The Easiest Flower Arrangement Ever (with our Orb Flower Frog)

We have a new product in the store.  It's this fabulous Ceramic Orb Flower Frog (it comes in matte black or matte white).  We added this piece to our product line a few months ago, and just before the Easter holiday our shipment arrived.  I was pretty excited.  :)  Since we were hosting Easter this year, I decided to use a couple (in the white colorway) as Easter centerpieces.  Let me say-- I love this thing.  Talk about an easy arrangement!!  It's terrific.  Here's how easy it is to use...

 

My Easter table was mostly set.  I played around with this centerpiece arrangement-- one orb? two? or three orbs, down the center of the table?? In the end, I decided that two felt like a nice balance for a table of six people.

I purchased a bunch of different flowers (including peonies, alstroemeria, and hypericum-- all from my local grocery store), and filled the bowl base with fresh water.

 

 starting with the peonies...

 

...and finishing with the alstroemeria and pink hypericum.  I tried to balance everything out, placing different stems all around the orb.  I didn't feel the need to fill every hole with a stem-- I like seeing some of the open holes peek through. 

Done!

I love these orbs and will be using them quite often for future arrangements.  So easy.  Wouldn't these make the most terrific Mother's Day gifts?  I think so.  I really love the matte white, but we also have them in matte black (which feels a little more modern, in my opinion). 

our Ceramic Orb Flower Frog in the black colorway

I love any excuse to go crazy buying fresh flowers.  And, Easter Sunday was a really good excuse.  :)

I bought 50 pink tulips (couldn't resist that color!), and made two large arrangements for our dining room credenza...

I used our Blue & White Ginger Jars as vases.  Love this combo of blue & white with the bright pink blossoms.  And, tulips last forever (as I type this post -- one week after Easter -- these tulips are still gorgeous).  Money well spent, if you ask me.  ;)

We also took our little bunny to his first Easter mass...

and, he didn't make a sound.  :)

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

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Spring In My Step

Now that I live on the east coast, one of the things I love most is experiencing SEASONS.  And, even though I really dislike the frigid, paralyzing chill of winter (this winter was particularly horrendous, am I right?), I am reminded that without winter we would not have spring.  And spring is the most delightful of seasons.  With spring, we only have the summer and fall to look forward to!  Such a happy time.  And the east coast "spring fever" is contagious-- everyone is smiling when the temperatures soar above 60 degrees, bulbs start popping out of the ground and the sun is shining.  I'm serious, everywhere you go, people are happier and nicer to each other ("Hello, how are you?" "Oh, let me get that door for you!" "Have a great day! The sun is shining!").  Even the most grouchy east coaster turn into the sweetest person in the springtime.  It's my favorite time of year!  :)

daffodils in my kitchen ($2.00 a bunch, thank you)

evening walks in the park with Dave and William look like this

The garden outside our High Street Market office door-- soon, there will be tulips everywhere!  The best!

This is our first spring with a little baby in the house.  So, that is different.  Everything is a bit more exciting.  William is growing so fast, I wish I could freeze time.  Here he is at a recent doctors appointment, looking svelte on the exam table...

weighing in at almost 20 pounds, this kid.

And, with the warmer temperatures, I am feeling more inspired to get working in the yard again.  I recently purchased this landscaping book (mostly because the cover is stunning, but the content of the book is also excellent)...

Take a look at the inside...

Our backyard is mostly a disaster.  So, we have our work cut out for us.  This book will provide lots of inspiration, I think.  :)

Happy Spring, everyone!

xx

Kelly

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Client Project Sneak Peek

Today, I thought I would share a little sneak peek/"before & after" of one of my Philadelphia design projects.  I've been working with this family for a couple of years now, slowly transforming individual rooms in their home.  I truly LOVE working with them-- they have great taste.  And, seeing the spaces transform has been such a delight.  A few weeks ago, I snapped a couple of Instagram pictures with my phone (follow me @kellyrobson).  When I got back to my office, I pulled up the "before" shots, and thought the comparison was sort of fun.  :)  Here's a little sneak peek...

This hallway was completely transformed with the addition of wainscoting, new baseboards, and crown moulding.  A fresh coat of white paint brightened everything up, and by painting the coat closet doors a glossy black, we created a dramatic focal point.  The lantern is available through High Street Market- click here.

 This dining room is one of my favorite rooms.  Again, trim changes EVERYTHING.  We wallpapered the upper walls with a tailored grasscloth, added wall sconces for additional lighting, and painted the ceiling a pale shade of blue/grey (Farrow & Ball "Skylight").  My client says that the blue/grey color changes with the sunlight throughout the day-- how lovely is that?!

This year, we continue to move forward with the interior design of this gorgeous home (next up, a completely redesigned mudroom, as well as a new master bedroom).  I'm excited to share the transformation as we go.  But, by focusing on the architectural details (like wainscoting trim, crown moulding ,etc) you frame everything else in the space more beautifully.  And, it's amazing what a simple can of paint can do!

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Kristen Panitch

I'm working with a new design client on a smallish project in downtown Philadelphia.  My client's style is fabulous and she came to me with a handful of inspiration images (all inspiring and beautiful).  I'm calling it "polished eclectic" where things are perfectly tailored, buttoned up and organized... but, there must be some balance of eclectic materials, texture and overall personality. 

Anyway, a few of the images came from Los Angeles based designer, Kristen Panitch.  All I can say is, HAVE I BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK?  Kristen Panitch.  This woman is insanely talented.  Come to find out, some of my own all time favorite images (for the design of my own home, especially) have come from her portfolio.  So, it turns out, I am VERY FAMILIAR with her work, but I've been too aloof to realize it.  So, get your "PIN IT" buttons ready, ladies.  Because these pictures are extremely pin-worthy.  :)

This particular project (Kristen calls "Latimer Road") should be called, "Kelly's Dream House."  Just look-- the mix of antique and new, the fantastic color scheme, and the traditional architecture.  Amazing.

If that's not enough, take a gander at some of Kristen's other projects....

Gorgeous, right?  For even more inspiration, check out her stunning portfolio HERE.

Happy Wednesday!

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NEW in the store: Custom Braided Wool Baskets

This week, we received our large order of custom wool baskets-- now in 5 new colorways!  

I'm very excited.  They're gorgeous.

CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING

We've been carrying this type of basket for the last year or so, but I'm loving this new collection of colors.  Especially with the chocolate leather handles.  These baskets would be just as perfect in a masculine office (holding magazines) as they would in a busy family room (keeping blankets or toys at bay!).  And, I'm especially proud to say that they are completely handmade, right here in Philadelphia.

Everyone at the office is a big fan of the new product...  especially this little one.  :)

William, enjoying the "toffee" colorway, size small.  :)

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On My Radar: Bold Solid Drapery

 

Bright bold solid drapery is totally on my radar these days.  I especially love it in a semi-neutral very traditional space, where the strong saturated color almost feels mismatched with it's surroundings.  As in, "Oh my! Are those PINK drapes?!!"  :)   That jolt of unexpected color brings so much drama!  And, I kind of love the tension that comes with it (especially in traditional interiors).  This image above from Mary McDonald is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.  I mean, how gorgeous is that home?  The coral hue of the drapery is just spellbinding, isn't it?  Ugh, so good. 

Here are a few more images that I'm pinning for future projects.  Such great inspiration.  I'm especially drawn to the Kelly greens, coral pinks, and sunny yellows. 

 

 

 Kay Douglass

 

Stephen Siss

 

 

Ruthie Sommers

 

Angie Hranowsky

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