Round here

Merry Christmas to my beloved readers.

Help!!!

Dying for a copy of this magazine! I can't find it in Pennsylvania. Jill Brinson Sharp's Atlanta home (remember it from the cover of HB?) is decorated to its finest for the holidays with the help of Suzanna Kazler for Ballard Designs. Word is gorgeous blond is coming out with a new book! I love the chevron tablecloth, what a pop! To see more of this gorgeous house, head on over to Cote De Texas for a terrific post by Joni. Or here.

***** I love blogland and I love Cynthia Cowles from St.Simon's Island in Georgia for sending me a copy and for being a loyal reader. xx

Spirit

It snowed here last night in Scranton. It certainly put me in a holiday spirit. Here are a couple of images to inspire this chilly morning as well. Don't you love how Eddie Ross stacked his wood on his porch with a couple of friends to help?

Thank you so much for all the sweet emails that you are happy to see me posting. They really mean the world to me.

Images from Tartanscot,Country Living, Eddie Ross, Unknown

Thanksgiving

Profoundly absent, I know.


Life takes many twists and turns as we know. Mine twisted, I turned. I find myself now standing at a crossroads. As an individual unit, I am unusually quite happy in that position.


I'm never one to sweat change. But add two little people to your name and that is a game changer. We sold our renovation house. I loved taking that house from near disaster and bringing it back to life with you of course along for the ride. But it was time for a change.


We have a new focus. So we did what we do best. Fix again. We moved into our little house and added some fresh energy. Going from big to small is not without challenge and you have to remain steady in your course. I'm excited to share how I made it work for us.


Thanksgiving is about not looking back at what might have been lost, but rather what you have without sometimes even knowing it. What a better time to start blogging again. It comes as a challenge of course but I miss you my friends.

Hello! So needless to say I have been a tad busy. I have so much great stuff in the works and can't wait to share One project is a small bar space that is tad dark and depressing. So nothing a little red lacquer won't solve! But in the meantime I saw the print above on my girl Pink Wallpaper's blog. It struck a note and thought it would be a perfect little addition. But upon searching, it was only available in England and it would have been a pain to ship plus um, expensive. So imagine my delight when I found this Etsy seller with it listing. I snapped it right up and can I tell you it arrived in the most beautiful box trimmed in chocolate ribbon. I can't wait to frame it up! Will share the bar very shortly. So when are you coming over for drinks?

Hi there campers! Summer is in full swing! Are you having fun??? My life seems to be entering in to phase of big changes and I can't wait to soon share. In the meantime, a couple of things:

I've been obsessed with little Capes in the Berkshires. How amazing is this tiny on square footage but big on style cottage by brilliant Architect Bill Ingram in Birmingham featured in the new HB! Between the new Lonny and HB, I am in heaven.
I actually emailed Bill on how he achieved the grey shaker shingle on the body portion of the house. He was sweet enough to write me back and let me know he experimented with a grey semi translucent stain. Just beautiful.


I really want a soapstone sink in my lifetime. This one looks so beautiful against the kitchen cabinets, no?


This pic makes me want to take a trip to far away lands.

How adorable are these Lego cakes my girlfriends Cathy and Heather made for their sons Will and Max birthdays? Happy Birthday big guys!

And Eddie Ross, the start of the foyer is FAB


ok, go out there and enjoy all summer has to offer!!!!

Random Thoughts for Back to Work (or not)

I want these Louboutins Mary Janes bad.

I LOVE this pic of J Crew's Jenna Lyons and her son in her fab Brooklyn bathroom. Chalkboard paint!

I wonder what Magnificent Miles is up to for the summer? Let us know Miles!!!

I want a lattice ceiling.

I will never ever get over black pendant lighting over a kitchen island. I have some to share soon!

Farm to Table.

I consider myself very lucky in life that I get to do what I love and I have the most terrific clients. Take in point Kristi. She is an amazing mom of two adorable kids that along with her husband bought a house about an hour away from Scranton. Its on a beautiful piece of land and word is her surrounding landscape is becoming the place to be. Rumor also has it that Ms. Martha bought a house not too far away.
Kristi is a follower of the blog and called me up to see if I could help with her living room project. I was happy to get on board when I quickly learned she had a great eye and a williness to explore all ideas to get this room to rise up to meet this wonderful family. Once again, terrific client.

Ok lets start with the carpet. I am not going to lie, it was an awful color. I give her credit for the strength to live with it as she inherited it from the previous owner. It had to go. Here is a visual before its demise.




So we then replaced it with a gorgeous wide board pre-engineered hardwood in a dark, variegated stain. The room opened up and came alive.

So we have 2 herringbone sofas coming from Lee Industries. The antique dining table is something she had and wanted to work in. We plan on laying down a couple of seagrass rugs. And paint swatches are up on the wall. Those funny little cornices (once again old owner) are a comin down and we are looking to some striped romans with tall, no frills white panels hung high. The brass ceiling fan (why people?) is being replaced with a new chandelier. And lots of mid level lighting as well. And don't forget the accessories! Some zinc and wood dining chairs are coming to join our nailhead wings this week. Now for a touch of glamour for Mommy, our armories to pull together the dining area:


Wow!! Is there such a thing as farmhouse glam? I think so! I love how the mirror reflects the landscape and adds a bit more light to this not so bright room. And client has reported that the have somewhat of an antique finish so fingerprints haven't been a problem. And thank you to said husband client for approving the mirrors. Hooray! But as we move on our direction is clear, a master of the mix in which lots of materials and textures are put to work that make for a successful room I hope! Progress reports to follow.

More Reports from the Yard

My covered back porch is just big enough for a couple of people to hang out. I was also aiming for a bit more privacy and sun control. I found super inexpensive on sale IKEA drapes at over 100 inches and they are perfect! I love how they blow in the breeze and get a diamond pattern on them from the lattice behind. Added the mirror for a bit of shimmer. I found those great jars at our local Ollies for like 3 bucks and put some moss in them which has lived for weeks! A couple of striped cushions and planted potato vines, and you have a pretty little perch. Hubbie set up a table next to the hydrangeas the last couple days to have some friends over. I made Tyler Florence's Calamari salad from this month's House Beautiful. Totally cheated and ordered the calamari from our favorite Italian restaurant in Scranton, but it was very good!