All Things House That Make A Home
Today’s A Most Fetching Friday greets the first day of December in glorious bring the holidays home fashion.
Christmas Home Tour by Craftberry Bush
Holiday wishing you all a most fetching Friday and a lovely first day of December.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as we trim the trees and deck the halls in glorious bring the holidays home fashion.
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.
Love is Blue wedding week officially kicked off yesterday when the bride and groom to be dropped by to put a bow on last minute it’s all in the details wedding planning.
They love the wedding week themed accents and decorations on the dining room table and sideboard- save the date cards for both weddings (local and Canada), photos from family weddings past, and custom wrapped wedding gifts.
Vintage ivory and wedding white lead the color palette, and a subtle hint of light blue celebrates the baby boy coming into our oldest nephew’s family this August.
Light blue ruled the color scheme of the 1960s and 1970s wedding.
As I primped and prettied the wedding themed vignettes, the phrase love is blue popped into my head.
Boy, does that bring back a fabulous memory!
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Howard ~ June, 1975
These Happy Wedding Days are Yours and Mine
What a difference four decades make!
Elle Decor ~ Chaz Cruz Photographers
I have always loved the song “Love is Blue” by Paul Mauriat.
The beautiful instrumental was a favorite song of a childhood friend.
Each time I heard the song over the years my thoughts immediately went back to times spent at her house- one of my favorites in our neighborhood and one I spent countless hours in when growing up.
I had no idea a come full circle moment was in my future.
Who knows why I was coming over to my parents house on this particular late Tuesday afternoon in the summer of 1986, but it turned out to be a fabulous decision to do so.
As I was getting close to my parent’s house (now our home) I noticed a U-Haul truck backed up to the garage of the house referenced above.
Flippers can spot a potential flip property a mile away.
This time I spotted a property a block away that maybe, just maybe we could buy, remodel, and call home.
I hit the back door heading straight to the kitchen Trimline telephone (no cell phones at the time) to place a call to Dave the Builder.
The Trimline telephone was about to put a new home in our remodeling hands.
That phone call was a life changer for us, and the call to action fished out the information I was hoping to hear.
The owner (the father of my childhood friend) retained ownership of the house when the parents divorced.
He lived in the house a few years, eventually turning the house into rental property.
Financial issues caused the one and only family to rent the property to vacate without notice (the owner learned of their departure when Dave called to inquire about the property).
Being in the right place at the right time opened the door for us to put in an offer to purchase the property.
Style at Home
Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it.
Don’t get me wrong, we were thrilled with the house however, disrepair is the best way to describe the interior of the house when we purchased it.
A state of disrepair proves a powerful bargaining chip in real estate negotiations, and being seasoned flippers we were unfazed.
The ink wasn’t dry on the closing papers when Dave and the crew got down and dirty with the demo.
Once the nasty carpet, outdated parquet floors, tacky paneling and biting fleas went bye bye, it was time to make things pretty again.
Working, measuring and consulting demands concentration, and I concentrate so much better when music is playing.
Standing deep in color fan deck thought, the sound of music pulled my attention toward the Nutone intercom upon the wall.
As if on cue from an afternoon in 1967, “Love is Blue” began to play on the radio.
Fate?
Happenstance?
Elle Decor ~ Amanda MacDonald Photography
Whatever it was, the impact of this love is blue very special moment stopped me in my tracks of joyous tears.
Special milestones such as realizing your dream of home ownership, celebrating the weddings of a son and a nephew, and the arrival of a new baby have a way of doing that.
As promised, here is the reveal and review sister post to You’ve Got Mail: Let’s Home Decor Partner Project Together. I’ll take you through the purpose and process of the let’s home decor partner project to arrival to I love it Ojai mirror reveal. Like a decorista at Christmas, I could not wait for Dave the Builder to come home so we could open the package delivered earlier in the day.
To: Places In The Home
From: Serena & Lily
Great and stylish home decor things come in big brown FedEx packages!
Serena & Lily gets the life lived within a home comes alive through personal style and taste aspect of decorating.
When I work with a brand, it is of paramount importance that the reputation of the brand mirrors my appreciation for quality home decor accents and accessories as it reflects well on both of us.
