Winter Tea by the Fire

Family and friends who know me realize that I am not a fan of winter’s cold, dark days. I really miss the light and color that make the world feel alive. So I try to focus on things that make me happy. Sometimes it is a vase of fresh flowers on my desk, a re-arrangement of accessories on the hutch or the deep glow that emerges when I polish my antique brass candlesticks. And there is always music playing in the house!

This past weekend, when the temperature struggled to get into the teens, I decided to warm up the house. I baked some croissants and made a fresh pot of tea. Then I laid a fire in the dining room fireplace and set the table with my favorite cottage ware. George Winston’s gentle “December” album was playing in the background. When my sons came in they were pleasantly surprised to find a welcoming treat, while I had the pleasure of spending a rare afternoon sharing tea with the best of company! It was just the thing that I needed on a cold January day!

Contact information for Phillip Jeffries Wallcoverings

To find out more about these wonderful wallcoverings, you can contact me at kimcarroll13@gmail.com, or view products at phillipjeffries.com.

Thoughts on Design - Phillip Jeffries

Phillip Jeffries is an innovative wallcovering company. Utilizing many different organic materials, such as grasscloth, water hyacinth, banana leaves, and wood veneers, the design team at Phillip Jeffries creates beautiful paper-backed coverings for walls. Sales representative Crystal Brown takes us through the beginnings of this leading-edge company, describing how the two brothers (Phillip and Jeffrey) have focused on working with in-house artists, as well as artisans all over the world, to create their unique wallcoverings. In addition to hundreds of standard designs, they hand-screen custom prints, made to order, on any of 30 available grounds, with standard or custom colors. Woven paper designs, with the look of natural fiber or fabric, are installed to look virtually seamless on walls. Phillip Jeffries also has a “Pure Imagination” program, using three-dimensional printers, to customize a wall mural of anything from a photograph to a piece of art to a child’s drawing. Phillip Jeffries designs can also be printed on vinyl, for a wallcovering that is a beautiful, scrubbable alternative in a child-friendly space or a commercial application. We’re sure that you’ll enjoy listening as Crystal Brown explains the many wallcovering options Phillip Jeffries can bring to your indoor space.

Thoughts on Design - Episode 16 "Smart Lights 1"

Arriving home on a dark evening, it is reassuring to be able to turn on the lights before you even open the door. Technology built into our cellphones and smart light bulbs enables us to control the lighting in our homes. We can turn lights off and on, vary the intensity and even change the color of the light! In this episode, we discuss the beginnings of home automation, the convergence of technologies that allow the human voice to interact with computers and how to “put your toes in the water” with smart lighting.

Thoughts on Design - Episode 15 "Custom Rugs from Atelier Lapchi"

In our first show “on the road,” we sit down with Thom Capretta, manager of Atelier Lapchi, a custom rug company with a showroom in the Ohio Design Centre. We learn how, in this day of technology and automation, Atelier Lapchi weavers use Tibetan wool and silk to create custom rugs in both traditional and contemporary styles. Each hand-woven rug is a unique work of art. Because they own the factory, dye their own wool, employ the weavers and ship in their company containers, Atelier Lapchi avoids most of the supply chain issues. Their process goes from initial design to fabrication to delivery in a few short months. Thom shares with us the collections of Atelier Lapchi, color trends, fibers and textures, care and cleaning of fine rugs, as well as some great stories.

You can view beautiful custom rugs at lapchi.com, or reach out to Thom Capretta at thom@lapchi.com.

Holiday Tablescapes 2021

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, I find that my guests are always delighted when we gather around a thoughtfully decorated table. It can be casual or formal, tailored or extravagant, depending on your personal style. Start with what you already have (furnishings, dishes, glassware, etc.) and build around it.

If you are having guests stay for a few days, you may want to decorate the kitchen table, where casual meals will be shared during their visit. In fact, this simple decoration can be left during the entire holiday season, as it is out of the way, at the far end of the table. The greens and berries are artificial, so no worries about dry pine needles. For this design, I started with my clients’ everyday dishes. The colors worked perfectly with some plaid fabric that I had, which I draped across the table at an angle. The Santa with a blue robe worked well, too, adding an interesting focal point.

