Posts that inspiring an elegant life

My Christmas Decor Inspiration

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Good Morning,

Thanksgiving is next week… all I can say is wow! So far I am ready. I have a few more things to get for dinner but other than that we are ready. My house is completed decorated for the holidays. I am going to try to go and get more velvet ribbon and vintage ornaments so stay tuned.

My inspiration for this year is the photo below. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I saw this photo in the Victoria Magazine 2023 calendar. Once I saw it, I knew that I wanted to incorporate some of the details of this photo into my own Christmas decor. Then I found the vintage ornaments that you see in the corner of the photo at the antique store and knew that they were a perfect fit for our tree.

 

 

I love how our family tree turned out.  I am so glad that I got these vintage ribbons last year. It makes me want more of them so the hunt continues. You can see our Mouse King from the Nutcracker and many other vintage ornaments that I have found over the years.

 

 

I am so pleased with my white tree this year. I scaled it back a lot. I threw out a lot of ornaments that just didn’t suite it well nor me. I tied velvet ribbon on some of the branches and added my ornaments from the Enchanted Home. My tree urn is so wonderful! I am so glad that I ordered it. I loved gathering some of my blue and white vases along with my Santa and nutcrackers from the At Home Store. I think it looks lovely. 

 

 

This is something new. I moved this photo here because I felt like this spot needed something more. I also liked the fact that my bar cart was under it, so I decided to decorate everything on the cart this year. I loved the way it turned out. I added some champagne buckets and filled them with faux poinsettias, pine, pink roses, and green hydrangeas. Adding the garland around the artwork was a nice touch I believe. Seeing my sitting room in the distance made me smile. 

I hope this provided some inspiration for you. I hope you all enjoy your weekend! 

 

My 1911 Watercolor Painting

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Good Morning,

I really enjoyed this past weekend. I got A LOT done at home, but my list is still long. My Christmas shopping is just about done, and I got my turkeys for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! I feel a little complete. I am now gearing up for Black Friday for the boutique. It will be having a sale on all items, so I hope you order something that you like. I have some meetings this week and a lot of work to do!

I had a Zoom call with a rep. from Pinterest last week. It was very interesting learning the business side of that wonderful inspirational website. I have so many things that I would like to do with A Home for Elegance, but we will see.

I did just purchase a wonderful antique item recently. I think I shared that I was going antiquing in Franklin. It was wonderful as usual, but I wanted to share what I purchased while I was there.

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

I went to 2 different antique stores. I went to Vintage Whimsy and Fren Chic. I purchased some antique ornaments, giant floral pitcher on the table, and the gilded white trim mirror from Fren Chic. I am on the hunt for more vintage ornaments for my trees. While I was there, I did pick up some Harney & Sons Vanilla Comoro tea (which is delicious). I love it with a spoon full of honey. 

 

 

I then went to Vintage Whimsy. I wasn’t going to, but I could not resist. Now I see why. I walked around the entire store and then this painting caught my eye. I walked away and then came back. Something about it just called to me. Then I saw that it was on sale. I asked the owner if I could get a little more off the price but then I heard the owner say, “I can’t”. She then came up front and told me that it was an original watercolor painting from 1911. My heart said SOLD!

 

 

Now I did try to “google” the artist but I did not find anything. I believe it is Elizabeth M.K. Connor. That’s what it looks like to me. 

 

 

It looks wonderful in my dining room area. It was the perfect addition to my Christmas decor this year. I wanted an elegant, vintage inspired Christmas this year. I will be sharing my inspiration soon for that. Let me know in the comments below if you have an original work of art. I would love to know!

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I have to share this, but FrenChic has a space in the back that you can rent to have parties! Now wouldn’t this be wonderful for a bridal shower or tea party with friends?

 

 

 

Tips for Antique Shopping

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Good Morning Friends,

I feel like I got a lot accomplished this past weekend. It could be because I got an hour back. Boy does that help A LOT! I did do some fabulous antiquing. A few shops in Franklin, Indiana had an early Christmas sale, so I went down and purchased a few things. I will share those in a later post. 

Today I wanted to share a few tips from Ajiri Aki recent book called Joi. I have been reading this book slowly on my lunch breaks and I am being honest, this is a wonderful book to read if you really want to know how the Parisian’s live. Ajiri has created such a beautiful, wonderful life in France. I envy her antiquing opportunities that she has there but let’s get into her tips for antiquing! 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

  • First tip is to, “use your imagination”. Look beyond what the object once was and imagine how it can serve you today.  Oh my goodness! I use this tip all the time when I go antiquing. I immediately think, “okay where can I use this. Where will this fit in my home. Will this be beautiful and useful”. Thinking about antiques in this way can help you to find those treasures. 
  • Find perfection in the imperfect. The imperfect bits give antiques character and make them unique. Of course, it’s important to inspect pieces before you commit- especially textiles. But embrace the patina on copper or silver objects; even small chips on ceramics are okay. These are signs of use. Plus, you can reupholster or polish any damage or imperfections you don’t want to live with. 
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for a better price. In France, you ask, Est-ce que c’est possible de faire un petit prix pour moi? Which literally means, “Is it possible for you to make the little price for me?” It’s a cute and polite way to ask for a price reduction. They expect you to ask- in fact, most items are priced with wiggle room in mind. And if you buy a few things from the same vendor, they’re likely to give you a bigger reduction. I do this all the TIME! Sometimes I get a deal and sometimes I don’t.

