Passion for Patterns...English Country Style

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Wow...I can hardly believe that we are already into the month of March.
  It won't be long till spring comes dancing her way into our lives.  Ohhh...how
 I love springtime!
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...but...
back to reality
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It is still very much winter here in colorful Colorado...and will be for a
couple more months.  My home is still dressed in it's "winter frocks" providing
 warmth and comfort against the cold winter temps. 
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After Valentine's day, I changed out the decor in our dining room...so I
 thought I would share that with you today.  I hope that you enjoy!
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Here we are...in my dining room...winter 2012.

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~English Country Style~

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I have to tell you...

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I have departed...at least temporarily...from the French Country decor style
 that you usually see in my dining room...to more of an "English Country" look and
 feel.  Ohhh...I really do love both design styles and I seem to waver back and
 forth between the two.

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"Passion for Patterns"

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The decor in my dining room began with an English Country design aesthetic...
with deep, rich color, layers of fabric that host a mixture of pretty patterns.  I really
 do have a "passion for patterns"...very indicitive of English Country design.  I found an
 excerpt from Home Style Online Magazine that offers a wonderful description of
 what English Country design is.
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As you can see...my dining room shares several of the design
 elements found in  English Country decor.

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The Dining Room Buffet...

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Dressed in the warm, rich colors of tradional English Country...with florals

 and fruit reflecting the ambiance of the English countryside.

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A Warm Winter's Vignette...English Country Style

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Layering, Lighting and Linens...

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Two lamps flank either end of the buffet.  Lighting...a "must have"...element

 in keeping with the English County decor style.  The lamps with their pretty, dangling

 crystals are "grounded" by an embroidered table runner done in an olive, dark red,

 and gold color palette.  I love the long fringe on the runner and how it drapes

 over the edges of the buffet!

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Now that the basics have been provided for...the "layering" begins. 

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Creating an interesting vignette is much like telling a story or painting a

 beautiful picture.  The picture that I hoped to paint for my winter buffet vignette

 is one of warmth, using rich colors and textures...and bringing in elements

 from the English countryside.

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Florals and Fruit...

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A tall urn filled with artichoke looking blooms and vining ivy sits

 front and center in this buffet vignette.

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The cluster of grapes trailing down the side of the urn brings a bit

 of the English countryside into the vignette.

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More fruit...a single pear under glass!

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Masonry...Bringing More of the Countryside In

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A single masonry candleholder paired with a pretty masonry bowl

 brings more of the countryside "in".

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I found this beautiful masonry bowl at one of my favorite antique shops.  Love, love,

 LOVE the band of roses that seem to be dancing around the edge!

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Another little corner of my dining room.

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Our wood burning stove is a "God-send" during the long, cold winters here in

 Colorado.  As you can see...the wood bin is full and ready for a fire!

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Plate Wall...

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I love red transferware and white ironstone and have a few pieces displayed

 on the wall behind the wood stove. I think the plate wall brings a nice "point of

 interest" into the dining room. Decorating with beautiful plates is always a great

 option...whether it be English Country or French Country design.

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Layered Patterns...

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Just thought I would show you a close-up of the table coverings.  I layered

 a gold (English Country) floral patterned tablecloth over a solid gold tablecloth...lots

 of layers!  The corners of the white table are peeking through.  I really like

 this look!

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I love how the floral pattern of the tablecloth looks with the pattern of the

 well-worn rug!  This may seem "busy" to some, however layering different patterns

 with one another is indicitive of English Country design.

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The opposite wall...across from the buffet.

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I added a few floral patterned pillows to the bench!  The secret to

 combining different patterns...is staying within the same "colorway".  All

 of the different patterns in this room are in keeping with the same

 olive, red, and gold color palette.

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I used this same rule in mixing different patterns in my Tea Rose bedroom.

  If you would like to see that...just click HERE.

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And...there you have it!
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A warm winter's vignette...
English Country style!

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I hope that you enjoyed!  It won't be long and I will changing

 my dining room's decor for something "lighter"...ready to welcome the

 spring season in!

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I am joining these fabulous parties...

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Open House Party...hosted by Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.

Home Sweet Home Party...hosted by Sherry over at The Charm of Home.

Feathered Nest Friday...hosted by Courtney over at French Country Cottage.

Potpourri Friday...hosted by Honey over at "2805".

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Thank you, ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us!

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Well my friends...I'm so happy that you stopped by for a visit today!

  Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here.  I would

 love to visit with you!

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Warmest Wishes!

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Transitions...

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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Wow...here we are...already into the second week of March! I have been a busy little bee this past week...decorating...cleaning...and doing more decorating! The seasons are changing...winter is slowly giving way to spring! Here in Colorado...the key word being "slowly"! Hehe! Yes...we are still experiencing some pretty cold temperatures, in fact snow is in our forecast for the next couple of days! But...I am soooo ready for spring...I really do have a terrible case of spring fever this year!

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~Transitions~

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I really do enjoy the "transition" between seasons. I also really enjoy changing the decor of my home from season to season. I am ready to put my home's warm "winter frocks" away and start bringing in the lighter and brighter colors of spring! How about you...are you beginning to decorate for spring?
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Transitioning from Winter to Spring...

The dining room table in my french country dining room.

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I enjoy decorating with pinecones for the autumn and winter seasons. I love the "au natural" feel and texture that pinecones can bring to a home's decor. We have several large pine trees at our place so pinecones are plentiful!

