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Up Close and Personal

June 3, 2015, posted by Gina – Last week we gave you a tour of the table settings and general décor we created for a bridal luncheon and now we’d like to share some photos and information on the floral arrangements and a couple of other details.

Above you see the floral palette we chose for the day. Color harmony is an important aspect of floral design and by looking at a typical color wheel, you can see many formulas for creating color combinations. We chose an analogous palette which uses colors that are found next to each other on the color wheel.

If you love blue and white porcelain as much as we do then you can certainly appreciate this footbath. Many of you may wonder just why in the world it is called a footbath. Well here’s a little history:

Footbaths originated in China during the Ming Dynasty and were traditionally used only by women from the wealthiest families who practiced foot binding. In turn, this practice became popular as a means of displaying status. So how in the world did we end up using them for flowers? It turns out that in the 1980’s and exporter began shipping beautiful porcelain footbaths all over the world. Interior designers embraced them as they were as pretty as the ever popular fish bowls but were the perfect size for a dining table or sideboard. Who knew?

In this arrangement, we used a magenta kalanchoe, maidenhair fern and a bit of Spanish moss. When we open our shop, we plan to offer footbaths so you can easily create a wonderful centerpiece just like we did.

This smaller blue and white planter was used as a companion and we love how it echoed our color palette on this table.

This arrangement in a vintage rose bowl carried on our color palette and we particularly loved the fully open white roses. We will be offering new and vintage varieties of containers like this one when our shop is up and running.

Back in the day, before paper cocktail napkins were so widely available, beautiful linen cocktail napkins were used. These light blue ones are just so pretty and we think perfect for a beautiful, special event. These are vintage and we are planning on offering some of the finest vintage linens around once our shop is open.

These place cards were specially created by a professional calligrapher to coordinate with the flowers for the luncheon. Place cards seem to be used mostly for larger functions but we believe it adds a special touch and truly gives a warm welcome to each person. Blank place cards can be found at most craft stores and are really fun and easy to incorporate into your event. In our case, we wanted to use place cards to insure that the bride and her bridesmaids were able to sit together and enjoy the day. After all, the luncheon was in their honor.

Do you add special touches to your tables? Do you have some favorite containers and planters that you use for special arrangements? We’d like to hear about your ideas, so please leave a comment by clicking on the title of this post to expand the comment form.

Roses, Roses Everywhere 1 comment

Chocolate Roses (!) on display at the Lyonnais chocolatier Bernachon

May 29, 2015, posted by Michelle – This weekend Lyon is hosting the annual Festival of Roses and roses are literally everywhere! At City Hall there was an exhibition of floral arrangements created by the top 50 floral designers; some were architectural, some whimsical, some classical but all were creative and beautiful. Then I wandered out into the city where rose compositions and displays were set up in various squares and gardens. I have so many photos I’d like to share that I created a few galleries so you can see everything at a glance. Click on any individual photo to enlarge it. Enjoy!

Rose Arrangements and Garden Gallery

Rose Cake Gallery

Perfume and Dress Gallery

Rose Festival, Lyon, France

Roses in the City Gallery

Have you been to a rose show that really impressed you? Do you grow roses or, like me, do you just dream of them? We’d like to hear from you so if you have a comment please click on the title of this post and the comment form will appear at the end.

Lunch in Lyon 2 comments

May 27, 2015, posted by Michelle – Last week I hosted a lunch at my apartment for a few ladies. I wanted the table to be very colorful and fresh so I bought some hot pink place mats, an Emile Henry yellow-green table runner with an orange stripe and some super thick lime green paper napkins. I folded the napkins into flowers and every time I’ve done this people want me to show them how. Well, I learned from this guy’s video. For the centerpiece, I put some gorgeous pink peonies in a vase which I placed on a white tray with a few tangerines and … voilà… a simple, colorful table:
The menu was onion tart, chicken piccata and fresh green peas sauteed with bacon. It’s the custom here to serve cheese before the dessert so I served an Etorki Basque cheese which everyone loved. I’ve never been a great dessert maker which is just as well since, this being France, you can’t walk a block without stumbling upon a pâtisserie full of luscious tarts and cakes. I happily stumbled into one and came out with this delicious and pretty lemon and white chocolate cake:

Do you add special touches to your table? Do you like using bright colors or do you prefer more subtle tones? We’d like to hear your thoughts so please leave any comments you may have by clicking on the title of this post and a comment form will appear at the end of the post.

