He's the Bee's Knees - Sting and Lake House

To say that I adore Sting would be an understatement.  I first laid eyes on him in 1982 when the Police  played a club in Atlanta know as 688.  The club got its name from its street number, which was 688 Spring Street.  A true hole in the wall, it was the quintessential punk rock club in the '80s.  I was fortunate to see some amazing musicians there, including Billy Idol, Joan Jett, The Heathen Girls, The Swinging Richards, Love Tractor, Siouxie and the Banshees, among others.  But the height of my 688 experience was seeing the Police, and I have loved Sting ever since.  Not only does he create amazing music, he is certainly easy on the eyes.  So, while I do enjoy his music, I am equally enamored by seven private residences he owns throughout the world, among them a historic mansion in England known as Lake House.  Lake House, which is located in near the idyllic district of Wiltshire, sits on 60 beautiful acres and dates back four centuries.  A large Elizabethan mansion, Sting and wife Trudie Styler have spared no expense in restoring this beautiful home.  Sting and Styler now raise their own food, including livestock, on the farm and have made it a self-sustaining, organic abode, and have also published a cookbook known as "Lake House."  If you know me, you know that I am not a cook so the fact that I purchased this cookbook must lead you to believe that I bought it for the photographs, which I cannot deny.  Below are some shots of this amazing property.  You will see why Styler, upon seeing the home on a cold, cloudy fall day, was able to convince Sting, via telephone, that the house had to be theirs.  Sting agreed and today, it remains their principal residence.  Now, if only I could convince him to cook up a little something for me.

Prince William and Kate - I Can Hardly Wait

I realize that there is more to life, and certainly more important things in life, than the wedding of a handsome prince to a gorgeous commoner, but to moi, who is devoted to all things British and all things Royal, there really isn't much better than a full day of pomp and circumstance, courtesy of Wils and Kate.  I must admit that I have been stalking them on their wedding web page, and buying every tawdry tabloid that I can get my hands on.  I plan to sit in my living room, with my telephone turned off, my dogs at my side (they are, after all, Yorkshire Terriers, so they will also be glued to the telly), and hopefully wearing a really frumpy, purple oversize hat, drinking tea from a china cup and saucer (probably something equally frumpy) while I think about how much it would have cost me to fly over and push and shove my way to the front of the crowd to get a glimpse of the future king and queen of England.  But the piece de resistance would be a glimpse of the Queen herself, d/b/a Queen Elizabeth II.  I know what you are thinking...she was born into the most privileged of families.  Yes, she's often appears to be a little uptight and she always has that same handbag on her arm.  But when it comes right down to facts, she is a public servant in every sense of the word.  She became Queen when she was just a girl and has never wavered from her loyalty to her country.  You are correct in that she has never had to worry about a paycheck, whether the electricity might be cut off at Windsor Castle due to failure to pay the bill, or whether Balmoral may need a new roof.  I still admire her immensely, not just for her sense of duty, but for her supposedly wicked sense of humor.  The one thing I do find worrisome is her treatment of her children when they were young...we have all heard the stories about the children being raised by governesses and butlers.  Maybe that is all she has ever known.  Her treatment of Diana was equally cold, but I can imagine that Diana could be intimidating even to the Queen of England.  Goodness knows The Duke of Edinburgh (that would be the Queen's hubby to you people who could care less) had his fill of Diana (I find her captivating).  

So, do you get where I am coming from?  Please refrain from dissing on the Queen in my presence, please cut me some slack when talking behind my back about my obsession and please, for goodness sake, do not call me on April 29th.  Thanks!

A Short Little Break

I will be in Savannah for 5 days starting tomorrow.  My daughter and I are going to Savannah to spend St. Patrick's Day with great friends, and more importantly, to scatter my husband's ashes in the river behind our friends' house, Ike and Beth New.  I will be posting pictures from our trip and will share our experience with everyone here when I return.  In the meantime, Happy St. Patrick's Day and take care.

