Leah Richardson

This time of year Jim and I love to anticipate warm evenings entertaining our family and friends outdoors.  Looking through various websites, I found some great ideas to spur my creativity for designing a beautiful yet simple table.  In our home, Jim does most of the cooking, while I take the time to prepare the table.  When we take time to prepare for our guests, we show that we truly care about them and want them to feel special.  Like my designs, my table is all about the “mix”.   Mixing sterling silver, pottery, natural elements like seashells, twigs, dried leaves, curly willow and flowers with crystal, terra cotta, linen…you get the idea!  I continually encourage my clients to use their beautiful things- don’t just store them away.  Open your closets and drawers and get creative! Think about unusual ways you can incorporate all your beautiful things into the mix.

Often times nature provides wonderful organic texture and interest, like the pine cones above.

What a great picnic for two!

I love the casual “dish towel” to use as oversize napkins.  Buy solid ones and stencil your guests’ initials on them as a gift.

String little lights around your deck or in the trees to create a intimate ambiance.  Notice the dish towel look again! (image Tricia Joyce website)

The hot pink runners, red napkins and yellow flowers create a fun Spring contrast.  There are enough flowers here to send a bouquet home with each guest!

Charming pale pink and red mixed.

For the table in the picture above, I would use white pottery plates, and for texture, basket or rattan accents.  I can visualize a huge salad in a vintage bowl, bringing in Spring Green!  (image Tricia Joyce website)

Fun, creative, and simple!

Note the rustic, weathered board used like a runner.  They mixed it with a more formal little bouquet in a silver teapot.  Great look!

A study in contrast- pale green hydrangeas with muted, soft red fruit.  The white cloth and white vase provide the perfect backdrop to allow the soft colors to stand out.  Afternoon tea anyone?

This is a wonderful example of just how simple yet beautiful blooming twigs can look in glass containers…even a mason jar will do!

Burlap and string!!  What a simple spring look to line-up down the center of the table.  Remember, an odd number will look best.  Again, great little gift to send home with your guests.  (image Tricia Joyce website)

Jim and I both love to entertain and bless others by practicing hospitality.  We believe everything we have is a gift on loan from our Heavenly Father, and we enjoy using all He provides. There is absolutely no reason to stress out and think everything must be perfect before you invite guests into your home.  After all, it is not about us. It is about being a blessing to others. Sweet memories and close friendships last long after the food is digested and the flowers wither.

My motto is…don’t wear yourself out so you don’t have anything to give out!!

Jesus tells us whenever two or more are gathered in his name, he is there.

You are not alone!

You can keep it simple.

You can be a blessing.

You can practice hospitality.

Here are some super simple tips:

1.  Start an “inspiration file” with pictures and ideas that attract you.  But remember it is only an inspiration…put your personal touch and style on all you do!

2.  Decide the “simple yet beautiful” look for the occassion.  Decide a simple menu to complement your table.

3.  Set the date and invite your guests.

4.  Make a comprehensive list of everything you will need.

5.  Gather what you  have in your home, making sure it is clean and polished.

6.  Purchase, clip, or borrow the balance of your list and put your table and food together in advance.  (I prefer to entertain on Saturday night, which gives me all day to enjoy preparing.  Always give yourself extra time, this reduces stress.)

7.  Bathe and dress, again give yourself time so you will be ready to answer the door with an unhurried and welcoming smile.

8.  Relax, enjoy yourself and don’t expect perfection!

The key is advance preparation.

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

Create something “simple yet beautiful”, then share it!

xo   leah

What do you need today?  Really, what is it you need?

refreshing?

wisdom?

joy?

understanding?

the promise of eternal life?

or just everyday guidance?

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;

the testimony  of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

Psalm 19:7-9

These verses assure us that God’s Words are altogether perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true, which tells me that I can count on the ROCK SOLID WORD OF GOD never letting me down or failing me!  God wants us to know that his word is alive and active in our lives and it cuts to the very heart of “what matters” most to us.  What matters to the child of God, you, matters to God. So why not seek out what we need in His Word,

For God has reserved a special word, a treasure, just for you, to discover today.

