Belgian Decor at Cote de Texas

If you have not visited Joni Webb's fabulous blog, Cote de Texas, this is the week to stop by! Joni is an extremely talented designer in Texas. Her blog was recently selected as one of the top ten decorating blogs of 2008-9 by the Washington Post. This week Joni reviews the Belgian Style that is so hot right now across the country.

Joni describes Belgian decor as "quiet and monotone .. plain linens .. antique elements – ancient stone floors, beams, marble staircases, and acres of limed wood - everywhere. Textures are a very large part of this style – rough, rustic woods and stone surfaces are played against smooth, shiny crystals and glass."

In our increasing complicated world this is a style to come home, relax and unwind in - serene and almost austere.

Please stop by Cote de Texas and see the entire post.

I have saved it as one of my all time favorites, so do not miss it! Here is the link: http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2009/01/belgian-design.html

Shabby Chic Closing?!

I entered the Shabby Chic store in Natick , Massachusetts today - and it was practically empty. Everything in the store was 50% percent off !

Shabby Chic Website

As you can guess most items were already gone. The women working said it was not confirmed but they may have to close their doors. They were not allowed to take orders and were advising customers that if they wanted to order something they should do it online.

Shabby Chic Website

They would not confirm, but suggested that some of the other stores across the country may be closing in the future. We hope not, as Shabby Chic is such an inspiration!  

Another bad sign of the state of our economy.

Shabby Chic Website

I did happen to pick up some really wonderful pillows, though!

Rich Dunbrack -The Thieving Magpie

Many of you have emailed me for information about the whimsical clock I have in my kitchen. I thought it timely to share with you the work of Concord, Massachusetts Folk Artist, Rich Dunbrack.

I came upon his work quite unexpectedly at a Sunday morning flea market in Rowley, MA almost ten years ago. There he had stored in a barn, several pieces which were not for sale, but waiting to ship to lucky, new owners. I was immediately smitten with his work. Rich uses found objects and architectural antiques to create his one of kind pieces. Cupboards and clocks can contain fragments of old buildings, antique iron grates, bedposts, clock faces, old farm tools, eel spears, wooden paper mache molds and old barn siding. He meticulously blends these elements together and creates what he calls art that is "utilitarian with elements of vitality." You can"t help but smile when you see his work in person.

Here are a few of his pieces:

Happy Moon Cupboard

Includes building salvage from western Massachusetts, house and tobacco farm materials and an antique moon paper mache mold.

Head and Shoulders Above - Tall Clock

Fabricated from southern Vermont salvage, Victorian house fragments, a bronze doll's head and a period clock dial
Old Road to Nine Acre Corner - Column Cupboard

Built with period New Hampshire artifacts including a Federal house column, Victorian house fragments and iron fittings and hardware, Victrola tube and a mahogany, folk art carved figure.

This custom desk built for the owner of The Zoo Factory in Florida is only one of a few desks Dunbrack has ever fabricated. Another sits happily in Carly Simon's house in Martha's Vineyard. Simon was an early collector and supporter of Dunbrack's art.
Spying Moon - Cupboard / Pantry

Fabricated from Southern NH reclaim, 1800's Federal house materials, period folk art carving and cast stove fragments The 5 Hole - Cupboard

Fabricated from southern Vermont salvage, Brattleboro, VT Arts & Crafts period home, folk art carving, and an early eel spear.
If you continue to be intrigued, check out Rich's website at http://www.thethievingmagpie.com/.
I am sure it will bring a smile to your face!

My Kitchen Unveiled!

When I bought my house I felt the kitchen needed some minor renovation. Here's what I liked: the layout and the windows across the entire back of the space,which gave it incredible light. I liked the white cabinets, and the recessed ceiling in the kitchen area. What I didn't like was the lack of a center island and the way the cabinets seemed cut the space in half. I disliked the backsplash, and the very badly scratched white Corian counters. I also disliked the lack of mouldings and details, that were so abundant in the other rooms of the house. These pictures were taken when the house was for sale and include the previous owners furniture and accessories.


The area above is also the family room space, though they had taken out the couch and love seat. I felt like the table was too close to the family room. An area needed to be added for the table to have its own space. During this renovation we designed and created a glass breakfast room for the table.

Here are some inspiration photos:

This is a Victoria Hagen kitchen. I loved the soapstone, subway tile and pendant lights. I also liked the beadboard ceiling, but perhaps a bit more scaled back.


These two kitchens are from the Swedish Company, Kvanum Kok. I love the hardwood floors, soapstone counters and glass cabinets. I especially fell in love with the X cabinets.

I loved this box out behind the stove for oils, peppermill, etc. I liked the different tiles with the white subway tile. But I preferred Calcutta marble in a herringbone pattern like this one below:





Here's my inspiration:Here is my box out behind my stove:

Here is the full view. I also added a marble shelf. It is a small feature but it adds so much!

