Around the Kitchen Table

Many nights an aunt, uncle and my parents would *put on a pot of coffee* and visit around the kitchen table while my cousins and I would be in the living room. As the kids would play, laugh at our newest jokes and catch up on the past year, we could smell the coffee mixed with cigarette smoke. It was the 1960's. Everyone smoked. We didn't have seat belts in our cars either. Neither did we have free long-distance, so we only heard news through an occasional letter or *gossip* from other visiting relatives. 
After we kids were put to bed, it would make me feel that everything was safe and right with the world hearing the pleasant drone of distant adult voices mingled with the clink of cups on saucers and scrapes of chairs on linoleum. Here are examples of the progression of dinette sets. Does anyone else have those type of memories? Chrome set 1950's; Fiberglass Chairs from the 1960's; Swivel dinette 1970's; Wicker popular 1980's; Glass and ornate iron 1990's; Arts & Crafts with bench 1990's; Banquette seating early 2000's and now Counter height dinettes are all the rage. Naw, those people aren't my family, but they are a great representation!

  

Floorlamp - Function or Form?

We're getting our lake community house ready to sell. It's just too big. We're not sure if we'll try to sell it now or in the Spring, but we're fixing and *staging* our home. It's a big undertaking. Anyway, I needed a new floor lamp to bring in more light, but have found the humble, hard working floor lamp of yesterday has been replaced by the uber-chic artistic floor lamp of today. They seem to be inspired by everything from  leaves on trees to....well.....you'll see.  Do you have a floor lamp? What's its inspiration?  Leaf-inspired lamp; Restoration Hardware's camera tripod-inspired lamp; Asian-inspired lamp; Elk-inspired antler lamp; Retro-inspired lamp; Jewelry-inspired lamp; Trash basket-inspired lamp; Accordion-inspired lamp; Mad Scientist *let me electrocute you* inspired lamp and finally the best....Outta This World Alien-inspired lamp!    

What Size Cup?

When I shop for coffee cups, the first thing I try is the handle for comfort and balance. Then I make sure the cup's not going to be too heavy when it's full of steaming coffee or cocoa....and I always want a saucer! I usually buy a set of four or six which don't match my everyday dishes. They can't be too small, but I'm not into *bowls* of coffee either.  My dad's favorite cup was an ugly, stained plastic travel mug. My mom's was glass stemmed mug. Mine came from Williams Sonoma (but the saucers recently got chipped - waaahhh!).   Do you like mugs or cups? Large or delicate?  Show me some coffee LUV!!!!

Lounging Around

A lot of people have *a thing* for the Chaise Lounge. When I see one I imagine myself lounging on it with a grande Williams Sonoma cup of perfect cafe latte and a good, great, fantastic book. Relaxation in a chair! Yep, that's what a chaise lounge is. Wouldn't it be great if they had one that would fit into the shower? How do you pronounce it? "Shays," "Chase," or "Shez?"

 

Are You in Transition?

Everyone's life goes through times of *transition.*  We flow from one phase into another. Whether you're engaged to be married or on your way to becoming single again; having your first child or the last one leaving the nest; being ill, but on your way to healthy....most of us are in some type of transition. We in the Northern hemisphere are in transition between summer and autumn.  Here are some examples of transitional interior styles (traditional infused with modern). Are you in a transition or have just come through one? 

Labor Day Decor

The USA is observing Labor Day, but I'm posting about a different Labor Day.  I have a friend who's pregnant with her first baby! We're all eagerly awaiting her painful ordeal, her walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the longest day of her life, her labor day.  I'm past child-bearing years, but still like looking and shopping for *baby stuff* for my friends. Do you?  Maybe you're expecting or someone close to you is? At any rate, let's celebrate LABOR DAY decor!  Beautiful white and neutral nursery; Adore the padded headboard on crib; fabulous bassinet; Elegant pink and cocoa crib set; Very French and Pink Nursery; Happy Labor Day...no really!