“Specialties of the House”: Summer Brunch for House Guests

Summer always brings lots of fun friends to our lake house , as well as Chestnut Cottage.  Thought you might need some breakfast/brunch ideas and I love these make ahead Sausage and Broccoli Egg Muffins!  You can make ahead and freeze or have all of the ingredients ready and just put together in the morning before serving.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

And when these great little muffins are combined with a “bowl” of summer fruit, a few spears of fresh asparagus, a couple of skewers of mini pancakes and a  lovely mimosa …  you have a perfect, quick, and easy breakfast for guests.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeleyPreheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large sauté pan, cook the sausage until browned.  Drain and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess grease.  Stir into the sausage the  broccoli , red peppers, and cheddar cheese.  Whisk together eggs, milk,  baking powder, and salt and pepper to taste.  Lightly spray a 12 cup muffin pan with oil.  Spoon out the sausage mixture evenly into the 12 cups.  Ladle the egg mixture over the sausage mixture.  Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

north carolina interior designer uses mini broccoli sausage muffins

north carolina interior designer uses mini broccoli sausage muffins

north carolina interior designer uses mini broccoli sausage muffins

Enjoy!

north carolina interior designer uses mini broccoli sausage muffins

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Posted in Entertaining, Entertaining Tales from Chestnut Cottage, Food, Take It From Kathryn, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“What’s in Your Collection”: Clear Glass & Opaline Boxes

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

I love the sophisticated feel of this lovely collection of clear glass and French blue opaline boxes.   This is elegance at its finest!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

The variety of shapes and cuts in the clear, as well as the beautiful range of the blue opaline boxes would provide any surface with a very interesting collection.  I think the different shapes are just wonderful and the scale of the pieces work so well together.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

The intricate gilt hinges and mounts on all of these boxes give them a very “aristocratic” feel. Yet I think they are perfectly suitable for many design styles.  So many lid shapes and so many interesting mounts!

Enjoy!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

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Posted in Inspired!, Interior Design, Style Guide, Take It From Kathryn, The Collected Room, Uncategorized, What's Inspiring Kathryn? | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Inspiring Image”: Collection Display

I love this inspired way to showcase a collection!  Any great frame would beautifully showcase most any collection of plates! (Especially a great antique frame!)  Hang or “prop” the frame for a great look!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley
Be inspired!

north carolina interior designer and author kathryn greeley

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“Key Ingredients”: Orange & Aqua Tablescapes

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley key ingredients orange and aqua tablescape

On my recent speaking engagement at Christ Church Antiques Show in Grosse Pointe , Michigan, one of the tablescapes I designed was with an orange and aqua color pallet.  I thought you might enjoy the Key Ingredients of that tablescape!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

I started this design concept with the table cloth.  The fabric is a beautiful fabric from Thibaut called Jakarta-F98612. The colors were yummy and from there, I found another great fabric that was a traditional flamestich with an updated color pallet.  I loved the bit of lime green in this fabric from Stout. (Ciaro-color Bahama).

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

The next ingredient for this tablescape was a lovely antique French brass planter that one of the dealer at the show loaned me for this tablescape.  This lovely piece came from Dede and Jim Taylor Antiques from Birmingham, Michigan.  I filled this antique with lots of Marlyse and Mikaela roses and then added some fun bottles in orange and aqua around the planter to freshen things up and give the table a slightly less formal feel. The fun bottle vases, which come in several colors are from Ganz.  I just loved the shapes, both in round in square.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

My main china Key Ingredient was Herend Fortuna-Queen Victoria in Coral.  From there I added four chargers in a variety of colors found in the napkin fabric, including the lime green! The chargers were truly a “collection” ,the green and gold on white and the copper and gold on white were from Picard, parlon gold from Haviland, and green lace from Mottahedeh.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

With this, I mixed another Key Ingredient, four different patterns of Waterford Crystal: Lucerne, Irish Lace, Lismore Diamond and Lismore Nouveau.  Then I couldn’t resist a perfectly beautiful white salad with a gold rim , which was Herend’s Gwendolyn.. The Key Ingredient for flatware was an old sterling pattern was Tuttle Trianon, so classic, so lovely!

asheville north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

And to top everything off and really give the tablescape a fun element, I selected Two’s Company (which is a favorite company of mine!) Coral Zinnia.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

As you can see, I had a great time in Grosse Pointe!  One couple, John and Peggy Woodhouse took me under their wing and gave me such a lovely time in Grosse Pointe!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

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Posted in Book Signings, Books, Entertaining, On the Road with Kathryn, Tabletop, The Collected Tabletop, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

“Simple Pleasures & Little Luxuries”: Champagne for Summer!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

As I have said repeatedly, I LOVE champagne.   For me it is the ultimate Simple Pleasure/Little Luxury!

I love this idea of Tangerine Sorbet Champagne Floats.

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

And with all of summer’s lovely flowers in bloom, why not take the time to do the flower petals in ice cubes for chilling a great bottle of champagne!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

 Savor the moment and enjoy!

north carolina interior designer kathryn greeley

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Posted in Entertaining, Entertaining Tales from Chestnut Cottage, Favorite Friday Finds, Food, Inspired!, Little Luxuries | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments