An intimate corner

One thing I love about smaller houses is that they play host so well to quiet moments. In a large space, there is often a lack of cozy nooks or corners to melt into and indulge in either deep conversation or reverie. My own house, being about 2000 square feet, is certainly not lacking when it comes to intimate spaces.

Today I am showing you my favorite corner for reading, resting, and regrouping.


This is an Edwardian chair that I slip-covered with a painter's tarp. I made the slipcover myself, so it is far from perfect, but I love that I was able to do it on my own. The chair was free at a yard sale many years ago. It is filled with horse hair and is the best seat in the house. In honor of spring, I made some pillow covers in a rose and fern print to add a burst of freshness and feed my craving for flowers. The garden is not yet fully awake, and it is so hard to wait!

The chair is between an antique ebony-stained piano, that was purchased at the local Goodwill, and the half-wall that separates the living room from the kitchen. The piano is one of my favorite pieces. The coffee table in the foreground is also a yard sale piece. We added a cheap, round, pine top from Lowe's and painted the whole thing a soft white. It is also one of the best pieces in the house.

The top of the piano serves the room much as a mantel does. It is great fun to change the diaplays there seasonally. Right now, the display palette consists of white, silver, and softest green to harmonize with the rest of the room. The mirror is aged and has lost some of its silver backing, an effect I love. There is a mirrorred candlestick and a glass dome enclosing perched ceramic birds and a glass bowl that contains a fluorite tea-light holder. The pitcher corrals seedheads gathered from the meadow last fall. The wall-mounted cabinet to the right houses rarely used dishes. Miss Kitty, in the foreground, just loves that fern on the coffee table.

Behind the chair is a cd storage tower that resembles a bird cage. This piece was also bought for a bargain at a local antique/resale shop.



A view from the hallway into the living room. I keep the wood floors bare to make the room appear more spacious and light.

Most days one can find me curled up in this very spot with Miss Kitty (or one of the other cats) on my lap. From this chair I have a view of my front garden and the woods beyond. It truly is the best seat in the house!

Until next time...

Anne

One of my favorite things...

image: living, etc

I am madly in love with attic bedrooms! There is nothing quite like creeping up the stairs, to the tip-top of the house and sliding into a bed beneath the eaves... especially on a rainy night. Few other rooms carry the charm of an attic that has been converted to sleeping space. They have all the cozy snug-ness of a child' s blanket fort, but with the permanence of a fortress. Ceilings are low and oddly angled, which just serves to intensify that effect. Furnishings are simple and sparse, and a low bed under the rafters speaks softly to the rest of the room.

Come along and indulge me in a tour of attic sleeping spaces.

image: costal living

This guest room is so sweet, with its palette of pale blues and whites. The proportion of the bedside trunk allow it to fit perfectly below the window sill. All structural lumber has been painted white. Notice the contrast of the textured bedding against the smooth floor. The lamp adds a note of femininity.

image: living, etc.

This seems to me to be a classic tudor attic, with its half-timbered walls and wide floor boards. A shaggy rug and fresh green throw add some warmth and texture. The bed is kept simple and unassuming. Shades of apple green here pair splendidly with natural wood tones.

image: costal living

This is, perhaps, the bedroom of my dreams. The architecture of the space itself, with the painted rafters, abundant natural light, and dark, plank flooring just sends me. The gossamer bed curtains appeal to my romantic side. And there is a delightful mix of materials, from wood to wicker to the matelaisse bedspread.

image: living, etc.

Another half-timbered sleeping space. This one reminds me of a Parisian penthouse because of the tones of the wood and the style of the door. I love the fluffy bedcover and the landscape painting above the bed. The ultra-modern lamp is an unexpected touch.

image: living, etc.

Lastly, I have an uber-contemporary sleeping nook. It is quite spartan, but the angles of the space just draw me in. I like the light suspended from the peak. I would steal away to this spot to read and rest when the world becomes too much.

When I design my new home in the woods, it will contain bedrooms beneath the eaves, complete with sloped and angled ceilings; painted, exposed framing; wide-plank floorboards; and double-hung, three-over-one windows. The lovely rooms here will serve as inspiration.

Until next time...

Anne

Spring fresh

The time has come to bring the freshness of spring into our interior spaces. Cranking open the casements is always my first step. Today it was warmer outside than in, and so I couldn't wait to let the spring air chase away the last traces of winter across the oak floor boards. I always appreciate the ritual of changing our my winter-colored accents for those with a lighter, springtime touch.

