The Decorating Rink

Monday, September 15, 2014

Pull up your Blanket!

A few cooler days and the first thing I want to do is get out all of my throws, blankets and pillows. I love to buy new sheets each fall and layer the beds with down filled comforters, fluffy blankets and pillows. Guess I like to hibernate during the winter. Checkout these following beautiful textiles in soft, sumptuous colors and indulge yourself!

Pure luxury, from its sensuous exterior of sand-washed silk charmeuse to its light-as-air silk fill. Wonderfully cool in the summer and warm in the winter, this hand-tufted comforter is the perfect year-round accessory for the bed. Eileen Fisher Home exclusively by Garnet Hill. Twin: 68" x 86"Double/Queen: 86" x 86"King: 104" x 90"

Friday, May 23, 2014

Sweet Settee's!

Pretty settee's in all shapes, sizes and styles! They are great to incorporate not only in a living room, but also in an entryway, a study, a master bedroom or even on one side of a kitchen or dining table!

Eloquence

great striped couch + stunning floor-to-ceiling windows

I like this dining bench, chairs and table. They're trendy, clean, nice colour, and classic. I even like the light fixture, but not sure if it would go out to style too quick.

Corner Lamps in Classic Living Rooms Creating the Perfect Decoration for Your Small Home

A bay window in a traditional living room is the perfect spot for tea - Burge & Associates Architects

bedroom decorating ideas... a settee at the end of my bed is a must, I think

We have this genre of chair in our house with a mahogany backing, trying to dream up how to reupholster, this one's too "beachy" but on the right track...

Love a settee at the dining table - this would be a stylish way to expand our seating from 4 to 6.

Monday, May 12, 2014

From Farmer's Market to Table....

Healthiest place to shop is at your local Farmer's Market!

Photo Credits by Lisa of the Authentic Suburban Gourmet

It's time to indulge in your local Farmer's Market! Checkout the stands full of color, flavor, vitamins and antioxidants and put the color on your plate! Eat healthy, buy local....
design work life: great idea for a tote bag

design work life: great idea for a tote bag

Heirloom vegetables // Great Gardens & Ideas //

Peppers at Farmers market - I like the idea of using boxes like this and also the stair step.

Love all the color, looks pretty on the shelf, makes my body feel pretty too :)

Authentic Suburban Gourmet: Farmer’s Market Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette

My Healthy Lunch Ideas with Pat Kong » Blog Archive » Tomato Polenta Stacked Salad with Basil and Goat Cheese – A salad that captures the farmer’s market

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Decorating Challenges: For 'Patio Home' Courtyards

Decorating a small yard of a patio home (also referred to as 'zero lot line' or side yard homes) can be a challenge. I live in a patio home community where we recently had a Garden Tour showing off the many creative spaces and places of our neighbors yards. From a nautical theme to a lap pool to stained concrete to water fountains and hot tubs! It was so fun to see these fabulous, unique displays!

The following are some inspirational photos showing ideas for decorating patio home courtyards. Checkout the BIG impact that these small courtyards make!

Side Yard Garden -- Asian Design. Just would love to add a fountain to this picture.

An Asian-Inspired Theme

Container Gardening

waterless stream with bed of rocks keeps water from collecting along your narrow side yard, forces it down the dry stream bed

A river rock walk surrounded by shrubs, grasses and flowers.

nice raised planters/container walls mixed with slate tiles, private

A quaint flagstone courtyard with brick planters

Narrow spaces are popular places to add designed walkways. Here, two sizes of square precast concrete stepping-stones are set on the diagonal to form the base of a corridor through a side yard. Brick edging holds the gravel surrounding the squares in place.

A crushed rock and flagstone lined path surrounded by flowers

"I suggested a boxwood and gravel side garden when grass wouldn't grow there." Loi Thai

A Boxwood Garden....Lovely!

This is similar to my yard... in that it is long and narrow (50x23) with a concrete path right down the middle, brick patio in the forground and raised deck unseen. I am torn between clean and easy (like this) and wild and untamed with little lawn and lots of plants/veg/shrub. Path cannot be easily removed. thoughts?

Great symmetry with the Koi Ponds, grass and boxwoods

Tall Pergola "When building a pergola, consider how the width, height, and depth will work in your overall landscape. This tall pergola in a narrow side yard is in perfect scale with the home and adds an impressive shady resting spot along the path."

Checkout the vertical planting with the wall trellises and climbing vines

Just thinking, maybe I should add a small tree in my small side yard, along the path I'm going to put in. Hmmm.... (add to my "to do" list) : )

Every square inch is layered with color!

love love love this...Give your side yard a distinct feel from the rest of your landscape. With a couple of fences, you can create a lush by rosario

There is so much interest to this garden with brick, rock, ground cover, shrubs, etc.

In-town alpine escape | Home & Garden | The Register-Guard | Eugene, Oregon

So much variety and personality in this side yard

Beautiful gardens decorate many of the homes located in downtown, Charleston, South Carolina.

A Formal Garden Concept

And, my very own courtyard....

I hope you enjoyed these small, but very quaint yards! Let your imagination be your guide...the options are limitless!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Inside Furnishings Taken Outdoors....

I love the idea of using actual indoor pieces of furniture for your outdoor spaces! It makes it that much more comfy and cozy! Of course, a year round beautiful climate helps, but you can always take out a few pieces for a few months out of the year to add a touch of sophistication!