Real Simple - dinner party Iyalian style

Penn and I love to entertain!  From simple dinner parties to cocktail parties we are all about sharing good food and our home with friends.  So a key to entertaining is to have an easy menu so you aren't in the kitchen all night and instead are able to mingle with your guests.  I always am searching for new and easy menus and I stumbled across this menu for an Itslian style dinner via Real Simple. I love that magazine - everything they feature is actually simple... So nice. Their menu includes an antipasto platter, salad with Parmesan cheese, mushroom and spinach lasagna, garlic bread and for dessert olive oil cake with fresh oranges. Does that not sound fabulous?!?!  I am especially interested in the dessert... Sounds very interesting!

For the recipes visit their site via the link below:

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/italian-menu-00100000076106/index.html#8

You will also need a beautiful centerpiece, cool untensils/stem wear, and fun music.

I love this rustic table and chairs...  The green moss centerpiece is simple but effective- it's all over the design world right now!! If you don't have some you need a little pop of it somewhere.

http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=482007.484184.907971.2724571.page

And these are just too fun for water or wine glasses!

Www.retroartglass.com

love the bamboo flatware and the white napkins with charcoal trim.  Simple yet elegant and both are on sale right now at Crate and Barrell!!  (Another favorite of mine)

Lastly turn up the tunes!  I love Pandora and for dinner try Nina Simone (piano jazz musician with a smoky voice - amaz!!). And for after dinner drinks my tried and true - Bruno Mars.

Happy Entertaining!!

Best rooms from 2013

Just a little post to celebrate some of the greatest rooms from 2013...

Everything in this room works.  The yellow sofa is amazing especially with that pop of purple o the chair and throw blanket - topiary adds the perfect touch.  And the "hard" elements (painted wood floor and stone fire place) are gorgeous.

The green drapes and chair just make me smile - bright and cheery!  Always love a cowhide rug

Isn't this a cute child's room??  The drape fabric is from ikea! Proving you can do a child's room on a budget and still look amaz!!

The rug in this nursery makes everything work - it is so fun!!!  And I love the dark French foors.

This is a picture I took from Elle decor- I love these bedspreads!!  Obviously customized for the bed - but this coverlet removes the need for a bed skirt. Would be great in a neutral like this but also in a fun fabric for a guest room or child's room!! 

Hello 2014

Wow! So the Holidays came around and I completely shut down.  Penn and I were busy back and forth between Charlotte, Raleigh, and his hometown Smithfield and had a wonderful time.  We even threw a New Year's Eve Party, attended an Amazing New Year's Day Party and then I topped it all of by attending a baby shower last Saturday.  WHEW! Like I said - Busy but SO FUN!

 

I am glad to be back in a routine and back to my 9-5 work schedule.  I am one of those people who needs a little structure.  While bustling around from city to city I began to think of my hopes and dreams for 2014.  This past year has been a great year and I have a feeling 2014 is going to be even better.  Of course I made those same NY's resolutions everyone makes... work out more, drink less etc. but there are a few things that I really need to work on.  One being to work more on this blog!! I get inspired a million times a day and for some reason I don't remember to click a picture or to make a note so I can post about it.  Maybe I should start carrying a notepad around and remember to click more with my camera... I promise loyal readers I will get better!

 

Another thing I need to work on is appreciating the small things.  A long walk with our pup Ellie... a warm fire on a cold night... a good book... a beautiful sunset.  We can get wrapped up in our everyday lives and life can pass you buy.  So I'm going to make an effort to stop and remember those special moments that can get lost in an otherwise busy day.

My design business has been steady and I am so thankful to have such wonderful clients who want me to help them!  It can be a scary venture starting your own business but I'm so glad I did it.  It's hard work and I have high hopes that this coming year will help me build my business and my clientele. 



Merry Christmas Eve

If there is one woman who knows how to decorate for Christmas it's my mother, Anne Bailey!  Every year she out does herself with new creative and do it yourself projects.  Her arrangements this year all use greenery from her gorgeous yard (aside from the ameryllis.) Mom also makes her own wreaths from grapevine forms by using the scraps from the tree...  A very affordable way and they turn out so much fuller and thicker than the wreaths you buy at the lot!  So without further adieu...  2013 decorations by Anne Bailey Zschau!

Freshen Up

My bedroom and bath are driving me crazy!!!  I just can't seem to get it right... So my New Years project is to give our living quarters a much needed facelift.  It's not terrible now but if you can't be at peace in your own bedroom where can you??  Pictures of what it looks like now... (Pardon my quick iPhone snaps!)

Not bad - but I don't love.  The plan is to change the bedskirt and drapes, I have already ordered a white duvet and shams (the sea foam coverlet will stay) and I found the most awesome vintage sunburst wall sculpture for above bed!!  So excited about my find since I have been searching for years!  The bathroom is easy - I want it to look like this.

The plan is to install the beadboard after Christmas and I can paint the walls in a day.  And the best part???  I already have a gold mirror that will work perfectly! So pumped! 

Images via MMLDesigns and www.decorpad.com

Sitting Room Installation

Busy day today... Just got done with a big installation that was 2 months in the work!

Custom cornice boards with custom drapery panels.  I think it turned out FABULOUS!!

The Tulip table, Ghost Chairs, and seagrass rug were all existing.  Everything else is for the install today.  I played around with accessories quite a bit and the pink and white chevron bone tray was my fav.  It looked great on the sofa with Miss Pippa's Book (LOVE - if you don't have it go buy it) and on the tulip table.  I prefer it on the sofa and the gold bowl on the table for a wow factor. The black glass knot just died in the room but they are so cool - hand blown and come in the most fun colors and also a smaller size. 

The roman shade for the smaller window will be installed after Christmas (If you were wondering...)
 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Umstead

The ladies in my family went to the famous Umstead Inn and Spa over thanksgiving to celebrate my moms birthday.  We had a great time and the food was delicious!  They had gourmet chocolates in the gift store that were hand painted  - so mad I didn't take a picture to share but I bought one of each and they were a hit with my niece and nephew!

The flower arrangement when you walk in the front door was gorgeous!  Decorated with one of my favorite flowers... Amaryllis.  They were mixed in with pumpkins and gourds - very festive.

By the time we finished lunch and mom blew out her birthday candles the florist was there decorating for Christmas and the center table had changed.

Amaryllis again with pine cones, evergreen, and cut aspen logs. Love how the vases are different  heights adding to the interest of the arrangement.  This would be very easy to replicate at home!  Lowes sells amaryllis you grow at home -but if you want them to bloom before Christmas plant them today!!!  Also the pine cones would be great spray painted gold or silver...  Just a thought!