Hearth and Hand with Magnolia: Home Decor

Happy new year! Even though it’s only been a little over a week into 2018, it’s been a great year so far. So many people are making new resolutions to live a better life in this new year, and I’m no stranger to it. Whether it’s resolving to exercise more, or to completely change up the decor in your home, a change can be nice. One of the changes that I love to make is putting up some of Target’s Hearth and Hand collection decor, made in collaboration with Magnolia. The whole line is full of some of the most wonderful pieces you’ll find, and they’re very affordable.

Case in point, this lovely eucalyptus wreath! I love to fit my decor advice into the farmhouse aesthetic, and this wreath would be great for it. Now that we’re nearing the tail end of winter, it’s about time to start thinking about spring decorations, and this wreath is a wonderful transition between the two seasons. Hang it on the front door if your color scheme allows, or hang it indoors to bring a little green in to help liven things up. 

While it’s winter, it can be tough to get fresh flowers that last. Thankfully, Hearth and Hand has quite the catalog of flower bundles, fillers, and stems that will last well past the first crocuses of spring start to bloom. And these decorations look so nice, you may just want to skip the fresh flowers entirely this year, if you wouldn’t miss the scent so much. There are astilbe flower bundles in pink and white, eucalyptus stems, or even succulent stems, and vases are easily accessible and easy to order along with any bundles you may choose.

One of the things I love most about the farmhouse style is all of the little accessories and trinkets that add to the whole rustic atmosphere. Like this wood and wire tray, any sort of wood accents you can sprinkle in will add a lot to the whole feel of your home. Metal accents like this galvanized storage bin will add more of a country feel to your decor, or a woven poplar basket will help tie the whole room together. Building a themed decor requires that you think about all the little things just as much as the big, and Hearth and Hand makes this easy!

Resolutions can be difficult to keep. Anything that helps us along the way is a valuable asset, and if you’re redecorating for spring, then this is one of the best ways to do so. The whole line is huge, and everything I mentioned doesn’t even scratch its surface. There’s no shame in taking the easy route - if you’re wanting a change, this is the best one to make! 

Warming up your Decor

photo: timelesswroughtiron.com

Like clockwork, December’s rolled around again, and with it came the bitter cold. I don’t know about you, but I love the snow, and the whole season! One of my favorite things is a landscape covered in a perfect blanket of snow. But I can only handle the cold for so long, until I have to retreat back indoors to warm up by the fire. During the winter months, our homes become our heated safe havens, but heating them can be incredibly expensive. Instead of turning up the thermostat, I like to use some of these inexpensive but warming decor styles to help me deal with the cold.

Farmhouse decor has this style integrated very well. Every time I walk into a house boasting the style, I feel so warmed, surrounded by the woodsy interiors and the rustic color schemes. The style has been making a comeback for a while, but its roots are in the rustic cabins and lodges out in the woods, and those that built them knew just what they needed to shield themselves from the cold. Today, we’re not in a fight against the cold as much as a century or so ago, but we can take some cues from their decor and translate that into modern style. The most obvious one is wood itself! It has an insulating effect, keeping in the heat, and the woodsy look has an ambient effect that just warms you up from the inside out.

photo: havenly.com

One of my go-to’s when the snow starts to fall is an age old solution: a warm blanket. Turns out, just the sight of an afghan or a knit has a warming effect in the home, cozying up the whole room. Spread around a bunch of cozy blankets to warm up your decor instantly, and having a knit close by means you never have to be chilly again. Pair it with a nice reading lamp and a comfy chair in your favorite corner, and you have the coziest place to snuggle up with a good book. Work on the whole room by layering fuzzy or warming rugs, if you have a hardwood floor, and use pillows to lighten up the room and give it a very inviting, snuggly feel.

photo: havenly.com

Leather is another one of those farmhouse staples. Back in the day, it was entirely practical to furnish your home with natural leathers, as farms were often self-sufficient and used every part of an animal. Today, there’s many options for those who have qualms with leather, and you can still get that heart-warming look no matter what you go with. A leather furnishing inherently has a sense of character to it, and that brightens up any spot it’s put in. Pair the rich color of the leather with a cooler gray or neutral palette, and you get a great mix that’ll warm you to the core. It’s easy to use some pops of green to really pull it all together, if you like having plants around the house. If you like a more southern rustic theme, use some cactus or desert flora to really sell the mood.

Lastly, take a look at how your home is lit. If you have access to a lot of natural light, either through your windows or through a skylight, utilize it! Light, of course, is naturally warming, so keep those curtains open during the day to heat up your house for free. Also, take a close look at your windows to make sure no air is escaping through them. You want to be able to retain as much heat as possible, and it’s no good if all of it is being sucked out from cracks in your window frame or a door draft. You wouldn’t expect it, but you can really feel the difference when you make sure your home is leak-proof. If you don’t have a lot of natural light, use some warming, brighter light fixtures, and make use of candles. Not only will your home smell great if you use them, but you’ll feel cozier just gazing at the flicker from across the room.

