Orchid love....let me count the ways!

Good morning everyone!! Busy busy week this week.....ever feel like there are simply not enough hours in the day? That's how I am feeling this week! But things continue to get done. Still lots of odds and ends being tied up here but we are moving in the right direction. Will hopefully do a mini update post on the house in a few days, and of course very busy with the new online store. Have lots of orders to process and sort, there is a learning curve but I catch on quick:)

One of my absolute most favorite flowers is the beautiful orchid. So elegant and regal, it is one  of the few that as a lone flower, can stand up against the best of them. I have always loved orchids, and try to have one or two in my home at all times. They just make me feel happy and pampered, as most flowers do. I cannot think of a single flower or plant that can transform a coffee table, console, kitchen or any room for that matter like an orchid can.
It just adds instant elegance,refinement, sophistication and beauty and always works in giving that extra height to a vignette where differing heights of objects makes all the difference. So today is a tribute to the beautiful orchid plant, and clearly it works in virtually any room, any setting, any color any style! What do you think? Where and how do you like to use orchids?  Are you as crazy for orchids as I am? I most definitely have orchiditis..........

Love this gorgeous setting, perfection! Mark Sikes

Talk about luxe!! These yellow orchids steal the show, Anthony-Masterson

My old house, I always had an orchid planted in a pretty container on this console

Orchids always work on a vanity in a bathroom and in fact the humidity is good for them, Kevin Allen photography

Love the idea of a large orchid planted alongside hydrangeas in this fabulous centerpiece, Rinfret

Love the effect of having a single orchid plant in a formal powder room/guest bath, Kendall Wilkinson

In a pretty silver pot, the orchid here is an elegant way to give height to the other objects in this tonal setting, Courtney Hill Interiors

A large orchid plant and an object or two works beautifully here, Thomas Pheasant

A beautiful blue and white container holding a large orchid on a center table is a no brainer, Mary McDonald

Orchids in a kitchen or pantry? Absolutely yes! Atlanta Home mag

In pared down, calm spaces, an orchid is a wonderful touch, Jan Showers

My old house again, this was a center foyer table....this was a big orchid planted in a tall ormolu planter, it added height and beauty and gave a great sense of scale to the space

As pretty outdoors as they are in, Southern Living

Talk about making a statement when you walk in, placing an orchid in an urn on a center table is always a great idea!

The orchid here in this eclectic setting by Jenny Wolf is like the great neutralizer

When in doubt how to set up a coffee table, an orchid in a pretty container, and a stack of a few beautiful coffee table books ALWAYS works in ANY setting, I promise! Jan Showers

Love it on a small side table, it gives great drama Rinfret

Even on a small table...look at the impact the orchid gives, Jennifer Ferreira

Orchids are also wonderful on top of a mantle, LBG Interiors

Love seeing an orchid on a coffee table for some height and to make a setting interesting, Andreas Trauttmansdorff

They work in all types of rooms....how gorgeous they are in this more transitional room, Accent on Design

Catlin Wilson shows that they work in all kinds of settings, including more modern ones

Love how it looks on this pretty vanity, Graciela Rutkowski

Amazing how just a single potted orchid can add such elegance to a small setting

A big bowl of orchids and a few books are always a winning recipe for a coffee table, Robert A.M. Stern

Why not add one to an unexpected place like a closet! Taylor Hannah

Also like the idea of placing a large orchid on a sofa table/console behind a sofa, Veranda

Beautiful even on a small side table, so graceful. Plum Interiors

Proof that orchids work in any style home, even in an eclectic room like this, Knight moves

I think they always work on a console table flanked by other smaller objects, HB

They work beautifully as a stand alone tall object on a coffee table, Kips Bay showhouse

This "recipe" has worked for me time and time again. An urn or large container with a nice sized orchid flanked by two lamps on a console or side table. Instant success! Knight Carr

So what do you think? Do you have a case of orchiditis like me? Its an affliction I am afraid there is absolutely no cure for! Love them...and good news is that they have honestly become more affordable than ever. We have a few florists locally that carry really exquisite large ones that seem to outlast all the others but even Home Depot gets them for 19.99 and though they may not last as long, its a beautiful effect for a month or two....just get a little creative with your containers, and voila, you have yourself an instant pop of elegance to add to any room in your home! Wishing you a fabulous Friday.