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Mimosas

Spinach, feta cheese and mushroom omelet

Skillet potatoes

Bacon

Honeydew and canteloupe

Streusal coffee cake

Coffee and tea

Since this home is so light and open, I wanted to keep that feeling with the table, too. I used the clients’ china, glasses and silver, while adding these majestic angels. The color palette is mostly neutral so I focused on repetition of textures - crystal (chandelier, mirror, hurricane candle holders, wine glasses, napkin rings), dark teal and green (in china and florals), white (china, napkins, candles, berries) and gold sparkles (angels and gold berries in floral arrangement on side chest).

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Coffee-rubbed pork tenderloin

Potatoes au gratin

Maple-glazed carrots

Broccoli

Black Forest cake with vanilla ice cream

Cranberry Cup (cranberry juice, orange rind, star anise, ginger ale)

Imagine that you have an early evening event, say a church service or concert, that you planned to attend with friends. Afterwards, you invite them to your home to share a light buffet. They will be delighted with the sight of a rich-looking buffet such as this! The existing mahogany buffet is a beautiful piece on which to spread an elegant satin runner. I used the client’s cut crystal cake plate and aperitif glasses, as well as her china and silver. The antique papier mache Santas are family heirlooms, standing center under an original oil painting by the client’s grandmother. The food, with its varies colors and textures, became an integral part of the tablescape. Featured is a custom chees plate by le cracker.

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Crostini with smoked salmon, chevre and capers

le cracker cheese tray with fruit and nuts

Flourless chocolate cake

Benedictine and brandy

Coffee and tea

For this simple tablescape, I was inspired by the black and white checked chargers. Black and white with red and green go together very well for a holiday table! Red plates echo the holly berries and red tray on the buffet, while the green tumblers repeat the leaves in the centerpiece and on the tray. The off-white napkins are held by “rings” that I created for an old tablescape. They are merely black satin ribbons, hot glued together with small brass lock plates. A single pillar candle in a crackled glass hurricane gives a warm welcome to this casual, intimate table setting.

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Baked ham

Twice-baked potatoes

Roasted Brussels sprouts

Corn bread

Sauvignon Blanc

Pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling

Cappuccino

My clients’ French Empire furniture and Bernadaud china were the starting point for this holiday tablescape. Nothing casual here - I wanted to show everything in its formal glory! The principle colors in the china are white, amber and gold with black edging; then, in a surprising departure, the centers of the plates have an image of a blue sky with clouds. I pulled out the white color and repeated it in the flowers, candles and napkins. The floral centerpiece includes elegant roses and freesias as well as berries and seasonal greens, which I set in a lovely porcelain footed bowl that belonged to my client’s beloved aunt. Silver candelabra create a majestic height to the table setting. The napkin rings have sparkly jewels to which I added light blue, a nod to the blue sky and clouds in the china. Then I added a Santa, dressed in a sparkling gold robe.

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Standing rib roast

Yorkshire pudding

Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce

Pommes Dauphin

Frizee salad with lemon-Dijon vinaigrette

Cabernet Sauvignon

Oeufs a la Neige (meringue on custard)

Ice wine

I hope that you have enjoyed these holiday tablescapes as much as I enjoyed creating them. I also hope that you will create your own. Just start with what you have and build around it!

I would love to see photos of your tablescapes, too! Please share them with me at kimcarroll13@gmail.com! Happy Holidays!

Tips for a Great Guest Room

When your friends and family come to stay at your house, you want to create a welcoming space for them to unwind and relax, and have a memorable experience. Here are some tips to help you accomplish this.

1.) Less is more! Personalize the guest room with your own taste but do not overwhelm it with clutter and collections.

2.) Clean the room thoroughly, even under the bed and dresser, and in the closet. If a guest loses something under the bed and goes in search of it, you don’t want them to find anything else, like a well-chewed dog toy or lots of dust bunnies.

3.) A comfortable mattress and clean fresh sheets are essential, as well as multiple pillows. Euro squares are large pillows that are great for sinking into when reading in bed. Extra blankets are always important for guests who get cold.

4.) It is very considerate to have a place for luggage, so that your guests don’t need to lean down to the floor to get a pair of socks. A luggage rack is great but you can improvise with a bench or chair, too.

5.) Some people like to unpack their belongings instead of living out of a suitcase, so it is nice to have space in the closet for hanging clothes, and one or two drawers in a dresser.

