#alamaison – à la Maison Home and Lifestyle

This polar vortex is really grabbing a good portion of the country. Here is Central New York, we woke up to below zero temperatures with a wind chill factor of -24 degrees!

However, I’m focusing on what’s going on inside – a new shipment of beautiful spring stems and succulents!

Nothing chases the cold away like a room full of flowers and greenery. There’s no time like the present to bring the look into your house – whether fresh or faux. Plants and flowers bring warm and happy thoughts of spring and summer.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Floral branches in white and green. I love a brimming vase of all white and green flowers. It’s so organic, elegant and feminine. Fill a vase and see what it does for a room – just lovely!

White peonies arranged in a rustic green metal can.

White and green floral stems ready and waiting for an afternoon of flower arranging.

A mantel decked out for spring with white and green.

Succulents and ferns. Both succulents and ferns are typically easy care options for fresh indoor plants. However, if you are really busy, faux is the way to go. Today’s faux greenery is gorgeous and hard to spot.

Faux succulent and boxwood spheres in various sizes and styles.

Faux succulents arrangements work perfectly on a interior stone wall. No watering required!

Potted ferns are always ready to go at the store. Tuck them in anywhere for a quick pop of green.

Greenery adds a pop of color to this black and white tablescape.

Options abound, so don’t let winter get you down… just bring in the green!

Decorating, Easy Entertaining, Living Beautifully, New at à la Maison, Our Favorite Things..., Tablescapes

Our Favorite Things… Pottery Inspired by Nature

January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 à la Maison

It’s January in Central New York and I’m already dreaming about spring… Sunshine, fresh green foliage and flowers – I can’t wait!

In the meantime, there are so many ways to bring the outdoors in – including freshening up your tablescape. Fresh flowers, centerpieces and seasonal linens are always an option to bring in natural elements, but how about your dinnerware?

This gorgeous Riviera pottery is designed by the famous French floral designer, Christian Tortu. The detailed design on these Hydrangea leaf salad plates are amazing.

Whether used in your tablescape, as appetizer plates for your spring gathering, or adorning a sidetable or night stand – they are sure to add a refreshing touch of nature.

These petite Laurel Leaf plates are a perfect little dish for olives, condiments… plus how pretty would it be on a bedside tables and a little jewelry tray for rings and such?

Simply to pretty to hide away – consider using them as art when not in use – hang them with plate hangers or display them on your mantel or buffet with an table top easel. Stunning!

pottery - white beaded platter bowl with laurel leaf plate

florals and hydrangea leaf salad plate - better

Easy Entertaining, Gift Ideas, Living Beautifully, New at à la Maison, Our Favorite Things..., Uncategorized

Our Favorites Things… Recycled Candleholders

June 14, 2018 à la Maison

Who wouldn’t love one of the beautiful new Mesa candles from PADDYWAX? From the great southwestern inspired pottery to the soothing array of scent blends, they make a perfect gift option.

However, these pretty little vessels have another purpose and will long outlive the candle within them. Once the candles are gone, these pottery pieces are designed to be a stackable cream and sugar set.

I just love multi-purpose products for the home! Not a coffee drinker? These pottery pieces would be great for sauces, condiments, etc.

No need to limit them to a life in the kitchen… How about a little greenery?… I can see them holding pretty little succulents arrangements as well!

Decorating, Gift Ideas, Living Beautifully, Tablescapes

New Life for Tired Flowers

June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 à la Maison

One of the easiest ways to breath a little life into a fresh cut flower arrangement that’s starting to fade is a fresh water and a snip of the stems.

Look over the flowers and discard any that are truly past their prime (limp or browning petals, etc). Working with the flowers that have potential, remove them from the vase so you can thoroughly rinse out the vase and add fresh water.

Because you’ll probably working with less flowers/greenery, now is the perfect time to get creative and re-arrange the stems to create a totally new arrangement. Many times, I’ll opt for a trio of smaller vases to create a little floral vignette for a new centerpiece or accent to a tray.

