Calm and Light or Eclectic and Bright

Lisa Luby Ryan

I'm in a Christmas decorating quandary. I ponder this same question every year: whether to decorate in traditional reds, greens & golds, or to put a whimsical spin on those colors with brighter greens, deep pinks and purples for a more eclectic look, or to make a departure from these altogether with calm creams, silver and shades of muted green. If that were not enough to scratch my head over, the plethora of beautiful images of homes decked out in these schemes, proving that each are splendid in their own rites, only adds to my state of indecision.

Designer Lisa Luby Ryan, published many times by Veranda and Traditional Home, including this month's edition of Traditional Home, is clearly a master of making rooms merry and bright with restful hues. Every room is so beautiful, and I'm instantly enraptured.

Then there are those gorgeous traditional Christmas decorations, red flowing into green and gold. The color of Santa Claus and Christmas trees and glitter. They make me feel instantly at home. Red & green are the colors you associate with Christmas as a child, and seeing a house decked out in them makes me remember Christmases past-- getting that long-dreamed-of rainbow bike with the long streamers on the handles, my baby brother getting a little red barn complete with all the animals, the quilted Christmas stockings my mom made and hung in front of the fireplace every year and homemade eggnog.

What's not to love about Christmas decorations that put a spin on the traditional, still using bold and contrasting colors but in shades that are modern and young and using non-typical items to decorate. Behind the doors of this beautiful French home featured in Campagne Decoration are arresting colors and creative ideas, all in the Christmas spirit.

Planters painted a deep shade of pink and the matching ribbon on the front door greenery hint at what is to follow inside. The lit steps, the porch lights and the interior lights streaming from the inside make this place feel warm and welcoming. 

Deep pink is mixed with broad strokes of white, silvery mercury glass and fur throws for and unmistakable wintertime and Christmas look despite the absence of "traditional" color.

The Christmas tree is not loaded with ornaments nor does it need to be. The bright colors of the ball ornaments and complementing ribbons on the presents beneath combine with the lampshade, sofa cusions, draperies, even the drinking glasses for a room that has plenty of fun color.

In the living room there is a departure from the bright colors but not from the whimsy. A pear tree joins the other Christmas decorations and is decked out in silver, cream and icy blue.

What is your Christmas decorating style? Does it change from year to year or do you have a favorite that you stick to? Whatever your holiday decorating plans, I hope you're having fun putting everything together!

xo Keri

Chairs for Children

A room designed by Betty Lou Phillips incorporates antique children's chairs nestled up to the coffee table at a perfect height for games. Upholstered in a pale blue silk check, the look is suited perfectly to the elegance of the room.

Hello, everyone! I have been forced to be away from my blog and from my favorite blogland hang-outs for just too many days while I have been engrossed in holiday planning. I have begun to wonder why on Earth, here in the United States, do we drive ourselves crazy with two significant holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, scheduled within only about 4 weeks of each other?! It seems like we could spread them out a bit. But oh well, despite the trouble and effort, it is great fun too; is it not? 

Part of the fun for me at holiday time are the lively young guests; between my three siblings and me, we are blessed with five little girls, (four of whom are age 2!!), one baby boy and another baby boy due to my brother and his wife very soon. At present, the two-year-olds steal the show giving us a very clear understanding of what Jerry Seinfeld meant when he said, "Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don't have the top for." Yep, that pretty much sums it up! But no matter, the children are the highlights of our world, and when mine are all grown up, I hope I will still be blessed by the presence of some happy-faced little ones... who come to visit. :)

An absolutely beautiful arrangement by Betty Lou Phillips includes two children's chairs finely upholstered in a large silk check. I think the addition of the little furniture is charming and fresh and keeps the space from feeling too serious or stuffy.

Before I was surrounded by multiple children of my own plus nieces and nephews, back when I just had one little girl, who I was sure was destined to be an only child, child size furniture caught my eye. Chairs in miniature, many of them antiques, mixed in with the larger "adult" furnishings in a living room or library can give spaces such a charming look. I can almost hear the belly-laughter coming from a room that incorporates seats for the little ones that are all their own. I am not at all talking about furniture that, placed in a living room, would look like it mistakenly strayed from the nursery or that would clumsily announce at first glance, "WE HAVE KIDS!". I'm talking about the tasteful incorporation of child size pieces that simply say, "We all live here". Betty Lou Phillips and Charles Faudree are two of my favorite designers who do a splendid job incorporating child size furniture into the design of their rooms.

In the living room of a home by architect Jack Arnold in Tulsa, Charles Faudree has incorporated a child-size settee into the living room for the children who live there.  

In Charles Faudree's own home, a miniature eighteenth-century French bergere wing chair is upholstered in the same damask as the "adult" chairs. The chair was a gift to Faudree from his sister on his fortieth birthday.

In this beautiful living room designed by Muriel Hebert and featured in Betty Lou Phillips' book Provencal Interiors, a child size chair wears a tapestry fabric and blends perfectly with the grand look of the room. 

Another Charles Faudree design: the child's chair, situated against a centrally placed table that separates the room, is from Wisteria. Faudree had it reupholstered in a Pierre Frey ikat-- the same fabric that covers regular size chairs across the room. This chair looks like it is positioned to be moved around where it's needed-- a fun and practical idea.

This enviable set of antique children's furniture is in a playroom designed by Pamela Pierce for her grandchildren, but could just as easily be at home in a room used by both kids and adults. Without the reference of full size sofas and chairs around them, it's a little hard to tell that these furnishings are miniature. They look like they're in a world of their home-- a perfect place for the lads and lasses of the house to hold court.