6.) Lighting is very important, both for comfort and safety. When your guests enter the room at night they should be able to turn on a light right away, in order to see where they are going. Lamps on nightstands are great for reading in bed. Sometimes wall sconses work better, though, by keeping the nightstands clear for glasses, a cellphone or a glass of water. Also, a night light is a great idea! Remember, this is a strange house for your guests, and they don’t want to trip and fall if they get up in the middle of the night.

7.) Window treatments provide privacy and light control, especially important if your guests would like to sleep later in the morning. Shades, blinds or draperies can be utilized for this, depending on your style.

8.) Make sure that you share your wi-fi information with guests. Some hosts print this out and leave it on the night stand.

9.) If you can, add a TV in the room. Some people like to wind down alone at night, or quietly watch TV if they can’t sleep. It is also nice to see a local morning show when dressing, in order to find out news and weather.

10.) For some guests, a little private time is very restorative. Provide a comfortable chair with a lamp so that your guest can do some quiet reading.

11.) Other finishing touches show that you have really thought about the details that make your guests as comfortable as possible. Have bottled water or a carafe with fresh water and a drinking glass next to the bed. Extra chargers for electric devices will be very appreciated if a guest forgets theirs at home. A basket of toiletries, a clock and a hair dryer can come in handy, too.

For hosting guests in your home, these little details can make an extra-special experience.

Thanksgiving Tablescapes - Podcast Episode 9

An interesting tablescape invites our guests to have a wonderful experience, to “eat first with their eyes.” This requires careful thought about the details but need not be very expensive. Here I have assembled four different tablescapes for Thanksgiving, each accompanied by a unique menu created by my son Jamie. You can listen as I describe each one on my podcast, “Thoughts on Design with Kim Carroll Interiors, Episode 9.”

This first tablescape is very casual, beginning with what I already own and building around it. The focus is on using everyday dishes and table linens, layering texture upon texture. I like to add an element of surprise, such as this outdoor lantern from the porch. The only things that were purchased are the flowers.

Here is a delicious homestyle menu:

Appetizer

Lobster Salad Wrapped in Bibb Lettuce Leaves

Main Course

Herb-Crusted Turkey

Green Salad

Redskin Mashed Potatoes

Dressing with Walnuts

Coleslaw

Butter-poached Carrots

Wine - American Zinfandel

Dessert

Flourless Chocolate Torte

The second tablescape is more of an urban farmhouse style. Natural elements like a stone tabletop, wood, pinecones and berries combine with tin buckets filled with flowers and twine-wrapped napkins to create a welcoming setting.

A suggested menu:

Appetizer

Seared Lamb Chops with Tahini Yogurt

Moscow Mules

Main Course

Smoked Turkey Breast

Grilled Radicchio with Lemon Vinaigrette

Smoked Pork Collard Greens

Candied Yams

Fried Pickles

Dessert

Pumpkin Roll

Coffee (Benedictine optional)

This clean-lined Tablescape #3 was inspired by vintage mid-century moire glazed metal trays that belonged to my grandparents. Square black plates anchor the setting, while tall gold-tone candlesticks and dainty magnolia blossoms keep the feeling light, airy and upscale.

Try a sophisticated menu:

Appetizer

Pan-seared Petite Filets with Bearnaise Sauce

Chilled Manhattans

Main Course

Peanut Oil Fried Turkey

Roast Beet and Spinach Salad

Bacon-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Creme Fraiche

Savory Bread Pudding

Cranberry Chutney

Wine - Shiraz

Dessert

Cinnamon and Cardamom-Infused Creme Brulee

The fourth tablescape is more traditionally formal. I encourage people to pull out all the “good stuff,” polish the silver and arrange the fine china. It should be used and enjoyed! Your table will look beautiful and you may not have to purchase anything except candles and flowers. I also draw the eye to the outer parts of the room with extra candles on the buffet and dessert dishes on a side table.

Here is a sumptuous menu:

Appetizer

Horseradish Lump Crab Cake

Vodka Gibson

Main Course

Butter Lettuce with Toasted Pecans, Candied bacon and Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette

Brined Turkey

Corn Pudding

Potatoes au Gratin

Asparagus

Wine - Pinot Noir

Dessert

Apple Galette with Bourbon Caramel Sauce

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Your guests will certainly have a memorable meal when you take the time to plan all of the details.

