Antiques Archives — Places In The Home

Impressive Kitchen Furnishings, Decor Pieces and Accents

Impressive kitchen furnishings, decor pieces and accents brings us to this feature spotlighting pieces sure to elevate the design and decor of your kitchen.

Cookies and Santa

After the holiday whirlwind kitchen events of the last few weeks one would think a post about impressive kitchen furnishings, decor pieces and accents would be a bit redundant.

Turns out, the well-appointed kitchen remains the heart and hub of the home; a central gathering place serving a multitude of purposes.

Southern Living – Photography by Alison Gootee – Styling by Elizabeth Demos

Back in our flipping days, maison de Places In The Home was a holiday happening place holiday eat, drink, and be merry.

Realtors, designers, and home builders folk love to get together for holiday cocktails with a twist of spirited networking.

At Home In Arkansas – Photography by Rett Peek

At evening’s end the majority of the house basically remained pre-party perfect, however, based on the state of the kitchen it was indeed the happening holiday party place to mix, mingle and holiday jingle.

Marmont Hill After Party Clean-Up

Established fact proves the days gone by design philosophy of the kitchen being for strictly utilitarian purposes, small in size, and decoratively unremarkable is best left in the past.

Impressive kitchen furnishings, decor pieces and accents decidedly factor into today’s kitchen design as much as cabinetry, appliance, lighting, flooring and placement choices do.

House Beautiful – Photography by Erin Kunkel

Decorating for the holidays reaches far beyond tinsel and trimmings.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

What better time than at the gift giving time of year to add impressive kitchen furnishings, decor pieces and accents on your gifts for the holiday decorista Christmas list.

19th Century French Bleached Oak Buffet

1820s French Oak Vitrine

Topping the impressive kitchen furnishings, decor pieces and accents Dear Santa list is this vintage stripped bleached French cabinet in all its gorgeous glory.

Antique Bleached Oak Display Cabinet Bookcase from France

Magnifique!

China Cabinet with Fretwork Doors

Display cases, as they are categorized, may be utilized for the intended or as chic options for all things that make a kitchen.

Stately Reclaimed Pine Display

First rule of impressive is to be unique in placement and presentation.

Although a piece may not be so unique, how it is put to use can be.

Antique Vaisselier, French Louis XV Style Fruitwood, 1800’s

Merritt Cabinet

19th Century French Chateau Rectangular Dining Table, Cherry Wood

French Butchers Block

French Kitchen Island

In keeping with the there’s no place like home for the holidays philosophy, I’m featuring striking pieces influenced in Louisiana French-Spanish-European provenance that catch my eye and my heart.

Isamar Bachelors Chest

Three drawer chest of drawers elegantly make the traditionally thought transition from bedroom furniture to kitchen/kitchen dining storage piece.

Gorgeous Bow Front Storage Chest

92-Piece 20th-Century Baroque Silver-Plated Flatware

Sideboard Walnut French Dove Tail 2-Door

Luca Buffet

Early 20th Century French Painted Carved Walnut Eight-Light Chandelier

Maxax 5 – Light Unique / Statement Empire Chandelier with Crystal Accents

6 Light Chandelier by Minka Metropolitan

Such is the case when juxtaposition, distinctive craftsmanship, provenance, and regional influences beautifully meet and master the characteristic of a space.

Salento 9-Light Vintage Copper Chandelier

Gorgeous just hanging around-

Odyssey 4-Light Pendant Fixture Vintage Brass Finish with Clear Glass
Gold Stainless Steel Single Pendant Lighting With Clear Hanging Crystals
Antique Silver 6-Light Rectangular Kitchen Island Lighting
Peyton 2 Light Pendant in Matte Black + Chrome
Kichler Lighting Opal 12 inch 2-Light Pendant Character Bronze with Opal Glass
Hudson Valley Burdett 4-light Pendant
Hinkley Lighting Nautique 18″ Wide Mixed Metal Single Pendant
Antique White 4-Light Birdcage Lantern Pendant

Tiffany Farha Design

Kitchen countertop counterparts:

Visual Comfort Totie Table Lamp by Thomas O’Brien
H.E. Rainaud Antique Tiffany Style 6 Slag Glass Lamp
Zain Table Lamp, Set of 2
Wyman 16″ Crystal Ball/Metal LED Table Lamp, Clear by JONATHAN Y
Baroque Accent Table Lamp

Bernhardt Villa Toscana Arm Chair

Detail comes home in this Italian Baroque Revival carved dining table.