The winter season is one of my favorites. Snuggling up with my family around the fire is one of my favorite pastimes, it makes my heart so warm. Coming in from the snow when your whole home is full of cozying decor makes life so much easier, and adventuring out in a frozen wonderland much more enjoyable. Here’s to snow outside and warmth inside!

Holiday Baking with Peggy Porschen

You may remember me writing about my favorite bakery, right in the heart of London. I wrote about it in THIS POST about Europe, and her amazing confections always make me festive around the holidays! I dream of being as incredible as her in the decorating/baking department, and each year, I love making these delicious cookies with my children. Baking holds special memories for me, and I hope it also creates new ones for my girls! (All images via Peggy Porschen website, 2017)

Sugar cookie recipe
via Peggy Proschen's cookbook, "Cookies"

Makes about 25 medium-sized or 12 large cookies

• 200g unsalted soft butter 
• 200g caster sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten 
• 400g plain flour, plus more for dusting

Optional flavours

• For vanilla cookies, add seeds from 1 vanilla pod 
• For lemon cookies, add finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• For orange cookies, add finely grated zest of 1 orange 
• For chocolate cookies, replace 50g of the plain flour with 50g cocoa powder

1. Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and chosen flavouring until well mixed and just becoming creamy in texture. Don’t overwork, or the cookies will spread during baking.
2. Beat in the egg until well combined. Add the flour and mix on low speed until a dough forms. Gather it into a ball, wrap it in cling film and chill it for at least 1 hour.
3. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it briefly. Using marzipan spacers, roll it out to an even thickness.
4. Use cookie cutters to cut out the desired shapes and, using a palette knife, lay these on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Chill again for about 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 180C/160Cfan/350F/gas 4.
5. Bake for 6–10 minutes, depending on size, until golden brown at the edges. Leave to cool on a wire rack. Wrapped in foil or cling film, they will keep well in a cool dry place for up to a month.

Tip Always bake equally sized cookies together to make sure they cook in the same time. If you mix different sizes, the smaller ones are already cooked when the larger ones are still raw in the middle.

Royal Icing Recipe via Peggy Porschen's
"Pretty Party Cakes" cookbook

• 25g merriwhite (dried egg white powder)

• 1kg icing sugar, sifted

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Equipment
• Sieve

Kitchen Aid / electric mixer
spoon
sealable plastic container
j-cloth
Method

Mix the merriwhite with 150ml water and pass through a sieve to get rid of any lumps.
Place the icing sugar in the clean bowl of an electric mixer, add about three-quarters of the merriwhite mixture and the lemon juice, and start mixing on low speed.
Once the sugar and the merriwhite are well combined, check the consistency. If the sides of the bowl still look dry and crumbly, add some more merriwhite until the icing looks almost smooth but not wet.
Keep mixing for about 4-5 minutes, until it has reached stiff-peak consistency.
Spoon into a plastic container, cover with a clean damp j-cloth and the lid. Store at room temperature.
Royal Icing Consistencies

Simply thin down your basic royal icing with water, a little bit at a time, mixing with a palette knife, until you have the right consistency. Keep your icing covered with cling film or a damp cloth when not using it, to stop it from drying out.

Stiff-peak consistency: for piping sugar flowers and leaves
Soft-peak consistency: for piping lines, dots and borders
Runny consistency: for filling in the centres of spaces

Decorating for Thanksgiving

Decorating for Thanksgiving

I can smell it now: the pumpkin pie cooling on the windowsill, the marshmallow topping melting over the tender yams, and the glorious turkey (or ham) sizzling in the oven, filling up your kitchen with the best of scents. It’s one of my favorite times of year, and I can’t wait until get to put up my decorations every year! There’s so many great ideas for sprucing up your home with autumn’s charm, but I’ll start you off with a couple of my favorite picks.

The first place you think of when thanksgiving runs across your mind is the dinner table. The whole holiday takes place around it! It’s always a challenge preparing the feast you eat off it, let alone sorting through the difficulties that come in deciding how to decorate it! But once you decide on a general theme, everything falls into place. For example, pumpkins never fail to bring the fruits of fall into your dining room, and to break from the mold you can use white pumpkins to foster a softer atmosphere, and paired with some candles, white flowers, and other accent pieces that fit your theme, you get an all around cleaner look. 

