Beautiful Brooklyn

/

Last Thursday I took a day trip up to Brooklyn for business and pleasure. What an amazing day I had. I wish I had more pictures to show you, but I was too busy walking around with my mouth agape to raise the camera up and push the button. House after lovely house line the streets of Brooklyn Heights, each one more beautiful than the last, all under the green canopy of huge Sycamore & Ginko trees.

At least I have a few images to share....

I thought firehouses this charming only existed in children's books. Boy was I wrong.

And then you add the carriage houses next to it--it is amazing that I was able to remain conscious.

I was so glad we got to walk past the Brooklyn Heights Episcopal Church. So lovely.

Can't wait to go back!! Just remind me to take more pictures next time.....

So Much Fun

/

Last week we visited a couple of our favorite old haunts, and we weren't disappointed.... Two antique stores housed in old brick mills in Strasburg, Pa that we have been visiting a couple times a year for as long as I can remember.

Nothing like a yummy lunch followed by a couple of hours of fun window shopping. So relaxing.

When I got home I realized that I took pictures of mostly of vintage toys. Something about them must have been pulling at my heartstrings.

So many neat-o old finds....

and old friends....(this is the kind of amplifier that my husband had when he FIRST started playing guitar--Does this mean WE qualify as antiques?!?).

It is so much fun just to wander around and see what you see. These vintage 1940-1950's dollhouses had my imagination running wild.

I love to look at the details such as the window treatments, window boxes, wallpaper, porch lights, lattice work ---and think of who might've played with these sweet little structures many moons ago.  Somebody should bring the baby carriage (is the baby in there sleeping?!?) and doggie inside....looks like they have been waiting patiently for an eternity!

This swallow detail had me swooning.....

not to mention this gorgeous Tonka truck. Can I have a full size one just like this? Please? Love the copper color and whitewall tires. Don't you think it would make a good first impression (or at least a memorable one) if your designer rolled up in this??

I will leave you today with this sentiment straight from the bottom of my heart:

 

What more can I wish for you, my friends.

Boredom in the Bedroom

/

Well, I don't know what you thought this post might be about..... but boredom in the bedroom, whatever kind we may be talking about, is not to be tolerated!

Just this past week, something made me take an honest look at my own bedroom....and I began to YAWN.

Now, it wasn't always this way. I have loved my bedroom and the things in it for a long time, but with all the other distractions, responsibilities, and things that just pull my attentions elsewhere, there hasn't been any love given to the space for the past few months. When I  took a step back and evaluated the state of things, the words "anemic" and "pathetic" readily came to mind--not really the vibe I was after.

It was time to get to work.

So, what about your Master Bedroom? Let's talk about what a Master Bedroom should be, and what it should not....

  • A master bedroom is meant to be a personal retreat from the world. When you walk in and shut the door behind you (and the door should preferably have a working lock~ ahem) you should be able to feel you are removing yourself from your day to day stressors and giving yourself space for quiet.
  • A master bedroom should not contain anything that pertains to your work.  I have redesigned bedrooms for clients who reluctanly went to bed at night because the space had a desk piled high with things needing their attention. It was the last thing they saw at night , and it greeted them first thing in the morning. No wonder they looked so tired.
  • While the room should not contain things that irk you, it should contain things that delight your senses: soft lighting, a variety of textures (think satiny sheets and nubby chenille throws), colors that you find soothing, fresh (but not overpowering) scents, and flowers and /or plants that bring life and additional color to the room.
  • And, most importantly, a master bedroom should contain order. If you have a pile of stuff on a chair in the corner, not only will you not have a place to sit, but you will feel annoyed. Annoyance is so NOT serenity.

I am glad to say that my bedroom is no longer a snorefest.

I bought some wonderful 300 count sheets in a soothing hue, found a decorative pillow that picks up some of the detail in the headboard and adds a punch to the existing color scheme.

Add some cuttings from the Ninebark shrub and Mexican Oregano plants right outside my front door, and the room comes to life.

Now the space is one that I am happy to retreat to after a long day.