Be prepared

Flanking Byrd Park in Virginia's capitol city of Richmond, is a special yellow brick mansion.

The home served for two decades as the headquarters of the Robert E. Lee Council, a Boy Scouts of America district.

 The home was originally built by a successful Coca-Cola bottling franchise owner in the 1920s. It was given, by the original owner's granddaughter, to the Boy Scouts of America in 1958.

Owners, Steve and Amy Williams, had some renovation to do when they purchased the 8000+ square foot home from the Boy Scouts.

Take a look and read more HERE in Virginia Living Magazine

 The mural is truly enviable.

Very Charlotte Moss-y.

A letter from the maid

Since I began a part-time job a month ago, it has been a struggle to manage my time and energy and avoid squalor in my normally neat house. The following is a letter to my family:

Dear Family,

Please be aware that "the maid" has cut her hours to part time. Today, she squeezed in a shower after making dinner, wiping up crumbs on the table and floor, mopping, vacuuming, washing, folding and putting away laundry, as well as other various household duties and doodies (baby and dog).

Her schedule no longer permits the completion of these things each and every day. 

In short, find something undone, unclean, un-put-away, or in an otherwise unsatisfactory state and fix it!

Thanks, Mom

I made the "o" in Mom a smiley face. I hope they laugh and then put something away or take out the trash.

Goodbye Summer

I always feel a little wistful at this time of year. Once school has begun and I realize that the easy, lolly-gagging days of Summer are no more, at least schedule wise.

While the weather where I live should be nice for a few months (hurricane Irene notwithstanding) its just not the same.

Alfresco dining is more likely now that the searing heat of Summer is gone but the seasonal foods aren't as good as in mid-summer.

You can grill a hamburger any old time but fresh, locally grown corn is really best early to mid Summer.

Refreshing drinks lose their appeal to me in the gray days of winter.

Beach towels and pool passes are put away for the year, but in a climate that stays warm until late October it feels more sad to me.

Sure, I get prolonged warmth and I am thankful for it, yet once the calendar says its time to move on, I want to cling to all of the special moments, sights and fragrances of Summer.

Its the oppositional, only-child in in me, wanting what I cannot have--everything.

I must say, despite digging my heels in to the waning season, the recent and very scary earthquake, and looming hurricane I feel very lucky indeed.

But I'm looking forward to Memorial Day 2012!

Surprise, surprise

As  I was heading out the door today, I noticed a package on my doorstep. And while not entirely a surprise it was a welcome treat in the middle of a harried day.

When I saw the pig, I knew it was From Meg, of Pigtown Design and enclosed would be the book that I won in her last giveaway.

Meg made a wonderful giveaway of Mark Hampton's On Decorating .

Its been on my must have list for a while.

I had just a few minutes to spare but could not resist opening it right then and, lo, another little bundle inside too.

It was a real surprise.

Meg is fabulous!

This charming set of French ivory handled fish knives was a magnificent and unexpected petit cadeau.

My husband, the fishmonger, will surely bring home some lovely fish and he and I will use the knives.

And, yes, he is really a fishmonger.

Meg sells similar knives and and other design goodies from her adventures as the Junk Whisperer in her Etsy store.

Thank you very much, Meg.

The design escape

bedroom design for a client of mine

 

 

If you you are not a design pro or used to be one, like me, it is hard to explain to non-design junkies why you read 20 + design blogs every morning or obsess over fabric.

Following design trends seems frivilous as tragedies fill the news.

Gazing at accessories is misunderstood as indifference.

The truth is that the distraction of design and beauty is a welcome respite from the uncertainty of life.

A stress reliever, a drug.

So if you don't want to talk about chinoiserie details or...

debate Miles Redd's greatest feat, that OK but leave to our harmless diversion.

In other words, lookin' at pretty stuff makes us happy--so bug off!

Are yours real?

This morning I was browsing Joss and Main sales and the Forever Green sale got me thinking about flowers.

Preserved

Forever Green sells preserved flowers which are not really the same as dried flowers...

Dried/dead

you know, the overly faded, definitely dead looking variety that grace many a home in the '80s.

Purists preach that only fresh flowers and plants will do but if you have pitch black thumb like me what are acceptable options?

Silk

Silk is an option I think for silk to not look garish (see below) you must spend generously.

Really?

WTF?

I don't know what the people who make these arrangements are thinking. Often they are in colors that are not available in the type of flower selected or simple not on nature.

Preserved

My husband tells people that as soon as a plant realizes that it has been purchased by me it commits suicide. I am really craving more greens and possibly a an orchid in my home. I had an orchid that found out I owned it.

Silk

 

I am leaning towards the purchase of high quality silk because its just easier to find out in the real brick-and-mortar world.

Any thoughts? 

Are you appalled that I would even consider anything other than live plants and flowers?

Lucite tables in a classic setting?

my formal living room

Surely, you can't be tired of my home. There is still so much work ahead, much of it fun.

As you can see,I have a pair of matching Duncan Phyfe style end tables and it's dowdy cousin, that coffee table. The coffee table will have to find another home because I hate it.

The Sheraton style sofa stays too. At some point, hopefully soon, the mini blinds will leave and a fabulous chinoiserie fabric will grace the windows.

That being said, I don't want to keep things in only one style.

Its just not me. 

Ethel Kennedy's home

As far as non-designers go, Ethel Kennedy is one of my heroes for using the standard preppy,chic with an edgy (for the time) salmon pink and fabulous lucite table.

Notice the charcoal of Bobby (?) above the sofa. The lines, fabric, and artwork are rather expected yet the wall color was a slight departure from the 70s and 80s stylish pink. The clear table gives it a modern edge and a visual lightening with all of that pattern.

My own living room is kid-free and begs for a less traditional piece as it grows into a space I like.

I'd like this.

Can you see it here?

Look at these rooms with classic features and lucite tables.

I think Lucite pairs well with classic pieces, don't you?