Weekend Entertaining

So, do you remember the post I did recently on preparing for a party during the "sweet spot."  As luck would have it, around that same time, a representative for Ball contacted me and asked if I would be interested in doing a product review of their new Heritage collection of blue Ball mason jars.   My initial thought was "I have too much on my plate to add canning to the list." But I took one look at those jars and had to have them! They are a throw back to the vintage jars you sometimes see in antique stores.

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Once I had the jars in hand, I did what any girl would do - I started planning a party!  Any excuse right?!  My husband's law firm invites law students to clerk during the summer months (just to get a feel for what it's like to practice law), and we love to have several over for dinner.  So, after pulling together a guest list, I started working on some fun items to create a summertime table setting.  I found a set of eight cobalt blue water and wine glasses on a trading site (you may have these sites in your area  - it's like Craig's list, but on Facebook in your neighborhood) for $50.00.  So, I nabbed them.

Then, I picked up some wrapping paper - this is a very fun, easy way to change the feel of your table.

  I picked a teal/green snakeskin pattern for some contrast.

I got it locally at Smith's Variety (btw, it comes in tons of colors).  I cut it in half with a decorator cutter to create a runner.  Then, I dug through my stash of party supplies and found a wider burlap runner (just to layer under the paper) and some velvet ribbon.  Based on what I had, I decided to contrast rustic elements like the mason jars and the worn linen tablecloth with formal (and a bit modern) elements like the cobalt blue glassware and the snake skin paper.   Look, you need to use what you have.

As I was running errands this week, I ran in to pick up some limes and ginger beer for a very fun signature cocktail to start the party, and a beam of light came down (just kidding) in the flower department of Whole Foods on these . . . 

Peonies are hands down my favorite flower on the planet.  I still remember the first time I saw one - I was working in Atlanta (yes, I was grown!) and a secretary at my law firm came in with the biggest bouquet of them and plopped it down on her desk.  She had cut them from her yard.  For weeks, she would bring them in - just stunning.

Peonies feel old fashion and sophisticated all at the same time.  So, I knew they would be perfect for the Ball jars.  If you are intimidated by creating a huge flower arrangement, consider doing lots of smaller arrangement down the center of your table.  The repetition will give you the same impact as one larger arrangement and it's much easier to tackle.  Also, if you choose a inexpensive container, like these mason jars, you can get that wow factor on a budget!  For these arrangements, I added two peonies (cut fairly short), a creamy berry (not sure what it is but picked up at the grocery), and one stem of greenery cut from my yard to each jar.  That's it!

As an aside, these jars have the vintage "Ball" logo on one side and on the other a history of the Ball jars!  Very cool.  Also, if you want more inspiring images of how to use mason jars in different ways, you must check out Ball's Pinterest page.  Their page is chocked full of projects, flower arrangements, table settings, lighting and other clever DIY projects using mason jars!  It's worth a look see. 

So, now for a few details about the party.  Here's the menu. . . 

Starters

Asiago Breadsticks (from Savages)

Moscow Mules (signature cocktail)

Main Course

Wood Grilled Chicken Skewers

Caprese' Pasta
(Linguini with fresh tomatoes, basil and parmesan cheese tossed in olive oil)

Grilled Asparagus

Fresh Bread

Dessert

Lemon Souffle' with fresh whipped cream

My plan was to set up the cocktails in our living room for a fun change of pace, and to set up dinner outside in the garden.  But, mother nature had other plans, so I opted for cocktails in the family room and dinner in the formal dining room.    I've said this before, but I think it's interesting to mix things up for a party.  If you have a room people tend to walk through and you want that to be a gathering spot, set up a bar in there and see what happens!  Here's the Bar area.

 I picked of the driftwood placemats at the Lamb's Ear in Crestline.  I was initially looking for a large tray, but after talking to those clever girls, I realized these placemats give you lots of options on how you can set up a bar.  So, I was sold!

 

For the signature cocktails, I used this recipe and found this amazingly yummy ginger ale as the mixer!  I thought the little bottles were so cute - but boy do they pack a ginger punch!  Yum.

In addition to the Moscow Mules, I made a nonalcoholic Herbal Iced Tea.  It's always a good idea to create a nonalcoholic specialty drink for those who are not indulging.  Then, here's the final table setting . . . .

And a close up the flowers in the Ball jars.

One more close up - earlier in the day, I had rolled my silverware in the napkins (since I was assuming we would be outside for dinner), and decided to keep it for the dining room.  

