One Cool Sink

Happy Monday! It's Spring Break around here and last week I was happy about having a "staycation". This week, I'm not so sure, but today I am loving this sink!How cool is this? This would be great for the boys' bathroom. Any thoughts?

Krissy

image via: country living

Flashback Friday - Medieval Times

I have a problem. I have a passion that borders on obsession with England and I really love Medieval England. Why? I don't know. I mean there is the obvious: castles, kings and queens, knights and crusades. Then there is the not so obvious: the plague and how it affected Medieval society, the great Cathedral building that thrived during this period of time and the beauty of the architecture and how that contradicts the way the majority of society lived. The "Dark Ages" weren't really as dark as they have come to be known. Advances were made in the arts and medicine and it wasn't just a bunch of dirty peasants running around drunk on ale. Although, ale was the primary drink, for young and old alike, as water was unfit to drink and the ale actually provided some minerals and vitamins. No, I am not promoting underage drinking. I am simply stating a fact.

I have compiled a few sayings that we still use today that had their origins in Medieval society. I find this interesting, so maybe you will, too. If not, have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.

caught you red-handed: a thief's hand was dipped in a berry-die that would stain the hand and all that saw him would know that he was a thief.

raining cats and dogs: although there is some controversy over the exact origin of this one, some say it is from the cats, dogs, mice, rats and birds that found refuge in the thatched-roofs of Medieval homes and when a heavy rain came, down came the varmits.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater: Medieval hygiene left a lot to be desired. One cleaned themselves a little each day, but because of the expense of a large barrel in which to bathe and the wood to heat water, a good soaking bath was only taken once a year, usually in May. The man of the manor was the first to bathe, followed by his sons and other men of the household, then women, children and last, babies. By the time the poor babes were allowed to bathe, can you imagine the gooey, muck of the water (that's for you Sue!)? You could hardly see the babe in all that muck, thus the saying. Credit for this saying is to the Germans, not the British, but I love the saying.

frog in your throat: Medieval physicians believed that frog secretions could cure a cough. So, a frog was put in the mouth of the patient until it was determined the treatment was complete. Ok, maybe it was the "dark ages".

Betcha can't wait until I post on facts about the Plague!

Krissy

photo via: awesomestories.com

Reno Memos - Copper Dormers

We finally have our plans finished for the renovation and we are seeking out the perfect contractor. I sort of feel like I'm looking for a husband with my husband. Is that weird? The qualities that one would want in a mate are the ones that one would want in a contractor: honesty, loyalty, hard-working. Ok, my list for my "potential husband" was a bit longer (and Mr. Pearl met every one!) but you get my point. It is hard to choose someone to work with you on something as intimate as your home. I'll let you know who passes the test.

The exciting part is that I now have a drawing of the vision that I had in my mind all along. Mr. Pearl, bless his heart, was totally following me blindly, as he could not see what I saw in the house. He wasn't sure until he saw the drawings. He is on-board now and ready to go. Yeah! I am looking forward to the entire project, but the exterior is really close to my heart, as this old girl (the house, not me) is ready to start her transformation into a French beauty. The plans call for "louvered copper dormers" and I have been researching them. How gorgeous are these?

I am loving them all and can't wait to see one in a spot of honor on the house. What do you think?

Krissy

photos via: chrisind.com and copper-inc.com

Design Inspirations - Tablescapes

The luncheon last week not only featured the fabulous Alexa Hampton, but the work of many talented local designers and I thought I would share. Walking around, looking at the table designs really inspired me. I hope they do the same for you!

This Lilly Pulitzer inspired table was my design. This is where all those poufs that Sweet Pea and I made went!

Yummy! This candy table was so sweet, right down to the candy placemats.

This fabulous table was put together by some uber-tanlented moms from one of the local private schools. It was amazing to sit under!

I may have mentioned that I am a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, this is the "official" Kappa table from the event. I love the china with the Kappa crest on it. rah-rah-K-K-G!

Vintage circus - my sweet friend Leslie put this together and it didn't disappoint! I love the pink, green and

rose color scheme.

These two tables were both done by the same florist. They were so beautiful in person.

Tiffany blue never gets old!

