Category: spring

On A Spring Into Summer Laundry Day

Sometimes all it takes to set memories in motion and give ideas for a blog post is a photo putting a fresh spin on the household necessity we call laundry day.

laundry day

Country Living Magazine – Brent Darby Photography

As sunny days and warm breezes become the norm, I look forward to the spring into summer activity of hanging freshly washed clothes out on the clothesline to dry.

Linens especially smell so summer sweet when line dried, and instantly take my thoughts back to summers sleepovers at Dave the Builder’s aunt’s house, where life in a Northern Louisiana town imitated that of your favorite episode of The Andy Griffith Show.

decorative-laundry-room-items

laundry-clothesline-vintage-print

North Prints

Today’s laundry room design and decor is anything but rinse and repeat.

laundry-room-Marie Flanigan Interiors

Marie Flanigan Interiors

My laundry room falls into the category of not ready for prime blog time, but it is the little space that could.

Currently, the space lacks loads of style, but makes up for it in cabinets, countertops, shelves, and storage space that aid in getting the job done.

Back in our antiques shop days, Dave the Builder unearthed a vintage soda display stand from an old store, brought it home, and promptly placed it next to the washing machine as an absolutely perfect storage display for laundry soaps, fresheners, softeners, dryer sheets and the like.

This began an appreciation for display fixtures for home use.

Retail stores going out of business will usually sale display tables, cabinets, and racks for a song.

If this is not a feasible route, check out big box retail and home improvement stores.

3 Way Clothing Rack - Boutique Ivory

3 Way Clothing Rack – Boutique Ivory

Inexpensive surprises and common sense laundry day tips never cease to amaze me.

Ocean Scented Liquid Dish Soap - 10 fl oz - Smartly™

Ocean Scented Liquid Dish Soap – 10 fl oz – Smartly™

Smells like the ocean (a super lovely scented ocean) liquid dish soap is the go-to laundry detergent alternative I use for washing pillowcases.

Several drops added to a medium to high water level load does the trick, and the clean fresh scent is amazing.

Ocean Scented Liquid Dish Soap

Let’s just say getting clothes out of the dryer as soon as the cycle stops is not one of my laundry day strong suits, however, I love the way sheets and pillowcases smell fresh out of the dryer.

A spritz or two of homemade linen spray refreshes, and the light and lovely scent sets the tone for a good night’s slumber.

Linen Spray

Ingredients

1 ½  teaspoon essential oil of your choice

2  Tablespoons witch hazel or vodka

4  cups distilled water

32 oz.  spritz bottle

Directions

Mix witch hazel or vodka and desired oils in a bottle.  Add the distilled water and shake to combine.

The witch hazel or vodka aids in dispersing the oil evenly throughout the liquid.

Shake bottle gently before each use.

Clothespin-Bag-Decorated-with-Cricut-outside

Spring into summer is the prime clothesline drying season, and this clothespin bag from Mary Beth at The How-To Home is an easy DIY project perfect for clothespins storage.

Vintage Wire Collapsible Laundry Basket Hamper

Vintage Wire Collapsible Laundry Basket Hamper

Dirty laundry is just a fact of our all things house that make a home life.

neutral-laundry-room

Better Homes & Gardens

Easy DIY projects, fresh scents, comfort of the known, sunny days and warm breezes go a long way toward making laundry day a little easier.

love signature

Every-Day Beauty: Decorating with Flowers

As far as adding a touch of spring flair and fragrance goes, decorating with flowers is by far one of the loveliest, easiest, and visually delightful ways to bring the very best of the garden to the spring and summer decorating scheme.

Charlotte-Moss-Flowers-book

Charlotte Moss Flowers

Interior designer and tastemaker Charlotte Moss newest book, Charlotte Moss Flowers, is a delightful grab a cup or glass of tea-curl up with a good book guide to bringing in-full bloom beauty to house and home.

