A Wee Bit o’ Spring

By Kate Riley March 18, 2011

The good news is, it’s Friday and also Spring Break!  The bad news is that I read it is scheduled to rain all weekend and all next week.  Of all weeks, why why why did it have to be Spring Break?  I was hoping to do some gardening and have some outdoor adventures too.  Boo.

Well, I decided if I couldn’t spend my week outdoors, then I would just have to bring a wee bit o’ spring indoors instead!  A quick trip to the market for some ranunculus, and some daffodils from mother nature inspired a few pops of yellow in the living room this season. 

cg ranunculus

 

I shopped all around my house for some accessories for the living room mantel to brighten this room.  I pulled one of my citrus trees indoors for the the month and then threw last year’s outdoor pillows on the sofa and chair.  The gray geometric cashmere throw I found on clearance at Tar-jay last year. 

cg living room chair

 

Those candlesticks are from Z Gallerie, borrowed from our master bedroom. 

cg daffodils and candlesticks

 

cg mirror

 

I’ve made more progress on my abstract painting!  You can see it reflected in the mirror below, but it’s still incomplete.  I’m hoping to put the finishing touches on it next week ~ it seems I’ll have extra time since we’re all stuck indoors.   

A quick coat of spray paint on my old moroccan lantern, a framed daffodil print (free download) and a vase full of lemons completes the spring mantelscape. 

cg living room mirror

 

cg living room spring

 

Before I forget, the winners of the Joss & Main giveaway are:

#11 Emily at Pretty Little Nest

#402: Amy Goodwin

 

Finally, I’d like to thank each and every one of you who have generously donated to our Alma Project.  Thanks to you, we’ve raised almost $2,000, wow! 

the alma project button

This weekend, thanks to these funds, we will be delivering two toddler beds and mattresses to our adopted home, one donated and one purchased.  The moms will be so blessed to finally have a place for their children to sleep. 

Next, we will be building a wall storage and entertainment center in the community great room.  I’m very excited to fire up the power tools to build something that will serve an important purpose in the home. 

Thank you Kimba, Cristin, Dixie and Dianne for your lovely words earlier this week. 

Signing off, wishing you all a perfect weekend,

and a very:

happy spring daffodils

 

Enjoy!

cg kate signature

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81 comments

  1. The room looks great! I must ask, where did you get your mirror? It’s gorgeous!

  2. Hi there – I have just stumbled upon your blog and saw the cute candlesticks on the mantel. Funny, I just snapped a pic while out shopping of some very similar in a store – but they were a really a brown ugly color. By any chance, did you paint yours? If so, do you mind passing along tips for doing so? I would like to spray paint the ones I saw, but I am unsure about how/what products to use to get a really great finish?

  3. I love the way everything looks! Its so pretty and clean looking! I really LOVE your mirror! What a great piece of decoration! Love your blog too!

  4. Kate,
    I’m so excited I won! Do I just go to the website to claim my prize?
    Thanks so much,
    Amy

  5. Love the pops of yellow against white and gray. A pleasure to read and look at your blog.
    – Joy

  6. I used to live in a house with many daffodils. One year my three year old brought me flowers. He was so proud of himself! Yes, he picked every last one of them

  7. I think the yellow pops are fabulous! And I can’t wait to see your abstract. I’ve been thinking of doing something similar.

  8. Have a great week with your kids, Kate! Maybe the weatherman will be wrong! We’re on our break now and we all got a little sunburned today from the unexpected sunshine! (yes, I’m reading blogs during family time!) ;)

  9. Can you tell me where you got the fabulous mirror? Thanks! Love your blog! Its my new addiction

  10. Such a lovely touch of Spring!! I am in Calif. and it is raining cats and dogs and will be for the next 5 days. My spring flinging will have to wait one more week, but I sure am enjoying yours. There is nothing like bright yellow daffodils mixed with white to bring Spring in with a shout. Happy weekend, Kathysue

  11. I just adore that color palette…and is there anything more happy than yellow flowers??? I think not! So glad spring is here!!!

