Paperwhites Please

While perusing one of my favorite blogs - Dreamy Whites - I was inspired to try forcing Paperwhites.  Maria said they are one of the easiest bulbs to grow so I thought I would give it a try - of course with a modern transitional flair.

First, I gathered the materials as instructed - Bulbs, Pebbles and 3 Dishes.

Next I placed the pebbles in the dishes.

To mimic the straight lines of the dish, I placed the bulbs in straight lines.  Since there is no worry of overcrowding I placed 3 rows of 3.  Hoping that the result will be splendid!

Ready for my 2nd dish...

Now - all three are complete.  You can see I only placed 3 in the center dish, I thought if all goes well I may add some Christmas baubles later.

The water pitcher is ready...

Adding water just to the bottom of the bulbs.

as I.do.not.want.root.rot!

Now, we wait - 4-6 weeks with fingers crossed - Paperwhites please!?!

The package says- Guaranteed to Grow.... I'll post pics later if all goes well.


Posted by Paula

Numero Clock - It's About Time: The Clock as a Focal Point on Houzz

It's About Time: The Clock as a Focal Point

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Find Home Improvement Professionals- For Example:

Chicago Architect · Boston Interior Designer · New York Contractor · Los Angeles Landscaping ·

Thanks Wendy from The Shabby Nest for the mention on Houzz!

Posted by Paula

Transitional Home Decor

The Infinity Stool by Roost

I wrote and submitted an article about transitional home decor last week and it was accepted and published on ezine articles.



Here is the summary:

It is important to be selective in choosing accessories for your transitional room since there aren't as many used. You will want to select something that can handle all of the attention that will be received. more


I do hope you can take a quick moment to read the article and rank it on the ezine link. You just have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the article and mark the stars. I do hope you are pleased!

Transitional Bedroom

Love this bedroom- traditional sleigh beds and pedestal table with modern lamp and artwork.

Design by Darryl Carter as seen in Southern Accents

Living Clean

What a beautiful transitional kitchen! Modern subway tiles and modern lighting fixtures mixed with a coffered ceiling and traditional cabinetry and barstools. A beautiful wood bowl and fruit display are included in the edited accessories which round out the style.

design: Stedila designs

Are you transitioning yet?

Transitional design is simply a matter of mixing traditional and modern pieces whether it be accessories, furniture, fabrics, or architectural features. By marrying these 2 styles you create a fresh, new timeless design. When choosing accessories for this style it is good to be selective as fewer pieces are chosen so you want them to make a statement. In this foyer- what caught your eye first? Was it the clean lines of the modern lamp on the table bringing your eye up to the woodwork of the staircase? This is an example of a room leaning more toward the traditional sense with a little modern mixed in.


This lovely dining room from Emily Summers is a wonderful example of a more modern transitional design. I am drawn to the play of the chairs against the sleek lines of the marble table. The chandelier gives a sense of play to the room so that it does not become too serious and I love the use of the abstract artwork.


Transitional design is my favorite design style. Any thoughts you would like to share on transitional decorating? I would love to hear them!

Surprise & Delight

I have magazines and tear sheets that I like to keep for inspiration. (Much to my husband's chagrin) Anyway, I was going through one of my folders and found this shotgun house that I had torn out and saved. I'm sorry that I don't know what magazine published it....

If you have ever been in the South you have probably seen many of these houses. The shotgun style houses were built from after the Civil War through the 1920s. They are narrow one-story dwellings without halls. The rooms are placed behind one another in single file. The reason they are called shotgun is because if one were to fire a shotgun through the front door, the shot would pass through the lined up doors of each room and out the back door. Although in reality, the doors don't usually line up.

This example of an updated shotgun's interior brings Surprise- in how great it lives & Delight- at it's fresh sophistication and traditional feel but in an updated way.


The sofa is a John Saladino design, John is a noted international designer and author that blends contemporary and antique so well, which is what this house is about. The high ceilings lend spaciousness to the small space.


No house can have enough storage. This is great use of a small space in the bathroom.



I love the doors leading to the backyard.


This house has a more modern arrangement but with old-fashioned attributes that adds that southern flavor. The key to the home's charm is the blending of the old and new which makes this a wonderful example of simple transitional design.

Southern Comfort

There is a magnificent duo from Boca Raton, Florida that make up Kukes and Simons Interiors. They are Patty Kukes and Nancy Simons. They like to create interiors they describe as "classic with a twist". That sounds transitional to me, and you know how much I like that! They like to start each project with a rug or another important piece and use that as a springboard for colors, fabrics and direction. I love their portfolio- each room feels so inviting. Visit their site for much more inspiration.

Rustic and Modern

I love the design sensibilities of Monica Cintra of AGENCE ATELIER. She uses rustic wood pieces and creates beautiful pieces of furniture that look fantastic in a modern room. Perfect example of transitional decor!






Pictures are from AGENCE ATELIER

Pretty Porcelain

Lovely handmade porcelain pieces arrived today from ROOST and I started thinking about how they were made, so I decided to do a little reading on porcelain and thought I would share.

Porcelain is made from kaolin, a clay formed from decomposed granite. Kaolin is a white primary clay-that is, a clay found in the earth in the place where it was formed. Porcelain is white and often translucent.

Glazes
Historically, unglazed pottery has always been more common than glazed pottery. Glaze is a form of glass, consisting basically of glass-forming minerals (silica or boron) combined with stiffeners (such as clay and fluxes) and melting agents (such as lead or soda).

I find it amazing that such beautiful and delicate things can be created from the earth.



These tealight holders and more can be purchased at our online shop Neutral Dwelling.



"Pottery," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.