Mayday Mayday!!!!!!!! And a moving update:)

Parts of this were written a few days ago and I added/updated this morning.
Good morning friends...........
OMG, WHY DIDNT' YOU WARN ME?&%###!!!!!! I am EXHAUSTED after yesterday being my fourth full day of packing.......CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!!!!!!!! I am taking a break and its only 7am! Seriously this is exhausting stuff, I mean really I am not that old, geez.....in my 40's, I thought that's supposed to be considered.... dare I say, young! Then why am I sooooooooo tired! OK, deep breaths, I told myself I will work until midday,  take a one hour break to futz around on the comp, have lunch, coffee then get back to work. So heres the latest.....
When it rains it pours, right? Literally and figuratively. My husband has been sick, not the regressing little boy who needs attention and wants to pretend he is sick that all men become at the first sniffle....I am talking coughing, more congested than the Midtown tunnel at rush hour, and feeling really lousy. And it was pouring cats and dogs big time on Thursday (original intended day of moving). POURING. So...I am just rolling with the punches as they say, island marble got delivered in the pouring monsoon rain today...big giant monstrous deep breaths being held until that 13 footer got put in its place.
 It practically took a village to carry that behemoth in, I didn't want to be there and left! BUT boy was it worth the wait. Pure love. Yesterday, first small batch of furniture got moved in....yippee!! Another round of heavy cleaning yesterday and part of today and more furniture getting moved in later this afternoon. The point is we are here, we are on the cusp of being home at last. At this point I am pouring myself  another cup of coffee and saying "its all good", going with it, ya know? The good news and silver lining you ask? Well let me tell you.......

See exhibit A, the mounting extra large black garbage bags filled to the brim of what I have no idea, so much junk, excess, baloney, stuff that was taking up cubic feet and air. Why? Good question! But its goodbye and good riddens, so happy to get rid of the stuff that was lurking. There are boxes and boxes and bags and bags of everything all over the place...its almost suffocating! I have tables and tables of plants, and accessories and such all over, it looks like a warehouse or a place closing up shop....which in a way it is. Jealous? I didn't think so! I do however have a very hard time for whatever reason getting rid of my shoes and my bags. Anyone with me?

And the pack up begins........

Boxes and bags everywhere........

Finding a long lost pair of cute flats that happen to work amazingly with my favorite camel bag was super exciting

Everything had to be thrown, literally into one big closet since all the others are being painted

Shoes and bags everywhere!

More bags.......

Starting to get sorted and packed

Tons of accessories all laid out, deciding what to keep and what goes....

More......

Yay, its finally all getting put into boxes!!

Exhibit B. is a little more interesting and depressing. First, you see I thought my niece left her Barbie's clothes at my house then I realized at second glance they were my clothes from clearly another life. All of these got neatly folded packed up and put into a number of bags to be given and dropped off to people who will actually be able to use them. I know I will never be wearing that size 4 silver lame party dress dress ever again:(

Exhibit C. is my absolute favorite because its my "pot at the end of the rainbow", when I come up for air,  that is what I have to look forward to and I can hardly wait. I just keep channeling deep thoughts about what lies ahead and keep repeating to myself "just follow the yellow brick road" (in this case the road from house A. to house B, the new house) and that is what I am doing, mustering all that positive energy towards my light at the end of the tunnel.......

My beloved stove

My gorgeous floors in the kitchen

Finished floors in living room........

And dining......

My beautiful bathroom!

Hubby's gorgeous bathroom.....all done! (except for window treament and knobs)

The first pieces that got delivered for the guest room...a beautiful pair of French nightstands 

Guest bath all done......put the shades on the sconces

This is the hardware, just waiting for rest to come in!

Both sonces in husbands bath..its a love for me!

OK this is where I need to hear some opinions..this is a beautiful chest from the Newport collection from EJ Victor that we were considering using as a vanity for powder room, I think its beautiful but somehow I am feeling a darker simpler wood piece, thoughts? (You know I love to hear from you)!!

Back/kitchen powder room done (except for wallpaper and mirror)

Oldest sons bath 

Oldest sons bedroom getting put in.....he likes a more modern feel and this came from his apt. in NYC, he is in the process of moving to new apt. so will be home for a few months

My chandy got put into the dressing room! Love it..the shades add a lot. Do not pay attention to the "countertop"its a temporary until I decide what to do.

Bath faucet finally got installed!

Completed tub....ready for a bubble bath, waiting for my rock crystal sconces which are backordered until February...worth the wait though!

They will go in that little black spot on the wall, and between them will be mirror

Husbands vanity, except knobs..coming in next week

So there you have it, the before, the during and whats to come in the after. I am really liking the after!

And finally when I do take my much needed coffee breaks (and they are happening often, plus its a great excuse to escape to blogland), I feel like a queen (didn't say I look like one) when I drink out of this wonderful mug....a good friend gave it to me for my birthday and its become my absolute favorite! Isn't it great?

I will be back in touch again sometime next week with updates in between my awesome guest posts coming your way soon. Enjoy your day!

MOST RECENT MOVING UPDATE.....we will continue "the big clean up' until Monday, then finish up odds and ends being done on Tues. and start REALLY moving on Wed, Thurs. and Friday.

So fingers crossed we will be "home" at last on one of those nights! Will keep you posted.

Back to work, wishing you a wonderful and relaxing Sunday....XO Tina