the entertaining posts: dining room

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br />No. 2 of the entertaining post series...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last time we looked at kitchens, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and part of the discussion we got going was whether or not we like formal dining rooms.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not everyone likes a formal dining room, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but we have one here, and it is well-used.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(although we won't be using it this weekend, as it's currently under a bit of an upheaval - </div><div style="text-align: center;">we've just painted the walls, have to hang the art, change out the chandy, and add a carpet... </div><div style="text-align: center;">both of which i also have to paint :) You can see the previous incarnation <b><a href="http://10rooms.blogspot.com/2010/12/lighting-diy-new-chandelier.html">here</a></b>....)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We try to have friends in at least every other week for dinner, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and we host all the big holiday celebrations for both sides of our family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing makes me happier than the house being full of our favourite people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've gathered up a few beauties here for inspiration...</div><div style="text-align: center;">any of them tickle your fancy?<br /><br /><br />for the maximalist, a plethora of pattern...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KU5ZFmzG7Eqv8VS4mDrC5Qa8wUj7Yv4NsrHePJp78ppqx9nLttmLaqT-aBP9pkwAsTzkEF710xDHvIBgBhJk3IL8_rB-_AAxHRw3tV38yrx_E5fUaIW-YSZeYI-3rLuYaSQg10-Zfai4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.55.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KU5ZFmzG7Eqv8VS4mDrC5Qa8wUj7Yv4NsrHePJp78ppqx9nLttmLaqT-aBP9pkwAsTzkEF710xDHvIBgBhJk3IL8_rB-_AAxHRw3tV38yrx_E5fUaIW-YSZeYI-3rLuYaSQg10-Zfai4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.55.11+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for the elegant country home...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzUEwydggEH41e-sSeszVl1xbWjCFFrPl4hUaguUkBEiDs5IoHQ3uyKq9T1ZbMTpFvxi1msRqwS9gWqPjyZ07VyMdW7A2pb222IA2xeYW5NGGfPhepnmR70gPgpZLgoHPr4tzPJiyPWYw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.55.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzUEwydggEH41e-sSeszVl1xbWjCFFrPl4hUaguUkBEiDs5IoHQ3uyKq9T1ZbMTpFvxi1msRqwS9gWqPjyZ07VyMdW7A2pb222IA2xeYW5NGGfPhepnmR70gPgpZLgoHPr4tzPJiyPWYw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.55.38+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for the organic mod -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in black</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokXR1h1WWDWxvCxpZyzUSgk3gLpcxiz_4dJtSfcileN_bNV7kozdd1Vl2Z1jY18nvVqfriVGQP3_ZKbOB_9xQMLse6rM0Nwm8IS9-tEb3ypWXeE5vH5D_qLqvUIZU477ROKcoIXR97pq0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.56.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokXR1h1WWDWxvCxpZyzUSgk3gLpcxiz_4dJtSfcileN_bNV7kozdd1Vl2Z1jY18nvVqfriVGQP3_ZKbOB_9xQMLse6rM0Nwm8IS9-tEb3ypWXeE5vH5D_qLqvUIZU477ROKcoIXR97pq0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.56.02+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or white......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I really, really love the welcoming feel of <b><a href="http://amberinteriordesign.blogspot.com/">this room</a></b>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">truly one of my favourite spaces, ever)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorvlYHkavPtVHiuCLXpzdD1RzyVERYW734YrplLN_ZopnJ1TeyOiJ-XE4brOcVCHmfi_T9i699KGJozfKddNQj1jw_XyNNW-Q79YfS16Rbcmjyd07r2i83JJPimE7mxDuzA00NhLUgNGR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.57.