What's Old is New Again!

I got married in 1974.  (Divorced in 1989, but that's another story!)


Back then, there were some unalterable traditions that any young southern woman just had to incorporate into the whole engagement scene.  The local newspaper covered the wedding showers with full descriptions of the decor, the food and the attendees.  Proud mothers set up display tables in their dining rooms to show all the pretty wedding gifts as they arrived, and it was customary for friends to come and ooh and ahh over all the pretties that the bride and groom received.  

Our bridesmaids wore big brimmed hats in those days....mine were peach...my favorite color at the time.  I guess I've always loved shades of orange!!   I even wore a hat that I designed and made instead of a veil.  

circa 1974

( Isn't this a hoot!....can't wait for my sister to see this!)

...and yes....I was a blond back then!!

We also registered for sterling silver and "everyday" china in addition to our "good" china.  And we got most of it too!  


My everyday china was "Just Flowers" by Mikasa.

Isn't it pretty?  

It was very contemporary at the time.  The shape was modern and the watercolor - look of the design was unusual.  I loved it !  And so did my mother!  She bought an entire 12 pc. placesetting for herself.  We could feed 24 people with the same dishes.  It was wonderful.

Then I went through my "red period'....somewhere in the 90's... and I put away my pretty peach and blue dishes.

They came in these beautiful boxes too.  They even looked pretty put away!

Tuscany was alive an well in my home with red plates, green and gold salad plates and cobalt blue bowls.  I also have a 12pc set of buttery gold, scalloped edge stoneware that I used for the last 5 years or so.  

This weekend, I made the switch.  I've "de-redded" my home over the last several months....Tuscany is only a place in Italy, and I've adopted a more modern and stream-lined transitional look in my home.  And guess what colors I'm using??  Orange, turquoise with the neutrals black, white and khaki.  

So my beautiful dishes from 1974 are back in my kitchen.  I can't wait to feed friends and family once again with "Just Flowers".

What dishes are gracing your kitchen?  

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A Dallas Fav

This month's edition of D-Home Magazine reminds us of some of the most wonderful interiors featured in the magazine over the last 10 years. 

This living room, designed by Dallas designer, Myrl Talkington, was a real favorite of mine as well.

I love the beautiful, saturated color on the walls, the Aubusson rug and the rich coffered ceiling.  The abundance of rich fabric on the upholstery and drapes bring that feeling of casual elegance to this room.

 

Arched doors are always unique, and the detailed carving on these is magnificent! 

I don't even have words for this painted secretary....how about fabulous!

I'd love to know the back story on this piece, wouldn't you?

If I'd seen the glass coffee table in a showroom, I don't know that I would have thought about it for this space, but now that it's in place, the transparency of the glass allows the beautiful rug to show well.   Would you have pushed the envelop and placed this table, or something else?

Do you love the color palatte?  Robin's egg blue and yellow...a very traditional combination.  Even though the damask fabric usually brings a formal look to a room, the painted and distressed finishes on the chair frame bring a more casual feel.

I love the fringe on the oversized pillows too.

Photos of this room were first published in D-Home in May on 2008.  I think it's still a classically designed room that will continue to look fresh for more years to come.

What are your favorite features of this room?

Bachelor Inspiration

I've spent the last 3 hours watching the final episode of The Bachelor.  Ok, I admit to being a real sap, having watched the show since it's inception.  No matter how annoyed I've been with Vienna all season, how can you deny the romance of a proposal in St. Lucia !

So I sit here, totally engrossed in this fantasy setting and watch the

Cinderella story unfold. 

After wiping the tear (only one) from my eye, I realized that I was really looking at the color of the sky as it meets the ocean, and wondering what Sherwin Williams color it was.

...and how it might look in a bedroom

or a kitchen

Of course, the ocean isn't the only inspiration in St. Lucia.  Remember the glorious waterfall from last week's episode?

 I love the rusty orange shades in the rocks set off by the rich brown, grays and creamy whites.

Here's the suites where Jake stayed in St. Lucia.....nice.

Some view !

I'm inspired by the natural elements and the lush landscape.

Stone should not be relegated to exteriors only.  How restful is this stone sitting room.  It's a beautiful backdrop to the soft neutrals of the furniture.

Natural elements aren't only about creating restful spaces.  This verdent green can energize a space like nothing else.

There's that pop of orange again....gotta love it!

As the sun sets over the island and this season of The Bachelor,

I'm going to dream about the shades of lavender and pink that remind me that it's Alli's turn next....the new Bachelorette.

Surely, she likes pink......

images from Elle Decor, Jade Mountain resort, St. Lucia, J. Hirsch Interior Designs, Massuco, Warner, Miller Interior Design, Billy Haines