  12. I love the pops of yellow with the grey and white. It looks so happy and makes me super excited for spring! I also LOVE your mirror above the mantel, where did you find that beauty?! :)

  13. Such a restful space but I love the pops of yellow, too. Sorry your Spring Break could be washed out. :( Hope you enjoy anyway.

  14. Wow! The yellow really pops against the white mantle and accessories. Can you tell me where you got your little mirror top table?

  15. I’m a newer reader and I love the mirror above your mantle! Do you have a source you could share! It is beautiful!

  16. I love the gray, yellow, and white combo. Your room looks sophisticated, springy, and just plain stunning. You take great photos! I love reading about the Alma Project update…so exciting!

  17. Ah lady – you do the best mantels! I always ADORE that room (and I’d kill for that throw!) Will you come and do BOTH of my mantels? I was so excited to have two when we moved in last summer, but it’s proven a challenge for me, especially since one of them is 90 inches – SEVEN AND A HALF FEET LONG!!!) It’s made of kind of rustic cut beams and on a full brick wall. It’s so dark and I have no idea what to do with it. Sorry, that was a long way of telling you how much I love yours!

  18. I love the rug – is it a recent purchase, or have I missed it in the past? I’m on the lookout for a new rug, so I AM noticing them more often!

  19. I don’t think there is anything better than some pops of yellow for welcoming spring into our homes. Yours looks beautiful.
    CAS

  20. I miss fresh flower markets but I can still hit costco for something springy! Can’t wait to see your painting, I just did one and I think it needs more work but my kids like it.

  21. Hi, Love your webside!!! Where did you get those fab throw pillows? Did you make them?

  22. I love it! Your house looks so beautiful. It really shines in spring and summer, I think.

    Today is the first day in so long where it feels like Spring. The birds are all chirping and peeping away, the sun is out full force, the sky is clear (mostly lol) and it’s a whopping 39F LOL. Ohhh I can’t wait for nicer weather!

    And I always have such a hard time finding ranunculus! Where can I get them without paying a whole lot?? Well I should say, where did you get yours, since you most likely have no idea what the flower market is like in Vancouver,BC :P

  23. Thats beautiful! I love how the yellow brightens up the room. I love the mirror, too where did you find it?

  24. What happened to that cute little brown table (where the brass one is) that played off the brown legs on the couch? I loved in there!

  25. Sssshhhhhhh. I was not aware that March 18th was National Silence Day for Bloggers worldwide in deference to the tragedy that the country of Japan has been going through. To everyone on whose blog I commented on March 18th (I honestly cannot remember how many replies I have left), please accept my sincerest apologies.

  26. The mantle is beautiful, but the rest of the room is even better! I love those pillows on the couch! I’m also jealous that you still have buttercups, all ours died out a few weeks ago!!

  27. Hi Kate…

    Well my friend, I just have to say that as soon as I seen your beautiful living room…it just took my breath away!!! Ohhh…I love, love, LOVE everything about it! I love all the soft gray and white…and adding the splashes of yellow into the mix…well, it’s just divine! Your living room is like a “dream room” to me. I would love to such a beautiful room to call my own! What a gifted and talented designer you are! Thank you sooo very much for sharing your fabulous home with us…and all of the beautiful spring vignettes! This was such a treat, Kate!

    Warmest spring wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

  28. So I was at peppermint plum’s blog and she linked her mantel to your page. I was looking at your gorgeous blog, thinking “I just saw that mirror.” I saw it on the Nate Berkus Show!! I watched your episode today and had your name written down to look up your blog but didn’t get your blog name. Such a small world!! I love how blog land links us together. Needless to say, I am your latest follower! I love your style!!!!

    • Hi Lorie, that’s the Casbah Mirror by Lamps Plus, spray painted gloss white and turned on its side, love it!

  29. I too would love to know what paint color & brand that is, I love it! =)

  30. Hi!!:) I was wondering if you could share where you got those throw pillows?? They are the exact colors I’m looking for!!:) thanks so much!!

    • Hi Becca, I bought those at Restoration Hardware a few years ago as part of their outdoor collection.

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