 

Some of my antiquing finds…

  • Don’t let an item be the one that got away. Know what you want to pay for something, but if you walk away from it, understand that the object might be gone forever. I used to worry that I was being scammed on prices. Now I know what I am willing to pay for something. There are items I sold to others that I wished I had kept for myself, and I may never find another like them. I know now that if it’s something that brings me great pleasure to use and own, I will willingly pay a pretty penny for it.  I don’t know how many times this has happened to me and I have gone back to look for that piece and it is GONE! Antiques usually don’t stay. Especially if they are priced well and if they are in good shape. My recent Rose Canton jars were a recent “walk away” item. I walked away from them but then got home and realized that I may NEVER see TWO of them together again! So I went back and got them! NO REGRETS! 
  • Educate yourself. The internet is full of articles on how to identify silver-plated versus sterling, porcelain versus stoneware, earthenware versus faience, transferware versus hand-painted. I don’t think one is better than the other, but just knowing the difference will help you feel more confident in the market. Bonus: I also think it’s fun to educate yourself about the different styles and their iconography and ornamentation. It makes spotting something more exciting. Also, collecting art books or visiting museums and chateaux will help you learn what you like and train your eye to seek certain things. I have heard the express “train your eye” for beautiful things more than once. Learn what you like. Then seeing quality will come to you. 

 

Some of my lovely finds…

 

You should definitely order this book. Not only are the photos good but you can just read the honesty in Ajiri words. She really does love living in Paris.  I am enjoying this book so much. She had more tips but you will need to order the book to read the rest. Have a great week! 

 

  • this post is not sponsored.

 

Tips from Joie by Ajiri Aki, page 188

 

Ideas for Hostess Gifts

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Hello and Happy Friday!

Hello extra hour back! Goodness it has been so dark in the mornings! I have switched up my workout routine. I stopped doing my morning walks this week because it was still pitch dark at 7:00am! No thank you!

This weekend should be quiet. Just my regular errands and I really want to go down to Franklin and visit the FrenChic antique store. It is calling my name!

With the holidays close by I was recently thinking about hostess gifts. I found this article called, “25 Brilliant Hostess Gifts Our Editors Love to Give and Receive”. When I saw it, I thought, I wonder if I could find these gifts but cheaper?

First on their list was a really expense tortoiseshell vase. The price was $135. I found this one below for only $6.29! Pretty fantastic!

 

photo credit: World Market. com 

 

Next was a lime basil diffuser from Jo Malone. Now I love Jo Malone but know how expensive they can be. So I found this lime zest diffuser from Nest for only $60! And Nest fragrances smell wonderful! You can’t go wrong.

A set of napkins are always a good gift. I found this botanical set from Williams Sonoma for only $49.

 

photo credit: Sephora

They mentioned getting someone olive oil. I am a little unsure about picking olive oil for people. I know I have my favorite oil that I like to cook with but I thought that this set would be a really nice gift instead. This cutting board would be a perfect gift as well.

 

photo credit: Amazon 

 

Want to give a pampering gift? I have heard good things about Ahava bath salts. This gift is very affordable on Amazon! You also cannot go wrong with CHOCOLATE! Get your hostess a Harry & David chocolate truffle gift set. I know I would love to get it! I found this one on Amazon.

 

 

I know that I have always loved these soap and lotions sets from William Sonoma. They have lots of scents and this winter forest set is on sale!

 

photo credit: William Sonoma 

 

One of the last things on their list was a cake stand and honestly, I have never thought about gifting a cake stand but if I got one, I would love it! So, I found this one on Amazon under $50! It’s timeless and classic!

 

photo credit: Amazon 

 

I hope you all enjoyed these hostess gift suggestions. Please let me know in the comments section what your best hostess gift was! I would love to know. Have a great weekend!

 

  • Affiliate links attached 

 

 

 

 

 

Harlem Toile ~ A New Collection

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Good Morning Friends,

It is Friday and yes I am happy. I know one thing for sure.  I am going to Crumbl Cookie to get some cookies! I have literally been thinking about these all week. I can’t wait. 