Italian Baroque Revival Carved Wood Dining Table

Grand French Country Oval Dining Table

For the flow and the French of it all, may I present these decorative kitchen accents and accessories to accent the look.

19th Century Pair of Painted and Upholstered Louis XVI Style Open Arm Fauteuils

Handcarved French Rush Dining Chairs S/4

Hooker Furniture Castella Wood Back Arm Chair

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Painted and Giltwood Mirror

Some may opine my needle appears stuck on antiques and vintage accents.

Long my preferred go-to choice, I find the charm and character quotient appeals to my desire to incorporate unique pieces in with new traditional promotes conversation and balances the visual points of interest of a space.

Sheraton Giltwood Mirror, c.1830

Burnished Gold Cast Iron Art Rococo Footed Tray

Consider using architectural salvage pieces in your kitchen decor.

Faithful followers of Places In The Home know all too well my fascination with using fireplace covers/firebacks as decorative kitchen wall accents.

Antique Architectural Salvage Cast Iron Fireplace Cover

Porcelain lemon topiary is a current accent obsession.

Mama Places In The Home had one ions ago, and goodness only knows where it finally landed in the great remodel and purge of years back.

MIA: Missing Impressive Accent

Victorian Era Boston Bond Bread Oak Store Display Case

Louis XV Style Carved Walnut Wall Rack

English 19th Century Carved Wooden Fragment with Fruits and Flower Garland
18th Century Oak Boiserie Panel

Door knockers easily make the transition from exterior door ornament to singular focal point cabinet pull or even an excellent choice of wall decor.

Dark Brown Metal Hand Pull

Turns out the decision to kill a little time before an appointment by dropping by one of my favorite vintage goods haunts was a splendid one indeed.

Garden statue then, cookbook bookend now.

Kensington Hill Taryn Vintage Style Table Clock

Antique Male Oil Painting

AELS Vintage Wall Clock

Implementing art into your kitchen decor elevates the overall aesthetic.

Housatonic Valley #98 Vintage Framed Print
Vintage French La Mode Illustree Framed Art
Young Oak Trees #222 Vintage Framed Wall Art Painting
Florentine Framed Print
Antique Cast Iron Classical Lady Head Architectural
Edith #215 Vintage Framed Wall Art

Lagniappe is defined as something given as a bonus or extra gift, and is present in impressive kitchen furnishings, décor pieces and accents replete with distinctive detail, prominence, and beauty.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the product links I have an affiliate relationship with and make a purchase from the retailer, I receive a commission from the sale.

The Thanksgiving Of It All

It dawned on me that going with my heart this year and decorating according to the current mood is exactly the theme for this year’s Thanksgiving of it all.

Nothing too elaborate or over the top, just simply going with tried and true pieces that speak Thanksgiving to me.

Opening the cabinet doors of the section of the kitchen reserved for the good china and holiday appropriate plates proved to be the hardest part of the decorating plan.

Simple elegance is rooted in a cozy and comfortable ambiance.

To me it simply isn’t a Thanksgiving table without serving pieces and figurines denoting a pheasant and turkey pattern.

My great-grandmother, Mama Two, went to great measures to set a lovely Thanksgiving table each year she was with us.

The Thrifted Table

Mama Two entertained and adorned with grace and what appeared an effortless command of the feast setting. At least one pheasant and one turkey plate, platter, or figurine always found a planned path to the tabletop.