Charlotte-Moss-Blue-Vase1

Charlotte Moss Flowers

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”
—Henri Matisse

Wedgwood Blue Jasperware pitcher

Wedgwood Blue Jasperware

With the garden as her muse, Charlotte Moss celebrates the season of fresh and fragrant through inspired ideas for floral arrangements, tablescapes, and containers ideal for every-day living picture perfect placement around the house.

Charlotte-Moss-fern-leaves-in-container

Charlotte Moss Flowers

Inspiration truly is everywhere, especially at the movies.

Turner Classic Movies is featuring 31 Days of Oscar; a month long homage to the best of the best Academy Award winning Hollywood movie classics.

Multitasking at the movies is the activity I’ve mastered of late.

On monitor screen left is my blog post dashboard while on screen right is the feature film du jour.

Charlotte-Moss-blue-and-white-accents-roses-in-vaseCharlotte Moss Flowers

Classic blue and white in two lovely presentations.

Elizabeth Taylor Giant dining room gardenias

I get completely caught up movie set interiors and location choices, so much so I go from writing to capturing scenes for my photo portfolio courtesy of Windows PrtScn.

Of particular design and decorative accents visual interest is the breakfast scene from the movie Giant.

Chippendale, crystal, porcelain, and silver frame the scene, but the bowl of fresh gardenias steal the show.

Gardenias in a bowl will forever be a simple yet elegant decorating with flowers showstopper.

gardenias-in-green-bowl

Flower Magazine

Are you a fan of incorporating fresh from the garden (or floral department) flowers into your every-day decorating touches?

love signature

 

Get To Growing Garden Goodies

Get to growing garden goodies grow a long way in the beautification process of the spring flower and vegetable garden.

get-to-growing-garden-goodies

We’re in for an “Easter snap” at the end of the week, but the temps will remain friendly to the tradition of Good Friday gardening.

The tradition of planting cool and warm season crops in the South is common practice with many farmers and gardeners who believe Good Friday to Easter represents a symbol of fertility and rebirth.

Get to growing garden goodies inspiration often comes from a flower or vegetable garden sight to behold.

country-garden-geraniums-pansies-osteopermum-silver-petiolaris

House & Garden Magazine is a phenomenal source for lawn & garden inspiration, and it is my pleasure to share these enchanting examples.

English cottage gardens visually fascinate me.

Dave the Builder and I designed and planted a small one outside our bedroom at our last house, and although small in size, it commanded a large presence among the total landscape.

Osmanthus Tea Olive Shrub with White Fragrant Flowers

Planted in the garden right outside our bedroom window was a sweet olive tree.

Fragrant scents floated through the late afternoon into evening air, making spring into summer deck sitting times an aromatherapy session of sorts.

fragrant

adjective

having a pleasant scent or aroma; sweet-smelling; sweet-scented:
a fragrant rose.

delightful; pleasant:
fragrant memories.

Stanton-Residence-garden

In regards to planting your own English cottage garden, there’s no need for a large parcel of land or sprawling estate.

Better Homes & Gardens offers plans for creating the perfect cottage garden suited to your taste, zone, and design vision.

Here’s the link:  Garden Plans for Cottage Style 

Garden Plans for Cottage Style

Illustrations by Mavis Augustine Torke 

Aim to create a quaint garden space rich in color, fragrance, and charm.

knee-high-mix-sweet-pea-seeds

Knee High Mix Sweet Pea Seeds

The design objective of the cottage garden is refined undesign.

color-rich-English-cottage-garden

“I am rooted, but I flow.”

— Virginia Woolf

Quote means something altogether different, but I thought it fit the occasion.

hollyhocks

Hollyhock Indian Spring

Laying out the design of a cottage garden is similar to styling a coffee table.

High, medium and low is a working concept with considerations to factor in.

When I’m styling a coffee table I sit down on sofa, chair, etc…  and 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.

Border Charm Peony Roots

Border Charm Peony Roots

Color bursts runs intertwined in greenery grandeur.

English-cottage-garden-hyacinths

Hyacinths Bulbs Easter Basket Blend (Set of 12)

Mix and mingle annuals with perennials, textures and patterns, the shabby with the chic.

