Small Abstract Painting

These are photos of a small abstract piece I just finished painting.  I found the antique frame at a shop here in town and have been looking for an abstract work to put in it.  I never did find one, so I finally decided to paint one myself.  Here it is hanging in the Living Room. 





A House of Many Pages

I love books.  I love the look of them, the smell of them and the feel of them.  There are hundreds and hundreds of books in the House.  And although many are used as props and decorative items, the vast majority of them have been read and enjoyed.  Here are just a few photos of the many books we have and how we use them.

The second to last photo is a book signed by the interior decorator Mary McDonald.  We went to hear her speak a couple of weeks ago and got the book signed then.  If you do not know her, look her up.  And watch the second season of her show, Million Dollar Decorators, on Bravo this summer.  She is fantastic!  It really is the only television I watch.



An Office of Gray in a House of White

These are photographs of the Gray Office that is located right off of the Living Room.  It was used as a small bedroom by the previous owners.  We cut out the large doorway from a solid wall.  Bobby added the gorgeous trim work and the pair of french doors.  Although small, this room makes quite an impact when you walk into the Living Room.  I love how Richard decorated this room!

From the top: Two views of the Office through the added doorway.  The doorway seen in the second photo in the back of the room leads to the lanai and pool.  The walls are paneled and hung with black and white photographs and drawings. The armchair and ottoman are by Ralph Lauren and although quite beautiful, to be honest, are not that comfortable.  The boys found the glass topped desk at a consignment shop and it really is fantastic!  The last photo is a detail of the woodwork Bobby added to the room.  The house was truly just a plain concrete block before Bobby got his extremely talented hands on it.

An Easter of Flowers at the House

We enjoy entertaining, especially at the holidays, and spending time with those we care about and eating way too much food.  The House tends to fill up with flowers on these occassions that our way too generous guests bring with them.  Above are just a few examples of what we received yesterday.

From the top: A gorgeous potted plant takes the place of a silver bowl that was shown in the Silver Bowl post below.  White orchids are our favorite! This one sits on the Kitchen counter behind a few cookies left over from the Easter feast.  Next is a photo of just some of the desserts we served yesterday among a few bouquets.  A shot of a corner of the Living Room shows another white orchid and the above mentioned potted plant.  Matt and his family brought a beautiful potted gardenia.  When I went out to take a photo of it, a butterfly just happened to land on it near a bloom.  The next photo shows one more white orchid.  This one though has been in the House since last Thanksgiving.  It still looks as fresh as it did the day it arrived.  It is amazing and I love it!!  The last photo is of one of the four cats who live here with us.  This is Fred.  He is sitting on the table next to the Thanksgiving orchid.  I could not resist including him.

The House of Silver Bowls

There are many silver bowls of all shapes and sizes scattered throughout the House.  The photos above are just a few of them.

From the top: A bowl that my family gave to Richard this week sits on a black console table in the front Living Room.  Nuts and olives are often served in two small bowls on the red wine bar we keep set up in the Great Room.  A large simply designed bowl sits in front of a book-filled case in another part of the Great Room.  Two bowls are nestled among dinnerware above the refrigerator freezer unit in the Kitchen.  I keep a beautiful small bowl, that I have had for years, on the table by my bed.  Two more bowls sit in one of the bookcases in the front Living Room.

Profile Painting in the Living Room

These photos of the Profile Painting were taken in a corner of the Living Room.  This is a painting that I did a number of years ago and yet still remains one of my favorites.  I have always felt that it is one of the best executed paintings I have ever done.  I truly do love it and it looks great in the black and white Living Room. 

The black and white photos are part of Bobby and Richard's collection and the fantastic large ginger jar is one of a pair.

Profile Painting

The acrylic on canvas painting measures 24"W X 48"H.  In the custom black wood frame the piece measures 34"W X 58"H. Pricing and shipping information is available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/95782842/profile-painting

Sorrow Drawing in Living Room

Tucked in a corner of the Living Room is a fantastic chrome tea cart set up as a mini bar.  The silver Top Hat Ice Bucket and the glass Bamboo Bowl are two of our favorite things.  The black leather chair is one of a pair.

Sorrow Drawing
The graphite drawing measures 12"W X 16"H. Matted behind glass and in the black wood frame the piece measures 19"W X 25"H. Pricing and shipping information is available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/92607902/sorrow-drawing

Youth Drawing in The House of Black and White

This post is a series of black and white scenes in and around the house.  The entrance to the kitchen is always a great place to have coffee on a weekend morning. Stacks of towels stand ready at all times on the lanai for those who decide to take a dip in the pool.  My bathroom is truly one of the prettiest bathrooms I have ever seen (if i do say so myself). Bobby outdid himself on it.  I will definitely post more photos of it one day.  The photos of the Youth Drawing were taken in the Living Room.


Youth Drawing
The graphite drawing measures 26"W X 20"H.  Matted behind glass and in the silver leaf frame, the piece measures 35"W X 29"H.  Pricing and shipping information is available at http://www.etsy.com/listing/91815017/youth-drawing

A House of White Trim

When Richard and Bobby first bought the house, there was not one piece of trimwork or moldings, inside or out. Two years later, thanks to Bobby's design and carpentry skills, Richard's impeccable eye and a lot of wall painting done by me, the house is now completely made over. Here are some examples of the work that was done. The top photo is of part of the lanai, where we spend a great deal of time. We rebuilt and painted the columns and soffits. The second photo is of one of the window seats in the Living Room. They are as comfortable as they appear. The next three are of the kitchen. The cabinetry, columns and shelving were all designed, built and lit by us. We enjoy cooking, so all of the dishes, serving trays and meat domes pictured are in constant use.