Quiet Escape

This image caught my fancy. My heart beat faster as my mind floated away to quiet environs and a romantic escape from all that plagues. Here, a place where the reverie is uninterrupted, the warmth is soaked in and deep breaths are consciously taken, is a place for quiet meditation.

Do you ever get carried away like that on a flight of fancy? Do you ever let your mind roam to a place where life is gloriously beautiful and uncomplicated?

This farmhouse has been newly constructed between the sea and mountains, south of Catalonia, Spain, in the French country style. Isn't amazing and wonderful that no matter where a home is and no matter in what century it was built, one that is built in the traditional style of the old world is always so captivating?

Here, old and new blend for the function and practicality of what is current and the gentle romance of what is past. The quiet colors and varied natural textures seem to combine into a catalyst for the good life.

Do you spend much time thinking about what, for you, is the good life? I tend to rush about from task to task to plop down on the sofa at the end of the day and begin thinking, yet again, about the following day's tasks. But someone reminded me recently about the cathartic affect of meditation, something that has been practiced since antiquity and that is a wonderful antidote to stress: a space of time carved out from the constant movement of thoughts that run between the urgent, perplexing and mundane, where the mind can rest and you can be aware of the tremendously uplifting sensation of breathing and being alive, time and permission for the mind to focus on what is good, uplifting and true.

I have been trying of late to re-hone the skill of meditating, so that even though I cannot spend every waking moment in a place of relaxation or supreme beauty, there is a moment or two in each day designated to quietness and reflection and a small section of time that I allow to myself to dream, uninterrupted by the nagging of detail or the fear of failure.

To read more details about this beautiful home, visit Campagne Decoration.

And a Blog Award!

Debra of Acquired Objects has awarded Ivy Clad the Liebster Award! Thank you Debra! Details and passing it on in my next post...

Happy mid-week to you all! 

xo Keri

I'm linking this post to Monday Moments at Privet and Holly HERE.

Guest Post: Classic Chic Home ~ ORDER IN THE PLAYROOM

Happy Friday, All! 

I asked Wendi from the lovely blog Classic Chic Home, to do a feature on playroom organization after reading her series on home organization over the past couple of weeks. All of Wendi's organizing posts were packed with beautiful and practical ideas, but when she photographed and posted her ''junk" drawer, she really had my attention. Wendi's "junk" drawer contains no junk at all as you can see HERE, but is just as organized as everything else in her lovely home. 

I'm so glad to have her at Ivy Clad today to wave her magic wand around one of the most difficult places in the house to achieve order: the playroom!

Welcome, Wendi!!

---

(via Birch and Bird)

When Keri first asked me to write a guest post on PLAYROOM STORAGE IDEAS, I wasn't sure if I was the right girl for the job...  after all, my youngest turns eighteen today!

This article was so much fun to pull together!  It brought me back to a time when my "babies" were still small, and reminded me how much I loved those precious, early years. I also quickly remembered how challenging it was to ORGANIZE the mounds of books, games and toys that come with having little kids!
Here are some practical ideas for keeping your children's playroom looking neat and tidy, while still allowing them room to play, learn and grow:

Maximize vertical space by installing sturdy bookcases to store games and toys.

(via Erdexon)

Child-sized tables and chairs are perfect for creating activity-based play stations.

(via Mini Me Playroom)

Designate a separate area with easy-clean surfaces for painting and craft projects.

(via Childhood 101)

Add plush mats in your child's play area to keep the space feeling soft and cozy.

(via Avery Storage)

Open-topped bins and baskets make it easier for children to put their own toys away.

(via Wee Decor)

Sort like-items in small, clear containers that are easy for little ones to lift and carry.

(via L J World)

Mix inexpensive decorative items with your child's books to create a pretty display.

(via Kids Room Ideas)

Add labels to the front of toy bins to help your children develop their organizing skills.

(via Exquisite-Adore)

A vintage wagon is a creative and charming solution for storing books or games.

(via Design Dazzle)

Lightweight, canvas bags are perfect for carrying toys from one room to another.

(via Pregnancy and Parenting)

This clever, collect-and-go sac helps clear the playroom floor in seconds.

(via Gogo and Co)

Think outside-the-box for toy storage ideas, like these hanging garden baskets.