Have you ever been in that place where you are just down right disappointed in man’s wisdom?  You know in your gut that you can’t really trust the world’s wisdom, yet you find yourself looking for signs and answers under every rock!  Although I know this is futile, sometimes I must reach a real low or desperate place before, in humility, I can receive all sweet Jesus has to offer me.  My human nature can be so stubborn.  But God’s nature is one of compassionate grace patiently directing and guiding me through his perfect words.

Thank you Lord that by your words your children are taught and in keeping them there is great reward.  Open our minds to receive your Word, for in it is truly everything we need.

Let the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.…verse 14.

Have a wonder-filled weekend!

xo   leah

p.s.  Stop looking under the rocks and check out Psalm 19…

The formal dining room has almost disappeared from current architecture, and so has the custom of making time to sit down and eat a meal together as a family.  Yet, the dining room or dining area created within the larger great-room, is still one of my favorite rooms to design.  In the great-room of our Florida home, our dining table was over 100″ long and only 38″ wide, which was perfect for hosting a buffet-style dinner.

In New Orleans we had a formal dining room that was almost square, which gave me the opportunity to use a round dining table.  Round dining tables lend themselves to lingering and good conversation, due to the circular shape.  Everyone can see each other, so no one is left out of the conversation, which just seems to flow.  After all, the definition of a circle is to move around a path that ends where it began and usually repeats its cycle.  If that is the path of the conversation and food, you have the mix for a great dinner party!

But regardless of the shape of your table, the chairs around it will determine how long your family and friends will linger.  Whenever possible, I like to incorporate fully upholstered chairs with arms for comfort. Above and below are 2 images of our dining room, one with fresh flowers and one without.  I just love fresh flowers in my home, and I want you to take note of how these gorgeous red tulips impact this room with such life and beauty.

When I was growing up in South Georgia, every evening during the week my family sat down to dinner together. It is very hard to coordinate schedules and accomplish this in the 21st Century, but I really appreciate the innumerable lessons I learned from communing and eating together as a family.  This became a way of life for me as child, and I continue to practice it today.  Lauren was quite a busy teenager, but she will tell you, looking back, that she appreciates those times we had as a family.  Like my mom, I used that time to pass on little tidbits to Lauren about the art of gracious living…manners, quality conversation and how paying attention to the little things in our lives can bring tremendous joy!  Proverbs 22:6  tells us if we will take the time and initiative to train our children up in the way they should go, when they are older they will not depart from it.  Although only 3 years out of college, Lauren’s life bears budding fruit from this early training.

If we teach our children about the various pieces of flatware and glass ware on the table and their proper use it will build confidence and be very helpful to them later in life.  You will find that your children will be quick studies when it comes to the proper placement of the dessert spoon or fork!  On the other hand, it might take a few times for them to learn how to fold their napkin properly.  I encourage you to use cloth napkins and teach your children, and husband (: , how to properly fold them.  Using cloth napkins is an easy way to start practicing Green Living too!  Maybe teach them fun shapes at first, it will spark their interest.  Then you can explain why using a cloth napkin is being a good steward of the Earth God created for us. Tasks like these are easier to remember when taught in a creative manner.  But manners and the art of good conversation are best taught by example.

So I want to encourage you to be totally counter culture- sit down together as a family and eat a good healthy meal.  Keep it simple, but keep this time as a priority.  Jim and I are empty nesters, but this is still our favorite time of the day.  Cooking, reconnecting…savoring our meal and each other.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

Psalm 34:8

xo   leah

p.s.  check out this Godly mom’s simple healthy recipes HERE, at Deliciously Organic.

p.s.s  I get these 2 measurement questions A LOT, so let me share with you that a dining table should be around 29-30 inches in height.  The best height for the light fixture above your table is around 60-65 inches AFF (above the finished floor).  This height will look too low until your dining table is placed underneath it.

