topic Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING in Home

A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Oznell — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:41 GMT

Town & Country blogger had some spring and Easter vignettes that sent me down a "spring rabbit hole", ha.

A row of plain clear bottles with bouquets is simple but festive. Having two different kinds of antique chairs keeps things cottage-y, not stiff.

Her collected Easter eggs are out of the ordinary, b/c of the difference in sizes-- more visual interest. And the "grass" is the time-yellowed and shredded pages from old, discarded books, great idea--

Her mantel in warmer weather is really stripped down-- two pieces of old white ironstone. Instead of completing with a third, she eclectically added a modern ivory ceramic candle with a petal top. Still simple, but more interesting (to me) than three-of-a-kind. Love her pendant lamp revealed in the mirror--

I didn't realize that the Lenox "Butterfly Meadow" pattern had kitten cookie jars. Discontinued, and pricey on the secondary market, but striking enough to be a spring table centerpiece!

There's a coordinating covered dish. Don't you love the eyes on these adorable kitties!

The sweet salt and peppers:

I always like Pender and Peony's tablescapes, since she often incorporates my old favorites, like the Wedgwood green jasperware pitcher centerpiece on this table. The twig taper candles are neat too--

For her plates, she stayed with Wedgwood, but reversed the colors of the jasperware pitcher, instead doing the glossy Queensware sage-on-cream pattern.... Sweet napkins--

A few apartment living rooms designed by a fave of mine, CeCe Barfield Thompson, aren't really "spring-specific", yet they evoke this happy, transitional season for me:

Blue and green together in this family apartment make me think of meadow and sky:

Flowers and soft, chalky color are a nice counterpoint to "serious" antiques--

Love her attention to pretty lamps and ceramics--

And in another apartment she did, more fresh, lively color--

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Desert Lily — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:33:13 GMT

I like the use of blues & greens together, and have those colors combined in my home.

The appearance in photo #1 is light & nice, but how could the homeowners open those cabinets without taking everything down & then pushing the chairs & table forward?

I also question the blogger's judgment of shredding books to use them in decor. Yikes.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

781Florist — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:37:14 GMT

While her decor is a little too eclectic for my liking, the high rise apartment with beautiful old school windows AND a fireplace had me catching my breath.

I love the Queensware dinner sevice and the matchstick kitchen cupboards.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

shoptilyadropagain — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:02:04 GMT

Not at all my style but these are nicely done....except for the last living room. I couldn't handle it.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Big Joanie — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:08:24 GMT

Love the eggs in the soup tureen ....

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

DREAMON — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:27:15 GMT

I love the blue and green together.

The green sofa really speaks to me....against that pale blue wall ...gorgeous!

My very stylish Aunt had a green velvet Chaise Lounge in front of her picture window (very much like the one below).

This was in the 1960's when I was a a small child. Every time we went to visit I would just sit on the end of the chaise and pretend I was a movie star in Hollywood....I loved it!

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

newjersey — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:40:42 GMT

@Oznell , I love it all.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

DSD2 — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:56:42 GMT

Beautiful @Oznell

I love the first picture, that cheery table is so sweet!

I have a cannister set in Butterfly Meadow, I would LOVE to have that covered dish!

Love the twig candlesticks.

Another incredible post @Oznell thank you...

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Oznell — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:29:33 GMT

@Desert Lily , I've heard of self-disintigrating old books, with the pages fraying or unbound, being recycled for various uses. I imagine that's how Jennifer of T & C got her shredded, crumpled pieces, not by deliberately destroying old books. I have very old, almost falling apart books and texts from my parents, which I love to conserve. She's an "old-things" lover too, who doesn't seem like the type who would rip old books...

@DSD2 , I bet you love your Butterfly Meadow canister set! How pretty and cheery in a kitchen. I once thought I might start a collection of Portmeirion ware, which has a vaguely similar feeling, with botanicals on them-- sadly, I only got as far as a salad plate and one salt shaker. I wish I had been smart enough to get canisters, since they are very visible and make an impact in a kitchen....

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Oznell — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:33:50 GMT

@DREAMON , the green chaise longue must have been ravishing. You were a very astute decorating-minded child to have been so taken with it-- I can imagine how it must have caught the imagination...

I used to have a deep green velvet couch, my favorite of any upholstered furniture I've had. Have considered getting another. A side benefit, is that kitties' claws have a hard time getting a purchase on velvet, so they can't wreck it as much as other, looser-weave fabrics!

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

beach-mom — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:02:35 GMT

@Oznell - Thank you for sharing another beautiful home! I love blue and green together. The kitchen and the living room are just perfect. And oh, those kitties!

I'm not crazy about the apartment she did. I don't like the huge modernistic picture, and IMO it looks very out of place. It seems like the room doesn't know who it is supposed to be.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

spiderw — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:47:55 GMT

There is very little I do not like in these photos. As someone who enjoys decorating for the four seasons I appreciate all the displays shown. I love the kitten cookie jars, so pretty! The blue and green sofas are lovely !! I decorate with faux flowers and like how the flora's in the photos are displayed. All in all very appealing touches for spring!