(via The Home Depot)

Create a dress-up station with a low rod for hanging play costumes and accessories.

(via Ana White)

Design a project wall with separate zones for creating and displaying artwork.

(via In-Gender)

And of course, a classic toy bench is still a pretty and practical toy storage solution.

(via Backyard Gardener)

Thank you, Keri, for so graciously inviting me to be your special guest here today.

I hope these organizing ideas help you to create a PLAYROOM that both you and your children can enjoy!

---

Thank you, Wendi, for the fantastic inspiration! All of these solutions are as colorful and fun as they are practical. And a very special Happy Birthday to your son!!

Be sure to stop by Classic Chic Home for more of Wendi's design inspiration!

Enjoy the weekend!

xo Keri

Inspiration for a "Tween's" Room: Part I

I never knew what a "tween" was until I'd had a daughter. My daughter is now almost 9 years old, and I am quickly becoming acquainted with the world of a tween. She is part little girl, the one who wears glittery sneakers and plays with Lala Loopsy dolls. 

She fancies herself a teen (albeit, one whose developing tastes are trending classic-- yay!) who gazes dreamily at pictures of glittery high heels, long flowing skirts

and Audrey Hepburn.

She is the little girl who plays fetch and tug-of-war in the backyard with her dog and later draws sketches of what will one day be her very own veterinary clinic. (By the way, her name is quite fitting for such a career; don't you think?: Dr. Doolittle, the vet, she plans to be.) 

She loves to read and still prefers books to boys. To her, boys are still gross up close and in person (THANK GOD!), but through the video screen she is quite comfortable declaring one or ten of them the cutest ever! 

She giggles one minute and sits in deep reflection the next. To her a phone like this, while adorable, is quite old-fashioned, and I doubt that she would have a clue about what to do with a real rotary phone, but she is definitely master of the business of "thumb-talking".

She dreams of someday living in Paris,


via www.etsy.com/shop/chezjolly

 but for now is content to have her daddy and me tuck her into bed at night. 

She changes her mind with the wind, and if anyone dares to call her fickle she simply tells them, "My grandma says a lady can change her mind whenever she likes."
To watch her grow up is amazingly funny and wonderful and tear-jerking all at the same time. Am I sounding like the tweenager now?

It's time for some interior updates at the Ivy Clad Cottage, and her room is first on the list. I want to create a beautiful room that reflects her interests and personality, and one that will, I hope, be able to span that gap between little girl and grown up girl and last until her early to mid teens. This is the start of her room-- a virtual mood board to remind me of the colors, style and feel of things she likes. I feel lucky: I have a feeling that when it's finished I will be able to smile when I walk by it (so long as the previous day's socks are not lying on the floor).

Since she has dreams of Paris, I'm letting that guide me, however loosely.


Pale pink with gold and possibly pale blue is the tentative color palette. I hope you enjoy looking through the inspiration photos that I'm using to get the creative juices flowing!

Pink and gold luxe. Interesting how both cream (the dresser & upholstery) and white (the bed and window and baseboard trim) are used. I think the mix is pleasing. This room looks vintage. When I was 14, I had a bed so similar to this one from the 1940's.

Beautiful Venetian-style mirror on shell pink walls.

A lovely shade of blue compliments the mix of brighter pinks, gold and white.

That radio--too cute!

Gorgeousness!


It's a little hard to tell here, but the walls and draperies are a tiny pink stripe. This room has a whimsical vibe with the oversized paisley print.

This room has very little pink, but its composition and the use of muted, warm gold appeals.


Pinks in apricot tones, creams and vintage blue. So chic!

I love the beautiful straw-gold color of the seagrass carpet. These antiqued shades of gold, cream and pink really appeal to me.

Such pretty, girly little ballet flats.

Now, for the choosing, deciding, second-guessing... third-fourth-and-fifth-guessing too, sorting it all out and choosing and deciding again. I'll be back with more soon as I hone in on our actual choices.

What are your favorite variations on these colors? Do you like the pink and gold mixed with white or do you prefer the deeper, more apricot shades with burnished gold and tea-stained cream? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

One last thing, many of these photos are were found at Debby Steele of Inspired Design's Tumblr page where I find inspiration on a daily basis. If you are looking for beautiful inspiration or just need a glamour fix, visit her HERE and HERE. All photo sources listed HERE.

xo Keri