Bridal Luncheon Table Settings 1 comment

May 22, 2015, posted by Gina – Last week nine hostesses (yours truly among them) organized a bridal luncheon for a young lady who, as most of us have known her her whole life, is near and dear to our hearts. We also hosted a bridal luncheon for her sister last year; yes, that’s right one after the other!

Guests were signaled to the house by a small hand-tied bouquet with large white ribbon on the mailbox and the theme continued as guests were greeted by a bridal veil halo arrangement on the front doors.

The ladies were guided to a screened-in porch that was the setting for a champagne bar and appetizers (click HERE for information about the food and drinks).

After lunch the bride-to-be was presented with an apron monogrammed with her married initials and a wonderfully cute story about the history of the apron was told. Earlier, while the guests enjoyed appetizers, they were given wooden spoons and asked to write a message about marriage to the bride on the spoon as a keepsake. One of my favorite quotes was from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, “The man is the head of the household but the woman is the neck and she can turn the head anyway she wants”.

Now for a tour of the table settings…

Blue Italian

The blue and white china is Spode Blue Italian, a design icon. In the 1700’s blue and white china was very popular around the globe as the UK and Europe were flooded with imports from China. In 1773, imports began to slow down although demand for blue and white remained high. Spode’s blue and white collections were very popular in America where the tableware reminded the settlers of home.

In 1784, Josiah Spode perfected the process of underglaze printing on earthenware with tissue paper transfers made from hand engraved copper plates. Initially, the designs were reproductions of the Chinese porcelain that had been so popular in earlier years. Spode launched original designs such as Willow, Tower and Blue Italian in 1790. Blue Italian features scenes of the Italian countryside, remarkably detailed figures among Roman ruins and an 18th century Imari Oriental border.

About the table: I used a French inspired tablecloth (source: HomeGoods, a recent purchase), toile placemats (source: Pier 1, purchased many years ago), rattan chargers (source: Pier 1, purchased many years ago), vintage cream napkins with a brown border (source: antique store), tortoise crystal (Pier 1) and Bamboo Flatware (source: Ballard Designs).

At each place setting there was an eyelet sachet filled with lavender and a tag with the bride and groom’s names and the wedding date printed on it. (source: Flying Little Birds shop on Etsy, these were handmade and just beautiful)

Castle Garden

The Castle Garden pattern was manufactured by Lenox in the United States from 1973-1993. It features a strong floral border with hints of a medieval coat of arms (thus the name Castle Garden) on a cream background with raised gold trim.

About the table: The tablecloth has the look of burlap but the softness of a cotton fabric (source: purchased at Walmart years ago). The gold beaded glass chargers add a bit of glamour (source: One Kings Lane, recent purchase). The napkins are made by Vietri, the flatware is King Edward silver-plate and Rose Point silver-plate (source: Mother-in-Law) and the crystal is Lenox Hayworth.

Duchess Blue Green

The Duchess Blue Green is by Royal Tettau, a German porcelain manufacturer which started producing patterns in 1794. Duchess Blue Green has a beautiful blue green border with gold flowers and leaves accenting each piece.

About the table: Grass cloth table runner (Source: Homegoods), White wooden chargers (Source: Pier 1), Leopard print napkins (Source: Split P), Crystal is Waterford Marquis (Source: Dillard’s), Flatware (Source: Southern Living At Home, purchased years ago).

Photo Gallery: Beautiful Parc de la Tête d’Or, Lyon, France 1 comment

May 9, 2015, posted by Michelle – The Parc de la Tête d’Or is a 290 acre oasis in the center of Lyon. There’s a lake, several rose gardens, a small zoo, a large greenhouse, a dog park, a multitude of thematic gardens, many different tree species and large expanses of green space. The park is just a 10 minute walk from my apartment and I go there a least once a week to run. At the moment the roses are all starting to bloom and the smell is just amazing. Hope you enjoy this photo mosaic of the park. (Click on any photo to enlarge it)

French Gardens

May 8, 2015, posted by Michelle – I have done a little traveling around France recently and wanted to share some photos of a few gardens I came across. They are all very different but each has its particular beauty and make me wish I had even a little tiny space for a garden. The shot above is of a formal Le Nôtre garden on a rainy April day in Castres, France.

Some lucky homeowner in Bandol, France gets to enjoy this lush garden overlooking the Mediterranean.

A beautiful olive tree and glazed pots on mossy stone steps at the Château de Rochegude, Rochegude, France.

