Our November issue goes off to press this week, and we think it will be one of your favorites–it’s full of beautiful Southern homes and entertaining ideas. Here’s a sneak peek to start your week.
Tulip Tease, plus a reminder to enter our Arkansas’ Best Contest
Our friends at Netherlands Flower Bulb Center sent over these gorgeous images, accompanied by how-to’s for creating these beautiful bouquets in your own home. If you’re not craving spring yet, these visuals will surely do the trick.
Parrot Tulips, Hyacinths & Viburnum
Take tulips to the nth degree: fill a vase or two with an abundance of lush plush parrot tulips. Their feathered petals in soft shades of violet, cream, green, yellow and orange are nicely accented by a few stems of fragrant yellow hyacinth and green ball-shaped viburnum. For cut bulb flower care and handling tips, see www.bulb.com.
Parrot Tulips: T. ‘Rai’ (violet), T. ‘Weber’s Parrot’ (green/white/pink), T. ‘Rontgen’ (orange/green). Hyacinth ‘City of Haarlem’, Viburnum (green)
Parrot Tulips, T. ‘Salmon Parrot’
To a vase full of fresh parrot tulips, add a few stems of budded twigs, no more. Tulips stand alone in their beauty, but also mix well with friends and strangers.
Narcissus, Ranunculus, Hyacinth
Spring is a season when flowers are particularly appealing when arrayed in small simple arrangements. With bulb flowers, no floral mix or filler is needed; these arrangements take their flowers “straight.”
Narcissus ‘My Story’, Hyacinthus ‘Aiolos’ (white), Ranunculus ‘Pauline Pastel’
Parrot Tulip, T. ‘Green Wave’
Pairing two clear vases, one short, one tall, sets the stage for a trio of exquisite parrot tulips and one freesia. Such beauty sends dour moods packing.
Hyacinth ‘China Pink’, Tulip ‘Weber’s Parrot’
Here we see a few stems of fragrant, blush pink hyacinths fully enclosed in a clear glass cylinder, flanked by a low glass with one lovely tulip flower.
Tulips, Narcissi, Hyacinths, Hippeastrum
Four vases of bright bloomers march across a windowsill, switching season from winter to spring in one fell swoop! This cast of floral characters includes orange amaryllis, multi-colored tulips, yellow-and-orange narcissi, and purple hyacinths.
Hyacinthus ‘Purple Star’, Tulipa ‘Monarch Parrot’, T. ‘Yokohama’, T. ‘Aukland’, Narcissus ‘Soleil d’Or’, Hippeastrum ‘Orangina’
Narcissus ‘Texas’, Hyacinthus ‘White King’
Repetition is a design technique for unifying varied elements. In this sleek, elegant display, three identical square glass vases present three different archetypical visions of springtime: brightly-colored daffodils, fragrant hyacinths and budded branches. One can almost hear the robins singing!
Cut Daffodils, Narcissus ‘Standard Value’
Trends are evident in all forms of stylish presentation. In floral design, simplicity looks fresh and appealing now. Here a posy of twine-tied daffodils is framed by a few glossy decorative leaves. No filler flowers or foliage are used. A graceful visual balance is achieved between the flowers and tutu-esque leaves (up-top) and the nipped waist, spreading stems and vase (below). Spring is peak season for cut daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and other cut spring-blooming bulb flowers.
Plus, don’t forget to enter your home for a chance to be featured on the pages of At Home in Arkansas! Send us your images to be reviewed by our panel of judges, and we could be sending a professional photographer to capture your home! Click on the tab below for more information.
Gardening Guest Blogger: Larrapin Garden 3.3.10
Surely spring is just around the corner! To celebrate our March Outdoor Living issue, we’re debuting a series of guest bloggers every Wed. this month. Today, gardener Leigh Wilkerson of Northwest Arkansas whose blog, A Larrapin Garden, is truly larrapin (which in old Arkansas dialect means yummy, delicious, good, as you’re about to learn).