Mismatched 6 Spoons Silverplate Teaspoons

Antique finds gathered over the years such as accent flatware pieces connect the dots to family tablescape traditions.

Posts of Thanksgiving past prove my tried and true favorites don’t seem to waver. Color combos and patterns continue to lean neutral to nature with at least one new or new to me addition added for good measure.

Woodland Turkey Platter

Better Homes & Gardens Exposed White Clay Stoneware Drink Pitcher

Jadeite Green Glass Cake Stand with Loop Trim

Antique J. H. W. & Sons Hanley England Serving Bowl

Mazie 20pc. Flatware

Hemlock Trails Cotton Quilted Round Reversible Placemat Set of 6

Ceramic Pumpkin Gravy Boat

In the Forest Owl Mixing, Measuring and All-Purpose Bowls, Set of 3

Linden Street Amber Glow Acorn Wood Serving Tray

Something as simple as velvet ribbon and decorative feathers becomes a stunning choice of dinner napkin embellishment.

Thanksgiving into Christmas 11 inch wreaths for use as chair wreaths or as decorative rings framing candles, serving bowls and/or cake stands.

Lindsay Bowles Artist

Treasures found online and in store set a place for the unique and the uncommon.

Treasure Chest

Place cards zhuzh up the occasion.

DIY Thanksgiving Pear Place Cards

Lovely place cards ideas range from fresh fruit au naturel or spray painted in your favorite holiday color.

Fall leaves and a Sharpie create festive place cards.

Free printables such as this vintage brown turkey with fanned tail lend traditional beauty to the holiday table.

The Graphics Fairy

How gorgeous is this pairing- get it?

Good Housekeeping – Photography by Mike Garten

Roasted Pears

Ingredients

4 Bosc pears

2 tbsp Maple syrup

1 kosher salt and pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

½ cup walnuts, toasted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Wash and pat dry pears. Cut each pear in half lengthwise and remove seeds.

Place the pears on the baking dish, with the cut side facing upward.

Fill each pear with toasted walnuts. Drizzle olive oil and maple syrup over pears. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake for 30 minutes or until soft.

Jadeite continues to have its moment, and the Martha Stewart Highbrook Jadeite Glass Loop Cake Stand is poised to become a timeless remembrance.

Martha Stewart Highbrook Jadeite Glass Loop Cake Stand in Mint

Well, folks, that’s the Thanksgiving of it all.

My Personal Interpretation of Modern Farmhouse Style

What do you do when the heat index registers 113° on a hot and humid Louisiana summer day?

You pour yourself a glass of Southern sweet ice tea, you stay indoors in the air conditioning, and you spend quality time updating this farmhouse style post to better show and tell a personal style journey.

Mixing decorating styles piques not only my interest but engages my eye.

Take the modernization of farmhouse style.

Building upon the design and decorating cornerstones of farmhouse style, modern farmhouse accents the mix and mingle of decorating styles, finding the curated look to be an expression of personal style, taste and interpretation through balance, harmony, layers, and visual engagement.

Polsky Perlstein Architects ~ Michael Hospelt Photography

Inspiration is everywhere, especially in forgotten photo file folders that evoke the thoughts and memories of past that shape my present personal interpretation of modern farmhouse style.

Domino

On a recent save and purge photo scroll and purge, I came across a fall folder packed with pics from a staging session.

Architectural Digest

Farmhouse is in my DNA, so to speak.

I come from a long line of farmhouse admirers as you will learn from the abbreviated backstory a few paragraphs down.

Flickr

Abandoned, inhabited, primitive, pristine and historic- I’ve never met a farmhouse I haven’t loved, or at the very least appreciated.

Condition proves irrelevant to the enamored.

A good eye sees past the past straight to the innate beauty found in intricate millwork, stately embellishments, and architectural details.

Design Sponge ~ Photo by Maxwell Tielman

Pecky Cypress

These treasure-troves of design and decorating leave a lasting and inspiring impression.

