There is something about cobalt blue beach umbrellas, chaise lounges
and palm trees that says vacation...
Have a bright, bold, and beautiful weekend!
Best of BB&B this week:
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Chess Anyone - The Boca Resort
Chess anyone? I love this life size chess set on the grounds of the beautiful Boca Resort. Enjoy a game with your afternoon tea...
Update on Contest Winners
Just a little update on who won the last two big giveaways. The first winner Ariel, who writes the blog Loving Every Minute of It, won a custom drawing by Patricia Van Essche of PVE Designs. Ariel chose her darling bungalow as the subject of the drawing. I thought you might like to see the final results. As always, Patricia’s work is wonderful, warm, and personal. First – take a look at Ariel’s house she shares with her husband and three boys in the Texas Hill Country:
Ariel and her husband have updated their house, adding shutters, new paint, landscaping, porches, etc!!!!
And here is Patricia’s drawing. I love the angle she chose to capture it. It looks so inviting with the Adirondack chairs prominently figured, along with the trees and picket fence. If I was Ariel, I would order the note cards that Patricia sells with this drawing on them. It would be so cute !! To read Patricia’s story about the drawing, go HERE.
The next big giveaway was the fabulous lantern from BROWN. Here is the exact same lantern hanging in my client’s house that I worked on this year. I was so excited when Jill Brown offered to give the lantern for a giveaway. It was the largest contest I have ever had. The response was phenomenal – so many people entered!!!! I was only sorry I didn’t have more to hand out. It’s a truly gorgeous light fixture and Jill was so generous to sponsor the contest.
The blogger Brilliant Asylum from Atlanta was the lucky winner of the BROWN lantern. As you can read HERE, she had a choice of either having the four light bulb kit inside the lantern or just the one light bulb kit. She chose the one light bulb kit with the beautiful Edison bulb, shown below. Hopefully when she hangs the lantern Brilliant Asylum will send us a picture to see it! Be sure visit BROWN’s web site HERE to see all their wonderful things.
A huge thank you again to Patricia and Jill for the great giveaways.
Photograph of Christina Strutt’s house in Bath, England – taken from her latest book: At Home With Country HERE.
P.S. The newest Skirted Roundtable is now available with our guest Cabbages and Roses’ Christina Strutt. From England, Strutt is Martha Stewart and Rachel Ashwell rolled into one – with a dash of her mentor Laura Ashley. Beautiful fabrics and clothes. Listen HERE.
Next week we have a HUGE HUGE HUGE guest coming on the Skirted Roundtable: Robert McAlpine! I am so excited I could DIE!!! Wish me luck y’all. This one has me nervous. McAlpine is a major hero to me and I’m sure to you too!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!
Bright Bold and Beautiful: Bon Bon Rose Girls
"What is bright, bold, and beautiful to you?" Thank you Megan!
Like Laura, who we all know and adore, I’m all about living a fun and vibrant lifestyle. One way I achieve this is by filling my life with friends and events that I entertain for. Having a full house of guests over for dinner and parties is when I’m truly at my happiest, and over the past few years I’ve developed some tricks to get the party started and keep it that way. After all no one likes a dull dinner party!
1) Before guests arrive put the appetizers and munchies in the room you want people to congregate in. It never fails that people always want to hang in the kitchen. However, for the head chef (that’s me!) it can be a stressful to have too many people staring me down while I chop! Instead put out a little bowl of nuts (I’m personally obsessed with these honey roasted almonds), crackers and cheese (two thumbs up on Manchengo cheese, it’s a total crowd pleaser) and some drinks on the coffee table. People will naturally wander to where the food is and start talking. Fingers crossed, this should leave you with less of a crowd watching while you put the final touches on dinner.
2) If you’re preparing a more complicated main course why not do a dessert that is simple and can be made the day or morning before? This will mean less chaos for you, especially after a few glasses of vino. Also, its makes the whole evening more approachable and fun for guests. We all know what a whiz you are in the kitchen, so serving something like brownie sundaes or an apple pie lets everyone kick back and relax after a great meal. This ridiculously easy ice cream crispie cake is a summer hit and takes 10 minutes. Given its simplicity it makes me laugh as people devour it, but hey, whatever works!
3) Set your table the night before. If you’re having a seated dinner party you simply must trust me on this. I’ve failed on several occasions big time in this department. The morning of a party I’m always out running last minute errands (Whole Foods, liquor store, etc.) and then it’s off to the kitchen, so that the table is often the last thing to get my attention. By setting the table the night before, you guarantee that you won’t be handing out forks at the last minute.
Of course the last tip comes straight from good ol’ Bridget Jones and her blue soup. Have a great attitude! Pile the dishes to the side, grab a glass of vino and relax. After all they are friends for a reason, if the chicken is scorched and you have to order a pizza, laugh about it and no one will care. They are here to see you and have a fun evening, not judge you on your coco au vin!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Beautiful Home Living ~ Incorporating Animals in your Decor
Animals are fun to incorporate into your decor. Popular themes are monkeys, birds, and elephants. This pair of elephants is perfect for this spot on the marble floor. They are great conversation pieces.
This theme is carried over into the sun room on the side table. There are elephant bookends beside the tropical palm tree lamp.
