Patricia Burke

I found Patricia Burke, a photographer working in New Jersey, and I really like her portfolio, and thought I'd share some images with you.


I know there's a bit of cold spell in the northeast, so maybe these pretty garden photos will warm you up and lift your spirits.


Eddie Ross (and Jaithan) arrived in New Orleans yesterday, and we'll meet at Perch today. There's quite a buzz here about him being at the Home and Garden Show.

He has a huge task ahead of him, running around town with a truck, picking up furniture and accessories for the rooms he's putting together. The show opens tomorrow, so I reckon he'll be working all night.


I'm pulling together the cocktail party for Eddie on Saturday night, and getting lots of help which is much appreciated.


A storm is blowing in tonight, and I hope it's gone by Saturday, so we can overflow outside on the porch and patio for the party. My yard guy's phone is disconnected, so the yard will have to be ghetto fabulous.


I went to Lowes tonight after work, and saw a cute gazebo with even cuter outdoor furniture nestled underneath. Even with spending shelved for now, I still don't think it's for me. The wind gusts outside in the plant section tonight were whipping my dress up, and I think the gazebo would be sent the way of Dorothy's flying house here in hurricane alley.


The year has gone so fast. Hurricane season is just weeks away. It seems we never catch up getting all the previous years (2005 - 2008) damage completely squared away.


But right now New Orleans looks her loveliest. The stately live oaks are chockful of spring green leaves. Flowers bloom everywhere. The humidity is low, and the temperature is perfect. This is the short window of fairy tale weather that we appreciate so much.


Ah, here's the end of the lovely work of Patricia Burke. Take a look at her site for many more terrific photographs.

White Girl

Who hasn't lived with white walls? White is so light and clean and practical. It matches everything. A couple of coats of white paint on my New York apartment walls always worked.


City life in caverns and canyons created by tall buildings is often dark, and white rooms offered luminosity.



White could be decorated any way, from modern to vintage.


The white comfort zone followed the city weary Manhattanite to their beach or country getaways. So is it any wonder that for years I thought it was "me" to have white walls?


I ventured away from those white walls a couple of times. English style had me wallpaper everything.


Before that I had a deep purple bedroom, a color that turned out to be very restful and sexy.


But once transplanted for a short time in California, I reverted back to what I had come to believe as a classic, white walls again.


For the most part, white was the way to go. Who could argue with white?
While I'm not against some white, all over white has become another story. White isn't about matching everything. It can be about being afraid of risk, experimentation, change.


When it came time to choose colors for our New Orleans house, I decided not to accept the image of myself I always had. I decided to change the recipe in this house. I wanted to be more daring. I wondered what effect other colors would have on me. Paint is cheap, a little goes along way.


White is neutral. Harmless. Safe. But color is inspiring. It's emotional. It takes you places.


And that's what your house should do. It should transport you to a place of peace and contentment.
And so what colors did I choose?


The kitchen was the first - I wanted a mustard color, something I had seen in Provence.


Next was my office. And I knew it would be red. It took a couple of tries to find the right one, which turned out to be a coral based red.


Then it was the master bedroom. I had never had a blue room, so I chose a gray blue, and it is the most pleasing restful pretty color.


The guest room got a gray beige, the most neutral color, but still some color.


The living room deep brown.


The bathrooms are white, a throwback to my old habits, as is the walk in closet, mainly to enhance the light in there, so we don't go out with mismatched clothes ha ha.


It's been four years since I dipped into the paint pot, and I am not bored with all the color. The value and saturation is similar from one color to the next, so the rooms look linked and cohesive. When people first see the house, they always remark how New Orleans it looks because of the color. I do think geography can determine color.


Painting the walls of your home makes them a part of your home rather than a generic container in which all of your stuff floats, unattached.


Color grounds you. It's an investment in your environment. It's warmer and more homey.

photos from Google Images

Fill Them Up

Day six of my full time job. So far so good. House guests still here, so we've been going out every night, or teaching our regular tango classes. Surprisingly I haven't hit the wall yet ha ha.
Today is perfect day to clean up the yard, but it will have to wait.


Even Mrs. O is in the gardening mode as shown in my morning paper.

I promise more substantial posts this coming week.
Happy Weekend!

Spring. Really. And Preston Bailey .

Watching the Today Show and it's snowing in New York, as the weatherman announces that Spring arrived this morning.


In some parts of the country, the first flowering Spring branches like forsythia might be showing that optimistic yellow against the transitional grays that segue Winter into Spring.

New born lambs and bunnies are images we hold dear when we think of Spring.

And little peeps too.


Preston Bailey made the little peeps, and it made me think of him today. He's a part of my past, as we were two about town trying to make our way in event design. He's a dear man, a major talent, a nice boy from Panama who made it big time by working super, super hard.

His design vision is always pushing the boundaries of what you can do with a flower. I love his flower dogs.

And check out these huge over scale pineapples made from sunflower heads! The man is playful and a genius.

He does the classic as well as the fantastic. Here's some tulips and bunnies to get you thinking about your upcoming Easter table.


He has several books out, big beautiful coffee table books, a web site, along with his thriving successful business in New York, and he has a blog HERE!


So Happy Spring. Is the weather fine and Springy today where you are? Or is Winter still being stubborn, not realizing the party is over.

Preston Bailey - so good looking! Er, I mean what a talent! Aw c'mon, it's Spring when a woman's fancy awakens ha ha.

A Little Getaway Spot in France

I've only been working full time for three days, and I already could use a little getaway. Actually I'm working two jobs. Decor worker by day, and tango worker by night.

This lovely little stone house is somewhere in France, and just looks so charming.

It has all the things I love. Old stone walls, antiques. charm, beautiful gardens, well you get the picture.


I love the bedrooms with the beam ceilings and the chandeliers.


The stone floors look so fabulous, with a patina to die for. And the colors!

Even the bath looks good! Another great beam ceiling and the lovely old claw foot tub.


The rates aren't too bad. I'd like to book a week. Contact them HERE