A New Dining Table - Vote at left for your favorite

Remember the short proverb "the shoemaker's children go barefoot?" The shoemaker is so busy with his craft that he does not have time to make shoes for his own children.

I can relate.

Of all the places in the world that one would think would be decorated impeccably, you would think that the home of an interior designer and an architect would be drop dead gorgeous.

Unfortunately, ours is not - and some days I feel it to my core.

As ridiculous and superficial as it is, I shy away from opening up our home and inviting folks over. It's so crazy and limiting. I love to cook and I love to entertain. I am never happier than when folks are gathered together sharing good food and drink.

Oh...but the house...it' s not "ready" for entertaining....

It is a challenging dilemma...decorating my own home. First and foremost, I am oh so picky and I only want the "good" stuff. You know, the really expensive, good stuff. Not that I intend to be drawn only to expensive pieces - it just is a natural evolution tied to our industry.

I remember hearing once that you can get things accomplished by having one of two things; time or money. If you have time you can search for just the "right" thing or you will have the time to make just the "right" thing. If you have money, most of the time, you can throw gobs of cash at something and get it done quickly.

Here is where I seem to run into my decorating predicament - little time and little money. I'm in a bit of a fix and I am determined to solve this.

It's just good Feng Shui and it's just good for the soul. I need to feel good in my own surroundings so that my base is strong and from there...energy expands out.

So what needs to happen in my little corner of the world??

Hubby asks me, "what will it take?" He's a "bottom line" kind of guy.

I already knew in my mind, I was just waiting for him to be interested and ask.

The quick list goes like this:

Paint
Area Rug
New Mirror
Floors finished or Carpet on the stairs

and last but not least...just the right dining table...what I think is the core of entertaining in our intimate little Craftsman style house.

I thought I would share with you a few of the tables that I have ear marked as ones to inspire me ones that are up for consideration.

First, I have my wonderful Baker chairs that I bought last year. They are so comfortable and they have to remain in the Dining Room. They are a neutral color - so we work from there.

Please vote for your favorite in the box - top left.

Amy Howard Capri Dining Table

I have visited Amy Howard in Memphis and just fell in love with her, her husband, and all the wonderful folks that work at her studio. The finishes are to die for. This table feels exquisite when you run your hand across the top. Fine craftsmanship!!

DessinFournir Kelly Dining Table

Michael Taylor Lyre Base Table

Michael Taylor Large Italian Base

Italian Base - another view. I have been enamored with this table for several years now.

Baker Lisbon Center Table

J. Robert Scott Tuscan Dining Table

Bernhardt Oval Dining Table

Bernhardt Round Dining Table

And now for some really fun, funky antique pieces from South of Market. South of Market has outstanding antique light fixtures too - the best!!

South of Market Dining Table - might be nice with my oatmeal colored upholstery on the dining chairs.

South of Market Dining Table - love the iron work and the rustic top

Another South of Market Table - great Asian feel to this table - yet modern

The snow has stopped here in Ohio and I am eager to get out and about. I would love to stop by a few antique shops on Larchmere and then visit the Cleveland Botanical Garden for their annual orchid show.

If it is time for the Orchid show - SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!!

...I wonder if by Spring I will have found my new dining table, area rug, and will have successfully painting my Living Room/Dining Room. I'm thinking soft, soft, soft light blue - out with the red - in with the pale blue.

Would you like progress pictures????

Timberframe Journal - Update

It's time for a progress update to Lawry's timber frame journal.

Pictured left - one of Lawry's plates to be displayed in the new kitchen.

This fall and winter Lawry has made good progress.

Here is a list of the highlights for fall/winter:

Our custom butternut doors and trim have been installed and they look FABULOUS!! The batch of wood that Dan from Rino's Woodworking found is outstanding and the finished results take your breath away - so beautiful. (They may be my favorite thing so far!!)

I promise to post pictures from my site visit next week.

The reclaimed oak floors are in and have just received their final finish coat. Lawry says that they look outstanding. The floors are comprised of reclaimed red and white oak from Olde Wood. We used several board widths. Can't wait to see them!!

Our butternut kitchen cabinets are mostly installed - upper cabinets are just waiting for the all clear sign to be delivered.

Lawry purchased this wonderful reclaimed door (pictured right) from Michele at Antique Warehouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

After some tweaking to the Master Bedroom entry, the antique dutch doors are in and they look wonderful! What depth of character this old Mexican door adds to the Great Room.

Note the beautiful rustic hardware and the clavos. See how the frame is worn at the left side and the drywall has been scribed to fit the antique frame. The look is not for everyone - Lawry loves it - so do I!!

See the initials engraved into the door panel. If doors could talk....

I am intrigued by the joinery and am mulling over incorporating this detail into the Master Bath Cabinets.

After a few delays we now have our counter tops installed. We have quite a bit of counter top so we chose to brake up the long spans (15') by selecting a variety of colors and patterns. We have the standard counter space around the stove along with high counters and low counters that make up a series of islands.


To add to the complexity for our manufacturer, Ideal Surfaces, some of the counters needed to be poured on site to conform to the shape of the post, while others were manufactured back at their shop.

Our poured on site counters have a completely different look to them. See photo below. Rick and Michael did a wonderful job creating one of a kind works of art for us.

See how perfectly the counter forms around the post.

Concrete brings to my mind cold hard surfaces. Not so, these surfaces are so smooth with great character. Don't you just want to run your hand over the surface and touch these?

One of our center island tops. Reminds me of a hide. Perfect for cowboy Lawry.


