Slowing it Down on a Quick Trip to Charleston

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by AMM in Accessories, Bath, Dining Room, Eco-friendly, Inspiration, lighting, Shops We Love

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Bathrooms, Charlseton, dining out, Rustic, Two Bouroughs Larder

Traveling to Charleston, South Carolina for work is always a treat. This historical southern town stands out as one of my favorites on the eastern seaboard; while I didn’t have much time to visit the numerous galleries and antique shops, I did find the time to grab a bite at a local favorite, Two Bouroughs Larder.

I’m always on the look out for a great local restaurant that serves farm fresh food, and I hit the jackpot at TBL. With it’s eclectic mix of pantry items, whimsical gifts and full kitchen, I was instantly enticed.

The dining experience to me is more than the food. It’s a sensory experience and if it’s not a good one, well what’s the point really? I am a fan of reclaimed materials and unique architectural details, both of which are just the thing that makes this space so welcoming. While the space feels fresh and, of the moment, it also evokes a feeling of being in your Aunt Rosie’s country kitchen.

Everything in this space charmed me. Simple and yet a tad rustic, the combination that turns just about every detail into a piece of art. Right down to the bathrooms.

A Welcome Wagon

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by SOF in Accessories, Outdoor

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Canvas Storage, Wagons

One of the things that we debated bringing to Brimfield was a wagon. The problem was we didn’t have one to bring. It turns out they rent them there, but by the time we found the spot to do it, we were already two-thirds of the way through our day and so we lugged our new belongings. But next time, I have found the wagon. It’s not just any wagon. It’s the perfect wagon. Welcome Companions’ Wagon No. 2 is an amazing steel frame wagon with a weather-protection powder coat that is topped with a sturdy canvas bag and is finished with a leather handle. I mean, I don’t think there is a more perfect wagon on the planet, and it’s only made more perfect in that it addition to the French blue, it also comes in aqua and cerulean blue.

And in case you prefer a standing cart, they have that too– Wagon No. 3. It certainly doesn’t look like most of the grocery-getters we see cruising through the city. Normally, I would have no interest in this type of cart, but you can now sign me up for one. Unfortunately, these wagons retail for $490 so they certainly aren’t a bargain, but I’m going to start saving my pennies because you don’t find a wagon with this much function and style very often!

Brimfield 2013 Wrap Up and Exciting News

16 Thursday May 2013

Posted by SOF in Accessories, Furniture, Inspiration, lighting, Outdoor

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Antiques, Brimfield Antiques Show, nautical decor, Salvaged Home Goods, The Party Closet

On Tuesday my friend Heidi (from The Boxwood Cottage) and I hit the road and headed to the Brimfield Antiques Show. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts you can really find just about anything under the sun at Brimfield, but I always go with a list of specific things I’m looking for, and I always do my research on prices ahead of time. While you can certainly bargain, the prices tend to be on the high side. However, that being said, with a good eye you can really get some amazing deals too. So here are a few of the items that struck us, and of course what I hauled home for our super exciting next house project.

Wouldn’t these vintage ice cream cups be amazing to group as a little centerpiece when filled with succulents? I’m kind of regretting not picking a few up.

Love, love, love the design on this hutch!

If you’ve been ogling over Williams-Sonoma’s Agrarian catalog, these probably look familiar. Brimfield is where catalog companies find the items they want to knock off.

I so wanted to pick up a few of these wire baskets and turn them into chandeliers, but they were so big, I just don’t have anywhere they’ll work.

A clever way to dress up boring metal office shelves.

And now for the stuff I came home with. I’ve always liked these old glass floats but never gone for them before. However, when they were displayed like this, I couldn’t resist. The problem is I only bought two of them and I would really rather have a pile of them like this to create this bubble effect.

I also picked up this gorgeous plaid glass bowl. It was manufactured in Russia and the seller told me that it was a wedding gift to a couple in the 1940s, but when he got it, it was still wrapped in the original tissue and it still has the import tag on the interior. It’s about 8-inches round and is perfect for a bunch of tulips or peonies, but what really sold me on it is…

that it’s the same exact pattern as these Ralph Lauren glasses that I’ve owned forever and love.

I also grabbed a few more aqua mason jars because you can never have too many.

And a few little silver plate pieces for cheap which are always great to have on hand.

