SPRING SETTINGS

March 27, 2013

Hosting a holiday brunch this weekend? How about a little springtime table setting inspiration. If I had gotten my act together and actually planned something for this weekend (Easter creep up on anyone else this year?) this is what I’d want my table to look like. Fresh, pastel, and a little preppy. It’s what springtime’s all about, right?

TOP CHEF

February 19, 2013

1. Olive Wood Paddle Board 2. Bon Appetit Napkin 3. Horn Salad Serving Set 4. Striped Towel Set 5. Savon De Marseille Extra Pur Hand Soap 6. Le Creuset French Oven

After sharing my first food post on the blog this morning, I thought I’d share some of my all-time favorite kitchens with you. You know, the places I daydreamed about while making that meal. Places far far away from the tiny galley sized kitchen with Formica counters I’m actually working with. Oh the joys of apartment living…

You might notice a few themes here: 1. I’m clearly obsessed with white cabinetry and 2. I love subway tile in any shade. Any one of these kitchens would be lovely, but I think my ultimate dream kitchen would be the love child of Tommy Smythe’s killer black and white kitchen in photo three and the beautifully styled open shelves in photo one. Wouldn’t that be a looker?

Since kitchens and cookware are obviously consuming my thoughts these days, you can also check out my suggestions for stylish kitchen accessories over on Houzz. I may have to live with my Formica counters for awhile, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dress them up with a monogrammed olive wood cutting board! Do you have your dream kitchen yet or are you still fighting against Formica like me?

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SETTING THE TABLE

November 19, 2012

Second to cooking with my family and enjoying the meal, setting the table is my favorite part about Thanksgiving. It’s the justification I give myself for buying yet another set of china at a flea market or estate sale during the year.

I tend to forgo the traditional autumnal palette of oranges, yellows, and browns for more unexpected color combinations. I’m not hosting this year, but if I were, these tablescapes would be my inspiration. Rich bold colors, patterned china, and monogrammed napkins for good measure.

Are you hosting? How will you be setting your table?

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DIY FAUX CORAL CENTERPIECES

October 2, 2012

I’ve had the above image saved in my inspiration files for the longest time. The faux coral centerpiece is just so striking against the collection of blue and white china.

I started thinking about how to re-create the look and realized it would be pretty simple. All you need is a bunch of manzanita branches and few coats of glossy red paint! Such a simple project that will make a huge visual impact. I’m thinking of trying it out for our Thanksgiving table. Wouldn’t the faux coral be gorgeous in a big blue and white ginger jar?