Blue, blue, blue



Design by Joseph Minton. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield for Traditional Home.

Maybe it's because it's December, the approaching the holidays, the long nights and short days that I'm drawn to these vivid blues.  I'm not usually fond of bright color, formal interiors (or trim on pillows), but all week, I've been stealing glances of this room by Joseph Minton.  I just want to cradle that plump Fortuny pillow, lie back on the chenille sofa (Rose Tarlow fabric, by the way) and stretch out my flannel pajama-clad legs on that gorgeous ottoman. 

Design by Joseph Minton. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield for Traditional Home.

Here's another photo of the room, plus there's 17 more for you to see at Traditional Home (link above).  Another bonus is that the on-line article includes the sources for many of the fabrics and furnishings Minton used throughout the home.  I think it's time my sofa had some new pillows. 

The Last Roses

While walking around Beacon Hill on Saturday, Jon and I noticed climbing roses against a brick house. It was surprising to see roses on a cold fall day and I liked the contrast of bright, white flowers and shiny leaves against old red brick. 

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you, as always, for reading my blog!

F.D. Hodge Interiors - Junior League of Boston Show House

The Junior League of Boston's 2012 Show House is underway at The Potter Estate on the grounds of the Jackson-Walnut Park Schools in Newton.  The Show House is open until Sunday, November 18th, if you haven't had a chance to visit yet.  I went on Sunday just to see this room by Frank Hodge, one of my favorite designers.  It's an elegant, spacious study with chocolate brown Venetian plaster on the walls, a fireplace, sitting area and beautiful art and objects. 



Photo by Michael J. Lee from of F.D. Hodge Interiors.  Room designed by F.D. Hodge Interiors

Not visible in the photo above is this striking painting by Victoria Adams over a small sofa in the sitting area.  Frank has featured Adams' paintings in his designs before and you can read about them both in earlier posts here and here.

Lowlands 116  by Victoria Adams, 2012.  Oil on Linen - 24 x 24, from  F.D. Hodge Interiors

It's a stand-out room not to be missed. The Show House features rooms by other notable Boston-area designers as well.  Details about the Show House plus tickets and directions can be found at the Junior League of Boston's Show House website here.  Enjoy!

Fall Color at Walden Pond

I hope you don't mind a few more photos, some of which have been Instagrammed (is that a word?).  Jon and I walked the perimeter of Walden Pond on Columbus Day.  It was a beautiful fall day and I took many photos from different points along the trail.  In case you're not familiar with the site, Henry David Thoreau lived in a modest one room cabin at Walden Pond (in historic Concord, Massachusetts) from July 1845 to September 1847.  

 Walden Pond is considered to be the birthplace of the conservation movement and I think you can see why from these photos.  To learn more about Thoreau and Walden Pond, visit the Walden Pond State Reservation website here.  If you're in the area, I highly recommend a visit, especially during fall.  It's a peaceful, but popular park and even a bit crowded when the weather is especially nice.

Instant Roses

I am always behind the trend when it comes to "social media".  The days aren't long enough to devote more time to the computer.  But I've finally given Instagram a go, since photography is one of my favorite hobbies. 

This is a photo of a postcard I've pinned to a wall in my office (well, cubicle really).  I took this photo with Instagram and love the results.  It's fun to have another creative outlet when time permits.

I hope you're having a great week!

Coffee Table Alternative

We stayed with a friend in NYC this weekend at her elegant apartment.  Instead of the usual coffee table, her living areas had large, upholstered ottomans.  Since ottomans don't provide a steady surface on which to place a drink, each ottoman was topped with a decorative tray.  This eliminated the need for coasters, which I'm always corralling and stacking on my coffee table.  

I searched online for decorative trays and my favorites were these boldly patterned trays by Madeline Weinrib (available at Barneys).   Unfortunately, they are beyond my budget, but have a look and see what you think: 





The black and cream chevron print is my favorite





A pretty fabulous black and cream Ikat print 





Even the plain, black tray from Barneys is pricey.

This had me thinking that maybe I could make my own tray.  Craft stores will probably carry unfinished wood square trays in the same shape as Madeline Weinrib's (I've seen them somewhere...) and maybe I could decoupage them in decorative paper.  My favorite papers are from PaperMojo:





Black and gold chevron print (currently sold out)





I love this brown and cream Japanese print

This bold black and cream print would be fun.





Another bold black and cream Japanese print





Black and gold print





Another Japanese print, this time in black and cream





Black and gold leaf print





Black and chestnut-brown





The same print in black and cream

Do you have any experience with decoupage?  I'm not sure this is much of hobby for anyone (other than John Derian), given all the technology available this days. If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them.