Ruby and I in our living room. She is not much of a reader.

The seasons are playing musical chairs around here. One day it’s snowing, the next day it is a balmy 70 degrees. The worst of winter is probably finished but it is Kentucky so all bets are off. Even though we have had some warmer temperatures, spring is still a few weeks away. We have also had a particularly gray, gloomy winter and more rain than snow. This makes for a lot of time spent inside the house. I’ve never been much of a homebody but I try to make the best of it. I’ve been trying out new recipes, tweaking this and that, and experimenting with In the Curious Kitchen products for new dishes and ways to use them.

During this ‘tween season, I’ve been looking for things that inspire me. I quickly realized that the simple things in my life do indeed bring me much joy.

Fresh Flowers

One thing is certain at my house. There are always fresh flowers. It brings me such joy to make fresh floral creations and just having an arrangement sitting about makes things so much more cozy. I don’t spend a fortune on fresh flowers. My tip is to go to Trader Joe’s and get there early in the day for the freshest and best selection. The prices are also great! I will pick up bunches of hydrangeas, gerbera daisies, or some similar seasonal flower–usually all one color and usually white flowers or green (although I do, on occasion branch out into other colors.) I also use plants, mostly orchids, from time to time. I love orchids but I just cannot get them to grow. I use them in my dining room in my stunning rose medallion bowl as part of my table centerpiece. They are not terribly expensive and are often on sale, so when I see a color I like at the right price, I will buy those to use. Both fresh-cut arrangements and fresh flowering plants make a nice addition to any room in the house.

Wine

I have amassed quite an assortment of wine at the house. Thanks to one of our favorite activities. Steve and I belong to a wine club at Oakley Wine in Cincinnati. It gets us out of the house, we can taste and learn about all sorts of wines we wouldn’t normally experience. The wine director at Oakley Wine is a fabulous storyteller and imparts her knowledge of the vineyards and she tells their story. On club pick up day,, it’s a party. We taste, we nosh, and learn about wine. I’ve always enjoyed a nice glass of wine and now I am learning so much about my favorites and my new favorites. The prices are good, and it does get us out of the house once a month.

My “Play Pretties”

According to my sources, a “play-pretty” is a toy or plaything. No, I don’t have toys around the house now that the girls are grown but I do have my favorite things–my “play-pretties.” These are all of the things I pick up when I am thrifting and antiquing (both used as verbs, now.) I love collecting vintage dishes, decanters, and a bunch of items that I use for staging and entertaining. It is the thrill of the chase that inspires me. I love it when I pop into a thrift store and find a piece to add to my ever-growing collections. Some of my biggest “finds' ' to date include my large rose medallion bowls and a large turkey platter that is part of my Johnson Brothers collection. It was a great bargain (apparently they knew it was a good piece but didn’t know its full worth.) The platter coordinates perfectly with my vintage brown transferware and I use it often during my fall entertaining. I cannot wait to go out “junking” again soon and see what I can find!

Candles

I adorn my home with lots of candles. I cannot explain why I like them but I just do! I always have a candle burning when I am at home. I have some pretty standard scents but I love exploring new fragrances. Naturally, I like anything paired with bourbon, but I also enjoy branching out. I have a few vendors that I am very pleased with–and their candles are so superior. Lineage and Redwood–especially during the holidays. I add candles to my online shop and to my market displays during the holidays and this past year I worked with a local candle maker to create a signature collection for In the Curious Kitchen. It was a three-piece set that sold very well–all bourbon-inspired infused scents: Small Batch, Holiday, and Barrel Proof.

Original Art

One thing I surround myself with is original art. As an interior design major in college, I learned to use pieces of art playfully, creatively, and cleverly throughout any interior. Beautifully framed works of art are definitely one of my passions. My home reflects this. My interior style leans toward the maximalist–and my art collection is no different. I love creating gallery walls full of interesting art pieces I have found throughout my travels and through the years working in the industry. I have spent a lot of time with artists–discussing their work, their ideas, and their inspirations.

Some people say “less is more.” I am not one of those people. More is more for me. My style is best described as maximalist–very maximalist. I have worked for years to create my collections of things throughout the house. I take great pride in my home and have dedicated many hours to making it a warm and inviting place to be. I have surrounded myself with the things that make me happy: fresh flowers, wine, candles, original art, and, of course, my “play-pretties.” I’m curious, what do you have in your home that defines you? What gives you joy? Please drop me a line and let me know.

Cheers,

MK

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