I think it lends to a more casual feel of dining.  I just took some velvet ribbon from a previous project and looped it through for one more pop of color.  Sorry this picture is so dark, it was overcast the entire day.

And, just for fun, a few attendees . . .

It was a fun evening.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend too! M.

PS: the entire meal was catered by a dear friend of mine who is a professional caterer in town.  She has catered huge events with hundreds of people as well as smaller more intimate dinner parties like mine.  So, if you live in the Birmingham area and would like her information, let me know!  I would love to share it with you. 

Project in Progress - Family Room Part I

Back in the Fall, I helped a client with a design plan for their dining room.  They ended up loving it so much, they enlisted my help with a family room/kitchen renovation!   Now that the design plan is complete for this project, it's time to make it happen!  This week, we are meeting with the construction team (Twin Construction in Homewood is completing this project, and they truly are a dream to work with on renovations) to finalize everything so we can begin demolition.  

I'm going to be sharing pictures along the way, so you can see the progress. But today, I wanted to show you the design layouts and boards for the family room area of the space (kitchen details will come later).  In this renovation, we are opening up what used to be three smallish rooms into one large great room.  In this image, I've included, in blue, the original layout of the space.

When we started this project several months again, I gave my clients two design layouts for the new wide open space that will exist once the renovation is complete.  If you are considering a major renovation like this, I highly recommend getting your decorator involved from the very beginning.  It's really important to know early on if furniture will fit in the space as well as the layout you have in mind. If you have the option, furniture placement should dictate window and door placement rather than the other way around.  In the case below, notice the windows on the TV wall are not centered on the wall (there used to be three windows on this wall) . Rather, we have centered them on the main seating area, and allowed for a piece of furniture farther down the wall for the secondary seating area.  Also, lamp placement will dictate outlet placement (including outlets in the floor).

This is the second option for furniture placement.  I love this option as it will provide a large open feel to the entire space.   

They selected option 2 for the furniture placement! As an aside, budget constraints are requiring us to leave the fireplace in it's original place.  So, as you can see, we have balanced it with a pair of french doors which lead to the screened porch.  Based on this, we are not using the fireplace as the focal point wall.  Instead, we have used furniture placement to create a new focal point and now the fireplace will "read" as one with the french doors on that wall.   I also love that in the winter months the fireplace will add a very cozy feel to the family while enjoying meals in the breakfast room area.    

After deciding on the layout for the space, I gave them two design board of specific furnishings.  Again, it's good to have options to consider when you are investing this kind of money in a project.   Also note, the fabrics of the furnishings in these boards are not the final fabrics we selected (I'll show you those in a later post), but at least you will get an idea of the feel of the space. 

The client selected option 2, and we tweaked the lighting a bit (she actually selected the island lighting from board 1).  The furniture has been ordered (you really need to think about the timing of when you order these items so you're not sitting on the floor once your beautiful space is complete).  Now the construction work begins.  Glad you will be joining me on this journey!  M.

Wood Furniture Guide

This article is provided by Stephanie Lego - take it away Stephanie!  Hi all.  Today, I'm here to discuss wooden casement furniture pieces!

Wooden furniture has been used in homes for centuries, and it is as popular now as it’s ever been. Over the years, wood has been used not only for furnishings but also for flooring, building ships, and constructing houses. Its reputation stems from its strength; it is a hard-wearing, durable material that won’t break easily. Not only do these pieces last well, but they can also add a touch of class and elegance to a home – they come in many different shades, can be painted any colour, and are adaptable to whatever style your home may be decorated in.

Hardwoods come from deciduous trees such as oak, mahogany, teak and walnut and are generally sturdier than softwoods. They are often more expensive, but you get what you pay for; oak furniture and walnut furniture are compatible with many different finishes, creating a smoother, glossier look.

Teak furniture is also extremely strong and resistant to rotting.

Softwoods, on the other hand, come from coniferous trees – including cedar and pine - and are generally more affordable and thought to be more environmentally friendly. Pine is one of the most popular softwoods, as it can be painted or varnished easily to create different styles.

It is generally advisable to go with dark wood if the rest of your décor is light, and light wood if the rest of the décor is dark; too many dark colours can make a room dull and depressing, whereas too many light colours together can give the room a washed-out look.

Solid oak furniture is popular for its strength and durability. You can get oak furniture to suit any style – traditional, rustic, antique, contemporary and modern. There are also many different kinds of oak wood, from reclaimed and reproduction, to weathered and limed finishes if you want a more vintage look.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation in return for publishing this article.