On Tuesday I volunteered at the Indiana Women’s Conference. It was my first time going and I had a great time. I got lots of free books from our speakers. It was a great event. I have to say that my favorite speaker was Neha Sangwa, M.D. Her speech on “burnout” was phenomenal and just what I needed. I can’t wait to dive into her new book Powered by Me: From Burnout to Fully Charged.

This weekend we have our “Before Tour” for the St. Margaret’s Guild. We get to tour the home before the interior designers come in and start decorating and transforming the home. I look forward to seeing their designs come to life. 

Speaking of interior designers does anyone know Sheila Bridges? Her new design called Harlem toile appeared in my feed and I am in love, truly I am! It is beautiful and honestly, I have always wondered if I could find toile in an image more like myself and Shelia delivered!

photo credit: Williams Sonoma

I love this new collection. You find it on Williams Sonoma. I love these pillow covers and throw. They are hand stitched and made of 100% silk. Just beautiful!

 

The bar collection is made of mouth blown glass and has hand-painted gold rims. I ordered the old fashioned glasses. I plan on uses these as vases for flower arrangements. The cocktails napkins are another fun feature and conversation starter. 

 

photo credit: Lor de’ Seraphine 

I also found out about her candle collection at Lor de’ Seraphine. This is called the Morningside Park Candle, and the notes are lemon peel, gardenia, violet and pear. I love the scene on this particular candle. It is called vanity, and it looks like a family helping each other get dressed for an event. The colors are perfect, and I can just see this as a pen holder on my desk once I finish using it. So of course, I ordered it because it keeps selling out and I have a feeling that this collection will be sought after once it’s gone. 

photo credit: Wedgwood.com

 

And lastly is her china collection with Wedgwood. Inspiration was taken from Sheila’s Harlem toile collection and Jasperware to come up with this gorgeous and truly one-of-a-kind collection. I had to order this one! I just adore the vanity scene. 

Let me know in the comments below what you think of this collection. Have a great weekend!

 

  • Affiliate links attached 

 

 

Lunch at the Swan Coach House

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Good Morning,

I had quite a busy weekend. I attended a paralegal retreat on Saturday, filmed a YouTube video finally, and attended a private home tour for charity. The private home tour was simply amazing! I wish I could have taken photos but there we not allowed. It was truly beautiful. 

Today I am continuing with my empty nester trip. I am sharing a few photos of our visit to the Swan Coach House.

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

I wanted to have lunch at the Swan Coach House after our tour at the Swan House. It was only a few minutes away and was tucked away near the Swan House. 

 

 

It was so beautiful walking in and had a lot of the southern charm. Of course, there is chinoiserie everywhere.

 

 

There were a few ladies in the distance celebrating a 70th birthday. It was so sweet! They all had on their little Derby hats on and were dressed up. I loved it!

 

 

I absolutely loved the floors and the decor. The gold mirror in the distance was so elegant. 

 

 

 

I ordered some tea sandwiches, and carrot soup. The soup had a little kick to it! It had a little spice but was really good. The staff was very kind and there was a gift shop and art museum in the home as well. 

Overall, it was a great experience, and I am so glad that my husband and I went and visited it. If you are nearby you should stop by! It’s such a wonderful place. 

 

 

 

First Empty-Nester Vacation

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Hello Everyone and Happy Friday,

Of course, I am really excited for this weekend. My husband and I will be fine-tuning (well me) our agenda for our first empty-nester vacation. As I have shared with you all before, my husband and I have NEVER taken a vacation without the kids, so we are really excited for this trip and plan on just taking our time.

 

photo credit: Getty/Pinterest

 

I have always been fascinated by this home. I know that it is not big and does not compare to the homes in Newport but I still wanted to visit this gorgeous historical home. The Swan House to me is what my dream home would look like. There would be a few changes to the front but not much. 

But first on our list would be driving and stopping at Love Shack Fancy in Nashville. I have not told my husband yet but I would love to stop there on our way to Atlanta. I also wanted to stop at the Sarah Flint store but the Nashville location is closed! I couldn’t believe it but so happy that I got to see it last year. 

Once we got to Buckhead we are going to check into our hotel and then I hope that we have time because I want to go to the Sarah Flint store there, visit the Dior store nearby, Hermes, and then stop at a consignment store called Sac De Lux. 

For dinner I found a restaurant near our hotel called South City Kitchen and I really want to give that a try. I found a few other restaurants nearby to have dinner or lunch as well. 

The second day that we are there will be reserved for the Swan House and the Swan Coach House. 

 

photo credit: Pinterest 

 

I don’t think that we will be there all day, so I found some antique stores nearby to go and visit. One is called Antiques & Beyond and the other is 14th Street Modern & Vintage Home. I also found a HomeGoods nearby, of course, and another consignment store called Label Resale Boutique. 

I am really looking forward to this vacation and it will be so different without kids and not having to worry about our home either. We are truly in a different season of life. I’ll see you all when I return!