Here’s my pick for where I’d like to spend my Tuesday, lounging poolside and feeling like I was enjoying the tropics, while never actually leaving Little Rock. Yes, it really is a room…just happens to be an outdoor one. And oh, what a room.
It’s all the handiwork of landscape guru Chris Olsen of Botanica Gardens. You can read the full story of how he turned a bare backyard into this lush oasis in our May issue, online.
Relax, refresh, and happy Tuesday.
“I love the modern look of this Brown Jordan chair,” says Kelly Fraiser. (“Choose Teak” from Ken Rash’s Arkansas)
Diane Carroll says, “With our Waterfront Homes issue coming out shortly, we’ve had lakes and beaches on the brain. Mrs. Lilien always obliges with lovely visuals, great colors and good ideas.” (“Beachy-Chic” from Mrs. Lilien)
“I grew up on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs and my parents are still there so we visit them a lot,” says Kathy Condrey of this lake-inspired post. “There is just something so relaxing about a sunset barge ride. Definitely one of my very favorite things to do!” (“Life is Good at the Lake” from Providence Ltd. Interior Design)
Laura LaRue, whose precious yellow lab, Gabby, joins us at the office on occasion, says, “I just loved this post! It’s fun to see so many different types of dogs in so many different types of beautiful homes. I love it when we catch a cute doggie in one of our features.” (“Designers and Their Dogs” from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles)
(Click through some of At Home’s photo galleries for more doggy cameos: here, here, here and here!)
Lauren Strother’s top choice is turquoise, which she found celebrated in ample amount on the blog, House of Turquoise. (“Daniel Brisset” from House of Turquoise)
“Gingham is sweet/classic/Americana to me,” says Paulette Pearson. “I wouldn’t go to extremes, just use it on a chair or pillow for a hint of pattern or pop of color.” (“Can’t Get Enough Cheerful Gingham” from The City Sage)
When we featured her blog, My Sweet Savannah, in our April Cottage issue, Melaine Thompson was as thrilled as can be. And as we’ve gotten to know her a little bit more, we’ve decided that she might be one of the sweetest and most enthusiastic bloggers out there! As a wife and mom, Melaine also manages to maintain a thriving blog that’s as lighthearted as she is. Hop on over to My Sweet Savannah and you’ll see right away why Miss Melaine has thousands of online followers.
I love to mix vintage and new in my home, which you can see in just about every room! Here are some of my favorites, along with images and tips to help At Home’s readers freshen up your homes this spring.
In my kitchen I used old wood numbers I found at a flea market to add a little whimsy above my kitchen window. These numbers are our address, but you could do a anniversary date, birth date, or any other memorable date for you!
In the guest bath I have hung fluffy white towels from a piece of vintage molding and wood turned into a coat rack.
Garage sale chairs get a coat of clean white paint. I made a simple slip for the seats out of old cotton feed and grain sacks acquired over time at garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores.
Again, repurposing feed sacks into pillows.
I made these chunky wood frames out of vintage wood. The bottom 2 frames here I made out of new wood, painted and distressed to look old.
I love to decorate shelves with old books. Look for interesting colors with a great patina in a color that will go with the scheme in your home.
Craigslist is a great place to find vintage items for not much money. I picked up this hutch recently and it has the most perfectly imperfect chippy paint. I used old glass bottles to hold blooms out of our garden, and topped it off with another frame made out of vintage wood. Mix old and new dishes for an eclectic farmhouse look!
(All the photos were taken by me with the exception of the first 2. Those are by Kimberly Taylor of Mimi Charmante.)
