All About Me!

My new Powder Room Guest Towels

Another year has flashed before my eyes, and I am another year older, and perhaps a tad wiser. (Although I do have times that I wonder about the last bit.) But there is one thing I do know. We, as a family, are more frugal when it comes to pampering ourselves. We buy things we will use and find joy in on a daily basis. So when it came time to answer my daughter's questions about what I really wanted for my birthday this year, it was a tough one to answer.

Believe it or not, I asked for a vacuum cleaner....one with a retractable cord and VACUUM BAGS!!!! I have been struggling through the past few years with a vacuum that could only have been invented by someone who must never vacuum himself....the God-awful Bissell Upright. (Trust me, I did not buy this myself.....but that is another story). Now, who would invent a vacuum that when you go to empty it spreads the dust all over again because it is not contained in a bag?!! This thing had so many useless attachments, I was astounded. I will not bore you with all of the things that I despised about this piece of .......well...enough of that. Phew! I have been wanting to get that off my chest for a long time.

I LOVE my new Kenmore which is light as a feather, has large vacuum bags and a light that tells you when it is full, a couple of attachments that WORK for everything I need, stores compactly and has a retractable cord (no more winding up the cord!) It sounds so unromantic, but it's what I have been wanting for years now. Thanks Tim!!!

OK..so on to the "pretty" things!

I had been searching for linen guest towels for the Powder Room for quite awhile, and Pottery Barn added very nice quality linen towels to their line recently. The monogram adds personal touch, and the price ($19 for a pair) was the best I have seen. Thanks girls!!

My Mom brought over the most beautiful Hydrangea to fill in our new garden area. I can hardly wait to get it planted! So gorgeous, the photo does not do it justice. Mom always knows best.

"Anabelle" Hydrangea from Mom

I am so thankful for my family who I love so much and who loves me back. Another wonderful year.

My Lemon Cooler cake from Freeport Bakery with rainbow flame candles

Happy Birthday to Me!

Creating An Indoor Picnic for Book Group

Once a year, I pick a book and host a Book Group party at my house. Our Book Group is a bit unusual as far as Book Groups go...or so I have heard. Pretty much the same group has been together for about eight years now. We have only had two friends leave and two friends join in all that time.

Last Friday was my night to host. The book I chose was The Help by Kathryn Stockett:

Set in Mississippi in 1962 during the civil rights movement, the story chronicles the lives of three women, one white and two black, and how they came together to write a book about how "the help" coexisted with their well-to-do white employers.

Truthful and thoughtful, funny and heartbreaking, the story is one that I, and the rest of my group thought was one of our favorites in our eight years together.(If you would like more information and editorial reviews click here.)

I decided that since the weather was on the hot side, that I would create in indoor picnic for our get together. I started with a burlap table cloth I had made a few years back. Burlap is very inexpensive (about 3 or 4 dollars per yard) and holds up for a very long time! I placed grass place mats on top and added a row of potted plants down the center. The plants I chose were a citron green "Lamium Golden" and an eggplant hued "Sweet Potato Vine". I loved the color contrast! I got them at Target along with some brown terracotta pots. The pot color went so well with the burlap. And after the party I am putting the plants in my garden! I love a dual purpose purchase.

I experimented with some of my mercury glass candlestick holders: very pretty, but a bit too formal for a "picnic":

So I decided to go with these simple votive holders, again, very inexpensive from Michael's. I think they were 50 cents apiece.

A couple in between each pot. Simple and clean.

I added my "Great White Plates" from Pottery Barn. ( Now you can have them monogrammed!)I think a white plate shows off food so well. And for the meal I had planned, they were the perfect size: big!

I wanted something that looked like a picnic tablecloth for the napkins and found the perfect thing at IKEA. These rolls have four cloths, each one a different white and blue pattern for $2.49 per roll! That is 62 cents per napkin. I like that. And again, dual purpose!

Placed in the middle of each plate, the "napkins" are a nice big size for my picnic.

I added simple wine glasses, again from IKEA, and a bottle of Pellegrino at each place instead of a water glass to finish it off. Now on to the food!

For a little snacking before dinner, I laid out cheeses, fig jam, some Kalamata olives and olive tapenade, a bit of Hummus and a few French Plums. I iced the wine, beer and waters in a galvanized bucket.

