Trends in Housekeeping

I like that word.  Housekeeping.  Keeping house.  Mostly we prefer to hire housekeepers and no one wants to be called a housewife.  Well, maybe no one.  I've decided I don't mind being either although I'm no longer a wife. 

Housekeeping could well be defined as keeping a house up to date...as in watching trends and choosing those that appeal to you.  To spruce up or renovate, most want to know what's new.  Personally, I have tendency to lean toward the older, more traditional, concepts but I pay homage to the new.  Or, not so new in this case.

Here's a new trend that appeals to me since it is reminiscent of an old one.  

You know the old saying "There is nothing new on earth"?  Lattice isn't new but it is currently the hottest thing up in geometric designs which have been hot for a while now.  

Move over chevron, lattice is the new modern graphic.  Timeless, but new.  

The design is by Jaima Brown Home.  

Would you like something a little more subdued in color?  

This lattice fabric comes in many colors and there are complementary larger designs.  Find it on Home Portfolio.  

Wicker chair cushions or throw pillows on a sun porch.?

An upholstered chair in a yellow and blue bedroom?  

If you're looking for lattice elegance, how 'bout this wallpaper?

Gold foil.  

One wall in a dining room with blue and white chinoiserie?  Or Chinese red?

A posh powder room?

Lattice is not new.  Victorians used it all sorts of ways.  It isn't even new in fabric.  I remember a brocade fabric with roses superimposed on a lattice framework from years past. 

If your housekeeping involves updating, give a nod to lattice.  

~Sami

Topiaries & One More!

I was looking at Bunny Williams's portfolio earlier today and this photo inspired me to investigate creating topiaries.   Look closely!  There are a couple of really handsome ones in the background. 

Whether used inside or prepared now for use on a patio or porch later, this might be a good time to while away the winter hours coddling some live greenery!

 

These are English ivy topiaries and a clipped lemon cypress.  The cyprus is trimmed into the desired shape.  The ivy ones are trained onto or around wire forms.  Although ivy can withstand cold temperatures it would be best to start these inside and move them outside as spring approaches.  Either of these would be a nice complement to an interior as well. 

 

 

Handsome topiaries like those above are made from ivy trained around a wire form.    Grapevine works too.  Elegant accents for a porch or patio.  Water, cajole and trim regularly. 

 

How about an arch?  This sweet little plant is angel vine and I found directions for creating this one.

 

Plant a 4-inch pot of angel vine in a premoistened soilless potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. Insert your topiary frame on top of the plant. Wrap the plant around the frame to train it, snipping away the excess.

 

The interesting use of  plant life (below) showed up while I was looking at multi-million dollar properties for sale around the country.  That will be another post. 

 

Espalier is another skill in manipulating plant life into a particular shape.  I was impressed with this one. 

Got a brick wall?  There you go!!  It takes years but the results are worth the effort.  I did it with pyracantha some years ago on the house we lived in for many years.  It was a thorny but fun project.