Pardon the horrible picture, but how amazing is this compote? I’ve never seen anything like it and completely fell in love with it. It’s from the 1880s and is from the Dakota line made by Ripley Co.

I also grabbed this cute little cake stand…

and this optical glass platter.

But none of those things compare to my other two purchases which will go in OUR NEW KITCHEN!!!! Yes, we’re starting construction next week to put a 13-foot addition on our kitchen, and it is going to completely change the way we live be ever so much more functional for us. So these two stunning copper and brass salvaged maritime lights are going to go over the kitchen island. I cannot wait!!! They were a bit of a splurge, but they were still less than the reproductions of them from Restoration Hardware which are aluminum so I think I got a really good deal.

And this is the fabulous barn door that I found which will go between the dining room and kitchen where we’re opening up the wall a bit wider. It came from a barn in Michigan, and I love the diagonal of the wood.

Sadly, even though we spent 7 hours shopping the show, we barely scratched the surface. It’s tricky because I always start in the same spot (because I know there are at least a few booths I really want to hit there), but that means I never make it to the other end. I think the next time I go I’ll start at the opposite side of the show and work the other way, although I’ll still need a lot more than 7 hours to do it. Perhaps I should try to hit it again this week! The show goes through Sunday and takes place again in July and September. Anyone who loves to hunt for treasures or find unique pieces should really make the trek!

Who else went this week and what did you find?

Sakonnet Garden Tour

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by SOF in garden, Inspiration, Outdoor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Garden Designs, Garden Ideas, Sakonnet Garden

On Saturday, my friend Kim and I went on a garden tour at Sakonnet Garden in Little Compton, RI. Kim had found out about this once-a-year garden tour, and while I knew we’d be seeing rare plants and imagined it would be wonderful, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Well, I think you can say that we were simply floored by this spectacular garden which began over 35 years ago and consists of beautiful garden rooms that take root on more than an acre of land.

I don’t know what a lot of plants were that we saw are (feel free to leave comments if you do), but here are some of the many things in the garden that stood out to me, like this beautiful arched path.

If there is one thing that I learned on this garden tour, it is that I will not buy just any old tulip bulbs. I think these are the most beautiful tulips I’ve ever seen and the size of all the tulips was just amazing.

This picture doesn’t truly show the stunning deep purple of these tulips.

This may not look all the impressive except for that it was about five feet tall!

The garden rooms are partitioned with all sorts of hedges and walls. This log wall certainly stood out as fun and unique. I would be so much more excited about our wood pile if it looked like this!

Sometimes it’s the things that are unplanned that make such cool features like this vine covered tree.

I loved how the simple addition of found shells tucked into the holes of the stone walls made the wall so much more interesting and a little bit brighter.

In the more tropical section of the garden was this lovely garden pavilion. I adore the little elephants that sit atop each corner of the roof.

The pavilion overlooks this lush pond…

and has several palm trees nearby. We could not figure out how they could possibly grow palms in Rhode Island, but according to their web site, the owners have created micro-climates through the installation of the large hedges and stone walls which has allowed them to do this. Amazing!

Across the pond is a huge patch of woodland peonies (Paeonia Japonica). I had never heard of these shade tolerant peonies until a few weeks ago, and I was quite happy to see them in person. I have just the spot where I’m hoping to add them to my own garden, and based on the number of bees that were happily buzzing in them, they will bring lots of good things.

With my woodland peonies, I’m hoping to also add some of this lovely hellabore which features the unique characteristic of winter blooms! That’s right, hellabore goes into full bloom in February and lasts into as far as April (or in this year’s late season, May).

I don’t have a place for it, but I this dark purple trilium was really pretty too.

The view from the other side of the pond. The gardens are very well known for their rhododendrons and azaleas like these…

which must have been 25 feet tall!

I wish they had all been in bloom this weekend when we walked into the rhododendron room.

While the gardens may be elaborate, there were so many elements of these garden rooms that were simple but stunning like this antique bench set against a large green hedge.

Perpendicular to the bench was this simple garden trellis. When you don’t need the trellis to contain anything and just need them as more of a structure, I love the look of this large-scale square trellis.

I love all the little doorways between the garden rooms.

And how cool is this tree? In addition to the flowers and shrubs, the variety of unusual trees was unbelievable.