Today’s guest blogger really needs no introduction, but we love her so much she gets one anyway. It’s Elizabeth Owen of Mabel’s House blog! Elizabeth, a contributing writer for At Home (see her work here and here) joins our Spring Guest Blogger Series with her philosophy for, you guessed it, spring cleaning! Read on as Elizabeth, ever so witty, is sure to have you rolling with laughter…
There’s nothing like the early morning coo of doves outside my window and a coat of pollen turning my white car pale yellow to alert me spring has officially arrived. Every year at this time I find myself overwhelmed with an urge to redecorate my house. I plant caladium bulbs, take a deep breath of fresh air and think about airy window sheers and white painted furniture a la a seaside summer cottage. But then I realize, “I can’t redecorate! I have to clean this rat’s nest first!â€
Spring cleaning, we all dread it. What shape is my house in? I’m ashamed to say there are a few hidden pine needles from the Christmas tree lurking in the corner of the living room. The floors need to be scrubbed, the windows washed and don’t even get me started on the refrigerator. It’s a mixed bag of horror with a mysterious Tupperware container in the back that my husband and I are currently having a standoff over, each of us refusing to take responsibility for the offending item.
I’ll admit, as a busy working woman, cleaning often gets the best of me. I’m far too stingy to hire a house keeper. When it’s all said and done I’d rather bite the bullet and clean, giving myself the cash. After all, Target’s new spring Liberty of London line is calling my name. But still, it’s daunting to consider losing an entire Saturday of gorgeous spring weather to wash the curtains, replace shelf liners and scrub grout with a toothbrush.
And so I’ve been pondering spring cleaning. It feels insurmountable. But whenever I think about the concept of true ‘cleanliness,’ I think of my grandmother, Meme.
Meme is a fascinating woman. In my opinion, she’s always had one foot in two different generations. For the first part of her life she was an ironed, pressed, high-heel wearing housewife who ran a tight ship and cooked every day. As my uncle says, “Her floors are so clean you could eat off them.â€Â The second part of Meme’s life started when her children were in high school and college. She got her first job and eventually became one of the most successful jewelry saleswomen in the Dallas area.
It’s the ‘working woman’ phase of Meme’s life that I remember. I recall her perfectly manicured nails, long with a pale coat of pink polish. I recall the click of her heels down the long hallway of her house, a purse in one hand, a pile of laundry in the other. Meme’s cleaning philosophy was simple, “Do a little everyday and life won’t sneak up on you.†Ten minutes before she left for work I could find her loading the dishwasher. Ten minutes after she got home she dust mopped the kitchen floor and swiped the baseboards in the hallway. With her ‘ten minutes here, ten minutes there’ philosophy Meme kept her sanity and a clean home.
I’d like to say I’m as chic as my grandmother. But sadly, my nails are often chipped as I run screaming from the house, “I’m late for work! What’s that smell? I don’t have time to take the trash down!†But I think Meme’s philosophy is truly genius. Do I mind folding laundry for a few minutes each evening? No. Do I mind a two day marathon of vacuuming, ironing and bleaching? Yes.
So this year I’m taking a different approach to spring cleaning. I won’t lose an entire Saturday. I won’t slave away to the fumes of Pine Sol for an eight hour stretch. I’ll just do a little cleaning in the morning, a little cleaning in the evening, and if I’m feeling particularly energetic, an hour on the weekend. Because let’s face it. We’re all far too busy to maintain a June Cleaver level of clean. It’s superhuman. It’s unreasonable. It’s boring.
So happy spring ladies. Set your stove timer for ten minutes. Clean as much as you can. And when the buzzer rings put away your feather dusters and do what we all want to do, sit back, sip some iced tea, read a decorating magazine and plot your next redecoration project.
We’ve been noticing an abundance of blue and cream room palettes lately–a classic combo for sure, but perhaps especially favored these days as people strive for more peace and tranquility in their lives. In our May renovation issue, tranquil blue and cream bedrooms were a re-occurring theme. (Check out the issue and you can see before photos for all of these spaces).
First up, interior designer Stacy Sheid’s cozy loft in downtown Mountain Home.
(photo by Rett Peek)
Next, a master suite in Mel and Sally Davis’ Little Rock home, where designer Becky Charton infused a variety of blues. The colors were so soothing, she used a similar palette in a guest bedroom.
(photos by Nancy Nolan)
At a photo shoot all day long, which explains the delay in this week’s edition of Friday Favorites! But here they are, and hopefully in time for weekend web browsing. Better late than never, right?