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Now that spring is nearly at our doorstep...it was time to say goodbye to the pinecones! I bagged them all up...sooo carefully...sooo tenderly...for they have served me well this winter season.
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But before they go to storage heaven...I thought I would create a "transitional" vignette. Transitioning from winter into spring! I hope that you enjoy!
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Sooo beautiful! The rough and rustic feel of pinecones paired with the elegance of a creamy white ironstone pitcher and a couple of white lacy tea napkins!
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My mama gave this pretty little pitcher to me when I went to Texas a couple of summers ago. I just adore its curvy lines...sooo frenchy looking!
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The pinecones, pitcher, and lace napkins are all sitting atop a white charger plate. I purchased a set of these pretty chargers from JC Penneys. The pattern is called "Lace". I love the embossed fleur de lis pattern around the scalloped rim of the charger!
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Voila...a "transitional" vignette...

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Goodbye winter...hello spring!!!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...
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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
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Thank you, Susan and Marty...for hosting these fabulous parties for us!

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Well my friends...hopefully I will be getting a few photos of some of the seasonal changes in our home's decor soon...so stay tuned!

I am sooo glad that you stopped by for a visit today! Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here...I'd love to visit with you!
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Warmest Wishes!

A Warm & Toasty Winter Mantel....

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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My...ohhh my...Colorado is experiencing some of the coldest temperatures so far this winter! The weather forecast is predicting temps of -10 to -20 for Monday night...brrrr! I'm tellin' ya what...our little wood burning stove is going non-stop. We do have central heat but our wood burning stove just makes our home extra warm and toasty...I love it!
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Speaking of warm and toasty...I thought I would share my fireplace mantel's winter decor with you today for Metamorphosis Monday and Table Top Tuesday! I hope that you enjoy!
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A Warm & Toasty Winter Mantel...
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As you can see...in the photo above...our fireplace is located in the living room. It is a faux fireplace...merely for decoration. Sure wished that it were real...a warm and toasty fire would be especially nice today!
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I decided to use warm, toasty colors for my winter mantel.
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Bronze colored browns and gilded golds dominate the color scheme....along with a few accents of copper and green.
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Of course my design goal was to create a mantel vignette that looked and felt warm and cozy.
 So I did a little house shopping for a few "key" pieces!
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A decorative metal, birdcage clock would work perfectly for the focal point!
This pretty clock can usually be found on the shelf of our entertainment cabinet.

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I added a floral pick of coppery colored zebra grass to the interior of the clock. Then I added a couple more of these pretty copper colored floral picks...along with a little pine...underneath the clock. Toss in few acorns, green berries, and a few pieces of miniature "sugared" fruit...and voila!
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I love the olden look of the clock face!
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A small, decorative gold box sits just to the right of the clock.
  The ornate detailing is so pretty on this little box!
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Gold and copper colored "sugared" fruit fill a wire cloche.
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I love the sweet little bird finial atop the wire cloche! And...of course...no winter mantel would be complete without a little candlelight! Two gold candleholders with a decorative brown and cream damask pattern will fit that "bill" perfectly! A sugared pear and apple sit at the base of the cloche...just a little extra added pretty!
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Three copper colored keys are tied together with a gold ribbon and hang from the bird finial!
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A tall torchiere lamp brings interest to the left side of the mantle vignette.
  A few...old but well loved...books are stacked between the lamp and a bronze metal candleholder.
 A single, sugared apple sits so sweetly beside the books!
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A warm and toasty winter hearth...
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A warm and toasty winter mantel!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...
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Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
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Thank you, Susan and Marty...for hosting these fabulous parties for us! *
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Well my friends...thank you so much for stopping by today! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you! *
Warmest Winter Wishes!

Enjoying a Sunny Winter's Day

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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Today I am enjoying some of the simple blessings of life...like a sunny winter's day!

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Although we really have some cold weather during the winter months here in colorful Colorado...we also have many days where the sun lights up the beautiful blue sky! Ohhh...and there is nothing like the colors of blue found in a winter's sky in Colorado!

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A few days ago, we had such a day...it was cold but the sun was shining ever so sweetly! I snapped a few photos of a vignette that sits on a table in front of the large window in my living room.

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Come and enjoy a sunny winter's day in Colorado with me...
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A pretty vignette for a winter's decor.
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A french table tray filled with a few "worn but loved" books.

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I love the old, distressed gray finish on this table tray...so very french looking! The old books are nestled between a fleur de lis bookend and a decorative metal cross.
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I love being able to catch the sunlight and shadows as they dance upon these pretty pieces...with my photos!
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A lovely bust of a french girl adds to the french influence in this vignette.
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A frenchy wire cloche filled with pinecones decorates the right side of this vignette.
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I found this pretty wire cloche last November at a local gift shop. It stands a stately 30" in height and makes a grand statement! It also has an old distressed gray finish and pairs nicely with the french table tray!
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It won't be long and this beautiful sun will set. I sooo enjoyed its warmth and light on this cold winter's day!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...

Metamorphosis Monday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
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Thank you, Susan and Marty...for hosting these lovely parties for us!
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New "Handwritten" Font...

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I am sure that you have noticed that I am trying out one of Blogger's new fonts. I love the look of this "handwritten" font, however I wasn't sure if it makes the reading more difficult or not. I would love to hear your opinion...no worries...you will not offend me if you dislike the new font! I really do want to make your visits to my place enjoyable! Would you let me know if you like the new font or not...I always value your opinions!!! Thank you!

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Update...several have mentioned that the new "handwritten font"...although pretty...was difficult to read. I really do appreciate your input, my friends...thank you! I decided to change my blog font back to the original!

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Well my friends...I am so glad that you came by for a visit today! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I'd love to visit with you!

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Warmest Winter Wishes!