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorvlYHkavPtVHiuCLXpzdD1RzyVERYW734YrplLN_ZopnJ1TeyOiJ-XE4brOcVCHmfi_T9i699KGJozfKddNQj1jw_XyNNW-Q79YfS16Rbcmjyd07r2i83JJPimE7mxDuzA00NhLUgNGR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.57.52+PM.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />for those of us that adore "junktiquing"....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyRltVH5MdTi2xE4-rBm81a2jgP8JFKTHpEDuJF5PXuzzcdlLN74JrRjNgdo5Cx7msfNz2FC_Wfp50Mh8CizxxxnuPtOh5V7EHCJU0GELzD_O9c8V9PRR_5bcj0d6HpPFV1bSqGXL03Dx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.57.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyRltVH5MdTi2xE4-rBm81a2jgP8JFKTHpEDuJF5PXuzzcdlLN74JrRjNgdo5Cx7msfNz2FC_Wfp50Mh8CizxxxnuPtOh5V7EHCJU0GELzD_O9c8V9PRR_5bcj0d6HpPFV1bSqGXL03Dx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.57.11+PM.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />the classics, happily re-imagined....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfAP5utG2NgpHsRr6WczxYSJ2e0oaCzlD1MrGTk0S26QcsoDV7RC5TfGCZ_Z-a64ctBj9tdEjBvZODJjPtlmQmPBcNinzOzvc1c46y4Em50DP5CrU_RTgeHSqhEYrQ8mFRgfXHddiXM2Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.58.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfAP5utG2NgpHsRr6WczxYSJ2e0oaCzlD1MrGTk0S26QcsoDV7RC5TfGCZ_Z-a64ctBj9tdEjBvZODJjPtlmQmPBcNinzOzvc1c46y4Em50DP5CrU_RTgeHSqhEYrQ8mFRgfXHddiXM2Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.58.13+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a room for stilettos and champagne, non?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rlkjwQtTLj6cR7fGvozMVCLrFlhpdMWBgzfNtXy9tO_GGHENXHkjAdWx_pyJidBMUohNIlyzzwBUY2Z37LvZ8y20-wCegdltDsW-4hfoyFECRzHgWF1v71XRA0wGJiatEcsprwtb-J9n/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.56.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rlkjwQtTLj6cR7fGvozMVCLrFlhpdMWBgzfNtXy9tO_GGHENXHkjAdWx_pyJidBMUohNIlyzzwBUY2Z37LvZ8y20-wCegdltDsW-4hfoyFECRzHgWF1v71XRA0wGJiatEcsprwtb-J9n/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+1.56.46+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If space is an issue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(and who isn't it an issue for?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a dining room and office combine perfectly...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ws0d0gmQ8jG1A-tGykCz4xK5WOBVUpKCcLjqYuvYyBR0b5gyRR0Mji5P5Qr7ZnhVi-XrhFbLAf9CHgIjf-QTOEBGdT_nTT2z9fop0xW99-1c05UqMV0C3YKgoBqy9bSRSTeWq7HqafQR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+2.23.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ws0d0gmQ8jG1A-tGykCz4xK5WOBVUpKCcLjqYuvYyBR0b5gyRR0Mji5P5Qr7ZnhVi-XrhFbLAf9CHgIjf-QTOEBGdT_nTT2z9fop0xW99-1c05UqMV0C3YKgoBqy9bSRSTeWq7HqafQR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+2.23.43+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How about adding a piano, or a DRUM SET?!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love these rooms - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the decor not be quite my style, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but the idea of that little munchkin rocking out in the corner just makes me smile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTtriIi04QP41mmrjWi1sHzL5dKVNi3j_JSjy_5-JF6eVPvoDkRpw_i2Q5Qh22EkvTaDpF3A36L8sSuX-22aUYk_ynTcXjACAs6d3pcccbqnEXnBRDRrwx3lF6m3sYzi2ldUN0URyyWy9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+2.25.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTtriIi04QP41mmrjWi1sHzL5dKVNi3j_JSjy_5-JF6eVPvoDkRpw_i2Q5Qh22EkvTaDpF3A36L8sSuX-22aUYk_ynTcXjACAs6d3pcccbqnEXnBRDRrwx3lF6m3sYzi2ldUN0URyyWy9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+2.25.24+PM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">speaking of kids, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these clever kids have found a way to ensure it's not a wasted space...