This table was my favorite! This is how I want my home to feel. The casual linen tablecloth and

and chair covers with the dressy, formality of the china and crystal and the soft, romantic florals - perfection!

Have a good one!

Krissy

Alexa Hampton

Alexa Hampton and yours truly

What a week! Can it really be Thursday already? I hinted earlier in the week that I had some exciting events in store and I truly intended to post as they happened, oh well, I had good intentions. Does that count? The poufs that I gave a DIY on were used as a centerpiece for a table that I decorated for a fundraiser luncheon that was today. (I will post on that later) The event is near and dear to my heart, as it is put together by the local alumni association of my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the local alumni Pi Beta Phi chapter. The event is decorated with tables designed by local designers, florists, stores and other fabulously talented individuals and features a wonderful speaker in the field of design. This year did not disappoint. Alexa Hampton was the speaker! Alexa's late father, Mark Hampton, spoke at the event in 1997 and we were excited to welcome her.

Oh what's not to love about this kitchen - it's in a beach house in the Hamptons

Alexa loves to use canopies in bedrooms. She said she loves the way it cocoons the bed and makes one feel safe and less exposed in the room. I adore this sunny yellow.

This is somewhat of a departure for Alexa, as she is known for her use of color, but she used contrast in materials, heights of objects and tones to make it a warm, fabulous space.

This was Alexa's own master bedroom before she remodeled her New York city apartment. This room is now her twin sons' bedroom and she and her hubby have a wonderful, new space with a beautiful canopy bed.

Alexa is awesome. Really. She runs her own design empire, that takes her traveling all over the world, all the while raising three children under the age of four. She makes it all look effortless! I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with her yesterday and I am ready for her to move to Texas. I want her as a friend. She is a hoot and so fun to talk to. All of her life experiences and talent, combined with a sharp wit and bubbly personality - she's adorable and I think, "yeah. We could totally be best friends." And then, she talks about design - I'm still with her, her design style is more formal than mine, but I love her use of color and classic interiors - and then, she talks about jetting to Italy for marble for a foyer - ok, I think, "I'm still there. I could hang with her." - and then she casually mentions her dad and David Hicks (her Daddy worked under him - gasp!) and the things she learned and absorbed as a child at her dad's oh so talented feet and then, well, could we be best friends? Sure, but I might drive her crazy asking her to tell me stories about when she was a little girl growing-up and try and soak-up some of that design goodness. Seriously though, she is so talented and her book, The Language of Interiors, would make a wonderful addition to your design library.

It's almost the weekend!

Krissy

DIY - Tissue Paper Poufs

This is another crazy week, but I will have some exciting events to share, so stay tuned! One of the upcoming surprises involves the use of tissue paper poufs. I bought a kit that made three and taught myself how to construct these puppies on my own. I have made several different sizes and colors and had a ball putting them together. Sweet Pea was my assistant, so with a little patience, we decided most anyone can make these. Sweet Pea and I thought that the extra-small poufs would look adorable on top of a pretty package, a grouping of different sizes makes an interesting mobile to suspend from a ceiling in a girl's room. The poufs also make colorful centerpieces for a spring table setting. There is just no limit to their uses, so be creative!

Step 1 - I just used a package of ten sheets. This works great for small to medium poufs, but for a large size, where you use the entire length for one pouf, use fifteen sheets for fullness.

Step 2 - Take the tissue out of the bag and unfold. The cutest size is made by cutting the sheets in half, so that you can make two poufs from one package. This is where you can experiment with sizes. I cut some sheets about three-fourths of the way to make one medium size and one tiny one. Note: the tiny ones take a lot of patience to fluff, so don't get discouraged.

Step 3 - Cut the ends of each side. You can cut them with pointed-tips or rounded like waves or scallops.

Step 4 - Fold the sheets, using an accordion fold and then secure with a light gauge floral wire.

Step 5 - Fan out the sides of the sheets.

Step 6 - Start to fluff by pulling up the individual sheets and gently pulling toward the center. After you finish one side, do the same thing on the other.

Step 7 - Play around and fluff the folds to hide the center wire and make a complete circle pouf.

Step 8 - You can attach lengths of ribbon to hang your pouf, or leave it as is, and rest it in a vase or bowl.

Happy Monday!

