decorating styles Archives — Places In The Home

Coastal Home Decor

Coastal home decor comes to the mind of the decorista as warm breezes, cool tones, and hot tunes provide inspiration and ideas for updating house and home.

House & Home – Photo by Heather Ross

Is Coastal Style Still In Style?

When the calendar turns to a new season I generally take the time to reflect on and take stock of design styles. For instance, the popularity, pertinence, and staying power of the classics and the trendy.

Coastal home décor pieces rooted in traditional influences accented with new-traditional interpretations run the gamut from Palm Beach to Palm Springs style and coastal to tropical points in between.

Elle Decor – Photography by Eric Piasecki

Experimenting with different aspects of a design style is easy.

Introduce new takes on a classic to keep the decorating fun and fresh, and the decorative appeal of the space visually engaging to you and the eyes that will ooh and ahh over your decorating mastery.

The takeaway is this: the coastal home décor accents and accessories you find to be a stunning reflection of you and your impeccable personal taste is exactly what’s in style.

“We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.”

—Unknown

Dream and decorate in sea to sky colors of soft neutrals and crisp deep tones borrowed from the beauty of the sea.

If a total coastal home décor makeover is in your seasonal update decorating scheme plan, this post is here to give ideas.

If you find you’re leaning more towards refreshing your décor with subtle spot touches to achieve a relaxed day at the beach aesthetic, this post has got you covered like SPF 50 sunscreen.

House Beautiful- Benjamin Dhong- Photo by Lisa Romerein

Wall mirrors classify as art in this decorista’s portfolio.

A&B Home Wall Mounted Mirror with Round Gold Metal Frame

Medium Round Champagne Art Deco Mirror

In this in the style of feature, one is silver, and the other, gold.

Hunter Wall Mirror

Serene pastels fit in comfortably with the beachside color palette.

Suzanne Kasler

Molly 3.5 in. x 28.3 in. Modern Rectangle Framed White Decorative Mirror

Fossilized Clam Rectangular Mirror

Louis XIV Style Carved Wood Console

Inspiration is everywhere, especially in the colors, textures, and patterns discovered under the sea.

SAFAVIEH Lighting Ivy Resin Table Lamp

White Coral Tabletop Décor

Finch Versailles Tufted Accent Chair

Copper Grove Muir Rosa Tufted Chair – Pink

Here’s a couple of fun pretty in pink accent chair options to consider.

Designart ‘Quartz Texture’ Upholstered Accent Chair

Designart Influence Of Line and Color Upholstered Accent Chair

Mixing styles is key when the intent is contrast through traditional meets modern juxtaposition.

House & Garden – Photo by Paul Massey

The core concept of coastal decorating style places the emphasis on creating a comfortable and inviting space rich in layers, textures, and natural elements.

House & Garden- Photo by Cristian Barnett

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Pierce Wicker Side Table

Wicker, rattan, seagrass, jute, and woven pieces are instantly associated with coastal chic.

Meena Modern Rattan Wall Sconce

Southern Living Ideal Home – Crane Island, Florida

Seaside chic is color rich, texture driven, and pattern at play perfect for merging the coastal vibe of the indoors to the outdoors.

East At Main’s Cheyenne Living Room Chair

Small Wooden Tree Trunk Sculpture in Distressed Brown Finish

Fossil in a Fossil Color

Metallic Gold Alligator Sculpture Table Décor

Universal Furniture

Coastal Living Zephyr Pendant, White

Coloring within the lines is a safe choice, but where’s the unique in that?

Fredrick Ramond Spyre 6-Light Chandelier in Champagne Gold

Modern Drum Gold Chandelier with Clear Textured Glass Panels

Carson 6 Light Polished Nickel Chandelier

Bo Massey

Uttermost Rahila Antiqued Mirror (Set of 2)

Carbon Loft Antique Silver Mirror

Arteriors Tilda Chandelier

Ruffled Marble Bowl

Madison Park Ashe Natural Dining Chair set of 2

Shoreline Colors

I’m adding a personal choice of sideboard here as the lines and curves remind me of the shape of sea waves as they approach the shore.

