Decorating
Be My Guest – Bedroom Design Plans
Transforming a depressing guest bedroom into a happy yellow Grandmillennial retreat for guests to relax and enjoy! We are guilty! Guilty as charged! Convicted of making our dear guests sleep in a sad, SAD bedroom when staying over for a visit. In our house on the top floor resides a depressing disaster of a guest…
Read MoreStyle Advice for Choosing a Rug
Choosing a rug requires many key decisions from material and size to style! Learn about the four main styling elements to simplify those decisions and decorate with rugs successfully! The character of a room is instantly elevated by the addition of a stylish rug. Rugs can inspire a room design or be the finishing touch…
Read More5 Tips for Traditional Framing
Get that Grandmillennial look on your walls with these 5 tips for framing and matting works on paper. The arrival of Fräulein Auguste Strobl and permanent residence here at Dogwood House necessitated some re-arranging of art this past weekend. I just shared the story of that portrait in this post. Totally unplanned but totally fortuitously,…
Read MoreA Paragon of Beauty – Ruminations on a Portrait
Some of you keen observers noticed this charming lady serenely smiling out of the Hunt Collection sale photos from Thursday. I’m excited to introduce you to the newest resident here at Dogwood House: Fräulein Auguste Strobl (1807 – 1871)! Auguste came to me by way of auction, and I must confess to only leaving a…
Read MoreHot Pink for Autumn Decor in the Living Room?
YES! You can go bold with a vibrant pink for autumn decor in the living room and still have a traditional, cozy feel! Just take a look… Mixing autumn favorites with lush florals and colorful pops defines the traditional but playful feel of my autumn decor this year! See my inspiration board here. The mantel…
Read MoreStrolling the Autumn Forest
Inspirations for fall decorating and entertaining mixing moody botanicals with worn plaids, French Country with English Cottage, and bold color with burnished metallics. Two years ago I started the tradition of creating a flatlay mood board for autumn decorating and entertaining, and I love doing this creative exercise. It pulls together my ideas and inspirations.…
Read More3 Things You Should Know About Wedgwood
Curio IQ Series: a short and sweet lesson in antiques, discussing Wedgwood ceramics. Here’s 3 things you should know to start a collection! I’ll never forget my first real introduction to Wedgwood ceramics — the polished basalts, the velvety jaspers, and delicate curling reliefs. I was a registration assistant working on a cataloging and photography…
Read MoreSecrets to The Art of Layering
Six decorator secrets to the art of layering to achieve that collected style without looking cluttered. Grab your cup of coffee or tea and come sit with me! I’m going to let you in on a few of my best secrets to the art of layering! You know the look I’m talking about. It’s collected…
Read More3 Things You Should Know About Opaline Glass
Curio IQ Series: Let’s take a short and sweet lesson in antiques! If you’ve flipped through a design magazine or coffee table book in the last 30 years, then chances are you’ve spied a table or two set with brilliant aqua goblets in varying sizes but all with a timeless wafer stem. This bold color…
Read MoreChristmas in July: Garland Kits
Do you love to decorate for Christmas, but ever feel like your decor falls flat or your DIYs never turn out right? Why not enjoy the DIY process and get a gorgeous designer look all at the same time? Don’t waste money on supplies you don’t need or time trying to design a look! Instead…let…
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