Try Not to Be Confused

In this design journey of mine, I am now two postings into the English influence.  I have to say, there have been a couple of negative comments about this particular influence, mainly from my son.  "I don't like all this flowery, cozy stuff, Mom.  I liked Pennsylvania much more."  I asked him if he remembered long ago when my slip covers were laden with flowers and checks.  "Yes.  And I didn't like it then," he said.  Well, whose blog is this anyway?  Let him write his own!   That being said, I am going to back to Pennsylvania today, not because of any critics, but because, in my search for English articles, I came across several more on Pennsylvania.  Before mislaying these articles again, I thought I would share them.  (And I hope it keeps my harshest critic quiet.)

The following images are from Architectural Digest, July 1986.  I really do love this stone house and I do love Pennsylvania, but honestly I thought readers might have had enough.  Guessed wrong.

How beautiful are these antiques.

The home owners here collect very fine primitive art and toys.  The painting below is a late Edward Hicks.

Different view of dower chest and beautiful corner cupboard.

Right view of living room.

I know I should be writing about England, but still love this wonderful yellow painted cupboard brimming with red ware pottery.

A collection of fine fracturs (decorated documents).

More fracturs, primitive painting, whirligigs and beautiful floors.

This home and this bedroom have trim paint colors very similar to ones our home had long ago.

Now onto a presentation of Laura Bohn and Richard Fiore's kitchen in Pennsylvania - I talked about their home several postings ago and wished I had more information on their kitchen.  I found some.

The husband and wife team wanted to bring light into their new kitchen while retaining the character of the old house.  Avoiding sliding glass windows was a necessity.

Pantry shelving in front of a window provides both light and storage.

Old storage atop new counters marries the old and the new seamlessly.

More storage and light.

New skylight brightens the breakfast area.

New dining terrace.

On the terrace's table.

Next, because it is spring and because I also found this garden article while searching for English ones, please enjoy this beautiful Japanese garden in Pennsylvania.  "Japanese inspiration in Pennsylvania." Are you confused yet?

Architectural Digest, July 1987

These images all speak for themselves.

I know they speak for themselves, but don't you love the dappled light in this garden??

And the azaleas and wisteria.

And the moon bridge.

Lastly, this home looks English and is English - a little preview of my next posting.  And a little reassurance that England is beautiful indeed.  So my dear son and my main critic, take that :)

Till next time in England-
b

Warm, Cozy, Beautiful England

My love affair with English decor continued for several years.  As with my previous posts revisiting Pennsylvania decor, revisiting English homes make me love it all over again.  It's like revisiting your favorite aunt and finding her with outstretched arms waiting to embrace you.  Just see if you don't think England could embrace you.  Works for me.

The following images are from the lovely book, English Country Interiors, by Mitchell Beazley, published in 2004.  It contains beautiful pictures and text about Cotswold homes.  I just love the name "Cotswold."

I can just see Jane Marple answering the phone here only to learn of the body in her friend's library.

The English so love their dogs, and I so love their antique grandfather clocks.  (Rosemary, does this remind you of anyone?  Webster perhaps?)

Note the view out the window.

Another great window - this time note the blue and white transfer ware on its sill.

From the same book, several kitchens are shown containing AGA stoves because they are so prevalent in Britain.  Their burners and ovens stay warm all the time which is why so many pets stay close to them - attractive in damp Britain.  My husband and I really considered purchasing an AGA during one of our kitchen renovations, but that black venting pipe in the back of the stove was a deterrent.

So here the pipe is white, yet still a distraction, for me anyway.

Still from Beazley's book, onto an antique dealer's home .

What beautiful molding surrounds the fireplace, and the pottery jugs atop the mantel are antique as are most of the items in this home.

Great window, shutters, and vegetable-laden trug.

Another AGA, but minus the rear venting pipe.   Back stairs always seems like such a good idea because one might need a cup of tea in the middle of the night.

Can kindles or i-pads ever replace a library like this?  Never, I hope.

  Sweet jugs on leaded window sill.

How do I love this room?  Let me count the ways.

That wonderful molding again.

Wasn't this a great house??  The entire book is a treat and makes a great addition to our own libraries.


Now onto an English home from a February 2006 issue of The English Home.

That ubiquitous venting pipe rears its head again.

Do you feel embraced by England?  Their decor is so warm and inviting.  As I said earlier, revisiting the English design aesthetic makes me love it all over again and makes me want to go watch Howard's End. or Emma, or Jane Eyre, or reach for one of these novels in my own library.

Next time, it's more of England with a bit of Pennsylvania thrown in (I discovered yet another article in my latest search for English influences).
Till then, stay warm, stay in a library, stay in a garden, stay English-
b