Southern Sweetheart from Traditional Home Magazine

Tags

Barbie Cottage, collections, Georgia, Macon, Southern Sweetheart

I have enjoyed Traditional Home Magazine for at least twenty five years.  This month’s issue really spoke to me.  I especially liked the article on page 68 (September 2016), which is entitled, “Southern Sweetheart.”  The home featured is in Macon, Georgia and is the “smaller sister” of mansions which are built on the street.

It is painted coral-pink with green shutters and locals refer to it as, “The Barbie Cottage,” because of the color.

I enjoyed it because of the color outside and within the house and also because of the many collections which are displayed in most rooms.  The owners have collected everything from African masks to silhouettes.  All of the pictures below are taken from Traditional Home Magazine.

The trim on the porch was probably applied in the 1870’s or at the turn of the 20th century. The house is dated 1854. I would never have thought of painting my home coral and green, but it works so well!

Pictured above are home owners Joe and Evelyn Adams.  He is a realtor and artist.

The twelve foot ceilings give them lots of room to display their art and collectibles.

Above you can see Aftican Kuba cloth on the pillows and a 17th century Belgian tapestry hanging in the background.

 

I am guessing that maybe the paintings were done by the home owner.

The kitchen seems to be in keeping with the age of the house.  The island is recycled beadboard with a stainless-steel top.  Note the original 1870’s brick fireplace.

Above I see tole trays, brass candlesticks, silhouettes, toile pillow fabric, antlers…all collections.

Love the Greek key design painted on the white washed floor.  Such a pretty sunroom!

The muted tones of the master bedroom are a wonderful backdrop for an antique marble mantel and the antique furniture.

A former bedroom was converted into the master bath.

This guest bedroom features Napoleon themed objects.

A cabin behind the house was Joe’s studio before he moved to a commercial space.

Sometimes I get caught up in the pictures of homes where everything is gray and white…very minimalistic.  But, then when I see a home like this one with color and collections that are so interesting and personal, I am satisfied.  What would you do with your great grandmother’s chair or your aunt’s lamp if you did not have a home where they could be presented so beautifully?  Treasure your vintage treasures.  Display them proudly.

Create and be happy!

 

We Have a Newborn Granddaughter!

Tags

new grandchild

On Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. our family welcomed a newborn little girl!  For those of you who really do not know me, you must forgive this nod to family.  I have only had four days in my entire life when we welcomed a grandchild.  It is cause for celebration!  Maybe a little bragging?

When I was a teenager you could buy photo albums with the initials, “S.O.G.W.P.I.P.”  That stood for, “Silly Old Grandmother With Pictures In Purse.”  At that time, when I was so young, I thought that grandmothers who constantly showed pictures of their grandchildren were boring.  Now, I cannot imagine not stopping total strangers.  Just today, I showed her picture to a group of ladies at a meeting, the cashier at Publix, and I ran after the mailman but he was too fast for me.

When grandchild #1 was born, I took pictures with me to the airport so I could look at them in the airport waiting room, on the plane, and in the taxi on my way to see her in Chicago. I showed them to random passengers, flight attendants, and the taxi driver.

Just last month I got to take Grandchild #1 shopping for the first time in the big city of Chicago.  I asked, “Do you want a toy or a new dress?”  Her eyes brightened and she replied, “…a new dress!”

We found four that she liked and took them to the dressing room.  They all looked beautiful on her.  Trying to be a good grandmother, I said, “You need to choose the one you like the best and I will buy it for you.”

“How could I pick, Nana? They are all so wonderful?  She rubbed the fabric on her sweet cheek and told me how soft and wonderful it was.  We bought all four! If her mother does not expect irresponsible behavior then she shouldn’t let me take her shopping!

Her little brother is the only boy!  There were eleven girls born into our family before he came.  My husband rejoices because he can buy toy trucks and tractors. Until he came I had no idea of how sweet little boys can be.

So, what kind of a grandmother would I be if I did not show you a picture of the newest little one?  Get ready!  It is really good!

I can hear the a-h-h-h-‘s and the o-h-h-h-h-‘s.

On Monday her big sister went to the hospital to meet her for the first time.