Contrast produces an informal, romantic, distinctive and visually pleasing aesthetic.

Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea White Flowering Shrub Bare Root

Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea White Flowering Shrub Bare Root

Weave unique planters, chippy garden statues, and accents of interest throughout.

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

get-to-growing-garden-goodies-1

Antique Shoppes At 1100 Barksdale

Strategically place, tuck and trellis seating and accents.

cottage-garden-accents

Stas Spiral Iron Gothic Trellis
Rose Stepstone Dark Walnut
Fiberstone Pot Planter

Woodland Excelsior Foxglove (Digitalis) Mixture Live Bareroot Perennial Plants (5-Pack)

Woodland Excelsior Foxglove (Digitalis) Mixture Live Bareroot Perennial Plants 

Sunday Lilac (Syringa) Live Deciduous Plant Purple Flowering Shrub

Sunday Lilac (Syringa) Live Deciduous Plant Purple Flowering Shrub

When planting and placing, work with the design rule of odds.

Groupings of three or five fashion the essential casual yet elegant design concept of the cottage garden.

Inese-Bite-Garden

Fencing of wood, iron, or hedge complete the desired intention of creating an intimate space.

Dark Green Metal Garden Fence (9-Pack)

Dark Green Metal Garden Fence (9-Pack)

Montebello Wrought Iron Garden Edging

Montebello Wrought Iron Garden Edging

Knockout roses.

garden-roses

Climbing roses.

Pinkie-New-Dawn-Climbing-Roses

Garden roses.

salmon pink rose

“There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grand Freesia & Ranunculus Bulb - Set of 25

Thankfully, the ice storm spared both the flowering quince and azaleas.

flowering-quince

Did you know azaleas are classified as an evergreen shrub?

pink azaleas

Harsh winter weather was cause for concern with so many of our plants and shrubs; however, these Southern Indica azaleas are rated for down to zero degrees fahrenheit.

Spring’s in full bloom gift graces the vases and tabletop places in the home.

pink-white-azaleas-in-vase

Our Deep South planting soil to temperature zone indicates the essential need for particular plants to be planted in the ground and growing by Easter in order to be strong enough to survive the heat of this region.

Some planting zones, climates, and soils ready for spring gardening quicker than others.

My steadfast rule and suggestion to fellow gardenistas is to first consult a zone map to know the best time for planting vegetables and/or flowers in your part of the world.

usda_plant_hardiness_zones

Two gardening go-to sources I consult is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and the Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide from the  LSU AgCenter.

Links to both provided above.

In this area April is the time for planting eggplant, okra, squash, cucumbers, peppers, snap and lima beans.

Based on information gleaned from a host of gardeners in the know,  azaleas, jasmine, viburnum, camellias, and flowering quince are prime for pruning as soon as they finish flowering.

snow storm damage

I shared this picture of the viburnum that did not fare so well during during and after the ice storm.

What, how, and when to cut back to promote new growth is the question I called the extension service with.

Our local extension service is a get it growing source of valuable lawn & garden information and get it growing tips.

bees (1)

Beauty and the bee is all the buzz, and you know I’m all about the theme.

SHORT HEIGHT PRINTED WELLIBOBS

Short Height Printed Wellibobs – Yellow Bees

Garden shoes for your ready, set, grow activities 🐝.

bee plates WSBee Salad Plates

Marble Honeycomb Salad Servers

Marble Honeycomb Salad Servers

garden fresh salad ingredients

Pass the buttermilk dressing.

La Rochere Napoleon Bee Verdigris 10 oz. Tumbler, Set of 6

La Rochere Napoleon Bee Verdigris 10 oz. Tumbler, Set of 6

Super cute outdoor pillow set at an unbelievably great price.

Bee-outdoor-pillow

bee-outdoor-pillow-1

Mainstay Bee Script Outdoor Pillow

Safavieh Hand-hooked Chelsea Aubree Country Oriental Wool Rug

Outdoor spaces decked (porch or patio) out in color, texture, and pattern invite the look of the season to sit in style for awhile.