My word for the week has been…languishing!  I caught the “whatever is going around” and have been so sick.   Psalm 6:2 says…

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

languishing

pining away

fading

weak

But as I cry out for help and healing, I remember

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Because

Because

Because

Because

Because

YOUR STEADFAST LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE…

Psalm 63:1-3

Only God can turn our “languishing in the wilderness“ into “lavishing our time there”!  Wilderness times cause me to draw near to my Savior.  To lay perfectly still under the hand of God remembering what I know…He is good and He is on my side.

Have you experienced a wilderness time lately?

Whether it is physical depravation, financial depravation, emotional depravation…just a barron, dry place in your life where tumbleweeds seem to multiply…like King David,

earnestly seek

look upon

and behold

God’s power and glory.

For when we do, the Holy Spirit will enable us to walk in confident expectation, even in the wilderness.

What do I learn in the wilderness?

That it was a place of learning…learning

to trust God with all my heart

to not lean on my own understanding or resources

to believe God’s plan is good even when I don’t understand

to rest, rest, rest in quiet contentment

to confidently expect God will act on my behalf!

I learn that as I confidently trust and believe while abiding in the wilderness, my soul will sing too…

YOUR STEADFAST LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE!

What do you learn in the wilderness?

Thank you Jesus that you can turn our languishing into lavishing when we draw near to you.

Be blessed this weekend!      xo    leah

p.s.   extra “becauses” are mine

Happy Monday!  Now that we have “sprung forward” into Spring, are you considering tackling any design projects in your home?  I want to share some good design solutions for some common design challenges…a few of which I am facing in current design projects.

Can the laundry facilities located in a “pass-through area” between two rooms be functional and beautiful? Absolutely!  Ideally, the washer and dryer should be located next to each other, but I might opt for a little inconvenience if I could place a small window between the two to filter in morning sunlight.  When tall upper cabinets are installed directly on the counter top, storage requirements are fulfilled and a more architectural, built-in look is achieved. If there is the opportunity on the second floor directly above, I would take the upper cabinets to the ceiling and have one of the upper cabinets serve as a laundry shoot.  On the opposite wall, I would install tall cabinet doors flush with the wall. Behind them would be very shallow storage spaces, stud deep, to house a pull-down ironing board and pull-out drying racks. The second image gives you a visual, but note that everything would be behind cabinet doors.  This is a good design solution to create a functional, beautiful, well-designed and well-disguised laundry area.

image via HouseandHome.com

image via Atlantahomes.com

When overflow seating and additional storage are the challenges in a room with a large window, a good design solution is to build in a window seat.  Oftentimes I have the upholsterer fabricate the seat a bit deeper than expected, usually between 24″-27″.   It adds an unexpected graciousness to the proportions.  This image has a very crisp yet inviting look and the built-in on either side serves to anchor and lend stability to the area.  For even more storage, I would piano-hinge the bench seat to lift open.  Don’t you love the way the pendant light fixture really completes this space creating a cozy, beautiful and functional design solution?

image via Livingetc.com

It can be quite a window challenge to find a design solution that accomplishes complete privacy, while letting in natural light.  I was so excited to find the two images below.  The first image is such a creative way to screen something at ground level, like AC units.  Splitting shutters, solid or louvered, in proportions other than 50/50 adds that unexpected interest to an interior and provides a great design solution.  I wonder if in the second picture the homeowner is trying to create a romantic atmosphere or hide the neighbor’s bright yellow boat parked in the driveway!

images via Livingetc.com

The large screen behind this bed causes your eye to easily transition from the soaring window and ceiling height to the lower elements in the room, like the bed and furnishings.  This is a very smart, tailored and clutter-free design solution to fill up a large wall, while, at the same time, creating a sense of cohesiveness in the room.  Although the screen has a large pattern, it doesn’t overwhelm the room because the colors are in the same muted tones used throughout the space.  This screen’s function is two fold- it serves as artwork and a good design solution for this simple, sophisticated monochromatic bedroom.

image via HouseandHome.com

To many people these design challenges may seem Goliath, but the key to finding a good design solution is to:

