Cabbage Roses

If you've been following this blog for long, you may know of my love of roses.

Roses in the garden...

...roses on the drapes.

Roses on plates, roses on pillows, even roses on tole trays!

The list goes on and on.

I mean, is there any thing more beautiful than a bouquet of roses?

If you are a romantic like me, you will agree!

So, when these linen pillows came up for sale on OKL, I bought them without hesitation.

I had no idea where I would put them. I just knew that a fabric this beautiful depicting cabbage roses would be too hard for me to pass up.

But wait, didn't I go through this rose phase already?

Well, guess what? I think this rose phase is coming back. And I think design is heading again in that direction. Have you noticed more florals lately in design magazines, fabrics and fashion? I have.

We used to call it the English Country look. Remember?

Romantic decor with floral fabrics and rugs. With fresh picked cabbage roses straight from the cottage garden.

Yes, I think us romantics have always loved this look, and after several years of scratchy burlap and simple linen, a soft floral here and there is a welcome surprise. Again!

Yesterday while shopping with my daughter Ashley, we noticed lots of cabbage roses on clothing.

There is definitely a romantic vibe going on in fashion too!

A sure clue that cabbage roses are a design trend that is still here and not going anywhere!

Which brings me to the word, "timeless."

And that makes me a very happy girl!

Timeless Tole Trays?

I used to have a large collection of tole trays. Over the years though, I've narrowed the collection down to just a few that I can't part with.

Most of them are in the laundry room because I'm ambivalent about them these days.

Although I can't part with them, I'm still not willing to display them everywhere like I did years ago.

The laundry room seems like a logical place for them.

It still has that French Country/Shabby Chic vibe that I was all about when we first bought the house.

So when I saw this beauty at the flea market recently, I was tempted.

But passed it up. Ten years ago, I would have bought it!

There is a dealer at the Hillsborough Antique Show who specializes in tole trays.

It used to be one of my favorite booths, but these days, I walk on by.

Still, they take my breath away. Especially the black trays.

I love red tole trays too. But they were always a little harder to find.

A wall of random colored trays is an example of how tole trays can be really good, or really bad.

The soft green trays are gorgeous.

I still like a grouping of tole trays on a wall, or just one standing alone as an accent.

So my question is, are tole trays too grandma?

Or are they timeless?

Sunday Morning In The Garden

What a glorious, spring day yesterday! We spent our Easter morning in the garden drinking coffee and enjoying the warm air, blossoms and sweet scent of the pink jasmine.

Mr. A even brought out the cushions from storage so we could soak up the sun.

This is my favorite time of year when the garden looks its best.

In a few weeks, the Cecile Brunner roses will be blooming, covering the arbor, aka the "tunnel of love."

I can't wait!

I spy some lilac blossoms!

Why didn't I plant more than one lilac bush?

Bear is suspicious that a certain Easter bunny has been in his yard.

He has already found a few eggs laying around!

Yay, Reese found them all! (With Papa's help!)

Have a wonderful week! I know this weather won't last....

An Easter Sentiment

"For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born."
~Alice Freeman Palmer

Wishing you a beautiful Easter Day!

An Easter Tablescape With A Touch of Tartan

For my Easter table, I've been trying to come up with a way to sneak some tartan in, since National Tartan Day is tomorrow, and still have the table say Easter.

By adding the reticulated floral plate on top and a purple charger underneath of my Ralph Lauren plaid plate, it somehow worked!

I used my tried and true purple stemware.

The centerpiece containers are yellow.

The colors are more vibrant than the typical Easter pastels, which is what I like.

The flowers pick up all the colors in the place setting.

I love how candlelight makes the colors even more vibrant.

Beautiful cutwork linens from an estate sale keep it formal.

Yet the little Bordallo Pinheiro egg cups add a touch of whimsy which the granddaughters will love!

Each place setting has its own egg cup with egg candle.

Is it weird to add tartan to the Easter table?

You probably already know that I don't think so!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Connecting Spaces

"Halls, corridors, and stairs are a bit like what underwear is to an outfit - the structural core that sets the "shape" and tone for the rest of the house." ~ Kelly Hoppen

That quote got me thinking about those rooms or spaces that serve to connect our living areas.

Obviously, the entry is very important in setting the tone for our homes. That is if it has an entry.

We lived in a home once where you walked directly into the living room.

It really bugged me. There was no transition area.

This entry is more than a transition area. It is a room/hallway/entry, connecting the living room on one end and the stairs to the second level.

Houzz

But less obvious, are the hallways that connect our living areas.

We put so much emphasis on decorating the rooms we live, eat and sleep it, that we take for granted the hallways that connect the spaces where we live. They are also opportunities for expression; displayed family photos or collected art.

This hard working hallway has it all. Beautiful runner, window seats, storage and bookshelves.

This is, in my opinion, the ultimate transition space!

The upstairs hallway in our home works hard as a transition area to connect the old house, ca. 1906 to the new addition, ca. 1993.

From here, you can see the landing that leads to the master bedroom, which was added on.

I chose to make a statement with apple green walls, leopard carpet and vintage oil paintings.

This part of the upstairs landing is in the old part of the house, opposite, connecting bedrooms, bathroom and reading room.

Another view.

The piece of furniture I put here holds the kid's photos, soccer trophies and other souvenirs on display in this common area.

Looking down the stairs.

I can see that the stairway, entry and hallway are truly the "structural core" to our home.

I have never thought about this being the "underwear" to our house, but when you break it down, it makes sense.