the entertaining posts: dining room

No. 2 of the entertaining post series...




Last time we looked at kitchens, 

and part of the discussion we got going was whether or not we like formal dining rooms.

Not everyone likes a formal dining room, 

but we have one here, and it is well-used.

(although we won't be using it this weekend, as it's currently under a bit of an upheaval - 

we've just painted the walls, have to hang the art, change out the chandy, and add a carpet... 

both of which i also have to paint :) You can see the previous incarnation here....)

We try to have friends in at least every other week for dinner, 

and we host all the big holiday celebrations for both sides of our family.

Nothing makes me happier than the house being full of our favourite people.

I've gathered up a few beauties here for inspiration...

any of them tickle your fancy?


for the maximalist, a plethora of pattern...

for the elegant country home...

for the organic mod -

in black

or white......

(I really, really love the welcoming feel of this room,

truly one of my favourite spaces, ever)

for those of us that adore "junktiquing"....

the classics, happily re-imagined....

a room for stilettos and champagne, non?

If space is an issue

(and who isn't it an issue for?)

a dining room and office combine perfectly...

How about adding a piano, or a DRUM SET?!!

I love these rooms - 

the decor not be quite my style, 

but the idea of that little munchkin rocking out in the corner just makes me smile.

speaking of kids, 

these clever kids have found a way to ensure it's not a wasted space...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

So, how about it?
Do any of these make you long for a formal dining space?

Since we are revamping our own,
I've come up with a short list of the elements I prefer -

I'm particularly partial to round tables, I think they encourage good conversation.
I like striking art, to peruse during dinner. 
An unusual, dimmable chandelier as your focal point.
Lastly, since this isn't a space you normally spend long periods of time in,
some daring colour and pattern to fill in the space visually.


What does your list look like?













(next up, sometime during the next few days....
a post looking at entertaining-friendly living rooms-
hope you'll stop by..)

the entertaining posts

How about a theme week?

Are you up for it?

Fresh from a wonderful weekend filled with some of our favourite friends,

and one which we were at their houses, not ours,

my thoughts today are all about entertaining.

Of course, the company always makes or breaks the evening,

but I love to go over to a friends home and try out a new gem of a recipe,

or enjoy an old favourite,

to relax, inevitably, around the kitchen table,

and catch up over a bottle of wine...

It makes our family happy to have our home filled with the laughter of those we love,

and so we have company almost every weekend.

I think that D and I tend to be attracted to people who, like ourselves, are very relaxed about entertaining.

Are you the same?

Even at holidays, while the table may be a bit more spiffy,

the atmosphere in our home is always one of relax, eat (I am half-italian, after all!), and be merry.

It's all about the food and the company.

That said :) I'd like to know how you all entertain.

This week I am going to open discussions about what type of kitchen you prefer, where you entertain in your home, what's on your table, the cocktail area,

and entertaining with children, and see where you stand.

Sound good?

Let's start with the kitchen.

Are you an open kitchen or closed kitchen sort?

Do you choose to serve food that can be prepared in advance and left to roast away in the oven,

 while you are off somewhere else?

Or too you chop merrily away while chatting with your guests?

I tend to do quite a lot of prep ahead of time, and always try to have some appetizers ready to go,

but no matter who comes over, we always settle in at our kitchen table,

or if the kids have claimed that space,

our dining room table, which is also open to the kitchen.

The country style kitchen, with the table literally at the centre of it all,

is the most intimate type of dining.

As a bit of a klutz, I love an open kitchen, but one where the cooking are is clearly delineated,

so that you don't end up with major traffic while you whirl around with pots of boiling water

and enormous, sharp knives.

And in smaller spaces, the galley kitchen is perfection.

and of course, somewhere comfortable to sit is an absolute must - entrer dans la banquette.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

Now let's hear about your kitchens -

do you spend a lot of time there when you have company?

What do you love about your space?

What would you change?

gather round and give thanks...

 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for all of you south of here,

and so a table setting with just the right amount of rustic and sparkle...

I particularly like the idea of wrapping glass cylinder vases with birch bark....

lots of impact, but doable, right?

