Wild Coral Reef at Shedd Aquarium

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Coral Exhibit at the Wild Reef in the Shedd Aquarium



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Carette in Paris

Colefax and Fowler

It has been several days now since our visit to the Shedd Aquarium and I still can't get the pictures of the coral in the Wild Reef out of my mind. Soft palettes of lacy underwater gracefulness- a very calming sight. I realized that my favorite picture of the coral was also my favorite decorating color scheme- blushy pink, cremes, murky greens and browns. These pictures are exact color replicas of the underwater pictures taken at the aquarium. All of these rooms evoke a calm, graceful elegance, just like the coral picture. I couldn't resist adding the beautiful ladies dressed in fashion inspired by the dancing coral.

Shedd Aquarium Jellies Exhibit Inspires

Country Living

http://www.ruffledblog.com/

http://www.housetohome.co.uk.com/

http://www.houseinteriordesign.net/

http://www.housetogarden.co.uk/.

domino magazine

After spending 5 hours at the Shedd Aquarium on Thursday with my grandchildren, I truly came away inspired and refreshed! We drove down to the city to see the Jellie Fish , only showing until the 28th of May. I realized how much mother nature inspires our creative process. The jelly fish exhibit was awesome - having no brain, blood or bones, they fascinated me! The colors and shapes were amazing. As a designer, I contemplated their combination of colors for a room. Searching for examples of rooms created in the same colors, I found several that were great. More to come soon on the incredible Wild Reef Exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium- I loved it!

Mother's Day Treats

What could be better than antiquing with your best friend all day, getting the dog washed by someone else and then coming home to a meal prepared by your 25 year old daughter and 26 year old son? Absolutely nothing!!! Lynda is visiting for a long weekend because we have tickets to Oprah on Tuesday! But on Sunday, we were able to go to a local flea market and one of our favorite antique malls. I have been looking for chartreuse wine glasses for several years and we found them! We even found a sweet chartreuse decanter and with 6 liqueur glasses. Several pieces of antique antler and silver serving pieces, along with a precious silver and mother of pearl spreader were a great find. Two vintage cake plates and a set of gold etched glasses were a steal! What a great day for finding new things for tablescapes! Returning home, we walked into incredible smells of roasting Poblano chilies and caramelized onions. My son was cooking a wonderful chicken dish, while my daughter was whipping up a key lime pie. Fresh mint had been crushed into kosher salt, ready for the fresh mango margaritas they had prepared. The table was set in a style that only my daughter would do- note the crossed knife and fork on the napkin! A fresh tussie mussie was placed in the old decanter holder along with a candle. They had even bathed the dog for mother's day. How much better can a day get???

Kentucky Derby Dinner Party

A formal Derby dinner party, complete with all the silver, fine china and of course, red roses is planned for the evening of the Derby race. Being born and raised in Virginia, I know people in the south love their silver. This is a table set with heirloom silver mint julep cups, beautiful crystal decanters for Kentucky bourbon, silver trays for placemats and yet it evokes a modern today feeling. Wispy sheer linen, completely to the floor, covers the elegant table. For the centerpiece, organic tree roots hold water vials of asparagus fern and red roses. White lilies are filled with red raspberries at each of the place settings. Crisp organdy red napkins are used to mimic the red rose color palette, and they are cuffed with a black velvet ribbon and rhinestone horseshoe pin. A menu card is created using a spencerian horse graphic from the Graphics Fairy. All of these ideas are showcased in our new book, Romancing the Home Entertains. Please join us at www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for more awesome tablescape ideas.

Derby Day Box Lunch

The Kentucky Derby, always the first Saturday in May, is a great reason to celebrate with friends. We have planned a box lunch with a traditional Kentucky menu and used our collection of vintage silverplate vegetable dishes as the box lunch containers. These old silverplate vegetable dishes were popular wedding gifts in the 60's and 70's and are perfect for an individual box lunch. A red rose tussie mussie embellishes each container , along with a menu card that has been printed on "My Old Kentucky Home" sheet music. Wooden platters, purchased from our local craft store, serve as place mats. We love the contrast of the silver set against the unpolished wood. An ice bucket, frozen from water, ferns, and roses, holds the champagne for Champagne Juleps. A bunch of snow peas, held together with rhinestone florist pins, serve as the knife rests. We will be joining www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com for Tablescape Thursday. Check it out for other inspiring ideas.

Peeps for my Peeps

My grandchildren, "the littles", were coming to Easter Brunch. While the Easter bunny had left toys and Easter baskets for them, it was the decorated cake that my four year old grandson loved. I could not resist Peeps for my little peeps; the little marshmallow chicks bring back so many childhood memories. While my big peeps enjoyed Peepochinos, peeps in black coffee, "the littles" enjoyed warm peeps on their sweet potatoes and peeps on their cake! For the first time ever, the 2 year old twins and 4 year old Logan ate Easter Brunch at the "big" table. It was a "big day" for "the littles", complete with bunnies and eggs. Sam's Club coconut cake, easily embellished with pink macaroon nests, eggs, and Peeps was delicious. A package of their beautiful artisan lettuces was perfect to tuck around the legs of the vintage rabbit candy containers. Small square vases of tulips and hydrangeas added spring color to the center of the table. Vintage china and my mother's silver were used with pink and gold wine glasses. The "littles" did great at the "big" table, not one spill! After brunch, the Easter bunny had hidden eggs in the yard for them to find! But these eggs held quarters - too many Peeps and too many chocolate eggs had already been eaten by "the littles". We will be joining www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com for Tablescape Tuesday. Be sure to visit for some great ideas.