November 15, 2009

Winter Decorating Ideas - Laurie Kessler Style

Simple, clean, elegant, unpretentious - words to define Winter decorating in the eyes of Laurie Kessler, my sweet sister in law. Laurie's style is strongly influenced by visits to her grandparent's farm as a girl with bits of vintage farm bits here and there, like the galvanized chick feeder filled with silver mercury glass and green glass balls on the top of the custom china cabinet built for her by her husband, Bobby.

Laurie credits her mother in law, Karen Kessler who influenced her to leave some of the Holiday decorations up through the Winter months for interest and to extend the Season into the Spring. Bits of evergreen, decorative pine trees, mercury glass and lots of pine cones and holly look lovely and keep the house smelling of pine and cedar.
Frosted pine cones fill a vintage handcrafted grain scoop in the screened porch is so charming on a primitive table next to a living evergreen potted in a galvanized metal bucket.
In the bath hanging above the porcelain tub is a primitive scale from a former grocery store for weighing fruits and vegetables. The scale has a new purpose holding mercury glass and clear glass balls. The scale is paired with a salvaged wooden screen hung on the wall for added texture and interest.
At the end of a hallway family photos in simple floating frames arranged above a vintage wooden stool with a plant potted in a vintage tin kitchen pot adds a focal point at the end of the hall. The photos are arranged outside Laurie's office so that she is greeted and encouraged by her great grandparents and other family members as she enters the office to begin her workday.
Another primitive stool serves as another plant stand for a pine tree with tiny decorations adorning the branches in the bedroom which casts a mirror image in shadow on the wall from the afternoon sun streaming through the windows.
This galvanized metal wreath looks great throughout the year hanging in the guest bath. Tinsel and glass ornament containing a tiny woven bird in copper sitting on a twig branch inside a clear glass ball by Julie Pishny looks so sweet hanging from the wreath.
Vintage McCoy pottery deer surrounded by tinsel pairs so well with vintage crochet doily, vintage colander filled with mercury glass balls on a round table in the living room.
Sunlight streaming through South windows makes the nook off the kitchen so inviting at any time of day. The perfect place to sip a cup of tea and watch the birds visiting the garden just outside the windows.
Angel cookie cutters paired with Laurie's collection of ironstone glassware tucked into a china cabinet. Another creative way to enjoy personal collections throughout the year. Laurie has been collecting angels for years receiving them from family, friends, co-workers, and picking up one of a kind, handcrafted angels at fairs and in her travels.
An array of vintage glass jars filled with local grains from the region and flower seeds from her garden in an assortment of sizes and shapes fill another shelf just above the angels and ironstone on the shelf below.
Vintage ironstone vessels hold a tiny frazier fir tree, mercury glass ornaments, and a few pine branches float on shelves of white.
Tinsel trees and one tiny reindeer on the kitchen counter reflect the icy days of Winter. Vintage coffee jars hold coffee and sugar in the background.
Vintage white lard can holds amaryllis, pine cones and tiny bird's nests on the island counter top. A tiny potted rosemary plant in terra cotta complete the arrangement.

I hope this blog inspires you to bring seasonal Winter elements into your home to enjoy until Spring arrives. There's something about the color of green and the sparkle of silver, paired with white that satisfies the soul during the short days of Winter. Blessings.....

12 comments:

Lee Weber said...

Think she'll come to Maine to decorate my house??

Unknown said...

OMG this is sooooo me Julie!!! I'm drooling over here! I have to come back again later for another look...it's just amazing!!!!!!!

BTW your book went out priority mail on Friday morning (and it is gorgeous!!).

:) T

Anonymous said...

What beautiful touches and the cream color is just soothing.
Thanks for your comment on my blog; I am obssessed with music, it has to be part of my surroundings always.

Sally said...

It's good to "meet" you. Thanks for your visit and comment.

How beautifully the decorating has been done. Thank you for sharing.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, I really love this! She has got great style. What a neat house and wonderful use of objects. Thank you so much for sharing, and your pictures are stunning!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...

This is the most beautiful displays in a home I've ever seen outside a decorating magazine. Thanks so much for posting this. Makes me want to clean, clean, clean and DEJUNK! So much beauty. I love her style.

Unknown said...

Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog.I just love yours. hugs Anneke. from Holland

The Elegant Thrifter said...

Hi Julie,

Thank you for coming by. I love your sister's-in-law house and am especially attracted to the cookie-cutter decorations. Would you mind if I re-post it from your blog at sometime? Also, I see you live in Kansas. I am from the Kansas City area and make it back a couple of times a year. I always have a soft spot for people who do creative things who are from my neck of the woods.

Anyway, Laurie's place is absolutely gorgeous. I've remarked it to remember as I do research for my second book.

Have a wonderful week!

Stan

Thanks again!

Stan

Cindy said...

Oh what a beautiful home! Is your sister in law an interior designer?? Her house is like a model home!! So many thoughtful touches throughout.

Bitte said...

Thanks for your sweet comments :-). I am so glad that you found my blog, because now I found yours!

I really like your photos and your jewelry are so beautiful and unique. You seem to be a very creative and artistic person!

The photos from your sister-in-law's house are just wonderful. Her home seems soo Scandinavian to me! :-)

Hugs from Sweden
Beatrice

Witchcrafted Life said...

These photos are indeed deeply inspirational. I love the cool, serene - yet still very inviting - mood they invoke. Wonderful images and ideas, thank you for sharing.

Many thanks as well for your impute regarding my oddly behaving hot roller set, I really appreciate it.

Have a gorgeous evening,
♥ Jessica

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

How beautiful! I love your B & W photographs, too! Lovely!