Have you been inspired to recreate elements of gardens you’ve come across in your travels? Where do you get inspiration from – magazines, garden centers, websites and blogs, friends’ gardens, all of the above? Leave us a comment by clicking on the title of this post and the comment form will expand at the end of the post.

Color Inspiration

Hôtel Île Rousse, Bandol, France

May 8, 2015, posted by Michelle – Earlier this spring I was in Bandol on the Côte d’Azur for a few days and, as usual, found myself taking pictures of whatever caught my attention. I really loved the lobby of the Hôtel Île Rousse, especially the chandelier. The blue, white and grey color scheme was modern and fresh and the lime green rectangular planters injected a pop of color and were surprisingly placed on the corner of each coffee table rather than in the center.

The cheery lemon yellow shutters on the otherwise sober façade of this house perched on the coastline made me smile.

Breathtaking color and I’ve never seen a stone wall, tree trunks and a gate incorporated into one entry point!

Do you have certain colors you tend to gravitate towards? Or maybe you like changing accessories and re-painting according to trends? Tell us how you use color in your home, just click on the title of this post and the comment form will expand at the bottom of the post.

Garden Club Year End Meeting

May 8, 2015, posted by Gina – I am a member of a wonderful garden club that meets once a month August through May. Throughout the year we have knowledgeable and interesting speakers who educate us about everything from gardening to flower arranging. Our year end meeting is always at the home of a member who has a spectacular garden and the garden this year was beyond amazing. Sadly, I was so busy talking that I only took two photos but I did have a good time!

The New Dawn Roses you see above were picture perfect. They are repeat bloomers and have a slight fragrance. The soft pink petals cascading over the fence make a very beautiful display. I am about to have a trellis built in my yard and had not selected the roses for it but after seeing these, I am sold.

The garden path is lined with irises and a small basket of flowers hangs cheerily on the gate. I have never thought using irises along a pathway but after seeing this I am going to implement it somewhere in my own garden. Everything in this garden was so welcoming and creative. I promise next year I will arrive early and take photos before I start talking with everyone. Happy Gardening!

Are you a gardener? Do you belong to a garden club? Are you always planting, weeding, landscaping, building, etc. in your yard? We’d like to hear about your garden or your love of them. Please share any comments you may have, just click on the title of this post to expand the comment form at the bottom of the post.

Coordinating Arrangements

April 15, 2015, posted by Gina – I recently created a few arrangements for an event using various combinations of red tulips, red carnations, white roses, pussywillow and boxwood. Keeping the design height of each in mind further created a unified look. I also added a special element to each: a small bird nest with eggs, a lemon and a succulent. I quickly snapped these photos before I transported them, so excuse my kitchen in the background!

Spring Centerpiece

Tall Arrangement with Lemon

Centerpiece with Tulips and Succulent

Before and After

April 8, 2015, posted by Gina – I am always looking for inspiration and ideas for flowers, table scapes and home décor. I read several home decorating blogs (a few of my favorites are listed in the sidebar) and magazines and never fail to find designs and ideas that give my own creativity a boost. I really enjoy “before and after” articles, be they total renovations, updating accents and accessories or simply rearranging furniture for a new look. So, I decided to share my own personal before and after with you. Voilà, my home….
The first two photos above show the before and after of our entry and dining room (taken from the family room). Before, the dining room china cabinet made the entire space look heavy, as if it were leaning to the right. This illusion was helped by the fact that the opposite entry wall was so empty and devoid of warmth. The neutral color had no personality and made the two spaces appear to be one, though it was not unified. The after photo shows how using color, lighting, window treatments and accessories brought warmth and interest while creating two uniquely separate yet cohesive spaces.

These two photos above are the before and after of our family room. Huge difference! We did a few very simple things like removing the lower shelving in the built-in to make room for the flatscreen, added a mantle above the fireplace and hung a large tapestry to break up the brick, had custom drapes made and placed the furniture in a more inviting and cozy arrangement.

And the final before and after is the kitchen (photo taken from the keeping room). I think you’d agree the most enjoyable addition was our adopted black lab, Emma; see her there on the floor? Painting the base of the island white and adding backless bar stools changed the oppressive feel in the center of the kitchen and freed up the flow. We recently bought an antique European table with eight chairs and recovered the seat cushions with a casual buffalo check. A few well placed, interesting and colorful accessories and plants put the finishing touches on these rooms.

Have you renovated or redecorated a home? Did you make sweeping changes or cosmetic ones? We’d really like to hear about your home decorating experiences and ideas. Click on the title of this post to open the comment form and share your stories with us.