Waverly Modern Essentials...Orange Love

I'm finally keeping my promise to my girls and redoing (or should I say finally doing) their bedrooms for their high school years.  You know how much I love orange, so I danced a bit of a jig (not in front of her, mind you, as that would surely mortify her) when one of my girls agreed to this fabric for her window treatments...

This is from Waverly's Modern Essentials line. (The white is very bright, really.  I had to take my own picture to show you, as it wasn't on their website.)  While I do love for a home's decor to have flow and continuity, there are times when, in the private spaces like bedrooms, you can go in a bit of a different direction.   After all, design should reflect who you are, and what better way to encourage your children in self-expression than in the design of their bedrooms?  This room will be blue, white and orange.  True teenager.  All her choice.  It will take some time, but...

Stay tuned (and wish me luck!  If I say I like it, it may be all over)...

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Colefax and Fowler Speaks My language

I was on their website today while working and I got lost for a few minutes, picturing myself in these rooms.  They are me.  In my head, not my life. Are they you?

It's the details, like the barely-there half inch of contrast banding on the drapes, that get me.  I love that attention to perfection (didn't mean to ryhme).

The embroidery on these silk drapes is just gorgeous.  I could watch the grass grow out that window, in this chair...

What can I say, I will always love checks in any size...

Loving this shot of a living room, too.  The thing I love about English Country is that it is so homey and comfortable.  I'm not much for the romantic part of it, the big cabbage roses or the chintz.  Just the worn-in patina of it.

What style speaks to you?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Success

"The only place where success comes before work 

is in the dictionary."

Vince Lombardi

British Homes & Gardens

The art of decorating may come easily to some, but it is always work, make no mistake.  Then, oh, the glorious results when the work pays off in beautiful surroundings...

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Equestrian Inspired Design

This past weekend I went to my first equestrian competition and I LOVED it!  My "niece" (my friend's daughter) was in her first show, and won first place!  Is she cute or what?

While I was driving home, I was day dreaming (and got lost).  Anyway,  indulge me a bit, okay?  Let me show you some glimpses of the English Country, equestrian-inspired dream home that lives in my head, ready for me to move in. 

First, of course, this is what I look like coming back in from a ride...

 This is the view in front of me...

Traditional Home

This could be the living room.  Love the stone walls...

Canadian House and Home

 This is the chair where I take off my boots (and never put them on that gorgeous chair, lol).  It has its own cozy nook...

Canadian house and Home

Because my dream house has lots of spaces to decorate, this one would be my office and sitting area, dark and inviting...

Country Living

I imagine this sofa in the library, where huge windows show the view of the rolling lawn and fences, and tall bookshelves line the opposite wall.  You know the kind, with the tall sliding ladder?

Ralph Lauren

The back entry off the kitchen looks like this...

 

Country Living

I find that while trends come and go, colors change and styles revolve,  equestrian looks remain timeless.  What do you think?

Talk to you soon,
Carol

On the Side: Sorbet Cake

I don't know where my friend Karen got this recipe, or if she made it up herself, but check out this incredible cake she assembled in my kitchen last night (I had some designer/foodie friends over -- what a combo!)

Forgive the less than fabulous picture of this to-die-for dessert, but I took it outside on my candle-lit deck, and the lighting doesn't do it justice!  It's a towering, seven layers of refreshing summer heaven. 

To make it, Karen baked a simple yellow layer cake, and cut each round layer in half to end up with four thinner layers.  She then alternated the cake layers (starting with cake on the bottom), with three different flavored layers of sorbet.  (She had let the sorbet melt in the same round cake pans, lined with foil, making each into a 1/2" thick disc.  She kept them frozen right up until she assembled the cake.  I guess she must have 3 cake pans.  She made the sorbet layers ahead of time, naturally).  Also, ahead of time, she melted some peach preserves with a dash of water to make the finishing glaze.  Oh, and Karen used lemon, raspberry and mango sorbets, but you can use whatever you like.

After assembling the layers, she adorned the top with her favorite fruits, and then drizzled on the peach glaze.  Out of this world, people.  Really!  I can't wait to try this myself for a family cook-out next weekend.

Any questions?  Send me an email :)

Talk to you soon,
Carol