Krissy

Going Green

What's not to love about this kitchen? The green ceiling, the totally fabu drum shade, the plate wall - love it!

Green trim, LOVE the stripe fabric and the pops of blue and black - this is so fun.

More green greatness.

Hello strangers! Sorry for the break in posts. I have been wearing my "mom" hat lately, as Sport Cort had a bout with a nasty case of strep and then we took a quick vacay to Great Wolf Lodge. "Vacay" isn't the right word for what we had. A beating? A sharp stick on the eye? Yes, those might be closer to the truth. The mini-pearls had a ball though and that made the ordeal worth it.

Green is a color that I have only recently come to love. I used to have an aversion to the color. Why? Don't laugh, but it stems from growing-up in a city where football is king and one is fiercely loyal to their team. Your team is determined by the high school you attend. My high school colors were navy blue and gold and were a huge part of my wardrobe and decor. The rival high school? The one that no self-respecting cheerleader and loyal fan of my high school would be caught dead near, much less sporting their colors? They were green and white. Laugh all you want, but it has taken me a long time to get over this!

All this being said. I love green. I really do! It makes me happy. I love green and all of it's wonderful shades and tones. I love that green can be a neutral or it can be a bold stand-out. Green is a chameleon. Green can be traditional. Green can be retro. Green can be fresh and modern. What do you think? What is your favorite shade? I have found that when I can't get a room to feel right and complete, all it needs is a touch of green. A green pillow, lamp, a plate or bowl - try it. It just works. I can't help but feel that our Creator loves green and all of it's variations, too. He uses it a lot. See, you can't go wrong. You can't go wrong, unless it involves high school football and then, well, green sucks. Some things you can't change.

Toodles!

Krissy

PHOTOS VIA WWW.COUNTRYLIVING.COM

Flashback Friday - Bustle-up!

I thought this was very sophisticated, bubble-bottom and all.

If this fancy, ball gown could talk!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of chaperoning Sweet Pea and her class to a Civil War museum. The museum is a private collection that consists mostly of military clothing from the war and it was fascinating. The main room had glass display cases lined-up against the walls and the Yankees were on one side and the Confederates on the other, never the two shall combine. The collection held uniforms of all different ranks and some weapons, but what was truly interesting were the little items that the soldiers carried with them: a small Bible, lockets with faded photos and locks of hair, ornate pocket watches, etc. These were items from home that the soldiers carried with them into battle and brought them comfort when they were away from loved ones. Sweet Pea and her classmates hurried through the exhibit and I was hard pressed to get them interested in dusty, old uniforms, until we got to the last room. The room was filled with women and children's fashions from the 1850's to the early 1900's.

Something for the gentlemen - I know that our forefathers were smaller than we are today, but these uniforms wouldn't fit my twelve year old Fisherman!

Sweet Pea and her friends decided that they definitely live in the right era, as the clothing was so cumbersome! There was an entire display of corsets and once the girls got over giggling at the idea of staring at undergarments, they were mesmerized at the tortuous looking items. Why would anyone wear those? The result was quite amazing - the teeny tiny waists had to be seen to be believed. Tighter Mammy, tighter! Another case held bustles. This one gets me. Why, pray tell, would anyone want to make their backside look as though it swallowed a basketball? The display even held a maternity dress from the 1860's. I did not know that pregnant women were not to be seen during their pregnancy and only left the house for church and funerals. This was not that long ago! We've come a long way, baby!

Reading about the past is one thing, but to see clothing that an actual living person wore and lived their life in makes the past real for me. The fancy, silk ballgowns, the calico "work" dresses, the heavy, long wool swimsuit, bonnets and hats and the fussy, little children's clothes.. all tell stories of a life lived. I love to study the past and look at the paths that have lead us to where we are today and I wonder what will be in a clothing display case from 2011 and what will it say about our lives? Will there be a display of Spanx next to the corsets and bustles? I'll take Spanx any day over whale bones and non-stretchy fabrics, thank you very much! And as for the bustles, well, since I am blessed with my own "built-in" bustle, I think I'll let them stay in the past.

Actual bustles - strap one on!

A child's corset. Really?

Sweet Pea and friends - very happy not to be wearing the above device!

Happy Weekend!

Krissy