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Lillet Spritz – A Light Summer Cocktail

August 10, 2022 By kimwheeler 21 Comments

Today I am joining a few others to share summer drinks. If you haven’t had a little gathering, this is your chance to have a summer happy hour before September hits! We all have a few fun ideas for you..

My cocktail is a Lillet Spritz. I love this drink because it’s light and fruity. I’m not a big drinker and I like something with less alcohol, especially in the heat of summer. This drink is simple and you can make a batch before your guests arrive. Gather some pretty garnishes and lovely glasses and you’re all set.

What is Lillet?

Lillet is a French aperitif that is traditionally served over ice with a lemon twist. I remember my first time having it, a Croatian boyfriend ordered me one, when I was 23 and I was instantly in love with its honey, orange and floral notes. I still think about that cocktail and feeling so grown up having one with its pretty lemon twist.

My friend Elaine, recently had us for a summer dinner party. I brought the makings for the drink of the night. E had found the recipe and had these lovely dried oranges from California that she wanted to use in the drink.

Lillet Blanc Spritzer — Don’t you love her pretty daisies in a glass that make her outdoor bar pretty?

You can also use fresh oranges slices or lemons as we did and a sprig of mint.

There is also a new version of Lillet, called Lillet Rose which has hints of strawberry and you could swap Lillet Blanc for that and float a few strawberries in it.

I brought this cute pitcher bought at my favorite local home store, Home by Ling Interiors in Los Gatos -and you can also buy it here online. It’s called a Cannes Rattan Pitcher and I have the medium.

Elaine has serious bar style and the perfect outdoor entertaining set up which I plan to share on a future post. Don’t you love the tray and her cute straws and napkins?

Her enamel tray she found at CB2 and is part of their bar collection. I love the Tiffany blue color and it’s so cute on her bar. They also have a white version that’s slightly different. I love the idea of propping it up against the back of the bar or having it with fun napkins and straws in a glass as Elaine styled it.

This recipe could not be simpler.. It’s two bottles, one of Lillet and one of prosecco. Surprisingly both fit in this medium pitcher. I try and choose a decent prosecco or Cava. If anyone has a favorite, please comment below. If you’re unfamiliar with Lillet, it can be found here at Total Wine.

Lillet Spritzer

Kim Wheeler, Northern California Style

An easy and light summer batch cocktail

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings 8

Ingredients

1 bottle Lillet Blanc
1 bottle Prosecco, Cava or other sparkling wine

Instructions

Mix bottles in a pitcher. Add slices of oranges and fresh mint sprigs and stir. Add 3-4 ice cubes in a glass, pour over spritzer and garnish with more mint sprigs and orange slices.

To make it for one..

I experimented and made myself a single version of this, but lightened it up a bit more. For a single serving, just combine equal parts of Prosecco and Lillet over ice with slices of citrus and mint sprigs. To make a light version, I just do one jigger of Lillet with fizzy water, or for a tall glass one jigger of Lillet, one of prosecco and fill the rest of the glass with bubbly water, depending on how light you like it. You can also substitute ginger ale for the Prosecco.

An easy appetizer to pair with your cocktail..

One easy appetizer I love to make late summer is figs with goat cheese and walnuts drizzled with honey. These couldn’t be easier and are so delicious.

Make sure you get figs that are firm, but have some give, slice them in half and place a small spoonful of goat cheese on each side. I like Laura Chenel Thyme & Rosemary, a local cheese, but any chèvre will do.

Place a dollop on each half, top with a walnut and drizzle the plate with a thin stream of honey and a tiny pinch of sea salt.

You’ll find these go perfect with the Lillet Spritzers, or any frizzy drinks!

A few things you may need…

Save this post by pinning it..

Now please check out these other great blogs for more summer drink ideas…

MOST LOVELY THINGS

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN

You can pin this graphic to Pinterest to save all our drink ideas…

If you missed our last fun food collaboration, Appetizers Inspired by Travel, I shared caprese bites and the others had delicious ideas as well.

Thanks for stopping by! So happy to have you visit my California blog.

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Weekend Meaderings- Summer Whites, Kitchen Pendants, a Sunscreen You’ll Love & More

July 15, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

It’s time for our Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope your week has been good. Mine flew by, but there’s a few new things around here so let’s get to it..

My New Pendants!

I wrote the week before last about finally making a decision for new kitchen pendants and these Serena & Lily small Headlands Bell Pendants seemed like a fun choice and the price was great (still on sale for $278). They came quickly and Max was able to put them up for me one night this week! I wasn’t sure if they would be too beachy, but I actually LOVE them. I’m very happy with the look and they kind of soften up the kitchen which has a lot of sharp angles. At night they give off a pretty look to the ceiling too.

If you’re looking for pendants or a light for a room, they come in a few different sizes and shapes also in a black and the quality is very nice for the price!

Summer bath refresh..

I recently added a few new things to our main bath and one was this little ladder towel bar and a vase from Target.

Serena & Lily has one of these ladders, but they can also be found here at Anthro, here and here. Mine was a Homegoods find.

They no longer have this vase (or not online that I can find), but this is a similar one I also have from Target and I love the texture. Since this is under a skylight, and get a lot of sun, I added a dried faux eucalyptus branch in the little vase..

Easy summer white dresses

I am getting ready to go to a conference in Atlanta next week with blogging pals, Juliet, Annie and Mary Ann and was trying to find light dresses to take. I know it’s going to be very warm and humid..I was forced to do the mall thing and actually fell in love with two dresses, this unique shirt dress by Club Monaco with pretty stitching, a unique gather in the back and cool pockets.

I also found this Rail’s Jasmine dress. I am normally not a fan of these elasticized waists, but this dress has a relaxed fit and the prettiest details and a built in slip on the bottom.

Below, I’m in the Rails dress…and a bit sweaty and wrinkled..I had just gotten back from an outdoor lunch when Max snapped this, but you can see the length. It’s a nice run about dress and to take for travel. The skirt has a built in slip. I bought a small. but I’m usually a medium. I’m 5’3 and 135. I’m wearing my favorite Tory Burch espadrille slides I bought a year ago. They no longer have them, but I am considering these which are this year’s version of her espadrille slides..so cute!

White accent for the home

This shorter version of a garden stool popped up on Amazon and reminded me of my grandma’s 1960’s home. I like the shorter look and how nice to pop a plant on, or have two flanking an entry door, or to hold a pile of towels in a bathroom, or maybe two under a console table? Just a few ideas for this cutie.

