Chicago's Mecox Gardens - always a favorite

I mentioned the great tablescapes of Ken Chrzastek of Chicago's Mecox Gardens in an earlier post on red. Here's some more red & lots more eye candy from whenI visited this beautifully styled store back in June.

Also - you may have noticed the posts have been a bit sparse. I've been in Seattle and am now in Cape Cod and will have lots of fun things to post about soon. Hope you're enjoying your summer!

My Friend's Home - Should have been in Domino!

Every time I visited Lori's house, I couldn't help but think it would have been a perfect feature for the "late" Domino magazine. Luckily I had a chance to capture some images before the move. When entering the room your eye is drawn to the center window with the elegant writing desk. Lori made the magnolia swag years ago and it still looks terrific. The color is a bit off in this first image as the Pottery Barn braided jute rug is much lighter in color. (which by the way looks so much like uber expensive apple matting)

The living room used to be painted in this warm golden yellow which now serves as a gorgeous backdrop to her collection of china and shells.

Looking around you will notice little touches here and there. This Indochine chair is dressed with a black satin ribbon.

Have leftover foreign currency? Display it like Lori does - love this.

A painting serves as the summer fireplace screen. Simple white branches accent the mantle.
A view from the front hall into the living room.
An accent chair covered in a Kelly Wearstler fabric.
Beautifully styled shelves in the breakfast room. Notice the flowers tucked in among the plates.

A bit of a peek into the family room with windows and french doors overlooking the garden. There's a great mix of contemporary and traditional pieces in the room. Very casual and relaxed but all done with a great flair. I can't wait to see what she does with her Georgetown home!

Update: To see her powder room, go here.

A Simple Gray & Yellow Table

This is my first time participating in Tablescape Thursday and I was inspired by my recent purchase of these two vintage tablecloths while on the Eddie Ross flea market tour. However, both were rectangular and neither one was the right size for my round table. Problem solved when they are layered, one crossing over the over and each one making up for the "short side" of the other. Yeah!
The top tablecloth is the Fantasia pattern from the 70's. To tie in with the gray in the pattern, I was able to use the light gray napkins my late elderly neighbor, Mrs. L, gave me. This table is set for three - I only wish I could run next door to invite Mr. and Mrs. L over for lunch. At first I tried a floral centerpiece, but instead settled on pears in a vintage aluminum footed bowl.
The glassware is from my Mom - purchase in Bermuda in 1961.
Here are the lovely Creative Candles that were a gift from Eddie and Jaithan. Two sets of matching candlesticks create four different heights with these 12" and 18" tapers. They're Paris Gray and are more gray than they appear in this photo.

Love small bouquets - this one is made from last Friday's white flowers w/cuttings from a butterfly bush and a shrub.
After setting this table and lighting the candles, I thought to myself, "I should do this more often!" For links to more tablescapes, be sure to head over to Between Naps on the Porch for the 57th Tablescape Thursday!

Turn Paperbacks Backwards & Other Great Tips from Pure Style Home

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of hearing Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home give a design seminar at Pear Tree Cottage, a terrific home decor store in Vienna, VA. It was great fun to meet Lauren in person - she is charming, full of fresh ideas and may I add, a great public speaker! Starting from a blank slate at 3 different vignettes, Lauren moved through the store and demonstrated design principles of visual weight, informal and formal balance and personalizing with the unexpected and spontaneous Check out the second shelf in this armoire - they're paperbacks turned with their spines to the back. LOVE, love this creative idea!

Lauren brought in a mantel from her own home. She added the mirror to ground the mantel and to add interest. Notice the 3 mushrooms on stands to the left - everyone remarked how they never would have thought to group these but it is so successful!

Sedum and an unknown bush from her yard makes for a relaxed and pretty arrangement. The white is picked up by the fig candles on the tray to the right and the urn on the far left (pic above).
Here Lauren mixed modern and vintage for a unique entry table full of personality. This was a great demonstration of using differing heights and making the arrangement practical as well - a tray for keys, etc. sits on top of the magazines. In some houses (like mine) it could be on the stack of mail yet to be dealt with. If you haven't already seen Lauren's post for step-by-step suggestions, click here.

Here's a few pics from Pear Tree Cottage - this store is a definite place to put on your list to visit as it's full of unique pieces arranged in inspiring vignettes. I came away with a terrific metal bowl which I think is going to end up on my entry table. Click here to see a listing of upcoming design seminars (and did I mention they serve champagne & strawberries...)

Atlanta Encore! - Incredible Tablescapes

A return business trip to Atlanta was as exciting as my first visit back in February. I had a chance to visit Linda Horsley Antiques - and I'm not exagerating when I say this is the most inspirational antique store I've ever visited. They specialize in beautiful 17th, 18th, and 19th century period furniture and exquisite accessories. What is also exquisite is the incredible and unique tablescapes. This artful display of shells and coral on a silver tray, accompanied by antique books, is stunning. If you have a shell collection, instead of dispersing them around, consider following Linda's lead and locate them all in one place. I also love how Linda's selection of shells includes three shocks of deep pink, playing off the greys and creams.



Here this 18c gouache is accented by the choice of dried flora on the stacked books, beautifully contrasting against the polished wood bureau.
This 19c Swedish secretary was my favorite piece in the store. Love how only the left side door is opened, drawing your eye down to this whimisical little man perched on the chair. Standing in front of this secretary, with all the vintage papers in the cubby holes, I felt "drawn" into this time period.
The following image is from the Linda Horsley Antiques web site. An excellent picture for a prospective buyer - however I think it reinforces how much the tablescape brings out the mood of this period piece.

Incredible lamps and a simple tablescape balance each other nicely.

Forgive me for my repeated use of the word exquisite - but these four elements are perfectly connected to each other.
A shirred back French settee. The two middle pillows are stunning, comprised of vintage and new fabrics.



More is More! in this tablescape as it magnifies the pattern and color of this early 19c screen on rice paper. The fresh apple off to the side of the books is charming.
Coral unexpectedly emerges from the vases while flowers and fruit spring up from the handled dish.
Here I think the small detail of the three acorns is perfection, expecially since this all rests on a piece of rough fabric.
I couldn't imagine returning to Atlanta and not making time to wander through this gorgeous showroom again. I forgot to ask the name of the very gracious gentleman who let me linger and take pictures - thank you so much!