New HomeGoods Finds

CCC

I love topiaries and have many in my garden at CCC. In Virginia, my topiaries were English Boxwood which sadly does not grow here in South Florida. Fortunately, there are many great substitutes like Eugenia that loves it here. 

The Chinoiserie Dining Room

Mark D. Sikes

A beautiful dining room by Mark D. Sikes featuring Madame de Pompadour wallpaper for Schumacher in Blush.

The Cachepot

Mandy Kellogg Rye

 

What exactly is a cachepot?

It is a French word for an ornamental receptacle to hold and conceal a flowerpot.

How is it pronounced?

CASH-poh.

Lanai Inspiration and an eBay Find

Don Easterling

As part of my exterior painting project, the lanai will be painted inside and out and the ceiling will be painted haint blue. 

Classic Christmas Decorating

Fairfax House in York, England

I love the simple and natural Christmas decor in this beautiful foyer. This is a historic Georgian mansion that has been used for several movies. Miniature wreaths are hung from ribbons, a beautiful magnolia garland adorns the staircase bannister, and a topiary sits in a black wicker basket.

The Chinoiserie Front Door/CCC

CCC

When I bought my Florida home, the front entrance lacked personality, with nothing but painted concrete. The first thing I did was to add a pair of blue and white Chinese garden stools. They have been outside in my gardens for thirty years and I couldn't wait to use them here. They will be even happier because they are quite sheltered from the elements. I never thought about this before, but they are perfect for all of my deliveries ! Amazon Prime perches.

CCC

CCC

CCC

I keep a pair of umbrellas in the entryway - I take lots of walks with the pups and they are at the ready and I also love combining blue and white stripes with chinoiserie. A blue key fob is a new addition.

Charleston Chinoiserie in the Garden

via Alessandra Branca

 

Alessandra Branca posted this lovely view of a Charleston garden with lots of blue and white fishbowls filled with topiaries and ferns. I love this and it is the look I am going for in my Florida garden - sort of British Colonial - a cross between an English garden with the formal structure and topiaries and tropical with all the palms. Quite lovely.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis Apple Blossom - gardenia.net

 I love potting up amaryllis bulbs to have in bloom around the house for the holidays. I think they look especially beautiful in blue and white Chinese porcelain cachepots. In Florida, they they can even be planted outdoors. So that is on tap for today.

I finished my mulching project yesterday and the garden looks stunning. Since I am ahead of schedule, today I am gong to start my outdoor Christmas decorating putting lights on the topiaries. I adore topiaries and so far have added 6 to the garden. I have a thing about electrical cords and extension cords all over, so I did a bunch of research on outdoor battery lights and ordered some from Amazon. The batteries supposedly last quite long with the LED. No electrical cords around and no big electric bill either. I have Eugenia topiaries in single, double, and triple balls and swirls and I think they will look wonderful with white lights.

I also ordered some whimsical faux topiaries for the garden that arrive today, but I will keep those a secret until I photograph them to share. 

Folks see to be falling into two groups as far as Christmas decorating with the backdrop of the pandemic. Some are decorating early, others are thinking about skipping it this year. What about you?