The Porch :: Outdoor living perfected!


I'm quite particular, some might even say picky. When I was looking for my current home a couple of years ago I had two must haves on my list. I needed a working fireplace. I needed a porch, covered or screened-in. It didn't matter where the porch was, front, back or side, but I had to have one. In a real estate market that is tight and high my demands may have seemed a bit off base. I saw plenty of new construction with shiny, metallic kitchens that were bright and airy, with lots of space, but these pristine homes lacked charm and personality. Some had fireplaces. Some did not. A few had porches on properties that were not quite postage-sized. These homes, perfect for many, lacked the core of what makes a house a home - character. I need wood floors, sunny windows, crisply painted trim and moldings, a fireplace and a porch and some yard space large enough for a few children to run around in. I did not fall in love with my current home. I did not like it, in fact. I had fallen madly in love with another house on the other side of the mill river. This home had lots of property, sat on the edge of the river that we could see from several rooms. There was room for a den, and office and each of the children could have their own bedroom. My piano would fit in as well. 

Upstairs the newly finished master bedroom had waterfront views, an adjoining bathroom and a cathedral ceiling. She was perfect. And alas, she was too perfect. There were several bids on this particular house and several hours after I made my offer I would learn that I was outbid, by a lot. I was devastated to lose the house and even more so to have to go back to the drawing board. I looked at home after home after home. My taste wanted perfection but my wallet could not afford such perfection. After driving my Realtor, who's also a friend, batty, I was convinced to take another look at the Little White House on the hill. 

It was a gorgeous and sunny day and each room was illuminated by the sun's bright and warming rays. Hardwood floors ran throughout and they were in perfect condition. The walls freshly painted, were a soft ivory white. There was plenty of trim and molding. The house was small. Very small but the master bedroom, living room and kitchen were generous in size. There was a fireplace in the living room and the exposed brick from the back of it, added a warm, homey feel to the kitchen. (I happen to adore exposed brick!) Off the French doors in the kitchen... A screened in porch! Suddenly this house seemed as though it might just be perfect for us! 

For about 5 months out of the year our small home grows with the addition of this wonderful outdoor room. A room we don't need to worry about terribly. A room that's perfect for sitting in and getting lost in thought, or relaxing on the couch with a good book and listening to all the birds and wildlife just beyond. Sometimes I bring my work out there. Our porch offers shelter from the storm - there's nothing so peaceful as sitting out there, wrapped in blankets while the rain falls beyond.... even better with a glass of wine or a cup of cocoa for the kids. In the early morning I like to go out there with my coffee and catch up on emails as I listen to the news on my iPad. 

As I'm just a mile from the beach, our home turns into quite the beach house when the weather warms, and this is most apparent on the porch where you can find collections of sea glass, shells and drift wood. Sand is on the floor and often on the furniture... And although I do vacuum it from time to time, it's the one space that I don't mind when it's messy. Our porch is relaxed, easy living, comfortable and represents the laid-back feel and attitude of summer. Our own porch is not formal. We've a love-seat, a rug and an outdoor dining table where kids work on projects or where we gather to eat informal, casual meals. 
In my mind, I think there's no space quite as perfect!

via Pinterest, original source unknown

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via Charleston Magazine

via Deco Casa

via Lucy Williams Interior Design Blog

via Decofeelings

via Trad Home

Why don't you pour yourself a glass of iced tea, kick off your shoes and join me outside?

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

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!


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