Garden Makeover

I just about flipped out when I came across the Gardenhouse website.  Gardenhouse is a shop started by a creative couple (photographer/artist) who met in San Francisco.  They ended up opening the store in West Palm Beach, FL and ship globally - lucky for us!  If any of you are still looking for some seating to update your garden, look no more!  Check out these images.

If that isn't enough to make your jaw drop, check out their table sets and indoor furniture, accessories and lighting.

For those of you who enjoy DIY projects like me, doesn't this give you great inspiration?  I can definitely see a patio makeover in my future - spray paint and reupholstered cushions - voila!

-MLL

Sheepskin Love

One of the best things about design is thinking outside the box.  It is fun to play around with different ideas and take some risks, for those designs usually end up being the most fab.

When I moved into my apartment, we were basically dealing with a blank slate.  We went shopping at various places, one of course being Ikea.  I tried to select things with a certain design in mind, but as most of you know, things usually change when you put it all together.  One of the items we got at Ikea was this sheepskin rug (we actually bought two).  There is also another version, for about $15 less that we picked up as well.  

Once we started collecting different great pieces, these rugs didn't really have a place on the floor.  Instead, I placed them over two cheap plastic chairs from Ikea and suddenly they were cute, cozy, sheepskin chairs!  Going through my file of design images, I noticed that I'm not the only one with this idea.  Here are some great examples, including one from Jenna Lyon's (executive creative director for J.Crew) New York apartment ...

 

 

 

 

 

I've since picked up a great set of side chairs to replace the cheap Ikea ones and the rugs have now found a place on the floor - another perk, versatility! 

-MLL

Images courtesy of bryn alexandra and elements of style

Strawberry Angel-Food Trifle

What better to top off a pretty table than with a yummy dessert.  Last year I made this strawberry angle-food trifle for the 4th of July.  It was super easy and delicious.

Strawberry Angel-Food Trifle

1 pound frozen strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 store-bought angel-food cake
16-ounce container Cool Whip
Mint for garnish

Place the strawberries and sugar in a saucepan. Heat gently until the strawberries are soft and the sugar has dissolved. Allow the juices to reduce slightly, until they have the consistency of a thin syrup. Let cool.

Tear fist-sized pieces from the angel-food cake and use them to line the bottom of a large, clear bowl or trifle dish. Cover with a layer of Cool Whip and a layer of strawberries in syrup, filling in any holes in the previous layer. Add another layer of cake and continue building until all the ingredients have been used, ending with a few spoonfuls of Cool Whip and strawberries and a sprig of mint as a garnish. 

-MLL

Fun for the Fourth

I can't believe that the Fourth of July is less than a week away!  Personally, the Fourth is one of my favorite holidays.  I love thinking of creative ways to use red, white and blue around this time.  I think this monogrammed runner from EmersonMade would be a perfect base for a patriotic tabletop.  And these carnation balls from Country Living are a MUST.  

It think Erin's blue french opaline glasses are way more fun than a traditional 4th of July blue and a fabulous compliment to these anthro napkins.

And I would just use white plates for serving and these adorable plates (Walmart, people!!!) for eating to finish off the look!

-MLL