This camouflage bark patterned tree was another favorite. And not only was it cool looking, but it was also super soft to the touch, almost fuzzy.

And beyond the gardens was this enormous meadow that looked like a painting. I would love to see it in the summer as there were hundreds of tiny little rose bushes mixed in with the grasses and ferns.

The garden is only open once a year to the public so mark your calendars to look for it next year! In the mean time, check out the Sakonnet Garden web site where you can find a list of their favorite plants, check out more images from other times in the season, and check their calendar of events which features an upcoming symposium.

Riviera Living

10 Friday May 2013

Posted by SOF in Furniture, Kitchen

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Counter Stools, French Style, Serena & Lily

If you’ve seen the latest Serena & Lily catalog, I would bet that their new Riviera collection caught your eye. I cannot stop obsessing over it! It doesn’t help that I actually have a project in the house (which I’ll be revealing details about soon!) that I can use them for.

I love the classic styling of them, and I can’t decide which color is my favorite. The yellow would really add a pop of color to a kitchen.

The mushroom color is so versatile.

And the navy…well, you can just never go wrong with navy!

Maybe if I can scrimp and save in some other areas of my project I’ll be able to splurge on these (not that they are that expensive, but I’d need four of them).

Oh, and be sure to check out their Monaco collection as well. Rattan + Stripes= Awesome!

Sailboat Mailbox

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by SOF in Before & After, garden, Outdoor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

America's Cup, Coastal Decor, curb appeal, Garden Decor, Mailbox Posts, nautical decor

You may recall from way back when that in my front yard makeover inspiration post I was smitten with this Endeavor Mailbox from Walpole Woodworkers. But $259 for a mailbox post wasn’t in the cards for me. Luckily, my contractor Pete has got my number and said he could do it for way less.

And so he did! He used a PVC mailbox post and then carved out the sailboat shape in a piece of wood that he attached to the post. (Here’s your sneak peak at the new front gardens and ever so slow growing grass.)

To get the shape of the boat, we turned to the America’s Cup library that exists within my new built-ins and where we found an entire book dedicated just to the Endeavor. Everyone has that, right? A little tracing paper to compile a few of the images and he got the shape down.

I’m quite happy with how it came out, and it really makes an impact when you’re driving down the road. I should have taken a picture of the mailbox we had before to show you what a huge difference it is, but it might have broke the camera it was so ugly. Oh, and it used to be right next to that pole you see in the background, but now it is straight off the front door and outside our new gate which makes the house much more charming I think. And not only do I love it, but it’s a great reminder that using local craftsman to have things custom made can actually be much less expensive than buying pre-made items, and it supports your local economy. A win-win on all accounts.

Design and Build: Sachuest Construction

Gourd-geous DIY Bird Houses

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by SOF in Accessories, D.I.Y., garden, Outdoor

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

Bird Houses, DIY Gifts, Outdoor Decorating Ideas

Spring is here and with it comes a feeling of panic to get the patio cleaned up and ready for summer. Last fall I bought some gourds with the intention of drying them and turning them into bird houses. So I bought three, one large and two small. I was surprised at how easy they were to dry out. They trick is to keep them elevated and dry so I put them on my window sill for the winter season. turning them often helps avoid moisture build up. It took a few months but they dried out beautifully and have a great patina to them now. Another option would be to sand the exterior and paint the gourd in any color you like. This would be a fun project for kids as well.

I have always wanted to use a Dremel but never had a project that required one. Thankfully, Cody from the Ding Shack was already at the Greenhouse working on a project, so I asked him to help me set it up. Carving into the little gourds was pretty easy. The Large gourd was much more difficult. I was surprised how similar to wood the walls of the gourd were.

My daughter was on hand to help. She decided to use the bits to create a sculpture. It’s wonderful to watch the imagination of a 5 year old when they try to mimic your behavior.

After drilling out the gourd I had to scrape out the dried interior and sand the opening with the sanding bit.

Side note: I have heard to keep some of the seeds inside the gourd to attract birds.

nesting materials

Towards the end of winter, my daughter and I collected some straw or dried grass from our yard to start a nest inside our gourds. The gourd you see here was one that cracked this fall. It was used as a planter for basil and I thought it still had some life left.

They look great hanging from our pergola and once our Wisteria fills in I am sure the birds will be pretty happy with their new acommodations.