Or, focus on rounds of wood for your place settings and surround them with greenery for a rustic, earthy style. If you’re not as much into wood slices, you can get the same farmhouse look with rope coil charges, and they’re not hard to make yourself! For the plates themselves, follow your color palette and either fold your napkins into a festive shape, or use them as an accent to the rest of the table. Use bits of greenery, like a sprig of sage on your plate setting as a garnish of sorts. While it’s not much on its own, it’s the small things that really pull a style together.

One thing you want to avoid is a busy table, though. The only thing you want overwhelming your guests is the sense of awe they get from staring at your beautiful table full of wonderful food, right before they dig in. Holidays are my favorite times of the year, and they’re one of those few moments in life where you can really make something your own. You can spend forever thinking about all the different trends and styles going around these days, but it’s important to remember to do what you like to do, since it’s your own home, after all. So take some of these ideas, put in some of your own, and make this thanksgiving one for the photo album!

How to Choose the Perfect Farmhouse Paint

If you know me, you know that I keep moving all day long. From planning our meals, to taking my girls to and from activities, work, or date-night with my husband, I so often seem to come home exhausted. Don’t get me wrong, I love to stay active! But some days I need to just come home and relax. That’s why I love the farmhouse aesthetic. When I walk into my living room, it’s like walking through a time machine to a simpler time. It’s a calming nostalgia that instantly relaxes me.

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It takes a beautiful pairing of muted, natural colors and rustic furniture style to achieve this restful, cozy feel, but with some planning it’s becomes an easy process! The pros use paint that costs upwards of sixty dollars a gallon, but you don’t need an expensive hue to look professional!

Here are a few colors that will transform your home without breaking your bank.

Off-white: I love the dining room above! The modern furniture perfectly compliments the rustic architecture, and the off-white tone pulls the room together beautifully. Just look out for the undertones, otherwise you can end up with a white that has a darker hue than you’d like. There are many variants of whites - like Cottage White or Simply White - that won’t run up the bill, and each have that unmistakable farmhouse charm. I can just imagine the delicious smell of a homemade apple pie fresh from the oven on that table!

Comfort Grey: Above is a beautiful example of a farmhouse grey. This grey goes perfectly with the brilliant white furniture, a staple of the modern rustic style. While more expensive than a gallon of off-white, it immediately creates a soft, cozy atmosphere where you can snuggle up on the couch to enjoy some herbal tea and a good book.

Svelte Sage: If you need a pop of color, this fantastic green will look wonderful paired with a white trim, as in this photo, and black or brown accents against the wall tie it together neatly - and professionally - and makes you feel as if you’ve just come in from tending your peach orchard. This cool, calming green instantly soothes me when I see it.

Source: Magnolia Home

If you need a bit more of a relaxing atmosphere in your home, natural farmhouse colors are your best bet! Not only does it have that fixer-upper feel to it, it has that down-to-earth quality that always seems to slow down life, even if it is just relaxed at home. But that’s where we need that most, isn’t it?

Creating More Space in Your Home

If you walk into your house after work and find yourself experiencing a strong sense of claustrophobia, it may be time to de-clutter. Your house is your respite away from all the stresses and pressures of life, a place to unwind yourself after your day’s wound you all up. Here’s a few tips to reclaim the calm in your home:

Get Rid of All of Your Stuff

Okay, so maybe you don’t have to get rid of everything, but another honest look at all the things you own, and whether they're really necessary or beneficial in your life would be a good place to start. As we’ve all heard time and time again, there’s a big difference between want and need. Often, it’s the things that we actually use day after day that are necessities, and most of the stuff we have we hold onto because we spent money on it once, and just can’t part with it. Maybe we bought something we don’t need, and that’s fine. Everyone does that, trust me. Or maybe you purchased something you needed for a while, but now it just sits around and collects dust. If you’re like me, you don’t like to see things go to waste. So rejoice with me that there’s so many options for giving things away to people who actually need them, or in repurposing stuff that can’t really do any good by itself. If you want to avoid the hassle of a yard sale, or if you’re living rural, then look around a bit on the internet or ask some friends where you can donate your clothes, your furniture, or anything else that you don’t use anymore that you think someone else could use.

Stock up on Baskets

There’s an awesome trend going on that involves wicker baskets. Lots of wicker baskets. What’s awesome about it is wicker baskets look great, and come in tons of shapes and sizes to suit your style and storage needs. Of course, if you’re not much of a basket person, there’s other options. For example, you could get (or make!) a couple of fabric covered boxes to use. There’s as many styles as there is of fabric, and they usually go for a good price. You can always mix and match, depending on your decor. If you get your hands on some cubby shelves, the decorative boxes can be just the pop of color you need in your home. Wicker could be just the accent to your room to give it a more rustic, or a more personable feel. You never realize the power a box or a basket could have over you until you change the mood of an entire room with it. HERE’s a great guide to wicker baskets; and HERE’s a great guide to your own DIY decorative boxes.