When we were ready we sat down to an evening picnic:

I had prepared a buffet of salads: Heirloom tomatoes from the garden with basil and mozzarella, Ina Garner's potato salad with lots of fresh dill, my version of the Bottega snap pea and white corn salad with a citrus dressing, my green salad with pine nuts and avocado, and a fruit salad. A bit of French bread with Gruyere and olives, and we were very happy.( Oh yes, the platters I had just found at the last Sacramento Antique Faire . LOVE them!!)

Been Working on This:

I have a client who needed a little help pulling an affordable plan together for her little bungalow cottage. She needed things quickly and wanted to be able to buy things herself from retail sources. She did not want to take time to shop at flea markets or antique faires. She just wanted it "done". I think there are alot of people out there who want a pleasing environment, but do not want to spend alot of time putting it together. They have other things that are more important to them. Luckily for us designer types, we LOVE to spend time doing the putting together. And I am all for working within a budget, especially in this economy.

Living Room:
Sofa - Pottery Barn
Chairs - Pottery Barn
Coffee Table - Pottery Barn
Black Chair - Palecek*
Garden Stool - Pottery Barn
Pillows - Crate and Barrel
Side Tables - Crate and Barrel
White Lamp - Crate and Barrel
Green Lamp - Pottery Barn
Mirror - Pottery Barn
Fabric for Drapes: Lulu DK *
Small Cabinet - Owner's

Dining Room:
Large Mirror - Pottery Barn
Dining Table - Ballard Design
Dining Chairs - Palecek*
Sideboard - Bungalow5*
Blue Lamps - Bungalow5*
Pendant Light - Circa Lighting
Art - Oly Studio*
Accessories - Oly Studio*
4 Piece Art - Wisteria

For more information on kd space, click on my website link in the sidebar or just click here.
* These items available through Katie Denham Design

Hannah's Room

If you have been reading Katiedid for awhile, you know I have been working on my younger daughter's bedroom, theoretically for her birthday. Well, her birthday has come and gone, and we are still not quite done. I can manage to get client's work done and meet a deadline at work, but at home.....the cobbler's shoe syndrome takes over. We have drapery panels to hang, a mirror to find, and art to hang. But the furniture is all in and the room is painted! Progress!

In the meantime, my older daughter had a party for Halloween. Which prompted a room cleaning. I thought I would take the very infrequent opportunity of a clean room to snap some photos. Just so I can remember what it looks like.

Hannah and I did her room a few years ago starting with the Marimekko "Unikko" Duvet Cover and shams as the jump off point. We chose a matlisse bedspread from Crate and Barrel with matching Euro shams for the "background". You probably recognize the Seagrass headboard from Pottery Barn. The nightstand is an antique Swedish pine table. Nate Berkus lamps from Linens and Things. Red drapery panels from IKEA. We chose things that a teenage girl could grow with that were affordable, and therefore changeable if tastes changed.

Above her antique pine dresser, I placed a flea market mirror that I painted red which made it pop off the walls, which are painted Dunn Edwards Whisper White.

The room is divided by French doors into two parts, the main bedroom (very small) and a sun room. It is a very charming space and one of the selling points when we were first looking to buy the house. As soon as Hannah saw this space she claimed first dibs.

The sun room is covered with bead board on the walls and ceiling and has windows on three walls. We made it into a cozy library using West Elm book shelves, which fit perfectly under the windows. There is an old pine armoire for storage....and Heaven knows a teenage girl has got to have storage. We used West Elm red lacquer nesting tables, a white slip covered chair from IKEA and a lambskin rug on the floor.

And that's it! A fun bright space for my teenage girl.

Speaking of Nate Berkus.......now that Linens and Things is closing, I was wondering where he might be selling his retail products. It turns out he is offering his line on the HSN website. He is also writing a blog for the website as well, which you can check out here. I went and did a little looking around and found THE mirror for my other daughter's bedroom! The Nate Berkus Moroccan Mirror:

Perfect size and price! I am determined to get this room done before.......Christmas!

Shopping: Stream of Consciousness

Embossed Flower Mirror

I have been trying to finish up odds and ends for my daughter's bedroom tonight. I still need a mirror for above the dresser I ordered from Jayson Home and Garden, and I really like this one (above) from Wisteria priced at $349. I have always loved inlaid mother of pearl furniture, and have a couple of other small pieces, including a small carved and inlaid mirror (too small to use as a dressing mirror). This style would be so pretty in her room! It is a bit much for me right now though.

