A Simple Alfresco Lunch

Our bounty from the Mediterranean stand at the farmers' market provided us with the perfect alfresco lunch and inspired setting an Italian table after a morning of gardening this past Saturday.

The table is set with all vintage things: old linen French sheet for tablecloth, embroidered apricot table runner from Chris's French grandmother's handmade collection, ceramics we picked up in Deruta, Italy a few years ago, my grandmother's old ironstone, silver from a French flea market, a very old pressed glass vase my mother gave me, 1970's Fitz & Floyd luncheon dishes and old square hotel silver dishes.

the combination of rabbit's ears lavender and

geranium leaves from our garden in a vintage French glass

makes a wonderfully fragrant tabletop arrangement

please join us!

just outside our back door, under the arbor in the shade

a well-earned reward for a morning's hard work!

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

The Wisteria: Inspiration for an Easter Brunch

Even though it's still Lent, I had to go outside and design an Easter Brunch table beneath our incredible showing of wisteria early this morning. Who can blame me for these gentle excesses?

I started by covering two square tables with a long white cloth, then topping that with my grandmother's lace bedspread (which I noticed needs some attention: mending and cleaning!). On top of the lace, to take some of the sweetness out and to give a little edge, I tossed a lavender cowhide left over from a design project, suede side up. I thought it would be great with the color of the wisteria, and it is!

I then tried a couple of different centerpieces: an arrangement of Lenten Roses in my chinoiserie tea canisters was casual and elegant. Then I tried the Easter Egg Tree I made last year, and I like it too. I guess it's nice to have a couple of choices next Sunday.

Place settings are Malvina Golson's embroidered pink placemats (my husband's grandmother), Limoges luncheon plates, and bread & butter plates from my grandmother Amie in yellow paisley pattern I adore. I used the silver I bought at a vide grenier just outside the front door of my dear friend Camilla's house in Rians, France last year. The adorable straw domes are from Anthropologie, and I placed a French sacerdotal relic at the head table, for Easter.

Voila! A little bit ready for our big Easter celebration with lots of family and friends coming over..let's just hope it is nice enough to be outside. They're forecasting rain for the next several days. We might be sitting inside around the fireplace roasting marshmallows!

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Springtime Inspiration: Breakfast in the Garden on St. Patrick's Day

" When Irish Eyes are Smiling...

What better way to herald early spring than with the cheer of the Irish as St. Patrick's Day is upon us? I can just hear the lilting voices and see the bounce in the step. Irish soda bread with lots of butter and hot strong coffee with cream..ah! In a garden setting with snow bells bloomin' and a carpet of moss beneath your feet.

Enjoy! Top 'o the Mornin' to ya!

embroidered table linens handmade by Malvina Golson

my husband's amazing grandmother

many years ago in France

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Anthropologie cockatiel teapot and

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miniature daisies in vintage Chinoiserie tea canister

....You Can Hear the Angels Sing! "

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in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design