How To: Old South Wedding

Finally we have the Old South Wedding...This vignette is an ode to the traditional, southern plantation wedding.  Where bigger is better, and no corners are cut.  Silver rimmed plates and glassware compliment the silver rimmed paper goods.  Candlelight sets the whole look aglow.

Get The Look

We used a palette of creams, ivories, whites, and silvers.

We infused the classic monogram into all aspects: Linens, napkins, antique forks, handcrafted chair decor.

Gorgeous candelabras and classic flowers (white roses, hydrangeas) were placed in antique silver teapots and mint julep glasses.

Lindsey Reagan made this gorgeous collage of the photos by Tiffany Walsh.  See Lindsey's original post here.

xo,

k

A Few Fav's -

This week was spent preparing for a bridal show on Sunday and scouting a new location for a photo shoot we have in a couple weeks.  Of course, my friend Tiffany and I couldn't resist popping in a few antique stores we passed along the way.  I mean, you just never know what you're going to find :>)

Like a sweet spice tin...with all the essentials organized with gold lettering.

Another good motto for life.

A set of adorable stone sheep bookends.

And a few fun fav's from the week:

Wearing spring dresses in the winter

Fabulous monogrammed lampshades

An interesting article on a holistic approach to health

A gorgeous DIY fabric chandelier

have a fabulous weekend, dearies....

xo,

k

Flea Market Finds: Kara's Living Room and Foyer

I was so excited a couple of weeks ago to get to go home to Denver for a few days.  My older sister just moved into her first home with her husband, and we had been talking about a few fun ways to spruce up their front living room for awhile.

I love finding treasures (for your home, for your closet) on a budget.  It literally gets me giddy to go to the flea market and find all sorts of amazing pieces for pennies!  I forced Kara to go to the Denver Flea Market with me (along with our mom - she loved it! But we did have to keep her moving along :>), just to see what we would find.  Flea markets aren't for the faint of heart.  They're dirty, they're crowded, and you have to really try hard to see the dazzles from all the duds.  

We found two of these end tables:

Solid wood, with a door that opens in the front - the entire inside can be used as storage.  Price tag: Both end tables for $25!

We also found this little chinoiserie inspired magazine table:

We decided to spray paint it a glossy white...to modern/fun it up!  We might spray it with a little more of a cream color to go with the end tables...haven't made the final decision yet.  Price tag: $25.

Here's my dad helping me "doll" up the tables.  We sanded the loose paint off the top of the tables, then sprayed the tops with a matte Polyurethane to help protect them.  We left them distressed...I love the character!  New knobs are in their near future.

Our little magazine table!  Adds charm and function...and I love the "Thumbs Up" Sculpture we picked up for $14 at Home Goods!

The last purchase we made was for their entryway.  They needed a console table of some sort for keys, mail, etc.   We found this old church pew in an antique store for $100. It's a solid wood, honey color...absolutely gorgeous! It would have come home with me in a heartbeat if it fit in my carryon bag!  Luckily, we convinced Kara it was a stunner.  It's so unique, and fits perfectly in that spot.   Complete with a dish for keys, a throw and pillow to add softness and color, this is a talking point for sure.

We'll be adding a mirror above the bench, and a floor rug once we find the perfect one.  We also added our grandfathers old army trunk below their long mirror - see it in the nook below?  It's such a cool piece.  Pop Pop was in Japan for a lot of his army career in WWII and he lugged this trunk around with him everywhere he went.  Then my mom took it all the way out to CU Boulder with her when she left her home in Maryland for college.  A few years later, it was home to all of our barbies!  I love the family history - it has our grandfathers name stamped across the top.  And it's also very functional - it can hide magazines, blankets, or anything else that needs a home.

Before and After pictures of the room to come!

Thanks for letting me play in your living room, Kara!

xo,

k

Oh Antiquing we will go

Remember this post?  Well, we finally did it. 