For more interior design conversations, please listen to my podcasts with Mark Goode, available on Google and Apple podcasts, or at “Thoughts on Design with Kim Carroll Interiors.” I would love to hear about your tablescapes, too! You can send photos and comments to kimcarroll13@gmail.com.

Coming Soon!

I have been working on a new project, spurred along by two good friends - Pam and Mark. Pam and I were friends in high school. She and her husband Mark recently relocated back to Cleveland and I am helping them with the interiors of their new home. Mark, who has quite a bit of experience doing podcasts, suggested that I try this format to share my interior design ideas.

I am having so much fun! I can’t wait to share these podcasts with you! Look for the first episode in a day or two!

Welcoming Guest Rooms

With their children now grown and living on their own, my clients faced the question: do we stay in the large home we love or down-size? My clients decided to stay, and turn the former childrens’ rooms into welcoming guest rooms. This way, it would be ever so easy for the adult children (and spouses and grandchildren) to visit often.

There are two bedrooms and a full bath on the third floor. Each bedroom had wood floors, yellow walls, an area rug, a metal bed frame and natural oak furniture pieces (nightstand, bookcase and dresser). Since all were in excellent condition, we were able to re-purpose everything! In the first bedroom, the textures of the metal bed frame, the colorful kilim rug and the handmade ceramic lamp suggested an eclectic mix of styles.

First bedroom with original furnishings

Since each room had one nightstand and one television stand, I traded pieces, so that the first bedroom would have the two larger television stands, to put on either side of the bed. I found chunky handwoven baskets to use as inserts, like drawers. Then I had all of these oak pieces stripped and re-stained in a dark espesso color, adding new copper knobs. My clients really liked the handmade ceramic lamp that was in the room, and they were able to purchase another one to match it. Then I found a new light fixture for the ceiling, with a woven wicker shade, and ready-made curtains in a black and cream check for the window.

The existing kilim rug inspired my color scheme. Caramel-colored walls now wrap the room in warmth, while new bedding and pillows offer comfortable softness and bright color. We recovered the seat of my clients’ antique side chair in a velvet tiger stripe fabric and brought in an eclectic assortment of accessories. The completed guest room now feels as if a world traveler has filled the space with treasures collected over time.

A kilim rug, textural furnishings and collected accessories in the first guest room

The second bedroom had the same metal headboard and natural oak furniture pieces, with a bordered sisal area rug. Our plan was to give this room a decidedly lighter, more feminine feel.

Second bedroom before redecorating

The completed second guest bedroom

I wanted this room to welcome guests with light and softness. On the walls, a neutral paint color with just a hint of amber reflects light with a warm glow. I had all of the oak pieces painted white, with a light rubbing-off on the edges, to give the effect of gentle time-worn use. The floral bedding with birds is perfect for a third floor bedroom, where one can look out the window and be up in the trees. Plump pillows in geometric and striped patterns compliment the large-scale floral, as does the hemstitched bedskirt. The statement piece of the room is the chandelier made of capiz shells, which creates a wonderful play of light and shadow. Complimenting this are lamps on either side of the bed, their bases made of wire, topped with white pleated shades. I hung the floral prints close to the bed, creating a feeling of intimacy in this spacious room. Finally, the fuzzy wool throw on the bed invites one to curl up for a nap.

Details include patterned pillows, a hemstitched bedskirt and lamps with wire bases

Then there was the bathroom. Decorated for two young girls, the bathtub was painted pink, while the walls had a pink and white wallpaper and the ceiling was papered to look like clouds in a blue sky. Perfect for little girls but not sophisticated enough for adult guests!

The bathroom decorated for young girls

I took color cues for the bathroom from the print of a Renoir painting. The watery blue on the walls (Sherwin Williams # 6219 “Rain,” one of my favorites) is a lovely contrast to the white ceiling, floor and trim. Around the freshly painted tub is a striped shower curtain with a cheerful set of ruffles along the bottom. A rattan side cart (the only piece of furniture that we bought) and wire basket provide handy storage, and more birds appear in the window valance.

Bathroom redone for guests

One final note on this project: When the adult children came home for a holiday weekend, they stayed in their former bedrooms. The next morning, they told their parents that the rooms were beautiful and comfortable, but they wanted to know what had become of all of their old furniture. I took it as a compliment that they did not recognize the pieces that had been part of their childhood. They had been transformed along with the bedrooms, to welcome them home!