Update - Progress on our house

Summer on Cape Cod is definitely not a time to try to accomplish a lot of WORK. Between the gorgeous weather, the lure of the ocean or the pool, and out-of-town friends visiting us, I have done very little work on the house. BUT....now that Labor Day has come and gone, I have a renewed energy for getting things done around our house and garden. Here is a peek at some of the few projects or additions that actually have been accomplished during this past summer.

The Art Gallery:

We painted and hung the official sign, once Jack's design was approved by the historical commission. Together, we chose the colors to complement the facade of the building, as well as Jack's color palette, that generally pervades his paintings on view inside the gallery. The trim of the gallery facade got painted, although admittedly, the rest of the exterior has yet to see a paintbrush!

Before (old colors, ridiculously small shutters, overgrown hedge and temporary sign)...

during...

...and now.

Inside the gallery, Jack built a couple of movable walls, significantly increasing the square footage of wall space. We also painted the entire inside of the gallery - all walls and trim - pure white. It had been a mixture of grays, which really pulled light away from the artwork. Now the paintings shine against the reflective white background.

Before...

...and now - almost done. (We need to finish painting the portable walls and install better lighting before the darker winter months arrive.)

The Pool Terrace:
For my birthday, our oldest son and his family gave me a beautiful set of three turquoise pots which match the color of the pool water and cushions so incredibly well! I just love them (the kids AND the pots!) What a great addition to the terrace. And I will be able to use them indoors over the winter, too.

The Living Room:

For a full process report on the living room, with lots of details, check back in a few days - I'm still working on it. For now, here are some shots of work in progress.

The walls have gone from white to a soft, not-too-bright yellow, custom matched to my couch fabric background color. The woodwork was painted the same color, which I then glazed over with a darker shade from the same yellow family.

Painting the walls

Woodwork glaze before and after.

And I have chosen the fabrics for the curtains and the new table skirt. Those will be done soon. Can you guess which fabric is for which project?

Tablescape Thursday

HEREND'S "Rothschild Bird" CHINA

In last Thursday's tablescape post, I promised to do another setting with close-ups of the various pieces I had used for this photo:

I am still unpacking china, etc., but I thought that I'd give you a little teaser, this week, on the Herend pattern that got so many comments last week - Rothschild Bird.

This Hungarian hand painted china pattern is very old (from the mid-1800's), and was originally designed for the Rothschild banking family, in France. The pattern actually has twelve different depictions of two birds each, sitting in trees or standing next to the branches. Every pair of birds has a gold link necklace draped over and through the tree branches, as well. The story is that one of the Rothschild daughters had been given a gold necklace (either as an engagement gift from her fiance, or by her father). She had lost the necklace in the garden and couldn't find it. Several days later, the Rothschilds' gardener found the necklace hanging in a tree branch. It had apparently been transported there by a couple of birds!

Since I wasn't able to get a table setting done for this week, I thought readers might enjoy seeing the twelve different motifs that make up this exquisite pattern. Most of these are dinner plates, but some are salads, hence the variation in scale.

Enjoy looking at these pictures, and next week, I'll have the promised full table setting, including lots of serving pieces in this gorgeous pattern!

Bon Appetit!

To view tablescapes by other bloggers, every Thursday, visit Between Naps On The Porch, where they are all linked in. Enjoy!

Tablescape Thursday

A FORMAL LUNCHEON

In this client's dining room, I painted a Chinese mural, with bluebirds and butterflies, and faux chinoiserie lattice work around the room, under the chair rails. I felt this grand room, with its Waterford chandelier and elegant woodwork and appointments, called for a truly formal table setting. These photos were taken a couple of years ago for the book, Spectacular Homes of New England.

I used my own Herend Rothschild Bird china, along with some pieces of Herend's Queen Victoria pattern, Baccarat and antique crystal, Tiffany Chrysanthemum flatware, and Swiss linens. By an amazing chance, the homeowner happened to own a Rothschild Bird tureen that matched mine, so we were able to display two on the mantlepiece!

(Photos by Nan & Monty Abbott)

I wish I had more pictures of this setting, up close, but I will focus on a similar setting with lots of individual close-ups for next week. (This week, I'm rushing to get ready for our grandchildren to visit our new home - lots of unpacking boxes and childproofing still to be done!)

Bon Appetit!

To view tablescapes by other bloggers, every Thursday, visit Between Naps On The Porch, where they are all linked in. Enjoy!

Decorating with COLOR: Part II

Last summer, I did a post entitled, "Decorating with COLOR: Part I", fully intending to get to a follow-up post shortly thereafter. I don't know how it is with many of you readers, but I simply can't tell you where my own time goes, or why it disappears so darned fast! Here it is more than a year later, and I am finally getting to "Part II", even though this subject has constantly been in the back of my mind.

Color affects our brainwaves and therefore our moods. A room that is vibrant with, say, bright red or orange, will have a completely different affect on its occupant than would a soft turquoise or sand colored room. Since I also just did a post on rainbows this week, and how I like to arrange things in rainbow order, I thought it would be fun to combine the two ideas. Here are pictures of some rooms I have decorated, arranged by color highlighted.

PINK - perky, positive and feminine

Soft an enveloping, this shade of light pink, with peachy overtones, is a joy.