A pretty San Francisco Townhouse in Frederic magazine

I love Frederic magazine by Schumacher and they always have inspiring homes. This 1920’s San Francisco townhouse in the Presidio Heights neighborhood by SF designer Allison Caccoma and updated by architect Andrew Skurman is one of them!

The owner is a lifelong collector of unique pieces and had Pinterest boards of how she wanted every room. With the most gorgeous arched windows and pretty terraces, it’s a dream. I’m crazy for the terrace above, with its the brick laid on the side in a zig-zag pattern and the beautiful doors. The owner has a mix of things from all periods and styles, which is very modern and personal.

The cutest summer totes

If you aren’t familiar with Mersea and their Moroccan totes, they are worth checking out. They are beautifully made and come in three sizes and a few colors and designs.. I love the white versions of their Medina Market basket. The small is perfect for a little handbag, the medium for a tote to hold more for a day out or a trip and the large is great even for storage and many use it for files! Love the cute details on the leather tab too..

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

In summer I really don’t want to much makeup on and I am also lazy. I found this light compact foundation that also has decent coverage and makes my skin look so nice. I just puff it on quickly with the sponge and use a fingertip for areas I want a bit more coverage. It’s a water-based foundation formula with smoothing and anti-pollution skincare ingredients that blur imperfections. It also comes with one refill for the compact. I have been using the Vanilla color. This is the perfect summer foundation! For each cushion compact or refill sold, a bottle of milk for a baby elephant is bought at the wildlife refuge Chantecaille supports -another lovely thing!

Supergoop family size pump

My friend Stacy who I play tennis with, always knows the latest and greatest and told me about this wonderful sunscreen by Goop Play Sunscreen SPF 50, which is so good and comes in a family size pump. It’s a fast-absorbing, non-greasy, water and sweat-resistant, and broad-spectrum SPF 50 lotion for the face and body.

I now have it in the pool bath/mudroom space where everyone uses it on the way out. I love how it feels on, not sticky or thick and is easy to rub in. It smells good, doesn’t leave a white residue, and everyone seems to like it. So important because I want us all to use more sunscreen here in California!

The Lady Di Look Book

This isn’t in the white theme, but I had to share this new release which looks very good..

This new release, The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying To Tell Us Through Her Clothes, by Eloise Moran looks to be a really fun read.. and a must for any anglophile and Diana fan. It takes a deeper drive into Diana’s clothes and finds the meanings she was trying to convey, plus many interesting tidbits about her life we didn’t know before, added in with beautiful photos. There is a sample on the Amazon link and it looks great. I’ve already pre-ordered. It comes out next week!

Micro Weddings

Are you a fan of small weddings? The last pandemic years have encouraged so many to go small instead of the usual big overblown and pricey bashes. I personally love an intimate wedding and we had one too. This year especially a lot of people have chose to go small thanks to date and venue shortages, and they are just tired of waiting. I think you can have a stylish and smart wedding with all your dream details for a small group. Micro weddings are the latest things and Juliet is on it! Her niece just had a very chic and sweet ceremony and reception for twenty with so many good ideas that Juliet wrote about it this week. Cute Sophie and Chad, below..

Well that’s my meanderings. Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s on their minds this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week, I shared designer Ulla Johnson’s beautiful Montauk home and her fashions, Wimbledon spectator style, Tahoe hikes to try, and more!

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Weekend Meanderings- A Front House Refresh, Tomato Garden Tips, a Great Desk Chair & More

May 21, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

Hello it’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and a chance to share some things that caught our attention this week!

Start a Garden!

I grew up in San Jose, in a pink room with ballerina wallpaper, but outside my bedroom window all summer were my dad’s green beans strung across the view! His big garden was just outside my window. Dad has always been passionate about gardening. He has his first garden at 18 months old, was in Future Farmers and 4H. His own dad grew up on a farm in Mt Ayr, Iowa. Thanks to my dad’s hobby, we learned to love eating all kind of veggies year round.

My dad had a greenhouse he built and a compost pile, which we called the worm bin. It kind of grossed me out as a kid, but I now realize he was composting before it was cool. I still love the smell of wet dirt, a scent that would waft through my bedroom each evening when my dad watered. As kids we were given small plants to tend and I loved visiting my own little pots in the greenhouse. I am so grateful to still have my dad helping me with the garden each year when we put in our vegetable garden. He inspires me so much and has rubbed off on my oldest son Jackson, who loves gardening and plants.

With my dad – and dad gardening as a child.

During the pandemic people began working in their yards for their sanity, and I agree there is nothing like a break gardening outside. Something about being out, with the bird songs, the scent of earth and flowers can calm you. It also keeps you fit. My dad is 82 and has the back of an ox because of it. While gardening, you crouch, twist and turn, lift a lot of heavy things and it keeps you flexible.

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding and easiest things to grow here in California. You need to wait to put the plants in the ground when the evenings are turning warmer- usually late April or early May here in Northern Cal. I just put mine in Mother’s Day weekend. I recommend for vegetables, start with plants, as seeds need more time to start in small pots, be babied and nurtured.

If you have a space that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day, that is a good spot for a tomato garden. I was lucky to already have some garden beds on the south side of my home when we bought it. If you don’t have the space, you can start with pots and there are many ‘bush’ or patio type of tomatoes that grow the right sizes for porches and can produce a lot.

Dad showing where you take off branches to and bury it up the stalk a bit.

Make sure your soil is turned over well and before planting your tomatoes, pick off the bottom few limbs and plant it a few inches up the stalk. Tomatoes need a lot of water the first week and then after only a few times a week, unless they look saggy. Water in mornings and at the root of the plant, making a little pool around it. You can’t really irrigate a garden. You need to water by hand, as you have to not water until needed, or more when it’s getting warm.

Choose organic tomatoes, and make sure any fertilizer or food you use is organic and without pesticides. You want fertilizer made just for organic veggies. I also use no pesticides in my yard. That means I occasionally have to go pull a few weeds every week for 20 minutes or so. It’s worth it. Pesticides last forever in the ground and can harm the whole ecosystem. If you have yard people and they have tanks on their backs, with squirters, they are using pesticides. It runs off when the yard is watered, and affects the water system as well. When I have any things in my yard like white flies or something, I power spray them off with the hose or spray with a gentle soap to manage them.