Wood Bead and Metal Semi-Flush Light – Black

Martha Stewart Elmcrest Natural Dining Table

Epworth Wooden Dining Chair with Wicker and Fabric Seating (Set of 2)

Better Homes & Gardens – Photo by Joyelle West

Annika Rattan Pendant Light

54 in. Lippa in White oval Artificial Marble Dining Table

Woven Wood Armchair with Open Back and Woven Black Seat

Bandelier Black Rural Woven Dining Arm Chair

Maine House Interiors

Quite the dynamic color combination tour de force, adding classic blue and white porcelain and ceramic accents to your coastal decorating theme frames a calm, cool, and collected picture.

Montoya Blue and White Porcelain Table Lamp

Vintage Ming Jar in Various Styles and Sizes

Maynard Antiqued Brass Round Wall Mirror with Decorative Ring

19th C French Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers

Veranda – Suzanne Kasler – Photo by Brian Woodcock

Custis Salmon -Benjamin Moore

3 – Light Lantern Geometric Pendant

Handmade Wood Wall Mirror

Designed with scalloped edges and tapered legs with a look reminiscent of a seashell, the Liliane Velvet Barrel Chair is a casual yet elegant choice of accent chair.

Modern Scalloped Back Accent Barrel Chair – Pink

Euart 30″ Wide Tufted Polyester Armchair

Pink Paper Palms, Set of 3

Ryan A. Jones & Associates

Coastal Living Pebble Accent Chair

Decorators Best

Shifting the sands from soft delicate pastels to a touch of gold coast glam.

20 in. Golden Gold Tree Trunk Stool

Spot-On Spot Accents

Accent chests, spot chairs, and designer look area rugs qualify as spot-on spot accents for a foyer, entryway, living, family, or sun room.

Ridge Road Décor Round Antique Aluminum Framed Wall Mirror in Silver

Madison Park Hanley 2-Doors Accent Cabinet in Black

Roseanne Accent Chair – Gold/Grey

Gray-Washed Decorative Carved Wood Coffee Table

Carved details, natural pine wood, and a soft gray-washed finish highlights this super coastal chic style coffee table.

White Finish Wood Sprigs Design Whitebriar Round Wall Mirror

Ridge Road Décor Rectangular Floral Cabinet in White

Jan Jones LLC

LS Dimond Home Natural Teak Slice Console

Sea Urchin Chandelier

Distinctive hardware, sleek lines, and an elegant design presence meets the criteria for the perfect accent chest.

Powerful style statement in soft shades of seaside green.

Aqua Horizon Giclee Canvas Art Print

Grey/Green Framed 4 door Wine Sideboard

Domino

Mix and mingle the cocktail hour with a distinctive piece such as the Avalon rattan bar.

Avalon Rattan Bar

Gorgeous lives in the details of the statement piece.

Leave no stone unturned in your search for special pieces to tie the coastal look altogether.

Atelier de Campagne LLC

Check out consignment shops, estate sales, antiques auctions, and online sites for classic pieces and curiosities destined to become the focal point of the space.

Pastel Seascape Print

French Dry Scrape Painted Pine 2 Door Server

Part of the fun is the hunt, and the grand prize is in the treasure found.

Leftover Antiques

Rugs in neutral shades and natural textures keep with the coastal casual feel and gorgeously work the room.

nuLOOM Maxwelle Flatweave Diamond Trellis Jute Area Rug

Veranda

Shape and form again catch my eye.

The curved details of this 20th Century Painted Bombe Chest With Verde Marble Top has an under the sea quality to it.

20th Century Painted Bombe Chest With Verde Marble Top

Architectural Digest

Uzbek Suzani Handmade Embroidered Bedspread Bedcover

Earnestine Solid Woven Rug

Maharaja Sandblasted White Wood Hand-Carved Arm Chair

Twin Melanie Upholstered Daybed White Fabric

Blue and Cream Collection by Threshold

Bone Inlay Traditional Beveled Distressed Accent Mirror

Strick & Bolton Sylvie Handmade Braided Jute Reversible Runner

Accents and accessories in traditional coastal design color, texture, and pattern choices infuse the spaces and places in the home with a comfortable seaside chic aesthetic that emphasizes a there’s no place like home or the beach vibe.