The little voice inside my head has been telling me for quite some time now the hallway needed a decorating update. Home decor accessories and artwork should promote scale, proportion, style and flow in a space, and the pieces formerly in place did not. What would remain is the antique wall table in a French polished and updated state. The table is in correct proportion to the size of the area, and stands the test of time and trend.
For years this was the spot of last chance to check your look in the mirror and locate the general stuff one finds they need before leaving the house.
Earrings.
Lipstick.
Car keys.
Pocket change.
Usually when placement or function works, it works. This foyer adjacent area is perfect for the reason stated above. I prefer to do my last stop primping out of the view of others, and this foyer adjacent spot is perfect for doing so. However, there is something missing in this decor scenario.
The Ojai mirror from Serena & Lily filled in the missing piece of the redecorating transformation puzzle. The placement of the mirror offers depth and natural flow of light as a carry through from the foyer. Utilitarian in purpose and stunning in presence, the Ojai mirror from Serena & Lily has the versatility to complement virtually any space, any decor, any design style. A modern style, classic form and rich black finish reflect quality construction in elegant fashion.
Pairing antiques with modern styles and home decor accessories makes a dramatic statement. Some may consider mixing non-traditional, modern, contemporary, coastal or bohemian (boho) style with antiques a designing misstep- a decorating faux pas. Au contraire mon ami. Granted, a few of these design styles exist on opposite ends of the style spectrum, but it’s exactly the opposites attract contrast that makes a striking statement.
After stepping back and taking a decorating inventory, the consensus is carpet no longer cuts the flooring mustard in the hallway. See how one project leads to another. Dave measured the area, and at the time of this posting we are only 380 sq. ft. of hardwood flooring away from our next all things house that make a home project.
Styling the tabletop is the cherry on the cake. Apply an abbreviated version of the principle of coffee table styling and it’s off to the races.
Objects of personal significance that capture the soul of the life lived within your home.
Focus on focal point priority. In the case of the Ojai mirror, it is the focal point. I like to designate and identify the focal point and style around it with home decor pieces, colors, patterns and texture that complement, not clash or compete with.
Choose the primary sight line. X marks the center spot- the prime location for a medium or low height object placement. The “outer” areas balance the method with graduated heights to continue the flow, theme and visual engagement.
Unconventional art placement throws the eye a curve ball. Stepping out of your decorating comfort zone and trying new looks is a way to dare your personal style.
The bundled up baby boy in the picture is my dad. The antique frame that holds his picture also benefited from an application of French polish. I wasn’t too sure this look would work, but for me it’s a keeper. A pair of Staffordshire dogs bought on vacation brings back excellent travel memories every time I look at them. My love of vintage hotel and restaurant china is well represented, as is the sign of hospitality- the pineapple.
My key fob and favorite earrings have found a home sweet home, and the 1973 quarter and 1972 dime hold a special significance. Throughout my preteen and teen years of the 1970s, the pay phone was the norm. There was always a dime or a quarter left in a small dish on this table. Until the day I got married, whenever I would be on my way out the door my dad would remind me about the dime or quarter. He insisted I call him if a situation presented itself where my safety or comfort was in question, and he would immediately come and get me- no questions asked. I’ve kept a dime and quarter dated from the 1970s in a small dish on a foyer table in every house Dave and I have ever lived in.
Memories, like the corners of mind.
Your home, the spaces within, and the home decor accessories that decorate it should always reflect your personal style. The Ojai mirror from Serena & Lily frames a space in mine that does exactly that.
During the holiday hustle and bustle I received a let’s home decor partner project together email from a surprise source.
You’ve got mail never read so good.
So good!
The exclamation point perfectly befits my strong feeling of great delight.
The content and purpose of the email serves as the source of inspiration for a house to home project.
Sourcing and reviewing products is part and parcel of the Places In The Home design and decorating show and tell.
I invite honest and frank feedback and review from clients, and remain true to my own when the roles are reversed.
Working with a brand that mirrors my appreciation for quality home decor accents and accessories reflects well on both of us.
When the foyer wallpaper install was finally completed, I immediately realized the paint color on the walls of the foyer and hallway had reached its expiration date.
