How to add color and expression to your walls without painting them

via MLKBTTL

I've been asked this question quite a bit lately and so it inspired me to write a post about adding art to walls - passing along information and tidbits that can help everyone. Whether you're starting your first home, looking to furnish and decorate a second home, or starting all over after a move or divorce, there comes a time in our lives when we find ourselves in a new place that's completely empty but filled with endless possibility.

I got divorced and moved out of my marital home just two years ago. I brought very little with me and left most behind. This meant I had a lot to replace and within a fairly tight budget. Because I had the children with me, there was a sense of urgency to make the house feel like a home, as soon as was possible. As with any project, or any home project, it is really best to try not to do it all at once. And so I added what I thought was essential and then took my time to find just the right pieces. We're still a work in progress, but our house definitely feels like a home. It's filled with things that mean something to us without feeling cluttered and over-decorated - that's simply not my style anyhow. In a rush-rush world, we must remember that slow and steady wins the race. (I tend to forget this and seem always to get caught up in the moment!)

This slow and steady attitude absolutely applies to the home as well. Recently when I went to Bunny Williams' outdoor and gardening store, Treillage, I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with her. Her advice when it comes to decorating your home is to take it room by room. Complete one room at a time before moving on to the next one. If not, your home will never be really complete. So start off with the basics in each room, then decide which room you want to work on and complete first. If you like to entertain you may want to concentrate on your living and dining areas before moving on to bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways. I tend to do this as well, but I find that a room or a house is never truly ever finished - or rather, there's always room for that special something that must be hung, placed on a bedside table or in the corner. Don't let the idea of filling your home daunt you. Start with baby steps. Let's work on the walls - I find they add most of our home's personality. They best tell your story - your passions and loves and interests. 

You need not fill all your walls with expensive art. If you have a great piece it should be showcased and placed in a prominent place - it will become a natural focal point. In some cases the art will find a place in a home that is already furnished and in some cases the furniture may be placed around the piece of art. If you haven't such artwork you needn't worry. There are many wonderful ways to add expression and color to your walls. The ideas I am about to share work as well on colorful walls as they do on those that are more neutral in tone.

Have you traveled? I love collecting pieces from my trips - could be a simple print, a black and white photograph or even a map. Frame maps, prints, posters from museums, photographs, vintage scarves (Hermes) and flags to create original art and add your own touch. Frame your children's artwork. Frame photos of your children, and vintage photographs from distant ancestors will ad a certain worldliness to your space. 

If you plan on creating a gallery on a wall you most likely won't have many pieces to start with. I suggest finding a central spot on the wall, at or just above eye level, depending on your height. You can then work out and up from there. Don't worry about symmetry. Odd numbers can make for an interesting and sophisticated look. You just want to be sure that one side doesn't look heavier than the other - or that your wall doesn't look top heavy.

Visit antique stores, flea markets, and consignment shops for inspiration. You're not looking for something with great worth, but something that will enhance the look and feel of your own home. When you visit these places do try to negotiate down to a better price. Cash usually speaks louder than a credit card. Another great item to fill empty wall space are mirrors. In some cases the bigger the better! Look for simple and decorative trims. I have written about using flags here and maps here if you're looking for more inspiration.


via Houzz

via Houzz

via Houzz

via King Ranch Saddle Shop

via House and Garden Co., UK

via Casa Suga

via Prairie Perch

via Pinterest

via Karen Blake Interior Design//Architectural Digest

via Robert Stillin

I hope these ideas and images have inspired you!

Please visit my Pinterest board for many more ideas, such as where to hang art in the most unexpected of places. Click here for more!



Houseboats :: The ultimate waterfront property

via Huffington Post

I've always had a thing for houseboats. I'm sure much of my fascination began when I first saw Nora Ephron's romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle. (I'm a hopeless romantic!) Wouldn't it be wonderful if life was just like the movies? (I'm also a sucker for a good happily ever after!) Love and romance aside, there's something wonderful and romantic about the idea of a simple home that floats on water. There's something so peaceful and tranquil about that notion. Whether it's the ocean, a bay, a river or a large lake, there's something to be said about living on the water. I find nothing as energizing, inspiring or relaxing as the sea. She mesmerizes me. I can think of nothing so soothing as to be able to live on the water - to watch as she changes with the tides, the winds, and the rain. To see her glisten like a million diamonds in a bright light or smooth and calm as she reflects the beauty that surrounds her, mirror-like. 

