Just Because ...

Step Inside

We rattle on so much about curb appeal, and having a lovely front door, that we sometimes forget to talk about the moment that we step inside. The outside is all about keeping up appearances, and being nice to the neighbors, but the inside is where we have to live, and the first, honest impression that we give to ourselves (and others).

It doesn't matter whether you have a hallway, a grand foyer, an entrance, or the world's tiniest welcome mat, but it does matter what goes on there. An entrance doesn't have to be fancy, but it should feel cared for, and be as useful and bright as possible (no-one wants to fumble around in the dark, uncertain of where to go or what they might be tripping over).

Next time you go home, take a look at what you are really walking into. Are you dancing around slippery tile, dropping your groceries as you try to reach over the laundry to throw your keys onto the nearest flat surface, or do you take a deep breath, step inside, and feel happy to be home?

Whether you do it for yourself, or just to impress others, maybe it's time to re-think your entrance.

This makes me swoon!
It isn't a large space, but the luxuriousness of the wood and the leather just make me want to spend an afternoon here. Forget that it is an entrance, add a few practical elements,and decorate it just like any other room.  

Okay, so I know this is a bit dreamier than some of our homes (it is, after all, a bed and breakfast rental in the English countryside),
 but they have used the space so well.
If you have an odd area under the stairs, put a comfy chair there, or hang a few hooks for keys, coats and bags.

Older homes often have nooks and crannies that make absolutely no sense in the 21st Century,
but they can be still be incredibly useful.
A colorful wallpaper makes this spot look like it was born to be the perfect place for your coat and shoes. 

I love this because it is so easy, is immensely practical, and I love the quirky collage above the door!
What a perfect place to draw the eye up, share your favorite pics, and decorate at the same time.
If the idea of a vase of flowers worries you, buy some good quality, colorful fakes from the craft store,
and put them in a gorgeous, over-sized (garden?) pot.

A colorful door at the end of a hallway will cheer anyone up, and makes no apologies for being a smaller space.
The coat hooks and narrow table give you ample room to keep everything organized,
and the mirror adds a ton of light and practicality.

* Thank you to House to Home UK for the top two photographs, Home Away for the 3rd, Adorable Home for the 4th and 5th, and Freshome for the last.

Decorating with Books

I don't read as much as I should (or that I think I should) and I am more inclined to curl up with a magazine or cookery book on a Sunday afternoon, but I still can't imagine my life without books.
To see a book is to imagine something other than ourselves at that very moment, and to open one up invites us to stop whatever we are doing, and wonder about what may or may not be inside.

Books add an inexplicable warmth to every room, and are one of the most hard-working accessories you will ever have.

Whether you artfully stack your used books in a fireplace, or proudly display a rare edition of something old and precious, the only rule is that you shouldn't pretend. Please don't decorate with books that you have no interest in, because we will know. We will know that they are different from you, and we will see that they are not well loved. (We might even quietly nudge you into the land of pretentiousness, where no-one truly wants to be).

Show us your books because they have meaning, were your favorite read last year, or simply because you enjoy looking at them.


Even if you don't like to read, take another look, and let the promise of pictures and words gently fill the gaps in your home with life, style and curiosity.

Design Class on Monday June 13th

There is still time to sign up for our last design class of the season. 
If you have any questions, just ask, and if you would like to register just click anywhere on the picture.

Designs on Summer

The Perfect Lemonade 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute) 1 cup lemon juice 1 cup water (for the simple syrup) 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup) 1. Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely. 2. While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice. 3. Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it. SEND A POSTCARD We don't get much personal mail anymore, so why not look for some postcards next time you take a vacation?  Take your address book with you, and mail them from your favorite spot (even if it is just an hour away).Everyone loves to get a picture and a note in the mail.  Even send one to yourself, and pop it on the fridge to remind you of a wonderful time! I was coming home late one night last Summer, and I was shocked to see Casablanca playing on the side of an old family farmhouse. What a wonderful idea! I wanted to go and sit with them, but thought it might have been a bit cheeky considering I didn't even know them. Movies at the beach are popular in the Summer, and our local High School plays movies on the side of their building. There are even a few drive-in movie theaters still around, or you could even get your own projector and plan an outside movie night at home!

Memorial Day is the official beginning of Summer, and while I sit here patiently waiting for the music of the ice cream truck, I am reminded that the holiday is actually about the veterans, their family and friends, and those who lost their lives while protecting our country. Hopefully, we will all think of them more than once a year, and while we can never understand what they go through, we will always be grateful, and remember to say thank you as much as we can. This week, I wanted to put together simple bits and pieces that were inspired by the warm, sunny weather we have been having.  Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend! p.s. click on the pictures for more info and links.                                PACK A PICNIC Whether it is for your family, or a special date, why not pack a picnic, and drive to a scenic spot?  Yes, it seems like a lot of preparation initially, but think of it as a full day out -creating a memory... Many places will even do it for you. Bridgeton House, a luxurious bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania, not only provides the picnic, but also the perfect location. (I am adding them to my bucket list). EAT OUTSIDE Somehow, food outside seems to taste better, and make less mess (or maybe it's just as much, but we don't seem to mind?). Crumbs get swept to the floor, and leftovers get given to the dog, or flung over the fence. We use less pans, so we don't have to schlep them outside, and our kitchen stays relatively clean in the process. What's not to like? Visit a Water Park, or find a local park, lake, beach or faulty fire hydrant... Take 5.... ..... sunny things to do Lie on the grass, and look at the clouds. Blow bubbles. Go fishing or kayaking. Find a Fair, any Fair. Chase an ice cream truck. (No) Paper Plates  Sounds crazy, but it is much easier to use the dishes that you already have in your cabinet. Firstly, they are always available, so you never have to run out at the last minute, second, they are sturdier than paper and plastic, and thirdly (is thirdly even a word?) they cost you nothing because you already have them. BE A LOCAL Google your towns name, then look for things that are happening during the Summer. Baseball games, Pie contests, Car shows, Music festivals, Antique fairs, Garden exhibits, Talks at the library, Book signings etc. Even if it isn't your favorite thing, go anyway, you may still enjoy it (and it's not far to drive :-) p.s. click on the pie to see what is happening in New Jersey this month.

BTW, can you guess which country has the most beach huts?  (click on the picture to find out)