Rooster Coffee House

I met two of my best friends for coffee this afternoon at The Rooster Coffee House on Broadview Avenue.  It's a sunny and bright (but cold!) day so it was the perfect opportunity to catch up and enjoy a latte.  Especially when the shop is this adorable!  I love the rustic country accents with vintage personality - such a cozy atmosphere.  I must visit more often!   

J xx

French Farmhouse

I just found perhaps my favourite blog ever - Dreamy Whites, a blog and online shop dedicated to French farmhouse style.  Oh joy, oh joy, oh joy!  Owner Maria says she loves European linens and grain sacks...ME TOO!  That red pinstripe gets me EVERY time! Love, love, love her blog, you must visit!  Somewhere out there, a little farmhouse is calling my name...

J xx

Pink Kitchen

Image: Casasugar

Never in a million years did I think I would love a kitchen with pink cupboards but this really works!  The single bottom row of pink cupboards creates a streamline effect and becomes the focal point of this modest country kitchen. The contrasting dark-stained shelves for plates and jars make it acceptable to showcase the cupboards so distinctly. I absolutely love this!

J xx

Farmers Market Baskets

These Farmers Market Fruit Baskets made of bone china are charming and I want one.  You keep that cozy familiar feeling of taking home fresh fruit in their signature baskets, and gain the elegance of porcelain serveware. These baskets are some of many country chic, one-of-a-kind and vintage items available at My Sparrow.  I also love their Nautical Signal Pennant Flag Pillow.  There's no shortage of unique finds here!

J xx

Aluminum Rustic

Images: The Hive at 1511, The City Sage

I love rustic wood tables paired with aluminum bistro chairs. This is the perfect style expression for someone who hesitates to go country. Add aluminum bistro chairs and you get the polish and smooth finish that a full dose of country can't give you. On the flip side, a rustic wood table brings warmth and character to a space that a modern table might not. Mix it up and you get the best of both worlds! Capiche?

J xx

Glass, Tin, Silver

You know what's boring? Traditional vases. I am inspired by the new trends in flower vases: glass bottles, tea tins, and silver pitchers or jars. Especially if the said trends are antique! The contrast between the plushness and vitality of flowers against the sleekness of glass and metal is striking and interesting. Popular for garden and country weddings, and perfect for cottage living - these arrangements are easy to create, can cost little, and really don't require much creative effort. Just grab an old bottle, empty tea tin, or that silver jar you never use and fill with flowers. I'm charmed! 

J xx

Pineapple Hospitality

A friend recently told me that the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, and I loved this idea so much, I did a little research and learned that "the pineapple was the celebrity fruit of Colonial America, literally put on a pedestal at extravagant feasts. It was also the status fruit - rare and expensive, brought by ship from the Caribbean. A guest felt honored to be served the exotic pineapple. Since then it has been a symbol of hospitality and a favorite architectural and decorative motif" (HB).

I've since purchased a vintage '70s copper pineapple mold (center) from eBay to hang in my kitchen. Pineapple home accessories are hot items and great gift ideas for weddings and new home owners. I think every home deserves a little pineapple hospitality!

J xx

Clockwise: (1) Kichler, Pineapple Outdoor Hanging Light (2) Jack and Lulu, Pineapple Gold Flat Notes (3) Forest City Brand, Pineapple Crate Label Reproduction (4) Ginkgo, Pineapple Pewter Beverage Pitcher (5) CC Home Furnishings, Copper Pineapple Fruit Weathervane (6) Tommy Bahama, Pineapple Cove Napkins

Bistro Beautiful

Image: Unknown

I'm speechless for once. I will say this: perfection. To me, this is an all-around gorgeous photo showcasing patio elegance at its very best! Peonies, pastries, tea, bistro chairs, the morning paper...what could make a more relaxing morning? I hope this photo will inspire you as it has done me.

J xx

Photos for Flowers

I went looking for flowers today to fill my lovely tin flower pot, and I stopped in at Prince of Wales Garden on the Danforth between Woodbine and Coxwell.  It was a sunny, warm, perfect day so I decided to take pictures of the pretty flowers with my iPhone, and the shop owner (far left) asked if I could send him the pictures I was taking of his shop and he would give me a big basket of begonias in return as a thank you. Perfect trade-off! Don't the begonias look beautiful in my tin pot? This gesture made my day! You never know the kinds of people you might run into on any given day.

J xx

PermEnamel Paint

This month's issue of Country Living Magazine has tons of unique craft ideas; my favorite is the farm animal dishware.  You can convert plain glass and ceramic dishes into little masterpieces by painting images with Air-Dry PermEnamel Paint.  PermEnamel what? Yes, that's right - you can personalize dishes with dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe paint and it's PERMANENT!  No baking required! The creative possibilities are endless!  For instructions on how to duplicate these mugs, click here. Thank you CL!

J xx

Country Kitchen

One day when I finally get to decorate the Bed & Breakfast that I own in wine country, I will decorate the kitchen with this color pallet in mind. Yellow, pink and red is an uncommon color combo for a country kitchen, but doesn't it look irresistibly fresh and happy?  And what country kitchen is complete without a KitchenAid stand mixer?  To top things off,  I would have a dark chocolate oak harvest table, making this color pallet that much more rich and vibrant. Oh me oh my. One day...when pigs fly.

J xx

(1) Art.com, Healthy Poultry Print, (2) KitchenAid, Majestic Yellow Stand Mixer, (3) Jonathan Adler, Pink Tea Towel

Peachy Keen

Vintage sign from Country Living

You know that feeling you get when something excites you, but you don't have the words to describe how you're feeling...you get a surge of adrenaline and bear the frustration of being speechless?  I imagine it's similar to when babies get excited but have yet to say their first words, so instead they clench their fists and make a funny sound.  That's exactly how Diane von Furstenberg dresses make me feel. DVF's Keoni Madras Dress is so summery and perfect for a walk in a peach orchard...if, you know, you ever find yourself walking...in a peach orchard...and need a dress for it...um, moving on! I am inspired by the fresh color tones of this dress; so here for you, are more peachy items worthy of a fist clench. Now I just need to find a peach orchard...

J xx

(1) L'Aromarine Paris, Peach Eau de Toilette
(2) Tocca, Mezzo Cosmetics Bag, Peach Trellis
(3) Jack and Lulu, Stripey Straws