Europe in New Orleans ~ Home Tour


Ms. Tara Shaw has an absolute dream home and I love how she incorporated her antiques into her everyday life. Take a look at this glorious home tour…

photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Tara with her whippet Brother Luca, named after her favorite city in Italy.
photo credit Max Kim-Bee
Louis XVI Console
Antique French paneling was refinished in creamy tones.
photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
18th Century Swedish bench and 19th Century Italian chandelier.
Gustavian daybed in a Holly Hunt mohair; 18th-century Italian armchairs
photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Empire bed; curtains in a David Sutherland fabric
Bed and mirror, Tara Shaw; 18th-century Swedish bench in a Kravet velvet.
photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Antique Swedish cane chairs in Donghia linen slipcovers; oval mirror
Photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Flagstone pool graceful curves the terrace.

Just stunning!




I sure hope you enjoyed this home tour. I know I did…..
To read the original article see here.
(photos via Veranda.com; text via Julia Reed)

Gracious Interactions


I am still reading Fiona Ferris’s book Thirty Chic Days and I am still enjoying it. I just read a section of the book called “Giving a Compliment” and it got me thinking. Do I give compliments often?

Fiona mentioned that giving a genuine compliment is sometimes use as an icebreaker to start a conversation. I couldn’t agree more. I have done that. I am normally a very reserved person and sometimes people can mistake that for being a snob but I am far from it.

I just like to watch and pay attention to people. Sometimes if you watch, you can tell if a person is genuine or fake.  I don’t do well with phony people. I usually stay away from them and I don’t share my life with them. Honestly and truly they can’t be happy for you anyway so why bother?

But if I know that someone is genuine in spirit; I love being around them and will share things. 




















photo credit Aerin Lauder Instagram account

Whenever I am around people I always do my very best to be gracious, polite, and kind. When entering a room or someone’s home I always speak first. When passing someone down a narrow hall I always say excuse me.



When I see a woman “dress to the nines”, I always like to tell her how wonderful she looks. Because to be quite honest there is a lot of bad taste going around and we need to encourage women who look great often.






When we are out to dinner, I am always gracious to the hostess and waitresses. Now, if I notice that they are rude, I try not to take it personal. Because it could have been the customer before me or some things going on in their life and there is no need to get upset and not enjoy my evening.




photo credit Marchionesshg Instagram account



I have learned that when you are gracious to cashiers, waitresses, and people who are serving you, they remember you. Oh, do they remember you? It happens to me all the time.



I walk through the mall early in the morning because I like to stop at the bakery for my morning pastry and I always say, “Good Morning” to the cleaning crew. So now whenever they see me they run to me and say, “Good Morning”. It is quite delightful.


So be a beautiful woman everywhere you go. Be a fragrance to people; not an odor.

The Barefoot Contessa~ Cooking for Jeffrey


Ina is back with her new book Cooking for Jeffrey and I was so happy that my husband picked me up a copy this weekend! I have been recording her new shows every Sunday and it was been wonderful watching them before I go to bed at night.





 
My copy at home.
 
 
 

I have already looked through the book and she goes into detail about how she and Jeffrey met and her first store in East Hampton.

 

I still can’t believe she was a nuclear analyst for the government! Wow!

 
  

Of course, her recipes are easy and delicious. I made her chicken piccata this year and it turned out great! See my blog post here about that.

 
     

I can’t wait to dig right into this book. Her challah bread in the book looks delish. See what I did to my challah bread here.

 

 

Make sure you pick up your copy soon and watch her show on Sundays on the Food Network.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The New Chanel


Has anyone heard about the New Chanel No. 5? I didn’t until a few weeks ago. My family and I were in Macy’s because my husband wanted to pick up some new cologne and I looked over and spotted the New Chanel fragrance.



my photo at home
 
 
My two bottles at home. The original and the new.
 
 
 
 

The new fragrance is still very similar to the old. You can still smell the original notes in it. But this new scent has notes of lemon, mandarin, orange, rose, and jasmine. The scent is a little “lighter” compared to the original but just as lovely.

 

 

If you can you should stop by your local mall and take a whiff. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unique Blue


Blue and white dinnerware add such a cheerful note to your home. I love my blue and white plates. They look so smart and striking. That is the way I felt when I saw this collection by Burleigh called Blue Calico. 



photo credit Victoria Magazine 

 
 
So delicate isn’t it?
 
 
 
 

photo credit Victoria Magazine 
 
It’s such a hearty pattern.
 
 
 
 

photo credit Victoria Magazine 
 

“Although producing Blue Calico is a time-consuming process, it is truly a labor of love. Because each piece is made by hand and bears the distinctive touch of an individual decorator, collectors know they are getting one-of-a-kind treasures. At a time when most dishes are mass-produced by machines, it is especially poignant to collect a piece that exemplifies the skills of dedicated craftspeople using a process repeated through many generations.”

 
text from the Victora Magazine 

 
 

 

This is not Blue Calico but this vase sure did remind me of the pattern. 
This is my blue and white vase that I picked up at Von Maur earlier this year.

 

It is pretty large and I love the colors. I had to have it shipped from another store and it 
took us weeks to find it. I am so glad we did. I believe this could be a beautiful heirloom someday.

 
   

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful collection and if you want to view the original article see here.

Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(photos via Victoria. com and Mrs. Shockley)
 
 
 
 
 

Cottage Love…


My lunch break is a great time for me to sit down enjoy my meal and read. I was reading a spring issue of Country Living magazine and saw the best cottage ever!!!

This home is 125 years old and is only 970 square feet but boy is it lovely…..




 
photo credit Roger Davies  

 
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies
 
I love the gilded mirrors and antique hutch and desk.
 
 
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies
 
What a great way to use space. I love the open cabinets and farmhouse sink.
 
 
 
 
photo credit Roger Davies 
 
I love the fact that she added a chandelier, oil painting, and floor-length draperies to the kitchen.  So exquisite! Oh and the lamp on the counter in the corner and fresh herbs too! J’ dore!
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies 
 
They replaced the bathroom door with a toile curtain.
Very creative….
 
 
 
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies 
 
Can you believe she paid only $10 for her chandelier? She found it at a garage sale! I love the artwork in her room. It is inspiring…
 
 
 
 
 
 
photo credit Roger Davies 
 

Blue and white outside? Yes!

Plates on the wall outside? Double yes!

 

Oh, I hate that this tour ended but it was quite enjoyable.

If you wish to see the original article view it here.

 

 

 

 

So beautiful….
 
 
 
 
 
 
(photos via Country Living.com)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lamp Shopping at Hobby Lobby

I was running a quick errand a few weekends ago and decided to stop in Hobby Lobby. It is a great store for home décor. I wanted to find some faux flowers for my office but didn’t see any that I wanted but I did see some great lamps.

I thought these were great. They are called the Cream flower on base lamps.
Very pretty!

Next is the white ceramic pineapple lamp. My favorite!
Very chic!
I hope you enjoyed my short little shopping trip. You never know what items you may find. I always seem to find great things when I am not trying.
(photos via Mrs. Shockley)