Country House in Mallorca

Good Thursday morning to you, treasures.

This two level country house in Mallorca, Spain, has terrific bones. Stone floors and walls, beams, beautiful arches. Spainsh interior designer Mestre Paco gave the interiors an eclectic look.

Tour time!




























All images from here.

Summery Chicken Salad Croissants

I have been making this Chicken Salad recipe for years.  It's been my 'go to' recipe for picnics, luncheons and showers, and now I can add a cross country move to it's list of occasions.  Our son and his wife are moving from Texas to Tennessee today, and he asked if I would make these sandwiches for them to take on the drive. Since they are traveling with their cat, and will not be able to leave her in a hot car while they eat out on the way, I happily agreed to make a batch of this family favorite along with some cubed melons to send with them, and of course I had to treat myself with some for lunch today.

Summery Chicken Salad on Croissants

6 cups chopped cooked chicken breast

1 1/4 cups sliced celery

1 8oz can pineapple tidbits, drained

1 1/4 cups reduced fat mayonnaise

2 1/2 tablespoons dry white wine

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked ground pepper

3/4 teaspoon curry powder

1/3 cup toasted chopped walnuts

6  large Croissants, or 12 petite size if serving at luncheons or showers.

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside

Combine mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients and add to chicken mixture, tossing well to coat.

Cover and chill at least 2 hours, overnight is better.

Stir in walnuts and serve on warmed sliced croissants.

I hope you give this recipe a try, and enjoy it as much as my family has over the years.



Four Country Homes

Today we will have a look at four country homes through the lens of photographers, André Rider, Angus McRitchie, Michael Graydon and Stacey Brandford. My favourite home is the one captured by André Rider, though I'm also swooning over the Belgian style dining room by Stacey Brandford.
I'd love to know which home you like best!


Stacey Brandford


Stacey Brandford


Stacey Brandford


Michael Graydon


Michael Graydon


Michael Graydon


Angus McRitchie


Angus McRitchie


Angus McRitchie


André Rider


André Rider


André Rider


André Rider


Michael Graydon


Michael Graydon

All images from here.

Breakfast Room Sideboard

After I moved the China Cabinet from the Breakfast Room to the Formal Dining Room (here) it left a 'gap' that needed to be filled.



Breakfast Room BEFORE  I moved the china cabinet.

 I thougth about moving the large console table behind the sofa in the Family Room over to that wall, but it was WAY too big for the space, so I decided to move the Bar from the Lounge area to fill the void and make it more of a Sideboard a'la Pottery Barn style.




Breakfast Room with the Bar/Sideboard

 I removed all the liquor and barware from the shelves and put it all in the Chinese Cabinet (see that post here) in order to free up the shelves for dishware.

I put rolled napkins on a banana leaf tray on the top rack in place of wine bottles

I like how the white dishes 'pop' off of the espresso stained wood. 

On the top of the Sideboard, I have the Chalkboard Menu that I made yesterday (the how to, here) next to an old willow picnic basket.

On top of the basket I stacked a few cookbooks for color and some old bottles for sparkle.

This is the cute bud vase that was part of the giveaway that I told you I won from Gypsy Heart blog

I think after re-dressing it, the Bar makes a nice Sideboard, and is certainly much better suited now for the Breakfast Room than when it was in service as a full blown Bar.

Now I have to figure out what's going to fill the 'gap' that was left when the Bar was moved from the Lounge . . . ahh, the never ending cycle of decorating!

Designers' White Bedrooms

Second post today. A selection of white bedrooms by renown interior designers Suzanne Kasler, Thad Hayes, Jan McFarland Cox, Twanette Tharp, and Victoria Hagan.


Victoria Hagan


Thad Hayes


Twanette Tharp


Suzanne Kasler


Jan McFarland Cox

All images from Architectral Digest.

House of the Year 2009

As you might know, Norwegian Magazine Bolig holds a contest each year to choose the best house of the year. In 2009 the winner was this country house in Hokksund. It consists of three buildings: a main building from 1889, a brewery and a barn. In 2006 the Kvernstad family restored and renovated all three of them.

Perhaps my Norwegian readers could help me with the translation of the words and signs that appear in this house. Please? I did use an online translator but unfortunately they are still quite unreliable.


The main house


The barn which is now used to hold parties.












Does the wording at the top of the stairs say something about coming home? But of course, it's French and it says "Just like your home" Thanks, Chapstik Fanatic!




"Kisses and Hugs and Love" Got the top sentence. Help with the one below?

Thanks to reader Krn I now know that the headboard says (not in Norwegian, but Danish) "Kisses, hugs and love, it is the world's glory"

And Krn expands: "Written language in Norway in the 19th century was the Danish language. This is not surprising to see this on an old norwegian bed."





This is the inside of the barn. Rather dark I guess.


Part of the guest house.

All images from here.