Portrait of Lawry - pictured right

This picture was taken while the tops were in progress. No white seam today, just a beautiful seamless looking stained concrete counter.


I think Rick likes these counter tops so much they may be making an appearance in his home in the near future.


On our next Timber frame Journal posting I will catch you up on what's been happening with the Master Closet, our tile selections, the door hardware from Ashley Norton, and the window sills.

Oh the sills...I convinced my adventuresome client that he NEEDED to have rustic, rough, reclaimed beam sections for window sills.

I hear that my name has been colorfully tossed about over the last few days as Lawry works with the sills to tweak them a bit before they are installed. I thought my ears have been burning.

Until the next installment...stay safe and stay warm.

PS - please post a comment - Lawry and I would love to hear your thoughts!!!

A breath of summer in February...

This was to be our "kid free" weekend and there was talk of a quick trip to some sunny locale. Alas, it was not to be and we are here in snowy Ohio dreaming of warm summer days (seed catalogs by my side.)

And then...my girlfriend sent her favorite Sangria recipe and...suddenly it's feels like summer in February here in our little corner of the world.

I immediately dashed to the store and purchased the necessary ingredients, rushed home, and began chopping fruit.

Voila! It's a sangria party at our house! A fresh breeze of summer to perk up our spirits.

Here is Patti's favorite recipe from Recipezarr.com. Very yummy and delicious. Some guacamole and chips just to round out our impromptu party.

Try it!! Just the thing to get us through the winter dohl drums.

ENJOY!! Thanks Patti - great idea!!!


Traditional Red Wine & Citrus Sangria

1 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup superfine sugar (I put sugar in the blender)

1/4 cup triple sec

2 oranges, sliced

2 limes, sliced

1 lemon, sliced

1. Combine all ingredients except sliced fruit in a large bowl or pitcher.

2. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours.

3. Fill a large pitcher with ice; add sliced fruit, then pour in sangria over fruit and ice.

4. Makes 5 cups without ice.

recipezarr.com

I LOVE A GOOD SALE!!!

I am a bargain shopper through and through.

Not that I don't have a knack for selecting the most expensive item out of an array of wall covering, fabric, tile, etc.

Quality shows and my eye is drawn to things of quality or things with a unique design - things of beauty. You know - those items that make your heart sing.

Anthropologie - Antwerpe Chair

pictured right

Count on me to instinctively pick an item that makes you say "Oh..." when you see the price.

My Mother has a million wonderful sayings that play in my mind over and over (the oral teaching tradition at its finest.) This posting brings to mind:

"champagne taste on a beer bottle budget"

okay...growing up I heard this...oh...about a thousand times.

It is a logical progression that I would find the field of interior design and that I would fall in love with working around all the gorgeous things the world has to offer.

But, much of the time I/we are working on a budget and I am trying to stretch our decorating dollars. Shopping for bargains really helps stretch the budget.

Typically I do not find the "anchor" items for a space during a sale, but accessory items are my common treasures.

I thought I would share a few of today's finds with you. I have been perusing the Anthropologie site for a bargain or two.

Here are my lovelies for today:

Anthropologie - Platinum Ombre Martini Glass

Anthropologie - Aviary Castle

Anthropologie - Sunken Flourish Lamp

Those are my favorite sale items for the day...now for a few extras that I found along the way....

Anthropologie - Crystal Votive

Anthropologie - Pencil Skirt, Taper Holder

Anthropologie - Jungle Leaf Tablecloth

See all the Anthropolgie sale items here - anthropologie.com

Year of the Tiger - 2010

Happy Year of the Tiger!!

It is time to usher in the Chinese New Year (actually I'm just a bit late.) 2010 is the third year in the twelve year cycle - the year of the metal Tiger.

In 2010, February 14th ushered in the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, and as is the custom, the Chinese New Year's celebrations will continue for the following 15 days until the next full moon on February 28, 2010.

This last day of the Chinese New Year season is marked by the traditional Lantern Festival. I JUST LOVE LANTERNS!!! In China , the Lantern Festival is considered a day for lovers. Two days in one month - how fun!

What image comes to mind when you imagine a tiger? Ferocious, lightning fast, intense, powerful - all words that are associated with the tiger - all words that have been used to describe this upcoming year.

I just keep thinking that I should fasten my seat belt - the ride might get bumpy.
The negative side to the year of the tiger - conflict and disaster. Nooooo.

On the bright side - it won't be boring. Changes are in store for everyone - lots of movement. Perhaps travel. I love to see new places so I'm looking forward to this side of the tiger - right now I'm imagining sun and a beach - who knows where the journey might take us???

The metal tiger is related to technology, so there may be great advances this year with inventions aplenty. (I'm holding off on that new phone - waiting for just the right one.)

The tiger is quick with great drama - be ready. Be ready to seize those opportunities, in whatever way they may present themselves. Poised and ready to strike - that's the tiger.

Photo by Wesley Hargrove

I enjoy discovering more about the connections between Chinese culture and its relationship to the practice of Feng Shui. I will keep you posted as I uncover new ways to incorporate Feng Shui into our modern lives.


For now...I am looking forward to my own Lantern Festival on February 28. I have a lantern collection but I am thinking that I really NEED to add a few new ones. Let's see what I can find. Send me pictures of your favorites - I would love to post them!
See my previous lantern post below - aren't they beautiful???


http://weaveideas.blogspot.com/2009/02/paper-lanterns.html


Happy Year of the Tiger!!!

Click here for more Year of the Tiger information