home about me our home

Monday, May 24, 2010

Bring In Some Loveliness

If you have read my blog for very long it is no secret I am a big fan of Eddie Ross. To tell you why would probably take too long. In short, he is one of the most endearing young men I have met in a long time. He has so much talent and I believe has the ability to bring the “Lovely” back into our homes.
He just did a post on an article that was in the Home section of the Chicago Tribune Sunday paper. The title is Lost Luxuries. Eddie talks about ways to bring back luxuries into our everyday life. You must go and read the article. I was so taken with it I did not want it to end. I could have read a whole book with his wonderful ideas. I won’t talk about what he wrote, you must go and read it on his blog post here.
The article did get me thinking about some of the things that I like to do to bring back the Lovely or as he put it, “Lost Luxuries” back in my home.
It is never the over the top things that we do that seem lovely but the simple things that make ourselves and others feel special.
At the end of his post he asked what are some of the things we do in our own home or lives. I thought I would share a few with you here on my own blog.
ist2_6099999-glass-of-water-with-lemon[1] 
I always drink out of pretty glasses even if it is a glass of water. I try to have a lemon or a lime slice to add to it. There is nothing prettier than a glass full of ice with water and a pretty little slice of yellow or green citrus floating in the liquid.
single flowergreenery  I try to keep fresh flowers in my home. I make sure I have at least two areas where I can display fresh flowers. Even in my bath I have a very small bud vase on the sink with a flower or two in it. It does not always have to be flowers either. A few stems of fern or greenery can add freshness to a room.
product_thumb[8] I spray all of my beds with a Lavender linen spray. I like the one made my Scentennials.
porch 016 (800x600)
In the evening and I must admit even during the day I have ambient lighting. I use small refrigerator bulbs 7watts each in my lights that I like to keep on. If you ever come to my home you will notice the lamp light on the porch is always on.
kyoto_lantern[1]
Candles, I love candlelight. I use unscented votives and sometimes in the evening I will have one little votive by where I am sitting just because I think it is lovely.
Music is always playing in my home . I like soft background music, you know the kind you can hear gently but nothing ever to loud.
I did a post when I first started blogging that I called A Sense-sational home that mentions these. If you have time you might enjoy reading it also.

I hope after reading Eddies wonderful post and reading my post that was inspired by him you go away with wanting to bring back the Luxuries or loveliness to your home.

" Enjoy the Process" Of: Bringing some loveliness back into your home.
Kathysue

30 comments:

Kellie Collis said...

Your outdoor space is what is lovely! xx

Allie and Pattie said...

Kathysue, great post! I actually have one half written along the same lines- keeping the graciousness and "pretty" in our lives. Love this!
xoxo Pattie

Privet and Holly said...

KS, you KNOW how I feel about this topic! In this crazy world that we live in, we have to practice MINDFULNESS, or we are just living on auto-pilot, rushing from one thing to the next. I'm just as bad as the next person, but when I think about my breathing {ever notice how we hold our breath a lot?} and then slow down and truly take in what is around me....then I'm being mindful. One of the luxuries ~ which I mentioned on Eddie's page ~ that I enjoy is using a different cup each week from my vintage tea cup and saucer collection. This week's "feature" is a cup that I bought in a little antique store in Creston, IL this weekend. It is the Camellia pattern by Royal Standard of England and a true bargain at $4! As a matter of fact, I'm enjoying it right this minute. I'm also a candle girl and enjoy the scented kind, most especially florals. I have a friend who works at The Thymes and she has created many of my favorites, including Frasier Fir, which isn't a flower but delights, nonetheless. Thank you for a WONDERFUL post. We can NEVER have too much beauty in our daily lives and this is a fantastic reminder. BEST way ever to start my day {it's 5:50AM, CST....}! xx P&H

PAT said...

I do these same things, Kathysue. Love them all.
When J's Aunt Ruth was with us, last time, at the lake, she found 8 pretty glasses at the antique shop that will be closing soon. These are lightweight etched crystal stems, with a bowl similar to the shape of the glass in the first photo. She bought them to use every day. I love her style and I love her zest for life, at 87.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I love ambient lighting, too. Even though we are wasting energy I have to have lamps on. Love flowers, but don't usually have them. Maybe I will start. Now I need to go check out Eddie's post.

Cashon&Co said...

I agree with each and every one of these. it's the little details that can bring a smile to your home. :)

bluehydrangea said...

Great post! I am off to read Eddie's right now!!

Unknown said...

Love Eddie too! And adore all these thoughtful touches and ideas!
xx

Bring Pretty Back said...

OH!!!!!!!!!!!! Kathysue! YES!!! This is what I am thinking, I need to add this to my life. MORE PRETTY in everything. THANK YOU for this post!!
Have a pretty day,
Kristin

Anonymous said...

Candlelight...fresh flowers...love them all! It's YOU who are the inspriation!

xo
Eddie + Jaithan

Kathysue said...