You will love growing tomatoes and they become almost no maintenance after August. Starting in September I stop watering them and dry farm. They take on an even deeper flavor and keep producing! You will can get tomatoes until November here in California. Compare any yard tomato to a store bought and they aren’t the same species. They also make the best caprese ! If you are a gardener please share any tips or varieties in the comments. My favorite tomatoes are Early Girl, Sweet 100, Berkeley Tie-Dye and Brandywine, which is an heirloom. It’s nice to have a variety. Don’t forget to add some basil in that garden too!

This photo was taken October 26, 2019 That’s how late you will still get tomatoes!

Peaches and Tomato Caprese Salad

Since we are talking tomatoes, I just had to share my favorite dish when peach season is happening, which is now in California! Just tonight we made our first caprese with peaches of the season. Tomatoes are not at their peak yet, but the stores have some hot house versions you can use until next month.

There’s no secret to this recipe, but I do like the soft mozzarella ( not the kind you slice for lasagna), that is wrapped in plastic, rather than water. It has a better texture and holds the oils and juices better. Look for it by the fresh cheeses. I also love California olive oil, a little sprinkle of Maldon sea salt, and fresh pepper. The best basil is always from your own pots. I buy the plants that they have at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and keep them near the kitchen, and also put one or two in the ground. They beat the bought basil that has been packed in a plastic box.

Max’s new Setu desk chair!

Remember this post a few weeks back about giving Max’s home office/guest room a spring refresh? I was thrilled with the peel and stick wallpaper and also the nice daybed from Wayfair. What I hated though was Max’s old office chair he got at an office supply warehouse place. It not only had the lines of a 70’s Buick, it was peeling like one and had gross faux leather and took up a LOT of space in the small room. He was committed to it though, as he spent like $199 on it!

Well, he’s been back in the office and has had a really great chair there, and he noticed after working in it all day, he has no leg or back pain like he gets in his current chair. He told me it was a Herman Miller design and I got excited. We went to go try it out at the Design Within Reach store in Palo Alto, and sat in every chair, but we both loved the Setu Chair with ribbon arms.

If you need back support, this is your chair. I love their description of the Setu:

Sit in Setu — The Setu Chair defines flexibility, moving with the user, with a clean aesthetic that suits nearly any home or office space. It’s no accident that this chair is designed for a healthy back – Setu is Sanskrit for “bridge” and borrowed from the yoga pose Setu Bandhasana, a strengthening backbend.
Herman Miller

It weighs just 17 pounds and also won a certification for highest quality of lowest certification for low VOC furniture. I am thinking of now saving for one and I love the blue version. His cost around $795, but if you think of the days, hours and years you are in an office chair, it’s worth the extra cost and some employers will contribute to the home office cost too.

Walking the Dish Loop at Stanford + lunch & Keplers

One of my favorite things to do on a weekend with mild weather is hike the Stanford Dish Loop Trail early and then follow up with lunch at Cafe Barrone in Menlo Park and a good browse at Kepler’s bookstore.

Last Sunday it was a beautiful day to hike. It’s about 4 miles total with a bit of uphill at the beginning. We like to go early as parking along Stanford Avenue can get full. You can get a fantastic view of the university and surrounding hills. Last Sunday we hiked with Jackson and his girlfriend and her family. This time they suggested a small detour at the end and we crossed Junipero Serra Rd and walked the rest of the trail through the pretty neighborhoods of Stanford. Some stunning and historic homes!

Cafe Barrone is an old school Silicon Valley hangout for students at Stanford and high tech peeps. We love it as you can grab a table and have a good spot to people watch. Families and dogs are all over along with students. The baked goods and breakfasts are fantastic and are worth the wait in line to order. Food usually comes fast. I can’t resist the chicken salad sandwich on raisin bread. We usually come with our kids and we all have to get their famous ‘Mocha Freeze’ shake that they’ve been serving since the 1970’s.

Kepler’s is my all-time favorite bookstore. They have an expansive selection of books in every genre. Always the have the latest in everything, and wonderful reviews written by hand by many books. They still sell magazines and great stationery and cards..Amazing kid’s section and a book club and many literary events and speakers. I never go home without something from here as I want this place to stay in business!! It’s one of the last remaining independent bookstores. They opened in 1955 and closed in 2005, but because of strong love from customers they are now reopened and run thanks to community support. Read their whole story here.

My friend Elaine’s new front of house refresh

My friend Elaine lives in the pretty Willow Glen area of San Jose and recently did a refresh of the front of her home. Elaine’s husband Todd is an architect, so this is a combination of Todd’s skills and experience with Elaine’s great taste.

They are still working on the landscape and some of the porch, but already I love how she choose an orange paint for the door, some lovely rope chairs that give it a fun modern vibe. Adore the mailbox, the lanterns and her doormat too.

The beautiful mix of shingles and boards make the house so pretty and unique.

This is before and after…

Elaine is an amazing entertainer and she’s going to be on a future blog with tips for us (I mean me really), on how she does it! Stay tuned..

World Market

Elaine’s front porch has good looking rope chairs from World Market from a past season. They no longer make that style, but they do make these Matteo Chairs and the price is nice for these which look expensive and can run in the thousands..

They also have these darling summer entertaining food covers in round and rectangle. I am going to get a few before they are gone..A stylish friend sent me the link to these!

Mother Jeans

I had planned to get a new pair of white jeans this summer and this week stopped into local boutique, Bella Rosa and after chatting with friendly women there about white denim they encouraged me to try some on. I’m not a fan of super high rise, and want comfort and a flattering look, especially on the leg. White jeans need to be of a thicker cotton and not tight looking (at least for my age). They brought me many different pairs, but I ended up loving the look and comfort of the ‘The Ditcher’ jeans by Mother. It’s my first pair of Mother jeans and they just kind of feel great on. I run between a 27 and 28 and bought these in 27, as they are slightly large. I have worn them several times and they stretch out very little, but are comfy! Since buying these I’ve heard from a few friends this issue their favorite brand!

You should stop by Bella Rosa if you are in Los Gatos. I was on the way to an appointment, but I plan to go back. I love the service, sweet people and a beautiful California chic collection of clothes!

If you aren’t nearby you can also find my white jeans here. Mother also carries this ankle fray pair (below left), that is their best seller and I might consider too. There is also this pair from Gap (below right), and these Citizens of Humanity and these by AGOLDE.

As a Californian I wear white jeans so much and I think getting a nice pair every year is a good investment for the closet. I need them to feel great so I want to wear everyday. I don’t save my white jeans, but wear them nonstop until they feel super comfy and broken in.

