I Am A Prepster!!!

I am a self admitted Prepster!! Yes, you heard right I must admit it, I love a preppy look. It really should not be a surprise since my favorite patterns are checks and stripes .

When I was younger there was no problem carrying off this look. As I have matured it has become a bit more difficult to not look too cutesy.

During my Spring purge I went through my existing Spring wardrobe and made a little list of some pieces I would like to add to my wardrobe to punch it up a little.

The one item I was dying to find was a gingham shirt. I looked and looked on line and found a few but finally decided on the Perfect shirt in navy by  J.Crew . Here it is shown in red……

I can't show you an outfit without a room to go with it!! After all, this is a design blog!!

Slipcovered chairs Nancy Boszhardt via The Enchanted Home blog.

Shall we look at my navy gingham shirt and some fun ways to wear it?.......

This large bauble necklace makes this outfit and I love how it looks with the navy gingham. I like that the purple does not match the navy. I would wear this look with my white jeans and tie the belt just like this. I would finish it off with cobalt blue patent flats.



This simple shirtwaist dress would be so nice and cool for the summer. I would add a bright yellow belt tied like in the previous image. Cute black sandals and a large bright red bangle would finish it off.





Even though gingham is usually considered a casual look I love the idea of glamming it up with pearls and rhinestones!!

Fun and easy shopping outfit. I might spice it up a little with pearls and rhinestones as pictured in the above image!!

How do you all feel about gingham? Are you a Prepster and do you still yearn for a good gingham check like I do?!

"Enjoy the Process" Of:

Dressing in patterns that you love!!!

Kathysue

Learn About My Thoughts On Design!!!




I am being interviewed by Karen on her blog, “Strictly Simply Style.”
Click HERE!
She will be asking me these questions:

1. What do you see as the biggest mistake that homeowners make when decorating their homes?
2. How do you handle a situation when you know that a client’s vision for his/her space would not be visually appealing?
3. What would be your advice to someone who could use the guidance of a professional but has a limited budget?
4. Fill in the blank: People would be surprised to learn that a great resource for accessories and art work is…
5. What are your thoughts on following decorating “rules”?
6. What advice would you give someone who is considering pursuing a career in the field of interior design or interior decorating?
7. How did you start in your design career?
8. How would you describe your decorating style?

I am very honored that Karen asked to interview me!!! Thank you Karen this was really fun for me. It made really made me examine certain aspects of my design aesthetics and it was fun looking back at the beginning of my:

“Good Life Of Design!”

Kathysue is still:

“Enjoying the Process”

A Quick Fix for “Spring!”

Spring is my favorite time of year!! My home’s color scheme is very spring-like all year long. Even though I have a spring-like color scheme in my home I still like to add pops of light and bright when the dreary days of winter leave.

I have found that adding color in my pillows is probably one of the least expensive, and most effective way to do that. It helps that I am also a self admitted “Pillow Addict!” That is a whole other show!!

While blog hopping the other day I ran upon a post that had some pillows from an Etsy seller that caught my eye. I thought if any of my readers are in need of a “POP” for their spring decor this would be the place to go.

They have all sizes, colors and designs for very reasonable prices. Here are just a few from Pillow-Throw-Decor………

This colorful Suzani at 18x18 is only $34

Bright yellow just sings Spring doesn’t it? You can purchase this here!

This pillow is called Berry Bright! What a perfect name and price at only $29 Here!!

This fun lime green pillow is only $19 Here

I love this hot pink Suzani and for only $19 what a great pop of color and design.

All of these fun colors and patterns just make me smile!! I hope this opens up new possibilities for Spring decor in your home!!

“Enjoy The Process” Of:

Adding pops of color and fun designs to your home for “Spring!”

Kathysue

Easter Day

The parents are hiding the Easter eggs while Grammy and Uncle M are keeping the anxious grandkids inside. Little did we know that they were peeking through the window box window. Needless to say the egg that had just been placed in the window box was removed!!

Let The Hunting Begin!!!

Oops!! You missed the one in the gate handle!!

My youngest grandson won’t let having to  climb the fence stop him from getting this Easter egg.

My granddaughter is about to find the blue egg on the pool slide ladder.

My oldest Grandson gently picks out an egg in the ivy.

We had such a wonderful family day. As the saying goes……….

“The Party Is Over!”

The dishes are in the dishwasher. The baskets and eggs will be put away until next Easter. The centerpiece now resides on the empty dessert table………….

Just a few cupcakes and lemon bars are left out for a night time snack.

The mantel will stay dressed for Spring………….

When it is all said and done my family  knows the true meaning of Easter………….

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Kathysue

My Easter Table!!