While I love the idea living on the water, I'm not sure I would like to live in the cramped confines of a traditional boat - but once they've been converted, their small spaces can seem almost vast by comparison. Come take a look at some of these lovely and stylish floating homes!

via Design Boom

via Metro Ship

via Apartment Therapy

original source unknown

via Robert Harvey Oshatz, architect

via Houzz. Dyna Contractors

via AG Home Goods

via Google images

Dress your table in white (this summer)


Basic. Casual. Formal. Elegant. Timeless. Timely. Versatile. Adaptable. Overlooked – The simple white plate is all of these. Consider the simple white plate to be the little black dress for your table. The simple white plate pairs well with all accessories, can be used at any meal, any time of the day from a casual breakfast in a SoHo loft to a lovely garden luncheon en plein air, on a warm and sunny afternoon, to a formal gathering at day’s end.  The simple white plate is fitting for a simple summer meal, an intimate afternoon fall tea, or an elaborate holiday fete.

There is nothing as versatile. It will never compete with rivaling colors or patterns. Instead it complements everything on your table – from linens to china to silver to glass and crystal. It will never appear too clunky or too delicate. It will never be too simple or too fussy. You can dress it up. You can dress it down. The simple white plate is, in itself perfection – overlooked perfection.

Whether you prefer a neutral, colorful, or bold table a white plate is the most accommodating of all. It’s perfect for layering. Whether placed on top of a large dinner plate or charger, or gently tucked under a simple yet delicate salad plate for pattern, elegance, even a touch of whimsy. Pair a simple white plate with a vintage piece, or simply allow it to shine on its own. Whatever your style there may be no plate more perfect.

For those seeking to furnish a first, a second or even a third home, consider investing in a set or two of simple, sturdy white dishes. You might want to think outside of the typical box-store – though Williams-Sonoma, Juliska and even Pottery Barn do offer lovely whites, why not add your own touch? Visit local consignment stores, vintage and antique shops for some pieces with character. Don’t worry if you can’t find a full set, it’s much more fun and perfectly acceptable to mix and match these days. If you happen to find some with patterns such as lattice, basket weave or floral, these all will add a lovely texture to your table without being overly distracting. And, if a plate or two should break, as plates are apt to do, it will be much easier to fill in the missing pieces!

Perhaps the single most important reason to dress your table in white is to properly showcase your food. There’s a reason why restaurants prefer to serve on white. Food is so much more than nourishment. It’s art for your table. A lovely meal deserves to be showcased. An artist works with a white canvas, a chef works with a white plate. Whether you’re a talented home cook, seasoned chef, gourmet or gourmand your food deserves to be noticed without the distraction of busy patterns and colors.


via Style me Pretty

via D Weddings

via Stone Gable

via Stone Gable

via Pinterest, original source unknown

via In Sock Monkey Slippers

via Indulgy



When decorating your home, have a ball - a disco ball!

The Last Days of Disco

If you've been visiting The Entertaining House you know we like to have fun here. You may also have guessed that we try not to take ourselves too seriously all the time. There's a time to be serious and there's a time to have fun - my home and my wardrobe both reflect this. My grandmother was a huge influence on my sense of style. Her homes were photographed in publications throughout Europe and the US in various stages of her life. She was a minimalist and a traditionalist - her homes were timeless. But she loved to have fun. She converted a closet in a sitting room and turned it into a small liquor cabinet. She loved to use Trompe L'Oeil to create all sorts of illusions. One day she was preparing her dining room to be photographed in an issue of ElleDecor (either UK or France) and she "dressed" up some cauliflower with thin black ribbon and placed it at the center of her large round table. It was amusing, so very silly really, and yet she made it seem so elegant. She had fun with her homes. I believe everyone should. I came across the photograph above when I was writing an article about moving and was looking for a few good pictures to illustrate my piece. I saw that picture and I tucked it away as I knew I had to use it at some point... somehow. And then one day fairly recently I saw a photo of a disco ball in a home - casually thrown in, and thought to myself how fun this would be to have! And so I started researching photos of disco balls in home decor, I was quite surprised that at how many I found. I love how, for the most-part, they're so unexpected - As you enter these spaces, no matter what the style, only to look up and see this great mirrored ball suspended (in most cases) high above. I love the whimsy and the element of surprise. How can you not smile at that?!

via Houzz

via Style me Pretty

Ed Ritger Photography

via The Selby

via Farrow and Ball

Ashley Morgan Photography

via Apartment Therapy

via ElleDecor

via All About You

via Dwell

via Tumblr
Go on, I give you permission to go out there and have a ball!


