Nell Hill's christmas inspiration

I didn't get to Nell Hill's this year to see her ideas, but here are some inspiration from previous year.

Got a few spare windows?

If you have a few spare windows lying around..why not hang them!

Here they are suspended on picture hanging wire.

One is used for the shelf with which to put all sorts of pretties on it. Love the white birdcage!

The second window is hung as the vignette's backdrop.

I'm having breakfast with a rooster!

Join Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday!

A rustic rooster stands guard at the table on display at Mary Carol Garrity's shop in Atchison.
Scalloped black & white rectangle placemats are topped of with a collection of red and black & white dishes. Love the tiny creamers at each place setting and the larger one sitting in the front right corner.

A galvanized tower holds a collection of plates and a pretty arrangement in a red tin container.

One tall glass jars held tiny plates which resembled butter pats and the other jar held green glass miniature vases.

I love the rustic two handled urn in the background, it would be gorgeous in my bay window.

Warm summer hugs,

Natalie

Dining Table Inspiration

Here Mary Carol Garrity and her staff created a fun and whimsical table
in black, white & lime green.

Round quilted mini check placemats were used, and of course they were black & white!

Mini cloches on stands can be used for a special dessert or take home party favor.

Zinc frogs are dancing gleefully around the table.

Notice the oversized birdcage on the back wall...it is filled with ivy and white pottery.
I think her chargers for this table were framed pictures.

Who says silver balls are just for Christmas? No way!! Calla lillies, twigs from the garden and various silver balls are nestled
haphazardly in the zinc planter with pedestal base which adds a dramatic flair to the table.
Black serving trays with antiqued brass handles are used as chargers. Rectangle and square dinner plates are sandwiched
between lime green napkins. Creamy white soup toureens top off each placesetting.

Above the table is this chandlier with aged brass shades.
Don't be afraid to use those twigs! Here twigs are wired onto the ceiling and also the existing chandlier to give it
some added character. It looks like she had pots of ferns wired on to the chandlier as well...but I can't remember exactly for sure.
Wired onto the twigs are clear glass votive cups which resembled an upside down cloche to me. Fill these with clear glass marbles or gems
or simple votive candles in the colors of your tablescape.

Remember to use something that doesn't compete with the flavor and aroma of your cooking!
I suggest Vanilla or French Vanilla....even better would be unscented tealights in clear plastic not the metal tealights.
I sometimes will save my plastic tealight containers after they have burnt out and then reinsert a tealight that originally came in the metal packaging while discarding the metal.

Mary Carol's Living Room

Her living room is huge and is seperated into several seating areas. When you walk in from the foyer, you see this ornate secretary desk. It's filled with photos, books, and trinket boxes.


A ornate side table is stacked wtih books and a silver compote is filled with seashells. Look at that lamp...it looks like a ram's horn. Notice she is always creating layers and layers of texture, height and color. I always say a flat table is a boring table!

Here is a close up of ONE of the many coffee tables she has in her living room. A gigantic ornate silver tray is once again stacked with books, another silver tray, tiny trinket boxes, a glass pear in setting in a glass footed dish. Then next to this is a wooden box with a decorative bowl with a raised design.
This dark stained coffee table looks like an indonesian trunk on legs...not sure what it really is though! Then she layered on another silver tray, a large gray planter filled with twig topiaries and trailing vines....so devine! The vine reminded me of baby tears.

Mary Carol's dining room

I sure could use a cocktail...how about you?! Is it 5 o'clock yet? I am sure the kids are driving you crazy and after all it's 5 o'clock somewhere!

A close up of her dining room table centerpiece. Juicy pears, apples, and grapes set amongst polished silver and the ruggedness of moss, ivy and twining vines. See those candlesticks? Well she stuffs the tops with green moss before she inserts the taper candles. So unexpected!
Each placesetting had a small whitewashed garden urn with a live topiary. Those little topiaries sold like hotcakes and I couldn't get there in time to buy one...DARN!

Mary Carol's kitchen

Her kitchen table is tiny but still manages to seat four. here she has it displayed with aqua blue placemats, white & aqua pottery and sparkling glasses. Whimsical frogs are dancing in the bowls they resembled zinc. Two cake plates were stacked and adorned with glass marbles to resemble sparkling water.
Here are some built ins she had going over a doorway...clever use of space. Grab a cake stand or picnic basket easily. She also has several cookbooks stored on these shelves. The white pottery was to die for!
This reminded me of a butler's pantry. Glassware and plates were sparkling and stacked to the gills.
I sell this 3 tiered stand in my shop. Here she has it displayed in her kitchen with salt & pepper, sugar, honey and the top vase has a fresh picked hydrangea. Clever use of space...you get a lot packed in for such a little space!