That’s usually the way this remodel-redo-refresh thing works. One update leads to another, and that’s exactly the reason why “One Thing Leads to Another” by The Fixx leads off my tunes to project to playlist.
In this design and decorating show and tell world of mine, one project always leads to another, and I’m loving every minute of it.
“Lovin’ Every Minute of It” by Loverboy is another great song to project to.
I love how music and decorating splendidly complement each other.
Night Blooming Jasmine from Behr is a neutral beauty that finishes rich. Eggshell enamel is one sheen up from matte, and the texture is washability matched to moderate traffic areas.
Night Blooming Jasmine from Behr
The image below is a stunning example of how limiting the colors in the palette constitutes contrast.
Mindful Makeover~ Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle January 2017
Texture variation, under color painting and quality of the original paint job all factor into how well the paint application at hand covers and finishes out.
Dave the Builder’s expert advice has been consulted, his premier painting skills engaged.
Finish again enters the project process conversation.
This antique wall table has served various pieces of jewelry, readers, car key sets, one dime, one quarter (more on that later) and general stuff over the years.
I’ve grown accustomed to it being there, and there it will stay.
The table is in correct proportion to the size of the area.
The old girl is in need of a refresh, but what direction to go in required some thought.
Refinish it?
Paint it? Being the original finish loyalists we are, Dave shot me one of those “have you lost your flipping mind?” looks when I mentioned the paint it option.
Clear-coat it?
Lacquer it?
French polish it is.
An afternoon spent perusing image galleries on DecorPad and Domino confirms the decision to go the French polish route is indeed the right one. Inspiration truly is everywhere.
Wow. This post is long, but when the conversation revolves around the topics of decorating, updating, gorgeous decor and let’s home decor partner project together that can happen.
Part II of Let’s Home Decor Partner Project Together will unveil the big reveal and show and tell how the look comes together.
For now, I leave you with a hint of what’s to come.
When the desired outcome is the look of luxe but the moolah to advance full sticker price ahead is not in the cards, these tips for adding a luxe look for little money do the trick.
I’ve never decorated, flipped or remodeled for a client(s) who has not placed a budget in play. The same goes for the projects we do here at Places In The Home.
An extra penny here and an extra dime there adds up to budget busting dollars.
Cost is the four-letter word I hear most from project start to finish.
All kidding aside- it is a known fact that for most of us the price tag heavily factors into the decorating we do, the decorative accessories we select, and the home decor accents we purchase in the pursuit of prettying things up around the house.
Table Lamps
Instant chic factor awaits with the addition of a decorative table lamp.
Finding luxe look for little money table lamps is a home decor store or online retailer visit away.
May I suggest selecting a table lamp rich in classic style, one that will stand the test of time and trend.
Don’t buy into the fallacy that an inexpensive item will invariably look cheap or a quality appearance can only be achieved by spending big bucks.
Optical Illusions
Installing curtain and drapery hardware at the ceiling or molding line creates a visual illusion of height.
Take the luxe look for little money concept to the next phase with inexpensive drapery trims and decorative drapery medallion holdbacks found on sale or clearance.
Wallpaper Lined Drawers, Shelves & Bookcase Backs
Okay, you’ve selected a killer designer paint color for the exterior of a fabulous 3-drawer chest, linen armoire or bookcase.
What about the drawers, shelves and bookcase backs?
Etched with Time Peel and Stick Wallpaper By Jeremiah Brent
Add a luxe look for little money to drawers, shelves and bookcases by lining with wallpaper.
Discounted, discontinued and closeouts sections of online wallpaper sites and home decorating stores are a decoristas best friend.
Lined drawers, shelves. and bookcase backs offer up a stylish follow-through- an it’s all in the details detail.
Art & Antiques.
Bric-a-Brac.
Conversation Pieces.
It’s not how much an accessory cost, but the look it affords.
An inexpensive piece of art, antique accessory, bric-a-brac or whimsical objet d’art piece can easily offer a luxe look when dramatically displayed.
Pairing a good eye with decorating determination invariably results in the ability to spot a diamond in the rough.
To guarantee a luxe look result, place a piece above, atop or beside an ebony console or chair.
When it comes to color, black is classically timeless, adds drama to the spaces it graces, and is considered a premier foundation and/or accent color in interior decorating.
