Guest Bedroom Tweaking

I've been working at blending in the new night stand with the guest bedroom.

With it's gold decal decoration on it and the shiny metal finish on the bed set I knew I needed to bridge the look in some way.

I stopped in at Kohls and was checking out their pictures frames and I found myself looking at their wall decorations.  I stood there staring at this metal piece and I struck me that the tones in it were a perfect pick up to the night stand!  

I also have a new basket from 
Pottery Barn 
(they call it a shelf basket-narrow and wide) 
that I put the books in and it had a nice warm tone to it that goes well with the piece.  

 I liked the movement of the piece and after I stared at this picture I realized it's overall shape was an excellent pickup to the design on the pillows.

 I recently ordered this pillow from One King's Lane because I was smitten with the design and I liked the texture and color of the burlap.  Again I wanted to bring a little warmer tone in to help the nightstand fit in even more.

I picked up this glass vase with the woven jute design at T.J. Maxx a while back.  After I ordered the burlap pillow I realized that this would be a nice addition to this vignette and add some more texture. 

Realistically the candles make no sense at such a high location but I liked the look they brought to the design.  I've seen some remote controlled flame less candles I'm thinking about using but I want them in white.  So far I haven't found them in white!

I kept staring at this bird cage and it dawned on me that it would be far more whimsical to put the cat inside the cage!  I was tempted to put feathers in there too but I figured that might get too corny looking!

 I need to finish the top of the new night stand.  I know it's look is not complete yet, but overall I'm pleased with the look of the room.  This bedding from P.B. is great but it tends to have a frumpy look!  If you are a neat nick it would probably drive you bonkers!  I also discovered that P.B. has draperies in the fabric of my two accent pillows and it's been on my mind to get them but I don't like the price.  I'll watch for some kind of sale before I take the plunge or at least get free shipping!

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for
Table Top Tuesday 

Thanks for visiting!

Welcoming spring!

This tablecloth with it's bright green seemed like a great way to brighten up my kitchen and to welcome spring in!  

The sun was beaming in and I rushed to capture some pictures.  I had already put my terrarium on the table just to be different and then I decided to set up a couple of place settings for breakfast.  While Dan was getting ready for the day I scurried about to put this together!  I didn't elaborate too much!

I used the Bordallo Pinheiro dishes again because I like their garden colors.  

My pink Fleur-de-Lis glassware seemed like a good pairing and the ivory flatware was an easy fit with this arrangement. I kept it simple with a basic white napkin.

These white dishes have a grape vine pattern and the cabbage leaf plates look so good on top! The coffee cup has a textured vine pattern built along the handle with raspberries decorating the center of the cup. I thought these all made for a nice garden theme and a good mix with my terrarium

"Cathe" the name I've given to my garden angel is sleeping again and this bunny is up to no good!  He's after the flowers! 
Wake up Cathe!

I think one way or another I will be using bunnies in my tablescapes through Easter!

One last picture before we ate.  Admittedly I'm not really this formal for breakfast but we've been so thrilled with this early warm up to spring around here that I seemed like a nice idea to welcome spring in with a garden theme!  I made a batch of french toast, some sausage links (which is Dan's favorite) scrambled eggs and hash browns.  
We had some O.J. and coffee.  
Later on Dan worked on my dish closet making me some racks for the stemware.  I'm only showing a quickie picture because I need to organize it, but I will show it again in the near future! He's going to create some coffee cup holders too so I don't have 
to stack them.

My oh my how did this grow to so much!

I'd like you all to welcome my friend Betty- She's started a blog this week...please check out her link and welcome her aboard!

Betty Marie's
I'm linking to Between Naps on the Porch
for Tablescape Thursdays

White grapevine dishes by Bordallo Pinheiro

Green cabbage leaf dishes by Bordallo Pinheiro

Raspberry coffee cups from One Kings Lane (no brand on them)

Flatware from Horchow called Sophia (very reasonable)

Fleur-de-lis glassware from Horchow, listed as handmade in Portugal

Faux Terrarium from Kohls (plants from various places, my design)

Bunnies from a garden center

White napkins from Wisteria (I hid the large Fleur-de-lis emblem on them because they seemed to formal with them showing)

Tablecloth by April Cornell

As always thank-you for joining me 
and I always love to hear your comments!
Liz

Catching some rays...

What a great Sunday we're already 

having!  We had a nice relaxing 

morning and I decided to play

with my terrarium and set it

up on the kitchen table. 

 The sun was beaming in so I thought

I'd catch some rays....

 This little bunny is trying to sneak

in and enjoy some fresh greens!

 Looks like my Angel Cathe is asleep

and not noticing!

  Hmm.... I wonder if I can reach

that nice yellow flower....It's sure

to taste the best!

 I thought it would be nice to

have the table dressed up a 

bit.  We are experiencing such

nice weather it's rather unreal!

I know everybody is talking about it

but our normal temperature range is

40 for this time of year and the last 

record was set in 1966 at 74 degrees...

yesterday we broke it at 82 degrees!