I stayed the night with Granddaughter #2 before she went to meet her new baby sister. I got to choose her dress for the occasion.  The dress she is wearing is one that her mother wore when she was that age.  Did I mention that I tend to keep everything?

Actually, Granddaughter #2 said something quite profound just before her baby sister was born.  I was showing her a picture of an ultrasound and she pointed to a place on the photograph and asked, “Is that her dress, Nana?” I never thought of that as an option before.

Later on this month, the Chicago grandchildren will be coming to meet their new cousin.  You can expect at least one more blog post with pictures of all four of them….maybe a picture of all four with me, and if they are lucky, I will let their parents be in at least one picture.  Until all are united, here is a picture of Grandchild #1 and her little brother.

I am just a S.O.G.W.P.O.C.  (Silly Old Grandmother With Pictures On Computer).

Be a Nana and be happy!

 

 

Eataly in Chicago!

Tags

Chicago, Eataly, Lydia Bastianich, Mario Batali

We were in Chicago last week to visit our daughter and her family and then to attend a yearly meeting for my husband.  He has been going there in July for thirty plus years.  This time we found what my daughter described as her, “…happy place.” EATALY!

It is such a simple name but with it comes a food court sent from heaven featuring an array of cafes, counters, restaurants, and even a cooking school.  This two story foodie’s dream is owned by Chef Mario Batali and is located at 43 E. Ohio in Chicago.  There is also one in New York City and one scheduled for Boston.  There is a large section of the store devoted to pasta sauce and other products from Lydia Bastianich.

One morning I walked over from the hotel and photographed just some of the wonderfulness.  Enjoy!!!!

 

 

 

You can’t tell by the picture but this next pasta is 24″ long!

Next is the crepe station where they make them to order but with Nutella.  M-m-m-m!

And last but not least, here is a picture of our oldest granddaughter standing by the wheels of cheese.  The whole family had a wonderful time at Eataly.  The children ordered a pizza and they could decide whether they wanted it in the shape of a fish, butterfly, or a heart!  The rest of us ordered great pasta dishes.  S-o-o-o-o-o GOOD!

If you weren’t hungry when you started this post, you may be by now.  Don’t miss Eataly if you go to Chicago or New York.  Bostonians, you may have to wait a while, but it will be worth it.

Create and be happy!

 

Robert Smalls

Tags

Beaufort, Charleston Harbor, John Mckee, Mckee-Smalls House, Planter, Rober Smalls, South Carolina

Many years ago my husband’s parents introduced us to a man who became a trusted friend.  I always thought that his last name, “Smalls,” was unusual.  I did not know until about five years ago how unusual and brave his ancestor Robert Smalls was.

Robert Smalls was born as a slave in Beaufort, South Carolina on April 5, 1839 in a cabin behind his master’s house at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort..  His mother, Lydia, was a house servant for plantation owner John Mckee.  As a boy, Robert taught himself to read and write with the help of a local school teacher. Historians believe that his father was the son of John Mckee, Henry.

Robert became the favorite of  Henry Mckee who inherited his father’s estate.  Robert carried his master’s bow when Henry went hunting, rowed his master’s boat and was even allowed to work outside of the plantation for the sum of $15.00 a month.  He was allowed to keep $1.00 of his wages.

His mother, fearing that he was receiving too much favoritism, took him to the local jail to witness beatings of slaves and to see local slave auctions.  She wanted him to understand what slavery was and wanted to be sure that he was opposed to it.

When Smalls was 12 years old the McKee family moved to Charleston.  Robert met Hannah Jones when he was 17.  Hannah was a slave hotel maid.  Robert attempted to buy her freedom, but was unsuccessful.  In 1856 he and Hannah married.
They had a daughter and a son who died at the age of two.  Hannah and Robert were allowed to live in a small place of their own.  Robert was a dock worker, sail maker, and he eventually worked his way up to what is the equivalent of a boat pilot.  He knew the river and the harbor very well.

