All posts filed under: Crate & Barrel

thanksgiving table setting ideas

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The countdown begins, in my opinion, since it is officially one week to Thanksgiving.  While I contemplate the menu for this year’s feast with family, I am also searching  for table setting inspiration.  I usually shift gears and turn to country themed settings because of the occasion and choose, probably like everyone else, autumn colors to set the right mood. I found some ideas here that are pretty easy and not over the top, so I am going to draw my table setting from a combination of the photographs I have included below. What theme are you going with?

french kitchen table

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I just can’t snap out of it yet, but instead of dwelling, I decided to just focus on what makes me smile. But yesterday while I was recuperating from the strenuous Sunday travel back to the U.S., I had to make a run to a mall for a split second in between picking up my dog and doing laundry just to replace  a broken kitchen tool. So, as I walked through Crate&Barrel, one of my favorite stores, in search of my the broken utensil I needed to replace, I came to a screeching halt  when I saw this kitchen table/center island so neatly arranged on their showroom floor. I smiled because it reminded me of a similar table in a tea room  (Salon de The)  in Paris. I think that five minutes I spent staring at the table, made up for my sad state on Monday. {photos: Courtesy of Crate&Barrel)

first stop: condo kitchen sprucing up

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First decision was to tackle the kitchen. His wish, of course, was to remodel the entire kitchen. Mine, was to reface, nip and tuck and voila a brand new look without spending the big bucks. Since the area is a small 6×9 galley style kitchen, I wanted to go with white paint for the cabinets in order to brighten up the small, dark space. However, knowing his taste in dark furnishing, I agreed to paint the cabinets a deep dark brown instead, using the below photo as my gage on how it will turn out once done painting. Stay tuned for photos of the before and after, coming your way shortly

decor ideas: vintage cupboards

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You know the funny thing about vintage cupboards is that, you either like them or hate them.  I happen to be one who loves seeing them when I go to Napa or Sonoma, California because, cupboards are used in most boutique stores, wine shops, deli’s and some bakeries to house their goods. I really can’t imagine a store without them in the wine country, but having one in an apartment just doesn’t seem ideal in my opinion. So, although I shop for cupboards at antique stores and online, I always talk myself out of bringing one home. I tell you though, if I were fortunate enough to have my own coffee shop, I would most certainly incorporate them into the decor of the shop. What’s your take on cupboards?

for the writer at heart – a desk and a chair

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I once read that small studio apartments are the most inspirational places for the writer at heart, and after thinking about it long and hard, I realized how true that was, even throughout history. Most well known writers, lived in studios, sometimes in Paris, while they wrote their books. So, as I transition from my past life to the new one, I too have chosen to stay in a studio apartment for a bit in order to, let’s just say, realign my life and get focused on what I want to accomplish from it.  Besides, big houses and too many rooms are not a place for the artistic minded individuals (in my opinion) In line with  the topic I have decided to write about in this entry, I decided to search for  photos of a desk and chair ensemble, to see what actually came to mind when I looked at them. What do you think? Enjoy the photos and have a wonderful weekend.

kitchen talk – small space decor

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I can honestly say that the best kitchen I ever had in my lifetime was a galley style with the simplest decor in a San Francisco high-rise apartment. Everything was within reach, easy to clean and a wonderful window, so strategically placed that I seldom had to worry about airing out the kitchen. Mind you I didn’t even have a fan or a vent and the appliances were the simplest and probably the most durable. So, in light of missing my galley kitchen, I decided to share some photos of my favorite galley kitchen decor.

white affair in home decor

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As I stated earlier last week, I love Springtime and will often turn to an array of color or not for decorating a home. I am not picky when it comes to pastel shades, whites and eggshell (a.k.a off-white or cream) and even some bold colors as long as it is tastefully incorporated throughout the home.  Of course I cannot stress enough how I wish I could re-decorate my home at least four times a year, at the beginning of a new season. But, since that is not an option, I simply sigh over some of the enticing photographs of decor gone wonderful. Now, the color white to me represents cleanliness (or sometimes) dirty if not cared for very well. It is a difficult color to maintain and use correctly while decorating a home. Too much white, although sometimes soothing to the eyes (believe it or not) can be a bit bland, unless of course you thoroughly enjoy the shade (or is it?). With that said, check out some of the picks I found and …

incorporating the color sage in decor

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In light of St. Patrick’s Day and the much anticipated Springtime coming our way anytime in the next few weeks, (depending on what part of the  world you are) I have decided to pay homage to the color “sage” in decor. Now, this is one color, I truly love and will only consider incorporating throughout my home in a subtle fashion. Such as a vase or flower pots here and there, a unique serving dish, candles and I think that is about it. Even though that is the case, I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at some of the interesting decorating suggestions in the photos below (My favorite is the bedroom). Anyway, I figured I better share them with my readers. Enjoy and Happy St. Patty’s Day to you all.