Diane Carroll suggests checking out this post from Parkinson Building Group. “Classically elegant architecture–this house is timeless. And renderings are always a plus. They would look lovely framed and hung in the study.” (“A Home With History” from Parkinson Building Group)
Kathy Condrey thinks this patio would be the perfect spot for happy hour. (“The Design Tour and a Sneak Peek” from Providence Ltd. Interior Design)
Looks like Katie Rawlings will be refinishing her dresser this weekend. (“New Today” from Riffraff)
Paulette Pearson is liking this wallpapered bathroom, especially the quirky claw-foot shower stall. (“Just a Few More Thoughts” from Little Green Notebook)
It’s Week 1, Day 2 of our Spring Guest Blogger Series, and none other than local blogging sensation Jerusalem Greer, of Jolly Goode Gal, is here to set the scene for a delightfully beautiful Mother’s Day Brunch! Jerusalem, whose own blog is a mountain of colorful vintage and craft-inspired ideas, is also the proud winner of the Before & After category of our Arkansas’ Best Contest! Check it out soon in our July issue, and keep reading here for a snippet of Jerusalem’s sensational style. You’ll be charmed through and through.
At Home is smitten with the table you set for us, Jerusalem. Thank you!
Spring is the time of year that is filled with celebrations of the heart – weddings, births, graduations. And sort of in the middle, squeezed in between the goodbyes of graduations and hellos of weddings, there is Mother’s Day. A day that should be filled with all things lovely for all the hard working mother’s, but a day instead that is often filled with (well intentioned of course) hastily purchased gifts and predicable lunches.
Well this year, why not instead take the reins, and throw a Vintage Garden Inspired Mother’s Day Brunch for all the wonderful mothers in your life? Why leave loveliness up to chance?
Here are a few key ingredients when planning your décor for a Vintage Inspired event such as this:
By showing each guest that you are their biggest fan, and by having the forethought to plan a lovely brunch, lunch or tea experience for the mothers in your life, you will be showing just how much you care with style!
Hello there, At Home readers! What a treat we have for you today, because the gorgeous Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita is kicking off our Spring Guest Blogger Series! On her wildly popular and oh-so-chic blog, Paloma covers interior design, fashion, travel, great food, and inspiring people and places. Paloma stopped by our blog today to reveal a list of things that are making her happiest this spring. So keep reading, follow the links (by clicking on the images or highlighted words), and then open your eyes to a new appreciation for all of the beautiful things around you, no matter how small.
Thanks for stopping by, Paloma!
Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a season of renewal and promise. This lovely season evokes images of blossoming azaleas, the rebirth of flowers and our warm-weather wardrobes. I love the weather where I live in Houston during the spring. It is warm, but the outrageously hot months of summer are still an arm’s length away. On my blog, La Dolce Vita, I write about the elements that make up the good life: interior design, fashion, travel, food, art, and interesting people and places. Spring means so many wonderful things to so many people and it is one of the most beautiful times of the year. I’ve put together a list of my favorite items to help you celebrate the spring season.
1. Invitations by iomoi: I adore this stationery company. Their designs are so whimsical and chic. The three designs I have chosen are emblematic of spring. From the cheery combination of yellow, orange and pink to the classic pairing of turquoise and coral, or the whimsy of pink banana leaves, these fabulous invitations are sure to set the perfect tone for your spring soireé.
2. Peonies: My favorite way to bring the season into my home is by keeping fresh blooms. I love lush flowers like hydrangeas, roses and ranunculus, but my absolute favorite blooms are peonies. These voluminous blooms look fantastic in large bunches, like this arrangement in a room by Suzanne Kasler, but you can certainly put a single bloom in a bud vase and add an instant touch of beauty to any room.
3. Turquoise: This classic color has been deemed Color of the Year for 2010 by Pantone and it is all the rage in interior design at the moment. It works beautifully in so many combinations. Bold tones work in modern settings, like the room by Melissa Warner of Massucco Warner Miller on the left. Muted tones work beautifully in more traditional settings like the bedroom by Tobi Fairley on the right.
4. Giada at Home: Giada De Laurentiis is one of my favorite food personalities. I adore her casual, elegant approach to food and love her newest cookbook, Giada at Home. It is inspired by her Italian heritage and her life in California and is filled with delicious, healthy recipes. The recipe for Pea Pesto Crostini is very simple, but so delicious. It would make an excellent appetizer at your next dinner party!