Coraly pink in my master bathroom at Tranquility Lodge.

Traditional with a punch - this pink tartan wool, punctuated by forest green Ultrasuede, livens up my sister's living room.

Pink fabric, upholstered on the walls of this two story foyer, is cheerful and welcoming.

Raspberry strie glazed walls in a living room I did, West of Boston. The room was very feminine, in one sense, but comfortable for the husband because it was so exciting - not a baby pink.

A guest bedroom in Newport. The room has soft green walls, so the pinks jump out at the viewer.

A young girl's bedroom, combining raspberry and taupe - very sophisticated.

Hoppin' happy pink!

The painted coral interior of this antique cabinet in my kitchen is a lovely backdrop for dishes.

RED - vibrant, warm and cozy

(Photo by Nan & Monty Abbott)

All of the woodwork in my kitchen, at Tranquility Lodge, was painted this gorgeous red - a shade somewhere between cherry and Chinese red. This is an incredibly cozy room!

My coral red living room at Tranquility Lodge

I painted two petite tables Chinese red, so that they really make a statement it the room.

Coral red silk upholstered walls made my living room at Tranquility Lodge a warm and happy place - day or night.

These white lamps have such presence against the white walls, because of their orangey red silk shades.

ORANGE - edgy and exciting

My favorite dining room I ever did, for a client South of Boston. Edgy, and just plain fun!

Vibrant tangerine hues stand out on a turquoise blue ground.

Look at how these peachy orange pillows pop on the blue loveseat. And one can't miss the orange tufts in the upholstery.

Orange polka dot ribbon glued around the edges of this shade give it definition, while also being playful.

OCHRE - old world, earthy and tranquil

My kitchen at Tranquility Lodge. I faux painted the walls to look like stone. The atmosphere was that of a farmhouse in Provence.

(Photo by Jay Elliott)

A powder room with upholstered walls. The ochre with burgundy is so earthy, yet snappy, too.

YELLOW - bright, sunny and cheerful

Thibaut wallpaper in a master bedroom - so sunny!

(Photo by Nan & Monty Abbott)

A very formal, and potentially dark, dining room is lightened up by sunny yellow walls.

China plates pop against this soft lemon background.

GREEN - invigorating, outdoorsy and natural

A charming bedroom in an antique home, wreathed in garden greens and touches of coral.

The peacefulness of the turquoise background, in this dining room, is enlivened by vibrant splashes of lime.

I find lime green to be so cheerful and uplifting - wonderful both indoors and out.

A little girl's room in garden greens - such a charming and happy atmosphere.

My dining room at Tranquility Lodge had numerous greens, which all worked together, because that's the way the are found in nature.

A teenage boy's bedroom, above, and a man's study, below, both done in dark greens, are masculine and sedate.

TURQUOISE - serene, soft and beachy

This living room, in an oceanside town, is so relaxing because of its various turquoise fabrics.

(Photo by Nan & Monty Abbott)

This dining room in Newport is mostly aqua blue. It is at once bright and calming.

(Photo by Michael Lee)

(Photo by Michael Lee)

My sunroom at Tranquility Lodge was a great segue to the garden, with shades of turquoise.

Watery hues in a master bathroom.

A serene and sophisticated little girl's room.

(Photos by Nan & Monty Abbott)

Turquoise by our pool, is so soothing, especially as a foil for the warm-colored terra cotta tiles on the patio.

BLUE - cool, watery and crisp

My daughter's "big girl" bedroom at Tranquility Lodge included lots of soft blue, to cut the sweetness of the rose wallpaper and fabric.

While blue can be a cold color, it is very useful when a cooling vibe is called for.

This room was so bright and sunny that I knew I could get away with lots of cool and crisp blue hues.

VIOLET, LAVENDER & PERIWINKLE - warm, inviting and offbeat

Lavender and periwinkle - a match made in heaven! It's both cool and edgy, at the same time.

My niece's bedroom, which my sister decorated. I added periwinkle accessories and finishing touches.

(Photo by Nan & Monty Abbott)

A guest bedroom in Newport - all purples, periwinkles and violets - so appropriate, as this room overlooks the ocean.

(Photo by Michael Lee)

Lavender touches in the flowers, linens and china bring life to this table. (Note, also, the lavender flowers in the historic wall mural.)

NEUTRAL TAUPES, SANDS AND WHITES - clean, quiet and peaceful

I painted the ceiling in this den to resemble a cigar smoke stained gentleman's club. The effect is one that envelopes its occupant in peace and relaxation.

In a dining room with quiet taupe walls, chairs and white slipcovers, anything can be done to the table, from ultra sedate to ultra vibrant, as in this photo.

My sister's screen porch - a completely peaceful respite.

This very restful master bedroom combines mostly sand and cream colors with touches of watery blue.

(Photo by Nan & Monty Abbott)

BLACK - makes a statement, grounding

A black lamp, and black matting around the framed portrait, bring this corner to life.

Small powder rooms can be difficult to decorate, but the black here just makes this room jump to life. I love the way the white fixtures, as well as the motifs on the Tibaut wallpaper, pop against the black ground.

Please note that all of the photos in this post are of my own designs, and are copyrighted. They may be reproduced on other blogs, but I ask that you please give me credit, and link back here, when you do use them. Thank you!