My puffy slides I bought back in February at H&M, you can find here and they also have these now and these at Anthro.

Other Things This Week…

Juliets’s wedding post! If you missed it, Juliet published the best wedding post with all the details of her step-son Kyle’s wedding in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s wonderfully done and what a beautiful wedding. I loved all the special touches and saved and pinned it all in case I ever get to help with a wedding for one of the sons! I loved the video so much I was bawling.. and I don’t even know them. A darling couple! Juliet is a pro at planning events and she loves to share how these things come off! I am learning from her all the time.

Kyle and Melody’s beautiful ceremony photo: Make Mine a Spritzer.

In other exciting news, our pal Annie opened her much anticipated online store You can find many cool curated things hand-picked by Annie herself!

I can hardly believe it, but this is our 16th Saturday of doing this and I have so enjoyed sharing these things that I wouldn’t otherwise. It forces me to sit down and blog it. I’ve loved getting to know Juliet and Elizabeth better- and many of you! To those new here, welcome! I hope to keep improving these little posts. Please feel free give feedback about the things you’d like to see more of, or less!

Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please go see what fun finds and ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week’s blog with some great baskets for outdoor plants, a wonderful lunch spot and shop in Woodside, an inspiring book about living well in your home by Melissa Penfold, and more you can read that post here.

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

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Spring Refresh with Peel & Stick Wallpaper

March 9, 2022 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

Today I am joining a talented group of women sharing ideas for a ‘Spring Refresh’ for the home.

My refresh came from using peel and stick wallpaper in our guest room/office that really gave it a happy feel.

The room was the bedroom of my oldest who moved out more than a year ago. It looked pretty sad without my son, who took his furniture too. My husband Max took it over as his work from home space when Jackson moved out. Max had ordered one of those desks that rise to work standing as well as sitting and got the ugliest chair on the planet from Office Depot! He refuses to change or upgrade the chair, so his part is what it is.

A before photo..

I had scattered some rugs we had in there to stop the echo..

I wanted this sometime guest space look cozy with a daybed, I even wrote a post about daybeds if you’re looking for options. I just couldn’t commit to anything. The space was tight. I needed a daybed that wouldn’t make the room feel crowded.

When younger son Griffin came home from college at the holidays, he decided to change up his room and ordered and received a new bed and mattress in 3 days. He inspired me!

Why was it so hard for me to pull the trigger on getting a daybed for this space or making any decision? I forced myself online and found a daybed with a small footprint and mattress. Both arrived in two days! Then I bought a rug for the room which always seems chillier than the rest of the house. The same day I ordered a peel and stick wallpaper..

Who was I?? LOL.

It all shipped super fast, surprisingly. The bed went together in ten minutes and then there was the matter of the wallpaper…

The peel and stick wallpaper requires you get a couple tools and Max bought them at the local Ace. After watching a few Youtube videos, he liked this one from Young House Love, he was ready.

Max had some moments of frustration with the second piece, see pic three :D, but after getting the hang of twisting the paper a bit and matching it, he finished in about 2 hours. I think the engineer in him found it a challenge, but not one he wants to do again soon. I was thrilled with the more luxe vibe of the room. The nice thing about peel and stick is you can lift and replace it as many times as you want on the wall until you get it right.

We used Madali Wallpaper by Nikki Chu found on Wayfair. We followed the instructions and ordered four rolls which gave us enough to do the whole wall and have a bit of excess in case of mistakes.

Her papers are fun. I also love this one and this, below and all the peel and stick wallpapers at Wayfair here. If you’re going to try it yourself, this is the way to go.

For the daybed, I used a grey quilted coverlet (this is similar) and I just tucked it around the whole mattress. At the ends I found two long pillows (similar here on sale now) that approximated bolsters and fit the twin perfectly. I added a few other pillows we have in blues and soft grey.

A little round glass table that used to be outside, was squeezed into the corner and I topped it with a lamp from my local store (Harvest Home in the Bay Area) I had my eye on for a while. I wanted anyone who was staying here to have a light to read by, and a place to plug in a phone, have a glass of water and so on. The rug is also from local shop Home by Ling Interiors. The rug is very low profile, so it works with a desk chair on it.

I also have a Mattituck Armchair chair in here from Serena & Lily (on sale now.)

I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out and shocked we got this all completed by March!

I would recommend the Corrigan Studio daybeds from Wayfair. They are currently out of mine, but they have this and this option too.

We were going to do a gallery wall of bird pictures, but we both kind of liked the simpler look of this beach print with the wallpaper. It felt calm and picked up the colors in the room.

Let me get real here though..this is Max’s desk section. I have zero say or control over the chair, cords, etc. The window covering was chosen by Jackson and is a flat Roman shade in Tobin Navy linen from Smith & Noble.

A few similar items if you like this room..

Click on the photos to go to the item.

So I am wondering how many of you have tried peel and stick wallpaper? How did it go? I am now thinking of doing this in my younger son’s room with a dark paper, and also my closet with a floral. It’s an easy way to make a big impact and bring a chic vibe to your home.

Please go to the links below to visit my talented cohorts and see what their idea of Spring Refresh is!

Most Lovely Things
Cindy Hattersley Design

Classic Casual Home
Dimple and Tangles
5th and State

I’ll be back on Saturday with Weekend Meanderings!

Kim

You might also like my post this week on all things floral, Flower Power.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog

Project Design -Cozy Fall Home

October 7, 2021 By kimwheeler 20 Comments

It’s fall and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Getting cozy..sweaters, fires, hot drinks, soups, blankets and boots. Bring on the hygge! I was excited to be asked to join this Project Design collaboration today on Cozy Home. What makes a home feel warm and inviting?

Start with the front porch..

This weekend Max and I did a deep clean of the front yard. You can go buy pumpkins, but if your entry has a season’s worth of dust and spiders… get out there! We took a long duster to the eaves and lanterns, hosed off the porch and shined up the windows. We even wiped down the mailbox and swept the walk, and cleaned the front door. This is something nice to do seasonally. It really made the entry shine.

Next add a few pumpkins. You can go simple with one large one or go for the stacking method which seems popular here with varying pumpkin sizes and colors. If you have a long walkway you can put them along the path which is cute. If you have containers you can remove the plants and add small pumpkins and gourds as I did here with a few yard cuttings..I also added some mums and I even left them in the black pots they came in as they blended in behind the pumpkins. I went with the burgundy color this year for a change.

