Around the House: Holiday Sparkle

Hi friends! How are you? It’s been quite some time since I’ve had the opportunity to share something with you! As usual, life’s been crazy but I’m happy to report that we are all getting a little more sleep (most nights) and it has greatly improved the general mood in the Newport house. Plus, it’s hard to be grumpy with all the Christmas decorations up. I do love this time of year! So let me take you on a tour of our house…who doesn’t love some holiday sparkle?

First off…welcome to our living room where we place our prized, live, Grand Fir Christmas tree. Isn’t she a beauty? I usually do this tree in soft gold, silver and touch of light blue. I crown her with sparkling branches in stead of the traditional star.

I love using my vintage items in my decorating so this antique, turquoise seltzer bottle takes center stage on the coffee table.

A frost covered forest was my inspiration for the greenery…

This beautiful, old clock dates back to the 1890′s and was found on one of my many treasure hunting trips.

Strung from the mantel with a piece of twine, hangs vintage postcards featuring birds and antique European letters.

Come through to the dining room where the winter forest theme continues…

 

A vintage printers tray is displayed on one wall filled with glimmering bits and pieces and antique French postcards…

On the kitchen table, I have featured a vintage silver bowl filled with budding paper-whites. I have always wanted to do these! Can’t wait to see them in full bloom!

A lovely, antique confiture jar from Paris holds miniature white roses. This gorgeous, rare jar is currently listed in my Etsy shop.

I may have overdone the roses…but in my opinion, you can’t have enough and they pair so well with the tarnished silver, don’t you think?

Look who couldn’t resist jumping up on the table to get into my shot – none other, than my ever curious cat – Toby…

Thanks for coming along and checking out my holiday decor. I had a blast putting everything up (with the help of the hubby)! My family gets here this week, so I may not be posting much until after Christmas. I wish you all the very best for the holidays! Thank you for all your wonderful comments and loving support! I will see you in the New Year!

xo,

Vintage Home Bars

Hello there! I hope your summer has been fabulous. It’s going SO fast, isn’t it?

So, I just got done posting on my other blog about my love of Vintage Seltzer Bottles. These amazing historic objects are now being sought out, collected and displayed in homes. While they look beautiful anywhere you put them, they fit perfectly nestled among other pretty barware.

With Mad Men influencing style and celebrating the age of martinis, people are pulling out their liquor and putting it on display. And why not? It looks gorgeous! Check out these oh-so-glamorous vintage bar set ups. LOVE!

This weathered trunk makes the perfect pedestal for your bar. Its rustic textures play off the sparkle and polish of the bottles and silver tray. The mirror doubles the glamor. And I just love the mod Lucite chairs.

Drool. (note to self – buy a vintage bar cart asap!)

one word – AMAZING!

make your bar mobile with a wheeled cart!

French flair and elegance at its best. You know you would receive a tres chic concoction from this bar, perhaps a Pompier? Never heard of one?…neither had I but they were a popular cocktail served in Paris during the 1930′s! Made with a black currant liquor (crème de cassis), dry vermouth and club soda, it is meant to be absolutely delicious on hot summer days! Gotta try this one.

Your bar cart doesn’t have to be shiny and new, this well-worn industrial cart has a great masculine, urban feel.

Adore this one. So feminine! In the market for a vintage bar cart? Check out these I found for sale on Etsy – 1, 2, 3.

Don’t want to cart it? No worries, use a table and corral your barware on trays to help define the intention of your display.

Or proudly show off your cocktail fixings within a bookshelf. This is a fantastic idea for someone living in tight quarters.

So many gorgeous ways to add the glamor of a home bar to your space.

Do you have one set up now? I would love to hear how you did it…

Cheers!

xo,

{for more ideas and links to all these images go here}

Dining Al Fresco…

The past couple of sun filled days have been blissful. Although Grace has been home from school with a cold, I still made sure we spread a quilt out on the lawn and rested in the sunshine.

In the summertime, we spend most evenings outside, grilling fresh food, sipping cold wine and taking it all in. I’m longing for those days…so I thought I would share some simply gorgeous images of outdoor dining done to perfection…

{Images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

Dreamy right? How precious is this last one? It’s like a sweet fairy ring. Okay, I gotta go get me some more Vitamin D!

xo,