Traditional Home Southern Style Showhouse Family Room by Lance Jackson and David Ecton, Parker Kennedy
When I was in the initial buying stages for Hopefully Classic Antiques and Interiors, a local flea market dealer invited me to stop by to shop her inventory.
I did, and the first item I spotted was a small framed oil painting. The subject of the painting slips my mind, but the frame was the diamond in the rough. I could not believe how little the dealer was asking for the piece.
Maybe I need to add the words or how little to it’s not how much an accessory cost but the look it affords.
Scooping up the painting was a no-brainer, and with a simple cleanup and quick application of matte spray paint proudly added it to the inventory, displaying the piece in a dramatic focal point feature.
The painting sold within one day of being at the shop.
Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers drench a space in color, fill it with fragrance and enhance the surroundings with pervasive beauty.
Gather ye your Mason jars, dollar store containers, crystal goblets, Chinoiserie (SHēnˌwäz(ə)ˈrē) vases (since we’re talking luxe let’s pronounce it vahz, darling), watering cans, vintage crocks, and antique teapots and fill them with blooms, stems, vines and/or branches from the garden, field, florist, or local grocery flower department.
Adding a luxe look for little money is a high-end priority for the decorating within budget minded.
The only thing expensive is the look.
Sourcing and sightings of home decor accents is all in a day’s work and I love it!
When I started Places In The Home my objective was simple: to design an all things house that make a home show and tell, a sharing collective of knowledge and experience of interior decorating, home furnishings, decorative accents, home decor where to finds and gotta have it lists.
Four years later, I continue to be excited and inspired to show and tell you about items currently catching my eye.
The Riviera stool from Serena and Lily is currently catching my eye in a big way.
Great choice for a statement piece desk chair.
The lines, pattern and form of the Riviera stool delivers style at work and style at home.
J. R. Watkins Coconut Room Freshener smells like summer at the beach.
A spritz or two of this tropical delight coconut scented room freshener is all it takes to infuse the space with a light coconut scent so refreshing you’ll be inclined to light the Tiki torches, turn up the calypso music and whip up a blender full of Piña Coladas.
I am coconuts for this stuff!
Seaside-inspired and stylish storage approved.
I am “digging” this Conch Magazine Basket from Birch Lane.
Glitter Guide
D I Why yes, I can do this!
Three or four drawer chests are just a thrift store, flea market or curbside boutique visit away.
For the retail fortunate, check out your nearest IKEA and the Rast 3 drawer chest. At $34.99 + tax it’s a bargain.
For the rest of us, I say add this baby into your online shopping cart and justify the shipping cost with my logic.
I couldn’t drive to Houston (closet IKEA) for $10 (the shipping cost).
Makes cent$.
Decorative hardware dresses the look, and a couple of coats of black paint adds the essential touch of drama.
Now comes the disclosure portion of this post.
Disclosure: As it in life and disclosure policy compliance with FTC rules, honesty is the best policy. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the product links and make a purchase from the retailer, I receive a commission from the sale. To read the entire policy in full (fun, fun) please read my disclosure page.
Blue and white porcelain is classic chic.
Eye spy these Tang blue and white salt and pepper shakers as a summer soiree hostess gift idea.
Pier 1
May I suggest for your summer reading pleasure.
Reading is proving to be a fundamental part of my under the weather reading list routine.
First up on my under the weather reading list is Paris Flea Market Style by Claudia Strasser.
The ooh la la factor and how to get it, emulate it, and incorporate it into our design and decor needs no introduction.
A smart, funny read with witty observations that rate hilarious on the laugh-o-meter, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling is a gem of a good read.
This book accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do by taking the reader on a most entertaining ride with hilarity riding shotgun.
Veranda A Passion for Living: Houses of Style and Inspiration is a gorgeous review of gorgeous style from cover to cover!
Beautiful addition to any bookshelf or coffee table.
Dave the Builder is embracing his role as runner, and I reassured him there is a beginning, middle and end to this new duty.
I like going to the neighborhood parish library to check out the new offerings and to check out books.
There are books that pique your interest but give pause to actually purchasing it for your home library.
What book is on your must read list?