Safavieh-Hand-hooked-Chelsea-Aubree-Country-Oriental-Wool-Rug (1)

Safavieh Hand-hooked Chelsea Aubree Country Oriental Wool Rug

“In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”

—Margaret Atwood

Getting garden ready involves getting garden dirty.

Honey Bee Hand Wash

Honey Bee Hand Wash

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.  To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.”

— Alfred Austin

Burt's-Bees-almond-hand-cream

Burt’s Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream

Gardening can be hard on the hands.

After a get to growing gardening session, treat your hands to a post gardening at-home hand spa treatment

hummingbird-moving

Griffin Products 38 oz Green Hand-blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder

Griffin Products 38 oz Green Hand-blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder

I ordered this hand-blown glass hummingbird feeder today for a friend who is an avid hummingbird watcher.

hummingbird-map (1)

Hummingbird Nectar 

Ingredients

granulated white table sugar

Water (tap is fine)

Directions

Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until sugar is dissolved.

Do not add red dye.

Fill hummingbird feeder with the sugar water mixture and place outside.

Any extra sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

hummingbird-feeding-from-Lilac

Change feeders every other day and thoroughly clean them each time to prevent harmful mold growth

To prevent the growth of mold, a hummingbird feeder should be cleaned and refilled at least twice a week in hot weather and at least once a week in cooler weather.

garden-vegetables-in-wheel-barrow-House-and-Garden

House & Garden – Photo by Andrew Montgomery

Bee & Willow Home Garden Tools Set

Bee & Willow Home Garden Tools Set

MOLLY MID HEIGHT PRINTED RAIN BOOTS

Molly Mid Height Printed Rain Boots – Khaki Chickens

pink-roses-gardening-gloves

Gardening Goodies

get it growing garden goodies

Tools

Fiskars® 3pc DuraFrame Garden Tools Set
Ames Poly Scoop
Barebones Living Small Garden Scissors
3pc Garden Tool Set – Smith & Hawken™

Planters

White Washed Brown Faux Woven Planter 
Green/Grey Ceramic Artichoke Planter with Saucer
Cast Stone Ornate Low Urn in Aged Charcoal
Fiberstone Pot Planter

Watering Cans

2 Qt Gray Elephant Watering Can
Hunter Green Watering Can with Copper Accents
Place & Time Spring Watering Can – Gold
Achla Designs Haystack Pitcher Watering Jug

Garden Goodies

Wald Imports Large 14-inch Willow Wine Basket

Cast Stone Leaf Stepstone Dark Walnut
Pure Garden Rolling Garden Work Scooter w/ Tool Tray
Orbit Irrigation Zinc Adjustable Impact Tripod Sprinkler

tomatoes-in-sink-Delft-tiles-photo-Johannes-Mueller

House & Garden – Photo by Johannes Mueller

Crisp lettuce.

Tom Thumb leaf lettuce seeds

Leaf Lettuce “Tom Thumb” Seeds – Butterhead 

Home-grown tomatoes.

Beefsteak heirloom Tomato

Beefsteak Heirloom Tomato Seeds

Fresh from the garden vegetables deliciously complement spring and summer grill it up favorites.

hamburger-patties-ready-to-grill

garden-vegetables-citrus

Edible Plants

Preparing spring fresh dishes and treats can be a messy undertaking.

SL apron new spring

Scrolling through the home offerings from Dillard’s resulted in this new pretty for spring purchase.

new spring apron

wicker-vegetable-basket

Wicker Vegetable Basket

Vegetable themed serveware sets a stunning from the garden tablescape.

vegetable-shaped-Italian-Majolica-serveware

Vintage Vegetable Shaped Italian Majolica Serveware

CORNERRUBY INTERNATIONAL carrot bunny figurine

Cornerruby International Carrot Bunny Figurine

never-underestimate-the-healing-power-of-a-quiet-moment-in-the-garden

National Garden Clubs Inc. 

There’s a whole host of reasons for gardening.

Gardening is:

Therapeutic.

Relaxing.

Visually gratifying.

Expresses creativity.