Get Multi-Purpose Furniture

It’s not just the cabinets, or the closets, or the dressers that should have all the fun of storing things. The whole idea of multi-purpose furniture is taking something that’s known for one use - say, a couch - and redefining it into something that can accomplish many things at once, while still retaining its original purpose. Minimalism is trendy lately, and I think it’s one of the best trends to come around. Or, really, come back around. It’s an age old practice, and one that brings a lot of calm and restfulness into your home, due to all the open spaces and organization. There’s so many different styles and types of multi-purpose furniture to choose from, and a lot of them are very well made and look fantastic. They’re valuable, so the price tag may go up, but remember that what you’re getting is essentially two or three pieces of furniture in one. It may just come out to be quite the deal. And you’ll feel better about conserving the space, too.

Hopefully this small list has helped you in some way. I know for me, de-cluttering has helped me unwind much easier, and it’s been so nice to be able to come home and start to relax the moment I walk in the door. Even on days spent indoors I feel more peaceful seeing everything organized and spacious. It makes me happy, and what’s better than that?

Cottage Remodel for Life at the FARM

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We recently freshened up this cute little cottage, and I wanted to share it to inspire you, especially if you have a space you don’t absolutely love! We started by installing elegant, clean lines with batten boards to give character to the walls. It now is reminiscent of an old caretaker’s cottage. Then, we moved onto new flooring that felt like washed, aged oak, and began the journey to change the layout of the kitchen. 

Of course, you know my love for lighting fixtures, and we changed the one out above the table and throughout the little house for a brand-new look. It made a world of difference!

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The dated bathroom had three mirrors, so we streamlined with two beautiful oval ones instead. we added vessel sinks, beautiful faucets, and new hardware. We also painted the cabinets a creamy white, and added dark hardware for a cottage look. And of course, you’ll see a touch of shiplap!

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Above, you can see the dark, dated, and closed off space that was here before! What a big difference!

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We added fresh dark lighting fixtures to get some nice contrast, more shiplap, some elegant marble counters, hardware, and newly painted cabinets! We framed into the mirrors and also re-did the floors in here. It’s hard to believe it’s the same space, but these changes made a big difference and now, it’s ready and filled with light!

Wallpaper! It’s back, in a big way! | Trends and Style Inspiration

“Ewwww.....wallpaper!” I hear that every now and again, from clients or friends who instantly envision grandma’s beige and red floral print, or a neon yellow and green seventies concoction. I’m here to tell you, wallpaper is back, and it’s certainly not the wallpaper from yesteryears! Wallpaper has historically been known to make spaces feel smaller, or clutter-y, and the heavy patterns and dull tones of old wallpaper (along with the horrible process of hanging it) has made most homeowners cringe at the mention of putting some back up! Let me introduce you to the new, beautiful, and modern wallpaper styles:

Photos:  Left Pam Cards Hallway | Middle Nicety Live Journal | Right Pam Cards Guest Room

Rifle Paper: This artisan paper company has everything from gorgeous prints to their stunning, statement wallpaper. Whether you’re doing a small space, or a whole room (we love the idea of a small single wall for a big impact), their unexpected prints (like pineapples and bold florals) keep things polished but a little bit quirky. Find their whole wallpaper shop HERE.

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Anthropologie: Ever our go-to for all things pretty and fun, Anthro always can be counted on for gorgeous wallpaper prints. We love their interesting takes on colors and textures, like this “Greenest Garden” style, which you can find HERE. Their “pergola” wallpaper, with it’s elegant blue and white color scheme would be so unique in an office, and offer a very classic feel. Be sure to measure carefully or have the installer measure for you before ordering so you know how much you need...the prices are pretty steep for paper, and you don’t want to buy and cut extra rolls!

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Photo Amazon

Wondering how to hang your newly acquired purchase? We like this tutorial from This Old House, which although tedious, offers careful and precise directions. Not ready to make the jump to spendy, semi-permanent wallpaper? There are tons of adhesive wallpapers that peel right off...these would be ideal for apartments or rented homes, where you are not allowed to hang more permanent coverings. Would you believe the brick beauty above is temporary?? We found that piece at Amazon.com . It’s the perfect way to test out a print or theme.

Considering wallpaper? We would love to offer consultations on your personal space and how to incorporate this trend today! Contact us here. 

Dreaming of Europe | Inspiration

The dreamy feel of European style has me conquering the winter doldrums these days! I dream of returning there someday to gather even more inspiration. The cool thing about the style across many European countries is the way it incorporates so many elements; decor, art, gardens, and architecture. I once talked my husband and kids into flying across the country just so I could indulge my senses at the Peggy Porschen Parlour in London! I don’t know if you’ve heard of this delightful little shop, but it’s a boutique bakery (yes, that’s a thing!) rich in lavish tones and feminine pinks. I was actually caught running my hands over the vintage wooden floors (whoops!), and smelling the caramel tea! It truly was a feast for the senses. 