Trade Secrets :: Garden Tours, Part 1


There couldn't have been a more lovely weekend for the Trade Secrets Garden Tour. It was a quintessential spring weekend in Connecticut. Everything was in or near full bloom. The rolling hills were dressed in their vibrant green robes and brightly colored pastel trees in pinks, lavenders and whites gave shared their sweet fragrances every time the gentle winds blew. The skies were blue and cloudless. The sun was just warm enough to comfort us without being oppressive. 

Our tour started out at the home of Roxana & Ledlie Laughlan. Bounded by tradition the garden is framed by majestic old trees, surrounded by undulating fields. The property had been in the family for over 50 years and was redesigned in 2001 by Tiziana Hardy. In the center of the garden an arresting tableau of flat stones and mounded boxwoods. Furhter design by Mary Daalhuyzen includes sweeping hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and a series of linked ponds make up this intentionally understated landscape. 

Next we saw the home of Julia and John Scott. (Gold's Mills and Gardens) An 18th Century Gristmill that is now their home overlooks magnificent waterfall that plunges more than 60 feet and weaves its way through the varied landscapes and gardens that they have created. The upper garden, adjoining the millpond, has traditional shrubs, perenials and a cutting garden. Closer to the house  an-early spring wildflower garden borders the waterfall while a series of terraced orchards accompany the waterfall to the pond below. 

Debby and Barton Jones have a most spectacular Greek Revival that overlooks their spectacular meandering garden with randomly traversed paths and stone steps, filled with roses, clematis, old fashioned perennials and hundreds of spring bulbs. Other gardens feature a formal crab-apple alle, two nepeta alles planted with tiny narcissi, a potager garden close to the house and small vegetable garden across the road. 

Below are snippets taken from all three homes. I wish I could capture the incredible aromas of the brightly colored flowers. The white lavender was even sweeter than her purple cousin. We saw a great deal of rustic and noted that many of these homes had several out houses that were under-utilized. They'd be magnificent converted into guest-houses, offices, and studios. There was one that would have been perfect for entertaining an intimate group of friends. We took in the magnificent scenery for as far as the eye could see and we marveled at the smallest, most intricate detail of each garden - each incredibly different from the next. 






 
















The next and final stop on the tour was Bunny Williams and John Rosselli's home which is deserving of its own post, so some back tomorrow for an intimate tour of their wonderful home and gardens!

I want to extend a huge thank you to Amy who graciously drove me around and showed me the lovely sleepy areas of Litchfield County. She is tour guide extraordinaire and her home is equally as beautiful (if not more so) than some of the homes we saw on the tour. Do pay Amy a visit over at ABCDesign Sketch Book - Be warned - Youll get sucked in... You'll lose yourself over there... You won't be able to leave!


New Uses for Old Things :: Re-dress your Dresser

via Country Living

Yesterday we celebrated Earth Day... This weekend many towns will carry on the celebrations to bring awareness to saving and caring for our precious natural resources. There are many things we can do to save our planet and reduce our carbon footprint... conserving water and energy and buying locally is just the beginning. Recycling and re-purposing the items you no longer use is another savvy option. Donate or consign your gently used items. Or find completely new uses for them! Many of us are sitting on treasures waiting to be discovered. An old piece of furniture may no longer fit your home, your lifestyle or may even have seen better days. Sure, you can pass it along to your college-bound kid looking to furnish his off-campus home, or you can find a way to incorporate it into your home with a minor face lift of paint job. Old furniture can be refinished or stripped and repainted. A large dresser makes a wonderful and stately kitchen island. It can add personality and elegance to a bathroom, find a new home in your dining room as a sideboard for food service and as storage for your place settings. Your old dresser is perfect for everything, including the kitchen sink! 

I'm all about individuality and uniqueness. I'm drawn to those items that dare to be different and dare to stand out. While there is a place for Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware, there's so much more out there. We too often look to what's quick, easy and immediately. To create a home that is truly spectacular, no matter how large or small, we need to think outside the box, or - outside the catalogue... 


via DIY Show Off

via HGTV

via Hello Giggles

via Peek You

via HGTV

via Everyday Home Blog

via Get Homey

via Simple Details Blog

via Indulgy

via Pinterest

via Kate OBrien

via Traditional Home
Who knew that saving the planet could make your home so pretty?