Sydney 32″ Wide Down Cushion Armchair

Dallas-based designer Jan Showers words serve as design tip numero uno in my book.

Bone Inlay Wall Mirror

I realize black may not be the color that immediately springs to mind when considering the coastal style color wheel, but it’s the color that lends a touch of elegance to any décor style it graces.

Bone Inlay Three-Drawer Dresser

See (or should I say sea) what I mean?

Giannetti Home

Coastal elegance is beautifully defined through black decor pieces and accessories.

Enzo Barrel Chair Tangled White-Black

Inspire Me! Home Decor Elegance FAR01 Indoor Area Rug

Papasan chairs capture the look of casual chic, and speaking from personal ownership experience, is one super comfortable seating option.

Papasan Chair with Round Pillow Cushion and Cream Wicker Weave

This super chic space speaks fluent seaside sophistication to me.

Lindsey Lane – Charish

Some may say this upholstery is more tropical than coastal.

I say it’s lovely and just the deviation from the too literal design style interpretation needed for the space.

Step away from the expected by throwing the eye a curveball with a chic choice of conservation piece.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis Paparazzi Photo

Keem Bay 24” High 1-Light Table Lamp – White

Scallop Side Table

Hayes Planter

Ciao Bella 54″ Wide French Italian Coffee Table

I’m including this lovely video as it is befitting the end to a serene and relaxing day spent oceanside and the end of this coastal home décor extravaganza.

Take a moment, hit play, and take it in.

“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination
and brings eternal joy to the soul.”

—Robert Wyland

Decorating is an adventure in personal style that should always inspire our imagination and bring us immense joy.

Sink Oh D (as in Design) My Oh Kitchen Sink Styles

In interior design and decorating celebration of Cinco de Mayo on this 5th day of May, may I present a collection of stunning sink oh d (as in design) my oh so lovely kitchen sink styles.

Remodelista

Kitchen sink styles qualifying as house favorites include those made of marble or natural stone.

House Beautiful

If not of marble, then at the very least surrounded by.

Gorgeous!

Douglas Vanderhorn Architects

Marble and natural stone sinks impress the eye with a timeless and tasteful touch of luxury balanced with performance capability.

Lonny

Chiseled Rectangular Natural Stone Vessel Sink in Almond Brown

The porosity of natural stone makes this material easily susceptible to stain which gives pause to some when considering the use of these types of sinks.

Vintage Compass Stone Kitchen Sink ~ House Beautiful

Pretty is as pretty does applies to the design, finish, and performance of kitchen sink styles.

Domino – Photo by Tessa Neustadt- Design by Amber Lewis

A commitment to upkeep comes with natural stone sinks.

Domino- Photo by Kelly Nutt

When considering selecting a natural stone sink, factor in that acidic and oily substances will penetrate the surface of the natural stone, leaving a stain to deal with.

SHM Architects

Over time, the patina of these sinks rests and becomes a perfectly imperfect design feature, one that accentuates the natural beauty of the stone.

John Derian’s Collected East Village Apartment

Vintage chic carries through to kitchen sink styles, as unique has become a design and decorative requirement in the world of kitchen design.

Retrofitting an antique sideboard to accommodate a kitchen sink results in an impressive design and decor addition to the kitchen triangle format.

Design Sponge

Nikki To Photography

Salvaged porcelain kitchen sinks meet today’s your kitchen-your style requirements.

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

Eclectic sink options illustrate what one person considers to be functional obsolescence another considers a distinct design feature.

Salisbury Artisans

Vintage beauty merges with modern function in the home of Braxton Dixon, the master builder behind the iconic homes of country music legends Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette.

Garden & Gun Magazine

Implementing one-of-a-kind architectural elements into the design of his houses sets these works of building and designing art apart from other exterior and interior standard house designs.

This is most prevalent in Mr. Dixon’s choice of a kitchen sink in his Tennessee home.

Large Candy Kettle Chocolate Copper Pot

A vintage copper candy kettle becomes an architectural showpiece, kitchen sink and unique focal point all-in-one, while remaining true to the original integrity, storied provenance, and design style of the home.

Better Homes and Gardens

What do real estate and sink placement have in common?

The optimum placement for a prep sink is adjacent to or across from the stove and refrigerator and for good reason; it’s the area of the kitchen where the prep magic happens.

