Welcome to the south of France, famous for amazing weather, cuisine, Roman ruins, vineyards for miles, and olive trees wherever you look. And the south of France is also known for its Country French style of fabrics, ceramics, rustic furniture, and accessories that have long been exported to our shores. The farmhouses (or mas) in Provence have largely been modernized today but the Provencal aura remains.

We opted to focus on one very French color palette–red and gold. Of course, there are other popular color choices that speak of Provence as well–blue and gold, green and cream, brown and tan. But it is this red and gold story that is most evocative of the area around Avignon. You see this color story in the famous hand-blocked cotton prints, in whimsical ceramics, in toiles of farmhouse scenes, in vibrant florals as well. And it is surprising how versatile red and gold can be. The color story can work in virtually any room and blends particularly well with many of the neutrals we all use as background choices of wall and floor.

Multiple fabrics and paint chips to support Provence’s red and gold palette.

Now, let’s look at a reading corner that has instantly taken on Provence style. What elements are most important? First, of course, are the decorative pillows in familiar patterns that have softened a European leather chair. A red wool throw has been added as another element on that chair, too. On the tabletop, a fun Country French lamp (complete with cochon) utilizes a red and gold check fabric for its shade. Paired with that round accessory piece, this vignette now oozes Gallic charm.

Country French reading nook combines disparate elements.

The kitchen is one room that easily takes on Provencal style. There are so many products that can be added easily and quickly to make every cook feel like a French chef du cuisine. In addition, decorative touches are abundantly available to give even a suburban tract house a bit of Avignon. Again, we focused on our signature red and gold color palette for a small setting of Country French kitchen items. It seems like virtually every French home includes a rooster somewhere–and so have we! This ceramic version will be a bit quieter, though, eliminating that cock-a-doodle-do. We’ve paired him with red enamel accessories, a sunflower pitcher, a metal towel rack, simple dish towels, a table runner and some onions and tomatoes. Ready to make coq au vin?

A vignette of a Country French kitchen.

You can easily create a mood like you’ve shopped at an Avignon street market without having to get your passport stamped. Just look for whimsy, red and gold, and those familar Provencal hand-blocked printed fabrics.

Next, onto the spectacular Amalfi Coast.

These gift ideas are:

These beautiful gold monogrammed bathroom accessories. They make a wonderful statement.

These beautiful serving dishes are so colorful and look as though they are hand painted.  They are another prize gift.

These gorgeous candle holders, with the brushed nickel base, are both about 17-18 inches tall, with the large frosted-design globes that make a wonderful statement.

Okay!  You’ve seen these three additional wedding gift ideas.  Now, I need you to share with me and let me know which one/s you like best.  You have shown great insight and as a result, I look forward to hearing your selection/s.

In these tight money times with the pound sterling and the euro so strong, the dollar so weak, gas so expensive, airport delays and weather issues all over the globe, what are you planning to do for your summer vacation?

We’ve decided to show you how you can have a vacation at home that will make you feel like you’ve gone to some fabulous location, soaked up the local color, walked on those cobblestone pathways, visited those lush gardens, lolled days away on sandy beaches, and still been able to sleep in your own bed at night! We are going to take you on an around-the-world tour of ten amazing vacation spots–some near, some very far–that you can create easily and memorably in your own house and gardens.

Amazing beaches on Mexico’s west coast.

Of course, we aren’t recommending total home makeovers just to capture the spirit of your favorite vacation spot. But it is inexpensive and easy to get the essence of these locales into your own home to spark up your environment a bit. While a Country French bedroom might not be the equal of visiting vineyards in Tuscany or staring at the Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct in Provence, it will certainly cost you a lot less!

Pont du Gard outside Uzes in France’s Provence region.

Where are we going on our around-the-world tour? In Europe, we’ll visit the Greek Islands, south of France, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and the wonderful Cotswold region of England. Tropical climates will be visited, too: Antigua in the Caribbean, Acapulco in Mexico and Bali in the East Indies. Closer to home? Bar Harbor in Maine, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and California’s Laguna Beach.

For each location, we’ll showcase two images of easy room makeovers that will give you a smattering of summer style from our global tour. In addition, we’ve developed a designer fabric/paint board for each stop on our tour, giving you insight into pattern and hue direction that speaks of that place. And, we’ll also include an image of what the territory looks like–a touristy photograph to evoke memories from those of you who’ve been there or enticements for those who’d like to go.

Tomorrow we start! Get your passports ready as we’ll begin with our four European vacation destinations first. Bon voyage to us all!

Since travel season is upon us, I thought I might share a few of my packing tips with you. You see, I am going to be gone for ten days, and I will not have to check my bags. I thought you might like to know some of my secrets.