In the fall of 1861, Robert Smalls was assigned to steer the CSS Planter, a lightly armed Confederate military transport.  From the harbor Smalls and the crew could see federal ships blockading the harbor.  At about 3 a.m., when the white officers went ashore, Smalls put on the captain’s uniform and he and the crew carried out a prearranged plan.  First, they stopped to pick up Hannah and other family members.  Then, with the captain’s hat pulled low over his eyes and folding his arms as the captain usually did, he took the ship past five Confederate forts without incident.  He blew the whistle the correct number of times at each fort and aroused no suspicion. He flew a white bed sheet as a sign of surrender, the same sheet he had asked his wife to bring with her when he got past the Confederate forts and was approaching the Union blockade. He surrendered the Planter and its cargo to the United States Navy.  He and his family were free!

Smalls, age 23, became a hero in the North.  He even met Abraham Lincoln and Smalls gave him a first hand account of the action.  Eventually, the U.S. government gave Robert Smalls the sum of $1,500.

During the Civil War Smalls became the first black pilot of a union ship.  He guided the Planter into battle.  For his bravery, he was promoted to the vessel’s captain.

After the war he used his $1,500 to buy 511 Prince Street, the home of his former masters.  His mother, Lydia, lived with him the rest of her life.  He even allowed the elderly widow of his former master to move back into the house that had been her home for so many years.  He helped found a school for black children, and in 1847 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives!  Following his time in the legislature, he was appointed the U.S. Collector of Customs in Beaufort and he continued to live as owner of the house where he had been a slave.

Robert Smalls stayed politically active into the twentieth century and died in 1915 at the age of 75.

This is an image of the house which Robert Smalls bought, the former home of his slave master.  It was recently for sale for over one million dollars.

eatsleepplaybeaufort.com

 

commons.wikimedia.org

commons.wikimeda.org

http://www.houzz.com

Via Houzz. WWW.allisonramseyarchitect.com

via Houzz.  www.allisonramseyarchitect.com

While visiting the Charleston Historical Museum, I found this tribute to Robert Smalls:

 

 

 

This marker is in Charleston, South Carolina:

lowcountrywalkingtours.com

I wonder how many historical markers I have walked or driven past without a second thought.  I am going to start paying more attention to them and I know that I will uncover information that is important to our country. I hope that you will do the same.

Create and be happy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stargazer Lilies and Hydrangea

Tags

4thof July, blue hydrangea, purple hydrangea, stargazer lily

It pays to have a friend with a very green thumb because when you do she will let you take pictures of her stargazer lilies and beautiful blue and purple hydrangea.  For your July 4 present, I give you these pictures of these most amazing flowers. Seeing the pictures is not as wonderful as if you were able to see the flowers in person, but you can look at pictures during the cold days of January just to perk up your spirits.

There is not one lilly, nor two or three.  Oh, no!  There are dozens of plants.  By the time they have finished putting on their show, there may be hundreds of blooms!

 

Every year they multiply.  Imagine!  They do like the sun.  Maybe that is why they are so radiant.

But not to be outdone by the lilies are the hydrangea.  On one side of the yard they are purple.

 

…and on the other side of the yard they range from blue to white/limelight green.

So happy 4th of July.  Enjoy your weekend.

Create and by happy!

 

Charleston Charm!

Charleston, South Carolina is still with me….I think about the beautiful gardens and the historic homes and I am amazed that there is a city this beautiful.  They call it, “The Holy City,” because of all the churches.  I thought that you would like to have a mini tour of one of THE most beautiful homes in the city.  It is for sale!  I took these photos from the real estate listing but I also did some research to learn more about the historic home.  This interesting property is located at 60 Montagu Street.  To see the real estate listing, go here.

From the listing I learned, “The Theodore Gaillard (Gaillard-Bennett) House, circa 1800, is one of the finest examples of the Federal Period in Charleston and the country.  This elaborate double house and all auxiliary buildings have been painstakingly renovated to near perfection including restoration of the plaster cornices, ceiling decorations, and composition fireplace mantels.  The original plat has been re-assembled to recreate the original urban plantation which includes the main residence of 9,345 heated square feet, the kitchen house (four bedrooms and two and a half baths) and carriage house (two bedrooms and two full baths) which represents an additional 3,922 heated square feet.  There is also a Tack House which hides every 21st century mechanical element of the home, to preserve an authentic look.”

