Easter Cloche and the Spring Entry

Back when I first started blogging, (it will be 15 years in June) cloches became popular. Terrariums were the rage years ago, and I think the cloche vignette sprang from that. I've always loved bringing a few items together to form a small grouping, then highlighting the pieces by placing them under glass.

Heavenly Holiday Entry

I've realized at Christmas I lean toward a white and ethereal look on the entry console; white lights and white and neutral colors with a light and bright look. For Christmas this year I've tried to bring out a few pieces that are some of my early Christmas décor that I haven't shared for years. 

Rustic Garden Seashell Display

Hey friends...

Most of the red/white/blue is packed away, with a little red left behind for "summer". Mid-summer is here and I now have a short space of time to bring out the seashells and put together some fun displays and vignettes using some vintage elements as containers.

Woodsy Cloche for Spring and Easter

A few weeks ago I put together a post with Spring and Easter cloche inspiration. My personal favorites always include not only a focal point, but surrounded with some kind of botanical element like florals, grapevine, bird nests, or moss. Figural elements such as rabbits, lambs, dishes, and graphics are always a beautiful way to create a small vignette and elevate it to visual importance.

Early Spring Garden Tray with Paperwhites

"Spring" starts making it's appearance the day after Valentine's Day around here. Moss and nests, and daffodils and crocuses start peeking out of the ground and I know that inevitably there will be 65 degree days and the promise of green grass.

Easy Romantic Vignette on a Tray

Sometimes we want to do a little decorating but don't want to make a huge commitment by slathering holiday decor all around the house. Valentine's Day is one of those times that I like to gather some of my fun vintage pieces but don't necessarily want to cover every surface with hearts. 

Vintage Cottage Weekend: Neutral Winter Dining Room with Paperwhites

Are you looking for a festive look for New Year's Eve that can move into January with just a bit of tweaking? One of the first places that I start making a transition from Christmas to "Winter" is in the Dining Room. I like to move into a more neutral palatte, but still have a bit of sparkle and festive candlelight for New Year's Eve.

Fresh Look for January in the Dining Room

I'm one of those people that start putting Christmas decor away the day after. Not all of it, but mostly the obvious bits and pieces with Santas and anything red plaid. I get itchy if I have holiday decor out after said holiday. I've tried to train myself to not do this, but it's something that I've done forever, even pre-blogging. I'm always ready for a fresh new look for the New Year and new season.

Vintage Botanical Print in the Early Summer Entry

It had been since before Easter that I gave the Entry a seasonal freshen up. I wanted to make a few changes that would carry this area easily into Summer. I had my husband pull out the floral tubs last week, but then I decided to just keep the paperwhites here a bit longer. They're one of my favorite go-to faux flower looks. I had plenty of other arrangements to freshen up to move into Summer.

Welcoming Easter Entry with Paperwhites

Sometimes when pieces just "work" for a spot or space I leave them alone. That's what has happened in the Entry here at this house. I changed things up more at the previous house, but this entry is so light and bright it calls for like-minded pieces. It seems that whatever I place here tends to be a neutral color or something that doesn't overpower the basic feel of the space.

Vintage Valentine's Day Entry

Hi Friends, are you having a cold weekend? Wow, we are and some of our coldest weather of the year is still ahead of us. This last week or so I've been using Valentine's Day decorating to bring in a little sense of Spring. I've put away most of the evergreen stems and have concentrated on a few late winter florals that give a feeling of the warmer weather that will eventually come.

French Country Christmas in the Dining Room

Hello, dear friends. 
I hope you're all well and keeping your Holiday spirits high.

In the Fall I knew I wanted to do something different here in the Dining Room. I didn't really realize how I'd been using the same tabletop decor year after year until I did the "Lookback" post on the dining room last week. So this year after decorating the table with something new for Fall, I decided to keep the basket, tapestry and demi-johns to see what I could come up with for a new look for Christmas. I ended up with a bit of a French Country feel to the tabletop.

Spring Thing in the Hearth Room

Hello everyone, hope you're well and keeping your sanity. (I'll get back to you all on that one...)

I took a lot of pics several weeks ago when I was decorating for Spring and Easter. The Hearth Room didn't get Easter decor; no bunnies or things, but more of a Spring theme. Actually it hasn't changed too much since early March. Lambs and sheep are a favorite of mine, so the little bench in front of the sofa has one of my sheep and a twiggy basket of Paperwhites.

Easter's on it's Way in the Entry

Celebrating Easter this year will be different, but maybe even more special as we seek spiritual hope and guidance during this uncertain time. When we watch the news or think too much about what's going on in the world around us, we might be considering putting some things on hold. Blogging about decor might seem frivolous to some but helps many of us stay plugged in with others and social. And... it's a wonderful way to stay positive and inspired.

A Vintage Valentine Entry

I had fun bringing out my vintage Valentine pieces for this "new" Entry display. We will have been here, at the new cottage for almost a year. I've decorated and celebrated all the other holidays here, so this is the last holiday that's "new" to this house.

How to know when it's almost Spring...

Of course the weather will be on a gradual warming curve; more days of 60 than of 30. I can see little bits of green popping up, previously hidden in the "monkey grass" along the courtyard sidewalk. The buds on the Peach tree are swelling up, just waiting to explode in a gorgeous pink bloom. But there's one sure way to tell Spring is almost here...

Easy Neutral Decor in the Entry

This post is about 2 or 3 weeks behind schedule, since everyone is moving on to Valentine's Day decor. I think there are a lot of us who like to use our blog as a visual diary of our projects and decorating. So even though it's time to add in a little Valentine's this week, I want to share January's Entry and Dining Room with you all.

Paperwhites in the Christmas Entry

I have a few decorating "staples" when it comes to faux flowers; tried and true floral elements that I know I can use no matter what the Season or Holiday. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter I can always count on slightly wild and natural grapevine twiggy wreaths, lifelike Hydrangeas, and my favorite for this time of year... Paperwhites.

French Wagon Vignette

Earlier in the Spring you might remember that I decided to paint my little black Frenchy wagon a light gray. Since then it's become my favorite tabletop decor piece for the Dining Room. I had put off painting it for years, even though I knew I would like it much better. Now it sort of "disappears" on the tabletop, which helps it blend in with all the other elements I love to use.

A Spring Entry

...and talking sheep...

You know me, during each season I usually change things up more than once. For Easter, I like things a little more pastel. Easter is about the only time you'll see "pastel" being used around here. But for earlier in the Spring Season I've used various shades of browns and greens, mostly in the Kitchen Sitting Area, since I like to use my brown and pink floral quilt. I went with the same colors here in the Entry, using a brown and green check ribbon to hang my mossy O, and then my sheep print on canvas.