Aaaaaah! Eddie and Jaithan, I just love you guys!! I beg to differ truly you have inspired me over the last two years more than you will ever realize!! Thankyou for that and for your friendship, xo Kathysue

Hamptontoes said...

Kathysue,
Yes, it is the little touches of "I'm worth with" mentality that make life sweeter. I too drink out of a nice glass. I also have learned to ignore the phone while with my family. It's been nice to make them feel like they are worth my undivided attention and for me to experience the moments we are sharing without interruption. Oh, wallpapering the inside of two closets (thus far) makes me happier than you know...I love getting into those spaces now!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love all of your ideas. I think we way too often save all of our special things for company, when in reality, we should use them everyday and enjoy them. That is real luxury to me. Great post. Hugs, Marty

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Beauty is in the details! I think you can transform even the most plain of rooms with all of the items you listed!

I would do without food before I would do without candles or fresh flowers...simply a must in my home!

Love this post!

Enjoy!
Cathy

Kim@Chattafabulous said...

Great post, Kathysue! I vow to drink out of my pretty glasses instead of the Flintstone chipped plastic glass I got at Burger King!

Gypsy Heart said...

I love this post! I'm a firm believer in doing these nice things daily for ourselves. Drinking out of crystal glasses, lamplight, fresh flowers, candles, music ~ yes, all of these are my habits too. I love to go to bed and have a tea light burning beside my bed and yes, love the lavender too! :-) All of these luxuries are acts of kindness toward ourselves.

xoxo
Pat

Pinky said...

I love candles, ahve one here on my desk burning while I am at the computer. Also have them in the bathrooms and also have little lamps on bathroom counters and in my kitchen and above my cabinets in the kitchen. LOOOVE fresh flowers but don't always have them. I always have a drink from a special glass too! Now I will run over to Eddie's and check out HIS lovekies!!!!! XO, Pinky

nancy2 said...

For a nice smelling bathroom try the Method Brand Tub-n-Tile cleaner. It is Eucalyptus and Mint scented, it makes your bathroom smell like a spa. I give my shower a spritz every morning and it smells nice all day. At Target for less than $5.00

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

Great post! I am an Eddie fan too. Yes, to fresh flowers, but I have to be careful w candles bc of the kids.

xo,
cristin

Kathysue said...

Hi NANCY If you read my sense-sational home post I mention the method bathroom cleaner. I use the same one and you are right it is soooo Spa-like!! Thanks for the visit, nice to see you here,Kathysue

Erica @ Decorica said...

Eddie's bringin' lovely back...Can't wait to head over to Eddie's blog and read more.

Averill said...

Great post, Kathysue! I'm also a big believer in small luxuries -- be it a glass of wine in your good, "company" crystal or a gorgeously scented candle next to your bubble bath. It's all about treating yourself sometimes as well as you would your guests!

Anonymous said...

Nothing prettier than soft candlelight. I like to put a lemon wedge right into my Poland Spring bottle... hmmm... I really should dig out that fancy glass. Thanks for visiting Inspired Design. You have a lovely blog ~ Debby xo

Gwen Driscoll said...

I saw Eddie's post and I agree with you too. It's the little things in life that keep my home a place a love to be. Love your blog. Thanks for stopping by RHS. You're the best.

Beach House Living said...

Greetings and Salutations Kathsue,
I'm dropping by via Terri at LaDolfina you know the one that manages to find the coolest things.

My first and last daily indulgence is fancy soap be it liquid, triple milled, from the across the ocean, handmade you name it. It's the one thing that when I'm rushing I don't even think about since it's just a standard. Candles are pretty much daily and so is eating with vintage silver plated flatware...

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Kathysue, I enjoyed reading this post. I especially agree about the water in the nice glass.....AND using my dishes - not paper plates...using cloth napkins....not paper. Many years ago while staying in a French home, I noticed that my friend kept the same cloth napkins on the table for about a week(at your assigned seat, of course!). Then she threw them in the wash and put something else out for about a week. For some reason I had thought they should be changed every day. But, no, they are not even dirty after a week. Just another idea. Now I'll go read Eddie's blog. Linda

Tricia said...

Thanks for the reminder to make everyday things special, for the everyday people in our homes. Fresh flowers and greenery are high on my list right now. Tea lite candles are also an easy treat. I'm off to read Eddie's post.
Hugs~
T

ashlina {the decorista} said...

you know that shot of your patio leaves me breathless!

Unknown said...

Kathysue - so happy you stopped by today. So glad to know...we both love Eddie & Jaithan!! What a dynamic duo - such talent and such heart! One of my favorite little luxuries is the Savon de Marseilles Extra Pur soup --- in the glass bottles. Beautiful to look at and to smell. xoxo

vignette design said...

I love this post Kathysue and will read Eddie's also. I am a big fan too. I always have fresh flowers, never faux. Scented candles and more candles, everywhere. Beautiful dishes to eat on and always cloth napkins, never paper ones. And don't even get me started about bed linens! Thanks for reminding us all to really appreciate life's little luxuries.