RED CHECKS are so in! Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day friends!

Have you noticed that red checks are in style right now? They are especially so in Country Living magazine, my favorite magazine. So Brayton Homestead Interiors is right in style! 

I have always wanted to create a "STAY CALM" poster; so here it is! I If you have visited my blog before you know that I love red checks. I am sharing some red check pictures from older blog posts and Pinterest , enjoy... 

Here at the Homestead we celebrate all holidays with red checks. Krumpet, my yorkie, relaxes in style on his own check cushion. Checks items are available in so many stores now so it was easy to coordinate his dog bed into our kitchen. He is always ready to pose for the camera!

Red checks match my country kitchen decor, but tI have always loved them-they say old fashion gatherings to me. I like the fact that checks have a homespun look that reads no fuss. My new red check mason jar lids add extra charm to selecting a tea bag .... 

Roosters rule on my Homestead spring time table, here set for light lunch with my sisters and friends. Old glass bottles that I collected hold an hydrangea at each setting... 

A vintage cake mold in the shape of a lamb boasts a red check bow tie made from check ribbon. I layered the table first with a check tablecloth  then added vintage crochet pieces on top. My antique coffee pot with it's matching sugar and creamer have wonderful red Bakelite handles,  I think it makes the set extra special.

Here, I placed my cookies in red check bags for our Christmas time cookie exchange. I painted checks then glittered a small wood sleigh that centers my table .,. Boy,  I could eat a gingerbread cookie right now..

The Fourth of July was not left out from the red check love!  My dad's old tackle box became a holder for fresh flowers and flags. I just had a tuck in some fabric; you guessed it, red check !

I just purchased these red check cupcake liners from Sweet Estelle. I saw them featured in Country Living Magazine recently. I am sure I will be ordering more as red checks are always present here. 

I am thrilled to be featured at Cozy Little House blog party!

Thank you for visiting Brayton Homestead

and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Karen

(all pictures are from Brayton Homestead blog and Pinterest except for cupcake liners)

Linking with these great blogs: 

Dwellings the Heart of the Home,

 Elizabeth & Co.

 Cozy Little House

 Coastal Charm,

 Live Randomly Simple

Savvy Southern Style 

The Style Sisters

French Country Cottage

Boogieboard Cottage 

How Sweet the Sound

BLOG DECORATING CHALLENGE

I was asked to take a BLOG CHALLENGE with the great online store, CHAIRISH. The challenge was to create an inspiration board around one of their vintage furniture pieces. To my delight there were many painted/ distressed beauties that I love ! Their vintage painted furniture perfectly reflects my decorating style at my own home, the Brayton Homestead, as well as being a furnishing accent I incorporate into many of my client's home at Brayton Homestead Interiors.

There were so many fantastic painted cupboards to choose from.  As I had recently presented my recycled jean skirts in a fashion show at the East Bay Chamber of Commerce in Warren R.I., I was drawn toward furniture with a faded denim patina!

  Doesn't this cabinet remind you of your favorite blue jeans?

 Here I am at the end of the fashion show wearing one of my plaid skirts with a lace insert and gold tone buttons purchased from my trip to Williamsburg . I walked with a handsome and sweet male model wearing my designs. I made the ascot  and cuffs he is wearing and accessorized a vintage jacket with an authentic tricorn hat and reproduction haversack. In the pixture in the top right corner on the inspiration board, a young female model struts her style in another of my one of a kind jean skirt designs with a vintage blue stripe fabric bottom with trim. 


Pictures left to right.
row 1:  1. mirror from Chairish, 2. my pic from Williamsburg, 3. flag chest from Chairish, 4. model in Brayton Cottage show,
Bottom row 2 : 1.cabinet  from Chairish, 2. Elle Decor and shirt Google.  

Not to mention my farmhouse, the Brayton Homestead, circa 1796, has many painted furnishings. It is full with red, white and blue tones, especially checks. .(This picture was of my kitchen in Country Sampler magazine this year.)

Small patina pieces are easy to be found (some  in my online shop) but it is harder to find larger pieces. My dream family room (below)  would contain many perfectly worn furnishings.  Vintage furniture adds a warmth to any space. Here, blues, gold and lots of comfort!

Crazy for this carpet too, also from Chairish; bold in color but still soft in tone and pattern. Both the chair and carpet are now on my wish list.

Red always make me smile, I hope that is the feeling when big red gates welcome visitors 

to my homestead ;they never fail to get noticed. 

So, what inspires your decorating ? 

Family, home, patina, color and texture inspire me. 

Distressed pieces take the worry out of a ding or scratch ruining your furniture. They make it more loved and comfortable -like your favorite pair of go-to  jeans! Entertain and welcome  your family and friends into your homestead, and enjoy!

Thank you CHAIRISH  for presenting me with this blog challenge

and

Thank you for visiting the homestead

Karen

   

A Beautiful & Exciting 2014!

WHAT A FANTASTIC YEAR!!

2014 brought great family time, national recognition of my interior design work, 

my clothing in a fashion show and a class reunion 

Of course I must start out with the most important things, the ones I love. 

Here, my handsome and loving son Doyle with our yorkie, Krumpet. 

This year also brought a significant other to my life, more love! 

The recycled clothing, mostly skirts that I design , make and sell on on my online store, BRAYTON COTTAGE,  were part of a fashion show with 2 other designers. I presented the show with a revolutionary era  look inspired from my recent trips to Williamsburg; also the theme for Christmas decorating this year.

                                                               Yes, a wonderful year!
                                                Thank you for visiting the Homestead,
                                                                          Karen

Williamsburg inspiration at Brayton Homestead

Christmas at the Brayton Homestead is inspired by my recent trips to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It started with a gold tone metal ornament holder in the shape of a tree that I purchased years ago.Although  a bit dated it seemed perfect for my house this year.It has been an incredibly exciting year; topping off the events is Fifi O'Neil coming to style my house then the homestead featured in Country Sampler magazine.

The snowman ornaments that I made  accompany a mix of tartan bows red apple ornaments and green icicle ornaments.

More Williamsburg inspiration on my kitchen fireplace mantle;.simple greens flow up and around my watercolors of fruits and vegetables. I collect interesting artificial fruits whenever I find it. A vintage French etching of a rooster centers the mantle arrangement.   

A peak of my paper mache snowman on my counter. Been been making them for years and love putting them out each year. Love that I can leave them out all winter, especially with our Massachusetts weather!

The idea of putting a candle in a wrought iron holder was something I saw while shopping in Williamsburg. Theirs was a lovely red lantern, but I improvised and really like it was. 

Merry Christmas from all at the Brayton Homestead. 

to you and yours.

Thank you for visiting the Homestead,

Karen