Easter Wishes

Many Wishes for you and your families this Easter weekend. I took this picture in a restaurant while traveling on business. It was the end of a hallway. It seemed cheerful and exuberant; it reflected the renewal of spring's landscapes and this holiday weekend.

Enjoy and give thanks...

Karen

Lilacs Say Welcome to My Kitchen

Welcome back to my Federal kitchen at the homestead. Could not resist bringing lilacs from the year into the kitchen, albeit they make me sneeze!

Maybe you remember when I restored the kitchen fireplace wall

 to it's 1796 original look..

Under the wood that covered this and the rest of the kitchen walls

 lurked a beehive oven and opening for wood storage. 

Last post I mentioned that an old portrait of the Brayton Homestead hung over the living room mantle, now over the kitchen mantle. I love the barn board wood ceiling even though it is not authentic!

Baskets on the hearth keep linens handy...

Thanks for visiting 

from my kitchen to yours...

Soap Dispenser Revealed

Summer flowers always dress up my guest bathroom with just the right amount of color.

Blue hydrangeas, correopsis, beach roses and a butterfly bush's blossom happily adorn a handmade stone

countertop. Do you remember a post awhile about my inability to select a soap dispenser for my guest bathroom?

here: http://braytonhomesteadinteriors.blogspot.com/search?q=soap+dispenser

 Yes, I finally selected one, do you like it?

 I like the way the dispenser compliments the antique pitcher and bowl my mother gave me, but it is new so functions well... 

Yeah, I think the room might finally be done...

Well, not really. Decorating any room is never finished, isn't that the fun of it?

I am so thrilled to have my vintage PIANO BABY from my Brayton Cottage shop

featured in Debra's fantastic Monday Marketplace weekly post at

COMMON GROUND

Karen

Makes me Smile

An oversized hat with huge floral blossoms makes me smile, I could so wear that, really...

Crumbly walls in pinkish purple make me smile, I could so live there, really..

pink hair, makes me smile, if I were 10 years younger I would so do that, really...

orchids, one of nature's finest flowers makes me sigh and smile, if I could actually keep one alive I would raise them, really,

What makes you smile today?

Karen

new use for old suitcase

A vintage suitcase transforms into the perfect container for red and white petunias.

It was so Simple and Fun, you have to try it!

just put the potted plant into the suitcase. You could fill with moss if you wish.

enjoy!

Karen

Images: Brayton Homestead Interiors

make memories...

waiting for your latest destination plans, memories of

a vintage parade float. a vintage bike basket interwoven with faded blossoms.

had it once carried warm baguettes from the French patisserie?

will it now transport cheeses to a Fourth of July picnic?

enjoy your holiday and make wonderful memories....

Karen

Image: shashamane 

pretty...

For Table Top Tuesday I went searching through my file of favorite pics. Although not a table top vignette, this serene combination of objects makes me smile. The candle and the flowers in the bottles is a novel idea. The ormulu wood carvings are pretty, quaint and elegant at the same time...

enjoy,
Karen

Linking with fabulous White Wednesday...

Fall is in the air

Fall is in the air! Accordingly, I decided to change my mudroom around to reflect a hint of fall. Sadly, the summer is ending, but I love the Fall. Pumpkins filled with flowers, roosters abound, and a vintage suitcase luring me to plan a Fall getaway...

p.s. I painted the checkerboard floor then aged it..

Images: Brayton Homestead Interiors

jonquils

lovely flowers everywhere...

even on the front door
at my Homestead

Images: Tulip Museum, Brayton Homestead Interiors 2 & 3

golden glow

Victorian 3D vintage postcard of mischievous kittens

scalloped edge vase vintage yellow

lovely ceramic vintage pie plate bursting with peonies.

all just listed on my shop

VINTAGEDCHIC

thanks for looking.

Images: Brayton Homestead Interiors / vintagedchic

inspiration

What inspires you?

Long after I posted about inspiration boards I have been wanting to make one. I make design boards for my client so why not make one for for my ideas and wishes.

Gisele would say "Do not just dream about it ~visualize it coming true and it will"

So here are my inspirations~ fresh flowers always around the house, continued family meals around the table with great conversation, get back to knitting, etc.. Not all are literal translations of the photos but a feeling or emotion.

OK , yes,
there is the photo and expectation of
owning a French Chateau...

IMAGES: Brayton Homestead Interiors

Fall at the Homestead

It's Fall at the

BRAYTON HOMESTEAD...

I cannot wait for family and friends to gather
here for

Thanksgiving...

My centerpiece is off the table on a

pedestal

and not in the way...

How will you be decorating this

HOLIDAY?

IMAGES: Brayton Homestead Interiors

Happy Summer

Summer is passing by quickly, I hope you are having a wonderful time soaking it all in. Take time to sip a cold beverage under the blue sky and a charming chandelier surrounded by flowers.....

Mentioned last post how I love leopard print, pretty sure it started here with Pebbles Flintstone. Oh, that and my mom loved it, wore it and tastefully decorated our house with it.
Thanks Mom, you are my inspiration...
Images: Michael Garland, unknown

Climbing Roses

She walks out the front door of her pink hued brownstone onto Newbury Street . Oh, so many choices here in Boston, Massachusetts. Before she decides on breakfast she stops to smell the fragrant roses winding up the ornate wrought iron railing. Coffee, croissant and the newspaper at an outdoor cafe on Newbury Street will be perfect.
Have a wonderful weekend...
Image: The Paris Apartment

My Junior Prom

Have been so nostalgic lately, even more than usual. My last post of the striking daisy wallpaper made me think of the flowers I wore at my junior prom. A garland of daisies on my head, a handsome boyfriend, Wayne, by my side~ Oh, what wonderful memories!

Happy Birthday to my sister Aggie and to Wayne whom we miss..............

La Chambre de Bébé

La chambre de bébé, even the name is magical. Baby's bedroom, or in this case the most enchanting nursery I have ever seen. Isn't the wallpaper incredible? Look closely to spot the mobile emerging from the daisies.

Image: Frieda Maria

Rose Corner Garden

Have a wonderful day! Roses tucked into a little corner spot surrounded by mint at the homestead. Iced tea with mint anyone?

Image: Brayton Homestead Interiors

Red White Blue and charming

Hoping your holiday is everything you want it to be. For me that includes a family cookout followed by relaxing with a stack of books and magazines....
or maybe in my yard at the Brayton Homestead, circa 1796, getting ready for its 213th Fourth of July....
or eating strawberries and cream (vintage needlepoint)...

but it is not a holiday until I bake Mom's famous chocolate pudding cake (shown above)! Have a wonderful holiday....
Images: Home and Garden 1, Brayton Homestead Interiors 2-4

Celebrate

Happy Weekend! A party to celebrate a very productive week would be fitting but I will be content and resolve to unwind and benefit from the quietude. Partake in the party from Velvet Strawberries and enjoy.......
Image: Velvet Strawberries

Gentle mystery

Eyes wide open, a gentle smile yet a bit mischievous , she contemplates her wonderful life.....
A charming vintage doll at a local museum just makes you ponder, enjoy........
Image: Brayton Homestead Interiors