Rivera Kitchen Prep Sink

The prep sink is the single most helpful kitchen design feature I have ever become dependent upon in the context of cooking, baking, and recipe creating.

Convenience and usefulness alone make it easy to understand why I am a huge fan of the prep sink and consider it a kitchen design necessity.

Home Bunch

Necessary to the convenience, purpose, and design style of a butler’s pantry aka the second kitchen and its cousin scullery is the features implemented into the design.

Extra deep sinks benefit both the purpose and the design.

Butler’s Pantry at The Madison – Jean Stoffer Design

House & Garden – Photo by Ngoc Minh Mgo

Focal point fabulousness is the visual point when going for the gold with a super chic gold sink.

Brass Tone Gold Stainless Steel Double Bowl Farmhouse Apron Kitchen Sink
Rivage Stainless Steel 36 in. Single Bowl Farmhouse Apron Kitchen Sink

Blakes London

Visually stunning in presence and performance, Paonazzo marble features a distinctive white to ivory to ash gray background with black, caramel, and gold veining.

Cassidy Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet in Champagne Bronze
Oletto Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Gold

Il Granito

The big brass band makes a beautiful case for metallic kitchen sink styles, faucets, finishes, and accessories.

deVOL Basket Waste Strainer & Overflow Kit in Brass

Kathryn Scott Design Studio Ltd

Apron-front sinks combine utilitarian practicality with decorative adaptability.

DecorPad

The look is yesteryear traditional, but the appeal is all modern day kitchen sink must have.

DecorPad

Although these sinks come in both single and double bowl models, the features of the single bowl model seems to make it the most preferred, especially when it comes to the ever popular farmhouse design style.

OXA Architecture

Percy Farmhouse Apron-Front Crafted Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink

Sinkology Adams 33″ Farmhouse Apron Front Sink in Pure Antique Copper

Sink size does matter in the day-to-day KP duty routine we all endure, and the width of the farmhouse sink is a natural fit feature able to hold dishwashing court with pots, pans and bake ware of varied sizes.

Marble Apron-Front Sink

Let me also clue you in on another well known design advantage of the farmhouse sink.

When there’s too much dish at the end of the day, the depth of the apron-front sink works fabulously to your advantage as it conceals many a dirty dish.

That’s my kind of sink oh d (as in design) my oh kitchen sink styles celebration!

Celebrating the Nouns of Southern Living

Celebrating the nouns of Southern living comes quite easy to me. Remember back during the holidays when I shared with y’all about receiving a surprise gift from my nephew and niece-in-law, Southern Living 50 Years: A Celebration of People, Places, and Culture?

I finally found time over this past weekend to sit down with a glass of sweet tea rimmed in fresh mint and take in some southern exposure.

Getting down and Derby in all the excitement of the Kentucky Derby is a Southern socializing-first weekend in May tradition.

As horseshoe good luck would have it, the floral department at the local grocery store put a slew of red rose bouquets on clearance Friday afternoon just in time for Derby Saturday.

I love when the clearance sale stars align.

Our Louisville meets Marksville crawfish boil shakes a dash of south Louisiana into the c’est si bon.

Boiled crawfish with traditional fixin’s thrown into the pot makes for good eating.

Potatoes and corn have never met a crawfish boiling pot they don’t love to be a part of, but don’t stop there.

Back when Dave the Builder was in the corporate world, we would host the annual crawfish boil.

One of Dave’s coworkers introduced our taste buds to a new way of boiling crawfish.

At first I questioned the addition of cabbage, smoked sausage, onions, lemons, whole carrots, mushrooms, celery stalks, and eggs to the seasoned boil, but quickly became a flavor convert.

The vegetables, sausage, and eggs boil to perfection in the seasoned water, picking up the unmistakable taste of the South.

I’ll say this about celebrating the nouns of Southern living- you learn and taste something new at every event, festival, and boil.

Southern Living

Blue and white is the classic color palette of choice of many Southern decoristas.

It is seen in the hydrangeas we plant, the china patterns we place upon the Southern dinner table, and the porcelain pretties we decorate house and home with.

Going up to the mountains (my Tennessee family calls all of Sevier County including Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg “the mountains”) is part of the landscape when we go home to East Tennessee.