Make sure your welcome mat is in good shape. Maybe this is the time to get a new one so your place is looking sharp for the holidays? Pottery Barn has a nice selection of mats. I just moved a pillow and an old wool blanket to the front bench. If you can add a bench it is a nice welcome.

Since we have a front patio as well, I added a throw to the chairs out there and a candle. It just looks inviting and and reminds me it’s a nice place to chill and watch the sunset or enjoy a sunny coffee on fall mornings.

Sprinkle seasonal accents indoors..

How does it feel when someone enters your space? Ours is very open, but I moved our large wool rug right in the entry to so you hit a warm landing as you enter and changed out the coat tree things to some scarves, jackets and hats we use in fall.

I got this cute pedestal bowl as a gift and put on my island with gourds and pumpkins. I added small mum to the kitchen counter too.

I had no flowers for my round vase, so foraged the yard and took a branch off a tree for a little greenery. A bowl of pears or apples anywhere in the kitchen smells great and says harvest season..

To help the living and family rooms feel snug, add throws, extra pillows, perhaps a candle. Fall is a good time to set up a designated space for board games, or a table with a puzzle that’s being worked on is fun if you have space for it.. A basket to your main hangout room with a few blankets and throws that are easy to grab, is a nice touch too.

I warmed up the white couch with my cream and beige pillows and throws. I like the addition of creams with whites for some warmth in the cooler months.

In dining rooms you can add a little fun the the table with pumpkins..I also added a striped and tasseled throw to the bench. On the barstools I added an older pillow from Zara Home and we moved our record player and albums to the chest here so we will play them more.

I popped one of my white pumpkins with a few other bits..

In our media room, I added some darker elements and books and a fall candle to our new bookshelf!

In the bedroom, you can add some plusher elements also.

I keep my white coverlet from Crate & Barrel on all year and layer a comforter when it gets cold at the end of the bed, but during this in between time, a faux fur throw transitions it from a summer bed without the heavy duvet and looks snuggly.

It’s really just a matter of adding in details to make your place feel homey and warm. In my own space, I like adding more wood and dark elements along with creams. I think my family does love the festive bit on the porch and also the pleasant feel of soft throws on the beds and the couches.

Have fun with this season!

If you need a few things to bring a cozy vibe to the home..

From top left, by row…

Lapin Fine Faux Fur Throw, Gingham Linen Pillow Cover, Arhaus Faux Fur Throw,

Amber Lewis Cabin Blanket, Dodie Door Mat, Woven Rattan Pedestal Bowl

Anouk Pillows, Apothecary 18 Candle, Celeste White Quilt Coverlet

Block Print Pillows (on sale!), White Pedestal Bowl , Falling Leaves Bunch.

Please visit these beautiful blogs for some fresh ideas for the fall home…

Most Lovely Things

Cindy Hattersley Design

Classic Casual Home

11 Magnolia Home

Make Mine A Spritzer

Thank you for stopping by! I love to hear your feedback so please leave me a comment with any tips or thoughts.

Kim

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Spring Style Inspiration

April 1, 2021 By kimwheeler 40 Comments

Today I’m so excited to join six other lovely ladies to share some fashion ideas to help you get a jump-start on your spring style. Each person did a spring style subject of their own choosing. I can’t wait to pop over and see what each one has in store for us!

Recently I’ve cleared out the closet and even sadly dusted some of my clothes. I’m sure most people can relate given the past year. I do think it’s been a lesson on just how many clothes we all own and what we now feel we can live without and also what we truly want to wear. When organizing and cleaning your closet, look at what you DO love! Make a list of things that you wear repeatedly, always love and that flatter you. Choose accordingly when you shop. I noticed I am always drawn to things like printed pants, but rarely wear them and the same with busy tops.

This process has made me see the things I really wear again and again, over the years are mainly classics of some variation or other. In spring that means good white jeans, pretty blouses, comfortable dresses, a lightweight jacket and flat sandals for me.

Maybe instead of buying a whole lot of new, buy less and pick better basics! Some things everyone can use this season:

-Some good white jeans (like discussed in this post)

-A new pair of blue jeans in an updated shape

-A well made sandal that will upgrade everything

-A nice quality white blouse

– A couple inexpensive dresses ( maybe a long and a short)

-A tote or cross-body in a lightweight fabric or straw.

With that list in mind, I added a few things to my closet this spring – An eyelet blouse a beautifully made classic from J.Crew. It comes with a light shell liner with snaps to attach it. ( It’s on sale now with an extra 50% too, a great deal for this regularly $110 blouse.) The different styles of eyelet on this give it a fun element, but eyelet will always be a spring and summer classic. (For those who asked I bought a size 6, which feels just right with some room for a bit of stretch for my size 5’4- 130ish for some indication of how the numbered sizes run. )

I wore it with my white jeans and black accessories for a transitional spring look. My J. Crew white vintage straight leg jeans are still looking great after buying these last summer.

I also added these new wide leg cropped jeans from Banana Republic. I wear my jeans a ton and I like this thicker no stretch pair that will give a updated look to all I already own like this denim shirt. These are also on sale now and come in petite, which we right for 5’4 me, – also in regular and tall.

I also added this sweet blouse from World Market. They have some pretty tops and coverups!

Once again I couldn’t resist the stripes and love the ruffles and embroidery. They have quite a few cute ones.

In the ‘buy better’ category I bought these Tory Burch Cloud sandals I had my eye on for sometime. They have the support of a Birkenstock type shoe and I love the blue denim color. They also come in white, tan, a pretty yellow and black. Every Tory Burch item I have ever bought I still own and that says a lot. I love the quality of her things. We could all use more of those kind of items in our closets.

My cross-body is honestly almost 10 years old or so – also Tory, and the closest they have now is this cutie in brown and black. I love the tassel and size for your phone and sunglasses.

In lightweight tote category, I spotted this striped cutie when buying the jeans. I don’t have a fabric tote and as I always love stripes, it’s a classic in this black/cream that it will go with so much. Also the new Banana Republic Cozy Slub long sleeve t’s are excellent. I love the one I have here in black are a perfect fit in medium and beautiful quality. I am going to buy white too. A good basic to have in the wardrobe.

My jeans here are a classic and one of my favorites for their straight leg fit and mid-rise. The Reese Straight Leg Kut from the Kloth. I have them in petite and they hit at the right place. Mine are a few years older and they have updated the hem. The sandals are a few seasons older from Everlane, but J. Crew has some thin leather ones that are similar.. I have them in white too and they run true to size.