Early spring is an excellent time to plan, plant and Easter parade your flower and vegetable gardens accented with get to growing garden goodies.

spring signature

 

Easter Week at Places In The Home

Spring blooms, seasonal snaps, and a heavy dose of Easter tradition ushers in Easter week at Places In The Home.

What’s hoppin’ around your house this Easter week?

BHG-hello-spring

Red and pink beauties are beginning to bloom offsetting the brown and greenish gray color holdovers from winter’s grip.

Easter week

From the I ♥ garden roses collection.

blooming-red-roses

I’ll enjoy the arrangements for another day or two, and then use the petals for rose petal ice cubes.

garden-roses

My brother dropped by yesterday bearing gifts of gardenias.

The spring beautification process is a slowly but surely operation, but we’re getting there.

gardenia

Dave the Builder’s latest pet project, the taming of the squirrel, is proving successful.

squirrel

Maybe too successful.

crepe-window

This crazy thing perches itself on the main branch of the crepe myrtle tree right outside the kitchen window and peers through the window.

Evidently watching me washing dishes is wildly entertaining.

We are one wild and crazy crew, animals included.

I dug this photo of Dave, the Canadian snowbird and Cottontail the rabbit out of the Places In The Home archives.  If you think the photo quality is horrible in black and white, you should see the color version.

Mama Places In The Home snapped this circa 2005 pic with a throwaway camera.

Annie Leibovitz she is not.

Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of the bunny backstory:

Dave and I were checking out the newly planted flower beds late one spring afternoon.  I was in the color in bloom zone, laser focused on the budding design features detailing my mad lawn and garden skills.

Dave on the other hand was channeling his inner Dr. Doolittle with the just discovered addition to our flower garden menagerie.

Cottontail the baby rabbit hopped right up to Dave in are you my father fashion.  We brought him inside that evening and set him up in a toilet paper box direct from the discard bin at the local Kroger.

We lined the box with newspaper and grass clippings hoping to emulate a natural surrounding, and placed a water bowl and rabbit food over to one corner.

Cottontail was in high cotton for the evening.

The next morning it was back to the outdoors where he thrived and frolicked, nested in our yard and flower garden, adapted to the daily comings and goings of our schedules, and waited in the driveway each afternoon to greet Dave.

As mysteriously as he appeared he disappeared, leaving a hole in our hearts.

We got so attached to that silly rabbit, so much so that I cried for three days when he went away.

Dave stills tears up when he talks about that silly rabbit.

Easter-basket

My Easter Eggstravaganza centerpiece is a build upon canvas.

Deconstructing the Mardi Gras King Cake centerpiece, it dawned on me that by adding to instead of taking away from the existing tulle a shimmering color rich nest effect would be created.

Easter-eggs-vase

What nature does not provide, the Walmart-Michaels-Hobby Lobby floral department will.

Faux flowers serve the purpose in certain decorating for the holiday situations, and when quality stems are selected the finished result can be faux fabulous.

eggs

The incredible, dyeable, edible egg.

dyed-Easter-eggs

pineapple-pie-meringue

Fresh mint.

Fresh lemon.

Fresh orange.

lemon-orange-fresh-mint

Fresh parsley.

Fresh carrots.

Easter!

carrots-with-fresh-lemon-orange-mint

Easter week sets spring into motion.

Another season, another wonderful reason for decorating, planting, entertaining, and gathering round dining and picnic tables of stylish tablescapes and delicious dishes with dear loved ones and great friends.

Dave and I hope your Easter week, weekend and Sunday is one of blessings, love, laughter, and making wonderful traditions and memories time spent with family and friends who are like family.

love your style

A Show and Tell On This Beautiful Good Friday

Holidays are a time for celebrating, rejoicing, feasting and sharing.  We will practice and partake in all, beginning with a hippity, hoppity Easter’s on its way show and tell on this beautiful Good Friday.

gold-rabbit

Plastic Easter eggs and a gold bunny from Dollar Tree make eggcellent decoration anchors for the holiday dessert display.

beautiful Good Friday

Live lilies as well as porcelain and china flowers take centerpiece stage on the Easter table.

blue-iris

antique-plate-1It’s the year of the wedding(s) in the Places In The Home family.