The following rooms give me some ideas and inspiration for this annual process. Come and take a look.

image: better homes and gardens

This living room shouts a welcome to spring, with exuberant florals and touches of turquoise and seafoam. Notice how a few cheerful accents can make a room speak a completely different language.

image: better homes and gardens

There are no non-whites in this room, and so it looks fresh and carefree all year long, but I included it here just for that reason. Therein lies the beauty of an all-white palette. It remains perfect through all seasons of the year.

image: living, etc

The simplicity of this room appeals to me. I would add a tall vase of cherry blossoms to bring some springtime color and life to the space.

image: living, etc

This graceful room offers a glorious spot to bask in the sunshine. I love the silouhette of the chairs and how their edges seem a bit frayed.

image: living, etc
A peek into this living space reveals a slipcovered sofa, a mishmash of pillows and a painted truck. These are classic furnishings any time of the year.

The message today is to lighten up, to simplify, and to let the greening of the earth provide a wellspring of inspiration for your home. Spring finally seems to be here, and I am overjoyed by that!

Until next time...

Anne

Another beautiful blog to check out

A blog giveaway...


Simple Casual Living is giving away two beautiful cake stands filled with handmade soaps. To enter the drawing, follow the link below, and leave a comment telling what makes you smile. Post about the giveaway on your own blog, and you will be entered twice.




If you haven't visited this site, check it out (http://simplecasualliving.blogspot.com/). It is filled with sweet, lovely things from blogger Jenny's store: City.cottage.


I love the back-porch feel of this image. All the white painted furniture and accessories are so fresh--perfect for spring!

In the age of blogging, the world becomes smaller all the time. On a daily basis, I check posts from around the globe. It is amazing to me that so many of us share the same sensibility and desires for home, despite coming from different backgrounds, different countries, even different hemispheres!

If you haven't done so, please check out the blogs I follow personally. There are so many talented women out there, doing such gorgeous work. This is an inspiration to me and drives me to keep doing what I am doing.

So here's to my fellow bloggers out there! I salute you!!

Until next time...
Anne

Modern Serenity

Today I bring you something a little different. My taste in furnishings tends to run toward things that are old, worn, mis-matched, and, perhaps, a little frilly. There is, however, another side of me that craves utter simplicity. The rooms here (all from Better Homes and Gardens) pay tribute to the basics of design: color, form, line, and contrast. When pared down to these bare essentials, spaces become incredibly calming, almost meditative in nature.

Come along and explore with me the softer side of comtemporary design.



This bedroom relies on white with black accents to provide graphic interest. There is a multitude of textures, and the many layers of painted wood provide depth. A black-on-white color scheme allows the eye to rest and yet, keeps it engaged. I love the interspersed accents provided by living plants and flowers.


This bedroom boasts dramatic canopy beds and natural, homey accents. The beds are an update of an old country classic. The backdrop is such a soft shade of cream that it easily welcomes the bold black pieces, as well as the textured elements.

In this living room I am drawn to the juxtaposition of contemporary pieces against classic Victorian architecture. The simple lines of the furniture allow the architectural details to stand out. Notice that voluptuous glass bottle in front of the fireplace!

In this bedroom grayed-greens and taupes form the neutral base for soft, white accents. I like the sleek bed paired with the leggy, wooden settee and side tables.

These greens here are more electrified than in the last image, but with the white and dark wood, they still manage to be serene. The bed is the star of the room, and looks incredibly inviting to me.

This room is all about comfort and softness. The bed coverlet, curtains, glass-topped table, side chair, and floor covering are all about texture, rather than color. This is a room made for sleeping in on weekend mornings! I adore everything about it!

This room is even more countrified than the rest, but I include it here for the simplicity of the decor. White and natural wood, with great light--- it doesn't get any more basic than that. The sheers hung from the canopy add a note of romance to nourish your dreams.

As you can see, modern design elements can fit quite nicely into natural, neutral decorating schemes.

Until next time...

Anne

Inspired by roses (and the occasional peony)

image: Anne Hammett
I am in love with roses! Their many petals are a mystery to me, as is their intoxicating fragrance. And just as with people, no two are alike. There is a David Austin rose bush in my front yard that has some blush-colored blossoms on half of it, while the other half reverted to its parent-type and has blooms that are a bold crimson. In reality, all of us have this sort of dual nature present within ourselves. It takes courage to let it all flower at the same time!

Today you will find some photographic studies of roses (and one peony) that came from my yard, along with rooms that pay homage to this queen among flowers. It is indeed possible to indulge both a longing for floral patterns and a need for calm, neutral interiors, that duality I mentioned earlier.

Come along and see what I mean.

image: Anne Hammett

Late summer roses from my garden in a stoneware pitcher.

image: Anne Hammett

A single stem in a mottled silver serving dish.

image: Anne Hammett

An "iceberg" rose rests on the piano.