 

When the current owners bought the property in 2004 there was some deferred maintenance that they tackled. During a five year remodeling they updated the kitchen and bathrooms including remaking 26,000 pieces of plaster molding. This is not a typing error…26,000 pieces of plaster molding.  In the garden, they added a saltwater infinity pool and a pool house.

This is our first glimpse of the extravagant moldings present in the historic home.

The dining room has been kept light and airy with the pink wallpaper and crystal chandelier.

The ceiling in this room reminds me of decoration on a wedding cake.

But I think that the most beautiful, spectacular, astounding, (I will spare you more adjectives) embellishment in the whole house is over this mantel.  It was pictured on the cover of a book about Charleston which I found at the Charleston Historical Society.  When I saw it on this real estate listing, I was thrilled.  Look at the shells!

I don’t know how it could be more beautiful.  I have a shell collection.  Could I glue them to my fireplace mantel and paint them white?  Could I travel to Italy and learn how to do this from some old world master?

Is this the shell mantel reflected in the mirror?  I would not need music….just let me sit and look at that mantel all day.

I would say that the cabinets are cherry and the design is in keeping with the furniture of the period.  I believe that the table has Queen Anne chairs

I learned from touring Charleston historic homes that a parlor like the one above is on the second floor.  The reason is that when the windows were open, the second floor afforded more breezes without the smells coming in from the street.

 

 

 

 

I had to wonder how these moldings were made.  After some research, I learned from a scholarly paper written by Frances H. Ford from the University of Pennsylvania.  In a theses which he wrote for a Master of Science in Historic Preservation in 2006. he stated:

At 60 Montagu the cornices were most likely made in the house. A design element or a complete frieze could have been used by a plasterer either as a pattern or else actually remolded to use in a project. Composition ornament, which closely resembled wooden carved elements of the past, was available for sale through catalogues. These too could have been used by the plasterer as models for ornament cast in plaster. Books were available to the craftsmen on the proper technique for running and casting plaster cornices who were teaching apprentices. Treatises illustrating the designs of the Adam brothers and others were in the collection of the Charleston Library Society as well as the libraries of wealthy landowners such as Theodore Gaillard.

The following is an excerpt that Mr. Ford added to his theses.  It was written by John Haviland in 1818 to describe the process of making the plaster designs:

“The putty is then to be mixed with about one-third of plaster of Paris, and brought to a semi-fluid state by the addition of clean water. One of the workmen, with two or three trowels-full of this composition upon his hawk, which he holds in his left hand, begins to plaster over the surface intended for the cornice with his trowel, while his partner applies the mould, to ascertain the parts where more or less may be wanted. When a sufficient quantity of plaster has been laid on, the workman with the mould, holding it steadily and firmly against both the ceiling and the wall, moves it backwards and forwards, which removes the superfluous stuff, and leaves an exact impression of the mould upon the plaster. This is not indeed effected at once, but while he works the mould to and fro the other workman takes notice of any deficiencies, and fills them up, by adding fresh supplies of plaster. In this manner, a cornice of from ten to twelve feet in length, may be formed in a very short time; indeed, expedition is essentially requisite, as the plaster of Paris occasions a very great tendency in the putty to set; and to prevent this taking place to rapidly, it is necessary to sprinkle the composition frequently with water from a brush; as they generally endeavor to finish all the lengths or pieces, between any two breaks, or projections at one time, to secure the truth and correctness of the cornice. In cornices of very large proportions, and in cases where the orders of architecture are to be applied, three or four moulds requisite, which are applied in the same manner, till all the parts are formed. Internal and external mitres, and small returns, or breaks, are afterwards modeled and filled up by hand; an operation upon which a dexterous plasterer much piques himself.”

…definition of “pique”—feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one’s pride.  Should I try to do designs such as those found in the Gaillard-Bennett House, I would be most piqued!

How can we add some of this same beauty to our own homes?  Perhaps buying latex ornamentation is the answer.  Add it to furniture, paint it, and you have a beautiful result for a fraction of the work.  For example:

The above photo and those following are from the Efex website.  They specialize in moldings that are bendable and can be added to furniture.  To see the site, go here.