I always feel better when the sun is out

and it seems to have a way of bringing 

out a smile in everyone!  

Stop by and visit

My Little Home and Garden for Sunlit Sundays

I usually post under my Garden blog for

Sunlit Sundays (for those of you

who don't know me  under this blog name)

Sit With Me In My Garden 

I am also joining

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays 

New office!

I've decided to move my desk out of the living room and put it in a small bedroom that I'm converting to an office. 

This is the small bedroom I'm adopting (previously my daughters room).  I redid it a few years ago with this new bedding ensemble from Kohls.  It was a Spanish inspired print (the blue print looks like Spanish tiles up close) and the terracotta quilt and pillows inspired me to paint the room this color which is called "Soft Marigold" by Benjamin Moore.  My daughter is the only one who has used it when she comes home for a visit, but now a days that's only a few times a year.  Hence the reason I'm taking it over!

This is my kidney shaped desk and chair I got a year ago.  I took this picture moments after it arrived!

The chair is kind of a cranberry red and that's not going to be changed. I love it dearly and it's real comfortable!

The two lampshades will be in the room and I've been examining different whites to use for the room.  I'm very wishy washy about it.

For instance I saw these pictures with Benjamin Moore's Davenport Tan. 

 I love the drama of the color and I know it would be rich with my red chair and the desk. It's such a small room I'm debating whether it's wise to go with such a deep color.

This picture represents another color I'm looking at called Linen White, but it has a hint of yellow and I'm not so sure I want to do that.

This one is called Moonlight White and when I put the sample of it near the new white lamp it really has the right tone in it.

 This wall color is called White Chocolate and I really like it too, it's on the same card as the one above and they both could work.  

My new lamps inspired me to go for a little lighter modern look so this light wall color has been my focus, but the drama queen in me also likes that dark color I showed above!

I took this picture with no natural light and with two lamps on and it made the room look orange!  We took a large piece of cardboard and laid it on top of the desk, traced it and cut it out so I could set it in the room and get a feel for it.  

 The 4th color down on the card is the Davenport Tan color but I am pretty sure my hubby will look at me quite cross eyed if I show him that one!

I bought the curtains on the left at Pier 1 and then I went into Bed Bath & Beyond and found the other pair which I think is going to be the winner now!  

I found this at T.J. Maxx yesterday and snatched it up.   I love the picture but I don't think it's got the right vibe!

These are both from Pier 1 and I'm seriously considering one or the other.

 This one has a truer red and I do like the 
colors in it.

This one has a muted red almost rust but I really liked the painting the best.  In person it has hints of gold that catch the eye with reflection.

We have a ways to go on the prepping and painting and the new carpet will be in next week.  Once that's done things will move along quickly!

So that's my project for now and I'm pretty wrapped up in it!

As always, Thanks for stopping by!

Liz

In Love With Terrariums

I've been scoping out Terrariums........I have a fascination for them but the first one I found at Longwood Gardens was just over $200 and I wasn't prepared to pay that kind of price.  I've been looking here and there on line and found a few that I like.

(I am including links, but I am not advertising nor am I compensated for them)

This Terrarium is described as an 

English Classic Tabletop 

I found it on ($43) Amazon

This one is similar to the one above except

it has a functional roof top to open for

ventilation, which is important when

growing live plants but is considerably

more money  ($168) Wardian Style 

 Terrariums at ($139.99 for two)

The Country Door

($69.99) and here

 For the do-it yourselfer I found this

example at Country Living Magazine

it is a terrarium made using pre-made

picture frames

What I really want is one that has it's

own stand

but after looking around

I've realized  I'm going to have to be 

prepared to pay a lot more money! 

So for now........

I found this one while shopping at a 

department store.  It has no glass- so I 

call it a Terrarium loosely but I was 

attracted to it and ended up buying it.

(Sale price $38.49) Terrarium at Kohls

I lucked out on a Saturday with one of

their specials and got it at 50% off plus

a 20% coupon that brought it down to

$30.79

 For now I will have to be content with a

"faux" terrarium

 I ended up using it as a decortive

element on this table.

 It only has faux plants in it.  To be

a true terrarium it would have to

have some sort of waterproofing and

it would need to be enclosed to provide

a greenhouse like environment.

I love interior decorating and during

the winter months it occupies my

mind as much as gardening does

during the spring and summer.

I added this garden Angel and

moss to blanket the bottom.

I guess they say we are "nesting"

at this time of year.  Even though this

has been a very mild winter we do tend

to be indoors much more than we want

to have to be so you might as well find 

a way to make it more cozy and enjoyable!

So this is what I do to ward off 

the winter blues....what are you

up to?

I'm joining Rose Vignettes 

for the blog party Fresh Cut Fridays

Please stop on by and see

what everyone else is up to!

I have a TAN

I have a

TAN

Well sort of....

Terrarium, Angel, Nest

 

I'm working on a new addition

I am still working it into the scene...

Nest...

At this time of year I think we

all feel the need to nest!

Liz