Credenza Extravaganza

Hello, all!

Well, after a month of cleaning and clearing, I was getting dangerously rather cranky and then, well, I completely conked out! I must say, multi-tasking is one of my fortes - isn't it every woman's (?) - you know what I mean: simultaneously delegating the dirty stuff to the washing machine and dishwasher, dinner doing its thing, simmering on the stove, thus, leaving me hands free to mop the freshly vacuumed floors, while I get the latest deets on all the drama in Canada during a conference call with my mom and sister!

 

Yet multi-tasking isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact, I recently read that in the workplace, it actually leads to more mistakes! Since I was desperately craving some creativity, I devoted all my concentration on decorating the credenza and found it was the perfect pick-me-up perk!  Excited about restyling it with a few new cuties from Canada, like the cool, cow creamer, above, I made sure not to even think about focusing on anything else (like back breaking bath tub scrubbing, for example!) until my project was completed.

For the most part, I worked with what I had, like the 

sweet, butterfly candy dish that sat in the sun room 

for a long time, and the dainty, floral teapot,

which used to be displayed in the 

glass cabinet in the kitchen, above.

The same goes for the white, scalloped edge, French 
dishes, setting a foundation on the bottom shelf. 

 

They were stacked on the kitchen's open shelving for years.

This latest arrangement, to me, is fresh, light and cheery. It screams sings 'spring' to me. Those of you who have been following Poppy View for a while know that the credenza usually changes with the seasons. 

Case in point #1: Christmas!

 

Case in point #2: bursting with summer blooms.

So, until spring actually does arrive, at which point I will joyfully pick narcissus, geraniums and freesia from our garden, to fill empty creamers with splashes of floral fragrance, the breakfast nook credenza will be on stand by, unlike me, who's already got a lot on her plate!

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In Merry Measure

It's five days till Christmas, and I'm in Crete,

 while my daughter and my family are in Canada.

 I didn't feel much like decorating this year,

since Liberty and I always trim the tree together,

after my husband outfits it with all the pretty lights.

Painted cut outs are baked, carols are sung,

tea parties are planned, and turkeys are bought.

Those of you who have been visiting me lately,

know how homesick I've been feeling,

recounting Christmases past, collecting old

photos and featuring favourite holiday tunes.

I had to face the facts:

It would be just the two of us.

 I am blessed to be part of

 a very loving, close knit family.

We laugh a lot, we cry a lot, 

we share the good times and the bad.

  

 Needless to say, it is very difficult

 for me living so far away from them,

when we are fundamentally inseparable!

On top of all this, I miss the snow. I knew

we probably wouldn't be having a 'white' Christmas,

but I was in no mood for a 'blue' one, either.

It's no secret that red is my favourite colour.

It makes me happy, it radiates passion and

it reigns over both Easter and Christmas, here.

I am only decorating this dresser, 

which I am now calling my Christmas Credenza,

and the fireplace mantel, tomorrow. It's just enough

this year, and all I really have time for at this point.

 Hope you like it!

In the end, it was fun

 to create a Christmas treasure,

while I sang along in merry measure.

It has been a year of transition, which has been trying. 

 Most importantly, I thank God for the health 

and safety of my family. And, I am grateful for all of

you. Your visits mean so very much to me and

I thank you for keeping me company!

Merry Christmas, my sweet friends!

xo

Poppy

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My Sunbathed Bathroom

Welcome to my washroom. Or rather, bathroom.

 Excuse me - restroom. Or is it water closet? 

Supposedly, a washroom or restroom is found in public places,

 while a bathroom refers to the residential kind...Generally speaking.

Then again, it all depends on where you grew up, 

until you relocate to another country, and that's 

when things can get a little confusing. Or very amusing. Or not.

When we were designing our home, 

bathrooms were gaining ground,

 slowly stealing the spotlight from another starlet

 of watery scenes - the kitchen! 

It seemed that people wanted a more specialized room, where they could escape from the hustle and bustle of their day to relax and unwind in a space that provided a little luxury,

some peace and quiet and a whole lot of atmosphere.  For some, this translates into 'spa', while for others it simply means 'spartan'. 

It's a very personal feeling and attitude.

Actually, I'm somewhere in the middle. 

I wanted a space that was calming, 

thus, the earthy tones in tiles 

and granite and soft white furnishings.

But I also wanted to feel revitalized and that's where

 the pastels and bright wildflowers come in, 

playfully accessorizing the neutral foundation. 

Two different philosophies, one understanding.

Click on image to enlarge

My washroom is separated into two rooms: 

the 'powder room', which contains a double vanity,

 display cabinet, and washing machine, and the

 'bathroom', where the bathtub and toilet can be found. 

Each space has its own window and this allows sunlight to pour in practically all day, creating a soothing little sanctuary

 for the stressed and the weary, a place where rest 

has the power to rejuvenate and refresh! 