 

 

I watched the video included on the Efex website and it seems very easy to install these beautiful moldings.  I don’t think I would get piqued!

Create and be happy!

La Bastide de Lavendes

Tags

La Bastide de Lavendes, lavender, window boxes of Charleston

It has been quite a while since I have posted an entry.  Reasons have been multiple.  I thought for a while that I would not do this any more. Period!  But, with the encouragement of readers who have signed up to receive my blog every time I post one and because of my desire to share truly beautiful things with you all, I have decided to have another go at it.

Today my sweet husband and I made a trip to Provence in about thirty minutes.  How can that possibly be you ask.  It all started several days ago when we were in Charleston, South Carolina.  I was wandering the historical district while my husband was at a meeting.  It was 11:30 and I asked a shop owner where I might go for a nice lunch.  She sent me to Gaulart and Maliclet Cafe Restaurant on Broad Street with the caution that I should go early because, “…it gets very crowded.”  I found a charming French cafe with no tables, just counter space with stools.  The special was gazpacho, watermelon slice, and an open face sandwich with ham and cheese.  I added a glass of sweet tea.  What else could I want!

Next to me were seated two lovely ladies from Columbia, South Carolina.  We chatted and during the course of the conversation they told me about a lavender farm mid way between them and where I live in Charlotte.  I have wanted to see the lavender fields of France for many years.  The possibility of seeing lavender in bloom in June not too far from my house is what carried us to La Bastide de Lavendes in York, South Carolina today.

The following is published on their web site:

 

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is our way of life.
It consists of living in harmony with Nature, respecting the land, observing and learning from our natural environment, using sustainable growing practices, teaching authentic and proven methods, utilizing Nature’s therapeutic gifts to enhance our natural products, providing an idyllic environment for pollinators, and sharing traditional age old natural concepts and ideas from the Old World.

Our Story

 Chris, owner of La Bastide des Lavandes is a native of Southern France . Passionate about plants and all things natural, he decided after seventeen years in the healthcare industry that it was time to pursue his lifelong dream of designing beautiful landscapes and growing his native land’s plants.
With the support of his wife Jackie, they planted in less than five years over 5,000 plants and trees on their property in York County, SC, comprising over 550 cultivars and ultimately creating
La Bastide des Lavandes.

Chris and Jackie have created a truly unique place where visitors feel like they have traveled to the South of France before realizing they are still in South Carolina. The lush and unique gardens are a testament to the ability of many Mediterranean plants to grow and thrive in the Southeastern US, contrary to popular assumptions.
The Mediterranean inspired farmstead offers the perfect setting for an authentic Southern French experience in the heart of the South Carolina countryside.

Our Goal

 Our primary goal is to inspire and educate tour and workshop participants about the opportunities that Nature offers everyone and the plethora of flora and fauna which, together with human beings, constitutes and enhances the concept of Terroir. The Terroir is a traditional French philosophy which encompasses the soil, the environment, age old traditions, human’s humility towards Nature, respect, authenticity and the product of all these components.

The farm is open for tours only at selected times. Although we could not enter the amazing grounds, I was able to take these beautiful photographs from the road.

From the website, I found additional pictures that make me want to throw caution to the wind, scale the fence and invade the property! That will never happen but I am planning to take one of their workshops as soon as possible.  Photographs courtesy of sclavender.com.

This is the Citrus and Lavender Garden.

The Venus Garden:

The Oak Garden

The Miniature Garden

The Shade Garden

La Tramontane Garden

The Herb and Well Garden

The Courtyards Garden

La Baiassiere

As you can see, it was Provence in South Carolina.

While in Charleston, I took this photo of the most beautiful window box:

I can’t help but notice that the color of the wall is very similar to the color of some of the walls of the house at La Bastide de Lavendes.

To see a video of this most beautiful property, go to:  www.sclavender.com

Create and be happy!

Next time, I hope to show you some of the historic homes in Charleston.

 

 

 

More Blue and White Rooms!

Tags

Blue and white rooms

I can’t get enough of blue and white rooms.  They can be turquoise, or royal blue, powder blue, or navy.  As long as the color is paired with a white, then I am happy.  They are crisp and clean and restful! Now that we are enjoying a beautiful Spring, it seems that they look even better.  In no particular order, here are some beautiful blue and white rooms.  Enjoy!

