Archive for the ‘Blues’ Category

January 8th, 2013 No Comments

nordic table inspiration: personal decanters at each place setting…and it’s ok to move your dining table to a different room

One of my favorite tableware companies is Royal Copenhagen. This simple but beautiful table is set with a crisp white linen cloth and their Blue Fluted Plain pattern. The pattern was first adopted in 1775 as their very first porcelain dinner service. It is still painted and glazed by hand. Even though this pattern is 238 years old it still has a fresh design appeal.  I pair the pattern with their White Fluted porcelain to break things up a bit. This photo is from the book The Nordic Table. I loved that each place setting was personalized … Read more

January 7th, 2013 No Comments

color palette: blues, grays, off-white & bleached wood

This is by far one of my favorite color palettes. This bedroom is very similar to my own personal bedroom, though I have a bleached wood wall behind my velvet blue tufted headboard. Chalky white walls and bleached wood provide a beautiful neutral backdrop to so many palettes, but I love the shades of blues and grays with this one. I’ve selected some paint colors from Benjamin Moore to help recreate this look if you desire, or just to inspire. A painted bedside table in a soft gray also breaks up all the wood and adds a layer to … Read more

December 26th, 2012 No Comments

weddings with matthew robbins: 6 steps for successful hunting & gathering for your wedding inspiration

Green is definitely a big focus color for 2013 as well as a return to crisp clean colors. But any color combination or personal objects can serve as seeds for unique and personal wedding designs. Think of planning your wedding as a process of hunting and gathering: You’re hunting for personal, meaningful items and gathering design details that will allow you to bring out the elements you most love about these items. Fresh ideas can come from anywhere, be it an interesting trinket I pick up in a Paris flea market, or a beautiful piece of fruit at my local … Read more

December 20th, 2012 No Comments

owners ken weiner & pam fleischer keep the flame burning at the creative candles company in kansas city, missouri

As usual the owners of Creative Candles, Ken Weiner and Pam Fleischer are right on trend. As Pantone announced Emerald Green as 2013’s color of the year, Creative Candles was already selling and shipping their new color “Emerald” green in their new Metallics line, also consisting of Silver, Gold and Ruby. In the new year Copper, Pearl and Sapphire will be introduced in Metallics- giving you a glimpse of future color trends perhaps?  Founded in 1961 by Duane and Nancy Benton, the Benton’s sold the company in 1998 to two business men, and then in 2005 husband and wife, … Read more

December 15th, 2012 No Comments

i’ll be gnome for christmas, love amelie xoxo

I was talking about a ‘woodland’ inspired color palette all week. Well when I think of the woods I tend to think of gnomes too, and little red top mushrooms with white polka dots. I came across paper-source.com and to my delight they have gnome gift wrap, tissue, bags and stickers! Have you ever seen the 2001 movie “AMELIE” with Audrey Tautou? It’s such a charming French movie and gnomes in her father’s yard play an important part in Amelie pushing her father towards happiness. It’s a witty and feel-good movie for anyone. Why not give this … Read more

December 13th, 2012 No Comments

chocolate obsessed? meet Charley and Jessica Wheelock, the husband and wife team behind Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory

Portand, Oregon’s Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory is the creation of  husband and wife team, Charley and Jessica Wheelock. Jessica and I met while working together at Martha Stewart. So many creative people have worked or work at MSLO and Jessica is certainly one of them! They wanted to start a sustainable business so they decided on manufacturing chocolate. Charley, who has a background in industrial design, took classes, they both read books, researched beans and processes. They started the business in their home kitchen; they experimented and tweaked their chocolate process much like a wine maker would. Becoming experts in their … Read more

December 11th, 2012 No Comments

this week’s woodland palette inspires our table settings

To make your holiday table setting a bit more playful, try using woodland ornaments and bottle brush trees. Place an ornament at each place setting and your guests go home with a wonderful favor. These deer ornaments I found at a garden center but West Elm, Crate and Barrel, Amazon all have many woodland ornaments this year. Want a more classic holiday table setting? Use simple pine cones at each place setting with a place card. Take garland and dress with pinecones, ornaments and spray with faux snow to give it that ‘just snowed’ look. Place it … Read more

December 10th, 2012 No Comments

this week’s color palette, woodland neutrals & chocolate browns: meringue mushrooms…oh wendy kromer we love them!

I’ve been so inspired this month by the color palettes of natural birch, pinecones and even mushrooms. A gift of fruitcake…hmmm maybe not, but fruitcake cupcakes with meringue mushrooms? Yes, please! I’ve always loved cupcakes but for some reason I’ve been obsessed of late. These kind of details might be left to more advanced bakers but we’re in luck! We can order them straight from the best. Call on the cake expert (co-author of Martha Stewart Wedding Cakes and long time contributor to Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine), Wendy Kromer, who can whip up the most beautiful cake or small … Read more

November 30th, 2012 No Comments

shopping for wreaths under $100

If you want to make your own wreath, wrapping boxes and affixing them to a wreath form is a beautiful idea to keep within a specific color palette or buy three of the same wreath and hang with ribbon vertically on your door. Below are our shopping pick’s for wreaths that would look beautiful with a blue, silver or white bow (or just the way they are!). Clockwise: Woodland Winter Wreath, $44.95 and Beachcomber’s Wreath, $59, both from L.L.Bean. Outdoor Ornament Pine Wreath Gold/Silver, $39 and Live Succulent Wreath, $99, both from Pottery Barn. Preserved Boxwood … Read more

November 29th, 2012 No Comments

Interiors: small is the new big- creating small nooks & a movie’s charming english cottage

My husband has been saying this since we bought a tiny house by the ocean, “small is the new big”. Frankly it’s a joke between us because we can’t afford a larger house in our area. It’s wonderful to have a big home but large spaces aren’t always so comforting are they? There’s something to be said for small reading nooks, intimate dining rooms and petit gardens.  A friend of mine that has an enormous house says that his two daughters love it when they go on vacation and the whole family is in one hotel room. The girls feel … Read more