How I Refreshed My Family Room, Kitchen & Bedroom for Spring

Today on Weekend Meanderings a few spring updates around the house and my recently perfected (if I do say so myself) buttermilk biscuits.

Happy weekend, friends!

It’s Saturday and I’m joining Kim and Elizabeth for Weekend Meanderings.

Our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.

This post includes affiliate links for your convenience at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

It was not a great week.

Another senseless mass shooting.

This time in Nashville.

Sadly it’s all too common.

Will anything change?

I hope so.

And Kim and I discussed it Thursday during our IG Live.

We talked about Home Goods shopping strategies too.

Let’s get to the matter at hand.

Complaining about the weather.

It rained most of the week.

Spring has not sprung.

But we can create a little spring indoors.

So let’s get to it.

 

It’s may be pouring outside, (actually it’s been dry the past two days) but it’s spring indoors. Last week I shared my spring table setting … starring this pretty spring garden table throw. And these springy floral mugs .. they match the table! After setting a spring table, I moved on to other areas in the house that needed a little refresh.

SPRING ON THE COFFEE TABLE

Seasonal decorating isn’t really my thing. That said I do like to change things up mostly with pillows, trays and throws. And that brings me to my coffee table tray. I switched out my round, brass tray, for this square woven tray. And a couple of weeks ago, on a rare sunny day, I grabbed the woven tray and headed to Eye for Pretty at Home in Danville. Last spring I attended their grand opening as a guest of Ashley from Modern Glam Home. Ashley also owns one of my favorite local clothing boutiques, Flaunt. It’s in Danville too. Last year she expanded and carries fun things for the home as well as the best clothes. But back to the coffee table. With a little help from the delightful women at Eye for Pretty at Home, I picked up a few new things to give my woven tray some spring vibes.

When I walked in the shop the first thing that caught my eye was a table piled high with pretty green and gold objects – all 20% off. I fell for the spruce green ribbed candle and went from there adding a jug shaped ceramic vase filled with faux cosmo stems and a white washed wood chain. Et voila.

When I got home I added a couple of books, The Roads to Rome (a cookbook) and At Home in Joshua Tree, with conveniently coordinating colors. And on the other side of the table I pulled out a couple of lighter colored books, Pacific Natural: Simple Seasonal Entertaining and Feels Like Home, and set a little pebble textured box on top.

Let’s get back to the tray again … I needed something to set the candle on and grabbed the ceramic base from a hurricane that I use on the patio. And I tossed in my ever present woven coasters.

Faux flowers are a touchy subject. Some of us love them, some of us hate them and some of us, like me, are torn. Fresh flowers, even at the grocery store, are expensive and don’t last long. At least not for me. I usually have fresh flowers in the house on our breakfast table or in the kitchen … but I pick and choose. The coffee table doesn’t get priority placement. Faux flowers aren’t all created equal and seek out good quality makes a big difference. Afloral is a good online source for realistic looking, quality faux. And Pottery Barn and Terrain are reliable as well.

Shop the look ~

 

The floral pillow in the swivel chair is a treasured Home Goods find. Oh my gosh, look at this Home Goods floral pillow!

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BEVERAGE BAR UPDATE

While fussing with the coffee table, Jim’s bar in the back of the great room caught my eye. Jim wasn’t home so I decided to give it a quick rework. Mostly this involved removing Jim’s toy bartender. A treasured heirloom (I use that term loosely) from his grandfather. I don’t know why it bugs me, I think it’s the red jacket against the green cabinetry. It screams Christmas. Plus poor Mr. Bartender has been hard at work for so long. He’s worn out and deserves a break. If he doesn’t find his way to Kyle’s house, he’ll be back on duty for the Christmas season. By the way, the bar cabinetry color is Farrow & Ball Green Smoke. I shared all of Snowberry’s interior paint colors here.

I have to tread lightly because two of my dad’s artifacts treasures are displayed in the bar area. A name plaque from a bar in the Philippines where I was born. No, I was not born in a bar, but on a Navy base in the Philippines. Apparently the plaque was an honor bestowed on my dad, as a young lieutenant, for his exemplary dice play. And a cute sign my dad’s wife picked up at a garage sale and my dad found hilarious. It was displayed in his office for years. Anyway, it was Jim who chose to give these treasures pride of place around the bar. Long story short, when he returned home he accepted the bartender situation gracefully. You probably grapple with your own challenges around family treasures.

With Mr. Bartender went on break and I pulled out my Jack Russell Terrier bookends to corral a grouping of cocktail related books.