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9lTdMm1tSWT__PA1MD0MRe5lR3JDly9hmKo_tx8Ihw_5mYMF-JeXskI3z_nC1EIAQzfA6jBWVMYcDMUOccOCgOVjv9LQu9LIk2g4bInel2quq3W-iRsc_HLISfyCOa0hJYx3_4lsTqfJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+2.27.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9lTdMm1tSWT__PA1MD0MRe5lR3JDly9hmKo_tx8Ihw_5mYMF-JeXskI3z_nC1EIAQzfA6jBWVMYcDMUOccOCgOVjv9LQu9LIk2g4bInel2quq3W-iRsc_HLISfyCOa0hJYx3_4lsTqfJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-02-01+at+2.27.07+PM.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/decorating-secrets?src=nl&mag=hbu&list=nl_hbn_dot_tip_042910_decorating-secrets&kw=ist/">1 </a><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/designers-portfolio/room/eclectic/dining-rooms/5407/index.html">2</a> <a href="http://eclecticrevisited.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/collection-of-decorating-ideas/dining-room-decorating-ideas-gold-walls-paintings-art-abstract-white-black-chairs-elegant-round-table-ad/">3</a> <a href="http://moth-design.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-09-15T10:01:00-06:00&max-results=7/">4</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/37295503134010853/">5 </a><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/184929128418698628/">6</a> <a href="http://splendidwillow.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Marion-diningroomnewlight-4.jpg/">7 </a><a href="http://www.thelennoxx.com/category/browse-by-room/open-plan-solution/">8</a> <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/131026670378633343/">9</a> <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/195977021254621715/">10</a><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/852075/home-tour-california-beach-house/@center/276999/home-tours#/356874/"> 11</a> <a href="http://www.housetohome.co.uk/dining-room/picture/colourful-dining-area">12</a> <a href="http://www.casasugar.com/Double-Duty-Spaces-Dining-Room-Upholstery-DIY-DIY-Pendant-Lamp-14917856">13</a> <a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/16629891">14</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br />So, how about it?<br />Do any of these make you long for a formal dining space?<br /><br />Since we are revamping our own,<br />I've come up with a short list of the elements I prefer -<br /><br />I'm particularly partial to round tables, I think they encourage good conversation.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span">I like striking art, to peruse during dinner. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">An unusual, dimmable chandelier as your focal point.</span><br />Lastly, since this isn't a space you normally spend long periods of time in,<br />some<span class="Apple-style-span"> daring colour and pattern to fill in the space visually.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">What does your list look like?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6NPqy9xJ-HOXKGM0fevxvI3lNOrp2nJT8XdoPKxKFMCRP6QHahewcDn-HQh8JVljuq5hlMuBtn4brMQfkIZLXJStHDns5xqrDoTJ2m-BNvT7hEn9osfvj8LDg9nZni85Gg_cFXiIYUH1/s200/Screen+shot+2011-05-19+at+3.08.10+PM+copy.png" width="200" /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">(next up, sometime during the next few days....</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">a post looking at entertaining-friendly living rooms-</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">hope you'll stop by..)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>

the entertaining posts: dining room

No. 2 of the entertaining post series... Last time we looked at kitchens,  and part of the discussion we got going was whether or not we lik...

