Yikes Stripes!

 You know when you get an idea in your head and just can't shake it?  Like wallpapering a room?

Well, I always secretly wished I could wallpaper our dining room, but felt that because of the archways, I couldn't.

 So I contacted my installer for advise.  

Can this room be papered? 

Will the stripe grasscloth paper I'm obsessed with work, or look weird?

How will you go around the arches without moulding?

He assured me it would look amazing.

 So I ordered the paper from Philip Jeffries, a raffia maize colored stripe.

 As it was being installed around the room--and I mean "around" the room because it is an oval shape, I was doing the happy dance!   

The arches weren't a big deal after all.  

My installer knows what he's doing!

 It's almost like it was always there!

 I love white walls, don't get me wrong, but the dining room has been a challenge.

With oval walls, I cannot hang any art whatsoever.  The most I can do is lean a mirror at the end of the room!  The wallpaper makes those challenges go away.  

It's like it is the art.

The room was finished just in time for us to host a small dinner party.

The stripe inspired me to dig out my majolica pitchers for a centerpiece of white hydrangeas.

You know, when we moved, I put all those plaid, floral and patterned plates in storage.

But somehow they found their way back to my dining table!

Stenciled burlap placemats under wicker chargers.

Ralph Lauren plaid plates with my special majolica salad plates.

Bone handled flatware from Restoration Hardware.

Napkins from April Cornell.

This is my first "tablescape" in this house.  

It looks like I'm a little rusty, since I forgot the glasses!

I posted a photo of the dining room on Instagram a few days ago and got a lot of comments.

One of my favorite comments was from fellow blog friend, Joni Webb:

"You make me laugh because you really have a particular style - and you try to change it up - but you came back to it here - and it looks fabulous!!!"

Thanks Joni!

Stay tuned for yet another room I just had to wallpaper!

I promise this is it!

White walls!  Yea, right...

Follow me on Instagram here.

A Romantic Garden In All Its Glory

  Recently, I took a trip to France to visit this exquisite garden--without getting on a plane!

My friend's garden is so romantic and glorious that I seriously felt I was somewhere in France.

Let me take you on a tour, beginning with a stroll through this gravel path allee which takes us to the backyard.

But wait...just to the left of the path is this secret fountain.

One of many surprises in this garden.

The back yard has a lovely pool and spa.

Boxwood is everywhere, both planted and in urns, lending a formal feel.

At the rear of the yard is a darling guest house with a secret garden room and potting shed to the left, through the cypresses.

Inside the circular secret room is a lovely fountain.

One could just sit here and enjoy the solitude.

 The patio with the guesthouse in the distance.

The back of the house.  I believe it is French Normandy style. 

Here is a view of the garden from the upper balcony.

The front of the house is almost hidden with all the trees leafed out.

The turret stands out though.

A closer look at the entrance to the house with the Boston Ivy covered turret.

There are hydrangeas, roses and crepe myrtle trees all in various shades of pink.

Since moving to the City, I have missed having a garden to putter in, to just sit and watch the birds and enjoy the solitude.

That's why I jumped at the chance to photograph my friend's garden.

I truly felt such a sense of calm here and that I had indeed had a little visit to France!