We FINALLY found our armchairs! Yippee!  It all happened on a Sunday.  Our Sundays are for lounging around, watching Meet The Press, and catching up on Antonio Treatment and Secrets of a Stylist (my fav. Oh Emily Henderson - can we be besties?  Thought so.)

Anyhoo, after feeling oh-so-inspired, B actually asked if we wanted to run out and look around our favorite Antique Mall (GasLamp for you Nashvillians out there).  I love wandering around this antique store.   You (literally) get lost in it - which is part of the fun! (danger?)

We found tons of old, vintage suitcases....you know, the ones you carry by the handle? They are so much fun!  I brought home one in a slate blue - it will be perfect for photo shoots!  And who knows - maybe you'll see me walkin' through BNA carrying my new vintage suity-case.

Blue seemed to be the color of the day.  I also found a vintage blue cropped velvet coat....love.  It was just waiting for me to take it home.  And then.....BOOM.

2.

Matching.

Navy.

Tufted.

Wingback.

Armchairs.

With Nailhead trim.

AND turned wooden legs.

ACK!

Best of all, they weren't going to send us into debt OR cut into our wine budget!

(Who am I kidding? We go into debt because of our wine budget.)

So we sat. And we thought.  And we bought :>)

It has completely re-inspired my design ideas for our living room.  The fireplace has been primed and painted.  New throw pillows in fancy colors are sloooooooowly making their way in the front door (and back out.   Apparently living with a boy means I can't keep gorgeous magenta rose-inspired pillows from Tar-jay....boo on boys.)

It's a lot more pink in person.  Really it's quite gorgeous.  I urge anyone not living with a boy to run out and get one.  Then send me a picture so I can be jealous.  Thanks.

I found this one today at the store! It's from Villa Home Collection, and considering my obsession with all things British (well, except for the teeth.) it might be perfect...

AHHHHHH!  I mean, come on.

I leave you with some color inspiration from today - Bring it.

                                  Source: houseandhome.com  

Antique-ing Away!

Last Friday I found myself with the afternoon free, so I decided to hop on over to Gas Lamp Antiques.

Just for fun. Just to browse :>)

I love getting lost (literally.  It's a maze in there!) among all the booths.  It's so fun to find the perfect little (or big!) treasure for the house.

We picked up this cabinet over the summer.  It lives on our 2nd floor landing and is home to sheets, comforters, towels, sewing kits, and my hats.  Yes.  Hats :>).

And I brought this trunk home earlier this year.  I FELL IN LOVE with the distressed blue/grey color.  

This trip, however, was not for buying.  Just for looking:

These antique locker boxes were really cool and full of character.  If we had a garage :>)   Or a  basement :>).....

I loved these little white milk glass taper holders.  

Paper Dolls!?  I regressed about 2 decades a few years when I saw these!  I used to go nuts over paper dolls when I was little!

Some gorgeous mosaic candle holders.  (I have a thing for candle holders.  More of a chronic problem actually.)  These would be so beautiful on a Christmas mantle or buffet!

Then there was this collection of vintage glass cocktail shakers.  They are amazing!  Billy and I are actually in the market for a cocktail shaker.  I'll be showing him these later today :>)

More candle holders!  And mercury glass?  Forget it.  I can't stop the addiction.

There was a matching mate to this chair. And the price was pretty amazing.  I know I said we are looking for wing back chairs, but these made me do a double take....hmmmm.

This cabinet is a gorgeous grayish blue color.  And the sides flip up to make a longer serving area.  

My favorite finds!  Sometimes a gal just needs a swift kick in the pants to get going, right?:

Another favorite :>)

Haha!

These oversized spools of thread were really cool.  

They reminded me of The Lettered Cottage's empty spools on top of the entertainment unit.

image

I'll let you know if we end up going back to pick up some goodies!

White Christmas rehearsal tonight - I am now tap dancing in the show.   YIKES!  This is getting out of control :>)

xo,

k