Monthly Archives: November 2011

The Home Office that Fits Just About Anywhere and Looks Good Too

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Furniture, Home Office

≈ 1 Comment

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Ballard Designs, Eastman Secretary, Home Office, workstation

Unless you happen to live in mansion with more rooms that you know what to do with, then space is usually a premium that needs to be used well.  I have been using the alcove in my dining room as an “office nook” in conjunction with my dining room table for a work surface.  And until the recent gatherings — Thanksgiving, for one! – this has served me well.

Entertaining always magnifies the areas in your home that could use a little work, and the Eastman Secretary from Ballard Designs is the compact and aesthetically pleasing solution to my workstation needs.  The shallow depth of this piece (52 1/2″H X 32″W X 17″D) makes it a perfect fit for small unused spaces in a bedroom, living room or even a playroom!  Now I just have to decide which of the five finishes to choose from; my favorite is the Rubbed Black with the Grey Interior — is it possible that Apple is now influencing furniture design?!

Reusable Napkins on a Roll

29 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Parties, Tabletop

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Anthropologie, cocktail napkins, luncheon napkins, reusable napkins, Tear-Off napkins

These are not just any towel rolls, but cocktail napkins at the ready! Anthropologie has sourced a bit of entertaining genius that is a must have.  The Tear-Off Cocktail Napkins (above) are as easy to use as perforated paper towels, and are made of cotton that is washable up to eight times. Or you can toss them because there are 50 on a roll.

 And, if you like the cocktail napkins, then also consider adding the Luncheon Napkins to your party closet.  These are available in either a Linen Cotton blend in Blue or Dark Orange (above) or Cotton in Grey, Yellow or Turquoise (below).

For the entertainer who is taking baby steps towards being a little more eco-friendly by using reusable napkins, but also likes to have the option of tossing them when there is a mountain of clean-up to do, these are a fabulous option. Or if you just want a higher quality disposable napkin, here is your answer.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Going “Green” in Style for the New Year!
Reusable Cozies for your Food!
Interlock Cutlery as Place Settings

Sinking Into a Barrel of Wine Never Looked So Good

28 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in Eco-friendly, Furniture, Outdoor

≈ 4 Comments

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, , ,

Between the post-Thanksgiving tryptophan haze and the unseasonably warm November weather, it seems that an afternoon in this Upcycled Wine Barrel Chair curled up with a book and a glass of wine (ironic, yes?!) is just what the doctor ordered!  A wonderful twist on the traditional Adirondack chair handcrafted from reclaimed wine barrel staves (the bent planks that make up the barrel’s sides), this is one of the many recycled, artisan-made goods available at Uncommon Goods.  Perhaps a pair of these on the porch will make it effortless to ring in the holidays and toast the New Year.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Sweet Dreams:  Mood Rocking Bed
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Handmade Beach and Garden Chairs
Colorful Plantation Chairs Perfect for Lounging

Serve It Up on Seaweed!

25 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Tabletop

≈ 3 Comments

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decoupage, John Derian, seaweed, trays

John Derian knows how to make seaweed beautiful to display in your home!  Within the decoupage collection there are many shapes to chose from — round, square, oval and more – but look for the 10″ x 13″ rectangular trays.  The Pressed Seaweeds series has 48 different seaweed trays and each is $175.  Just a couple more  . . .

I Give Thanks to You Most of All

24 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by in Inspiration

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birthday parties, Parentables, thank you, , whales

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to thank all of the C&B fans.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you for sharing your passion (or should I say obsession) for design with me. Thank you for stopping me in the parking lot at CVS to let me know you loved a post or commenting from far away on the blog. Thank you for virtually attending weddings and parties with me. Thank you for putting up with my obsession of all things whales and nautical, all things bright and lacquered, and all things monogrammed.

It has been just over two years since I started blogging about my design aesthetic and what inspires me. It has not only been a lot of fun, but this blog which I started as a way to share my passions has actually given me a new career. I am now officially a writer in addition to a designer. Without the support of all of you, I would not be a daily contributor to TLC’s Parentables or Blue Water Sailing’s online community. You have given me the confidence to pitch magazines about my work and ideas, and then actually have it featured! And just a few weeks ago I spoke as a panelist at the Marketing 2 Moms Conference in Chicago. But it all started with this little blog I started two years ago and your support.

You’ve all been so wonderful to me, and I want to give you more in return. More you say?  Well, once my turkey is cooked and served, I promise to share with you all that has been brewing (besides my coffee addiction-er, necessity) here at C&B. We have some big announcements coming up to end 2011 on a high note and kick off the New Year in style. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you for being so supportive and may you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, friends, good food, and lots of laughs.


A Peek at My Thanksgiving Table and Menu

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, Dining Room, fabrics, Holidays, Tabletop, textiles

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Bernardaud, centerpieces, Gorham, Le Jacquard Francais, Simon Pearce, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is upon. This is my first year hosting Thanksgiving, and I’m so excited that I finally get to use this fabric that I’ve been holding onto for 7 years for just this occasion. My super-awesome husband is a sailmaker and his sewing skills are better than mine so he hemmed it for me last night. I’m loving the orange and lime green combination that brings in the colors of the season, but also humors my affinity for bright colors.