Texas Farm Bureau ~ Julie Vrazel Tomascik

Throughout my childhood my mother and grandmother would decide on a whim to load up the Lincoln and point the hood emblem west to Texas.

No trip to Texas was complete without an adventure on the way to my great-grandparents house.

Lincoln

Over the Louisiana bayous and down the Texas farm-to-market roads, to great-grandmother’s house we go with a Glen Campbell 8-track in the Philco ever gentle on our minds and nary a seat belt fastened or care in the world.

Cameron

Now Bryan! Now Cameron! Now Heidenheimer and Temple!
On, Belton! On, Killeen! On, Hewitt and Waco, too!

My grandmother could scope out a farmhouse among Texas Bluebonnets like nobody’s business.

She was farmhouse when farmhouse wasn’t cool.

Her antiques shops radar was fine-tuned to treasures ahead and a skill I’ve proudly inherited.

To protest was pointless.

I learned at an early age to never question the motives of a native Texan whose eyes have seen the glory of a Texas farmhouse, a hole-in-the-wall junk shop or Bluebonnet field.

Looking back over our adventures, I find an obvious correlation between my personal style interpretation of modern farmhouse design and the farmhouses, antiques shops and the fields of Bluebonnet dreams waltzed across Texas all those years ago.

Dana Wolter Interiors

To put show to tell, I’ve sourced a collection of images, accessories and curiosities in the manner of modern farmhouse style.

Carved Walnut Library Table

Antique pieces are well represented in many of the photos as it is what I consider the standard decorating accessory that beautifully complements and stunningly creates visual contrast to define modern farmhouse style.

Wreath Mirror in Shimmer

Marinette 33 in. Clear Glass Table Lamp

Cement Wavy Grey Large Decorative Vase

“The home should be the treasure chest of living.”

— Le Corbusier

Wood Inlay Trinket Jewelry Box

Blur the hard lines of a design style by stepping away from convention.

This 1920s painted pine table is farmhouse kitchen ready to work, but I see a stunning foundation piece for the modern farmhouse foyer.

Industrial Island / Centre Table

Athena Ivory 6 ft. x 9 ft. Area Rug

Abel Round Mirror

Hand Painted Italian Decorative Box

Alfresco Home Delfina Urn Planter

Hitting the Magnolia Jackpot Right Outside the Front Door

1980s Portraiture Framed Oil Painting of Greyhound Whippet by Dawne Hill

EBTH

Now more than ever I am convinced the nouns of our lives, the people, places and things that leave a lasting impression play a significant role in our personal style choices.

Schoolhouse

Domino

beams

When Dave the Builder asked me what I wanted for a Christmas present, I put in my order for one of these beam beauties.

It arrived Christmas Eve with a big red bow on it, and will soon be added a modern farmhouse style decoration to the Places In The Home kitchen.

When the tornado hit, the roof over the kitchen took the brunt of the force from tree branches and debris. Add to that the water leaks and you get a taped and floated seam that is slowly exposing itself for the eyesore to eventually come.

Necessity comes together with attention to detail to welcome home a touch of modern farmhouse style.

Warmth through color, texture and pattern exemplifies the cozy nature of of farmhouse style.

Uttermost Treneece Distressed Antique Grey 1-light Table Lamps

The White Sparrow Barn

My Texas House by Orian Indoor Outdoor Lady Bird Natural Gray Area Rug

Paladino 6-Light Chandelier

Rustic 8-Light Crystal Candle Style Chandelier

Farmhouse Family Room

Better Homes & Gardens

Muestera Weathered Grey Dining Chair

Parsons Concrete Top/ Stainless Steel Base

Years ago when by decorating happenstance I discovered just how aesthetically striking the pairing two styles together there was no turning back.

My future kitchen redesign (always a project in play) involves the marriage of a yet purchased antique farm or harvest table with the Chippendale dining chairs currently round the dining room table.