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These places also inspire my wedding planning! When I plan feminine weddings with rustic touches, I find myself incorporating touches of my travel into the ideas. Another great place to find european style inspiration is Pinterest, of course! You can find tons of home decor ideas by searching “european style homes” and looking through the unique tile details, paint colors, and lighting fixtures that are the hallmark of the chic style. You don’t have to go all-out with a european style, but you’ll likely find that most modern trends carry just a little bit of european flair already within them. I love the european farmhouse style!

Farmhouse Source

Want to schedule a personal consultation for your wedding or home? I’d love to share my travel inspiration with you and help you design the day/event or room of your dreams! 

Shiplap Love | Trend Watch and Inspiration

Since the rise of Fixer Upper, the TV show that America has fallen in love with, shiplap has become a household name! The pretty technique of overlapping boards to form rustic looking walls has become the go-to for the perfect farmhouse look. The boards and the style are traditionally used as siding on exteriors of sheds and barns, but it looks amazing inside as well. Whether you whitewash it, or leave it natural, it can add a subtle cohesion to any room (yes, even a bathroom).  Joanna Gaines adds quite a bit of white shiplap to her project homes, but there’s a lot of other ways to use it to freshen up a space. Here are a few of our favorite inspiration photos:

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Image via: Left- The Inspired Room | Right- Jenna Sue Designs

We love the calming blue tones and gray shiplap in the bathroom above; it makes us feel like we are at the beach! Not every room has to have a farmhouse look, though. Shiplap can even be incorporated into a much more modern look.

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Image via: The Inspired Room

This was my favorite home on the Portland Street of dreams tour.  It is a mix of Farmhouse meets the Hamptons.  I love the mix of textures in the shiplap, marble countertops and flooring.  The added glow from the barn pendant light fixture keep it fresh and industrial. Here, the shiplap extends across the walls and is mimicked in the gray built-in-hutch. This is such a gorgeous take on the style!

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Images via:  Left- Better Homes & Gardens | Middle- Vintage South Development | Right- Better Homes & Gardens

Lastly, a beautiful take on shiplap in the kitchen, placed as the backsplash instead of the classic subway tile. The mix of white and brass keep the visual interest, and the stainless steel appliances add highlights as well as function. Did you know you can also fake the look of shiplap? If you’re on a tight budget, you can try faux shiplap like THIS blog did, with beautiful results (not as long-lasting as true shiplap, so beware if you’re trying to invest in a long term look). 

Recently, we are having shiplap run horizontal above a fireplace in a room with 20' ceilings.  In the same house, running down a long hallway, we have had a very tall wainscoting made out of vertical shiplap boards installed.  This is going to be the prettiest hallway ever!  The wainscoting will be topped with a beautiful patterned wallpaper in a neutral hue.  I will share photos from this house once it is all complete!

Love shiplap like we do? Where would you hang some in your home?

Love your Home this fall | Trend Watch and Inspiration

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Pillow from Etsy

We love our summer whites around here, and the breezy, bohemian feel of the warmer months. But, Autumn is calling, and it’s time to get our homes ready! We are swapping out lightweight linens, crisp whites and citrus scents for the rich textures of fall, spicy candles, and rustic tones like oatmeal, pewter and burnt orange. Here’s our ideas to get your home ready for the crisper, cooler weather... just add a pumpkin latte and a good book!

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Photos: Left & Right-Betsy Blue Photography | Middle: Pottery Barn

These richly toned pumpkin pillows will add a quick burst of fall colors to a neutral room without a ton of expense. The intricate panel on each pillow is velvet, and you know I am all about the mix of textures! You can find them right here at Pottery Barn. We also like this pumpkin pillow and it’s watercolor look (it would look great on a grey or taupe couch, or a big cozy chair. 

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Nothing says “fall” like a big, woven basket. While Pottery Barn shows it filled with pinecones, we think this basket would be adorable filled with cozy throws! We love this cable-knit throw from Target (and it’s under $50) in the marigold color. Try pairing it up with a faux fur throw for a welcoming look.  Don’t forget your table decor...after all, that’s where you’ll be serving up fabulous treats for Thanksgiving and all your holiday parties this fall. We really love the terra cotta pumpkins from Ballard Designs...they’re unexpected and elegant in their own way, and they look stunning with mercury pumpkin accents for a nice contrast. Add in taupe linens and rustic pieces for the perfect centerpiece that will leave your guests raving! 

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Photos:  Left-Restoration Hardware | Right-Pottery Barn

Planning a large party? We would love to help you stage, decorate, and throw the most amazing event. Contact us here for our event rates and more details, and let us take care of the rest!