Now-- where can beautiful children's furniture worthy of a place of honor in a living room or library be found? Like lots of other beautiful furniture some of the seemingly best children's chairs are antique.

This French 18th c. child's chair from Ambiance Antiques, for example, was listed for $4500. Beautiful-- but not something I would want my two-year-old climbing around on regularly.

via

Another beautiful example of a child's chair, this one is also French, early 19th century. The paint is original while the perfectly complementing upholstery is new.

And another antique beauty made of walnut is French, 19th century in the style of Louis XV, from 1stdibs.

 But if you're like me and want something that will not make you cry or faint if it falls victim to some mishap of child's play, here are a few other options to check out to get the look:

This chair from Sweet Pea & Willow retails for just over $200. It is available in a couple of finishes and could be reupholstered to fit any room, as Charles Faudree did, and could also have the finish re-worked if a more custom look like the one (pictured 2nd) in the Betty Lou Phillips room is desired.

The child size chairs, above, are from P.A.M.A Furniture. PAMA offers a wide range of finish and upholstery options, including customer's own material, so while the chairs pictured look like they are fitted primarily for a nursery or child's room, they could easily be customized to any other space.

Other options for children's chairs in the French style are: 

All available HERE.

The Mini French Salon Chair

And the Mini French Wing Chair are both from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child.

For a departure from the French style child's chairs, here are a few other options:

I loved this chair instantly when I saw it! It is from Art for Kids, just one of many of the beautiful pieces of furniture that they produce. The finish is red lacquer with gold leaf, with a loose cushion. I can see this blending splendidly in so many places, especially to give a chinoiserie-like look in a library or family room.

This chippendale-style chair is from P.A.M.A. Furniture, and is also available in various finishes.

These Swedish-inspired chairs and settee are from Wisteria. They do not appear to be available currently, but as they have sold a few pieces similar to these (at very reasonable prices) over the last few years, I have my fingers crossed that soon they will bring back something similar.

From Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, the 1950s-style Copenhagen chair is offered in miniature.

Also from Restoration Hardware: the Mini Professor's Chair

And the Mini Kensington Sofa

For more ideas on incorporating child size chairs into a design, carefully inspect the pages of Charles Faudree's and Betty Lou Phillips' books. You will find little pieces of furniture tucked here and there on quite a few pages.

Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy the rest of this week with people who make your heart smile, good food and lots to be thankful for! From my home to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

xo Keri

Feminine Touch

I have always been a girly girl. I unabashedly own that pink is still my favorite color and distinctly feminine designs seem to always catch my eye. This French home, featured in Campagne Decoration,  certainly did. The choice of a tasteful mauve-ish pink for living room walls may be the first clue that the homeowner, a bargain-hunter, decorator, shop owner and a lover of 19th century style is into making things look pretty. The crystal chandelier and light sconces, heavily fringed pillows and the curvy legs of the French furniture confirm it. The colors in this room are continued in varying shades throughout the house creating a really pleasing flow.

The dining room is sweet but not too sweet. The homeowner has struck a balance between light and dark, heavy and delicate. I simply love those French chairs with their gray velvet upholstery!

Another view of the dining room: look how well the walls blend with fabric on the dining chair. Through the doorway to the right you can see what appears to be the entry which I so wish we could see more of, but ::sigh:: I guess it leaves us something to exercise our imaginations on.

The owner decorated much of the house with flea market finds from the Normandy coast. Isn't this vignette delightful? Look at the gorgeous pattern the lantern is casting on the wall. I could pull up a stool, prop my feet on it and read for the rest of the evening right there; I'm quite sure of it.

A small desk with a view: can you think of a nicer place to work? The owner did such a fabulous job juxtaposing elements. The heavy drapery is the perfect foil to the daintiness of the desk chair while the colors of the two meld perfectly, and the light from the window is the perfect companion to the darker plaster on the walls.

The kitchen is another room with a lovely mix of elements: the range is so classy and gives the kitchen a very gourmet look while embroidered sheets secured with small ties that are used as curtains at the sink continue the look of unpretentious femininity. 

The bathroom & dressing room is so pretty with it corona over the footed cast iron tub set against a backdrop of an exposed brick wall. The matching window curtain and chair cushion upholstered in the same fabric bring continuity to the space. And an element that has picked up speed here in the United States: a crystal chandelier in the bathroom. It provides the crowning touch. What do you think of a large window like this in a bathroom? I love how it lets in so much natural light. There's nothing like natural light for addressing one's facial needs in the morning. Sometimes I go outside with a mirror or stand by a large window in another room just to make sure the ambient light and small amount of natural light in my own bathroom haven't mistakenly led me to believe that my face is ready for the day. A window like this would undoubtedly solve that problem.

The owner's upstairs bedroom leans a little baroque with its upholstered headboard and gilded accents. The simple chandelier has been embellished by hanging cherubs who appear to be in flight. 

In the daughter's bedroom, toile and old prints combine in a space that couldn't be prettier. There are so many ideas to adore. The main light fixture, for instance, is a departure from the chandeliers seen in most of the other rooms in the house, but it's just as lovely. The vintage prints, framed in a mix of styles, give off-beat character and just as in the other rooms of the house, the in-swing windows let in so much gorgeous light.

A view of the outside of the ivy-clad house where all these lovely interiors are housed. The color of the shutters complements the colors on the inside, which is not surprising; this homeowner clearly has an eye for detail and she has used it to such fabulous effect in a home that looks to be a perfect and quiet little haven.

I hope you enjoyed this little house tour, friends, and that you're doing something relaxing to complete your weekend!

Last but not least, a big THANK YOU to Tina at The Enchanted Home for her kind mention of my blog today!

xo Keri