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the entertaining posts

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How about a theme week?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you up for it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSTdZ91LPFLgwmovLMZi1_yPMMQgSAJL8Ee-Xx7RgX6dceND8okdON7bzFw2VHu1Ru6ChDKD707Kwm2_kwBAqmpZuXEifbGjMfB39HVT5LZxQh_St4kd-c4j5OcIObcbFROeA8UilQAtb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.56.52+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSTdZ91LPFLgwmovLMZi1_yPMMQgSAJL8Ee-Xx7RgX6dceND8okdON7bzFw2VHu1Ru6ChDKD707Kwm2_kwBAqmpZuXEifbGjMfB39HVT5LZxQh_St4kd-c4j5OcIObcbFROeA8UilQAtb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.56.52+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fresh from a wonderful weekend filled with some of our favourite friends,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and one which we were at their houses, not ours,</div><div style="text-align: center;">my thoughts today are all about entertaining.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course, the company always makes or breaks the evening,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I love to go over to a friends home and try out a new gem of a recipe,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or enjoy an old favourite,</div><div style="text-align: center;">to relax, inevitably, around the kitchen table,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and catch up over a bottle of wine...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes our family happy to have our home filled with the laughter of those we love,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and so we have company almost every weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think that D and I tend to be attracted to people who, like ourselves, are very relaxed about entertaining.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you the same?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even at holidays, while the table may be a bit more spiffy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the atmosphere in our home is always one of relax, eat (I am half-italian, after all!), and be merry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's all about the food and the company.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQpx_7dKF9VphmiX6sZk8Z7xDtSKU1AS1cm5k8VWMnp2SpiapWbtxk-YGTLh2bc8yPXXrkFuOS1hRXBV-2jgSeWNtfMQepwfJNotU1vNf77eE3B2DV_qZqA8bCTGVcLx9NaPTCU7rP0ff/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+11.13.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQpx_7dKF9VphmiX6sZk8Z7xDtSKU1AS1cm5k8VWMnp2SpiapWbtxk-YGTLh2bc8yPXXrkFuOS1hRXBV-2jgSeWNtfMQepwfJNotU1vNf77eE3B2DV_qZqA8bCTGVcLx9NaPTCU7rP0ff/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+11.13.44+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That said :) I'd like to know how you all entertain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I am going to open discussions about what type of kitchen you prefer, where you entertain in your home, what's on your table, the cocktail area,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and entertaining with children, and see where you stand.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sound good?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's start with the kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you an open kitchen or closed kitchen sort?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSyLzpcEmGgrb25jA9DmmXh3StPLEMwPtNAQNBJxnU-KWX0iqHPfhj-f-QkKRwhXAKL5YWJ5-ZTuSZfdUuLA4Bsp2gQjvmCA9H892WfGFBUWXnXQnjOwZKL6hmqXajD98Q1Ead_KoQx7q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+11.07.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSyLzpcEmGgrb25jA9DmmXh3StPLEMwPtNAQNBJxnU-KWX0iqHPfhj-f-QkKRwhXAKL5YWJ5-ZTuSZfdUuLA4Bsp2gQjvmCA9H892WfGFBUWXnXQnjOwZKL6hmqXajD98Q1Ead_KoQx7q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+11.07.02+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNV0IkokK2W2MCuTnLFMvowEuJLTHuXPvanPhae6EZtUXFb3_ZkfLLyFv9zeIueDhooj0nPxrIO8EFZNgzbwsWAoIeGQnRppPy_JLmI1nO7enooZRUtBhPhDmoSLySJHg9V7XTw2cQz8O/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+11.06.38+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNV0IkokK2W2MCuTnLFMvowEuJLTHuXPvanPhae6EZtUXFb3_ZkfLLyFv9zeIueDhooj0nPxrIO8EFZNgzbwsWAoIeGQnRppPy_JLmI1nO7enooZRUtBhPhDmoSLySJHg9V7XTw2cQz8O/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+11.06.38+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you choose to serve food that can be prepared in advance and left to roast away in the oven,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> while you are off somewhere else?