I fondly remember the days of family style meals served at Trotter’s restaurant, wild wild west afternoons spent at Goldrush Junction, and the stories of Dolly performing on the Cas Walker radio show.

A proud daughter of Sevier County who has never forgotten the region, the town, and the county she calls home, Dolly Parton was recently awarded the FBI 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award for the work done to raise money for those affected by the Gatlinburg wildfires in 2016.

For this, the music, the voice, and the local love, we will always love you, Dolly.

Antoine’s is Louisiana restaurant royalty-a French Quarter icon.

How gorgeous is this facade?

Antoine’s Restaurant

From pan to page, southern chefs and southern writers craft a delicious, unique, and enduring story.

Summer suppers give a Southerner yet another reason to host a get together, not that we need one.

I’m seriously contemplating changing my rule of KISS- keep it summer simple to KISSED- keep it summer southern entertaining delightful.

Field Pea-Tomato Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette

We celebrate everything summer from a good crop of garden tomatoes to a barbecue on the bricks music festival.

Courtyards, patios, and porches replete in lush greens fashion and shade southern exposure.

Chicken coops are a thing in the South.

People go nuts for these chic henhouses.

Planning, constructing, and styling is serious business, and rival that of the south’s most phenomenal architectural wonders.

Distinctive, indelible, delicious, gracious, hospitable, and charming customs, styles, and traditions influence, define, exemplify, and celebrate the nouns of southern living.

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.

Southern Hospitality: Please Join Us For A Bridal Shower

Happy midweek all! Today, because I am a proud mama and weddings are all around, I thought I would bring you into The Places In The Home fold by sharing with you this photo gallery from the please join us for a bridal shower we hosted for our son and his lovely fiancée when they were home for our nephew’s wedding in May. Seeing that the happy couple live in Canada, it is difficult to be live and in person for the showers and luncheons celebrating the couple. Skype and FaceTime amaze me, but pales in comparison to actually being in attendance in the moment. It didn’t take long for me to come up with the idea of throwing the couple a surprise bridal shower.

The future Mrs. is not only taken with our son, but with Fixer Upper, Waco, Chip and Joanna Gaines and Magnolia Market. What better way to surprise a Southern farmhouse chic girl at heart than with an afternoon Southern farmhouse chic-Southern charm-Southern hospitality eat, drink and we’re getting married bridal shower.

Clear glass jars brimming with fragrant magnolias captured the farmhouse feel and lent a simple yet elegant touch. When entertaining, I find it helpful to know your audience and to play to their taste. The thought is in the decorating and entertaining details, and it’s that attention to detail that brings about a rave review.

Faux flowers have their place, and in the bridal/wedding weekend celebration that place was inside an antique porcelain pitcher placed in the center of the dining room table. I’ve been known to pre plan the s*%! out of a soiree or celebration. Pre planning affords me the opportunity to find theme appropriate decor pieces and impressive dinner and drinkware at a price point that makes me very happy.

I always like that theme!

It also gives me time to shop sales and order items with plenty of shipping time to spare. A case in point is the tulip bundles found on eBay. You must allow at least three weeks for arrival when ordering from China, but the price savings makes it an appealing option. The quality is apple to apple when comparing the faux tulip bunches to the ones I see in my retail rounds.

The bride-to-be admired the tulips several times over the course of their visit which pleased me to no end. It was obvious the tulip bundles captured the essence of her preferred decorating style, and that signaled decorating success.

Crochet doilies and lace napkins dressed the table in vintage style.

Tulle is my gift wrap ribbon and bow material of choice.

Tying the knot in white wedding and something blue tones is simple in theory, beautiful in delivery.

Gifts for a newlywed kitchen filled with love.

Bride

Vintage handkerchiefs make lovely wedding and bridal gifts, and my almost daily Etsy search for just the right one for each recipient became second nature. I purchased vintage monogrammed handkerchiefs for the bride and groom-to-be, her mother, and each member of the bridal party- a to/from gift from me and Dave the Builder. I also purchased vintage monogrammed handkerchiefs for my nephew, his bride, his brother who was his best man, and for my brother- the father of the groom. Did I forget anyone?

