Sprucing Up For Spring!

With Spring rolling around (and Seattle weather cooperating now and then for inspiration - yahoo!), I have been changing things a bit around here.  

Perhaps this is obvious in Spring, but I am drawn to green this time of year.  I'm rearranging the furniture, moving the focal point away from the cozy fireplace and instead facing out into the garden.  I will be using these great botanical pillows in my living room, inspired by the view.  (The picture doesn't do it justice since the leaves are a beautiful mossy green but in this picture don't look as great as they do in real life!) 

Linen is a must for me for Spring and Summer, so the linen curtains are going up again to replace the silk ones.  Mine don't have banding like these, but I really like them.  Maybe I feel another project coming my way!

  Here are a few of my favorite accents that I'll be focusing on:

Fresh flowers!

Moving around accessories to make the home feel "new" again...  
I think layering art looks so casually sophisticated.  Do you agree?

and...THAT LAMP.  Wow.

I'll also be working on a gallery wall in my stairway landing.  This idea has been brewing for a while, but I think I'm ready to take the plunge!

I never want to neglect the kitchen...I spend way too much time in there.  

Fresh citrus is never a bad idea and of course the flowers are fab.  :)

(And I am crazy for those drawer pulls...they are going on my wish list)

How about you?  What do you do to spruce up for Spring?

Springtime Herbs...

In our new kitchen, we have a beautiful bay window that is perfect for growing herbs, ready to be picked whenever I need a fresh sprig for my cooking.  Love that!  That got me looking for inspiration on herb gardens, both inside and out.  I thought you might like to see what I found. Enjoy!

I love herbs mixed with copper!

European-style herb garden...

This is similar to my kitchen window area (although this one is nicer!)

Going vertical!

This is a shot of some of some of my herbs shortly after planting them last Spring.  They were perched on an outer window sill right outside my kitchen in our house in Munich. 

They got a lot of direct sun here and thrived and I could easily open the window and pluck whatever I  needed...so yummy.

The urban herb garden...perhaps in Brooklyn?
(I was going to guess Stockholm until I saw the electrical outlet)

I love these moss covered herb pots!

With vintage tins - how sweet!



This is Martha Stewart's Herb Garden, divided by hedges...not bad.  :)



I thought this Herb Garden kit makes a beautiful gift.  Yep, it's Martha again!



sunset.com



via Space for Inspiration blog

I usually plant rosemary, lemon thyme, basil and mint (chocolate mint this year) every Spring.  I always add sage even though I never cook with it - I just love those silvery green leaves!  I am thinking of trying my hand at cilantro this year too.  I think chives and dill should be in the mix also.  Hmmm...that is going to be a full kitchen window sill!

Do you plant an herb garden?  If so what do you plant?

If you enjoyed this post you might also like to read my post Herb-Infused.

Sources (unless otherwise noted)

All Set For Spring!

Phew!  The big parts of the move are behind us and this week will be spent enjoying the fun parts of moving in...decorating accents and finding good spots for everything - basically, nesting!  I love that we are moving in just as Spring is coming - the yard will look more and more beautiful, and everything is starting fresh right along with us in our new home. 

Here are a few of my favorite (new-to-me) images that are inspiring for Spring.  I hope Spring has sprung where you are.  Enjoy!

How sweet would this be to do for all my new neighbors?


How cute are these?  Thimble-shaped containers!

Wishing you lots of fresh, bright beginnings this Spring too!

Sources

Easter Sweets

I can't believe Easter is just a week away.  Although a TON has happened this year, winter just kind of went by in the blink of an eye, since we have been so unplugged from reality.  It's been a wonderful ride, but now I'm ready for some normalcy and some of Spring's simple pleasures.  The Easter bunny will be stopping by our new house and I think I'm more excited than the kids... :) 

So here you go - for those of you that celebrate, here are a few of my favorite Easter inspirations of late.  Hope you like them! 



Gorgeous.

Last but not least, a little cocktail for the Easter Bunny...:)

Sources

Decorating For Spring With Urns

Last Fall and Winter I blogged about urns in beatiful decor, hoping to inspire some seasonal ideas.  Coming up today are some fresh ideas for Spring, which is starting to show here and there.  Enjoy...

brabournefarm.blogspot.com

79 Ideas

Charlotte Moss

weddingchicks.com

room-galleries.myhomeideas.com

This look isn't really seasonal but I love it nonetheless. 

I have a glass table-top in storage just waiting for two urns to make a great side table...someday!

Atelier de Campagne at Remnants of the Past

Heather Bullard

thevintiqueobject.blogspot.com

The rustic urns in such an elegant dining room make such a nice contrast 

and of course the greek key is beautiful!

stinemos.blogspot.com

atelierdecampagneantiques.blogspot.com