Aren't these monkeys cute. Have fun with your home accents.
In the dining room, there are two birds on either side of the mirror.
What other animals do you incorporate into your decor?
Beautiful Home Living in Boca Raton
You just cannot get a prettier view than this! I am so glad to be in Boca Raton. Our home overlooks the ocean on one side and the Boca Raton Resort on the other.
Every room has gorgeous ocean views.
I'll be back later after a dip in the pool and a long walk on the beach!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
blue mission
Blue ringhiere look good everywhere.
On the seaside from top to semiinterrato.
Only the balustrade around our tiny garden is not yet blue.
But then, after that: blue mission completed.
UPDATE:
I forgot to post these pictures:
On the seaside from top to semiinterrato.
(for details click on pic to enlarge)
blue balustrade of the balcony on the ground floor
Only the balustrade around our tiny garden is not yet blue.
But then, after that: blue mission completed.
UPDATE:
I forgot to post these pictures:
Angelo sent me this one, with no comment, and at first sight I did not really understood what this line near the ceiling that looks like a shadow would be... is it a blue stipe ??!
In the next picture I saw it clearly :
Angelo must have got crazy about blue !
I think he had some left over blue paint and obviously thought a bit of blue will add an interesting note to our bedroom. So funny.
Bright and Beautiful Zinnia Blooms
These bright and beautiful Zinnia blooms bring a smile to my face.
Happy Wednesday! Click here for tips on growing your colorful
Zinnias in your garden.
Be Bold ~ Chunky Platform High Heels
Would you be so daring as to wear these chunky platform high heels by Tristan Blair? They are show stoppers!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Spanish Farmhouse – Then and Now
I love Spanish architecture. It’s all so romantic and mysterious with the courtyards hidden behind wooden doors, the arches, the tiled roofs, the iron light fixtures. This farmhouse in Spain was recently published in a Spanish magazine and it caught my eye. It was built in the 18th century and only one family has ever inhabited it. The owners have spent considerable time in the United States and recently decided to return home and fix up the property. Who can blame them? Here, at the entrance, the heavy wood doors are open onto the central courtyard which most rooms look out onto. The family dog stands guard. I kept looking at this picture and it reminded me of something. It started to drive me a little crazy - it took me an entire day to figure it all out…….
Inside the central courtyard of the farmhouse.
There is a porch that runs parallel to the house.
Outdoor dining on the porch.
Into the house from the porch: through curtains and a wood door, then French styled doors.
The living room is bright – showing signs of its recent updating. The modern art work is a surprise.
The kitchen is all white tiles and terracotta floors.
The master bedroom overlooks the central courtyard. Here the floor is seagrass with scattered rugs over it. The decor is so different than French and English. Its more masculine than French, more colorful than English. Even though recently updated, the interiors leave a lot to be desired. But still, looking at this story reminded me of something which I finally remember what...
Is this Texas or Spain? The 18th century Spanish farmhouse reminded me of a ranch house that was built in south Texas by Michael Imber, a distinguished and highly honored architect living in San Antonio, Texas. The image of the Spanish farmhouse’s white stucco colonial architecture facade brought this Texas ranch to mind. Here, the courtyard is located to the front of the facade.
The ranch is located between San Antonia and Laredo – on the south Texas range. Named Rancho dos Vidas, Michael Imber has received many awards for this particular property. He says that he drew inspiration for his design from “Spanish Colonial archetypes of South Texas and Northern Mexico.” No wonder the 18th century farmhouse in Spain reminded me of this ranch! To reach the ranch house, you enter through protective walls which keep the harsh environment from encroaching on the property. The plans are beautifully illustrated here, where you can see the house is U-shaped around the front courtyard.
A view at dusk of the entry into the house through an arched doorway.
A view of the front overlooking the wild Texas scrub landscape. The Spanish styled facade can be seen in the middle of the compound.
A view of the lush courtyard. Notice the interesting shaped shutters and the ledge on which the windows are sited.
A close up of the beautiful barrel tiled roof. No expense was spared to make this ranch house look as authentic as possible.
A pergola topped walkway off the swimming pool area. I love the lantern hanging down from the vines – so romantic!
Inside the ranch, strictly Texan decor. The ranch is used as a hunting property – the deer were probably shot here. This interior looks more fitting for a ranch than the original 18th century Spanish farm! This ranch was published in several magazines and books.
The beautiful kitchen with French chairs and table. Notice the island is made out of Spanish tiles, and also notice how the stove is placed inside a towering mantel. Beautiful. The windows overlook the front courtyard.
The master bedroom reminds me of a Ralph Lauren advertisement! The doors are so beautiful. Notice the shape of the fireplace, so graceful.
Another beautiful bedroom with a leather bed and French nightstands. All of the beamed ceilings throughout are so wonderful.
A closeup of the front entrance with its massive door and arched window.
The back of the house overlooks the swimming pool and the river. The main living area is to the right.
It’s interesting that the new ranch in Texas, modeled after Spanish architecture found in Mexico, looks as old and as authentic as the original 18th century Spanish farm which serves as the inspiration. Which is better, the new or the old? I think I might like the new myself!!!
To see Michael Imber’s beautiful portfolio, go HERE.
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