 

Photo by Austin Patterson Disston Architects. See more french country dining room designs

See more coastal home office designs

See more traditional kitchen designs

Photo by Jennifer Pacca Interiors. See more transitional home office designs

 

Can you tell that I just love this room?  The photos are saved from Niagranovice.blogspot.com  The design is from Barbara Westbrook Interiors

saved from Niagranovice.blogspot.com

Designed by Furlow Gatewood

Vogue March 2012  Home of Tracy Burch

saved from HomeBunch

bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com

Brooke Gianetti

Brooke Gianetti

Saved from HouseofTurquoise.com

Think I am going to rummage around and see if I can find any more blue and white accents pieces.  Can you ever have enough blue and white?  I’m not sure.

Enjoy your day.  Create and be happy!

 

 

 

 

Repurpose Your Dining Room

Tags

dining room/library, Mark Sikes, Miles Redd, turn dining room into living room

Do you have a dining room that looks pretty but about the only time you go there is to dust?  Maybe you have a few family dinners per year, but it is space that could be useful for other things?  Let me show you how she did a repurpose on her dining room.

This is her charming home, just across the street from me.  I am lucky to have this beautiful view.

When you go into the foyer, you see on your right the space that is the formal dining room.  It has crown molding, a chandelier, lots of light, chair rail, and embellished wainscoting and hardwood floors.  My neighbor set it up as a dining room right after she moved into the home, but then discovered that they seemed to eat family dinners in another part of the house which I will show you next.  Here is the dining room that became an extra sitting room/living room.

I love the soft colors that set the tone for the rest of the house.  The room has so much light!  The former dining room furniture made a move to an area off of the kitchen.  Here are the dining room table and chairs and the hutch in their new location.

There are bar stools at the kitchen island in case the family wants a quick meal.

I asked my neighbor if I could show you the rest of her lovely home.  She had it all ready to go on the market and the real estate photographer took these great pictures.  Boo Hoo!  I don’t want my friends to leave!

This is the upstairs bonus room that is also an extra bedroom.

It has an adjoining bathroom.

Now we are back downstairs and on the screened porch.

The home went on the market and after two days there were multiple offers.  No surprise!

Here are some other ideas for assigning another purpose to a dining room.  This one is from designer Mark D. Sikes and is in his own home. He has turned it into a library, but by removing the books, it becomes a dining room again.

Here book shelves were added.  The room can still be used as a dining room/reading room/library with minimal effort.

Miles Redd, decorator.

The above dining room was turned into a library.

Maybe you don’t want to make a huge change.  Clear the dishes off of the shelves in the hutch and add books.  Instead of putting place settings on the dining room table, how about stacking your favorite decorating books.  Sit in there read them!  If the room is large, add a comfortable chair in a corner and have a special place just for you and quiet meditation.

Be like my neighbor.  Don’t be afraid to repurpose a room in your home.

Create and be happy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Coastal Home in Rhode Island

Tags

architecture, coastal decor, coastal home, cottage

We are having our bathroom and bedroom painted this week.  I was on the lookout for the perfect color for the bathroom when I came across this home.  It is too pretty for words, so I will show you some pictures of perfection.  All of the photos are from a site titled, “HB Home Bunch.Com.”

What do I love?  There are the roof, weather vane, siding, porch chimney…you get the idea.

The home was completed in 2014 and has 2514 square feet.  The owners wanted something with more compact style rather than a sprawling home with thousands of square feet.

Then, there is the color pallette.  It is so soothing.

The paint color is Benjamin Moore “Gray Wisp.”

We can’t all own a beautiful home like this on the coast, but we can use some of the decorating ideas.  I plan to use the paint color from the master bedroom in my bathroom.  It is called, “Harbor Haze” by Benjamin Moore.  Actually my oldest daughter has used it in two of her homes and it looks wonderful

Here is Harbor Haze in my daughter’s newly renovated kitchen:

When the bedroom and the bathroom are finished, I will share a picture with you.  Create and be happy!