Genevieve Lethu

Do you decorate for the seasons? I don’t mean Pumpkins and Santas. Those are great for the kids. I’m talking about switching the toss pillows and throws from cool tones to warm ones. How about changing your tableware, too? Looking at the same old dishes every day gets boring.

I’m thinking of chunky dishware that reminds me of stews, chili and hot soup – the kind of food we look forward to when the weather turns cold.

I found these at Genevieve Lethu, the French store with shops here in the States. The plate is from the Mathilde Collection and comes in two colors. I mixed that with some leafy spoons that I would team with my regular flatware. Maybe add a horned steak knife. A chunky glass, this one is called Tendance.

I love this La Memoire de Temps ceramic pitcher. Use it as a centerpiece, or fill it with cider. Finally, I’ve covered the table with a table runner that ties it all together.

To find Genevieve Lethu shops near you, follow this link.

Ann Linnemann & Paul Scott’s Summer Trees

Isn’t this beautiful? This teacup is one in a series of ceramic pieces designed by Ann Linnemann and Paul Scott. The collection, called Winter Trees and Summer Trees, is hand thrown and glazed by Linnemann in her studio in Copenhagen. Scott, who hails from Blencogo, England, creates the ceramic decals in his studio in Blencogo, England.

The collection is not for sale as dinnerware. They’re one-of-a-kind art pieces. Too bad, huh?

Interior Design Ideas: 12 Blue and White Rooms

There’s something about blue and white that just about everyone loves. If you’re sporting a foot-tall Mohawk with a spike dog collar, this might not be your thing. But for the rest of us, it is. Even if we don’t choose to decorate that way, blue and white rooms are refreshing – especially in summer.

I think it’s also an easy color mix. It’s not difficult to find fabrics, wallpapers and accessories with this color combination. And there are so many ways to use blue and white that you can decorate this way and still be unique.

Want some ideas? I’ve put together a blue and white interior design album to inspire you.

There’s something about red and tan that make them the perfect accent colors for blue and white. You can mix things up by using several blue hues instead of the standard navy.

Mix stripes with florals to create more interest. And pay attention to texture. The antique desk and side table add depth.

A great way to change a room’s look into something that says Summer is to use slipcovers. They’re not as hard to make as you would think. I love the monogram used here, too.

Blue and white bedding is especially easy to find. Here’s a tip for twin beds – replace the regular pillow with a king-sized sham. It covers the entire top of the bed and looks better.

I like the way the tan pillows tie in the sisal rug and the window treatment. Using a blue bed skirt with the white sheets is a great idea, too.

White slipcovers with a blue lumbar cushion are simple but perfect. The circular table, also in white, draws your eye to the light fixture – the focal point in this room.

You can’t get any more classic than navy blue and white. For some reason, this reminds me of Ralph Lauren. I think it’s the mirror.

Mosquito nets add a sense of feminine drama. I think the Victorians who really needed them would laugh and think we were mental.

There’s more blue and white love after the jump. Read More…