New upholstery.

New space.

New look.

Edit from within and be amazed by the transformation of space and style.

Similarities in Style

What do you get when you cross modern farmhouse style with French country style?

A marriage of clean lines, stunning character and classic sophistication.

Cabinet, Glass Front, Pine, Antique White

Andillac China Cabinet

Benjamin Dhong Interiors

The tops and shelves of farmhouse and modern farmhouse style sideboards and accent cabinets are made for housing distinctive wares and decorative accessories such as…

Elle Decoration

Milk Decoration

Transferware.

Antique French Ironstone Transferware Tureen H.B.& Cie.CHOISY-le-Roi

Ironstone.

Ironstone Bowl with Pink Flowers

Mix and mingle styles and unique finds and additions with the accent mark placed over gorgeous.

Left Corner Carved Cabinet Salvaged Architectural

Late 19th Century Country French Provincial Oak Kitchen Hutch Cabinet

Distressed Grey Wood Grandfather Style Wall Clock

Curtis & Windham Architects

Madison Park Davisina Silver Counter Stool

Copper Grove Carcassonne Bar Height Swivel Stool

Throw the eye a curveball.

Oro Polished Silver Counter Stool

Let’s continue on with the classic farmhouse to modern farmhouse style accents and accessories that make the gotta have it list.

Stephens Design Group

Cow and/or bull head wall décor.

Nest

Vintage pitchers and creamers never go out of style.

DecorPad

Framed and unframed art.

Personal interpretation of interior styles is often subject to life influences.

Decorating outside the traditional norms of a design style is an excellent way to further emphasize your personal style and taste preferences.

Enlightening Articles-Tips-Snippets of Information

Tom Petty knows exactly what he’s talking about when he sings the waiting is the hardest part. Waiting, especially in a hospital situation, requires a vast amount of patience and a variety of good reading material. I’m what you would call a student of the old school- a scholar of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it studies. In other words, I decided to read a print magazine instead of pulling up a digital edition on my tablet. I spied a couple of shelter magazines of house and home interest in the rack – some with current cover dates, and some not so current. Enlightening articles-tips-snippets of information beneficial to all things house that make a home will always make for a good read, regardless of cover date. I look at it as an interior design, decorating, home decor accessories, antiques and how to score the best of the best refresher course.

The first article of interest gave the reader tips for successful flea market, garage and estate sale shopping. Everyone has their own way of treasure hunting, but there is a proven core strategy. In the world of antique auctions, flea markets and estate sales, the preview is the time to get your deals and steals game on. Dave the Builder and I split up; a divide and conquer technique that works for us.

Pop-up Flea Market ~ Paris

I keep a notebook and pen in hand for taking notes from everything to lot number to condition to dealer location to asking price to this is my absolute bottom bottom line price offer, bid etc…

Dave takes close up pictures with his cellphone of the pieces he is interested in to further examine for imperfections before bidding begins. The deal can be found in the imperfection only if you can do the repair, refinish or reupholster yourself or hire out for little out of pocket money.

Gallery Auctions

Auction houses stack items tight and tall in dark spaces and corners to utilize floor space. A crowded house or stacked to the walls booth translates to scores of salable merchandise. For this reason we bring his and hers flashlights so we don’t overlook a fracture or fine-line crack.

Brooklyn Flea Fort Greene ~ Pinterest

Dealers at flea markets, estate and garage sales begin to discount unsold items later in the sale which can work to a buyer’s advantage. Larger ticket items can be worth the risk of playing the waiting game. I’ve scored several pieces for a steal, and missed out on some too. It’s strictly depends on the item and nerves of “steal”.

It’s basically an in the moment call.

Now let me share with you another enlightening articles-tips-snippets of information gem stemming from the magazine article my mother read while keeping me company in the hospital waiting room. Our recent coffee talk conversation went a little something like this:

My mother: “Sister, what is WTF?”