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or too you chop merrily away while chatting with your guests?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I tend to do quite a lot of prep ahead of time, and always try to have some appetizers ready to go,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but no matter who comes over, we always settle in at our kitchen table,</div><div style="text-align: center;">or if the kids have claimed that space,</div><div style="text-align: center;">our dining room table, which is also open to the kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The country style kitchen, with the table literally at the centre of it all,</div><div style="text-align: center;">is the most intimate type of dining.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholN1dGM_bOmSlKxoGtGVBW1wiao1fKFlDdEhTy9UsZ7OwsmBfclqz6o3DA9kfXm-ckrhy-TCbP7lNKY23C_olDIJZCwwsssPn-HS_fAoUuYvgAgvNjy7ryPzpKbQT8xKyunGG0K9RYeif/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.24.57+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholN1dGM_bOmSlKxoGtGVBW1wiao1fKFlDdEhTy9UsZ7OwsmBfclqz6o3DA9kfXm-ckrhy-TCbP7lNKY23C_olDIJZCwwsssPn-HS_fAoUuYvgAgvNjy7ryPzpKbQT8xKyunGG0K9RYeif/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.24.57+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgJdB2cfx50BpsT28zIw9PLWHkDjaFD1u2POU6tdIhNgOa27CbD0IobVZwscEFVD9390TWbV-fmbyorcCO5bKeboaeNXiHE0yDz9Xh68YxeSuuBB06NrjfUUuAt_qjkD173dvi89AMUwm/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.19.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgJdB2cfx50BpsT28zIw9PLWHkDjaFD1u2POU6tdIhNgOa27CbD0IobVZwscEFVD9390TWbV-fmbyorcCO5bKeboaeNXiHE0yDz9Xh68YxeSuuBB06NrjfUUuAt_qjkD173dvi89AMUwm/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.19.14+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M1yfkVlWNq6tju3IKcjP2OHm_zlpHSgjquMmZhpzIn4JfsW0IH-seq9DbbjNZJir79grKr8T-9ezFTyl8e3jNVGng03IgLmgjDNGHF8AxTNd51uusTdFzYysXPO5TnaH_c9RPiKqtUZJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.19.52+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M1yfkVlWNq6tju3IKcjP2OHm_zlpHSgjquMmZhpzIn4JfsW0IH-seq9DbbjNZJir79grKr8T-9ezFTyl8e3jNVGng03IgLmgjDNGHF8AxTNd51uusTdFzYysXPO5TnaH_c9RPiKqtUZJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.19.52+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EC8ljQB4a90Spx-bAMEAZM5MGITBCTKFjUThT2Rqb7c2dr-Quki5IuYbcZJhMYlsKCbmXl9sAehumQHzZbitFB3MoQmpKPq41pkz9JFb5RC2TE5uFhyphenhyphenkmIShMTKHr9TJsOOgJTBPGPjv/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.26.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EC8ljQB4a90Spx-bAMEAZM5MGITBCTKFjUThT2Rqb7c2dr-Quki5IuYbcZJhMYlsKCbmXl9sAehumQHzZbitFB3MoQmpKPq41pkz9JFb5RC2TE5uFhyphenhyphenkmIShMTKHr9TJsOOgJTBPGPjv/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+9.26.03+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As a bit of a klutz, I love an open kitchen, but one where the cooking are is clearly delineated,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so that you don't end up with major traffic while you whirl around with pots of boiling water</div><div style="text-align: center;">and enormous, sharp knives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyNT0weTiZpahYJkfjlZdINqDVOQ0FVwciPg_HMcxMYySlZVrDVkIQV7bfuxhJjqmkpRLlB9SpIrXCYJpOzMxJAoPscttj4HOaLa9LsvRkG7LOBlDFCX7mKvjflOi8nLbeRm4TE2ni7Cw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.30.12+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyNT0weTiZpahYJkfjlZdINqDVOQ0FVwciPg_HMcxMYySlZVrDVkIQV7bfuxhJjqmkpRLlB9SpIrXCYJpOzMxJAoPscttj4HOaLa9LsvRkG7LOBlDFCX7mKvjflOi8nLbeRm4TE2ni7Cw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.30.12+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4KWRi_Uz50XhyphenhyphenBiB5oV1W_278s-o5ExmVlqVXnsuXshYG09100oYLk0P-BmL2wgihJoN7H1G7TNEgmRBVOxyRSvWXsllFIG1f8h0P_lFCEcx_rYnoXrr50rinca7ito5snTBi9BLdGDe/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.31.