1.  Make a list- a wish list of everything you want to accomplish.

2.  Thoughtfully prioritize this list knowing that the bottom 1/3 will “most likely” not happen!

3.  Measure and photograph the space, then pull together pictures, like I did above, to jump-start your creativity.

4.  Begin by laying out ideas, considering your priorities and size constraints.

5.  Walk away for a while and come back to your ideas/layouts/rough sketches with a fresh mindset.

Then repeat number 4 and 5 until, like a puzzle, things start coming together.  If they don’t, call a designer!  In other words…goodbye DIY (do it yourself)- hello DIWH (do it with help!)

As I think about the word Goliath, I am reminded of the challenge in the Bible that young David faced. Like the 5 steps above, he gathered 5 smooth stones and faced his Giant head on.  Maybe you are facing a more critical challenge than designing a laundry room, finding good storage solutions or addressing windows and walls. But whatever it is you are facing today, taking the next right step is the next right step.  Let’s look at our 5 steps again from a Spiritual perspective.

1.  Dream with faith!

2.  Challenge your natural boundaries and believe that truly nothing is impossible with God…even the bottom 1/3 of your list!

3.  Take stock of your surroundings and your relationships and let the Goodness of God jump-start you creativity.

4.  Begin by beginning, because fear has no place in your life.

5.  Don’t let this Goliath consume you, remembering, like David, that the battle belongs to God.

David was prepared with 5 stones although he slayed Goliath with the first one!  The point is,  he was prepared for a longer battle.  Whatever your challenge is today, don’t give up!  Don’t quit!  Though the answer tarries, wait for it.  Remember, God is the solution and He is always available and willing to help you with every challenge you face.  Now is not the time to trust in your own resources (DIY)…trust God…(DIWH)!

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

You know that  under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.

Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:1-3 Message Bible

Up for the challenges – trusting God for the solutions!

xo     leah

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT.

You probably memorized this verse without consciously memorizing this verse.  I know I did.  Like a recognizable tag line or slogan we hear regularly, it becomes a part of us.  My grandmother loved to watch the game show Jeopardy every night.  To this day, I can hear the “tick-tock” theme song they played before the final question! How about “Good to the last drop”, “Just Do It” and “The Real Thing”?

We remember what we expose ourselves to, don’t we?  So what are you consciously or subconsciously filling your mind with?  We must be so careful, for our thoughts become our words… which become our actions… which become our legacy!

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT.

Give me these 9 words of wisdom which impact my life daily with hope, help and comfort over clever slogans any day!  Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” and He promises us we will not lack anything of lasting value and worth in our lives when we place our confidence in Him as “my” Shepherd.  What an incredible peace, a peace than surpasses human understanding…

When I am afraid of _______________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I just don’t understand why_____________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I am disappointed in ___________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I am brokenhearted over___________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I grow weary in doing__________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I am tempted to ____________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

AND

When joy and delight surprise me because___________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I receive completely unexpected provision from__________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

When I remember my precious God and He acts on my behalf by __________________

The Lord is my Shepherd.

Regardless of what life throws my way today…I will say

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

We have a Good Shepherd who knows exactly how we fill in those blanks, and this Psalm assures us He will never leave our side, whether in green pastures or shadowy valleys.  This weekend, let Jesus lead you beside still waters and

be refreshed

be replenished

be renewed…

let Him restore your soul.

I encourage you to read the 23rd Psalm.  Read it out loud and visualize it, make it your own story.  Take note of all the verbs…Praise Him for He is always acting on our behalf.

The Lord is my….

Have a great weekend!

xo    leah

Yesterday while searching through all my design books looking for a specific resource, my fingers stopped, my eyes lit up and my mouth curled into a smile as I gazed upon a book that was a huge inspiration to me in the infancy on my design career.  Pulling it from the shelf, I sat down and thumbed through Alexandra Stoddard’s Living Beautifully Together. I began to see how her gracious words have enriched and influenced my life over the years.  Through living a life impassioned by grace and beauty, she kindled a desire in me to cultivate that kind atmosphere in my home, my relationships and my work too.  An atmosphere that nourishes and affirms, an atmosphere of love.  I remember years ago the title alone captured my heart and drew me in. Some of her other books are Living a Beautiful Life, Reflections on Beauty, The Postcard as Art and Style for Living.