Tablescape Thursday In the Garden

This table was one of the fabulous tables Mary Carol Garrity had displayed on her outdoor courtyard. I visited her home this weekend and was in awe of her talent once again....I was drooling as usual! The little plate covers were a greywashed wicker with a netting inside to keep out the bugs. The tables were all dressed in greens, browns, and whites.

I love the little cherub nestled in the rusty garden urn. He's holding a fresh wonderful smelling flower. He is surrounded with green spongy moss which brings the green out of the tablecloth.

Her courtyard is surrounded with stone walls covered with ivys, and climbing vines. Not alot of color going on, just various shades and textures of green.

The chairs were black bamboo chairs and they set on the brick patio pavers which covered the entire surface of her courtyard. (except where there were plantings)

I'm heading south next weekend!

I am heading south to Atchison,Kansas!

If you have never been here before it is a MUST! I repeat a MUST!!!! She has several stores in Atchison and 1 huge store in Kansas City, Missouri. Her stores are absolutely to die for. Here is what I found on her website

http://www.nellhills.com

Nell Hill's - Atchison

The thrill of the hunt is part of the adventure at the original Nell Hill’s, where the pursuit of a great accessory at a great price is part of the excitement. Every visit here is a different indulgence, as each floor is redecorated, restocked, and reinvented to accommodate a never-ending flow of new seasonal accents and accessories. Discover why 75,000 visitors a year report that visiting this cozy, comfortable shop is like going to one big party.

Don’t miss our first summer open house ever! My historic home and garden in Atchison will be dressed up for the season, filled with wonderful displays I hope will inspire you to unlock your own creativity this season. Get loads of ideas for summer entertaining, leave with new tips for summer decorating and ask Master Gardeners Gloria and Lynda how to enhance your own garden. Visit the merchandise tent in my side yard and Nell Hill’s and Garrity’s for everything you’ll need to create a sensational look at your home this summer.

Not candlelight...it's lamplight

Try a little lamplight on your porch or patio tonite.
What a wonderful feast Mary Carol Garrity has lined up for us...
crackers, cheese, olives, grapes. Love how she put the tall skinny
breadsticks coming out of the top of the pewter tiered server.

Lots of textures going on here. Stone, wicker, leather, embossed metal.
The lamp raised up on books give it some definition. Remember,
a FLAT table is a BORING table!
Be sure to have mulitiple levels when designing your tablescapes!

That's all for now...tell me what you think...do you like it?

Spring lunch on the patio..will you join me?

Grab an old milk bottle carrier and fill it with old or new mason jars. Next add your assorted munchies like carrot sticks, celery, pickles, pretzel rods...don't forget the silverware.

Coconut Creme Pie or Banana Cream Pie is delightful! Add height to your outdoor table with an inverted wire basket. A flat table is a BORING table! Don't forget the candles...yes, I break the rules and light candles during the day! It's all about the little touches, after all they could be citronella to keep bugs away!

Spring greens, fresh strawberries, raspberries, pecans and drizzle with a light salad dressing. Add in some crusty rolls from Panera and you have a yummy and light on the tummy lunch. Don't forget the lemonade with fresh lemon or lime slices!



Grab your tray and join me, won't you?

Mary Carol Garrity is one of my favorites....

How about some classic molding in your dining room with these blue walls? I love all the textures she has added in the room and the pleated seatcovers.

Spring weather makes me want to take a tray full of goodies and dine outside..how about you? Notice the rustic vine tray with the more formal dinnerware, a great combination--rustic & elegant!
Polish off your silver trays and let them sparkle in the warm sun. Pick up a single stem rose---just because!

A perfect way to dress the table for a springtime luncheon. Chocolate, cream and lime green...what a fabulous combination. Notice the bamboo chairs, they are making a comeback in decorating. I am seeing lots of bamboo trays, end tables, mirrors in the decorating world.

Grab your grandmothers crystal cake plate and serve up this luscious lemon dessert. Try one of the lemon recipes from my earlier posts..you won't be disappointed!

All photos courtesy of Mary Carol Garrity.