Groom

We began the bridal shower nibble and nosh with a cheese board featuring several cheeses, fresh Louisiana strawberries, blueberries, fruit dip, mixed nuts, dried cranberries, dates and figs. The future groom loves my chicken salad so chicken salad it is. I served the chicken salad with a tropical fruit salad garnished with avocado slices, Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey. We also dined on a true Southern favorite, buttermilk biscuits and honey ham sandwiches. I made a mayonnaise and Dijon mustard dressing to go with the sandwiches. The beverage station featured water with lemon slices, raspberry tea, almond peach tea, Riesling and Merlot wine.

For dessert, we decided to surprise the couple with a cake in true bridal shower fashion. The cake decorator and I got together and came up with an abbreviated version of the above wedding cake. The icing color was a soft shade of ivory and the cake decorator suggested a “bouquet” of roses to top it off. Dave the Builder thought the silver wedding bands added a nice touch, and the monogrammed cake topper was an on trend accent.

It’s become somewhat of a tradition to give each bride and groom in the Places In The Home family a heirloom silver sugar spoon as a wedding gift. To this we added a silver-plated wedding cake server set and the monogram wedding cake topper to complete the gift package.

The bridal shower was a big surprise and a big hit. Our son finally figured out why I kept insisting he bring an extra suitcase with him. The extra baggage fee charge is a bargain compared to what it cost to ship items from the US to Canada. I was informed the Kate Spade cutting boards were used the night they arrived back to Canada.

That’s all the thank you needed.

Practicing Design Instinct and Inspiration

Photography is a lot like interior decorating in regards to working or not working with color. Design instinct and inspiration guide the creative process. Light, forms, tone and balance optimize not only the shot but the space. Forgive my simplistic explanation, but plainly put, some photos only work in color and others only work in black and white.

Simon & Garfunkel

Since finding a renewed popularity complements of a current political campaign, the Simon & Garfunkel 1968 single “America” is once again on my playlist. The impact of a great hook paired with powerful lyrics mirrors the impact of classic design coupled with an impressive decorating style.

While discovering “America” I rediscovered another Simon & Garfunkel favorite, “My Little Town.” You may be wondering what possible connection there could be between a couple of Simon & Garfunkel songs and design and decorating. Design instinct and inspiration, my friends. One never knows where one will find it. I hit the streets of my little town photographing local landmarks. Although photographed in color, a monochromatic color scheme captured aspects of the images that color failed to.

Photo editing, enhancements and touch-ups generate a refined result. It’s the same with decorating. Editing, enhancements and touch-ups help to achieve a polished look. Making pretty is an exercise in trial and error, correction and confidence. Gorgeous isn’t always achieved right out of the gate.

Going with your first design instinct, or at the very least a tweaked variation of it, proves visually successful more times than not. I failed to practice what I preach with this chandelier. I was convinced a pop of designer color over my first choice of painting the fixture white would put to rest any doubt my decorating choices were in a rut or unimaginative. Fan deck after fan deck, I could not get a peace about any other color choice other than white. The lyrics from “My Little Town” kept running through my mind.

And after it rains
There’s a rainbow
And all of the colors are black
It’s not that the colors aren’t there
It’s just imagination they lack

The pieces of the color palette puzzle finally fit when I decided to go with my first instinct. I remembered one of my standard decorating solutions- the color white never fails to make a classic statement. The color is there, and imagination is not lacking. I showed decorating doubt the door and practiced my own brand of design instinct and inspiration.

A Haven Within A Haven

A phone call from my son earrrrrly Friday morning led off with the question asked round the streaming world, “do you remember what streams today?”

For the Netflix loyal, you get it.

Binge watching every episode of your favorite show is a weekend marathon-not a sprint.

Popcorn makes a delicious case for the ultimate binge watching snack.

I’ll be popping up a batch of rosemary and sea salt popcorn for streaming sustenance.

Rosemary and Sea Salt Popcorn

Ingredients

½ cup popcorn kernels

¼ cup canola oil or grapeseed oil (or other high flashpoint oil)

1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon fresh minced rosemary

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt, or to taste

Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Directions

Heat the oil large pot over medium heat. After the oil is hot, add the popcorn kernels and the 1-tablespoon of rosemary, and then shake the pot to gently toss the kernels until they are all coated with oil.