Here is the before looking into the kitchen: (that is me holding my nephew while my sister takes the photos)

Here is the after:

We pulled out the small upper cabinets above the island and added pendant lights. We replaced the upper cabinets by the stove. Then we also pulled out four of the lower cabinets to create a center island. The new "island" has curved soapstone, which you can not see in this picture. Notice the beadboard in the recess of the ceiling and the pendant lights. Also look at the before picture and notice how the windows are lower than the doorways - this always annoyed me, but I was able to correct it during the process.Notice the plain ceilings in the before picture and the beadboard ceilings in the after. Also new sinks and faucets and moulding details. I also added ice box latches and bin pulls to the cabinets.Here is a great picture of the windows which have been raised up about 4 inches so the door and window moldings align.

Here is the TV area before: And after:

New gas fireplace and mantle. Notice the detail work; the moldings wrap the entire room and match the living room moldings which are original to the house.

Here is another view which peeks into the living room and dining room. (The clock is an art piece by a local artist who uses salvage materials to create new objects) Finally the kitchen looking toward the Butler's pantry. I think the gray walls of the kitchen with a touch of marble and beadboard ceiling, ties in nicely with the gray cabinets, marble and beadboard in the pantry.

As soon as my new furniture and chandelier arrive I will show you the lovely glass breakfast room with beadboard ceiling and adjacent family room area!

A little inspiration, finding the right quality cabinetmakers and lots of time helped bring my kitchen up to date and back to the original quality of the rest of the house. We are very happy with the result.

CHRISTMAS DECOR: Christmas Hospitality Tour (Part 2)

Our Hostesses!

House #3 - Susan:

Susan is a mother to 5 children, now all young adults.

 Santa was the theme at Susan's house. Santa heads, to be more specific.

Susan started collecting them about 28 years ago

and now has a grand total of 50 smiling Santa Claus faces.

Most of the faces were small and adorned wreaths, a twig tree and garland,

but there were a couple of amazing larger Santas as well.

This one looks to be carved of wood and fills the wall near the front door.

Another large Santa head with an extra long flowing beard. One of Susan's wreaths adorned with jolly Santa heads.

Rounding the corner I was pleased to find this portrait of Susan's five children, now all grown. She actually commissioned this from me several years ago. When I drew it, I used photos she had of the children all at similar ages. It was the first time I had seen it framed and was pleased to discover it is one of her most prized possessions.

Susan decorates her home each year in much the same way,

and enjoys the familiarity of her family treasures.

A Steinbach nutcracker collection of 5, one for each of her children, sit cheerfully in a bookcase.

Susan's family Christmas stockings were all hand-knit by her sister-in-law. Each new child born in the family receives a hand made stocking from Aunt Melinda. To date, she has made over 40!

Susan's grand staircase is bedecked with garland, lights, poinsettias,

ribbon and the smiling faces of Santa.

Susan's festive outdoor decorations.

Thank you, Susan for sharing your cheerful home with us!

House #4 - Mattie

Mattie is mom to 4 and grandmother to 2.

 Her busy household is often filled with the smell of delicious food, as cooking is one of her hobbies and part of her generous italian heritage. Mattie had some lovely decorations, but needed a theme to pull it all together. We purchased just a few things - garland, ribbon and some sparkly twigs - and used what she already had.

Our defining theme began with the poinsettias she loves and a vibrant red throughout.

I created the wreaths, (two identical wreaths for her double front doors) using new ribbon and green wreaths and silk poinsettias she already owned.

We added Christmas touches to her entry table.

Also in the entry, we added garland to the top of her curio cabinet. 

I used green garland on Mattie's grand staircase, with a glittery green wired ribbon and red silk poinsettias. The look was simple and elegant - just like Mattie.

The family trimmed the tree in Mattie's favorite blown glass ornaments. We added ribbon and glittery ice twigs for sparkle.

We placed the family nativity set in the formal living room and made it the centerpiece and focal point of the room.

Mattie's dining room needed a punch of red on her side table. She had two amaryllis stalks and a pretty urn. Using a 'found' candle wreath, I was able to create a floral arrangement.

Framed Christmas cards and family photos complete the vignette.

A garland on her chandelier and greens in a lovely italian pottery vase were all that was needed to bring beauty to her table in the formal dining room.

We brightened her cozy kitchen with red placemats and a centerpiece of bright beaded garland and ornaments in apothecary jars. We topped it off with a berry garland on the chandelier.

A cluster of nutcrackers is nestled atop an armoire with garland and glittery fabric.

The family room's natural focal point was the inviting fireplace. I hung a berry wreath over the mirror and added green garland and lights to the mantle. The centerpiece of the mantle was created with a metal tray and three red candles. We added a touch of the italian with faux sugared fruit on the tray and on the green garland.

Just a few more touches - a framed favorite Christmas card, candle and pop of red floral - are all that is needed to complete the decor.

Mattie - we appreciate your hospitality and thank you for participating in our tour.