1) Keep shoes to a minimum. They take up lots of space. I am taking black ballet flats, sandals, and flip flops. I’ll wear the ones that take up the most room and pack the other two.

2) Try to keep things simple and make sure they mix and match. I am taking:

2 pair of jeans - one cropped, one long
2 black bottoms - one cropped pants, one gaucho
3 white tees, two short sleeve, one long
2 white camisoles
2 light weight sweaters, one white, one red
2 coordinating red tops
5 light weight blouses
necessary lingerie and sleepwear
small gifts for family, a gift bag, and tissue

3) Carry your toiletries and reading material in a tote large enough to hold a small purse, so you can combine them when going through security.

That’s it! I haven’t had to check a bag in years. It has made travel so much easier and enjoyable.

Finally, I want to give you a close up of a few of the little things I am taking for my grandson and his mom. It wasn’t easy keeping it to just a few items that would pack easily. The choices for baby are wonderful. I find I can get lost in the children’s aisles. So, once I arrive at my destination, I will take the proud parents out to do some baby shopping of their own.

It’s time to run! I have a few more things to finish before I catch my plane. I hope to post while I am away, but if I am unable to get to a computer I will share the fun as soon as I return.

It’s great to transform an unattractive area into a place of comfort and beauty. This is a small enclosed court yard, open to the sky. The fireplace is wonderful for cool nights and a beautiful focal point in the space. Add a pretty umbrella or some canvas overhead draping for shade on warm days… ahhhhh, an oasis of calm.

By simply adding some “element friendly” furnishings, flowers, plants, a few accessories and don’t forget a water feature, for that “refreshing sound-of-water therapy”, the space is as warm and welcoming as any interior room (maybe more so).
It’s great to find extra living space in your own yard. It may become your favorite summer escape to read a good book and sip fresh lemonade.

What are some of your favorite outdoor spaces to relax in… Porches, gazebos, floating in a pool, under a big shade tree?

Happy Mother’s Day to all you great Moms! You deserve a special place to relax in!

This gorgeous cookware was the first thing to grab my attention.  The colors, the purpose and the joy of a gift of this nature for a young couple who love to cook and enjoy the beauty of the kitchen.  This was essential in my consideration;

Or, a set of beautiful tableware that would be a pleasure to grace any table.  The magic of this set is in the colors and the design.  It looks as though it’s hand painted.  It reminds me of a vase that I purchased for a home that I was decorating that was made in Italy. This couple is going to Italy on their Honeymoon, I wonder if this tableware would remind them of Italy.  

Or, these matching bath towels and hand towels, with wash cloths are such a typical wedding gift, but it’s the design and texture that I like that makes them so beautiful.  I never dismiss  towels and wash cloths when they are of such great quality, soft and comfortable to the skin.  The matching oversized towels are always a lovely wedding gift.  Having some idea of the color scheme of the different rooms helps tremendously with the selection. 

Now, share with us, what you would do?  What would you select?  I have other choices that I want to consider, but right now, these are at the top of my list.  Share with me your choice/s or selections.

From the moment we moved into this house, my dh and I were not happy with the appearance of the front porch. There was a crack in the concrete, a few stains, and lots of plain . . .

We brought these items with us when we moved. We liked them well enough. A place to sit, and a table to hold a glass, plant, lantern, or whatever else we were in the mood to display. We then added a large outdoor mat by the door, to cover the crack and it provided the added bonus of being a place to wipe the dirt off of shoes. The tricycle plant stand seen among the bushes was added later. I liked what was there, but even with the wreath and garland it continued to seem quite boring!!

So, I thought about Cathy’s post Inviting Entries, and I decided to a add a little color. It was so easy to grab a couple of pillows, a comfortable throw, a pot of pansies, a candle and a bear pretending to be a butterfly. (Now you can play I spy with your kids. LOL) Then a couple of actual plants added to the plant stand and I was finished. The look was warmer, more inviting, and color added some definite pop to an otherwise drab space.

Like I mentioned in, Pretend You’re Visiting. The first thing your guests see tells them the atmosphere of your home. So, bring a little of the inside out and give them a real taste of what they might expect when they walk through the front door.

Where, on the wall, do you hang the drapes? A dilemma for many!
I get many questions on placement of drapery. So, I thought you might be interested in how I like to hang them.

Windows are the eyes to the outside world and a dramatic focal point in a room. Don’t treat them as something to be covered up and hidden. Frame them, as artwork, and play up their architectural presence and defining design statement they make.

Take the window design test…

1. Which WINDOW is bigger?
2. Which window treatment provides more light and air?
3. Which window treatment makes the room feel larger?
4. Which window treatment makes a more interesting statement ?
5. Which window treatment says custom designed look?