Front Entry Makeover Reveal!

03 Friday May 2013

Posted by SOF in Before & After, garden, Inspiration, Lighting, Outdoor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dutch Doors, Front Door Makeover, Landscape Design Ideas, Outdoor Planters

When we bought our house six years ago this month, this is what it looked like. It was cute, but the yard had become very overgrown, to the point where we couldn’t bring most of it back to a manageable level. Unfortunately, there were other projects that topped the to-do list so other than taking the storm door off the front the day we moved in, I’ve been slowly tackling what we can (like tearing out those rose bushes in the front last fall) when we can. But thanks to a flooded basement, we had no choice but to essentially tear the whole yard apart and start from scratch over the past few months so that we could install French drains and have the yard re-graded. I’ve been sharing my inspiration and the plants I wanted to include over the past several months, and after nearly two months of living in a mud pit, we finally have a brand new front yard…just in time for a dry spell so that the grass doesn’t want to grow! While we’re waiting for the grass to grow in, I don’t want to reveal the unfinished product, but I can finally reveal the brand new front entry!

Voila! We replaced the prior door which had started to crack with this new Dutch door which we bought from a local building supply company. It’s wood which is a bit dangerous because it’s not the best at handling the elements, and the manufacturer won’t guarantee it, especially if it’s not under a protected roof. But my husband sealed it with Westcoat in hopes that will prevent it from succumbing to the elements. And you can see that the old brick front steps and concrete pathway came out to be replaced with these new stone steps with Nantucket stone treads and path. Nantucket stone is an engineered stone that has the look of flag stone, but it much less expensive (we like that!), and there will be grass where you currently see dirt…eventually.

I completely love the Dutch door! Considering that we’ve never really had a front door that was easy to open, being able to regularly open the front door or just pop open the top part to talk to my hubby while he’s watering all those new plants has been dreamy (hey, it’s the little things). Oh, and actually having keys to the front door is also a brand new concept to us which we’re enjoying! The only issue with the new door is that my whale tail door knocker doesn’t work on it (the horror!) so that may have to get moved to my mudroom door because having a house knocker just doesn’t look right (believe me, I tried). In this picture you can also get a peak at our very unexciting but big ticket item, our new roof.

As you may recall, I was having a tough time deciding on what kind of planters to get. Well, I decided that I really wanted square planters and I spotted some faux zinc ones at Home Depot that I really liked but they were $60. Yes, that’s actually not bad considering the ones I originally looking at, but I still wanted to spend less. And in some kind of miracle, when I left Home Depot I stopped at our high end garden center and spotted these planters that are very similar but better in size and have a decorative fleur-de-lys accent for $15 dollars less apiece. Score! I really like them because as much as I love the coastal cottage look, I don’t want to overdo it and I want to balance it with some more classic elements. I might need to add a few more plants to them, but I just couldn’t wait to add a little bit of color to all the brown dirt on the front of the house so I threw something in them quickly.

And while you can’t really tell from the before picture, we had some very dated carriage style light fixtures by the front door and the garage which we replaced with these new bubble glass lantern style fixtures. They’re nothing fancy, but I like them, and they’re a big improvement.

I’m not sure I can truly express how happy I am with the way everything came out. Yes, we still need to repaint the front door trim, and maybe even adjust the front door color a little bit, but the big stuff is done! And I can’t wait to show you the gardens and the fence (oh, the fence!) as soon as that grass grows in. This process could have been really dreadful, but my contractor, Sachuest Construction, has been amazing at working with me to get exactly the look I want and putting up with my particularness even when I change my mind and decide things on the fly (which is not what I would normally recommend to anyone!).

That 2013 to-do list is getting shorter and shorter!

Gasparilla Style

01 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by SOF in garden, Inspiration, Shops We Love

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Boca Grande, Gasparilla Inn, Gasparilla Island

Over spring break, we took a much needed family vacation down to Boca Grande, Florida where my mother-in-law, who passed away last year, had a condo. If there is one place I enjoy going in Florida more than any other it is Boca Grande because it’s not anything like anywhere else in Florida. The town is on Gasparilla Island, a barrier island between Sarasota and Fort Myers on the Gulf coast. There is no gas station so a lot of the residents drive golf carts (there is even a golf cart path on the old railroad lines that used to run the length of the island), and it’s a bit like stepping back in time to the slow, quiet, good life of decades past. In the center of town is The Gasparilla Inn which is beyond charming and which I could spend all day just enjoying it’s old-school southern style. Can we just take a moment and ogle over those wood floors on the front porch?!