I live a few miles outside of Fayetteville in a country neighborhood surrounded by the rolling cattle fields of a neighboring farmer. The site is rocky and often dry. The thin topsoil is a poor pallid clay and gravel mix, not the well-drained loam every gardener wants. Yet despite the soil, the site is rich with large white oaks, red oaks, wild cherry, black-jack oaks, sassafras, sumac, hickory, pine and cedar trees which dot these three acres. The previous owners added several redbuds, a mountain ash and a lovely tupelo.
As I began to garden here four years ago, I realized I wanted a new theme for the yet-to-be landscape I would plant. I wanted a garden that meant more than a pretty vista or even just healthy vegetables. I wanted to move beyond organic, beyond art, and right into generosity—an expression of love for life and the earth.
The theme of my garden is “Larrapin.†Larrapin is an old hill term that I first heard from my Arkansan father-in-law whenever he ate a particularly great meal. “That is Larrapin!†he’d announce with a big nod of the head in culinary appreciation of his wife’s legendary cooking. In other words: Yum! Delicious! Wonderful!
Larrapin became the guiding principle and name of the new garden. I set out, with the help of my ever-patient spouse, to cultivate a landscape that was larrapin for everyone: the birds, bees and butterflies; the plants, the wildlife, the soil live and yes, the gardeners! Each tree and plant I considered was judged by one criteria: Is it Larrapin? Does it give shelter, shade, rest, comfort, food, nectar, nesting material, protection and/or deliciousness to someone? The more generous it is in these endeavors, the more Larrapin it is!
Today, organic vegetables grow lush in raised beds amended with loads of compost. New flowering and fruiting plants cover a once barren bank of scraped clay. Bees and butterflies confetti the many blooms. The river birches we planted are beginning to cast a patch of refreshing shade over the sunny patio. A tiny new apple orchard of tough, disease-resistant trees stands shoulder-high and growing heartily, along with young peaches, mulberries, persimmon and plums. With the work required to amend the soil with endless compost and deep mulch, it’s a slow work in progress. But it’s joyful work accompanied by songbirds and butterflies and the knowledge my labors are making this hilltop come alive. It’s more than pretty…it’s Larrapin!
Leigh Wilkerson blogs at www.ozarksalive.org/larrapin and will be teaching Organic Veggies & Herbs for Beginners as well as a class on Edible Landscaping at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks starting this Saturday, March 6th. For information on all three classes, see http://ozarksalive.org/larrapin/?page_id=513
At Home Hits the Runway 3.18.10
Jeanne Spencer, whose Little Rock garden is straight out of a Jane Austen novel, is not only a master gardener but also an avid hot tea drinker. We adore this image of her outdoor tablescape, festooned with hydrangea and blue-and-white china. And because no English lady of Jane Austen’s would take her tea without the proper attire, we also found this dress by Erdem, which is a little on the fancy side but nearly identical to Jeanne’s tabletop.
Tea, anyone?
How to Enhance Your Garden with Containers
Welcome Rosemary Arnold, a local writer, photographer and veteran gardener extraordinaire! Since it’s spring, we thought a post from Rosemary would be appropriate, given her tremendous eye for color and garden design. She exceeded our expectations by preparing a guest post that’s not only full of beauty, but also teeming with her expert knowledge on enhancing your garden–with containers! Read on, and enjoy!
We appreciate your time Rosemary, and hope you join us again soon!
Enhancing your garden with containers is such a good choice and March is the ideal month to plan where to place them and how to be successful with them. Do you need a special spot of color? Do you need some height in a garden bed for more interest. Is there a dark corner in your yard or on your porch that could use brightening? Are rabbits nibbling at your plants? Are you out of space and still have the urge to try something new? Container planting will fill your needs. Choose the size and color planter you need and put a broken pot shard or rocks over the drainage hole. Fill the planter with moisture- retaining potting soil, fill with your picks for shade or sun plants and plan to water often and fertilize with slow-release plant food. Then sit back and enjoy your treasure.
Bromeliad, bell petunias, potato vine, purple flowers and leaves and palm would normally seem a rather ‘hodge-podge’ mix if planted all together in a garden bed. However, when placed into containers in small spaces, such as this porch corner, this lively mix can give a green-house effect and can afford the owner the pleasure of being close to favored samplings of greens and colors.