I have also been looking for a lightweight jacket and noticed everyone wearing oversized blazers now, which looks so great. I have been rummaging through my son’s closets, but none are quite long enough. I found this black linen blazer that is machine washable and has a cute light blue collar you can pop-up. I will dress it up with dresses and skirts and down with my jeans and t-shirts. The longer and oversized look is fun and current.

Here I just threw it over my shoulder. It’s a versatile piece.

On a trip to Target, I spied two dresses that were pretty and fun. I find myself wearing dresses so much in the warm months. For everyday spring and summer, Target items seem to always be current, have pockets and wear well too. I found this maxi dress in a soft blue ( again kind of a theme here) stripe and thought this would be great for Easter, for weekends and even as a cover-up.

This tie-dye dress was so cute I grabbed it on the way out. This runs small and I bought a large. I love the gauze fabric. It might be my going out dress when the time comes again! It also comes in a lovely blue version!

Well that’s my fashion ramblings and philosophy – clean your closet, buy less and classics that update what you already own. A few new dresses are a nice seasonal thing to add as well and give you a little lift!

Please visit these fellow bloggers and see what they have for you in spring fashion ideas…

Classic Casual Home

Cindy Hattersley Design

I also wanted to say thanks to all of you who stopped by and left comments on the last Californians at Home Post featuring my friend Elizabeth’s home. I never have had so many comments on a post so thank you and thanks Elizabeth!

Kim

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Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

February 10, 2021 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

Today I am joining a talented group to share some ideas for styling your kitchen space. Most of us have had a LOT of time at home and the new year is a great time to change things up. Have you had the same things on the counter for the last month, years- or more? Well maybe it’s time for a lift…

My Top Tips for Styling the Kitchen..

Declutter. You need visual calm and that means less. Store oils, spices, etc out of sight if you can.
Choose 2-3 colors and repeat them in the accessories in this space.
If you’re going to have a lot of things- i.e plants, cookbooks- try to group them together.
Use unusual and pretty catchalls or baskets to bring a little style to utilitarian items.
Replace kitchen towels often, and try to stay in a color way or two.
Add a piece of art to the kitchen to bring a homey feel, less scullery.
A small counter lamp adds a warmth and an ambiance to the kitchen overhead lights just can’t.

First of all, do you have a lot of clutter? Things that you use daily, but you have them on the counter? Try putting some of them away for a while, for some visual calm. Yes I use my olive oils and salts daily, but they are in the cabinet. Less clutter means more zen and less to manage/dust too. If you need those within reach, maybe rearrange cabinets and drawers? The new year is a good time to clean each drawer out, throw away things that haven’t been used in the past few years, (egg slicer I’m looking at you,) and generally rethink the space usage in your kitchen. There are no musts, only possibilities. We get stuck in ruts. Break out and reconfigure the kitchen drawers. You can change!

Start with what inspires you and add it to the kitchen. Maybe it starts with something pretty you see you adore. I fell in love with this vase, brought it home then searched my cabinets and pulled out a cheese board with grey-blue tones, towels in the same color and a pitcher with blue to give the kitchen some cohesiveness. The vase gave me my starting point and got me excited to change things up.

Cookbooks are great and I have a lot, but I usually have just a few out I am currently into. They are good to give height to things with open shelving too. You can place a bowl on them like I did here with an easy air plant, or lemons or a clipping from your yard.

I have a big serving board that is hard to store, so my solution is to keep it on the island. It makes the plant and a bowl with some citrus have more impact and height. The ceramic bowl is a special gift from a dear friend. I think styling the center of an island is tricky. People tend to have large things in the center, but as we eat on here a lot, I like to have something that’s moveable.

I like plants for the natural element.This asparagus fern is what I have now with a pot from my local OSH store. Below I had a plant from a shop in Santa Cruz previously.

I have my utensils corralled in this container from Target. Many of these are olive wood spoons from trips in France and are dear to me. I think finding a unique crock is a way to show some flair in the kitchen. Last year I was using a large black lantern from Crate & Barrel. I have also used pots from the garden section, baskets, garden urns and silver pieces. Whatever holds what you’ve got and works with your decor. I have even seen small waste baskets that could work too. Get creative!

On the open shelving I have plates from the Joanna Gaines collection from Target in black and off white and a set of nested baskets I use frequently for serving bread, etc. The plant picture I think keeps the California feel.

I just added the faux plant to fill in space at the top left where nothing else would work. I am generally not a faux plant person, and intended to rip the plant out and just keep the pot, but it seems to look kind of cute here so I left it. Faux plants are great in those spots with little sun and are hard to reach.

My corner sink has a space for plants and they love the light here and extra splashes of water! I tried to keep them in white and light colored pots to unify the space and make it visually cleaner.

I’ve been using this basket for our paper towels since the day one accidentally fell in there and fit perfectly!

On the other perimeter counter I have a Serena & Lily tray with towels and lemons, a bust planter from Anthropologie and my lamp. I sometimes move this tray to the top of the stove.. It’s another space we don’t utilize and it can look cute with a tray and a vase of flowers even. Just remember not to use them on a warm stove!

UPDATE: I found a source for these cute towels that were a gift from Ireland. They are by Ulster Weavers and can be bought in the U.S. at British Importer, The Bee’s Knees . Ulster Weavers has a shop on Amazon, but currently the towels are not in stock, yet they have a matching tea cozy.

A small counter lamp adds warmth to the kitchen. When the cooking and cleanup are done, this light is on and the overheads are off. I can’t stand the surgery bright cap lights on, and they destroy any ambiance in the house in the evening too. They are great for tasks and that’s about it. In the early mornings it’s nice to have the warm light and in these dark afternoons as well.. Look for a one that can fit on the counter and find a lower warm wattage bulb to bring a cozy feel to your space. Lots of great small lamps here.

I have tried to generally stay in the same blue-grey and chartreuse type tones with the kitchen towels. I go with the Marie Kondo stacking method when I am motivated!

My two rugs are the hardworking Serena & Lily Seaview Runners in grey. I just ordered the second one for the other side of the island. They clean so easily and take a lot of wear.

One other thing that makes things look cleaner is hiding outlet covers. I do so using vases, cutting boards, etc like below…

This was fun and I hope I didn’t drone on about the kitchen. I’m never sure if I am sharing too much or not enough! I am no expert, but I do enjoy making the space look nice. I am working on a separate page with all the house materials from the remodel coming soon to the blog!

