A Great Summer Dress and More

Linen Midi Dress in Palm Beach

I saw this pretty dress last week online and loved it. Coral pink, 100% linen, embroidered with palm trees, three quarter sleeves, and a midi length.

The Pink and Red Chinoiserie Dining Room

House Beautiful

 

I was thinking yesterday about upcoming posts for Valentine's Day. I came across this chinoiserie dining room in coral pink and red that I posted on several years ago. The room was featured in the December/January 2014 issue of House Beautiful. Such pretty Valentine's Day inspiration.

Color Palettes for Your Home

Roseate Spoonbill

To me, the best way to choose a color palette for your home is to look to the colors of nature right outside your door. Think of beach houses of blue and white and mountain cabins filled with warm wood tones.

Art Inspiration

Suzanne Kasler

 

OK, I officially have art envy - a gallery wall of Slim Aarons. The coral pink is a stunning wall color and so Palm Beach. I love the idea of art ledges so the art can be moved around and switched out at will. Note the white frames - I have started framing everything in white - so fresh, clean, modern and perfect for a Florida beach house. The mini bar is so fun - I always find myself trying to see what booze bottles are on bars. LOL. The only hard pass is the potted "plants" that I find downright creepy. 

Tropical Christmas Table Settings

Amanda Lindroth

 Although red and green are the most traditional Christmas colors, they do not work in every home, like mine. I much prefer this combination of coral and green. Lots of great ideas to borrow here. Pink bougainvillea is cut from the garden. I have the exact same bougainvillea. Wicker salt and pepper cellars are from her online store, as are the linens and the wicker casserole which she uses here as a centerpiece with lemons and limes. The china is a classic Herend pattern called Fortuna Green.

I purchased her coral woven placemats and I think these would work great with my green chinoiserie wedding china, Wedgwood Chinese Tigers. I chose this china so long ago, and still love it. Do you have a china pattern that you love using for the holidays?

Amanda Lindroth

Wedgwood Chinese Tigers

Amanda Lindroth DIY

Amanda Lindroth

 I find this Bahamas master bedroom by Amanda Lindroth very intriguing. The headboards look to be a pair of twin wooden headboards that one could easily source second hand and paint in a coral pink and create a king headboard. So too, the bench at the end of the bed does not appear to be a bench at all but rather three chairs painted a matching coral pink. One could easily substitute stools for the chairs which would be much easier to find. 

A New Day

Thank you all so much for you wonderfully supportive comments and emails yesterday. As one commenter said that loved "You've Got This." Trust me to handle things prudently.

A few great developments from yesterday.

I met several new neighbors and was invited to join a nightly wine hour in a neighbor's driveway - bring your wine and chair - sounds like a great way to meet neighbors and social distance. I do not own a folding chair though - hahahaha. A new purchase I think. Is there a chic version? And my Mark and Graham rattan monogrammed wine tote.

Rattan Wine Tote

I received in the mail yesterday this very Florida pink Palm Springs kimono from Anthropologie.

Palm Springs Kimono

I decided to store some of my blue and white porcelain in the pantry in the kitchen for a few days and fell in love. Thinking of upgrading the shelves and taking the door off and keeping it as there is another pantry for food items.

What's for dinner?

On Monday the painters are doing touch-up, cleanup, and finishing the mirror frame in the dining room. Tuesday the countertops are installed, and Wednesday the movers. I need to squeeze in a food run as the only food in the new house is dog food. Wednesday, my first night in the new house will be sushi from Publix. Publix has brought back $5 Sushi Wednesday and I pick up sushi every single Wednesday. It is fantastic - try it if you are near a Publix. I have the cutest coral pink chopsticks I use, not  a fan of the free wooden ones, and of course blue and white Chinoiserie plates.

Towels

Danielle Rollins

I have always had white towels monogrammed with my initials, usually in blue. But after seeing Danielle Rollins' gorgeous coral pink towels, I am rethinking this whole white towel thing.

So, if I ever get five minutes, I am going to find coral pink towels for my new house and have them monogrammed in white. Why do I have a feeling this is going to be hard to find?

For years, I bought the Ralph Lauren towels at Horchow when they had them on sale and with free monogramming. The towels were a great price and excellent quality. But I think the quality has really gone downhill on the RL towels.

