Wine tasting!

I got this crazy idea at the last moment to invite a few girlfriends over and do a wine tasting! I thought it would be fun for each to bring over their favorite plus a little nibble! There would be a prize too....to the one who knew her own wine!

As each gal arrived I handed her some Prosecco ...

...while I wrapped the bottles to cover the labels and put a number on each.

Not a bad little spread for such short notice....we had a gorgonzola cheese with french bread and some very creative and tasty asparagus wrapped in a light salami, chevre with roasted red peppers and capers and a buffalo chicken dip....of course there was chocolate....love it with wine...whew knew? I put all the crackers in margarita glasses....did a quick little floral and candles and voila!

I went on the Internet ( I love Google!) and found some wine tasting cards for critiquing our tastes. I had no idea that one of the girls actually knew something about what to look for...

Joni was getting the bottles uncorked so we could get started...we had a dumping pot and a pitcher of water to cleanse our glasses and water crackers to cleanse the palate! As the evening went on we decided that next time we would use plastic cups so we could sip back and forth to get a better sense of what was what! You can imagine all the giggles after a few tastes...we pictured just lining up the plastic cups in front of us!

Erica (no picture...bummer) who is adorable and business name is "Miss Sew It All" a fabulous window treatment seamstress won the taste test....she knew her own wine. Way to go E!
Some times things at the spur of the moment are the most fun!

Chairs! Chairs! Chairs!

I do love chairs and I seem to gravitate to unusual chairs. I was perusing the 1stDibs Saturday sale which is always so much fun and found pages and pages of chairs.

This is called the Turner Chair....odd shape, I wonder how comfy it woud be? I could see a plush triangular cushion....how about you?

Regency period armchairs....oh my goodness, they would look fab at each end of my dining room table...


Safari Bergere.....I am especially drawn to Bergere's and adore this zebra!
How about these?

This round iron chair could use a lumbar pillow with lots of fringe and tassles...it or a pair would be cute in a keeping room.

I love love these LouixXVI style white painted Fauteuils...a bit of whimsey and fun.

These Fauteuils are more traditional....nice all the same.

This Fauteuil is made from antlers....

English ladder back corner chair...my Mother has one of these, I may need to tuck in my suitcase next time I go for a visit!

Not very often do you see a leather Bergere....could suit the man of the house!

This upholstered lounge chair is definitely funky, I sat in one the other day, quite comfy actually!

This hand carved high back chair would be perfect for the project I am working on in northern Virginia! Love it.
These French art deco mahogany leaf back boudoir chairs are the best....very unusual....now just where could I put them?


Now you must go over to Fifi Flowers Design Decor and vote on the chairs she is showcasing to paint for her collection of chairs. She is a fabulous artist and I have some of her paintings in my house!

Calling all Decorators!

My dear sweet blogging friends and esteemed decorators - I need help! I cannot decide what I need to make my entry interesting and inviting. In my mind, I think a long mirror (I love mirrors, all sorts of shapes and sizes) hung behind the candelabra would be nice, but what about a picture or grouping of pictures? One friend of mine suggested a door of sorts. Should I start over and do a table with lamp, mirror, painting....? The settee needs some pillows? a throw? Definitely need a rug.....uggghhh....that is such a HUGE commitment!

I love my Louis XV settee with chocolate leopard fabric and the candelabra from Wisteria, but they are not "stuck" here.

This is Fifi Flowers Design Decor entry at Christmas time...I really like how she painted the corner wall red contrasting to the color going up the stairs. Should I do something like that? It would be fun....but what color?

This is Joni's entry (12/18/08) from Cote de Texas which I adore. I love the height with the different texture, stone, flowers, porcelain, etc.

I like this from Katiedid her entry that she changes seasonally. Love love the mirror with the sconces on each side.

Michael Smith Designs....again a table with lamp, mirror....too boring?


I like what Brooke from Velvet and Linen has done with her space under the stairs...love love love the clock . Be sure and go to her blog and see the beautiful Swedish furniture that just arrived at her store. Absolutely stunning.



We have only lived in our house 8 months and I am wanting to redo all decor after traveling with the military 30 years. I love the light airiness of French design but it will take time to get there. As with most designers I like too many things and have decided that all bedrooms will have a different design decor to satisfy my whimsy! Please drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Julie Neill Designs

Visual Vamp's Valorie, the tango dancing designer, turned me on to Julie Neill Designs a beautiful chandelier and furnishings designer and shop owner in New Orleans. She is fabulously creative and names all of her designs for the clients she is designing for. I immediately wrote for a catalog to keep on hand for client's (and my) specialty lighting. She designs with metals and woods that create beautiful elegance. For a glimpse into Julie's store look here at a posting done by Valorie. The pictures below are just a sampling...I know they are small, please go to Julie's website for larger. There is not just one that is my favorite, they are all spectacular and unique.

Chloe

Barbara

Mollie

Liza

Maria

Glenda

Farah

Elana

Artemis with drops

Alynne

Champagne side tables

Burst coffee table

Garland Demilune

Notice the "crown" detail on most of her designs, fitting with New Orleans royalty. Julie also introduces New Orleans artists on her blog the Bayou Contessa, check it out here.

Sweet Valentine

It started out with a delivery from my Valentine who is away on business. He knows my affection for tulips…a beautiful variety.

I met my oldest son who lives and works in Atlanta and finds great places for us to go. We sampled the delights at Gold Fish, an upbeat contemporary Asian restaurant. We shared wine and sushi…a great combination!

I then hopped in the car and drove to Birmingham, AL, to take my younger son who is in college to dinner at Cocina Supeior in Brookwood Village. It is his favorite place to go for the ever so yummy TexMex. We started with Margaritas and he with his favorite fajitas and me with fabulous MahiMahi soft tacos!

It was a special weekend…what could be better from a Mom’s point of view?

What I am working on!

My client and sweet sweet friend in the Washington, DC, area and I came to some decisions last week. She has a home steeped in tradition and is a civil war enthusiast so we are decorating around some prominent art pieces. We are giving most living areas a "face-lift" with new and fresh colors.

We have chosen this lovely Ralph Lauren neutral with a raised pattern for the camelback sofa.

The buffalo check and the paisley will be for chairs and the gold on gold dragonfly for the floor length draperies. I cannot wait for it to all be put together. The painters will be arriving shortly to paint the living room Hawthorne yellow by Benjamin Moore and the dining room Lily White - a light gray blue by the same. It will be lovely!