Hull

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.

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Homes to Love

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.

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David Jimenez LLC – Photography by Xavier Béjot

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Antique and architecturally inspired decor accents merge at the crossroads of placement and provenance brilliance.

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House Beautiful – Photography by Shade Degges

Period, patina, and palette color work in harmony to best define blended style elements.

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 Darryl Carter Inc. – Photography by Jennifer Hughes

Your home decor should craft a story, one that reflects your personal taste and individuality.

Consider trying out the concept of pairing antiques with modern accents.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell