I’m kind of obsessed with vintage vignettes. (Okay, majorly obsessed.) Apparently, so is Jeska, the creator, writer and editor of Lobster and Swan, a blog dedicated to sharing decorating ideas, daily discoveries, inspiring photos and recipes too amazing to look at when hungry.
Jeska says, “I live to make my (and hopefully your) surroundings a happier, more beautiful place by taking pleasure in the simple joys of everyday life and the theatre and wonder of some things that may be out of our reach but are delightful nevertheless.” Her blog does exactly that.
I especially love blogs like Lobster and Swan that intermingle interior design, food and everyday life into one captivating read. Living what I imagine to be an idyllic, bucolic life in a house nestled in the English countryside, Jeska shares images of her vintage-inspired decor and the updates she makes with each antique and thrift store purchase. When she’s not redecorating and reviving her home with fresh flowers and decades-old collectibles, she’s exploring historic English homes, taking adventurous weekend trips and creating paper garlands and postcard sets for her Etsy shop.
Jeska’s quaint cottage-style home is the definition of cozy. A soft, neutral color palette allows her the freedom to regularly change out the wall decor without disrupting a particular color scheme. Her dining nook seems to get the most attention with the most frequent makeovers through each changing season and burst of inspiration. My favorite? This casual, rustic setup featuring Jeska’s 12 favorite keepsakes and personal heirlooms (photo on the far left).
If you love looking at decadent, mouthwatering treats, Jeska has you covered. (I made the mistake of researching her blog in between breakfast and lunch.) What makes her sweet and savory concoctions even more amazing is the antique dishware she uses to display and photograph them on. From cake pops and lemon sherbet cookies to raspberry and meringue roulade, L&S features favorite English recipes with a modern twist that you’ll be dying to try.
And if you need your daily fix of cuteness, Jeska will have you awing over her recently-adopted kittens who make a frequent appearance in her posts. Personally, I can’t get enough of the pair snuggling together on the couch or mischievously roaming the kitchen table.
IM DISAPPOINTED IN HGTV.AT ONE TIME WE COULD LEARN HOW TO DECORATE……WE AT ONE TIME WERE ABLE TO WATCH CHRISTOPHER LOWELL AND LENETTE JENNINGS AND THEN THERE WAS THW 4 DECORATORS WHO WOULD DESIGN A ROOM THERE WAS VERN YIP FRANK.AND TWO WOMEN..WHEN CAN WE GET QUALTY SHOW AGAIN FROM HGTV
I was watching a show a while ago and heard "90% of backsplashes in Australia are colored glass," and I started thinking. I talked to my brother-in-law, who owns a paint and body shop, and he agreed that anything he could do on a hotrod or motorcycle, he could do on the back of thick glass. We talked about the necessary learning curve of backward glass painting. For instance, to paint flames first, then clear color with bits of metal,mica, or mother of pearl, and then the solid color, or metallic, for candy paint, perhaps pearlized. Another idea was the Art Deco stained glass designs for stylized, geometric versions of natural things, like flowers, or trees, landscapes… DoverPublications.com sell cd and book sets of royalty free designs, they also sell stencils. I can even see long airbrushed landscapes, perhaps a south seas beach in the lower part, and waves with surfers and boats in the upper half of the backsplash. Some might get glass etching kits and stencils and etch palm trees over that.
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Continuing my ideas about glass backsplashes, instead of small or large tiles and grout lines to maintain. Lace stencils could etch a pretty design over anything painted on the back. I know some motor heads who would airbrush skulls, hotrods, vintage car pictures, and symbols. I know some people would put pictures of their collectables, or family caricatures, or favorite foods. Some people might make their kitchen follow a theme, with coordinating backsplash. A backsplash in an Italian Kitchen might have maps, or pictures of the Amalfi coast landmarks, the same for other parts of Italy. I can imagine an Ozark Hillbilly themed outdoor kitchen with smokers, cookers, prep area with a glass backsplash with airbrushed cabin, porch rockers, moonshine jugs, etc.