Published in Country Sampler magazine 1 year ago!

I cannot believe it has been a year since my home, the Brayton Homestead, was published in Country Sampler Magazine! Boy does time fly. It seems like yesterday that Fifi O'Neil, the fantastic stylist and author of Prairie Style was here!

The house, built in 1796, has most of the original woodwork. These pictures are of one of the rooms, the bedroom, that was featured. The kitchen and sitting room were also in the magazine. Yes, I love pink, chenille and pillows!

Another wall in the bedroom has the original fireplace with  my favorite wood work in the house. Painting detailed woodwork in an off white shows off all the curves. I love mixing shades of pink and maroons with brown to keep the colors grounded. My favorite vintage leopard hats adorn the mantle along with an angel watercolor I painted. Symmetry on the mantle works here in a room that is off- centered with a door and a chaise lounge.

Thanks for coming to the Homestead. Hoping you enjoyed  pictures from Country Sampler Magazine!

Karen

thanks for visiting friends!

linking with:

My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia

Cozy Little House

Bedroom mantle for summer

These hot days are perfect for relaxing. My chaise lounge calls me 

when I want to read but do not want to unmake my bed.

The bedroom is visible from the parlor so I try to keep it made up. 

clearly I am not using the bedroom fireplace in this weather

 but is always nice to look at.

A vintage hat I bought on Etsy for a wedding I attended a

and  was also the wedding planner, accompanies 

a handmade deer box and vintage candlesticks and candle followers.

An etching I created of my son, pillows I made of leftover fabrics

and a huge tapestry pillow fill the corner...

thanks for visiting the homestead,

always appreciate the visit.

I am so grateful and flattered to have my last post featured at the beautiful

blog

IVY AND ELEPHANTS

thank you Paula!

New bedroom furniture arrangement!

A new furniture arrangement for my bedroom! For years I have angled my bed in the left corner, thought it gave a more open look and it was sound Feng Sui . I  moved this around for a change and find it more open . When I photographed the room there was a good amount of sunlight streaming which is often not my thing; but it was nice. Not a vampiress but not a sun lover either!

Krumpet's little bed lays near the canopy bed, although he does share both. My big old trunk holds so much clothing, do I dare admit 15 pairs of jeans?

It took getting used to the new look, but now I love it and is more authentic to the 1796 homestead than the later design. 

Do you like it?

Karen

I'm dreaming of a White & Pink Christmas

I'm dreaming of a white & pink Christmas.

just like the ones I used to know... 

grew up with my own little tree in my bedroom. covered with pink ornaments, 

I still have some of them!

A vignette from my mantle, gllitter predominates, pink charm makes me smile with memories.

hope you enjoyed.

Karen

Red Roses equals Paris Chic

Red Roses for this lady. My own personal favorite color combination mixes tawny pinks, pinkish tans, claret and burgundy contrasted by rich black tones.

My bedroom best highlights this Victorian influenced color ensemble. Think faded burgundy oriental carpets, dried pink roses edged with tea stain browns, and the soft peach of a cherubim face...

Old roses painted on old fabric and perfectly dried blossoms say natural elegance...

and create a style I call "Paris Flea Market meets Shabby Chic".

another bedroom view, just begging for all these fabulous lampshades.

These eye candy shades are lovelies that I hope to recreate for my decorating clients and my Brayton Cottage shop..

HAPPY INSPIRATION TO YOU TOO!

Karen

Mondays...

What is it about Mondays that I do not want to get up and start working?

Especially after a lovely holiday,

even mote when it is a bit gray out.

Have a fab week!

Karen

dreaming of a pink Christmas

I am dreaming of a pink Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.

Yes, really. From a young girl to now, love pink for Christmas, well every color really.

Well, ok, pink the best. Another pic from my Brayton Homestead Interiors 

guest post at Pink Saturday.

What is your favorite Christmas color?

Karen

Linking with:

THE LETTERED COTTAGE

Old mill transformation

A lovely old cider mill transformed into a glorious living space. Hand rubbed greyish pink walls are the perfect background for the large Art Deco style round mirror. A slight touch of the Christmas holiday graces the back original stone walls of the bedroom, a single strand of greenery. Minimalist at it 's finest!

Karen

WELCOME: MY INTERIOR DESIGN WEBSITE IS LAUNCHED!

Welcome to

BRAYTON HOMESTEAD INTERIORS

Blog

I am so glad you visited.

Here on my blog I journal about my Interior Design business,

the ongoing restoration of the Brayton Homestead, family, friends and my yorkie Krumpet.

My Interior Decorating website

http://www.braytonhomesteadinteriors.com/

has just been launched!

it is also named

Brayton Homestead Interiors

the website.

the website is just for my decorating business.

Here can see examples of my interior design work.

Hope that you come to visit and would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank You,

Karen

Images: all Brayton Hometead Interiors

Mother's Day Wishes

Krumpet And I

and everyone

( pic above not of Krumpet)

at the

BRAYTON HOMESTEAD

wish you and your family 

(this is Krumpet)

a lovely

MOTHER'S DAY.

Certainly, I know how blessed I am 

and wish you to be also..

after dining on lox and bagels

I look forward to relaxing and reading my mags and books...

Karen

Images: dog pic from google images, my house drawing colored on photo program,  old pic of me combined with Krumpet's pic, house from google, my Brayton Blush collection pottery and my bedroom pic.

Love

I love to use handmade hearts for photographic backgrounds. Don't they look beautiful under the jewelry? I am celebrating Valentine's Day with love, jewelry, Paris and always pink...

LOVE

is full of glitter!

(photo from archives do not remember source)

Love for me, also, is almost anything French. Don't you love this bed? The screen behind the headboard looks like open hearts...

and this grand building I loved in Paris,

If ever

architecture could say love, this one does!

The grand archway relief detailed like the most beautiful of wedding cakes

the soft pinkish brick contrasted to the gentle patina of the limestone,

Happy Valentine's Day, and may it be

FILLED WITH LOVE!

Linked with the beautiful parties at:

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground, Shabby Chic Cottage , Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, and Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

Images: Brayton Homestead Interiors 1,4 & 5

Paris Ruffles

Can one not dream of Paris under a bevy of pink ruffles?

I frequently envision a return trip to Paris,
including what clothes I will be dressed in…

Views of the city nestled under one’s head
Certainly leads to thoughts of travel during slumber…

Imagining attending a fashion show
in the fashion capitol of the world...

I think Krumpet might even be dreaming of Paris

Are You?

Linked to Pink Saturday ~ The House in the Roses ~ and Cottage Monday

Images: Urban Outfitters 1 & 3 (then colorized), Etsy 2, google 4, Brayton Homestead Interiors

Vintage Silver All Aglow

When getting up recently in the middle of the night to make a cup of peppermint tea , I switched on my bedside light and started walking out of the room. I turned back for a second and could see this wonderful glow.

So I went a got my camera and starting taking pictures.

Yes, about 3:00 am!

Now, this problem is getting serious dear friends.

I have always loved taking photos, but since blogging

~ I am a bit overzealous!

Is this happening to anyone else? I see so many things during my day to photograph and share. I am pleased with the outcome of these pictures, are you?

An antique silver lamp graced with a needlepoint shade, a beat up candlestick, my dragonfly monoprint,books that are really boxes for easy to grab items, and a Pottery Barn cordless phone all hang out together...

enjoy...

Karen

IMAGES: all Brayton Homestead Interiors