My Winter Mantel

I have been playing with the mantel.  There are plenty of mantels wearing a 'winter look' but I don't like white and bare since that's all you see in this season outdoors.  So I have just been doing a little rearranging today.  The color purple keeps appealing to me lately.  So of course there is purple on the mantel.



The mantel started as this but I got a little heavy handed with the flowers so I knew I needed to go with less.  My pretty plates were being blocked too.



This is where the mantel was before Christmas, just as a reminder if you forgot.:)  I really liked this look but it felt a little too preppy for me over time.  But then I may change my mind.


The plates were rearranged and a few flowers were taken away, much better!  My faux African violets pair well with the purple transferware.  I find the warmer purples in the transferware are more appealing to me.  This room has morning light so the warmer purple is prettier in this room since it receives cool light. The plates in the center, on each side, are called Autumn Leaves.  I had just one for a long time but recently came across another, they seem to be easily collected.  I noticed the new addition is very close to my original one but the latest one is more warm in color with more of a gold to it then green.



The mister's grandmother collected plates and he keeps reminding me that 'old women' collect plates and then start hanging them all over the house.  Hmm...not a bad idea, be careful what you say!  I am over 50, when does 'old' officially start?!



My mother loved African violets and I am always reminded of her when I see them.

Jan

Beautiful Color

These dreary days of winter makes me yearn for color, beautiful color.  







Found on grahamandgreen.co.uk here.




















Pierre Auguste Renoir - At the Theatre (La Premiere Sortie), 1877 at the National Gallery London England | Flickr








Ebay Antique Church Stained Glass Window Architectural Salvage Gothic Arch 1880s W288 here.





























Carolyne Roehm Hello Magazine | Carolyne Roehm here.




"Roses In A Painted Vase" by Gary Jenkins here.











Jan

Missing Green

During these short cold days of January I find myself longing for the green days of June.  I really don't mind the cold but miss the view of green hovering heavily on trees outside my door.   The cool/cold air is a temporary haven for the body but not for the soul.   For many southerners it is a necessity to endure summer's heat to enjoy the fruits of our address.








New England Home








Lonny.com












Sarah Jessica Parker's home








House Beautiful








Mary McDonald








Eddie Ross Interiors








elmueble.com








Kylie M Interiors








Mossy green library - Ben Pentreath, photo by Jan Baldwin~ Seen on The Fuller View








Illinois Designer Cindy Bardes Galvin








housebeautiful.com














Jan

Howard's Way

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Straight from New York city is the kitchen of designer Howard Slatkin.  New York Social Diary pages are full of photos of his entire apartment.  To save time we will see the kitchen today.










From New York Social Diary, "Looking into the kitchen from the gallery. The wood floor, the tiles on the walls and ceiling, and even the armoire were all newly made for this room."  Howard says, “Not for me the conventional antiseptic kitchen with white cabinets, white marble countertops, white subway tile.”  I have to say it is a warm kitchen.






"The cabinets are painted forest green and stenciled several shades of gold and black by Stuart-Creal Studio."




"When planning the kitchen Howard decided that the two-step-triangle layout works best: the sink, range, and refrigerator should be no more than two steps from one another."




“One can never have enough bookshelves in a room and that includes the kitchen,” says Howard.  "Painted Delft-style tiles by Sasha Solodukho covered not only the walls and ceiling but are inset into the door casings and even the grills in front of the air conditioning and heating units."






"A dedicated flower room is off the main kitchen. The counters are teak and the stainless-steel sink is twenty-six inches deep to accommodate flower vases and big tin buckets for conditioning the flowers that Howard brings in from his garden in the country."




"Everything has its place."




"For quick reference, kitchen closet doors are filled with photographs of table settings and flower arrangements from dinner parties and celebrations over the years."  What a great idea!  I know from putting tables and vignettes together it's great to look back for inspiration.







"Assorted table linens are organized in glass-fronted drawers where they can be easily seen and selected for table settings."  For more on Howard Slatkin's home please go here.




Jan