5. Caldrea Essential Collection for Target: I have long been a fan of both Caldrea and Target, so I was thrilled to find out that Caldrea recently created a more affordable line for one of my favorite retailers. The scents and packaging are absolutely delightful. I have tried several of the products and have been thoroughly impressed by the fact that they are earth-friendly, highly effective and smell amazing. My favorite scents are Olive Oil and Herbes de Provence. Prices range from $5.99 to $19.99.
6. Signature Spring Cocktails: I usually only drink in social settings, a glass of wine at dinner or a glass of champagne at a party, but I do love a good warm-weather cocktail. The next time you are entertaining at home, choose a signature cocktail. Not only is it a way to simplify things, but it is also quite chic. Some of my springtime favorites are Mint Juleps, Champagne or White Wine Sangria, and classic Mojitos.
7. Natural Elements: Spring is the perfect time to incorporate both color and natural elements into your home. You can fill a bowl with starfish or seashells, display a beautiful piece of coral, or arrange some flowering branches to bring the feeling of spring into your home. My friend, Katie Denham, did a lovely job of “dressing†the table in her foyer for the summer months.
8. Dining Al Fresco: Spring is the ideal time to enjoy dining outdoors, especially here in the South. There is something quite romantic and elegant about dining al fresco. It is easy to make an outdoor meal feel special while keeping it casual. Be sure to keep the menu simple and light, especially in the warmer months. Start with one of the cocktails I mentioned before, serve something simple like a gazpacho as your starter, then pair a grilled dish with a refreshing salad, and you can have something as simple and delicious as pecan praline sundaes for dessert. Remember, candlelight can do wonders for the ambience at any dinner party, whether indoors or outdoors.
For today’s Room of the Week…picture yourself in the lobby of the Hotel Recamier in Paris. Truly, this is one vision you could turn into reality. The winner of the Design Sherpa ‘What Inspires You’ contest (I’m honored to be included in the panel of judges) would like to send you to these gorgeous designer digs for 10 DAYS! And to attend the Maison & Objet show while you’re there. Seriously, this is the stuff design editors dream about.
Just to whet your appetite a bit more, the hotel was recently renovated by design star Jean Louis Deniot, who was inspired to create 24 entirely different rooms with a unique theme for each floor. Half of the 24 rooms have a direct view on Place Saint Sulpice in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés.
Are you ready to start working on your contest entry yet? Did I mention you only need one inspiring image and 100 words to get the ball rolling and enter? And yet more to intrigue you…
Ladies and gentleman, begin your entries….
Many thanks to the entrants who made our new Arkansas’ Best Home Design contest such fun! We enjoyed pouring through your entries, seeing your befores & afters, and reading your design and decorating success stories. There’s no shortage of heart and soul being poured into homes around the state. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Last week we shared your entries with our judges: Beth Davis of Beth Davis Interiors, Tobi Fairley of Tobi Fairley Interiors, Daniel Keeley of DK Design, Phil Purifoy of Fennell Purifoy Architects, and Sandy Sutton of Sandy Sutton’s Interior Spaces. Their top picks for winners in each category are:
Best Renovation:
Robin and Steve Mangan of Little Rock
Best Bathroom:
Brent and Anita Sipe of Camden
Best Kitchen:
Susan Latta Design of Fayetteville
Best Before and After:
Jerusalem and Nathan Greer of North Little Rock
Best Garden:
Joe and Martha Dooley of Wynne
Best New Home/interiors:
Robin and Mike Cohea of Greenwood
Best New Home/architecture:
Residence design by Amirmoez Foster Hailey Johnson of Fayetteville
All of these locations will be published in our July issue! Stay tuned for preview pictures as the photo shoots commence.
At Home in Arkansas offers you a look inside the state's most inspiring homes. The magazine features monthly advice from the experts to help you plan your next remodel or redesign, entertain at home, or find Arkansas's best kept secrets. It is your definitive guide to the state's finest homes and gardens, design professionals, fashion and entertaining essentials, and premier shops and showrooms.