There’s talk of silver, china, monograms, cakes and flowers at holiday gatherings with assurances from one very proud mom and aunt that the topic of conversation is one of supreme interest.

coconut-cake-cut

Dorothy’s Homemade Coconut Cake Recipe from Alex Hitz is the perfect choice of Easter, bridal shower or bridesmaid luncheon dessert.

Poncahtoula strawberries

sugar-spoon-table

May I suggest a dessert pairing featuring fresh Louisiana strawberries topped with a heavy handed spoonful of granulated pure cane sugar served in watermelon glass pattern sherbets in spring and summer shades of pink and green.

glass-sherbets Presentation wow factor now being served.

freezing-rose-petals-in-water

The bloom is off the rose thanks to recent tornado times however, a lawn and garden gift of good nature produced fresh blooms from knock out roses row.

Bridal shower inspiration bloomed, and rose petal ice cubes became the entertaining diy project of the day.

rose-petals-frozen

It’s all in the details.

rose-petals-ice-cubes

Remembering, reflecting, celebrating, decorating and wishing you a blessed and beautiful Good Friday.

Love your style!

Garden Home Decor Colors

Every now and then it is necessary to perform housekeeping and updating to clear the cobwebs away from older posts, revivify information and renew resources.

Garden home decor colors is one of those times and one of those posts.

Giuseppe_Arcimboldo_-_The_Vegetable_Gardener_-_WGA00842The Vegetable Gardener ~ Giuseppe Arcimboldo {{PD-US}}

We gather inspiration from the color palette of nature and company.

Funny how the colors of what grows in the garden inspires from the garden home decor colors.

June_3_Farmers_Market,_Harrisonburg,_Va.,_2010_(4953469065) (1)

Farmers Market, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Eggplant #614051

hm_f303023e0def08e0_spcms

Southern Living

Eggplant or Aubergine takes its place on the color wheel in visually impressive fashion.

Aubergines_Three_Types1 Aubergine

Aubergine commands full focal point attention.

This particular shade of purple is no shrinking violet.

one_kings_lane_plum_rusticwoodfloors

Photo by Emily Gilbert Photography; interior by The Brooklyn Home Company.  As Featured by One Kings Lane

Robust.

Confident.

Vibrant.

Palette Potent.

Eggplant or aubergine brings the hue you calling gorgeous drama to a space.

Valpone_08-531x800

Rachel Volpone 

Buttery French Yellow #e6b70f

656px-Corn_on_the_cob

Pattern

Pattern makes a compelling argument for the beauty that lies within in the it’s all in the details details.

yellow-curtain-panelKelley Interior Design  via Pinterest

I do believe a color combination post featuring the swoon worthy color combination of buttery French yellow and luxurious creamy dreamy not quite white is in the immediate future of Places In The Home.

Simply gorgeous!

from the garden home decor colors

Texture

Better Homes and Gardens

 Color

yellow-desk-ghost-chair

Domino

Tomato Red #9d0104

Tomato Yellow #d2a009

Tomato Green #847704

tomatoes

There is something so summer about the variety of colors associated with fresh from the garden tomatoes.

Gretchen-BondGretchen Bond

From the garden to the table to the perfect color choice of a decorative home accessory, garden home decor colors inspire.

101402526.jpg.rendition.largest

Better Homes and Gardens

Love the pop of garden bold colors paired with a Places In The Home house favorite- the ever so chic choice of leopard print accents.

gold-matte-velvet-drapes

Anthropologie Matte Velvet Curtain

 Cucumber Recipes

384ea816d0600b9363ab43204097cba9

Striking color combinations in fresh from the garden home decor colors make an anything but garden variety statement.

dwmmaloos-portfolio-interiors-art-deco-contemporary-eclectic-modern-dining-room

DWM | MALOOS

Kitchen_Green_Cabinets_DE10 House & Home

Summer home decor updates in from the garden home decor colors are naturally influenced by the seasonal palette influenced by the deep, rich, bright and vibrant shades represented at the farmers market.