(found via the ever-fabulous Will of Bright Bazaar,

head over there for more details and a few words from the stylist that created this beauty)

Since I won't be posting tomorrow, Happy Thanksgiving, all - 

hope you spend the day surrounded by those you love - x

Gowns, Baubles and Tables - It's a Lovefest!!

So this year BHLDN opened, 

and if you've not yet been entranced by their dreamy gowns,

you've got to experience it.

 We eloped to the Bahamas for our wedding, and we loved every single moment,

but if anything would have made me want a larger affair, this would have been it.

How is anyone supposed to resist the romantic appeal of these...

I mean, REALLY!

And if the frocks and frills aren't enough to tempt you, now they've expanded to include decor items.

um, staying away... staying away... sort of :)

The other day, when BHLDN sent me an email with a peek at their take on table themes,

I had pretty high expectations... and I wasn't disappointed.

Of the six presented, the Naturalist is my favourite,

with butterflies and flora frolicking amongst antique linens and moss, 

bits of glass and mirror lending a dash of sparkle.

It's such a romantic, timeless look.

I wonder which one will be your favourite?

These tables aren't just for weddings,

there are so many ideas here for your next soiree, right?

How about using those vintage, beribboned keys featured in the Naturalist as place cards...

the dove clips from the Oiseau collection would be stunning hung anywhere, all the time, as an installation...

Go ahead, have a peek,

let yourself get lost in the pretty  :)

Projects and Parties

How was your weekend?

Ours was a blissful blur of family and friends..

Managed to take a few pics in between brunch and dinner on Sunday

to show you some of the bits I made this week.

So inspired by this palette right now...

I added glitter to some eggs we had decoupaged last Easter, a la Eddie Ross.

Love how they turned out, but let me just say,

If you plan to break out the spray adhesive spray adhesive and glitter at the same time

 be prepared to have a sparkly home :)

The ric rak trimmed linen napkins turned out really well, 

they were a lot of effort but now we have a huge set

 that will work whenever we have everyone over together, which we do quite a lot!

Fell in love with some napkins rings at Pier One inspired by vintage brooches, 

but at five dollars each, buying 34 wasn't going to happen!

Instead, I bought some silk flowers, separated the leaves, 

added a pearl to the centre of each petal (on fishing line) and strung them on some gold ribbon.

We got a similar feel for $3.00, 

and all the girls collected them later and wove them into their hair :)

D. brought home a few dozen roses

(he is such a sweetie)

and so they were all throughout the house - 

it smelled amazing!

Natasha enlisted her cousin to help her decorate cupcakes with sprinkles and peeps -

and since we had all gathered here, we celebrated her upcoming twelfth birthday as well.

Did I just say twelfth? One more year til there is a teenager living here :)

This has been a big year of change for Tash,

I am beginning to see the woman she will become and couldn't be more proud of her.

Had planned to take some pictures of the buffet we set up because there was massive amounts

 of delectable goodies (for dinner and dessert) but it was a bit mad!

Can show you pics of the new dining room curtains I sewed up..

Isn't that fabric to die for?

A major splurge, 

but this window is the first thing you see entering the room and it needed some love!

This room is next on the list to be finished.

The chairs got new cushions - I was going to custom make some but went to Wal-Mart 

(yes, you read that correctly - WALMART!!!)

to buy the pillow forms and found these - 

perfect size, durable cotton linen-look fabric, tufted, piped box cushions for $10 dollars each!! Score!

 Scouting out art for a gallery wall in the next couple of weeks 

but since we had cleared out the previous display, and needed something up here for Easter,

 I framed a really beautiful bit of silk that I fell in love with recently.

(couldn't leave the store without a metre, although I had no idea where it was going to end up!)

The frame came from the thrift store - 

bought it for the original figural pastel inside, which is going to be re-framed and hung somewhere...

 The frame was in good shape, so a lick of black paint and it works for now.

What would we ever do without black and white paint?!!

Speaking of white paint,

I've been reading about a fellow bloggers struggle to find the right white paint this week.

Since it is such a common struggle,

thinking that perhaps a post about how to get white right might be helpful.

I'll try to get it up this week :) 

Looking forward to hearing (and reading) about how all of you spent your weekend...

Happy Easter!

no matter where or how you spend it..

1 2 3 4 5

hope you are surrounded by those you love.