Small Space Solutions :: The Formal Eat-in-Kitchen

Windsor Smith Kitchen for House Beautiful


When I got divorced I moved from our 4,500 square foot family home and re-planted our roots in a house that is barely 1,300 square feet! Real estate is at a premium where I live and I opted for location instead of space. I brought almost no furniture with me - perfect for making a fresh start - save for a gorgeous hand carved Italian dining room table and 12 matching chairs. Most of the houses I liked didn't have traditional dining rooms, but I didn't want to part with my formal table, so if I couldn't have the dining room I wanted, and needed a kitchen large enough to fit it. As I searched for a home that had charm, character and personality, that was also affordable, I did so with my dining room table in mind.

 The first home I fell in love with was spectacular. It overlooked a small creek in the back, had a den, living room and enough bedrooms for each of the children. It was large enough that we could spread our wings, and small enough that it wouldn't be too hard to maintain. The master bedroom was large, bright and expansive. It had cathedral ceilings and overlooked the creek in the back. That house had room for my piano. I have a Steinway Grand piano and am currently looking for a temporary but loving home for it. There was also room for my dining room table. The problem was that this house had 3 other offers on it the day I placed mine. The offer went to the highest bidder who bid $400 above asking. I couldn't even compete. I felt dejected. How could shopping for a rental home be so challenging? For many it's not. I personally do not like the new, sterile construction that's devoid of personality. 

I wanted charm and character. I like arches and moldings.... exposed brick or beams... large windows with sunlight and some property for the children to run around in. Newer appliances, while lovely, are not mandatory. Working condition is a must, however! I walked away from the bells and whistles of my old life - the Sub-Zero, Jenn-Air and Viking... I'd be remiss to say I do not miss them all dearly, most especially my super large refrigerator! But I knew that, while I hope to have my bells and whistles again one day, I needed a home that has charm and personality... a home that is truly a home and not just a house. I've learned that there is a difference between a house and a home. 

When I first saw my home I turned my nose up at it and walked out. It was small. Too small I thought. But time was running out and I was urged to take another look at it. The little white house sat on nearly an acre of property and while modest in size and she was full of charm. A huge bay window in the living rooms keeps the sun's rays shining on us all day long. The exposed brick from the back of the fireplace gives the kitchen charm and warmth. There was more than ample storage and counter space and most importantly, there was room for my dining room table! The bedrooms are small but they are cozy. Arches, molding and beautiful hardwood floors add the touches that are so important to me. I think I love our formal eat-in-kitchen the best - it's the perfect blend of casual and formal. 

The images I have chosen below all best represent my idea of a formal eat-in-kitchen. While traditionally we've thought eat-in-kitchens to be best for casual dining, they can really can be dressed up beautifully. They seem to have a perfect balance of traditional and modern, sophistication and simplicity. They can accommodate the nitty-gritty and mundane nuances of daily life as well as the elegance and grace of a small dinner party or holiday family gathering. I love the personal touches of the images below - the formal chandelier in the modern loft-style kitchen, the rugs, formal table and chairs, the pot rack that hangs over the table instead of the more traditional island or range-top.

via Houzz

via Empire Damansara Soho

via Pinterest/original source unknown

via Country Living


via ElleDecor

via Houzz

via Urban Core Ventures

via Greenscape Decor

House Beautiful

via Get in my Home

House Beautiful

Is the formal eat-in-kitchen something you might entertain?


Maximizing your space :: The Dining Room Library


I wrote an article last year for an international publication that was titled "Are dining rooms becoming obsolete?" As I researched I posed the same question on my Facebook feed. The responses were overwhelming - I never expected such a dialogue. All sorts of people chimed in from current homeowners to Realtors, builders, architects and decorators. What was the general consensus? Well, the results were split down the middle. Many favor a traditional home with a dining room, even if the dining room is used only on occasion. The other half preferred to use the kitchen as their main dining and entertaining area, claiming that dining rooms are a waste of space - most of these people live in houses without a traditional dining room set up. Many found alternate uses for these unused rooms. Dining rooms have been converted into offices, dens, playrooms. If there are no doors separating the dining room from the rest of the house, traditional as well as pocket doors can always be added. 

I happen to love a dining room and while they really don't get used as much today as they have in the past, why not keep the dining room but make it more functional - more multi-faceted if you will. Your dining room could be part office or library. There's no reason why these rooms can't be used and made to be more functional. Books and art and artifacts complement and lend themselves beautifully to the home office, home library and dining room. 