Cover with a splatter screen or a lid that is placed slightly ajar to allow the steam to escape. Cook until the popcorn popping frequency slows to several seconds between pops. Remove from heat, allow a minute or two for any final pops, and then pour into a large bowl.

In a small saucepan combine the butter and remaining ½ teaspoon of rosemary. Melt the butter over medium heat. Drizzle over the popcorn and season with salt and pepper, tossing occasionally as you butter, salt, and pepper the popcorn.

~Food & Wine

Brilliant writing intertwined with captivating storytelling makes for the sit up and pay attention TV, and sleek set designs aim to impress.

A forged alcove serves as a small space of shelter and refuge from the hustle and the bustle of it’s all in a day’s work- a haven within a haven to vent away the foul of the day.

I am a staunch supporter of the haven within a haven concept for recharging one’s battery.

Grandin Road

A couple of years ago I won a Rebecca Swivel Chair after entering the Beautiful Black and White Pinterest Sweepstakes from House Beautiful.

This is my “in my own little corner, in my own little chair” chair.

It resides in a haven within a haven part of the house where downtime meets me time and helps me lose track of real time for a short period of time.

A phone call laaaaate Friday night led off with the question asked round the streaming world, “have you watched it yet?”

Dave the Builder’s man cave will pull double-duty as both screening room and a haven within a haven over the next few evenings.

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like a haven within a haven to stream and decompress.

New Year, New Home Decor Trends 2016

A new year inspires fresh beginnings and clean slates.

The Places In The Home New Year, New Home Decor Trends 2016 is complete and ready to inspire.

You will spot several carry over trends from last year’s list, perhaps question the prediction of renewed interest in decor trends of decades past, and hopefully agree with and look forward to implementing one or more of the new introductions making a big style splash into your decor.

Decade Design

Interior design and decorating loves a good comeback story.

In the world of trends, a revival of styles in an everything old is new again manner is inevitable.

Early home decor forecasts show decade design on trend for 2016. Dynamic colors, textures and patterns of the glam 1970s and the large floral prints reminiscent of the 1980s are inspiring home decor accents and home furnishings lines.

Gold drenched metals, geometric patterns, bold floral pattern- all present and accounted for.

Mid-Century Modern

Didn’t you just cover Decade Design?

Yes, but Mid-Century Modern design is a design marvel unto itself.

When it comes to mid-century modern home furnishings, Eames and Nelson set the standard and Herman Miller brings it all home and office.

Vintage period pieces and pieces in the style of from the decade of clean lines, nontraditional materials and modern utility complement most of today’s decorating styles.

It’s a Mad Men mixed material modern world we design and decorate in.

Tile Pattern at Play

Play with your pattern.

You’ll be amazed at the statement it can make.

My Domaine

Mirrors

Discovering or rediscovering a classic home decor accent that brilliantly reflects decorating fabulousness is always on trend.

A mirror is the ultimate home decor accent master of illusion.

Spaces devoid of size, light or depth become prime candidates for the presence of a mirror or mirrors.

Mirrors cast the illusion of depth which contributes to opening up the space.

Placement is key when using a mirror to bring more light into the space.

Place, hang or prop a mirror perpendicular to windows in order for the light to saturate the space.

Rue

Mirror, Mirror on the Kitchen Wall or Backsplash

No smoke but definitely decorating with mirrors in the kitchen is gaining trend traction.

In the pursuit of openness and light, a strategically placed mirror in a kitchen solves the issue.

Now for the part I love about using a mirror(s) in the kitchen- decorative oomph.

Pinterest

All traditional, transitional, modern, contemporary, urban, farmhouse, eclectic, coastal, antiques or vintage runs the risk of the decor style of the Jack or Jill decorista being categorized as unimaginative, dated and boring.

Throw the eye a curve ball and the space a pop of personality by mixing styles.

Apartment Therapy

The success of a trend is often measured by the acceptance of the designing and decorating public, ease of functionality and implementation into established decors and the decorative ability to show staying power.

A passing fad, epic fail, emerging classic or blast from the past must try- what’s your opinion of the New Year, New Home Decor Trends 2016?

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