In the last chapter of her book,  Alexandra says, “Some of the happiest moments of my life have been unplanned.”  My stumbling across this long forgotten treasure was not planned, but sitting here rereading the passages I highlighted 20 years ago brings me great joy.  I thought I would share some of her “Grace Notes” that caught my attention, and may resonate in your heart too.  Enjoy!

♥ Once we have a flame we can pass it on and light other people’s torches.

♥ Come to grips with your individualism:  There is no one like you anywhere.  Any great artist creates from the heart, not from what will please others.  That should be our goal as well.

♥ Think “up”!

♥ Take a weekend trip by yourself.  Do exactly what you want to do for two days.  This will be a time of discovery and renewal.

♥ Learn several new words each week and use them in your verbal and written expressions.

♥ Before going to sleep at night, pray for ten people you love.

♥ Sing in the shower!

♥ Volunteer at a hospital; giving a little bit of yourself is a remedy that even medicine can’t top.

♥ Start a journal.

♥ Relationships aren’t automatic; they require conscious attention.

♥ Make your point without anger.

♥ “Simplify, simplify.”  Henry David Thoreau

♥ Effort is self-fulfilling.

♥ We hold great power to communicate tenderness and love through our choice of words and how we voice them.

♥ There are times to interrupt and times not to be interrupted.

♥ Contentment comes from appreciation, not wealth.

♥ Have a dream box: clip pictures of things you both love…a painting, vacation spot, a house.

♥ Never forget to say I love you before going to bed.  Never go to bed mad at each other.

♥ Hold hands when you walk together, give him little pinches or kisses to keep him smiling.

♥ Each of you pick a sanctuary in your home. Choose your favorite chair and keep your favorite books close by.  This is your spot to come to and relax all by yourself.

♥ Create a calm, intimate, romantic world.  Always light a candle at dinner.  It forces you to stop and appreciate being together.

♥ Leave a huge bunch of wild flowers at the back door when a friend is sick.

♥ Call a stepchild and make a lunch date for two.  Be early and ask questions about her plans and dreams.

♥ Remember everyone is different.  Most of us are doing the best we can.

♥ Get out of bed with a smile on your face.  Smile when you are alone, it’s a good habit!

♥ When the Spirit moves you, act.

♥ You can never have too generous a spirit.

LET ME END WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITES…

♥ LOVE EACH OTHER TO A CRISP!!

xo    leah

Before my eyes pop open in the morning, my heart sings…

This is the day that the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Although the Lord is not bound by time or space, we are.  And we will never have this day again.  Today is only for today…so what are you doing today?

ARE YOU DANCING?

And David danced before the Lord with all his might.

2 Samuel 6:14

David longed for the Presence of the Lord in his life because he knew from personal experience that God’s Presence brings much joy and much blessing.  He is here, He is Holy and He dwells in our midst…Dance!

ARE YOU HIDING?

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day,

and the man and his wife hid themselves from the Presence of the Lord God in the trees of the garden.

Genesis 2:8

Regardless of how miserably we fail, He still comes looking for us to bring us back into His Presence.  He is here, He is Holy and He dwells in our midst…STOP HIDING!

ARE YOU SMILING?

This is the day that the Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad.

I can’t say those words without smiling.  Do they make your heart smile?  He is here, He is Holy and He dwells in our midst…SMILE!

THIS IS THE DAY…a mere 24-hour period of time that will never be repeated.

THAT THE LORD HAS MADE…especially for you, and for me

I WILL REJOICE…let praise and thanksgiving roll off our tongues while it is still today

AND BE GLAD…happy, of good cheer- SMILE, for God is good.

let your living spill over into thanksgiving!

Have a great weekend,

xo   leah

image via Alys Beach website