You are currently browsing the Ted Kennedy Watson posts tagged: WestWard


Slipcover LOVE

20130618-080716.jpg Slipcovers rock! I just love slipcovers. Not only are they incredibly practical, but they can transform a room without having to move any furniture. Our beach place on Vashon was in need of a little refresh. It had been more than 10 years since we had new slipcovers made. It is an active little home. With guests visiting, sand from the beach brought in, Bailey up & down on things, and just normal usage and washing them twice a year–it was time.

20130618-081148.jpg There is a fabulous slipcover maker on the island, Karen Bean. She whipped everything into shape and meticulously made new covers for each of the pieces in the living room. Please contact me if you are ever in need of slipcovers and I will pass along her information. She is an absolute delight in addition to making cool slipcovers. The above Bailey’s favorite perch.

20130618-081516.jpg We chose a variety of ticking and striped fabrics to stay in the preppy Americana theme we have going on. A solid red cording on each piece ties it all together.

20130618-081654.jpg I have wanted to do this for ages, and Karen did an incredible job on piecing this baby together. We used vintage French dish towels to make a slipcover for the ottoman. We use them to dry dishes at WestWard and I always thought they would look cool pieced together. Just fun!

20130618-081921.jpg Just in time for the Pacific Northwest magazine photo shoot next week. They are coming to shoot the house and the grounds for the Flower & Garden Show issue next year. I can’t wait for you all to see how magical Mister Sive has made what we like to call the Tended Forest. Nothing like a deadline to spur a little refresh and Spring cleaning…



 

 

WestWard Snapshots

20130507-064841.jpg For those of you reading this in the Seattle area, you are smiling as big as I am right now as I type this. For you readers not in the area, we have just had 2 of the most spectacular May days in a row that I can ever remember. It was close to 90 degrees yesterday on Vashon Island. It really was more like a warm & sunny August day. Needless to say, we enjoyed each moment of it. Our days off are Sunday and Monday, so I am writing this from my favorite chair at our home on the island before we head to the ferry to head back to Seattle. Here are a few snapshots or “moments” from these 2 glorious days.

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Fab Ferns

20130408-084319.jpg I love this time of year when all the ferns are beginning to take off, are growing like weeds, and have just the prettiest shades of green. It is so interesting to see them in miniature form, just knowing they will become huge as the season progresses.

20130408-084652.jpg We have horsetail ferns all over our property on Vashon Island. I think these ferns look other-worldly. After a little reading up, I found out that they dominated the understory of late Paleozoic forests. I guess we are really just a visitor at their home. It is fun watching Bailey dodge around them like she is running an obstacle course.

20130408-085202.jpg There is just something about the beauty of a fern all bumbled up tight, waiting to unfurl.



 

 

A WestWard Week

20121227-091135.jpg Ahhhhh, the retail marathon is complete, and we are ensconced in our home on the island for the week. It was a heck of a run, and we thank all of you who shopped at Watson Kennedy this season–and for helping to making it the best year yet! It is our tradition to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve at WestWard recouping, recharging & revitalizing. We have not been here since the first of November, so it is a very happy homecoming indeed. I snapped a few photos yesterday after we got the bags unpacked, the groceries put away, the fire started, the candles lit, and the flowers put out. Waking up the house from its slumber of the past 7 weeks.

20121227-092305.jpg So many lovely edible gifts that we will enjoy this week.

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20121227-092512.jpg As well as a few liquid gifts too.

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20121227-092706.jpg Lots and lots of cooking.

20121227-092811.jpg Catching up on our reading. I will write about this one tomorrow.

20121227-092927.jpg More edible gifts that will be enjoyed with our Bloody Mary’s as we bundle up, sit outside and watch the tide come in.

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20121227-093256.jpg A new shower curtain I found on One Kings Lane last month along with our new favorite soap.

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20121227-093620.jpg More and more red, which you know is one of my favorites.

I hope each of you can squeeze in a bit of relaxation in this week. Sending all my very best from Vashon Island.



 

 

Remembering a WestWard Summer

20121102-065235.jpg The amazing Summer that seemed to lingered well into the beginning of October is such a pleasant memory as we head into the rainy season. Please don’t get me wrong, I adore even the Seattle rain, but a Seattle Summer day is truly a magical thing. With the busy-ness of the shops and the season, we don’t make the voyage to our home on Vashon Island as frequently as we do in the Summer, where we venture out every week-end.

20121102-065934.jpg I thought it would be a fun post to remember a bit of the gloriousness of this beautiful Summer, and fondly remember a few WestWard snapshots. I personally will refer back to this when it has rained too many days in a row… The ferry ride always helps in setting the tone for a relaxing time.

20121102-070400.jpg The house really is all about having the 2 sets of glass French doors open, so the outside is brought in. I love to clip scented geranium stems and have them set about. This year with the extended sunny streak, the plants grew like weeds, and we were cutting stems from them almost every week-end.

20121102-070713.jpg And we would always have a Diptyque candle burning on the ottoman/coffee table.

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20121102-070915.jpg Hours and hours spent just reading away. House Beautiful, Town & Country, Elle Decor, Country Living–being some of our very favorites in the magazine department. I like to save past issues to peruse time and again.

20121102-071310.jpg But mostly it was sitting outside on the deck enjoying the sun and listening to the water lap up on the beach below.