Fall Goodness for your Home | Recipes and Inspiration

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My adorable family 5 years ago.  Photo by Tonya Poitevint Photography

As someone who loves community, family, and togetherness, I love when the seasons make their way into my kitchen. There is something so beautiful and rich about family gathered in the kitchen. It’s part of what I love about my home...the people in it, and the memories we are making. Today, I want to share just some of my favorite items for the kitchen, and one simply fabulous recipe for pumpkin scones! 

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Photos: Left Olivia Leigh Photography | Middle Williams-Sonoma | Right Nikita Lee Photography

Williams-Sonoma Home is always one of my favorite places to find beautiful, lasting pieces for my kitchen. This season, you’ll find plenty of ivory and white pieces, anchored with plenty of fall colors like orange and sage green. I love this antique white platter for something like Thanksgiving, piled high with stuffing or rolls! I also found this gorgeous hemstitch tablecloth in the ‘pumpkin’ color, just right for putting all those lovely dishes on!

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Photos:  Williams Sonoma

Of course, you’ll need some baked goodness to pile into your new dishes, so here’s our favorite recipe for pumpkin scones. Their slightly spicy, warm and crumbly texture will be just right for any fall gathering, and guess what? They taste pretty darn close to their Starbucks counterparts (shhhh...we won’t tell!). Here’s the easy recipe, courtesy of Food.com

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Pumpkin Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 tablespoons cold butter
1⁄2 cup canned pumpkin
3 tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

Powdered Sugar Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Using a pastry knife, fork, or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter are obvious. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, half and half, and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Form the dough into a ball.
4. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle (about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide). Use a large knife or a pizza cutter to slice the dough twice through the width, making three equal portions. Cut those three slices diagonally so that you have 6 triangular slices of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes. Scones should begin to turn light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.
6. TO MAKE THE PLAIN GLAZE:.
7. Mix the powdered sugar and 2 tbsp milk together until smooth.
8. When scones are cool, use a brush to paint plain glaze over the top of each scone.

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Enjoy!

Using Vinyl and Quotes to Enhance Your Space! | Ideas and Inspiration

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Photo by Betsy Blue Photography

I’ve discovered that I have an affinity for using words to personalize your space. Words, scripture, and quotes can make your space your own, and help capture the personality of your family or your business! It can make a large statement without a ton of expense, as well, and you can now custom order things on places like Etsy. Whether you choose things like wooden quotes, vinyl die-cut words or names, or large initials, you can make a big impact! Here are a few tips for using these in your home or office:

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Photo Left:  Betsy Blue Photography | Right:  Olivia Leigh Photography

Size Matters: Before you choose your letters or quotes, be sure to measure and considering your wall space. As you can see below, the oversized letters from Pottery Barn are quite oversized, and meant to be a focal point for an entire wall! They could easily look too “busy” or overwhelm a tiny space, so measuring would be key, whether you choose a small grouping or large initial. 

Practical is best for small spaces: If you are working with a confined or small space, opt for smaller letters that include little hooks, or place them on shelves. If they can serve double-duty, you’ll have a statement piece that also holds things like coats and hats. 

Vinyl Letters: These are a great way to add some pizazz to children’s rooms, rentals, or other space where they might need to be changed out rather soon. I have beautiful vinyl quote with song lyrics wrapped around a chandelier in my girls’ room. It’s so sweet and adds a personal touch. 

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Photos Left & Middle:  Betsy Blue Photography | Right:  Pottery Barn Website

Trend Watch | Glass Elements

I have a bit of an obsession with beautiful glass cloches, used throughout the rooms of homes including my own! I wanted to talk today about incorporating glass elements into your home, whether in the kitchen, the bathroom or the living room, they can add lots of visual interest and texture to your decor. They are also a fun and creative way to spend time with friends or your kids.  My girls love to add their "special" touches to many of our various sized cloches placed randomly around our home.  I will often find chicken feathers or rocks hidden under the glass!  During Halloween, we like to add black spiders or rats and at Christmas time, you will find bunches of mistletoe or spools of red velvet ribbons festively displayed.  

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Photos by Betsy Blue Photography

 You can find really simple ones here at Pottery Barn for under $40 and they look amazing with plants underneath, or even vintage paper, as shown below. You can also snag plain ones without the bases on Amazon for around $16. Not all of them have to be tall and slender, there are wider, shorter glass cloches with bases that can be used for succulents, figurines, or candles (be sure to use candle safety when burning candles). 

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Glass Cloches from Pottery Barn

I also love the look of adding a glass cloche to cake stands. The one shown above is marble and natural wood.    Cake stands can be used for actual baked goods of course, but are perfect on bathroom counters, holding soap or towels, and can be perfect holders for mismatched or loose, small decor pieces to add cohesion.  Cake stands can also be thrifted (vintage is awesome, as they are often sturdy), or found at yard or rummage sales. Even if your cake stands don’t match or have different styles, don’t be afraid to mix them into your decor and top with a beautiful cloche!