BTW, I absolutely loved reading all of your comments yesterday about using your china, silver, and cloth napkins, and especially all your wonderful china patterns.

If anyone has ideas about sourcing these towels, I would be grateful.

Below another beautiful towel example where she has used coral pink on white.

Danielle Rollins

And exciting news for me - my painters surprised me yesterday by completely finishing my closet out of sequence so I can start bring my clothes over today. I can't wait.

Coral Pink Palm Chandelier DIY Help

Amanda Lindroth

 On Tuesday I posted about using a coral pink chandelier in the vestibule of my new home. One of my loveliest commenters has commented a couple of times suggesting I snag this amazing Pottery Barn Kids Lilly Pulitzer Palm Chandelier shown below they have on special for $119.00!!!! and free shipping.

On Tuesday she commented again and suggested I grab it and paint it coral pink. I immediately thought of this Amanda Lindroth room.

Not sure if I will leave it gold or paint it pink, or whether I will use it in the vestibule or elsewhere, but she is absolutely correct that at this price I have to grab it. It might be amazing in coral pink, don't you think?

OK, guys. It is shipped and en route. I have never painted a lighting fixture. But this sounds fun. So, assume I want to paint this baby glossy coral pink. Spray? Brush? Prime? Which paint? Rustoleum? My Perfect Color? Coral pink paint color recommendation? Paint everything even the electrical cord? I AM NOT DISASSEMBLING IT. I know about using painters tape to cover where the lightbulbs go.

 Tell me what to do, and I will do it. My handyman Steve is hanging everything in a couple of weeks. Give me your guidance and I will get it done. I love the Amanda Lindroth example above FYI. Thank you for any tips. And I am using tiny globe bulbs. Tomorrow I will give you my two cents on dealing with ceiling fans.

I had to share this it made me laugh so hard. I moderate comments because I get a lot of spam and some really creepy comments as well. Last night I got this comment on one of my posts.

"When you remove the piece of fish make sure you rest it skin side up or else the juices will flow down and make the skin soggy." 

Lilly Pulitzer Palm Chandelier

A Vestibule? & Coral Pink & Help Me

1st dibs

As you enter my new house, off the foyer there is an area that has a coat closet, a linen closet, and then doors to the guest bedroom, the guest bath, and the study. It is square. Not a hallway...... is it called a vestibule? There is a pocket door to close off the entire guest suite. It has a very nondescript lighting fixture that I want to replace with something really fun and coral pink! Coral pink fixtures are few and far between.

The one above sold on 1st dibs already for $$$$. Here are some more ideas.

Visual Comforts Kate Spade Cavanagh Lantern

Shades of Light Lotus Flower

Sazerac Stitches Loa Carousel

I like this but it's too big -

Nordic Chandelier

I like this but pricey -

Mitzi Leigh Lantern

Another idea is to find a vintage or new lantern and paint it coral pink myself. Do you like any of these or have an idea on a pagoda style lighting fixture I could paint? This is a spot I can just have some fun.

I also love those little round clear bulbs in the Kate Spade fixture - more fun than chandelier bulbs.

P.S. I meant to mention that I was saddened to receive an email about Wisteria going out of business after 19 years. Yet another victim of the pandemic. It was a very well curated collection and I will miss it. I so fear that when we emerge from this we will be left with chain stores and chain restaurants. There won't be any reason to go out.

The Question of Peach

Mario Bautta

In spite of my love for color, there are several colors I am not drawn to, and peach is among them. I adore pink, including coral pink, but not peach. There is a reason for this. Peach is an ugly color. And it's not just me. According to House Beautiful, peach is one of the colors to be avoided in your home.

"Even though it was popular in the '60s, today this color quickly dates a house. And when it comes to color psychology, (interior designer Heather) Humphrey says it's uplifting in small ways (like home accessories), but is mood-crushing when it covers too big of a surface."

Of course with Mario Buatta's impeccable eye, he could find the perfect shade of peach like the staircase above. He could find the perfect shade of anything. And so could Jackie. Unfortunately, I am finding that peach homes are so much more common here than pink. Yikes.

