Design - Thanksgiving Fantasies

For me, Thanksgiving week is about being thankful for many, many things,  and for being with those I  love.

I am a homebody at heart, and while I love my own home, I am a professed design junkie.

Sooooo,  I would happily celebrate Thanksgiving in any of these spaces with my family, curling up by a fire,  dining on turkey and dressing,  and giving thanks for all of our blessings.

These images are all saved in my favorites files, and I am sorry to say I do not save sources. You will recognize some designers and homes from magazines, but I sincerely apologize for not being able to credit every source and photographer. If you would like to be credited, please let me know and I will happily do so. 

Now, on to my favorites!

Kinfolk - My New Love

 Those who know me know that my most favorite social event is a small, unpretentious dinner party -  sitting around the dinner table over a tasty meal with good friends, or new friends, and talking.....and eating....and drinking wine or tea or whatever pleases you.....and more talking, sharing stories and joys and sorrows and lots of laughter.  

Then comes more coffee and dessert, and more good conversation with more laughter thrown in - good stories and sharing, and more wine or de-caf at that point. 

All of this is soooo much more fun and meaningful to me than a large social gathering of many small conversations and loud music.

I have just discovered the journal/blog and on line magazine Kinfolk and am totally enamored.

                                                                 
                                                                    In their own words,

"Kinfolk is a collaborative effort to encourage a more natural approach to entertaining. It's the marriage of our appreciation for art and our love for spending time with family and friends."

 Three things I love a lot - art, family and friends.

The people in our lives are what makes life rich and full. I have shared a photo from an annual Christmas party we used to have. 

We don't have this particular party any more as traditions have changed, but still love gathering small groups of friends around the table for dinner and conversation. 

I try to practice what I preach,  which is that it's not about being a gourmet cook, but about the sharing of one's home and time. 

Take out Chinese or pizza is just as good as the finest meal.

Sometimes I forget and get insecure about my inability to juggle food prep, decorate, and be a gracious hostess all at once. 

Then I remind myself what I truly believe:

Loving and sharing with the people in our lives is what it's all about.

 Kinfolk has great photos and articles about good food and waaaaay more adventure than it in my life.

Here I am on one such adventure, though......

 Source

 That's my husband in the red union suit and I am just to his right in the black nightie - (mmm..hmmmm....maybe in my next life)

Seriously, it is a cool blog

 and I have to quote them again because I couldn't say it any better if I tried:

 Kinfolk is a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings. We recognize that there is something about a table shared by friends, not just a wedding or once-a-year holiday extravaganza, that anchors our relationships and energizes us. We have come together to create Kinfolk as our collaborative way of advocating the natural approach to entertaining that we love.

 Every element of Kinfolk – the features, photography, and general aesthetics – are consistent with the way we feel entertaining should be: simple, uncomplicated, and less contrived. Kinfolk is the marriage of our appreciation for art and design and our love for spending time with family and friends.

 Love this image from Kinfolk Journal.

Kinfolk - check it out .

Design - Minimalist?

                                                                                   Source

Designer Carolina Irving's living room......

                                                                           Source

My living room..............

Hmmmm.......who says I'm not a minimalist?

Maybe it's all relative.

Design - Bathrooms I Could Live In

These images are from my personal files and I have no credit information.

If any of these are yours and you would like credit, kindly email me and I will do so. Thank you.

Design - A Beautiful and Gracious Dallas Home

I had the privilege and the pleasure of staying with my dear childhood friend , Darla, when I went back to Dallas for our high school reunion several weeks ago. 

  Darla and her husband live in an older neighborhood in the city, in an old English Tudor cottage that exudes charm from every corner.

After looking at drought ridden hill country fields of brown or dead grass for weeks on end this summer, it was a treat to see the lush shade of old trees and green lawns.

Darla's home is not overly decorated, but filled with exquisite antiques, art and lovely furnishings that she and her husband have collected over the years.

They both have incredibly good taste, and everything just fits, reflecting exactly who they are.

(yes, my favorite style of decorating)

This large light fixture in the living room is stunning. I asked if it was original to the house, and no, it is not.
They chose it for the house.
Didn't I tell you they have fabulous taste?

The library, just off of the main living room,  makes me want to curl up right now with a glass of wine and a good read.....or a good friend for a quiet visit.

 We share an interest in art, so my weekend was enriched by all of the great pieces here. This one in particular, by Darren Vigil Gray, is a favorite of mine. 

Can you spot the others  in the house by this magnificent New Mexico artist?

 

 Looking into the dining room from the living room.......

Wonderful, cozy kitchen filled with Mackenzie Childs pottery of all sorts.............

Oh yes, that is another fabulous fixture that the homeowners chose for themselves.

Wonderful backsplash that is not only fun and whimsical, it works beautifully with the MacKensie Childs pottery.

The patio and pool can be seen from the kitchen and was a wonderful spot to visit with our morning coffee.

 Love the outdoor fireplace.....and the basket and flowers in it! It will be a great spot for a fire in a month or so. Remember, this is Texas.

 I had the complete and total delight of staying in this cozy cocoon while I was there. 

Talk about a nice place to rest my weary head and body! 

I slept like I haven't slept in months.

 Gorgeous guest bath and powder room.

More beautiful art in the hallway to MY room!

Upstairs there is another full sitting room, less formal than downstairs and very comfortable.

A mix of folk art, traditional art, fine antique furnishings, big comfy upholstered pieces and more MacKensie - Childs makes this room a pleasure to be in .  

My eyes were darting here and there, spotting one wonderful thing after another!

Lovely bar with over the top FUN chairs!

Another childhood friend of ours stayed in this charming guest room. 

The dressing table was custom painted years ago by a very talented folk artist from Romania. 

What a piece of art in itself.

Good lighting, plush bedding, a beautiful view from the window - we really wanted to stay a lot longer than the weekend!

                                                                                   

The master bedroom is also upstairs and opens on to the fabulous sitting room and bar. 

Who needs to go downstairs?

Okay, well maybe to cook ( I said maybe) and visit the pool now and then.

What a delight it was staying here. 

To be quite frank, I think I could move right in.

Thank you for your hospitality, Darla, 

(and that oh so patient and accommodating husband of yours!)  and for letting me share your beautiful and warm Dallas home.