If you have questions about today’s post, here a few of the things I used or are similar to my kitchen…

Lillian Medium Vase, Grey Seaview Runner, Spinnaker Tray, Balboa Counter Stools, Caravan Linen Tea Towels, Gold Utensil Holder, Stonewear Dinner Plates, Bust Planter, Amara Table Lamp , Footed planter ,Teak Spatula and Spoon Set, Ceramic Stoneware Bowl, Braided Handwoven Bread Basket,

More ideas for styling your kitchen today on these wonderful blogs..

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN

Kim

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Four Winter Coats to Love!

November 19, 2020 By kimwheeler 26 Comments

We are having a cozy week here in Northern California and finally getting some real weather! I love coats, jackets and any kind of outerwear and always manage to add a few more each year. I have some good finds to share with you for today’s coat collaboration with other bloggers.

Here’s my four favorites right now that I think will last many seasons..

A coat for the cold…and snow.

I’ve recently been up in Tahoe as we bought a tiny cabin there. (More on my Instagram.) I knew I’d have to get more serious outerwear for the snowy weather. I’ve heard so much about these famously warm Orolay jackets from Amazon, and I love the details and look. They are slightly oversized and very, very warm. They have multiple pockets and zippers, cool pulls and wonderful hoods. I originally wanted the grey version, but then went for the shiny version of the coat in khaki (the burgundy is TDF too.) It’s been good for hikes, walks in the snow and even a picnic on the lake when the wind-chill was 32 degrees! If you like being warm, I highly recommend this coat which has over 12,000 reviews. d A bonus is the HUGE pockets. You do not need a handbag as you can carry a phone, wallet, keys and more in them and still have two extra pockets for hand-warming. It also has those little sleeves that extend out to cover your hands and thumb loops. This coat has a lot of pluses. I wore mine with my EMU shearling boots and a beanie. It’s very warm with just a single sweater.

A lightweight throw on puffer you can take anywhere and stuff in your bag.

This cute polka dot jacket was not on my list when I went to Target, but you know how that is! The polka dots and the tan color attracted me right away along with the lightness. It’s been my go-to with our chilly mornings and warmer afternoons. I love that if I get overheated I can just jam it in my purse. This is the coat everyone in California needs. Besides the dots, it also comes in a chic black herringbone !

I kind of like to pair this jacket with a scarf and a contrasting sweater, but it’s a good one to grab to throw over workout clothes as well.

A Teddy Bear Coat when you want to be warm and stylish.

I admit I have been obsessed with these coats ever since I wrote about Katie Holmes in hers last year.

I love the way Katie styled it with sneakers and wore in with a nonchalance to run errands. The cost of hers is $3,690, and I actually tried it on her MaxMara version at the Stanford store last year. What warrants that price is beyond me! This year there are nearly similar versions at reasonable prices. They are big and if you are cool with that, then a Teddy Coat is for you! Lord knows we aren’t going places in the next few months so why not stand out on your next Trader Joe’s run? Californians will appreciate the light versions of this trend. Wear this with sneakers or black running shoes, denim or leggings. A little fancy with casual is how to rock these fun coats.

My coat is no longer available, but J.Crew has a version and a new color block version and in leopard (all on sale now.) Other options are a silky soft Teddy Coat by Sanctuary, this beautiful merlot color, a very pretty look in black at Banana Republic, and a blue night color in a stylish version at Gap.

A dressed up puffer for when you want a chilled elegance.

I went to Athleta in my town a week ago with my pal Jeanne to get a work out top and came home with a jacket! Like a bird to a shiny thing, I was initially attracted to this pretty metallic jacket which Jeanne bought- so fun.

Then this lovely jacket came into my radar- a black puffer which looked like velvet. I like the look of velvet, but hate the feel…anyone else like that? This jacket is nylon, but just looks like velvet. It has the cool ruching of a more expensive Italian puffer and feels like a designer jacket when dressed up. I think it’s fabulous with all black. It’s a grown up version of the ubiquitous down puffer, and paired with your yoga pants or jeans it gives everything a little upgraded feel.

This jacket is made of what they call feather dry down and is water-repellent. I love that. I got caught in the rain today and it rolled right off this coat! Wear these puffers with a dress or skirt instead of the usual long coat for a younger look.

I hope you’ll stop by the blogs of these stylish women and see how they are doing cold weather in style….

Cindy Hattersley Design
Classic Casual Home
Most Lovely Things

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

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Outdoor Living With Style – 9 Bloggers Share Their Spaces

June 18, 2020 By kimwheeler 26 Comments

Today I’m joining eight other bloggers and sharing my outdoor space with you. In the past few months, I’ve felt very fortunate to have it as it has become an extension of the house during the pandemic with both adult boys home and my husband working here also!

In the evenings, it’s been great to get outside after being in and working all day. We really use the extra space to for all of us to spread out right now. With four adults in one house, we need it. I’ve tried to create a few cozy spots so there is always a place to hang out and work, do a call, or just chill out here.

If you have visited here before, you know we just remodeled our 1965 home after being here for ten years. When we remodeled, I wanted to extend the living space with fold away doors to the back and French doors and a patio in front. These things have made the house more spacious though we didn’t really add any square feet. Our yard is tight with a pool that wraps around the yard and a funky lap lane… And a LOT of brick. Replacing it would be a small fortune so we’ve chosen to love it and its old school look. I like it with the new white stucco of the house even more now.

The yard is divided with an Ipe deck in the center that feels like it floats above the pool. It’s tight though and our main door to the yard was previously through the dining room, not ideal. We changed how the house flowed so we could see the pool and instead come out to the deck from the living room via a folding door. We now see the yard in a way that makes it seem much more expansive and makes the house feel larger too.

The yard once was surrounded by a wall of green – A new owner on the left took the hedge down and the fence needed replacing in the upper yard, so it all was taken out right before the remodel two years ago along with all the mature plants. We started fresh almost, so I am waiting for both fences to be someday again be covered by vines, creeping fig and citrus, but it’s slow going and looks so bare to me right now.

The set above is the Pacifica Serena & Lily couch and chairs in driftwood color. We always knew we wanted a sofa out here and we are very happy with this with the two chairs. It’s an easy brush off Sunbrella fabric and the woven white driftwood color surprisingly doesn’t show dirt. I do like to cover it when we are getting a lot of wind and fall leaves though.