Yesterday was Easter, and we had a wonderful family day. We all sat around the table and ate as my  three boys told stories reminiscing about days gone by. We laughed so hard my head hurt!!

Seeing the Great grandparents, Grandparents, Parents and children all sitting together at the table, eating, laughing and joking gives me such joy.

Before we ate we all stood around the table as my Hubby said the prayer and thanking God for sending his son to be our Saviour. What a blessed family I have and I am so thankful for that.

My DIL’s were looking beautiful in their pretty Easter outfits and it was so fun to hear them talking about the best schools for their children and extra curricular activities. All the subjects I remember talking about when I was their age. Of course we girls ended up talking about skin care and make-up !!!

Watching the Grandkids hunt for eggs in the backyard was the highlight of the day.

I promised pictures of my completed Easter table and I ran out of time to have them posted before today. I had so much fun putting this table together. In fact this is my all time favorite Easter table to date.

My oldest son said “the table looks like lemonade.”

My Mom made the napkin belts for me. I really love the way they turned out, and I can use them from year to year!

I used some beautiful vintage napkins that a dear friend gave me as a gift.

Irish moss in egg cups with yellow jelly belly's!

I love the daisy dome!!!

I hope all of you had a wonderful family day and a Blessed Easter.

Kathysue

I am joining Tablescape Thursday today at Between Naps On The Porch.
Thank you to our gracious hostes Susan!!

The Making of My Centerpiece!

As I have mentioned before creating a table is very much like creating a room. You need a nice color scheme, variation in textures,balance and good scale in all your elements.

In my previous post, "Where to begin When Designing a Holiday table,"  I took you through the thinking process I go through when I am deciding on how I want to go forward on a holiday table.

 For the centerpiece for this year's  Easter table  I decided to use moss, baby tears and either daffodils or daisies for my flowers.

Here is the base I started with……..

The next step was to decide on the flowers!

I was all set on the daffodils and then this happened quite by accident…..

I had cut some of the daisies and placed them in a glass of water. They leaned towards the moss and I immediately knew this is the combination I needed to use!!! I love when something like that happens and I just knew it would be right.

At first I had planned on using only moss in the French flower bucket, but after this happy accident happened I knew it had to be the daisies!!

Next I put a container in the middle of the French flower bucket to hold the flowers. I made a ring of moss around the container………..

 

Next came the daisies!! I placed them in a dome shape in a tight cluster. I then added a touch of yellow in the form of pom-pom buttons…….

Next I needed to addressed the base. My arrangement was starting to look like a little Spring garden to me. To continue the look and feel that was evolving I added a little touch of yellow to the base. I originally thought  I would  only use moss and baby tears……….

...... But I was really happy with the addition of  the yellow button pom-poms.

Now for the fun part I get to put it on the table runner. I also made two smaller arrangements in galvanized buckets to add to each side of the centerpiece.

 

I will set the table next and show the final pictures. I must admit the making of the centerpiece is always my favorite thing to do.

I hope you all have enjoyed following along in this process with me?! I promise there will be final pictures later.

I am “Enjoying the Process” Of:

Putting together my Easter table for my wonderful family!!

Kathysue

I Have All My Elements Pulled Together!!!

One of the steps I do in planning a special Holiday table is to pull all the elements I plan on using together in order to make sure they give me the look and feel I have in mind.

It is very much like doing a story board for a client. It shows the client how all the fabrics and elements will work together. Doing this process shows me how all my elements relate to each other.

I thought I would give you all a sneak peek of the elements I am going to use on my table. I also want to show you how important it is too pull the elements together in order to see how it will possibly look.

Yellow and white plates, white table cloth and napkins with pops of green brought in by my water pitcher, grosgrain ribbon and moss.

This image shows the two types of moss I will be using.

I am not sure I will be using the rick rack, it is looking a bit cutesy to me.  This is how it works sometimes. Often you will choose an element that looks perfect in your minds-eye. Once it is placed with the other elements it just seems off.  We shall see if I actually use it in the end?!! All through the process there will be tweaking along the way to get the look that I am happy with.  That is just how the creative process works.

The center of my centerpiece will be a galvanized tray and a French flower bucket. This will be pretty tall so when we all get ready to sit down and eat I will remove it to the buffet table for better conversation.

The base is ready to go. I used Irish moss around the edge and the ring around the French flower bucket is baby tears. I am liking the way it looks so far. The tray is fairly large so it took four six-packs of moss and three six-packs of baby tears.

Tomorrow I will be setting the table and adding fresh flowers. I don’t like to do the flowers too far ahead in order to keep them fresh looking.

So stay tuned for the finished product!!

Kathysue