Select the vases or vessels you’ll be working with and clip the stems at an angle to the appropriate high for the vase and style of arrangement you wish to create.

If desired, add fresh greenery (I’ve just mixed in a bit of lilac greenery that I slipped from the yard) and embellish with ribbon if desired.

Quick and easy updates that will prolong the life of your flowers!

Easy Entertaining, Events

Easy Entertaining… Blackberry Basil Simple Syrup

June 8, 2018June 8, 2018 à la Maison

When creating the menu for a recent gathering at our shoppe, I wanted a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage option. Something special and pretty that would appeal to the guests coming to celebrate the opening of à la Maison’s newly expanded showroom.

One of the prettiest cocktail ingredients I count on is Blackberry Basil Simple Syrup. Easy to make and quite versatile, you can take it in any direction you’d like… an elegant non-alcoholic spritzer , a pretty kiddie cocktail, or a delicious vodka blackberry basil spitzer.

Just a few simple ingredients – fresh blackberries, fresh basil and sugar simmered in pure water creates this unique and fruity twist on simple syrup. It’s a quick and easy option to prep ahead of your next event.

Blackberry Basil Simple Syrup

4 cups fresh blackberries
2 cups sugar
3 cup water
¼ cup of fresh basil leaves

Add ingredients to a medium sized pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and boil for 15-20. Stirring occasionally. Cool Completely. Pour through a fine strainer and store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for about a week.

Now your ready to put your new Blackberry Basil Simply Syrup to good use! With or without alcohol, it’s a fruity and refreshing choice

Blackberry Basil Vodka Spritzer

2 tbl blackberry simply syrup
1 tbl triple sec
1 shot of vodka
1/2 cup seltzer water
Fresh Basil and blackberries to garnish

Blackberry basil simple syrup, triple sec and vodka to a shaker with ice. Shake then pour into a glass, top with seltzer water and garnish with fresh basil & blackberries.

Blackberry Basil Spritzer Mocktail

Seltzer Water
Blackberry Basil Simple Syrup
Fresh Basil and blackberries to garnish

Fill goblet with ice, top with a fresh blackberry and sprig of basil. Fill glass with seltzer water, then top with Blackberry Basil Simply Syrup to taste.

Enjoy!

Decorating, Floral arrangements and Interior Landscaping, Living Beautifully, Quick Tips, Redesign & Interior Style

Quick Styling for a Wooden Tray

April 17, 2018April 18, 2018 à la Maison

Wooden Tray are not only useful, but also a great staging tool. Here are some quick and easy styling tips to dress them up…

1) Think in odd numbers – Three decorative items are perfect. 2) Pick items that are different heights. 3) Add something green – plants & succulents are very popular right now and will add an organic element to the room.

Your newly styled tray will look great on a cocktail table, buffet, or dresser!

Before & Afters, Decorating, Floral arrangements and Interior Landscaping, Furniture & Accessories, Living Beautifully, Redesign & Interior Style

Dining Room Redesign

March 27, 2018 à la Maison

The main objective with the redesign/staging of this dining room was to lighten and freshen the space while working with the furniture that was already there.

The first order of business was selecting a new color palette of taupe for the walls, a pale blue for the ceiling and crisp white trim. Replacing the ceiling medallion and painting it the same color as the ceiling was a quick and inexpensive way to add some overhead detail.

The furniture needed to stay so the goal here was to minimize the heavy, dark and dated feel it brought to the room. By simply removing the hutch top and working with just the buffet (which we found was plenty of space once all the clutter and used items were removed), and covering the side chairs with neutral cotton chair covers did the trick.

Removing the hutch allowed us more wall space which was the perfect location for a great architectural feature – a pair of antique armoire doors.

Some art and a bit of greenery for an organic touch and this room is complete!

Tag: #alamaison

Our Favorite Things… Spring Stems and Greenery