The centerpiece and the table linens play off of each other so well. Yay!

And I bought mini-pumpkins to put at each place setting. Here are the details on my simple Thanksgiving dinner.

MENU
Roasted Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup
Turkey
Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes
Sauteed Green Beans
Stuffing
Gravy
Homemade Apple Pie and Ice Cream

SOURCE LIST
 Tablecloth: Nuages by Le Jacquard Francais
Napkins: Sari by Le Jacquard Francais
 China: Athena Platinum by Bernardaud
Wine Glasses: Woodstock by Simon Pearce
Flatware: Lyric by Gorham

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving celebration!

5 Easy Last Minute Thanksgiving Centerpieces

22 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Dining Room, fabrics, Holidays, Inspiration, Kids

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Easy DIY Centerpieces, Fruit as Centerpieces, tabletop decor, Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Thanksgiving is upon us which means it’s time to set a beautiful table. I had originally planned on doing a pumpkin and gourd centerpiece, but then I came across this incredibly cool looking Romanesco Broccoli from my favorite organic farm at the Thanksgiving market and had to have it. As I don’t actually like cauliflower nor would I want to do anything to mess with the beauty of this bounty, I decided it would become the centerpiece. I filled the bottom of the vase with clementines and stuck skewers in the base of the cauliflower to give it some direction and stability.

A few other ideas that my friend and I literally came up with just from grabbing things around our houses include this clementine and pine cone combination in a glass bucket with some beautiful glass pumpkins (look familiar?). The way the glass objects reflect off each other really makes these “natural” objects sparkle, and the clementines give it that pop of color to take it to the next level.

Baby pumpkins in a beautiful cachepot. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

I’m embarrassed to say that it took me 4 1/2 years to realize that the two hideous bushes between my neighbor’s house and mine (that I can’t take down because technically they’re theirs) are holiday greenery. (Stay tuned for some wreath making DIYs!) I digress. Pick some greenery from your yard and fill a beautiful container with it and then nestle in some fruit. I only had one lemon, but you get the idea.

If you’ve got kids, there is a strong chance you’ve got tons of play food. Have some fun with it and make a kids’ cornucopia for the kids’ table. It’s fun and colorful and sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

Lastly, if you’re freaking out that you can’t find a tablecloth you like to put your lovely centerpiece on, look to your fabric stack. It’s not just me right? Everyone hoards fabric like I do? I’m going with that lovely orange one you see here. It’s Jacquard Francais Nuages, one of my favorites! I’m hoping my handy husband will have time to sew a hem on the two ends for me, but if not I’ll find some iron hem tape. I love to entertain, but I’m not immune to whipping things up at the last minute. Look around your house for inspiration and get creative!

Lotus Bowls Add a Pop of Color to Your Kitchen

21 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, Dining Room, Tabletop

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bowls, Lotus Dessertware, Lotus flower, party closet, plates,

While the party closet should ideally be full of neutral pieces, don’t be afraid to expand it to add these charming Lotus Dessertware Bowls from the Sundance Catalog.  This set of four bowls are hand-painted with the Lotus motif and are dishwasher safe.

Similar to the Lotus flower, the coloring of these bowls mimic nature – the lavender and yellow of the the flower, the rich aqua color water, and the red of the blazing sun.

The bowls are wonderful for ice cream, snacks and more, but the service is most complete with the Lotus Dessertware Plates!  Both the bowls and plates arrive in a “giftable box” for storage, or to use for a hostess gift.

If you like this post, you might like these:
Dishware as Canvas
Gorgeous Italian “Pottery” in Melamine
The Paisley Kitchen

C&B Featured in Newport Wedding Magazine!

17 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by in Celebrations, Weddings

≈ 1 Comment

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Newport Wedding Magazine, Sweet Berry Farm, wedding etiquette

You may remember the lobster bake wedding I did at Sweet Berry Farm last June. Well, here it is in Newport Wedding Magazine! I also wrote the story “Much Ado About Wedding Etiquette” for this annual issue of the magazine with some tips for brides to live by. My tips for guests and bridal party members should be up on the Newport Wedding web site one of these days, but they’re experiencing some technical difficulties so check back for them. The magazine is on newsstands now.

Hidden in Plain Sight

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Accessories, Eco-friendly, Kitchen

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, Knodd bins, , recycling

In our quest to be house-ready for entertaining during the holiday season, it is a perfect time to beautify basic household functions.  One such day-to-day is recycling.  Seriously, recycling?!  Yes.  The Knodd bins from IKEA are hiding paper, plastic and cans.  Did you guess?  Most of my guests have never noticed the recycling bins, and those that do are surprised by their purpose.  In addition to the universal blue and green recycling colors, Knodd bins are also available in white, red and yellow.  (The red bin would be perfect for collecting the ashes from the fireplace.)

We’ve got more IKEA fun coming your way soon. There are so many things they just make so easy!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Organize with Clothespins
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Mod Mom Furniture Toy Boxes
Organize 2012:  Sort, Stack, and Store