A large planter placed with ground plantings emphasizes the show-cased fuschia petunias giving the whole mix a punch! The color blue of the planter gives a cooling and refreshing touch amid the warm colors of the surrounding plants.
Small plantings in containers can add beauty and simple charm and can complement certain color themes, here various shades of red and green. Caladium, ivy and fern greatly enhance a small porch meditation area.
These large deep planters are loaded with red begonias planted at the base of hardy Windmill palms, bringing your eye to the front door of this lovely entryway. They give height needed for the two-story home.
A large concrete container is great for larger plantings such as this cherry tree and tulips. The largeness of this gives great structure and emphasis to this part of the garden.
Mixed caladiums and Loriope make a simple yet striking display.
Orange trees line the walkway of this back yard, making an unusual exit-way and conversation piece. The owner takes them into the garage for the winter.
Plant herbs and lettuces high up in planters to avoid nibbling rabbits. Thyme, rosemary, romaine lettuce, dill and oregano grow happily here in their pots. In the winter, place hardy plants under a roof so they only get water when you need to water but never before a freeze which would cause the frozen wet soil to expand and break the pot.
Line your hanging containers with moss matting to help preserve the moisture in your potting soil. Use a moisture-retaining potting mix and water well several times a week. These plants are placed so that the shade-loving fern gets only bright light but the other plants are happily in the sun.
At Home Hits the Runway 4.15.10
Considering how positively pretty they are, it’s no surprise Vivienne Tam decided to make peonies the focal point of her Spring 2009 Collection. “Every woman loves peonies,” Tam declared before her show.
Lush and colorful, peonies also play a starring role in our April 2010 issue, featuring Henry Chotkowski’s peony farm on the outskirts of Fayetteville–the three-acre plot of land literally transforms into a sea of green leaves and bright blooms! Don’t miss the Mother’s Day Open House on May 9 from 1 to 6 p.m., with live music, refreshments, dessert and an opportunity to order peonies or buy cut flowers. For more information, visit www.athomearkansas.com.
At Home Friday Favorites 4.30.10
A little special something for today’s Friday Favorites!
You might say we’ve been doing some “online” spring cleaning around here, giving our At Home web site a fresh, clean and uncluttered new look! We’re still working out minor details and tidying things up a bit, but it’s well on its way. And we’re so excited!
Along with the fresh look, we also have some exciting plans for our design blog. (Hooray!) Like regular guest series with some of our very favorite bloggers. Beginning next week! We’ve compiled an impressive line-up of some of the biggest names in the blogosphere to help us welcome spring. On the list for discussion? Springtime in Paris. Tulip arrangements. How to accessorize outdoor furniture. How to mix vintage and new. How to be true to you. Inspiring springtime images. The 10-minute solution to spring cleaning…and more!
Check out their fabulous blogs below for a little introduction (simply click on the images), and then check back here beginning this Wednesday when we invite each of them to join our community of readers for some fun and conversation. Let’s make them feel welcome, shall we?
Have a good weekend!
Welcome Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita!
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.
Add Drama to Your Room Without the Cost
Similar to adding the right accessory to an outfit, adding certain design elements to a room can take it from plain to put-together. Two designers, Jamie Gibbs of Jamie Gibbs and Associates and Elaine Griffin of Elaine Griffin Interior Design and author of Design Rules: The Insider’s Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator, provide five practical tips to add drama to a room, while still leaving you with money leftover for the right accessories.
Elaine Griffin, along with At Home editor Diane Carroll, is also a judge in our “What Inspires You?” contest (more info here). To enter, simply find a photo that inspires you, explain why in 100 words and send in your entry form (available here). The winner will be going to Maison & Objet in Paris, France!
1. Flowers: “You don’t have to tear down a room and build it up from a perfect blueprint to have a great space. There are certain things you can add to any room to leave guests wowed without much effort or cost. Flowers are a great first step,†says Elaine Griffin. Add flora in eye-catching colors like bright pink, purple or yellow to brighten up any interior. To add extra flair, choose a vase in a complementary color and mix types.