Use your dining room table as a desk. If you are concerned about your table getting marked up you can cover it with a table cloth or skirt and cover it with a custom cut piece of glass to place over the top. This will not only protect your table, but glass is easy to keep clean and wont get dinged or marred by office equipment. Because we use so little paper these days and because our laptops don't take up much space, we can easily stash away all office equipment. A dresser, bureau or armoir are great pieces to in which to stash your office supplies - paper, laptop, copier/fax/scanner, phone, pens, etc. At the end of the day there is a designated location in which to store your office items so that your guests can come over for some good food and wine and have a nice enjoyable and relaxing evening. 







Books and food, what a perfect pairing!


Stylish Notes on Decor :: Bunny Williams' Treillage, New York City



Located at 418 East 75th Street (between 1st and York Avenues) Treillage, owned by Bunny Williams and her husband, antiques dealer John Roselli, might be slightly off the beaten path, but all lovers of home decor must make a point to visit this delightful store. Bunny and John have carefully selected every item in the shop for every area of your home and garden, Treillage offers furniture, antiques, decor, lighting, and art. 

To walk through the doors of Treillage is more than simply walking into a store. It's like walking into an experience, with kind finds strategically placed in every nook and cranny, for as far as the eye can see. Carefully created vignettes carry you from one scene to another. The natural sunlight streams in through the the store's expansive skylights adding a sense of warmth and calm. A trip to Treillage is like going antiquing without any of the work or hassle - All the very best has already been hand-picked for you! 

On Friday March 21st, I was invited by Bunny Williams' publicist to visit Treillage to join a select group of designers and bloggers who were visiting New York as a part of Modenus' BlogTourNYC. If you recall, I was one of the lucky few to attend BlogTour London - which I wrote about in great length. This was simply an offer I could not pass up!

I was a few minutes late in joining the group with thanks to the ever tardy Metro North train lines. Bunny had already gathered everyone together to talk about her latest collaborations with Annie Selke's Dash and Albert rugs as well as her new outdoor furniture venture with Century Furniture. She was eager to tell us all about her new registry at Treillage. The renown designer also shared some advice for both the professional as well as the novice just setting up a home for the first time.

Most importantly, Bunny believes that you should finish what you start - Finish decorating one space before you move on to another. If you don't you'll tend never to complete a project and you may run the risk of not ever finishing up a room. Of course there's much more to share, but I must keep you coming back for more!

Meanwhile, won't you stroll through Treillage with me? Come see some of the many wonderful items she has in her store! And the registry I mentioned above, it's not just for weddings. You can create a wish list as well. I think I might. My Birthday is just two months away!





































I hope I have convinced you to pay Treillage a visit!
They are located at 418 E. 75th St., New York, NY.
Their telephone number is: 212-535-2288


Jessica

Stylish Notes on Decor :: Jay Jeffers: Collected Cool


Jay Jeffers' style has been described as fun, flirty and frisky, with a fearless and unique approach to mixing art and furnishings. He has also been described as daring, a risk taker and unconventional. Together, these attributes - his blending of vintage, antique and modern create what he describes as the "new" traditional. His spaces are both luxurious and liveable. Jay Jeffers is indeed Collected Cool.

In his new book, Collected Cool, just released by Rizzoli, Jeffers brings us into his world and the magical spaces he has created. In Collected Cool, Jeffers presents his most stunning projects divided into four groups: Collected Cool - captivating rooms that are thoughtfully layered, revealing themselves over time through myriad details; Bold Bespoke - interiors viewed through a sartorial lens with custom elements essential to their unique style; Unabashed Glamour - rooms that make an instant impression with luxe finishes, sumptuous materials and sparkle; and Casual Chic - comfortable but stylish spaces with a sense of ease. In each section we are given guidance for recreating the look in our own homes. Witty and exuberant, and filled with details on process, color, furniture and accessories, and a glimpse into his own homes, Collected Cool is an endless source of inspiration. 

"It's all in the mix. What applies to a fabulous dinner party, wardrobe or cocktail also holds true for interiors."





"People say that sometimes a cupcake is a vehicle for the icing. I think that sometimes a side table is a vehicle for the cool stuff that sits on top."





"David Hicks was the master of the tablescape. His work taught us so much about grouping accessories and being fearless about mixing sizes, shapes, colors and periods."
 



"I love a cocktail in the bedroom and a spa in the bath."




"A bedroom should always be a haven of comforting textures, from top to bottom."





"Accessorize, accessorize! Nothing looks more incomplete than a room with empty shelves."