Let's see how to translate my adoration of the rose to interior spaces...

image: Better Homes and Gardens

This bedroom shows creative re-use of flea-market finds against a simple, white background. Floral pillows and a floral quilt add a touch of springtime to the room. The florals are tone-on-tone and not abundantly colorful, which makes them quieter.

image: Better Homes and Gardens

A French-style sofa on the front porch is surrounded by pots of blooming plants. The soft blues works well in an outdoor space with the colorful blossoms and it echos the color of the skies.

image: Better Homes and Gardens

This room is warm-toned and comfy, with a nod to roses on the pillow embellishments.




image: House Beautiful

The floral toile on the cozy chairs adds pattern subtly. The pitcher of flowers and tray of fruit provide notes of life and vibrancy.



image: Better Homes and Gardens

These florals are soft and aged. They add depth to the scene without taking control. I love chocolate brown paired with gray.

image: Atlanta Bartlett
This dining room is soothing in pale pinks, taupe and touches of gray. Floral curtains are still soft and quiet enough to look at home in this pretty space.

I hope this has offered you a glimpse into ways touches of floral fabrics can provide some soulfulness to your rooms, while still maintaining the serenity of neutral schemes.

Until next time...
Anne

Wonderful wicker

image: pottery barn

I have a love affair with wicker! It is one of my favorite natural materials to use in decorating. Woven furniture instantly lightens the mood of a room and brings texture and informality to the scene. It breaks up heaviness, both visually and literally, of wooden pieces. When furnishing rooms with wicker, summer freshness is never far away!

image: pottery barn

Pottery Barn (http://www.potterybarn.com/) shows many gorgeous ways to use wicker throughout the home. Their line of woven furniture, shown here, is called the "seagrass collection". I love its chunky texture and the variation in color. Here it pairs beautifully with white, wooden cube tables and a bold wool rug.

image: pottery barn

Even though this is set for the winter holidays, the room looks unbelievably fresh. I adore all the greenery, and the way it plays up the natural theme. The dark wood tones, set off by dollops of cream, complement the earthiness of the room's decor. I could live in this room all year long!

image: pottery barn

Another sea grass sectional. Notice the industrial elements and how they keep the look modern. Notice the vase filled with budding branches atop the round coffee table.

image: house beautiful

This porch is phenomenal! Look at the architectural features. There is a delightful mix of colors for the wicker pieces and the wood accent tables. The oversized lantern fits the space perfectly.

image: pottery barn

A lovely country porch designed for an afternoon repose. The sunflower pillows add some whimsy. The pillar holders, made of woven wire, provide yet another form of texture.

image: house beautiful

The large wicker basket and straw hats hanging from pegs in this entry way appeal to me. Painted floors and wood walls are classic country-style icons.

image: better homes and gardens

The day bed in this screened porch reminds me of an arabesque. It is so graceful! Notice the dark color of the wicker against the white background and greenery.

image: house beautiful

The hanging wicker swing is so clever here! See the whimsy of the coffee table on wheels. The platter of apples as its centerpiece offers a little burst of color.

As you can see there is no better way to increase the texture, freshness, and earthiness of a room than to add a piece (or a few) of wonderful wicker.

Until next time...
Anne

A visual feast...

Today I am craving beauty. Some days this need becomes almost physical, where there is an aching in the pit of my stomach. Somewhere within my soul there is a sense of depletion, a longing for nourishment. And for me, a connection to objects of beauty serves this purpose. Images like this bowl of cherries are evocative. Memories of cherries past come to mind (and so does the scrumptious cherry cobbler I made one summer from the bounty of my neighbor's tree... mmm)! I love the play of light and shadow on the burgundy fruits. A simple white bowl is the perfect backdrop.



Come along and immerse yourself in the gorgeous world of Arcobaleno (http://arcobaleno.ws/). These rooms are deeply mysterious. They seem at once ancient and freshly modern. They are not spaces to hurry through, but to places to linger and allow oneself to be engulfed, as if immersed in a fine work of art or music, literature or poetry.

The stone here evokes a connection to the past. Stone gives interior spaces a sense of permanence and indestructibility, and so creates a feeling of stability. The baroque candelstick in the right center provides a darkly dramatic note to the serenity of this space. This room has an uncluttered feel and just enough well-chosen accents to keep things interesting.

My favorite kitchen element...simple, white dishes on open shelves. The metal brackets look aged and are reflected in the tile walls.

This dining space has a great connection to the outdoors through the huge windows and bountiful centerpiece. The built-in cupboard lends stature. Dainty chairs are gathered round a rustic table. The stone floors are timeless and elegant. And that chandelier is true perfection.

More open shelves against a tiled wall and dozens of pretty, white bowls.

Another view of the living space. Worn sidelights elegantly frame this scene. The beams and ceiling trusses give the room added definition and create a sense of gravity in such a high-ceilinged room. The mix of warm grays, taupes, and whites makes me swoon.

A lovely tabletop vignette. Stone, iron, and glass create a sense of something ancient. The grapes add life.

Textures play a starring role in these photos, where colors are muted and faded. Now I am sufficiently inspired to go and create some beauty in my own home. I hope you are, too!

Until next time...

Anne