View to the left at Ike and Beth's House - Moon River

Gorgeous Kitchens -- They Aren't Just for Cooking Anymore

Photo Courtesy of Brabourne Farm 

Before my sweet husband passed away in January, he had become quite the expert in the kitchen at our home.  I'm not sure if it was because he enjoyed it, which he did, or if it was because I don't enjoy it.  I've tried everything possible to learn to like cooking, but nothing seems to work.  I've tried learning to cook dishes that I enjoy eating, I've tried getting beautiful cookware, which my mother- in-law so kindly provided, I've tried drinking wine while cooking, which only made me want to sit down and watch the latest episode of American Pickers or Mad Men or a favorite film.  I've tried it all, but to no avail.  My husband and I finally decided that the yard would be my terrain and the kitchen would be his, not that he didn't love working outside.  He very much enjoyed it, but in the last several years, it became increasingly difficult with his health situation.  Once we came to this agreement, I realized that it was ok to feel the way I do about a kitchen, which is that a kitchen is a beautiful place to express one's self...just not necessarily while standing in front of the stove.  I recently completed what has been a 3 year process of updating our kitchen.  It stretched on for so long because I was waiting for my sweet man to paint it.  Otherwise, it would have been completed much earlier, but again, as time went by, he felt less and less like doing home improvement because of his health.  My dream of an aqua and white kitchen came to fruition just before Christmas and I now only have my kitchen table left to improve upon.  The walls are Benjamin Moore's Jamaican Aqua, the appliances are stainless steel, the countertops are a dustry gray and white granite and several years ago, Tony installed beaded board, double crown molding and a nice, thick handsome chair rail.  Recently, I purchased from my favorite antique shop, the French Nest (in College Park, FL), the most fabulous chippy, shabby step back chest in all of its originally chipped paint glory...you know, the kind of chippy finish that can only come from 100 years of use and not the kind we make ourselves?  I love using dressers and chests in kitchens and baths and using sideboard and buffets in bedrooms...just makes for a fun change.  I also re-covered the cornice boards in white linen, and trimmed them out in burlap fleur-de-li appliques and burlap trim.  I also re-covered the kitchen chairs in an alternate aqua and white gingham check with a contrasting French script fabric - two chairs in each.  I replaced all my accessories in my favorite rusty crusty old and dusty yard sale and junk sale finds and it's all come together nicely.  I have a new chandelier from Ballards Designs featuring a white coral motif and all that is left is to paint the round kitchen table a distressed white and I'm just about done.  Of course, I say that, but just like all other "house" junkies, no room is ever finished.  So if you wonder where I am going with this, it is simply to say that I am confident in my opinion that it is equally important to have a beautiful kitchen as it is to have a functioning one, as I have enjoyed designing it, and still don't enjoy cooking in it.  And so I shall end this little diatribe with a collection of kitchens that I find enchanting.  I'm sure someone had a great time making them beautiful.  The icing on the cake would be having a fabulous husband like my sweet Tony to do the cooking.  Enjoy.

The blue on the left is my own kitchen color "Jamaican Aqua" from Benjamin Moore

This is my new kitchen chandelier I recently purchased from Ballard Designs

Small, yet so elegant (Photo from Brabourne Farm)

I am in love with this island (photo from Brabourne Farm)

Don't you just love the mirror over the stove in this kitchen? and the arched alcove? and of course the chandelier?  Wish we could see more of it (photo credit unknown)

I know I keep saying this but yet, another favorite.  I am crazy for the window so close to the sink, the assorted utensils and pots and pans hanging randomly along the wall (photo courtesy of Seattle Times)

And I am even more in love with this island and the oversized candesticks also
(Photo Courtesy of Veranda)

What a wonderful glass ceiling...and a fireplace in the corner
(Photo courtesy of Brabourne Farm)

This must go down in history as one of my all time favorite kitchens.  The old wall details, trophy cups above the cabinets, the chandelier, beautiful natural light...I love it all
(Photo courtesy of Brabourne Farm)

This kitchen from Garrison Hullinger is another personal favorite - the French stove, robin's egg blue cabinets, the farmhouse sink, the windows and of course the chandelier, make this a standout.  Also fond of the paneled pantry door

More from Garrison Hullinger

And More...

Photo Courtesy of French Essence

French kitchen perfection (photo credit unknown)

More French kitchen fabulous - what a stove and hood! (photo credit unknown)

Another French kitchen - but of course - lovely cabinetry and shelving above the sink (photo credit unknown)

Aren't these colors so wonderful against the white? Beautifully done retro style (photo credit unknown)

Although this kitchen comes from a movie set, the entire English country house from "The Holiday" remains one of my all time favorite homes - so magical

Just goes to show that a kitchen doesn't have to be large or full of fancy to be beautiful - the red and white paired with the robin's egg blue makes me say "ahhh" (photo credit unknown)

I'm sure you are feeling my love of aqua based on my photo selection (smile) (photo credit unknown)

My favorite feature in this kitchen is the antique photograph placed over the stove - something you don't see often (photo courtesy of The Decorista)

I really like the paneled ceilings and the chairs - such beautiful contrasting materials (photo credit unknown)