20121102-071519.jpg Or writing a quick note.

20121102-071556.jpg Or making a Summery cocktail.

20121102-071656.jpg Our little zinc herb container loved the sun and produced the most amazing herbs for us month after month. We cut those and used them inside in place of flowers too.

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20121102-071940.jpg Thank you WestWard for giving us so many great memories this past season!

A lovely Friday to all of you. I am still wondering, how is it November already?



 

 

Dahlia Love

20121001-095753.jpg I am crazy for dahlias and could just not wait to share these with you. They are huge. The color variation amazing. I am not sure if they fall into the dinner plate variety, but one in a single stem vase makes quite a statement. The Market is still abundant with the blooms, so I am taking every chance I can to have them in the shops and at home.

20121001-100302.jpg They were placed around the 86 Pine shop in vintage bottles. Customers commented on them much of the day, asking if they were real. Indeed they are.

20121001-100518.jpg A bunch travelled over on the ferry and I used them on the dining table just like I did the white variety last week-end (cut super short with the head resting on the lip of a clear drinking glass), with guests yesterday at our Sunday supper.

20121001-100705.jpg The dozen took up almost the entire length of the table. The colors just speaking of Autumn.

20121001-100847.jpg We thought we were done with outdoor dining, but this incredible weather just won’t stop. The dahlias just adding to the cheeriness & delight of being able to have our meal outside.



 

 

Blue & White Table, III

20120907-061413.jpg I just can’t get enough of the color combo blue and white this Summer. We have had a glorious stretch of sunny days in Seattle, record breaking actually, so we are grabbing every chance we can to dine outside.

20120907-061904.jpg This blue & white version would get spiffed up with Juliska bamboo handled flatware that I just adore.

20120907-062035.jpg It also gave me a chance to use that sweet little Fleur de Sel dish I wrote about a bit ago. Plus I love using that shell to hold fresh cracked pepper.

20120907-062243.jpg Our herb container is going wild with all of this sun, so I cut a bunch of parsley and filled up 2 blue glassybaby and had them at each end of the table. Herbs work so great for little pops of color.

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20120907-062715.jpg Since I always like to add something either vintage or natural to a table, this little lichen covered branch would fill the spot right in the middle.

20120907-062936.jpg A scattering of white dahlias in clear drinking glasses cut really short so the head rested right on top of the lip of the glass, and we were all set for dinner with friends.



 

 

A Pretty Perfect Day

20120827-063004.jpg Oh my stars, it has been an action packed few weeks and yesterday it finally hit us. It would be a ‘nothing’ day at WestWard, and it was sublime. The above assortment of magazines along with an assortment of naps was on the agenda for the day. The famous September issue of Vogue must weight at least a few pounds. Amazing. Town & Country, The New Yorker, House Beautiful–along with all my other favorites. As you can see, it was a very stressful day for Bailey too.

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A Twist on a Blue & White Table

20120814-053854.jpg Setting a table can really start with just one small idea, and then it blossoms from there. A bird house was the element that started this table rolling. I was a bit under the weather this week-end, so TPS made a solo run to the Vashon Saturday Farmers Market, where he found amazing produce as well as a dandy little bird house made by an island artisan. The minute he brought it in and set it down, I knew it would be the starting point to the table.

20120814-054506.jpg Then I start layering and adding. The little nest that sits on our bookshelf propped up by a vintage white piece of pottery would continue the bird theme.

20120814-054647.jpg I also love the color combination of blue and brown together. There is an earthiness and a freshness to the combination that I really like. More of that combo would get added to the mix.

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20120814-054943.jpg Simple creamy white English plates and bowls would do the trick, as would Summery white lilies staggered in clear drinking glasses. I generally like to add at least one vintage item to a table, just because. The English shaving mirror that was a gift would be it. Having things on the table that guests can ask about and enjoy visually makes the table part of the conversation.

20120814-055759.jpg With the table set and the wine poured, it was time to relax and enjoy our company. Our stylish friend Rise’ looking swell in her lovely Hermes scarf and Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses at the ready.

20120814-060027.jpg It was an afternoon of laughter, good food, watching the boats sail by, and enjoying all the goodness of Summer.



 

 

A Blue and White Table

20120802-064725.jpg After my post yesterday, I received requests for a post about the blue and white table setting. This was my plan for today, so that worked perfectly. I find it is such a fresh color combo for an alfresco dining experience. Here is a look at the table and what went through my head when setting it–because you know I always have something in mind…

20120802-065312.jpg The English plates are fairly new for us, and I could not wait to use them. This would be the start of the table. I wanted to leave the zinc top exposed on the dining table, so I folded over a napkin with a fish motif, and made it into a placemat. The simplest, thinnest clear glass for wine and clear glass votive holders would keep the table nice and airy.

20120802-065640.jpg Striped napkins we found at the Brooklyn Flea Market on one of our visits would be fun with the plates. The first of the dahlias started showing up at the Market, and my weakness for white blooms prevailed over the more colorful options. A simple clear glass jar would be the vessel.

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20120802-070032.jpg 2 bowls of shells and a smattering of our favorite shells on the table would give the beach theme I often like to use when we are dining on the deck on Vashon Island.

20120802-070245.jpg All set, and ready for a lovely meal and afternoon with friends.