Our round table is from my neighbor Graces’s estate sale. It’s an indoor marble table and so I cover it during rainy days, but it has been perfect out here with this set! We can do a whole lot of appetizers on this baby.

I recently changed all the cushions to black and white to keep things consistent with the house. The two with graphic leave motif pillows are from my January Hawaii trip to the Big Island and one of my favorite shops, SoHa Living.

Below is my rickety teak table I’ve had way too long. It is due to be replaced, but I found these white metal chairs last year and they kind of pulled the yard together, so we are making it work. I will sometimes use a tablecloth or runner to dress it up a bit when we dine out here.

Once we moved in, we removed all the old terra-cotta and colored pots and added these resin/ceramic ones with boxwood. Here in a photo from my Instagram stories..

I have this old bar stand I turned into my herb garden/potting table. I’m hoping to move this to the side yard when I get the French teak console table of my dreams from RH someday…

Our vegetable garden that I wrote about in this post is going great! My oldest son Jackson does most of the work on it with my dad. They are garden nerds. I’m so excited we just got our first heirloom tomato! This year we have tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers and cantaloupe. We are so fortunate that my dad starts all the tomatoes himself by seed, and they are really good.

Our front is another outdoor space we use so much now that we remodeled and added a patio. I always wanted an area that we could hang out in front, chat with neighbors and enjoy the sunset view. This is another thing that has made our home feel so much bigger. The wall serves as extra seating and I still may order some bigger chairs, but for now it’s enough to eat lunch out here and hang with the cat during the winter months. With the western exposure, the front patio is a bit warm to use during the summer except at sunset and in evenings, but it’s super in the winter as it stays protected and warm. We love having coffee out here in winter and wine at night with friends in summer. If we open the French doors, the patio serves as a great spot for guests to grab some air and more seating when entertaining inside. (Will that will ever happen again?!!)

Last winter having my coffee with the cat..

Now we’ve placed pillows on the wall like a Greek hotel LOL.

We did native plants and decomposed granite in this front landscape. I used French Provencal gardens as my inspiration. I especially love the two non-fruiting olive trees and the agaves. Right now it’s busy with all the lavenders blooming we have butterflies, bees and birds all day. It’s very low maintenance, organic and pesticide free. All I have to do is occasionally weed so we don’t miss our old grass at all. It’s becoming more and more filled in as the bushes spread out and take up space.

I hope this wasn’t too rambling, but I did want to share how we made our smallish home feel a lot bigger by creating indoor/outdoor spots.

Here’s a few links to get the same look if you are interested:

I love these Quinn Stoneware pots at Pottery Barn. Right now they are living up to their name with a great assortment of modern and simple pots for inside and outside.

This black outdoor pillow from Target is my style. I think it’s hard to find outdoor pillows in black and white so I grab them when I find them.

The Target collab with Joanna Gaines is so good now in terms of quality and design! This pretty stripe throw is a great price at $29 and I don’t mind it being outside at that price. I like to have a big basket of throws for cool evenings. ( The table runner on my outdoor teak table is oversized and also well made thick linen from them!)

I don’t do melamine and instead prefer to use my everyday when entertaining outside. Theses stoneware plates are strong enough to hold up to outdoor use and dishwashing by young men too.

A few years ago I replaced my motley group of umbrellas with three Ballard Design Auto-Tilt Sunbrella 11 foot umbrellas with black poles in the black/sand combo. I also bought the 50 pound extra weight to prevent them from falling over in storms. It’s been three years and they are still looking like new and working great. Excellent quality.

I also need to order an outdoor rug for the deck and I love the Seaview Rug from Serena & Lily. I already have it in my kitchen and it’s indestructible. The new rose color would be pretty out here.

Now please go enjoy all these amazing women and their versions of outdoor living. I am excited as I always learn so much from everyone’s blogs and ideas..
ROUGH LUXE
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
MOST LOVELY THINGS
EDB DESIGNS
KELLEY & CO HOME
MODERN GLAM
SHABBYFUFU

Also joining us in this collaboration is the talented Brooke Giannetti! She is author of the beautiful Patina Farm series of books about the oasis she and her husband Steve have created in Ojai, one of the most beautiful towns in California. Their home is so lovely and inspiring the way in brings the outdoors in!

You can see more of her home on Brooke’s Instagram, and Cindy, Mary Ann and Annie are holding contests giving her books!

Happy almost summer!

Kim

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Uplifting Spring Tables

April 2, 2020 By kimwheeler 11 Comments

Today I’m joining a group of bloggers to share uplifting tables for springtime. Though we may be sheltering at home, people will still be having Easter, Passover, birthdays and anniversaries while inside. Why not try and make the time we have at meals with each other a little bit special? I have been adding a few votives each night to the dinner table since we all are together once again and cooking. A candle or two and even a little flower in a small cup can elevate the mood. A pretty table is always cheering and who couldn’t use a little uplifting about now?

I did not have any flowers at home, and was obviously not able to get to my usual haunts for blooms, so I thought I’d use what was on hand for my table, in this time of making do. I did though, have many small green plants throughout the house so they were my starting point for my spring table.

My table is black, so that this image from my Pinterest was my inspiration. I loved the green plants and the mix of gold, black and rattan. Mostly it was the colors here that inspired me, but also the mood.

I have beautiful cream linen napkins from Williams-Sonoma that I haven’t yet used and I thought they’d brighten up my black table. I added some creme napkin rings, white plates, woven mats and gold flatware.

The plants needed a little something more so I searched about the house and found a a few books for height, a rustic wooden bowl and some glass beads. (Another option would be filling the bowl with natural moss and colored eggs for a modern Easter basket.)

This table is a California casual look. This is about as fancy as we get. The linens aren’t ironed and I left out a tablecloth so it would feel modern unfussy, but still luxe thanks to the materials. The pops of gold dress it up a bit and the water jug is a bottle green which keeps the color story going. I went simple with the plates and glasses so the focus would be on the plants. I especially love the Chinese Money Plant, with its round leaves I found at Trader Joe’s a month ago.

I think it’s a fun challenge to use what we have at home with this pandemic happening. Go through your home and see what you have in the yard, or lurking in cabinets that can create your own unique spring tablescape!

Sources for my table – Grey woven placemats, Jasper gold flatware. –linen napkins. woven carafe, decorative beads also here, rustic wooden bowl (similar)

Please visit my friends and talented bloggers in our roundup for more uplifting ideas you can use to bring spring inside while we are sheltering at home right now.