Around every corner, there is amazing design, but the main sitting room is particularly stunning. Four seating areas surround fireplaces and while each area is unique in its furnishings, they are all tied together with their consistent use of fabrics.

Game tables are a perfect spot to spend a rainy day or enjoy a cocktail.

And then there is BZ’s, the bar. The inside bar is fabulous, but on such a gorgeous day, we soaked up the amazing outdoor space filled with wicker furniture with bright lemon and lime cushions and covered with climbing flowers.

From the porch spot, you can enjoy the views of the fifth hole of the inn’s golf course.

Chances are if you tell someone you’ve been to Boca Grande, they’ll ask you if you went to The Pink Elephant, the inn’s more casual restaurant located just around the corner. In all our trips there, we had actually never been so my hubby and I managed to sneak in a date night and check it out this trip. The food was great, and there’s a wonderful outdoor patio, but if you want to enjoy the upstairs enclosed porch (which looked like the best seat in the house) you need to make a reservation in advance. The inn’s main dining room is also wonderful.

Other spots around town include Hudson’s, a small grocery store where you can get the basics. You’ve got to go off island for larger shopping trips.

It has the only gas pump in town (which doesn’t work), and of course it’s pink! It took every ounce of their being for my kids to give me one smile in front of it.

Fugate’s is one of the funniest stores I’ve ever been in. It’s basically the Boca Grande equivalent to a department store. They sell everything from Mariposa to swim suits, embroidered shorts, newspapers, and toothpaste.

And if you’re looking for ice cream on a hot afternoon or a quick meal, head over to The Loose Caboose.

The Down East Shop is a great gourmet shop that features prepared foods like lobster salad along with gorgeous pottery and linens. The other great shops nearby include Ariel and The Palm on Park, and all Lily Pulitzer store. We also loved Ltl. Ariel, a children’s shop where my mother was thrilled to find the Florence Eisman dresses she used to buy for my sister and I, and where I discovered the Sea Urchin Studios line.

Really, everything in this town is just charming and lovely. I mean if we had a church that looked like this at home maybe I would go a bit more often!

There are lots of big homes on the island, but I prefer the cottages.

Although the hedge at this mansion made me swoon every time we drove into town.

I mean, isn’t is just gorgeous? And I love that it is defined with the white pillars of the wall for the perfect balance of structure and nature.

Now, there isn’t a whole lot to do on Gasparilla Island, but if your idea of a vacation is enjoying quiet time by the pool or at the beach, and maybe enjoying a nice dinner out, or spending an afternoon on a fishing charter, then the slow island life of Gasparilla is a great way to go. I can’t wait for our next trip down there!

Wall Art from Sea Urchin Studios

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by SOF in Accessories, Bedroom, Kids

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Coastal Decor, Kids Wall Art

Hello! No, I haven’t abandoned you all. If you follow us on or , you know that I took a much needed and long awaited vacation with my family (more on that later this week). I had hoped to get some posts up while we were traveling, but the lure of the ocean (and the whining of my kids) pulled me away as I’m sure you can all understand. I do have pictures to share, but while those are still sitting on the memory card, I thought I’d share with you this great little company I found in the children’s shop Ltl. Ariel down in Boca Grande, Florida. The company is called Sea Urchin Studios and the first piece that caught my eye was this mermaid growth chart. I love it and wanted to get it for my daughter’s room because it’s the perfect colors, but I found something else from them that suits her room better.

That would be these “See You Later Alligator” and “In a While Crocodile” prints. My daughter loves these two sayings, but she never gets them right. It’s always “See you later crocodile!” or “In a while alligator!” While I don’t really want her to stop saying them that way because it’s cute, I thought these would be great for her room and work well with her wallpaper giraffe.

I also think this hippo and money print is beyond adorable!

And how cute is their animal alphabet poster?

Although I’m partial to the ocean themed alphabet poster…

which you can also get in alphabet cards…

and a growth chart!

I mean you can’t deny the cuteness, and the prices are really fabulous too which makes Sea Urchin Studio one of my new go-tos for kids’ artwork.