Chicago Wedding - Rustic and Glam

We are just returning from a weekend in Chicago.  We attended the wedding of the daughter of one of our dear friends.

It was held at the Chez Venue on Ontario Street in the city.  The venue was transformed into a magical fantasy of gauzy  pinks, deep purples and candlelight. The fun vibe of rustic versus glam kept you engaged with the décor details all evening.

 

Entering the space, guests walked by a large menu board framed in barn wood. 

 Table assignments were listed for the attendees.

 

Yards and yards of pink chiffon divided the cocktail area from  the ceremony space.

The décor was a mix of rustic and glam - thus this fun mirrored bar!

 



 

The ceremony setting-

 

I loved this mix of romantic and modern lighting over the ceremony-

 romantic for the bride and modern for the groom!

 

The music begins and the bride appears- glowing - like an angel-

 

 

In an all lace gown and a bouquet of David Austin roses and dinner plate zinnias,

 Sarah was stunning.

 

 



 

The dinner tables were layered with soft pink sequined clothes and a profusion of flowers and

crystal candlelight.

 

Love the festive menu card! Fun and bubbly like the bride's personality.

 

One of my favorite touches- butter in parsley for the hot bread.

 

And as a finish to the delicious meal- one of the best wedding cakes that I have ever tasted!

 

It was a dream wedding- thoughtfully detailed and a true pleasure to attend!

Congratulations Sarah and Christian! 

May you live happily ever after!

Building A Home- Down to the Finishes

After 2 years of planning and selecting materials for our new home, it is finally time to see them  installed.  Doors, window trim, crown molding, stone walls and tile flooring is all happening at the same time!  

                                                                    From the month of April -

 



 

To the month of October!  What a difference 5 months make!

 

The roof is a faux slate- made of recycled automobile tires!  Very green and lasts forever!

The pile of stone in front of the house is getting laid next week on the center section of the house and

over all the windows and doors.   Rustic shutters will frame the windows on the outside.

 

 



 

 

 

2 months ago!

Today- foam insulation, drywall and priming of paint complete!

 



 

Trimming of the windows and doors has begun-

 

The larder and scullery floor is laid  on the diagonal making  the room seem bigger than it did last week!

This small kitchen will be used to store food, prep food and store and  clean up dishes.

It is adjacent to the dining hall which is used for cooking and entertaining.

 

We are so fortunate to have the best tradesmen . 

These guys are experts at laying the tile perfectly.

Here they are "deep" grouting the stone in order to preserve

the antique chiseled edge of the

ancient stone floor. 

Shades of grey, white, and tan make-up the shades in the Versailles pattern layout.

Adjacent to the  entertaining and cooking kitchen is a conservatory for growing herbs and plants.

The walls are stone- the same stone that will be used on the front of the house.  This stone will also be used behind the French Lacanche range in the kitchen area - creating a Tuscan farmhouse vibe.

 

Gray and white marble for my bathroom.  An air jet tub will sit in front of the window that looks out to the river and forest.  My closet is beyond the tile floor and has a 12 foot window inside of it.

My husband has his bath adjoining this one.  A his and her bath is a luxury that I have enjoyed  for

30 years and I think it adds much happiness to a marriage!

 

The lower level laundry and craft room floor.   A home office will be set up in the

niche with a 9 foot long black quartz countertop and files underneath. 

 Perfect for crafting or paying bills. This room will also have a refreshments bar for guests with

a refrigerator filled with wine and soft drinks, plus a coffee bar.

 



 

I am so excited about this bath.  Black and white marble flooring will be joined by this gorgeous sink.

The walls will be black marble, creating a 1930's deco feel.  Unlacquered polished brass fixtures will be used in the black marble shower.

 

 

 

 

The second guest bath is white marble also with unlacquered brass fixtures.  A 8 foot  long white marble counter will provide guests with plenty of space to spread out.

 

Wood flooring arrives next week!  We meet with landscapers next week to get the initial plan going.

With so many decisions every day, it is really keeping us busy. I am going to miss this process when this home is complete. It is one of the most challenging and fulfilling tasks in my life. I have learned so much.

 

 



The Art of Making a Bed

My friend Jill just moved into her gorgeous new home in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina.  You might have seen pictures of it on previous editions of my blog.  Three of our girl friends from Chicago were arriving last weekend  to spend a girl's weekend with us at Jill's new home.  Time to make the beds!!!!!!!!!