Another favorite - I'm a sucker for a room with beams and I love the two islands featuring different shapes
(photo credit unknown)

This may actually be a butler's pantry or a cutting room, but either way, it's great - love the light fixture and muted tones
(Photo courtesy of Elle Decor)

Lovely black and white floor and black cabinets - beautiful natural light coming through the windows (photo credit unknown)

What an elegant kitchen!Love the industrial feel, the flower head vase!  Love the gold paired with the black and lavender
(Photo courtesy of The Decorista)

Not sure if this is a kitchen or dining room but who cares? It's so beautiful that I had to include it.  I have always loved grey and am really enjoying all of the various shades that are being paired with creme, white and other muted shades.   And can you say "chandelier"? Yowsa!
(photo credit from Greige Design)


Have a great weekend and try not to cook!

Mid-1800's Sideboard for Sale

For Sale: Mid-1800's Sideboard. Love piece. Very big...took two strong men to move it for me and will take two strong men to move it out. Features claw feet, all wood with some veneers. Gorgeous grain and dovetail drawers. Cupboards open with skeleton keys. Faux drawer in middle front. Lion's head hardware and original hardware. There is a crack across the top but it doesn't effect the function of the piece, nor does it take away from it. Just adds character. At some point in time, a mouse was evidently trapped inside as there is mouse bite marks on one of the shelves - I just love that sort of thing...sweetly shows the use of the piece over time. Measures approx 5"L x 5 1/2' H x 20"D. Would be a show stopper in the right room. I imagine it with lots of white so that the piece could stand front and center as the focal point in a room or hall. Asking $695 or best offer. Can be seen at Rockin' B Antiques in Newnan, Georgia. Email me or comment for additional information. Thanks!

A New Life

As most of you know, I lost my husband last month due to cardiac arrest.  I'm still struggling to get back into the swing of things.  It is difficult to focus on anything, including my writing.  Although I am learning to adapt to life without my sweet love, it's still a daily challenge to get anything done.  I seem to go from one project or task to another without finishing anything, although I am getting better each day.  Paperwork and phone calls make up the better part of my days...insurance, both health and life, getting things such as the house utilities, the cars, the house, the bank accounts, etc. etc. into just my name takes forever.  Notifying creditors such as doctors (and there seem to be hundreds) that he has passed and then there's the "can you please send us a fax with all of the information and include a death certificate".  I think I've spent $30 in one page faxes in the last two weeks.  And if all of that isn't enough, I have flying squirrels in the attic.  At least the wildlife expert, Greg, was a "stop me in my tracks" look-a-like for Ryan Gosling in his role as Noah in "The Notebook".  I'm not exaggerating.  I asked my daughter Sarah, "who do you think he looks like?" and without missing a beat, she responded "Ryan Gosling".  I asked him if he had ever been told this amazing little tidbit of information, to which he replied with a smile "about 10 times a day".  In a later conversation, Greg said "Yeah, I guess that movie is sort of every girl's dream of what love is."  I think that's an accurate statement.  Tony would have gotten a kick out of the fact that there was an amazing looking 30 year old assisting me with my attic invasion.  But my point being, just another thing to deal with on my own for the first time in 27 1/2 years.  I have been able to take pleasure in the little things, such as turning his office into mine...rearranging all of his baseball memorabilia, his model car collection and his childhood memories in such a way that I can enjoy them, but at the same time, making the space workable for me on a daily basis.  I have turned his desk around to face the windows that look out over our backyard, with a view of our pool and the pond just beyond it.  This morning, I raised the windows and listened to the birds as I drank my coffee and checked my Facebook page.  Suddenly I heard loud squawking noises, as a flock of geese swooned in for a landing on the pond.  I have placed a table under the windows with a little bench next to it so that our terriers (or should I say terrors) Charlie and Archie, can lie on a pillow and watch the squirrels and birds, or at least the ones that haven't checked into the Banks Attic Bed and Breakfast for Flying Critters.

So I guess one might say that I am doing better, learning to go on with life.  Things will never be the same, but hopefully I will be able to find my way into the world, a world without a really good man who loved his family, loved life and fought the good fight for 19 years, to keep going and to remain amongst his family and friends, even on the days when just getting out of bed was a struggle.  If he can do it, so can I.

I plan to get back to my blog on a regular basis as soon possible.  I enjoy it so much.  I had started back to my usual "all things beautiful, all things British and family remembrances" posts, but seemed to have gotten off track as of late.  Again, please hang in there with me...I am taking baby steps.