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4KWRi_Uz50XhyphenhyphenBiB5oV1W_278s-o5ExmVlqVXnsuXshYG09100oYLk0P-BmL2wgihJoN7H1G7TNEgmRBVOxyRSvWXsllFIG1f8h0P_lFCEcx_rYnoXrr50rinca7ito5snTBi9BLdGDe/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.31.44+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And in smaller spaces, the galley kitchen is perfection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b2U8azQILlbDdl5wV3i6usPmQdZel_CFTKYOAzVpVngbflMJfgptCDFgFFAPZ7A-NISqTIAVhpqb9-5Hk2GL4QVmZBvh1aiO-LqBmGB6hWGz_QubBNADFac-kX3hieUZ-ZkQynCqz6_M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.34.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b2U8azQILlbDdl5wV3i6usPmQdZel_CFTKYOAzVpVngbflMJfgptCDFgFFAPZ7A-NISqTIAVhpqb9-5Hk2GL4QVmZBvh1aiO-LqBmGB6hWGz_QubBNADFac-kX3hieUZ-ZkQynCqz6_M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.34.04+AM.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and of course, somewhere comfortable to sit is an absolute must - entrer dans la banquette.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaSxBvkyIkJiRUTRGgMRrRBdHIL2qmFzkQlz1_iYJwG2bmDCryxHvAG0U-eF1Pd4vlreoIUQGpMrBLOYgznPxCnQxd-425CMkgvBZGzjdAajgc9ed7Pqp7z08PDfzt2Su5FIfBL8rHlHT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.39.37+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaSxBvkyIkJiRUTRGgMRrRBdHIL2qmFzkQlz1_iYJwG2bmDCryxHvAG0U-eF1Pd4vlreoIUQGpMrBLOYgznPxCnQxd-425CMkgvBZGzjdAajgc9ed7Pqp7z08PDfzt2Su5FIfBL8rHlHT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.39.37+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUXr6Q0ffPjk4p_RZyIxiMYnF2_H4Rmj7d8RcXwZXWjBwgbkBrE4BDhpVqa79JyaRYh3MDxBocfvIiWhApSOqfBm_eaVgQjOcW-_DWvMRSAUO8QX1jP9zJvEJs5BNU_N0V7W6swVL3Zv5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.42.05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUXr6Q0ffPjk4p_RZyIxiMYnF2_H4Rmj7d8RcXwZXWjBwgbkBrE4BDhpVqa79JyaRYh3MDxBocfvIiWhApSOqfBm_eaVgQjOcW-_DWvMRSAUO8QX1jP9zJvEJs5BNU_N0V7W6swVL3Zv5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-01-30+at+10.42.05+AM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/2181499788984356/">1</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/50102614573973568/">2</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/62135669828354145/">3</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/14636767508430887/">4</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/43910165086339136/">5</a> <a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/design-ideas-home-renovation-south-carolina">6</a> <a href="http://www.srgambrel.com/company/">7</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/36802921924395090/">8</a><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/15973773647806553/"> 9</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/37506609366488514/">10</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/37506609366399974/">11</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/37506609366282910/">12 </a><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/229331805994551089/">13</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/35817759505907802/">14</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/93449760987788210/">15</a> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/119767671310212272/">16</a><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/284993482639333905/"> 17</a><a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/155374255864123604/"> 18</a> <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/35536284529197137/">19</a> <a href="http://moderngracedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/05/banquette.html">20 </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now let's hear about your kitchens -</div><div style="text-align: center;">do you spend a lot of time there when you have company?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you love about your space?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What would you change?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6NPqy9xJ-HOXKGM0fevxvI3lNOrp2nJT8XdoPKxKFMCRP6QHahewcDn-HQh8JVljuq5hlMuBtn4brMQfkIZLXJStHDns5xqrDoTJ2m-BNvT7hEn9osfvj8LDg9nZni85Gg_cFXiIYUH1/s200/Screen+shot+2011-05-19+at+3.08.10+PM+copy.png" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

the entertaining posts

How about a theme week? Are you up for it? Fresh from a wonderful weekend filled with some of our favourite friends, and one which we were a...

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