work in progress

Our family room is undergoing a slow, but steady transformation to a fun, functional, and kid-friendly space. Here's the mood board that started it all. Well, actually it was my little friend, the Hermes box, that started it all. Can you tell? While I know the room could be more 'hip' (I was initially thinking Jonathan Adler throws and Hermes trays), these are all pieces that have been kid and husband approved and are rugged to boot. Our Possibilities sectional from JCPenney (of all places) has been fabulous and we all have a place to sit! Imagine! The Safavieh rug, from Ballard Designs, is actually an indoor-outdoor rug I can hose down if necessary! Let's hope not! Our baskets, tucked under Ballard Designs Durham Bunching Tables, hold the kids blankets for cold nights while watching our favorite movies.  My husband and I painted the walls Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray and the accents of antique brass look really wonderful against the gray. And, we love our picture frame set from Picture Wall Company. Enjoy!

tour magnificent homes

You had me at 'magnificent homes.'  I so look forward to the Family Service League house tour each and every year!  It is truly spectacular, and the homeowners are wondeful to allow so many of us to come and appreciate their lovely homes (i.e., trample through and oooh and aahhh).  My favorites last year included the lovely home of Eileen Boyd and her family, a home with interiors by Kate Singer, and an amazing Centerport home done by Jackie Higgins of Beach Glass Designs, here in Huntington.  And of course, who can forget the lovely floral arrangements throughout all the homes by Dutch Petals, Scarsella's Flowers Greenhouse & Home, The Flower Petaler, and my all-time favorite; Main Street Nursery and Florist.  Can't wait to spread the news and make a date with the ladies!  Please call or email Jennie Sandler to RSVP.  Join us; it's for a great cause!

TOUR MAGNIFICENT HOMES ON LONG ISLAND’S NORTH SHORE:

FAMILY SERVICE LEAGUE’S SAMMIS FAMILY HOUSE TOUR 2011

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tour: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For the past 60 years, Family Service League’s Annual Sammis Family House Tour has offered participants the opportunity to tour grand homes on Long Island’s North Shore. The distinctive homes are often landmarks, magnificently decorated, and located in idyllic settings. FSL’s House Tour also features a sumptuous luncheon where you can enjoy a fashion show as well as unique shopping boutiques.  Tour directions to be distributed.  Luncheon at Thatched Cottage, Route 25A, Centerport, New York.  Cost: tba.  R.S.V.P. Jennie Sandler, 631.427.3700 ext. 255, jsandler@fsl-li.org.

 

 

diy - not

We are not all created equal.  At least, not when it comes to diy projects :)  Expensive mistakes, expensive tools, and lack of a proper work space have left me one of those homeowners who feels better doing the research and finding the perfect workmen to add those custom touches to my home; rather than having to purchase tools that my husband and I have no idea how to use, much less the space to set them up properly.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE diy projects and will paint my entire home without hesitation, among other things.  I'm an avid gardener, who has done all of my landscape design and maintains my garden lovingly.  My husband and I recently painted our open floor-plan kitchen and family room, the gorgeous Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray, and I've repainted my kitchen cabinets at least four times in seven years! We've added beautiful decorative stair brackets and many more other little things.  But, my favorite bloggers are those talented husband-wife teams that are constantly transforming their homes with amazing diy projects that range from simple mirrors to entire structural transformations.  Alas, it is not meant to be for me.  Three small children, limited work space, and even more limited time, will always force me to do months of research to find that talented craftsman who can add that special touch to our home for just the right price.  A favorite quote of mine sums up my relationship with diy perfectly; 
"While I have insane amounts of respect and envy for those who can DIY, I'm more of a curator than a fixer-upper."  Via Apartmenttherapy.com, Liz from Durham. 
Envy, indeed.  Here are some of my favorite diy bloggers, who are so amazingly talented it blows my mind.  There are many, many, talented diy bloggers out there, but these are the three that I come back to again and again for inspiration.  Enjoy!

P.S. If you have a favorite diy blogger, please send along their blog address so that I can add to my favs!

keeping busy

I'm hibernating.  It's a glorious eighteen degrees outside, and I'm looking for things to do to keep me busy inside - much to my husband's dismay.  I always come back to my foyer for quick, little fixes to keep me from going crazy during these cold, winter months.  My stairs are the first thing you see upon entering our home, and the angled wall beneath the staircase doesn't allow for much that is symmetrical and neat - the way I like it ;)  I've experimented with artwork, and mirrors, and many other items, and I think a decorative and functional sconce might solve my problem of the bare space on the left side of the wall and the lack of soft lighting in the evening.  But, since our home is a true mix of classic and contemporary design, I'm hesitant to do anything too traditional in the space.  Any thoughts or ideas?  Here are some fixtures that I'm drawn too for the space.  I've included some of my favorite candle sconces just for fun! And I even got a little creative and printed the images out and taped them to my wall for a more thorough evaluation! Enjoy!

http://www.visualcomfortlightinglights.com/category.cfm

http://www.visualcomfortlightinglights.com/category.cfm

  

http://shadesoflight.com/

http://www.visualcomfortlightinglights.com/

http://www.visualcomfortlightinglights.com/

http://www.visualcomfortlightinglights.com/

Choice #1 - French Gold Finish

Choice #2 - Antique Brass Finish

Choice #3 - Antique Brass Finish



i'm ready! i'm ready!

Two snowstorms down and we've got two feet of the white, (well, somewhat white) stuff piled up in our front yard.  With all that, I found myself getting ready for Spring this week.  I think the snow has come a little too early to Long Island this year and my 'seasonal clock' is off by a few weeks!  So, I'm enjoying a clean and simple look in my foyer after the busy-ness of the holidays and the blast of arctic air outside my door! Enjoy!

Come on Spring!

monogramming; old, new, and just plain fun!

O.K., I'll admit it; I enjoy a beautiful monogram on anything from silver and linens, to jewelry and stationary.  I'm not picky.  It can be a classic, traditional style or a thoroughly modern interpretation.  I love them all!  This summer, I treated myself to my favorite Jack Rogers sandals, monogrammed and I love them.  When my husband and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary, our gift to each other was a hand-made tall case clock from Chris Harter in Upstate, NY with a custom, hand-painted dial face from Kathi Edwards of GA. with our monogram.  Our clock will last for generations, and what better way to have our descendants know the originators of this wonderful piece of furniture.  I've always loved monogrammed linens, whether they be bed linens or cocktail napkins, it is all so timeless.  The thought that one day, my children, will pull out the beautifully monogrammed, well used linens that have been handed down to them, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I've posted a few of my favorite monogrammed items and some excellent sources of monogrammed linens and services.  Enjoy! 

Image Courtesy of www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://jackrogersusa.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://www.potterybarn.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://www.leontinelinens.com/index.php.

Image Courtesy of http://www.monograminc.com/indextop.htm.

Image Kirk-Steiff Old Maryland Engraved Courtesy of http://www.michaelcfina.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://www.chrisharter.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://www.williams-sonoma.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://www.juliab.com/.

Image Courtesy of http://shopping.fontainemaury.com/Lets-Shop-Start-Here-/Monogram-Trays.

Image Courtesy of http://www.allisonrbanksdesigns.com/.