Hitchens Low Dresser

This is the dresser I ordered from Jayson Home and Garden. It is a bit of a splurge, but I think it can be used in so many ways so I think it is a good investment piece. I think it would be great as a buffet in a dining room, or as a hallway table. The black color will work into a lot of different scenarios if I change furniture around when children have fled the coop. When my daughter gets a place of her own, she may have to wrestle me for it!

Sarina Inlaid Mirror

Because of the dollars spent on the dresser, I am trying to save a bit by looking at some other mirrors. I found this one on the Pottery Barn website. Not quite at intricate as the Wisteria mirror, but still pretty, inlaid and less expensive at $279.

Anyway....I got a bit sidetracked on the Pottery Barn website. I started looking at the Autumn table settings. Completely off track, I know. But I really liked these Baroque Salad plates!

Baroque Salad Plates

Typically, I am strictly a white plate entertainer. I just think that food is the star and always looks best on a white plate. I do love a gold rim and have a collection of vintage Tiffany gold rimmed plates. But I have never really taken to plates with patterns. But I think these would look so wonderful with a green salad, or with bread, cheese and olives. And the dinner plate underneath is still white.

Quail Plates

Then I saw these Quail Plates (also from Pottery Barn). I like these too! Perhaps a Baby Romaine salad with figs and Cambozola cheese?

Fieldcrest Hemstitched Napkins

So then I started thinking "table linens" and remembered seeing these hemstitched napkins on the fabulous Eddie Ross' blog. I was floored when he wrote that they were from Target! They looked so elegant. So I went to the Target website and found out a pack of four is only $14.95! There is a matching 70"x70" hemstitched tablecloth for $19.99.

So I am running through the saved websites on my tool bar: I went back to Wisteria and found these embroidered Silver and Gold Crown Linen napkins, thinking to myself, these would be so perfect with my Tiffany gold rimmed plates! ($27.20 for 4...not bad for 100% linen!)

And these Etched Crown Glasses, also from Wisteria ($49 for 4!), I think are going to find their way to my bar before the holidays.

So this is how I end up shopping....one thing leads to another. In some cases, it can lead to really serendipitous finds. So....do you all do this? Have you ever gone to a website to look for something in particular, only to find yourself buying something completely different and unrelated...but wonderful?

America and the Red, White and Blue

That very American of holidays: The Fourth of July is fast approaching! Does everyone have plans? Are you going to BBQ, watch fireworks, go to the beach, eat apple pie, have a beer/lemonade? All of the above? Those of you in other places will be carrying on as usual , but I thought a little red white and blue might perk up your summer just the same.

Above is an example of an American 13 Star Parade Flag circa late 1800's from Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques available through 1st Dibs.

This is the wonderful beach house of Anna Spiro from Absolutely Beautiful Things. I just had to show this red, white and blue loveliness.

There is nothing quite so relaxing as sitting on a shaded porch sipping a tall cool drink. This porch designed by Thad Hayes is one of my "happy place" images that I look at when the stresses of the day get a little out of hand.

I love this image of Peter Dunham's house via Stylecourt blog: the tapestry, the desk, the lamp....love it all!

This Living Room by Bonesteel, Trout and Hall captures that very American "love of the beach" feeling that I long for this time of year. At the same time, there is a strong use of Indian prints and Asian furniture that is so very appealing.

Betsy Burnham uses red, white and blue in this foyer area to great effect. Not the least bit what one expects when hearing "red, white and blue".

What could be more nostalgically "American" than wicker furniture? If you have never been to the Maine Cottage website, please take the first opportunity to visit! They have a wonderful collection and very fun feature that lets you pick your piece of furniture , apply any color and put any of their fabrics on it. You can create your own version of the perfect summer chair.

It is an election year, and Jonathan Adler is appealing to both parties with his elephant and donkey figures. Take your pick, and don't forget to vote!

Pottery Barn came out with a "to the trade" sneak preview of their Fall collection. I have to say, I am liking it. It is a little less obvious as to where it all came from. A very nice mix. What do all of you think? Agree? Disagree?

The Jacqui Table from Bungalow 5 available through Eboniste seems to creep into my mind alot. Available in many colors, this table just seems to "fit" in so may situations.

And a little Kate Spade to put you in the holiday mood: Cute "Kelly" rain shoes in navy and red for those sudden summer rain showers ($125), and the Chattanooga Jocelyn purse ($175).

18" pillow in red "Flutter" fabric from Seacloth ($110).

A pair of very patriotic vintage lamps go by the name of "Stars and Stripes" and are available from LUM.

Enjoy a little Red, White and Blue wherever you may be!