In the end, isn't that what this room is all about? 

And so, perhaps it is most fitting to say that a washroom

 boasts a bathroom, in which there is room to rest.

 There! No more wishy-washy wording and everybody wins!

Thanks for visiting!

xo
Poppy

My Autumn Room

This is my autumn room. Some people have sun rooms. I have an autumn room. The funny thing is, although this room features typical fall colours, like orange and mustard and rust, the patterns on the sofa and accent  cushions speak of spring. Tulips, for goodness sake! What else screams spring more than tulips?!

And as if that weren't enough to cause serious climatic confusion, beautiful flowers are in bloom, everywhere - on plates, in prints, and in sewing projects. The walls are dressed in the season's signature look: floral, floral and more floral!

And yet, the mood is fall. Perhaps it's the dark walnut furniture, the shade of green on the wall, the French doors (the only ones in the house) that, when closed, create a quiet haven, a cozy cabin-like refuge from the large, open plan living areas. My autumn room is where we retreat when the rest of the house is cold.  Like today, the first real warning that winter was on its way.  Snuggled in our woolly blankets and clutching our cups of tea, the fiery red elements from a little space heater lit up the room in a burst of amber. And there, in the golden radiance of that glowing light, we were surrounded by autumn.

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and have a lovely weekend!

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Pomegranate Ponderings

Sitting in the living room yesterday morning, taking a cozy coffee break from some unplanned and pressing chores, I noticed how pretty the pomegranates from our garden looked, hanging from my little iron rooster hooks, among the potpourri of oregano, sage and garlic. 

Personally, I wouldn't have thought of placing them in the middle of these aromatic bouquets, but my husband, who is more of a practical person, just did it, like it was the most natural thing! I tend to be influenced more by aesthetics, and sometimes, I overthink things too much. For example, I envisioned them in a simple, but earthy, white bowl, with some miniature Seckel pears, nestled in between to fill in the gaps, and then onto the kitchen table, to complement the olive green Welsh dresser, directly behind it, in the breakfast nook.

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 Colour, texture, layering, contrast; all these factors come into play. And then, I realized that that's exactly what I was observing! And he did it automatically! No adding, removing, fussing, adding again, turning, angling, studying...tossing! He simply went out into the garden, cut them off their tree, tied them together with some red plastic string, and hung them directly onto what was closest to him. That's it! A work of art, don't you think?

What about you? 

Do you over-analyse your decorating?

 Are you guilty of too much weighing and not enough whimsy?

 Think about it...but don't overdo it!

Thanks for visiting.

xo

Poppy

All images: Poppy View, 
except 3rd from top

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Bovine Bullies and Humble Hens

Back in high school, in the suburbs of 1980s Toronto, when trends came and went faster than gobbled up Pac-Man pellets, I always remained true to my heart. 

As far as fashion went, when the most popular girls showed up on Mondays after jackpot finds at the mall, decked out in faded ripped jeans and Roo tennis shoes, I relied on my flowery A-line skirts and wedg-y espadrilles. 

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And when Walkmans arrived on the music scene and headphones became the new teenage tiaras, I could be found in my room, animatedly lip-syncing to Ella in front of the mirror, where my mom’s old turntable magically emitted the sweet sounds of 1950s jazz gems.  A true romantic I was.  A true romantic I will remain.

What is a trend anyway? A trend is the hit of the party one day and a wallowing wallflower the next, thus, my deep and lasting devotion to my all time favourite, albeit, universally overdone motif of choice, concerning all things domestically decorative: the humble hen! 

kids.nationalgeographic.com

Who can resist this beauty and boldness all wrapped up in such feathery finery?  Who can admit that they haven’t, at least once, pictured themselves living in a quaint little farmhouse in the country, tending to these wonderful gals, who, in turn, provide the family fare?

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So then, what’s my ‘beef’, you ask? Lately, it seems that a feisty farm animal of the bovine kind has managed to craftily maneuver its way into the blogosphere at stampede speed! 

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Bloggers from all across the land are proudly posting pictures of their precious herd, lazily lounging in places previously held by feminine fowls-on clocks and plates, in paintings and hallways-everywhere, I tell you! Everywhere!

colorfulchildhoodstore.com

Except here.  No sir! My little ladies will NOT be bullied out of their comfy nesting nooks by a gang of overbearing beasts! Although I have to admit, they are kinda cute and they, too, grant us essential things like our daily dose of dairy. 

kids.nationalgeographic.com

Nevertheless, my charming chicks are safe and secure under my little coop of a roof. And, whatever their kind, chickens or turkeys, ducks or geese, pheasants... heck, even those arrogant roosters, one thing’s for sure: this gallinaceous group of lovelies is here to stay.

                           

What about you? What's your favourite animal motif?
 Does it change with the seasons? I'd love to know!

Thanks for visiting!