Me: “An acronym for Where’s the Food.”

wtf

It took me about three seconds to realize I’d better tell her what WTF really means. Leaving her in the dark depths of millennial slang, risking her repeating to her beauty shop cohorts and the ladies that lunch loyal what she thinks is simply a hip colloquial term would be irresponsible on my part. Funny, but irresponsible.

Me: “Mother, WTF is slang for What the F***.”

I was curious why she wanted to know what WTF means, so I did what any respectable curious and/or noisy person does. I asked.

Me: “Mother, why do you want to know what WTF means?”

My mother: “When Dave was in the hospital and we were in the waiting room, I was reading in a magazine (she can’t remember the name of the magazine, but she can remember WTF) a story about a woman catching her tweenage daughter texting WTF. The woman asked her daughter what WTF means. “With the Family,” replied the fast thinking tween.

Pinterest

Fast forward several months to when the woman, a newbie to Facebook and the speak, slang, and acronyms of social media, posted an update from their family vacation to Paris. Surprised by the amount of likes her post received, she shared the development with her tween daughter. The daughter asked the mom what she was posting vis-à-vis the vacation. “In Paris WTF.”

Me: Well, now you know.

We’re headed back to the hospital next week for more tests, more waiting, more reading. I think I’ll bring a few of the shelter magazines from my 2017 stack to donate to the cardiac unit waiting room reading material collection. A good read passes the time, enlightening articles-tips-snippets of information are always appreciated, and a good laugh lightens the mood. As they say, laughter often is the best medicine.

Vacation Observations and Treasures Show and Tell

As promised, here is part two of what I did on my summer statecation otherwise titled Vacation Observations and Treasures Show and Tell.

My blogging routine is suffering from a case of the I’m ready for summer to be over and fall to get here slowdown blues.

Taking time to hunt and gather images, ideas and inspiring notes of design and decorating interest for fall and home for the holidays sharing benefits both author and reader.

It’s gonna be good!

Summer whispers into the ear of the normal day-to-day routine let’s blow this gig.

You’ve got places to go, people to see, ideas to develop.

Summer didn’t have to tell me twice it was time to book a five day statecation to the Shreveport/Bossier City area.

Antiquing and vintage shopping is a big part of the vacation equation, and traveling by car makes it super easy to load that baby up with finds, treasures and home goods.

My must shop list includes Dillard’s, Belk, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx.

For good while we’re here measure I threw in a let’s stop by the new Whole Foods Market Shreveport.

Try, try as I may to figure out what the whole Whole Foods hullabaloo is all about, I don’t get it.

Take it away, Josh Baskin.

Perusing the East 70th Street retail and restaurant offerings, I noticed a peppering of construction crews and roll offs.

Curiosity leads inquiring minds to need to know info.

Look what’s coming to Shreveport.

at-home

Shreveport has hit the all things house that make a home jackpot.

I am decorating and dining happy.

Happy to

and beyond!

I do love a good game of wordplay.

Our Home away from Home- Horseshoe Bossier City

One up way too early for a vacation day coffee call served up one what do you want to do today round table discussion.

Antiquing it is.

Wifi connected us to six shops of interest and roads to follow.

Treasures Show and Tell Observation #1

Change is the only constant in today’s antiques marketplace.

When Dave and I were actively “in the biz,” the proprietor of the antique mall we were in required dealer inventory consist of at least 80% antiques with an allowance for 20% vintage collectibles.

An antique by law is an item at least 100 years old. Vintage collectible refers to an item at least 50 years old.

We advertised as an antiques shop, and the inventory reflected that.

Assuming (you know what they say about assuming) all antique shops adhere to the same truth in advertising rule, when the sign says antiques I brake for antiques.

On the other hand, if a shop’s name has the word or words curiosity, vintage, thrift, trading, collectibles, junque or consignment in it I know what’s in store.

Out of the six antiques shops visited, only three fit the bill.