Answers:
1.- Both windows are the same size and placement on the wall.
2. 3. 4. 5.- Window #2 (you A’ced that one)

As you can see, simple placement of drapery on the wall, makes a hugh difference in the feel of the room.
This illustration shows, by hanging your drapery close to ceiling height (on 8-9 ft. walls), and, out onto the wall area next to the window, your windows looks twice as big and much more impressive in the room. Yes, this will require a little more expense… longer rod and longer length and width of drapery (if you want the drapery to close completely, not just stationary side panels). But, the impact this simple adjustment makes, will define your room as “well designed” and adds a custom look to your windows.

I like to extend the rod 12″-16″ wider on either side of the window, (if room permits). Then stationary panels will hang nicely in that space. Cover about 2 inches of window with the leading edge of the drape. For light control, you can hang a sheer behind on a double rod or blinds or shades mounted inside the window frame. Hang decorative rods close to the ceiling, allow for the height of the finial. If you have crown moulding, hang just below the moulding. If you want fully functional drapery. Figure rod width first and multiply that by 2 to 2 1/2 times, for fullness of the drapery fabric.

Look in model homes or decorating magazines at how designers hang the drapery. As you enter a room, your direct line of view is at window level…make it interesting and exciting. Let the window be the artwork and the window treatment the frame. These are some important details that give a home a designer look and feel.

With vaulted ceilings, hang draperies at the 8 or 9 ft. height, or all the way up above the highest window. Then out on the wall as room permits.

There are many ways to dress a window. I like to keep draperies fairly simple. Simple straight hanging panels compliment any decorating style. Let the “fabric” and “correct placement” on the window/wall do all the talking.

So…try hanging those draperies, UP and OUT. Up near the ceiling and out on the wall. You’ll love how it makes your room look and feel.

As a result,  my tribute is to “Make Mother’s Day a Happy Day.”  It doesn’t mean that the mother has to be a biological mom, but the one who has cared for you, loved you, sheltered you, protected you, nursed you, corrected you when you were wrong, and praised you when you deserved it.  There is nothing like a loving mother who loves her child or children unconditionally.  So you want to say, “I appreciate you and all that you have done and for what you continue to do.”

There are also those persons in your life that might or might not have children and you have loved them because they have been like a mother to you and maybe you have not known them very long; however, you know that they care about your wellbeing.  But, for you that person represents that ”Mother” image. 

Here are a few suggestions for Mother’s Day gifts: 

This is a beautiful floral arrangement of Feather Grass Spray, Hawaiian Ginger and Protea Spray.  These are faux flowers that look and feel real.

(Click pictures to enlarge)

What about giving your mother tableware, glassware, flatware or a teapot set?  I have provided a variety that you might consider.  You can always buy all if you think that this would be what your mother would want or need.  If you notice, the flatware varies according to the tableware.  The glassware is all one set.  I chose to share a set of 6.  However, you might purchase a set of 8 or a set of 12.  The primary point is that you want to make this great woman happy on her special day.

What about luggage? This is an inexpensive gift that is beautiful, useful, sturdy, and will stand out among the luggage that you see when traveling.  When was the last time that your mother got luggage?  Did you have an opportunity to check out her luggage that she has presently? Is her luggage battered?  If she has had her luggage for a long time, she is due to get new luggage. 

Whatever you decide to get her, don’t forget the Mother’s Day Card.  Just think of it this way, if you can’t decide what you want for her and you have no idea what she wants, give her a gift card that she can use any place and any time.  Now, if you are a mother, I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day.

Let us know what you are getting for your mom and what your children are getting for you for your Mother’s Day.

While visiting Colonial Williamsburg last week, my dh and I talked about our desire to build one more home. I, like Cathy, love a cottage style home. There is something about a home that is cozy and intimate that I find extremely inviting.

Like the house I shared early in the year, this is another of our favorites. We picture them with one large hearth room, a half bath and laundry room on the first floor; and two bedrooms and bath above. It seems that we have collected some art and accessories over the years that we may have to share with others. However, I do believe that simplifying will definitely be worth the effort.

Clean lines, pastoral art, woven fabrics . . . things that soothe and bring comfort. That desire comes to the forefront of our thinking each year as the weather warms and pace slows down. Keeping it simple, gives us more time to play and enjoy friends and family.

So many people choose to move during the Spring and Summer months. If that is on your calendar, or if it is just a dream for the future . . . this is the place to share your thoughts and ideas. Tell us the reasons you have chosen your new home, why you dream about your home of the future, or how you are going make your current home the place to stay.