2. Print Rug: “For the pattern, try graphic, animal or stripes,†says Jamie Gibbs. Use a large rug that covers most of the room and experiment with the shape of the rug as well as the pattern. Rather than the standard square or rectangle rug, try a circle or oval shape. While handmade rugs can become very costly, there are several inexpensive machine woven styles at various retailers that pack all the punch and are still affordable.
3. Pillows: “Pillows can be the most cost-effective way to add color and texture to a room. Try silk, suede and even linen. Mixing color and materials is key for a dramatic and styled room,” advises Griffin. To save money, go to a local fabric store and buy several striking fabrics to make your own pillow covers. These can easily be swapped seasonally or by mood.
From At Home’s Waterfront Homes issue
4. Wall Art: Painting in bold colors is not the best idea. It is often expensive, time-consuming and when too exotic, people usually get overwhelmed and want to change it after only a few months. A great way to have a splash of color and add pattern to your walls without the cost and time is to use WallPops wall art from http://www.wall-pops.com/.
“It is non-commitment decorating that is fun and can easily be changed,” says Griffin. The peel-and-stick wall art comes in dots, blocks and stripes in various colors and patterns that can be arranged to create patterns, stripes or cover an entire wall. New styles have recently been added including:
Bali: a black-and-white intricate design with an ethnic/tribal feel.
Carnivale: a red, orange, yellow and brown circular pattern with blossoming floral patterns inspired by Brazilian margaridas
Esprit: a colorful, modern floral print
Habitat: a nature-inspired leaf print with popular colors like teal, chocolate brown and a grassy green
Go Wild: a black-and-white zebra print
Twister: a violet, tan, deep cerulean blue and olive green retro pattern with free-flowing swirls and dots with die-cut stripes
5. Mirrors: “A mirror can not only add space to a room but also style. Look for large mirrors in vintage stores and flea markets with interesting frames. Place the mirror so it is one of the first things you see when you enter the room or place several mirrors together to create an accent wall to add depth and design,†offers Gibbs.
From At Home’s Before & After issue
By adding these elements to a room, you can go from basic to dramatic without spending a lot of time and money.
Behind the Scenes: Our Spring Fashion Stylebook
At Home in Arkansas is about living a well-designed life, and we love to explore the connection between home design and fashion.
Our blog series, “At Home with Fashion,” debuts next week with a notable stylist modeling the latest trends, a talented esthetician’s easy spring makeup how-to, and the At Home team giving you loads of fashionable home decor ideas.
And the setting for our Spring Fashion Stylebook? A modern West Little Rock residence. Notice how well the fashion complements the decor, from the clean lines to the saturated hues.
Our model Lennie Dusek sits back in the living room on a chair from SOHO Modern, waiting for her closeup. She was incredibly patient, and we were incredibly grateful for it!
Lennie poses for what became our Stylebook’s opening shot. We tried the outfit with and without its matching coat, which ultimately we draped over the Barcelona chair.
That’s art director Mandy Keener and photographer Nancy Nolan in the foreground deciding which pose worked best for this look. Click here to see which one we liked best. We wanted something fun and different. Do you agree?
A quick makeup application in between shots by makeup artist Suzy Brown. In addition to spending time in beautiful Arkansas homes, one of the best parts about photo shoots is spending time with the talented people who make it happen.
That necklace needed a strong background, and this bright orange wall obliged.
We loved the big front doors, but ultimately decided to go an entirely different direction with this shot.
Pay no attention to the Starbucks cup in the background.
Of course, since the family wasn’t home, their trusty canine made certain we didn’t leave anything out of place.
Don’t feel badly about not having fresh fresh blooms in your home around the clock! At Home in Arkansas brings in our own.
It took a team of experts to transform this rack of clothing into our Spring Fashion Stylebook, now available online!
In case you missed it:
The Traveling Designer with Tobi Fairley: Behind-the-scenes on her Disney Cruise vacation