Two featured vintage finds and curiosities, and one is nothing more but a shadow of its former antique mall glory.

Treasures Show and Tell Observation #2

It dawned on me after viewing booth after booth of painted pieces that I have an issue with the trend that in my opinion has stayed too long at the party.

It’s a disgrace when an item is touted as an authentic painted piece picked and plucked from an old farmhouse, feed, hardware or general store when in truth it is fresh off the chalk paint, font and Pinterest bandwagon.

Many an unsuspecting and trusting customer gets duped by this practice, and I think it is absolutely shameful.

Buyer beware.

Good advice and odd artwork caught my attention.

corbel

Dave the Builder, always clever in his delivery, exclaimed for sale as in fore sale! upon the sighting of this Louis Vuitton golf bag.

Treasures Show and Tell Observation #3

I’m kicking myself for not buy this St Francis garden statue.

The best time to buy an antique, collectible, vintage treasure or in the case concrete garden statue is when you see it.

Restaurant china creamers and syrup pitchers are my collecting thing, and when priced under $5 call these sold!

A small print and a steamboat saucer rounded out my big haul.

Treasures Show and Tell Observation #4

Small finds can make big impacts in the grand decorating and color scheme of things.

Our summer statecation is in the rear view mirror, and I’m already checking rates and availability for a quick late fall getaway.

In the meantime it’s back to work, decorating ideas and the holidays are right around the corner plans.

In blog housekeeping news, I am currently in the middle of attempting to migrate my existing site to a new and improved cPanel hosting platform.

This, my friends, should be good.

Technical blah, blah, blah but necessary to keep things up to speed.

I’m about to lose my mind and my religion over this, but I’m determined to do this.

If I don’t break the site, Places In The Home will be back up running and loading lightening fast next week.

Have a lovely rest of the week.

A Most Fetching Friday

fetch·ing

/ˈfeCHiNG/

adjective

adjective: fetching

attractive.

synonyms: attractive, appealing, sweet, pretty, good-looking, lovely, delightful, charming, prepossessing, captivating, enchanting, irresistible

I thought I would bring back my A Most Fetching Friday series for the spring and summer season. Today’s spring and summer fetching Friday kicks off the series with a collection of images drenched in color and seasonal decorating inspiration.

Country Living

Southern Living

ELLE DECOR

Redbook

Harper’s BAZAAR

Morocco Domaine

Burke Decor

1stdibs

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Decorating Way, Way Back: Decorating With What You Love

I have titled this blog post the decorating way, way back. For the hip and happening hashtag crowd, let’s go with #WaybackWednesday on this #ThrowbackThursday eve.

Decorating with what you love is the natural instinct of the decorista.

However, lost, destroyed and misplaced is not the words we want associated with the items we love.

A couple of weeks ago I received in an email these blast from the past photos.

Tears of thankfulness rolled down my cheeks as I’m thrilled to have these back in my photo file once again, grainy finish and all.

These photos are of our old old house.

Originally we purchased this house as an investment property, but it made financial and logistical sense (and cents) to just move into the property while we were in all out renovation mode of our present home.

These photos were taken early 2000 when family and close friends gathered back at our home after the funeral of my maternal grandmother.

My grandmother, a self-made woman and antiques dealer extraordinaire, taught me the world of antiques.

I see her everyday when I glance at the many items given to us by her and proudly displayed throughout our home.

Dave the Builder and I have always been big on including family mementos into our decor.

Decorating with what you love makes a house a home.

The decorative anchors of the fireplace mantel consist of two of my most treasured treasures.

The vintage rose bowl was an anniversary gift from Dave the Builder.

I spotted it in a friend’s antiques store and commented to Dave how I wished I could find one similar to it in our treasure hunting rounds.

As soon as I opened the anniversary gift and saw the rose bowl I knew its new home would be on the fireplace mantel.

Of course, this was before my graceful handling resulted in its chip and crack demise.