Four new beds, four new mattresses, four new mattress pads, four new sets of sheets, and four new bed covering ensembles had arrived in time for the weekend!   Treating your guests to a luxurious nights sleep on silky soft sheets and brand new mattresses is like staying at a four star resort!  And Jill overachieved this task!

First bed- a dreamy gilded wood frame with a gray velvet upholstery- yummy from Horchow!  King sized and so comfortable with a new memory foam mattress, it is dressed in a white embroidered duvet and shams and  Bella Notte pillows. Snuggle up in the  faux fur that has been artfully draped across the corner.

The sun streams into this bedroom early in the morning from the French doors that lead to a terrace- perfect for morning coffee! 

Close up detail of the embroidery on the white duvet and shams.  It was a wonderful find at HomeGoods.  It will have to do until the Bella Notte satin duvet  and over sized shams arrive next month!

 

Jill placed fresh roses in every guest room.

 

Every bedroom has it's own bath, which she supplied with luxury soaps, lotions and towels.

Walk in  marble showers with luxury shower heads await each guest.

 

 

Next up- an iron canopy bed from Restoration Hardware- dressed in a linen coverlet and linen shams, accented with leopard.   A tartan settee sits by the window.  In winter, the bed will be dressed in tartans in shades  of black, white and red.  A luggage rack- a thoughtful gesture- sits at the end of the bed- also purchased at Restoration Hardware.

 

It's adjoining bath has a delightful polished nickel and marble console sink,

 

A bath tub and shower combination is in this bath- the tub to bath Jill's grandbabies- soon to be three!

Bedroom number three- another great bed from Restoration Hardware.  

Tufted linen headboard and foot board are on iron feet. 

Gray velvet Bella Notte bedding graces the bed.  This silk bedding  is so soft and comfortable and washes beautifully.  It is over a linen coverlet.

 

 



Next up- the grand daddy bed of all time- a four poster beauty from Ebanista!  With it's four posters soaring high into the air, it is the perfect choice for the master bedroom with 20 foot ceilings!

 

Satin embroidered Bella Notte duvet and shams are mixed with

a gray silk coverlet and throw pillows from Designer's Guild. 

 

The Ebanista bed has a taupe velvet insert and French nail heads.

 

A close up of the poster details- a soft gray paint accented with a platinum gilded detail.

 

And of course- the adjoining bath.  Honed slabs of white marble are laid in the Versailles pattern.

An air jet soaker tub sits at the end of the bath under a beautiful chandelier.

 

This home is truly a wonderful place to stay.  With guest rooms on the lower level and private bathrooms for each, each guest can have their own privacy .

 

As a side note-----

 

It was funny to hear the girls ask Jill how she made the bed sheets so tight!

 

Jill is the master of making a bed tight and perfect.  While I was helping her make a bed one evening, she taught me how to make a hospital corner.  Her mother was a nurse and taught her this technique many years ago. 

 

 

I found this You Tube video that demonstrates the technique.

 

 

https://youtu.be/mhSlsqmati0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Time!

Fall signals its arrival with a fantastic variety of pumpkins at the Western North Carolina Farmer's Market.  I love this market. It is open every day of the week and showcases a great selection of seasonal produce. Spices and herbs, jellies and jams, smoked meats and cheeses, nuts and bread mixes are also abundant.

Located in the back of the market on the lower level, during the fall a sea of pumpkins delight your eye.  I went with my friend Jill to purchase some for her front porch.



 

Every color - green, grayish green, peach, white, orange.
These particular white ones are flat- almost like a flying saucer.

 

 

I  chuckle when I hear the names of some of these varieties of  pumpkins- like the "lunch ladies" above! Or another name like- "one too many", named for the  farmer that imbibed a bit too much bourbon and  developed a pumpkin that looks like a blood shot eyeball.

 

 

"Snake- like" gourds- not for me!

 These nubby little guys are called "knuckleheads"!

 

 

My favorite!

 

Back to Jill's house with our stash!  Look at the huge white pumpkin-

I have never seen a white pumpkin as large as this one.

Bundles of bittersweet are tucked in to add to the charming  fall display.

Even though fall doesn't officially start until next week, we are ready for it.

The leaves changing in the Carolina mountains- we are looking forward to it!