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Elegant Florals and Brass | Style Inspiration

Florals have always come into design in various forms, through the years, but I am loving the soft elegance of this season’s vintage inspired florals. I dream of these soft floral in a neutral, chic office, playing off simple solids and shimmering brass. You can find some of the prettiest floral accessories at one of my favorites, Rifle Paper Company. We love their recipe cards and vintage recipe boxes (cooking has never looked so good!), and these beautiful notebooks. 

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Office Photo from Target.com

This season has also brought us lots of watercolor inspired florals, and their soft, whimsical styles are beautiful in just about any room in the house where you want to incorporate color and print in a delicate way. We even love them in furniture, like the chair below, which has a neutral front and an unexpected, colorful printed back (similar here). A floral chair is a great way to add fun and youthfulness to a room, and can easily be swapped out later on for a completely different look. 

Watercolor florals also look beautiful when framed, as statement pieces on a wall. Etsy is an awesome place to find prints, and you can find brass toned frames at places like Pottery Barn and Michaels Craft Stores. Try hanging smaller ones in pairs, or go for a statement piece with a large framed art print. 

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Floral Pillow | Society6.com            Watercolor Wallpaper | Project Nursery.com Monica Hibb

It’s also super fun to balance out the florals and prints with other textures in neutral hues. Think woven baskets (above), and interesting wood stains/textures. It will add visual interest without adding another complex print. 

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Floral Chair | Horchow.com

Urban Farming and Family | Lifestyle and Family

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Nothing comes between a girl and her roo...

The words “Urban” and “Farming” might not seem like words that go together, but today, I want to share the details of what urban farming is, and why it works for our little family! Though we live in a city, we are able to grow produce and also raise chickens (and two roosters!). I love giving my kids the experience of having a farm and our own piece of land, while still living in close proximity to the city and amenities. 

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Photos by Olivia Leigh Photography

If you’re thinking about urban farming, or hoping to begin this lifestyle yourself, keep in mind that you don’t have to start a large farm, or grow all your own food (though that is a really awesome benefit). In fact, the very definition of urban farming includes simply growing any sort of vegetables or raising animals.  Our property is just over an acre and we have managed to landscape in mostly edible plants.  We lined our driveway with peach trees, planted a mini vineyard, an herb & strawberry garden all in our front yard.  Our backyard we have planted Olive trees, a mini orchard, pumpkin patch and 2 vegetable gardens.  This season we also added a citrus grove.  We shall see how it does here in our Southern Oregon climate.

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During the first and second world wars, many people grew their own food and helped the nation overcome desperate food shortages. Today, most people grow food, or pursue urban farming to have organic options, or to know where their food is coming from, free from GMO’s or harmful pesticides. In 2012, New York City opened their very own rooftop garden! The ideas behind urban farming center around community, resourcefulness, and a healthy lifestyle! There is something really beautiful about getting your hands in the dirt and growing vegetables and raising animals, especially for children. I love the fresh air and satisfaction of my very own garden.

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I've also found a "new love" for our family pet chickens. I AM the crazy chicken lady (at least I am not the cat lady!).  We have 2 boys..Sweetie and Rosie (yes, both are roosters).  Sweetie has been packed around for 2 1/2 years by my now 11 year and Rosie is our blind rooster that you will often find me packing around.   He loves to stand by my side as I weed the garden!!

Summer Must Haves | Trend Watch and Inspiration

I love summer! With my innate love of whites, creams, neutral tones, and pretty textures, summer naturally lends itself to my personal style. It’s also the perfect time to add in pops of color and with the ample natural light, everything is brighter and cheerier. Here are our picks for practical, lifestyle pieces to make your summer style perfect!

Woven Market Baskets: I love the large market baskets I’ve seen around. You can use them at the farmer’s market, store blankets in them in a living room, or toss them onto your patio to hold clutter. This one from Etsy is one of my favorites! They also come in a variety of sizes, which makes them very practical as well as cute!

White linen: White linens are a quick way to add instant style and polish to any space. Whether you opt for a tablecloth, cloth napkins, or placements, they are not only pretty, but also environmentally friendly and easy to toss into the wash to clean. We like these easy pieces from The White Company.  They are light with a subtle texture.

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The perfect summer tart: No party is complete without a beautiful, easy dessert. This beautiful lemon tart is a cinch, and you can follow the easy recipe here from Martha Stewart. A rustic, beautifully cooked tart is the perfect dessert to impress your friends and provide them with the perfect finishing touch to a home-cooked meal!

