One Week to the Pewter+Sage Dining Room Mood Board Challenge

I hope a lot of you will link up to the dining room mood board challenge hosted by Pewter + Sage. It is a perfect opportunity to realize the extent of one's creativity and to challenge oneself while having fun and seeing what others have come up with. Here are the details of the Mood Board Monday party next week, Monday, November14th.

One has to choose any of these four dining sets as inspiration for a dining room mood board. The choices are:

1. David Stark Wood - Slices Organic Dinnerware from west elm

2. Penumbral Doily Dinnerware from Anthropologie

3. Chirp Collection, Lenox Simply Fine Dinnerware, available at Macy's

4. Philippe Deshoulieres "Dhara" available at Bloomingdale's

Four very different dinnerware sets. Does any particular one appeal to you? Why not challenge yourself and try something out of your comfort zone, something different. For more details go here. Participants must visit Pewter+Sage next Monday, November 14th to join the party and link up their mood boards. Give it a try! I am toying between two of the choices..you will have to wait and see which one I pick.

The last Mood Board challenge at Pewter+Sage was for a room using wallpaper as inspiration. You can take a look at my eclectic living room mood board here. I had a great time putting it together.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Meghan from Wishful Thinking for including my blog in her list of inspirational blogs. Thank you, Meghan! I am truly honored. Meghan's blog is a catalog of inspirational finds and not only does she find the most stunning pictures she is also a talented photographer. I always look forward to reading her views from across the pond! I have yet to visit the others on her list due to continuing internet connectivity issues but I will do so soon.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

A Glimpse of One Week's Mini Projects

Along with other work-related goings-on I have been trying to complete smaller decorative projects in the house. I find creativity relaxing and in some instances, while the television is on in the background (and others are watching), I put my hand to some quick artwork. I can always find a home project that needs to  be done and on some days while watching a bit of television I can find my mind wandering to a new idea for artwork, repainting, furniture layout and so on. One of these mini projects I had been contemplating since early summer while I "accumulated" supplies.

This first one I think is still seasonal as we are not done with Thanksgiving yet and pumpkins are an integral part of the festivities. I saw this on a couple of blogs and decided it looked too good not to attempt to make my own.

I will reveal the details next week. I was determined to create something related to the Fall season before Halloween was over. I will not say much else except that I used a 480(!) page book.

The other project I completed on Saturday evening during the storm - halloween parties were either cancelled or postponed and we were housebound. This is a decorative piece for the basement/children's playroom which was so easy (and the coke can is part of it).

And lastly, I mixed and tested some sample paints I had from previous projects, again on Saturday night....

and started work on this...

I hope you will return to see more details. Have you been working on anything fun? I have some blog reading to catch up on. I have had and internet connectivity (and phone) issues for the past few days so therefore have not posted anything since earlier in the week.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Light Up In Style

In anticipation of the snow on Saturday (and potential power outages) I took stock of my supply of candles and flashlights - did we require replenishments, batteries, and so on. Last year I bought a bunch of flashlights from L.L.Bean for members of my family living in the tri-state area. I picked up the solar-powered/crank-up ones as well as battery-operated ones. The kids, too, each have one by their bedside in case of emergency. Home Depot also sells mini flashlights in packs of 10 which we use while trick-or-treating with the littler kids in the family. They love feeling responsible for keeping their paths lit and it keeps them safe while they have fun. This also had me looking at my candleholders. On Friday I received the latest west elm catalog which  I instantly warmed to. Here is why.

To take a further look at these and others available go here. I am certainly not surprised to see the mercury glass ones or the fun, chalkboard votives. I love the look of the Manzanita Candelabra which looks like branches in the winter but really could be used throughout the year as suggested, and could be considered as a modern menorah. Each piece is different - festive, stylish, colorful or whimsical. In all honesty I could see each one of these in my own home.

Are you drawn to any particular votive or candleholder?

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by this company. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the company and someimes on the purchase of products.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

A Luxury Villa in Camps Bay, South Africa

This luxurious home is situated 10 minutes from Cape Town, South Africa in Camps Bay. The Azure Luxury Villa is designed to maximize mountain views as well as unparalleled 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean. The expansive living room with its sliding glass doors is all about bringing the outdoors in. This enhances the sense of peace and calm which is carried through the entire house in the choice of colors and the low, relaxed furniture, the art on the walls and decorative pieces.

Images via

I love the wooden pieces of furniture (like the carved dresser) and the fireplace in the living room makes quite a stunning statement when lit. Interestingly, there are very few circular items (side table, a few decorative pieces on the coffee table, the basin on the vanity), to be found in a home with a lot of linear architectural elements (walls, windows, doorways, fireplaces, vanity, pool, and so on) and angular furniture. But these prove sufficient to contribute toward the overall sense of balance. The views of the sea are breathtaking. This house can be rented throughout the year; the cost depends on the season.

Do these pictures convey serenity? I think the architects have used the surroundings to truly create a paradise in an idyllic setting and the owners of the property have further extended that in their decor.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze

We are fortunate to have the phenomenal Jack O'Lantern Blaze, a night-time walk-through experience showcasing over 4,000 intricately carved lit pumpkins located in the Hudson Valley on the grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. A couple of years ago I took the kids and one of my sisters to the show. These tickets are sold out very quickly and hundreds were turned away last year.

The first four pictures are from the Hudson Valley website. With music and sound effects setting the scene, thousands of people enjoy this unparalleled experience. The range of designs carved into these pumpkins is quite astounding - dinosaurs, abstract designs, skeletons, birds, an aquarium, pirates, a cemetery and so on can be seen in themed areas such as Egypt, Greece, Jurassic Park, Undersea Aquarium and Pirates Cove.

  

The following pics are from my iphone taken so they are not of a good quality but they certainly give you an idea of the skill level and creativity of those responsible for putting together this show. The pumpkins are scooped, carved and lit by more than 1,000 volunteers. 

Some of the pumpkins are real and some are "art pumpkins" but they are each individually carved and can weigh anywhere from 5 to 50 pounds! Carving of the art pumpkins begins in the month of June and the real ones need to be replaced several times during the run of the show which is on for about 5 weeks. It takes 15 to 20 volunteers to light the pumkins each night of the show starting about 3 hours before it opens.

The lighting, the music, the crowds, all contribute to a highly charged halloween experience which is not to be missed. If you are ever visiting the NYC or even the tri-state area in the month of October area The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a must but tickets should be purchased in advance to avoid disappointment. A jaw-dropping experience which, although now part considered a fall festival, truly does "pay tribute to Halloween and Sleepy Hollow Country"!

For pumpkin recipes, a downloadable template and tips on carving, go here.

Is this something you would enjoy? Do you  have a similar experience where you live? I would love to hear about it.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa