From " 80's Granny " to " Coastal Glammy "

One of my proudest achievements as an" amateur upholsterer" is the makeover I did on this wingback chair. I got two identical "mauve" wingbacks at a garage sale a year ago and transformed one from " 80's granny " to " coastal glammy " by recovering it with a beautiful fabric with blues and tans and then punching it up with a co-ordinating solid blue. The "fun" part was when I decided to use shells instead of piping.





Here's a close up of the shells:





Next week, I'll share the room that I transformed using this chair and a chaise lounge I also recovered.
That's really my style............BUT...........




These funky and colorful chairs make me smile. They seem to say, "Color Me Happy"! I would love to create one of my own.











The question is: Where in the world could I put one of these? My home is Old world/Traditional in almost every way possible, plus the fact that I have run out of room for more chairs.

Squint opened in East London at the beginning of 2005, it was started by Lisa Whatmough a former Sculptor and Painter. Her initial desire was to showcase the antique textiles she had been collecting and found that a fusion of period furniture and fabrics made for unexpected one off pieces.

The range comprises of items such as Victorian chaise longues and iconic Egg chairs and includes all types of upholstered furniture as well as mirrors and lighting, each piece bespoke incorporating a mix of contemporary and vintage fabrics.

As Squint has grown it now makes to order, classic designs meticulously made in England and upholstered traditionally, with tied springs and hand stitched seams. Each design is priced individually depending on the final mix of fabrics used and a selection of sofa shapes can be made as bed settees.

Website: www.squintlimited.com














I have turned my finished basement, much to my husband's discontentment, from a nice entertaining suite to a "chair orphanage" of sorts. The abused and unwanted chairs that I have picked up in garage sales and on street corners , line the walls of my former respectable pooltable/theatre style room and are waiting patiently for their second lives to begin.

















I found this "beauty" on Craig's List. The add title was, "Ugly Chair....Cheap". Well! I just had to run out and grab it! I think it has a lot of potential, don't you?








Maybe soon, I'll go down to the basement, and one of those orphans will stick out her leg and trip me, so that I can stop and realize that she is the chosen one!?!


Run..........don't walk to Susan's blog, Between Naps on the Porch for some awesome transformations!

Dishing about Dishes....

I am excited to be participating in Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch weekly event...Table
Top Thursday! Please go visit her blog and see many many other!




One would assume that plates are for tablescaping, but I, for one believe there is so much more to do with beautiful plates, than to set a pretty table.


I have always been a big fan of using plates as art. Recently, I have starting "collecting" photos from goggle of plates that I love and arrangements that are pleasing as well as interesting.






What a wonderful arrangement this makes over the bed. My only fear is ....well....one of those gorgeous plates landing on my head in the middle of the night!






Don't these plates look amazing on this pink wall? They are actually clear glass plates, backed with fabric.




This is the most creative arrangement , which I first site, I didn't love, but after looking at it, I really like, because it has such a feeling of movement and just something fresh and unexpected.


X



Now we come to my personal favorite, the traditional and always in vogue: blue and white.



You can't go wrong with this winning combo, in my book.





Below is a photo of my dining room in S.C. I know you can't tell by the picture, but there was a pattern involved in the arrangement. I loved my blue dining room!






Here we are at Christmas...






My present dining room is painted a paprika red and really show off the blue and white.



Funny thing about this photo below, when I posted it on Rate My Space, I got many nice comments, except for one. She said, I think you could have come up with a more pleasant arrangent. It looks like somebody was just juggling the plates in the air. You know what's funny?!? That was exactly the look I was going for. I wanted them to look like they were almost in motion.




Hey, you can't just stick to plates, how about a teapot and cup and saucer?





Coffee, anyone?




These are a couple of colorful Italian plates I have collected for my kitchen.


Here are some in one of my guest rooms....

When Life Gives You Lemons....Eat them!

Yesterday I shared my tablescape, "Black and White with a twist of Lemon". Today I was trying to think of what I would serve to go along with that decor.



One of the "bestest" drinks I've EVER had was a martini Lemon Drop.....
I highly suggest you try one, or better yet, make one!
This would be my choice for a nice cocktail:

Lemon Drop Martini

The fresh taste of citrus infuses a hint of sunshine into our special season-inspired martini. This refreshingly crisp and tasty drink is perfect for any occasion that may spring up.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz vodka 1/2 oz Triple Sec 1 tsp Superfine sugar 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice ice cubes Superfine sugar for dipping Twisted lemon peel

Preparation Method: Mix the vodka, Triple Sec, sugar and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice, shake well. Pour strained liquor into sugar rimmed martini glass and garnish with a twisted peel of lemon. For the main course I would go for a simple chicken dish

Lemon Chicken Scallopini

ngredients

1 package PERDUE® FIT & EASY® Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Thin-Sliced (alternate: PERDUE® FIT & EASY® Boneless, Skinless Turkey Breast Cutlets, Thin-Sliced)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons garlic salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup 99% fat-free chicken broth

Instructions

1. In a shallow dish stir together flour and garlic salt. Press the chicken into the flour mixture, coating both sides completely.
2. Coat a large, non-stick skillet with olive oil and set it over high heat. Add chicken and brown on each side approximately 45 seconds. Remove chicken and set it aside.
3. Add lemon and chicken broth to skillet and let boil 30 seconds. Return chicken to pan and push it into sauce. Cover and simmer over low heat 3 minutes until meat thermometer inserted in center registers 170° F.
4. To serve, set chicken on plates and pour sauce on top.

Along with the chicken, a nice angel hair pasta, garnished with basil and red peppers:

A nice salad:

And saving the best (and EASIEST) for last:



Lemon Icecream filled lemons!

Cut lemon tops off. Scoop out pulp.
Cut bottom off so they will stand up, fill with lemon icecream !
TAH-DAAH !!!!!


So there you have it! The perfect dinner party meal to go with "Black and White with a Twist of Lemon tablescape!

Have fun and join Gollum for more creative foodie ideas!

Black and White with a twist of Lemon

I have an affinity to all things black and white, and for some time, I've been wanting to do a B&W themed tablescape, but wasn't sure about the accent color or any details.
The other day, my wonderful husband brought home some sunflowers for me and I thought they'd look nice in this black and white vase... and then, Voila! My tablescape bloomed in my head.














I was as happy as a pig in mud when I found the black and white damask salad plates at Marshall's...$2.99 ea.






I already had the tablescarf, stole it from one of my B&W bedrooms.









Tablecloth and napkins where "nabbed" on a Goodwill Hunting expedition. $3.60.




























I decided to fold each person's napkin differently... what the heck!







The black octagonal soup bowls where also a GW find for .50 ea.























































Now, if only I had just as much FUN cleaning and cooking , as I do tablescaping, I would have invited some friends over for dinner! :o)
Nice thing about blogging is that when I'm ready to hostess a dinner party, I can just look at this post and it'll be a no brainer!

To see food that I would serve with this tablescape, go to , When Life Gives You Lemons....Eat Them!
Please enjoy more creative tablescapes over at Between Naps on the Porch!