"I truly believe that if you surround yourself with beauty you will be a happier person for it."




"A home to all things singular and luxurious, we designed Cavalier to be a space for those who take their pleasures seriously."



If you're lucky enough to be in the San Francisco area, you must stop Jeffers' shop, Cavalier.



For more on Jay Jeffers and Jeffers Design Group, please visit his website: www.jeffersdesigngroup.com

Collected Cool, published by Rizzoli, is currently available... run, or surf, on over to get your copy today!
All images property of Rizzoli and Matthew Millman

Jessica

Stylish notes on Entertaining :: An Invitation to the Garden


As I sit down with the warm crackling fire in the background and savor every delightful page in Michael Divine's An Invitation to the Garden : Seasonal Dining Outdoors I must remind myself, as the temperatures plummet once again, that Spring really will arrive. I need to tell myself that the snow will melt, the sun will warm us, and the trees and flowers will start to bloom. Soon we will be able to move outdoors to entertain our friends and family or simply to sit back and relax and marvel in the beauty around us!

From the moment you open An Invitation to the Garden, you will feel as though you are Devine's personal guest as you stroll through the lush green landscape and join him at his garden table so elegantly and festively set with creative yet simple menus and ideas to last the year from a springtime luncheon in the bagatelle, to a lively lantern lit casual summer evening, to a warm and festive Christmas Eve feast. With 12 sensational seasonal menus, over 50 recipes, and peppered with helpful tips and gardening advice An Invitation to the Garden will inspire you to host your own festive outdoor celebration no matter how large or lush your own garden and budget are.

Join us below for a special glimpse into his wonderful garden, table settings and menus.

Step into the bagatelle for a delightful spring Lilac Brunch inspired by the lilacs in full bloom. The handsomely painted dinnerware perfectly accompanies the floral centerpiece that gives the room life. The Asian heritage of these flowers parlay so beautifully to the overall Chinoiserie theme. Musical porcelain monkeys add the perfect touch of whimsey. The lilac has a short season, so you must use them and enjoy them quickly!





A summer affair becomes much more dramatic and festive when guests are asked to arrive after the sun has set to enter an illuminated paradise where brightly colored lanterns lit by LED lights and votives set the tone of the fun night ahead. A Lantern Dinner Party is a perfect casual get together for close friends. Here Divine creates a menu that is simple and casual. Tempura fried herbs, savory muffins, zucchini rounds with feta and chive mousse, a charcuterie platter, cornichons and olives allow the guests to mingle unencumbered. Chocolate covered marshmallow pops and orange-chocolate heart shaped brownies give the night a sweet ending. 




 A Butterfly Luncheon celebrates the grace and beauty of the butterfly. A luncheon for 10 is served on warm summer's day. Tall vases brimming with Queen Anne's Lace are adorned with a few "imposter" butterflies. While Devine and his guests eagerly await the arrival of the real ones, he serves his guests mini pizzas of arugula and scallions, and chicken breasts topped with kale pesto on a bed of zucchini, tomatoes, green beans and spinach which he paired with a chilled Sancerre. Devine credits his love for French yogurt as the inspiration for the place card holders. On a recent trip to France he had enjoyed so much yogurt that he had enough of the old fashioned looking jars to fit the bill. These jars were filled with homemade jams that were enjoyed with a selection of artisanal breads.




An Alfresco Evening Dinner was inspired by Devine's passion for the whimsical hand painted figurine which accompany each place setting creating a casual yet elaborate table setting. The mid-summer hydrangea in full bloom creates a perfect centerpiece as they perfectly balance his own "Charlotte" fabric tablecloth in complementing hues of green. The gold ballroom chairs add another more formal touch and completes the setting. Devine suggests renting tables and chairs in lieu of buying them and storing them as it's much more cost effective. He also advises to pre-plan a table setting, down to the very last detail, ahead of time, either the night before or during the morning of your party.

***

Kale Pesto (From Butterfly Luncheon)

3 cups stemmed kale leaves, well washed and dried
1/2 cup of walnuts
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup extra light virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp fine sea salt
Freshly ground white pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Put the kale, walnuts, lemon, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the oil and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cheese and pulse until well blended and smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Remove the pesto from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you are ready o assemble the salad so it can come to room temperature.


An Invitation to the Garden is published by Rizzoli New York and will be released by Amazon on March 11, 2014. Click here to reserve your copy!

Photographs by Michael Divine with John Gruen. Property of Rizzoli New York

Jessica