Hidden Magnolias

I love a ceiling medallion. Ceiling medallions come in all sizes and designs, befitting everything from simple Colonial-style sitting rooms to ornate Victorian parlors. They can be made of plaster, wood, plastic, and metal.  Or even stencilled. Pinterest They can be ornate. http://dishondesigngal.com Or they can be simple. Today's medallions can have a touhch of wimsy, like this adorable baby room one. http://www.mariericci.com/ I have seen ceiling medallions used as decor -- placed on the wall as decorative items. Pinterest http://commutehome.com/ BHG.com

The Prince- Pope-Simpson-Stephens House. Another Washington, GA beauty. Commonly called Poplar Corner and built in 1810, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As you will see, it is a beauty. Oliver Hillhouse Prince built the originally Federal style house in 1810. One of the earliest compilers of the Laws of Georgia, and a Senator, he also laid out the city of Macon. Prince sold the house to Augustus Gibson, who sold the house to Alexander Pope in 1825. Pope purchased the old 1785 courthouse and used the timbers to ad a two-story four-room addition to the back of the house. The Popes sold the house to William Simpson, and his descendants occupied the house for over a hundred years. Physician and philanthropist Dr. Robert A. Simpson designed and added the hand chiseled Beaux-Arts garlands and other decoration, and developed the gardens. Beautiful curving stairway. And on the left, looks like a hint of pocket doors. Love the old gasolier in...

Most haunted castle in England? The Berry Pomeroy Castle. Hidden away in the small village of Berry Pomeroy, Devon, England, it is the ruined shell of a great Elizabethian mansion. Some history. When the Pomeroy family began to build Berry Pomeroy Castle in the later 15th century, they had already owned the manor of ‘Berri’ for over 400 years. It had originally been granted by William the Conqueror to  Ralf de Pomaria, a Norman knight from La Pommeraye near Falaise.  Exactly when the castle was begun remains uncertain. It first appears in the records when Sir Richard Pomeroy died in 1496 as owner of the ‘honour, castle and manor of Bury’. In December 1547, Berry Pomeroy was bought from the impoverished Sir Thomas Pomeroy by the wealthy and powerful Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset (c 1500–1552). Seymour was the brother of Henry VIII’s third and favorite queen, Jane Seymour, and in 1547 became ‘Lord Protector’ of his nine-year-old nephew, King Edw...

Today I stumbled upon this beautiful website/shop. It is called the Enchanted Home.  Actually I found it through reading this blog:   Belclaire House . Jennifer could not have written  better post about the goodies found at the Enchanted Home. I love her opening statement, " Forgive me Father for I have sinned.  No, I'm not talking about the overindulgence in bubbly that may or may not have happened at the wedding the other night, and if it did it has nothing to do with the awesome dance routine my friends and I have perfected to Proud Mary (that's not even a sin yo).  No, Father, it's that I coveteth.  I coveteth hard. " She couldn't have said it any better.  This online store is full of delightful goodies for the traditional home that is sure to please anyone. A few of my favorites. (All images from the website.) Check it out. Lovely!

Nowadays, all I see in decorating magazines, catalogs, and on decorating websites is neutral,  neutral, neutral,  neutral,  neutral.... and neutral. Boring? Some say no. Pinterest Pinterest Pinterest Boring? I say yes. Seems like all rooms today are a deadly dull mixture of beige and brown. Pinterest Pinterest Pinterest Houzz.com Pinterest Even nurseries are in on it. While these rooms may be pleasing to the adult and the decorator, what self-respecting baby would tolorate a morass of beige and brown?  There is no visual stimulation at all with beige and brown.  Houzz.com Pinterest Or worse yet, a room with no color at all. Houzz.com No wonder they love an iPad. What do you think? Do you like color? or Neutrals? Would love to hear from you!!