Summer Decorating: Seashells and Hydrangeas

Decorating with elements of nature is one of my favorite ways to make our home feel ready for summer.  Since the hydrangeas are starting to fade, I cut some and arranged them throughout the house with my seashell collection to bring in a touch of soft color and texture.  I find the repetition of having the same flowers and natural elements in several different rooms makes the decor appear unified and also provides a gentle reminder of the garden outside the walls...

Here a whitewashed woven tray is filled with hydrangeas I'm drying for a future project.  A few shells, from many trips to the Carmel beach, were added and displayed with the blooms in a dessert dish stacked on a cake plate for height.  This is a portable centerpiece that can be set on a table or credenza.

I filled a small vase with hydrangeas and placed it on a tray covered in seashells to adorn the kitchen table.  This served as a centerpiece for today's luncheon with friends!  The layered plates and neutral colors were light and airy.

Although I usually choose plants rather than arrangements outdoors, we've been outside so much in this summery weather that I filled a vase with cut flowers for dinner on the patio.  (I bring them in after dessert to keep the cut flowers happy in our air conditioning!)  

A few hydrangeas also found their way to our family room mantel, where I have them in small vases with twisted willow branches placed behind.

2 comments Tagged: Decorating, Still Life and Styling, Summer

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Five Ways to Beautify Your Backyard for Summer Entertaining

Backyard entertaining is one of the true joys of summer living and creating an outdoor oasis for the warmest part of the year can be easier than you may think.  Although every yard is different, most comfortable outdoor living spaces have a few things in common.  They are inviting, well-maintained, and accentuate the inherent beauty of the garden .  Here are some enticing ideas for adding sparkle and cozy comfort to your backyard this summer.

1)  Fountains:  The sound of running water is very relaxing and also masks any distracting noises elsewhere in the environment.

2)  Comfortable Furniture and Pillows:  Outdoor furniture doesn't need to be expensive it just needs to be durable.  Any piece of furniture will work as long as it is weatherproof and easy to clean. And don't forget to add pillows.  They make a chair look worth sitting in and a bench seem inviting to guests.

3)  Container Plantings:  Plants in pots scattered throughout the conversation area create a cozy feeling in the backyard, and make the environment seem less formal.  It is also a great way to echo the style of the garden in the entertaining space.  For example in a contemporary garden, potted succulents would be a good choice, whereas a classic European garden may feature trimmed topiary in pots.

4)  Sparkle Lighting:  Adding a few strings of white outdoor lights to plants, trees or patios can make all the difference as dusk begins to fall.  Solar lights placed along pathways or used to highlight specimen plants or trees will create ambiance for evening entertaining.

5)  Outdoor Candles and Lanterns:  Decorative lanterns hung in the garden to accent pretty trees or flowers or set on the table for an evening dinner make the mood of the backyard more enjoyable.

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Creative Framing with Vintage Bird Prints









Last week I came across a few unused frames in my studio and decided to fill them with vintage bird prints so they can be hung in our hallway.  Since professional framing can be quite expensive, I opted to use this simple budget-friendly framing technique to accent some vintage bird postcards I purchased years ago.   If you'd like to try this technique to create something similar, the materials I used for the project are listed below  :

• Carte Postale Birds & Nests Vintage Postcards by Cavallini & Co.
• Bella Lux Gift Wrap in feather print
• Burlap ribbon
• Simple brown wooden frames
• cardboard
• tape or glue

To assemble the frames, first mount the bird postcards on sheets of cardboard and trim the edges to make a border around the image.  Then, cut a sheet of cardboard to match the size of the frame and wrap it with the feather printed paper.  Next, run the burlap ribbon from the top to the bottom of the cardboard and tape it on the back.  Then mount the bird image in the center.  Reassemble the frame and hang.  See, isn't that simple?

Also, for those of you who are on Facebook, I finally set up a page for The Gilded Bloom.  Please "like" it if you like it!  Here is the link:

Gilded Bloom Facebook Page

Thanks and have a great week!



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Hunting and Gathering

Fall has finally come in our part of the world and the trees are dropping beautiful acorns and pinecones.  We went for a walk through the park recently and collected these.  I have to say, when I look at the intricately woven pattern on the caps of these acorns,  I am endlessly astounded at the perfect beauty nature often holds. 

 

In addition to stumbling upon many little acorns on the ground we also discovered these spectacular pinecones shaped like flowers.  Aren't they amazing?  The lovely wooden blossoms have a rich brown tone and are such an interesting shape.  I am calling them "pinecone roses".  Does anyone know what kind of tree drops them?

 

When polished and mixed together in glass jars and bowls, these natural vase fillers add texture and dimension to fall decor.  They also bring a hint of autumn into the home without breaking the budget.

Here a glass apothecary jar is filled with acorns and a few pinecone roses are added to the mix for color variation and visual interest.

This post has been added to French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday.

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Holiday Vignettes

     During a recent Christmas brunch at the home of a very creative friend of ours, I was impressed by the dazzling display of her "bird tree".  An intriguing arrangement of bird ornaments and related items had been placed upon a collection of birch branches and sundry twigs which emerged from a classic cream-colored urn topped with blue-green garden moss.  Miniature nests, tall holly berry branches, vibrant glass ornaments, small pictures, and tiny wreaths were tucked in among the sprawling branches.

     The tree reaches nearly five feet tall and is beautifully placed between two large reclining white and gold papier-mache reindeer figures laced with garlands.  This assemblage presents a woodsy, free-form and elegant holiday scene.

  

     A vintage cutglass bowl filled with pinecones, beads and ornaments resting on a dark antique sideboard catches the eye of a nearby diner. Standing tall among green boughs and garlands, an old-fashioned glass Santa figure overlooks the holiday delights.

     A clear glass domed cake stand becomes the focal point for a small Christmas vignette created with ornaments, beads and pinecones. Placing the stand on a classic silver tray adorned with bird sculptures, ornaments and boughs enhances the old world appeal.

    

     This antique dinnerware table setting gracefully invites with its opulence and various textures complemented by silver and glass accents.

1 comment Tagged: Decorating, Holidays

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