It’s a growing trend!

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

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.

she-shed-garden-decoratingCountry Living

iced-teaSouthern Living

54c1c92c4f6f3_-_ed-peterson-4-xln-xlnELLE DECOR

Friday-will-be-fabulousRedbook

Lucille-BallHarper’s BAZAAR

MoroccoDomaine

Banana_Leaf_Wallpaper_in_Green_and_Pink_design_by_York_Wallcoverings_aa448458-675c-428d-ad2a-0baa567e685a_2048x2048Burke Decor

Venetian-Painted-Armoire1stdibs

Have a wonderful weekend!

enjoy-hydrangea

Do Drop In: Entertaining With Ease

The welcome mat at Places In The Home is working overtime. Several of our family members are taking to the spring holiday road, and our house is do drop in central.  Good visits begin with good hosting and good hosting begins with a stress free host or hostess.  Entertaining is supposed to be a fun for guests and hosts alike, isn’t it?  I know I have a much better entertaining experience if I access and assign a theme, go with the entertaining with ease flow and keep the focus on comfortable surroundings, inviting touches and relaxing times.

Texas_bluebonnet_plant_lupinus_texensis_with_dark_blue_flowers_with_white_topTexas Bluebonnet

Texas times and family memories will be a hot topic of conversation.  Our company’s travels begin in Texas Bluebonnet country, and with Texas being the common denominator of our family tree, I played it up in theme and setting. Farmhouse chic makes an effortless foundation to build your theme upon.

carnations2

A simple arrangement of carnations mixed with greenery and placed beside an even simpler arrangement of apples and bananas in a milk glass center bowl provides a nice centerpiece in a farmhouse chic kind of way.

apples1

Fresh flowers from the floral department of the local grocery store are my weakness, and when the word clearance enters into the picture my shopping cart runneth over.  You really get your money’s worth with carnations. Carnations can last for weeks with an every other day water change and a quick stem trim.  I use tepid water, scale back leaves from the stems to prevent contact with the water, and place a couple of drops of food coloring in the water.

pink-carnations

From recipes to table setting decor, I like to source from within meaning I like to use what I have on hand.  A great home decor clearance sale and dollar store items purchased in bulk can provide all the entertaining with ease elements needed for a well designed themed tablescape.

entertaining-with-ease

kitsch
art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.

rooster-dish-towel

Into each case of design and decorating a little if kitchen kitsch is wrong, I don’t want to be right will fall.  The method to my madness lies deeply rooted in the from which I came from principle. I picked up several sets of rooster dish towels at the local dollar store back during the holidays knowing full well they would come in handy. Paired with copper napkin rings I found on clearance at Dillard’s a couple of years ago, the dish towels made great dinner napkins.

copper-napkin-rings

The Places In The Home gang comes from a long line of hen on nest dish collectors.  The women of our family felt no respectable kitchen and/or breakfast room decor complete without the addition of at least one hen on nest dish.

hen-on-nest-dish

Rubylane

On the menu front I aim to please.  Round our dinner table, quality rules over quantity which lines up perfectly with easy menu planning.  As long as the iced tea is sweet and I keep the serving sizes in just a bite territory it is all good and tasty. The culinary rule of KISS (keep it salad simple) always applies.

sideboard-partners

I set up a salad buffet for first course serve yourself ease.  Individual Mason jar salads layered with shredded iceberg lettuce, fresh tomato, chopped ham, green onion, Feta cheese crumbles, homemade buttermilk dressing and a dash of kosher salt and fine black pepper were a hit with the just a bite crowd.

salad

Biscuit BLTs with Peach Mayonnaise bring back memories of summers spent in Texas at my great-grandmother’s house.  Traditions tastes so good!

biscuit-bacon-lettuce-tomato-sandwich1

Entertaining goes hand in hand with spring and summer, and entertaining with ease goes hand in hand with y’all come back now, ya hear!

Love your style!