Wild Flowering Vines & Bushes

Honeysuckle vines & wild rose bushes grow along the edge of the woods on our property. This time of year they give off strong, yet delecate, sweet scents which add a lovely touch of spring to our yard.


The flower of the wild rose bush doesn't look like a rose. The stems, though, do have the recognizeable thorns. The scent now is almost gone, but, a few weeks ago the sweetness was smelled throughout the yard. I think they smell much sweeter than a regular rose or it might just be because the bush produces so many small flowers.















The honeysuckle vine has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. The scent permeates through the whole yard and I inhale deeply to get the full effect. In my opinion it is one of the most intoxicating scents I have ever smelled.

Window Treatment Solution

This bay window is the only window in this family room and the interior side receives no direct light. This created a dark area in the room. In order to brighten up the area and make it a focal point a light colored stripe was used to create a shaped valance that would accentuate the space.



A red small print was used to separate the curved sections of the valance and separate the three windows that make up the bay. This adds visual height to the area and down plays the width. Metal medallions were placed in the top corners of the window treatment for an added touch. To further define the recessed bay area a window seat cushion was fabricated using the same red print. Finishing the look are two bolster pillows at each end which gently direct the eye slightly upward to again visually down play the width of the area.

Decorative pillows were made for the sofa using the same fabics that were used for the window treatment. A small square in the center of the throw pillow using the red print was finished off with a tiny cording made from the stripe fabric. A brush fringe with all of the colors found in both fabrics was used to put a nice edge and finishing touch on the pillows.


Cording that coordinates with the brush fringe was used on the edges of the bolsters.

Unusual Sinks for the Bathroom

It's unbelievable how many choices there are for the bathroom these days. I was in a bath showroom this afternoon to finalize an order for a bath remodel. Every time I'm there I find something new and innovative. I didn't have my camera with me so when I got back to the office I went online to find some pictures of some of the awesome sinks on the market. Of coarse, many of them come with high price tags, but, it doesn't cost anything to look.
The first picture is a sink and faucet that are both hand blown glass. I've seen a lot of glass sinks, but, I think the faucet is amazing.
All of the sinks shown are from www.sinksgallery.com

Seasonal Tablesettings

Winter Tablesetting



There are so many beautiful dinnerware patterns available that it can be hard to make a decision when making purchases. I'm an advocate of changing pillows, accessories and even artwork with the seasons. In the last year I've even started changing my dinnerware with the seasons.
Over the years I collected dinnerware for the holidays. I bring it out the week after Thanksgiving and use it until New Year's Day. On the patio in the summer I would use my everyday dishes or paper plates. A few years ago I was walking through Walmart and saw some plastic turquoise plates that I liked and decided to purchase them for outdoor parties. Not only would they look pretty, but, I wouldn't have to go out and buy paper plates every time I entertained and would also be keeping waste out of the landfills.

Spring/Summer Dinnerware



If you like this idea, but, don't want to make a large investment choose a collection that has several patterns in it. For example, the spring/summer dinnerware above is a collection from Villeroy & Boch called French Garden. Within that collection are different patterns from which to choose. They all have the green, yellow & off white base. Some of them are plain in the middle of the plate, some have a fruit pattern, some have a plain bordered edge,as shown, and some have a basket weave patterned edge. By having several patterns within the same collection you can mix up the patterns to have a different look every time you set the table.


Summer Patio



Being outdoors is fun and refreshing. Colorful dinnerware works beautifully with outdoor greenery and summer flowers. Use an oversized cloth napkin instead of a placemat for a background that enhances the whole table.