Jackie Kennedy

I found a very pretty home in Venice online, but the exterior is peach and every single room in the house is peach. Even the tile in all the bathrooms. Even the tile roof. That's a whole lot of peach going. on. I love a pink stucco home, and a coral pink stucco home, but not a peach stucco home. I know I can paint any house I buy, which I will likely end up doing. But in deeded communities, you end up dealing with the whole dreaded Architectural Review Committee when you want to make any change whatsoever. Changing from peach to pink, OH MY! let's debate this in our committee for 6 months.

Robin Weiss - Traditional Home - Benjamin Moore Ballet Slippers - gorgeous!

Sherwin Williams New Coral - gorgeous!

A Venice home in peach - ghastly

And this house above in peach has been on the market for 405 days in a hot market. So interesting to me how nuanced color is - a slight tweak from coral to peach and it goes from beautiful to ugly.

Just Say No

The Chinoiserie Bedroom

Amanda Lindroth

This is a neat idea - using two twin headboards together to create a king bed. I love the Chinese Chippendale beds and bedside tables and the coral pink and white palette. And the wicker tray is so lovely - I could go for some fresh squeezed orange juice this morning or even a mimosa - it is Sunday after all!

The Chinoiserie Dressing Room

Danielle Rollins - Veranda

This post is a real favorite of mine. Some of you may recall that in my home in Alexandria, Virginia, I had converted a bedroom into a walk-in closet and it was pink - I color matched the walls to a Thomas Pink shopping bag.

Thomas Pink

Alas, I unfortunately do not have a spare room to convert here in Florida, but I do have a walk-in closet with ten foot ceilings and built-ins that works just fine.

I am loving the idea of a gallery wall in my closet. The Danielle Rollins dressing room is absolutely stunning. I love it all - the coral pink, the Chinese Chippendale casegoods turned into a wardrobe, the slipper chair, the gallery wall, and that monogrammed tote. The straw tote is from Nantucket Monogram & Design, but I don't see it on their website - I hope it is still available.

Danielle color matched the walls to a sadly now discontinued Estee Lauder lipstick "Princess Grace," a gorgeous coral pink. I wish I had purchased a bunch when they came out with it. It is a great color!

In the shots below you can see a vintage wicker and faux bamboo pagoda chandelier, a Chinese garden stool, and a pair of mirrored chests placed back to back topped with plywood, Chinoiserie fabric, and glass.

 My goal this weekend is a gallery wall in my closet and styling it. Stay tuned. This has really motivated me. Mine will be far less luxe, but this is wonderful inspiration.

Models at a Beach - Loise Dahl-Wolfe

Here is a sneak peek - my earring drawer -

Chinoiserie Christmas Decorating Tips

Frontgate

A pretty color combination for those of us (me) who are not fans of red Christmas decorating. Coral is a gorgeous color that works beautifully with blue and white Chinese porcelain and makes a great alternative.

Beach Chinoiserie

Pinterest

Wonderful ideas here - bamboo furniture and chandelier, a palette of turquoise blue, coral pink, and white, four Chinese garden stools, and a ginger jar with palm fronds. I love the pair of striped chairs with trim that looks like raffia.

Chinese Chippendale

Alessandra Branca - Architectural Digest

Alessandra Branca's Bahamas getaway - check out the Chinese Chippendale staircase in her signature red and the coral pink front door.

Chinoiserie Styling

Frontgate

Blue and white plus coral Chinoiserie for styling your living room.

Palm Beach Chinoiserie

Lonny Magazine

The essence of summer for me, faux bamboo and Chinese Chippendale in blue, white, and coral.

The Chinoiserie Entryway III

Carla Aston

Another entryway with a skirted table and a fabulous lantern - the framed Chinoiserie panel is wonderful.

The Chinoiserie Living Room

Celerie Kemble - Architectural Digest

This is one of the prettiest rooms I've seen in a while. Let's look at some of its elements -

*A color palette of pink, coral, blue, gray, black, and green - my favorites
*Lots of pattern
*A zigzag rug
*Velvet
*Chinoiserie wallpaper
*Woodwork painted gloss black
*Gilded brackets with Chinese vases

I love the round settee called a borne settee, a French piece dating back to Napoleonic France. Here is another example below.

Massucco Warner Miller