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

DREAMON — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:48:28 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
@DREAMON , the green chaise longue must have been ravishing. You were a very astute decorating-minded child to have been so taken with it-- I can imagine how it must have caught the imagination...

I used to have a deep green velvet couch, my favorite of any upholstered furniture I've had. Have considered getting another. A side benefit, is that kitties' claws have a hard time getting a purchase on velvet, so they can't wreck it as much as other, looser-weave fabrics!

@Oznell ,

I too have been thinking about something in deep green.

My Moms dream was to work in Interior Design but kids and her large family came first so it never happened.

She did help others decorating their homes and we always had a beautiful home. It was small but lovely.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

AuntG — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:09:21 GMT

Thanks for brightening my day. Those kittens are adorable.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Sooner — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:52:43 GMT

The beautiful flatware looks a lot like Oneida Affection silverplate from the 1960's but I don't think that is it. Anyone know what the pattern might be?

One thing that bothers me is that everything looks so carefully placed, lined up and rigid. Now that is coming from someone who has to be careful to keep from that myself. But that's just a thought. Something makes these rooms look a little stiff--and is that why? Or is it just me (highly possible )? Be honest. . .

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

wagirl — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:12:12 GMT

Very pretty and cheerful and I LOVE the table cloth in the first photo!! Seems very familiar to me--I just found a few old time tablecloths and runners from when I was a kid, from my mom and even from my MIL!!! So pretty and all hand embroidered.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Oznell — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:43:31 GMT

@Sooner , I wasn't sure if you meant the flatware in the first picture, or the flatware in the Wedgwood table? Will assume the latter, since the first picture doesn't show the silverware very well.

The Wedgwood table has "Faneuil 1908" by 1847 Rogers Bros. silverplate.

It's graceful-- I really like it too.

As far as stiffness, I don't know. Think the very first image with the chairs pulled in close to the table might be a bit stiff. I always like it better if chairs are somewhat pulled out and "conversational"... But there might be space limitations there.

As to stiffness in other photos, I actually thought the Wedgwood table was rather relaxed, in a way, with all the pretty movement in the tablecloth print. The napkins are just casually folded and plopped on plates, not tortured into fanciful shapes or anything. And creamware or Queensware is rather simple earthenware.

When designers style rooms for photography like the living rooms shown, they do tend to go for a "spit and polish" look, with things in their place.

I can like both ends of the spectrum-- sometimes I like a bit of ordered formality, and sometimes a more broken-in, lived in look, ha....

Hope this addressed your comments adequately. I love that you wanted to discuss!

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Sooner — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:46:29 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
@Sooner , I wasn't sure if you meant the flatware in the first picture, or the flatware in the Wedgwood table? Will assume the latter, since the first picture doesn't show the silverware very well.

The Wedgwood table has "Faneuil 1908" by 1847 Rogers Bros. silverplate.

It's graceful-- I really like it too.

As far as stiffness, I don't know. Think the very first image with the chairs pulled in close to the table might be a bit stiff. I always like it better if chairs are somewhat pulled out and "conversational"... But there might be space limitations there.

As to stiffness in other photos, I actually thought the Wedgwood table was rather relaxed, in a way, with all the pretty movement in the tablecloth print. The napkins are just casually folded and plopped on plates, not tortured into fanciful shapes or anything. And creamware or Queensware is rather simple earthenware.

When designers style rooms for photography like the living rooms shown, they do tend to go for a "spit and polish" look, with things in their place.

I can like both ends of the spectrum-- sometimes I like a bit of ordered formality, and sometimes a more broken-in, lived in look, ha....

Hope this addressed your comments adequately. I love that you wanted to discuss!

@Oznell I love your as-always thoughtful reply. What struck me was the lines of the rooms were sometimes almost on a grid to me. Anyhow, the table was beautiful and thanks for the flatware pattern i.d.!!! It truly is beautiful and could pass for a sterling design. Sort of in the "lines" of Queen Elizabeth and similar patterns.

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

Sooner — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:56:29 GMT

@Oznell I have figured out what bothers me about these rooms! There are too many pieces of furniture and stuff, some that are too delicate and too many.

The furniture is of differing weights and crowded together, giving not much walking space and no breathing room. They are crowded and cluttered. Also the mix of too many sofas of varying colors, styles and weights doesn't work for me.

A decorator once told me not to buy a light colored painted piece of furniture for a kitchen that was all dark cabinetry and brick on the other walls at the far end. She said I needed something dark "to hold down that end of the room." That is wise advice.

So that is what bothers me. "Too many notes!" As they say!

Re: A LIGHTER TOUCH FOR SPRING

stevieb — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 21:33:22 GMT

Some nice elements throughout. For me, I especially like the dining room and table settings as well as the blue and green apartment living room shots.