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IN THE KITCHEN

I made a huge decision in the kitchen. Huge. I moved my Kitchenaid mixer off the counter. I know, this is was a tough one. I use it fairly regularly. But not everyday. Not always every week. I hoped it would fit on the bottom, pull-out drawer of the pantry cabinet, but no. Sigh. So it moved to the garage. When we added cabinetry to the garage, we designated the cabinet closest to the back door to function as our back stock pantry. I keep several other small appliances there. And it works. Of course, the day after the mixer was banished I needed to use it. We’ll get to that a little later. Anyway, I’m happier with it off the counter. It’s the little things.

Here’s the bottom line, my cookbook collection continues to expand and maxed out the the designated cookbook shelves next to the kitchen buffet & coffee bar. The collection has spilled over to the counter next to the range. I acquired another one this week … which we’ll discuss next weekend. I believe this is called cookbook creep. I may need to adopt the one-in-one-out principle I adhere to for my closet. For whatever reason cookbooks are harder. Oh, and speaking of spring, artichokes are in season and make beautiful decor … prior to cooking.

On the other side of the stove I placed my newly acquired brass pepper grinder. I’ve had my eye on it a long time and finally took the plunge.

Shop the look ~

 

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Next up my bedroom nightstand. For whatever reason I’ve never ‘styled’ it. What do you think of that term? I dislike it because it feels a little contrived. But I can’t think of a better word. My nightstand is a workhorse. It holds a lamp, my charging gear, an iPad, iPhone, current book(s), newspapers and magazines … and a digital clock (yes, I’m a dinosaur). Our nightstands are RH Maison in antique white. I wish they were bigger. Anyway, nothing too exciting happened here and I didn’t buy anything. I leaned a few books and a candle against the lamp. And I pulled out a silver tray, from one of the guest bathrooms in our Fidalgo Island house.  Our camellia bushes are blooming like crazy and I’m constantly bringing in blooms which look pretty in a little blue bud case. And then I called it a day. After three years, my nightstand no longer looks like we just moved in. Yay.

Shop the look ~

 

Thanks to Monica Vargas Photography for the beautiful images of my spring updates! 

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS RECIPE

We are living the full-carb lifestyle here at Snowberry. And it shows. Nevertheless, the heart wants what the heart wants and this week the heart wanted biscuits. It’s been biscuit weather. Plus my niece recently had a baby and I sent a care package of frozen meals, along with my favorite brownies (how I make them here), and biscuits seems like a nice addition. Added bonus … I enjoyed them for breakfast and then got them the heck out of the house.

I’ve made a lot of biscuits over the years. One of my favorites is Ina Garten’s chive biscuits. But for a regular old plain biscuit that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner I’ve come up with (I think) a perfect recipe by mixing and matching from several cookbooks and online sources. I’ve made this recipe successfully enough times I feel confident sharing.

Remember I said that after moving the mixer to the garage I immediately needed to use it? It was to make these biscuits. You can use a food processor too. Or mix by hand.

So there you have it, my spring updates and a biscuit recipe.

Oops, I just realized it’s April 1st.

April Fools Day!

I’ve never been great at April Fools jokes so we’ll move along.

What’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth this week?!

Let’s find out …

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Odds & Socks ~

I grew up in Lafayette, a little town in Northern California. The best place in the world if you ask me. One of my favorite things is the bike trail that runs through town, and connects to a regional trail. As a kid I road my bike on the trail and as an adult I’ve rollerbladed and walked it regularly. These days I stick to walking. Anyway, along the trail is a house known as the Tulip Man house. For years, Jed Garthwaite, the Tulip Man planted thousands of bulbs each fall which brought delight and pleasure to all during their spring bloom. He’d often stand outside talking to passers by about his love for the tulips … and of course we’d see him pulling up the bulbs and replanting each year. When Jed passed away the tulips continued blooming for a time and then they vanished. A local scout troop raised money for a commemorative bench placed in front of his house on the trail. Each time we walk by I mention it to Jim who rolls his eyes and says ‘I know I know, the Tulip Man.’ But last week, it was his eagle eye that caught two rogue tulips next to the bench. I can’t tell you how excited and happy it made me. If you live locally, you know.

J.Crew is having a 40% off sale. Use code SPRING. And I took advantage to buy this swimsuit, these shorts and this cover up for my upcoming Spring break trip. I also bought this blue and white stripe dress. And, I’m not done!

I’ve heard so many good things about this book and just downloaded it.

Take a tour of this unbelievable estate where the Roy kids set up shop on the fourth and final season of Succession. Are you watching?

Favorite bloggers Cindy, Mary Ann, Annie and their friend, Sheri, styled their favorite denim jackets this week. And just to show you’re never to young to rock a denim jacket, my grand-niece Maeyson (nearly 5) got her very first denim jacket, from the Lauren Conrad Collection at Kohl’s, this week and she looks pretty happy about it!

Current Favorites ~

 

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As always, I appreciate your visit and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.

Cheers from Snowberry!