The Hull Magnolia ewer on the other end of the mantel was Dave the Builder’s paternal grandmother’s.

When Dave and I first started dating he was using the ewer as a doorstop.

A doorstop!

Dave, this is an exquisite, mint condition piece of American pottery. Please visit your local home improvement store for all your doorstop needs.

It is a sheer miracle the ewer didn’t end up in the same condition as the rose bowl.

Live Auctioneers

The design of the house was a natural fit for our American antique pieces.

The dining room color was Sherwin Williams Mint Condition.

sw-mint

The den color was Sherwin Williams Fired Brick.

The photos cast an altogether different color.

This is the first draft of the dining room in our present home which was also painted in Sherwin-Williams Fired Brick.

Lighting is key to true color reads.

Addresses, hair colors, waistlines and fashions have changed over the last fifteen years.

Trends have ushered us toward painted furniture, neutrals as color, and new traditional modern.

If I had to do the interior of this particular style home all over again, I don’t believe I would change too much of the original interior selections.

They say you can’t go back, but you can remain true to your personal interior design and decor style without apology or comparison.

It’s called decorating with what you love.

The Gotta Have It List Summer 2015 Edition

Making things pretty on a penny is always a subject of interest to me, clients, friends, family and judging from the emails I receive, most of my readers.

The summer retail season is heating up, and the stores, outlets and online sights we love to call favorites are rolling out seasonal finds much to the delight of decorators, designers and gotta have it guys and gals.

Seasonal decorating is nothing new, but the items in which to accomplish this mission of home decor beautification are.

Summer style spotting with pen, paper and bookmark icon ready to jot and save is proving to be successful on the summer finds front.

Here is the first round of the Gotta Have It List summer 2015 edition.

This is not the first time the Quorum 6 Light Salento Chandelier in Persian White has made an appearance on the Gotta Have It list.

Why the encore feature?

It begins and ends with my all time favorite four-letter word, SALE!

H & M continues to impress with decorative accents big on visual quality and style at an affordable price.

You just can’t go wrong with an accent piece in the decorating darling duo of black and white.

A classic color combination paired with a trending pattern in pop of zebra detail places this ceramic jar accent at the top of the Gotta Have It list summer 2015 edition.

Style Me Pretty

Named after English architect Charles L. Eastlake, the design of this late 19th century style of furniture is one of my least favorites.

This mass produced style is actually more of a “in the style of” interpretation of what American professional cabinet makers serving as master furniture designers deemed an authentic replica of Eastlake’s design.

Charles Eastlake was not impressed with the results. Mr. Eastlake and I are of the same school of thought.

His words say it far better than mine.

“I find American tradesmen continually advertising what they are pleased to call Eastlake furniture, the production of which I have had nothing whatever to do, and for the taste of which I should be very sorry to be considered responsible.”

~ Charles L. Eastlake

That being said, the Eastlake style chair in the above image from Style Me Pretty demonstrates how a chic update can transform an otherwise dated piece into a hip and happening accent chair focal point.

Not all antique furniture pieces are prime candidates for paint, but in the case of Eastlake furniture I say pick it out, shake it up and paint it pretty.

Late summer means treasure hunting days at one of my favorite haunts, Korner Shoppe Antiques.

This gem of a joint is full to the gills with my kind of treasures, trinkets and trash.

Inspiration struck as I perused the shoppe’s Facebook page so I did what all deal dreaming decoristas do- I sketched out plans for an upcoming project around copper pots and pans.

One very brilliant episode of Mad Men placed Howard Johnson’s back into the thoughts of a generation of hungry Americans who ordered up cups, plates and scoops of American fare under the iconic bright orange roof.

hojo HoJo

This Howard Johnson’s sugar bowl from Fishs Eddy is on its way to the Places In The Home test kitchen counter sprinkled with memories of summer vacations, motor lodges, fried clams and 28 flavors.

What home decor items will you be adding to your Gotta Have It List summer 2015 edition?

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