waiting for Spring...

 

The weeks are flying by and I cannot believe tomorrow it will be March.  I picked up a little bit of Spring the other day and they have been a gorgeous pick me up every time I enter the room!

It is stormy and raining here today and should last through the weekend which is good - maybe I will get some work done.  Wishing you a wonderful Friday filled with the possibility of Spring.

 

images by christina for greige

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Planting: Eden and Evelyn roses

Lately I have been a little obsessive about my garden, here in California the sun has been shining and it has been pretty warm so I have been feeling like it is the perfect time to get started on really planting my garden.  It is a bit of a challenge for me as we took almost everything out of our yard last year when we put in the pool, so I have been planning and scheming for months as to what I could plant.  I have been dreaming of these two beauties for much longer than that and finally I should be able to plant some in the next few weeks.  If I can just find them at the nursery, I am a little ahead of the game this year, so I am patiently awaiting their arrival.  Eden and Evelyn are two of my favorite roses... I am so excited!  

 I know that just about everyone has a favorite and I would love to hear which roses you prefer.  I am looking for more ideas and have a lot of space to fill.

 

They are described as having a double or full head... which to means perfect.

 

David Austin describes the Evelyn as follows: bears giant, apricot colored flowers of a shallow, saucer-like shape, with numerous small petals inter-twined within. This is not the most vigorous of English Roses, but the individual flower is absolutely magnificent. Its great glory is its wonderful fragrance, which is similar in style to an Old Rose, but with a sumptuous fruity note reminiscent of fresh peaches and apricot. Named on behalf of Crabtree & Evelyn, who used it in their range of rose perfumes.

 

The photo below is from Sharon at My French Country Home.  She has the most amazing garden and I found myself stalking her blog over the weekend looking for ideas..

 

images via google and pinterest

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Grey in my kitchen

 

Our kitchen has been finished for just about a year now and we love love it.  I am so excited to be able to share some of the beautiful photos that Ashlee took for us while she was here.  The way she photographs is so so amazing!  Just the right feeling for my design style.

I am so excited to share the finished product with you first!

 

 

images Ashlee Raubach

design and styling greige

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peeking at my kitchen...

Oh my goodness!  Our photos arrived that we took last month of my home and family...  I am so excited to share some of the beautiful shots that Ashlee got, as soon as I have a chance to go through them.  

It might be a couple of days before I can post them properly, I promise I will, we just have to get through my birthday and Thanksgiving first... and I will be sharing sharing sharing! 

Wishing you a wonderful day!

image by Ashlee Raubach

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Thanksgivnig centerpiece..

 

Decorating the table for Thanksgiving dinner is always one of my favorite things... I worked on planning ahead this year but I changed my mind when the time came.  We have an early dinner for our family each year, this year was one of the largest dinners I have hosted.  With 17 people to feed and seat I took a little extra time once the turkey was in the oven to work on the tables.

I had a simple idea which included the votives that I collected last year and some little pumpkins I had around the house for decoration, and it evolved into this fun centerpiece with feathers, antlers and dried magnolia mixed with fresh greenery from the neighbors trees.  My mom is the best at this kind of thing so while she was here we worked on adding to it and making something I loved,  that was low enough to not inhibit the conversation at dinner.  The little faux candles make it so I can socialize and have the table completely ready as the sun sets with out worrying about burning down the house or forgetting to light the candles.

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Designers at home.. life in flux

 

So sorry for the silence for the past few days... it has been a little wild here and this coming week is going to make last week look like a cake walk!  We finally had some photos taken, by a real professional, last week and I snapped a few myself which could never compare!  But the kitchen was styled and the house was clean so it is always a good idea to check and see what will be seen through the lens..  I was thinking about it though and I realized that I, like I am sure many designers, live in a constant state of change.  We are always changing this or that - a chair here- pillows everywhere - accessories like crazy!  (I really do feel bad for my husband but what can you do!)  So this is my still my first table and chairs since the remodel in the kitchen... something new is coming though.

How about you- are you a changer/exchanger throughout the house?

For those who asked the chairs can be found here/the table is custom. :)

image by christina for greige

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Feeling fancy...

 

So have you had your house or your work photographed - professionally?  I am sure many of you have.. I have not aside from commercial projects that I work on.  This week my favorite photographer.. Ashlee is coming to take our family photos at the house and to snap some pics of my remodeled kitchen.  Some real photos that I can use and share, this is a big step for me as I know I have been holding out on all of you for almost a year about how the kitchen project turned out.  Personally - I love love it - I hope you do to! I promise to share once they come in!

I would love to hear your experiences with having your projects and/or home photographed.  I know it is a pretty personal thing as we all interpret our design differently.

oh and don't forget to get your entry in for the Vintage by Nina book giveaway!  We have another book giveaway coming later this week!

image by christina for greige

 

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What I've been up to..

 

Wow I cannot believe it is Friday..  it has been quite a week and I have a lot left to do..  Anyway here is a little peek at what I have been up to this week.

I installed two different jobs this week and I am pretty sure this one is my favorite..  I love the colors and it came out the way I had imagined, which is always nice. You can see where it started below.

 

 

I just loved this succulent piece we made.  I have to have one made for me!

In other news we are moving forward at what seems an amazing rate on the pool area.  We had Brandon from Monkwood come and install our reclaimed wood wall in the cabana and I am in love with it! Everything still needs some finishing touches but once the cushion is made for the daybed he made and the pillows it is going to be an amazing oasis in there!  The "green" is coming tomorrow and I could not be more excited to see it in the place of the dirt that we have been living with for months. 

image via

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How will my garden grow?

 

Who knew that planning for landscape can be so difficult.  I truly am jealous of landscape architects and their level of knowledge about plantings and layering of live materials.  I am currently scouring nurseries in the So. Cal area looking for the perfect pieces to add to my garden now that the pool project is almost complete.  We need trees like crazy that will shield us from nosy passersby but keep their leaves for year round green and such.   Needless to say I have bought not one tree but many varieties of Hydrangea have made it home with me for my shade garden.  I love the Magnolia trees and I think I finally found the one I was searching for with the pink flower.. now the question is where to put her and should I buy more than one?  Any advice is greatly appreciated as I know there are some really great gardeners out there with a wealth of knowledge (please share).  Here are a few of the beautiful things I have come across in the past weeks while trying to find just the right thing!

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