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Rustic Lemon Tart and other Meyer Lemon Recipes via Martha Stewart

The cutest little berry basket in ceramic is the best table topper, ever! Add a tiny pop of color into a white table setting with these darling little berry baskets from Crate and Barrel, cast in sturdy ceramic. They are washable and hold more than just berries....we’ve seen them filled with flowers, lemons, leaves, and baked goods...You could group three or four of them together for a larger impact. 

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What’s your favorite summer must-have?

Business Spotlight | Minery Rentals

Today, I’m so delighted to share with you a brand new venture, offering Southern Oregon and the surrounding areas exclusive access to incredible furnishings! "Minery Rentals was born out of a strong design to see more luxury, modern and unique world traveled treasures to the Rogue Valley and surrounding areas. We love well-traveled pieces that come with a story, but our priority is rooted in quality as well. We’ve had a huge response from the local community, and are so thrilled to be involved in the wedding industry on an even deeper level, as well as events, home staging and styled photo shoots.”, explains owner Betsy Tomasello, who launched the curated and unique brand in 2015. 

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Photos by Olivia Leigh Photography

The rental inventory is available to anyone, and the target audience includes weddings, special occasions, corporate marketing events and conferences, and staging real estate properties. “We have a wide range of clients, and welcome inquiries for any type of rental need”, continues Betsy, "and we are happy to ship our items to pretty much any area. Just drop us an email with your event details for a custom delivery quote."

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"We strive to make everything as simple and easy as possible. Clients can schedule a private warehouse viewing or stop by during one of our open houses to pick out their items. And, we are constantly updating our website to allow clients the ability to browse all of our inventory online as well! Reservations made in house or via email at mineryrentals@gmail.com just need a 50% deposit and a signed rental contract to reserve the items”, she adds. 

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The rental service fills a void that was needed in Southern Oregon for beautiful, unique and high-quality pieces. Minery Rentals has a huge range of decor items including tabletop pieces, natural wood consoles, the highly coveted vineyard chairs, and a mix of high-end Restoration Hardware pieces, including some of their beautiful chandeliers.  

For more information,  please visit their website here. 

Hosting the Perfect Farm to Table Dinner Party

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What better way to usher in summer sun, longer nights, and warmer temperatures than hosting a beautiful farm to table dinner? Gather up your friends and some good wine, and make it happen! We recently styled this gorgeous spread, and have a few tips for you as you plan your own!

-Be flexible: When working with local produce and farm-to-table recipes, you have to have a loosely planned menu in case an ingredient doesn’t pan out. Be flexible and keep your mind open to last minute changes.

-Prepare as much as you can ahead of time:  Mason jars and other glass containers can hold dressings, drinks, and other side items that you want to prep early on. You want lots of time with your guests, and fresh food is why you are there!

-Don’t forget seasonal drinks! We love the idea of a basil lemonade, or fruit infused waters to add some extra flair to your menu. Large glass drink dispensers look beautiful wreathed in greenery and filled with pretty waters!

-Send your guests home with goodies! We whipped up some little preserve jars with mini wooden spoons, and tucked them inside strawberry containers for a reusable favor. Other ideas would be recipes (especially for the foods you served that evening), glass jars, pretty dishtowels, or soaps from local artisans.

-Lastly, set the mood! Beautiful lighting and styled decor (of course we love the look of ample greenery, crisp whites and linens, and simple glass cups with twine and burlap mixed in) can help make your guests feel at home and welcome. If you’re interested in professional styling, give me a call!

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How to Use Chalk Paint | Trend Watch

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photos from palettepaint.com & amyhowardhome.com

You guys! We have found the coolest paint ever! Painting things has been fun for a long time, so we get that we are not game-changers here, and this is not a particularly new trend, but this paint is pretty amazing. Meet “One step paint” from Amy Howard (available at Ace Hardware and here)

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We love the Luxe Grey and Spa White colors for well, just about anything, but the brighter pops of color will look amazing against neutral decor, too. Best of all, there is virtually no prep reguired (other than gently cleaning your surface). You can bit sanding, priming and stripping farewell, because this stuff truly is one step. It even adheres to fabric, which opens up a world of possibilities (chairs, cushions!), as well as formica, metal and wood. On the Amy Howard website, you can find a whole bunch of transformations and ideas. 

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photos from Amy Howard Home and  themilldesignandhome.com 

The Amy Howard blog has an excellent tutorial on painting fabric to make a custom floorcloth here, and we have found some of the best Pinterest tutorials on using chalk paint below:

How to Paint Cabinets (video)

How to paint fabric (video)

How to wax and distress projects

Chalk paint for beginners

Have we given you some inspiration?? It’s just about yard sale season here in my corner of Oregon, so I might be heading to get myself some paint to bring some of those worn out pieces I find back to life!