Monthly Archives: October 2011

Understated Glow

26 Wednesday Oct 2011

Posted by in lighting

≈ 2 Comments

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ABC Home, Canopy Designs, Chandelier, glass accents, , summer in Sweden

 

Unless you live close to the Arctic circle in a country with endless hours of daylight (summer in Sweden, for example) lighting is a key design element in your space. Lighting is often just a functional entity, so when there is a pop of whimsy, sparkle or design “wow” you find yourself looking into the light.  The Audrey chandelier by Canopy Designs available at ABC Home is one example of this.  At 34” wide by 28” high, this chandelier is not petite.  And at $2891 before taxes and shipping, it is an investment.  Look around your house to see where this delicate, 9 candelabra jewel might fit – perfect in a generously sized powder room, dressing area, a breakfast nook or bedroom.

A Beautiful Fall Wedding in the Berkshires

25 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, Inspiration, Weddings

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Berkshire Mountain weddings, Berkshire wedding venues, fall wedding flowers, fall wedding ideas, Gedney Farms, wedding decor, wedding placecard ideas

Over Columbus Day weekend, one of my oldest friends was married at Gedney Farm in the Berkshire Mountains. Guests climbed a grassy hill to an aisle lined with flower filled mason jars to the ceremony setting under a centuries old tree. It was a spectacular 80 degree day and the sunlight glistened through the branches to set the scene.

The cocktail hour was held on the grounds outside the barn. Tables were topped with burlap, and a mix of vintage glass bottles filled with seasonal flowers added the perfect touch of rustic charm while still being elegant.

I just love how they displayed the place cards. Besides the fact that it goes perfectly with the style of the wedding, it was a great way to make use of the long hallway between the cocktail reception and main dining room, and it put those dozens of engagement photos that didn’t make the cut as the “final” one to good use.

 For dinner everyone moved inside the three story barn. While the space is beautiful in and of its own right, they brought in giant live branches to affix to the posts to make it seem much more intimate and tie the different levels of the space together which made the space truly spectacular. The tables were beautifully set with a linen hemstitch tablerunner and centerpieces of purple, green, and white hydrangea mixed with cabbage and berries and wrapped in birch bark. Pears, twigs, and mercury glass votives were scattered around the centerpieces and on top of smaller pieces of birch. This wedding is sheer proof that you can have a rustic, country wedding that is also truly elegant.

Congratulations Ally & Tucker!

*Photos by Sarah Fernandez and Drew Fernandez*

The Most Perfect Pumpkin in the Patch

14 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in Accessories, Celebrations, Holidays, Tabletop

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Anchor Bend Glassworks, glass, Halloween, handblown glass, pumpkins, sculpture, Thanksgiving

The pumpkin crops may be in short supply this year (thanks a lot Irene!) but not to fret.  If your Columbus Day weekend travels did not yield the perfect pumpkin for your home, then consider these beautiful hand-made pumpkins from Anchor Bend Glassworks.   True to the pumpkin patches that inspired these works of art, each pumpkin is unique.  Available in a small (3×3) or large (4×4) size with a traditional orange with green stem coloring, or a more modern take in clear with silver brown stem.  While these pumpkins cannot be carved into humorous expressions or painted until they are unrecognizable, they will last a lifetime.  Consider these to decorate your Thanksgiving table, welcome your guests with a nod to Fall on the entry hall table, cheer up your bookshelf with a little holiday sparkle, or my favorite, use as a paperweight on your desk to make that dreaded paperwork beautiful. Oh, and they are even more divine in multiples!

Lazy Never Looked So Good

13 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in Kitchen, Tabletop

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cooking, copper, Grandin Road, Julia Child, Kitchen, lazy susan, platters

A mixture of materials is always interesting and copper in the kitchen is so Julia Child!  If you don’t have copper pots hanging from your pot rack, then this artisan-crafted, hand hammered Copper Lazy Susan could fulfill your professional kitchen aspirations.  It might even inspire you to break out the cook books, open the wine and turn up the iPod.  Available in two sizes from GrandInRoad, this Lazy Susan is useful as a counter top catch-all for your most used spices, oils and utensils, or as a serving platter for your appetizers while all are in the kitchen. The only downside may be the “hand wash” notation, but that may be a small cost compared to copper pots.  (And, if you want tips on maintaining your copper check out the Equipment section of your by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck, Vol. 1.)