Velvet & Linen

all things swedish

I have a bit of an obsession with Swedish furniture.

My most cherished pieces are my Swedish desk and clock. 

My friend e-mailed these photos of some of her favorite pieces. I thought I would share them with you.

These chairs are just lovely in their worn original condition. I wouldn't do a thing to them. Just put them around the dining table.

They are as pretty from the side and back as they are from the front. Love the curve of the oval back and the arms.

The delicate carving on the back is such a lovely detail.

A charming little writing desk.

The muted aged gray color of most Swedish pieces speaks to my sense of style.

Swedish pieces show such an attention to detail.

Wouldn't this little bench look lovely at the end of a bed. It's such a feminine piece. 

The more ornate carving juxtaposed with the worn fabric and finish is why I love Swedish pieces like

this one.

This is a fantastic example of why I adore Swedish clocks. I don't even care if they work!

The flower carving is lovely.

xo

Brooke

paradise on the beach

I thought I would share another of Steve's homes with you. This is one of my favorites. Not only is it beautiful, but it is located on the beach in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

This is a picture of the main house.  This is actually the back of the house that is closer to the street.

The pool sits between the guest house and the main house. I love the chalky dark blue shutters against the natural color of the shingles.

This is the beach side of the home. Steve used tons of windows on this side of the house to maximize the gorgeous view. Love the columns. Love the white trim.

I told you it was paradise! Quick grab a cup of coffee and sit for a while.

The living room has a coastal feel with blue and white striped pillows and iron lanterns.

The paneling in the upstairs hallway is beautiful. I love the doors with windows on the sides and transoms above.

The children's bunk room has a ladder up to a secret room above the beds.

The master bathroom has a spectacular view. I don't think I would ever leave the tub!

This is the guest house that sits on the street side of the property. The second level is street level and actually is the garage. The bottom level is the pool house and has a wonderful covered area for outdoor dining by the pool.

View of the guest house from the a bedroom on the back of the main house.

This is the guest house. Love the yellow striped wall paper.

xo

Brooke

a whimsical holiday evening

Last night I had the honor to be invited to the home my dear friend Mary Smilove (the owner of the fantastic web store, Sweetpeas and Snapshots)  for a wonderful event.

We were celebrating the article in the December issue of  Home Companion , that features Mary's beautiful holiday craft ideas. My little Leila and Mary's lovely Liza were featured prominently in the article (even Bebe and Frasier, our pups made the cut).

Mary and Sunday Hendrickson, the incredibly gifted stylist,  decorated my home in pink, turquoise and silver for the shoot. 

I couldn't believe how they transformed my garden room in to a holiday craft room.

Here are a sample of some of the holiday crafts that Mary and her friends created for this shoot as 

well as for the all day classes that they held yesterday at Mary's store.

Mary's designs always include charming vintage finds.

Leila and Liza had so much fun that day. I loved seeing Mary and Sunday at work. Don't you love those

silver wreaths on my shell mirror?

xo

Brooke

a country girl at heart

My favorite book in our store right now is Country Living published by Beta Plus. It depicts the kind of country homes that I love.  The interiors are filled with aged white oak furniture and  cream linen slip covered upholstery pieces. I love the simple window treatments and the neutral colors. You can definitely see the Belgian style in all of these images.

The exterior architecture of all of these country homes are magical. Who wouldn't fall in love with this thatched roof beauty?

I adore low roof lines. They look so charming. The windows 

have wonderful proportions.

I love quirky architecture like this little wood bay on the side of this aged brick home. It is interesting how they mixed two different roofing materials. Quirky, but it works for me.

The white brick and gray trim look lovely together.

The dormers and the zig zag shutters are so sweet.

I love when roof tiles get a little moss on them. 

The cobblestones have a fantastic age to them.

Love this glass room with its charming wood details.

The all green garden is composed of various sizes of trimmed topiaries.

This aged terra cotta floor is complemented by the beautiful aged plaster walls and white oak railing. The arched doorway is a lovely detail.

This rustic antique chest of drawers contrasts nicely against the plaster wall. 

This aged black granite floor has just the right patina.

The iron detailing really adds interest to the white oak door.

You can't go wrong with iron windows.

Simple and beautiful.

The detailing of this paneled room is exquisite.

The columns are gorgeous and so is the stain color.

Another home with a beautiful aged black granite floor.

Here is a picture of the interior of the glassed in room.

What a wonderful space to have a family get together.

Love everything!

Here is another view of the room. The light wood doors and floors are paired with the white plaster walls and the charming antiques. 

xo

Brooke