I’ve always liked the expression “nicely appointed,” though it’s comme ci comme ça in complimentary oomph, and vague when you consider its ubiquitous usage.
How do I mean that?
We have nicely appointed model homes, nicely appointed furnished suites, nicely appointed accommodations. (Have you ever heard of a cozy cottage described as nicely appointed? What about a chandelier-filled banquet room with federal detailing and period antiques?)
Surely you begin to get the picture. The well-appointed space is one that is generically appealing or at the very least, will not offend. A more proper definition might explain that its lighting, carpeting, and general arrangement of furnishings are neatly accomplished and overall, attractive.
While nicely appointed is, well… nice… I much prefer a place with pizzazz, personalization, not to mention… chutzpah. Not that I’m a fan of decorating with gnomes, mind you, but at least it tells me something about who you are and what you like, and probably, that you enjoy your humor!
As it is (after all) the morning after – the morning after a holiday when you may be shopping (and I’m following my own Stop Stressing Advice), I thought I would share a few images that wouldn’t generally qualify as “nicely appointed.”
Instead, two from my Thanksgiving (make of them what you wish), and a few others from a very quick, very pleasant stay some months back in the City of Brotherly Love.
There, on a brief business trip, I was treated to a beautiful, well-known hotel. And the lobby décor?
Great fun! It was elegant, whimsical, and right up my modernist-contrasted-with-traditional alley. The hotel, in case you’re wondering, is the Radisson Blu Warwick in Philadelphia.
Gorgeous. Comfortable. Fantastic location.
Forgive my less than adequate photography, everything was quickly snapped on my smartphone as I was dashing out to meetings.
But don’t you love love love the playful, graphic quality of writing on the walls combined with the brilliantly colored upholstery? Isn’t the ambiance delightful?
Quality interiors make me feel energized and upbeat. Don’t they do the same for you?
As you can see, my interiors look nothing like this scrumptious lobby. My simple setting (below), similar even when there are more gathered around, is comprised of our well-worn kitchen table and a mix of chairs. We have no formal dining room, and we don’t miss it. Everyone hangs out in the kitchen anyway, right?
This year was all about no muss, no fuss, and no stress. Nothing fancy, not even my serving style. But everything… so good.
Enjoy these quick pics. Rest. Eat leftovers.
Call a far-off friend and catch up.
On a final note – My thumbs up to Whole Foods for their superb herb-roasted turkey, already cooked, that I only had to warm in the oven. Theoretically their serving size was to feed four, but I would say “feeds eight” is closer to the reality.
We also enjoyed their sides of creamed mashed potatoes (delicious) and cranberry-orange sauce (exceptional – with a hint of ginger). We added candied yams (made by yours truly; not exactly difficult), salad, and French bread.
Eh oui – there were biscotti for dessert, accompanied by strong black coffee and French films on Youtube.
Care to share your holiday fare? Or are you headed out to shop until you drop?
Image of baby girl in curlers, photograph of a greeting card, cropped.
You May Also Enjoy
I envy you being done with Thanksgiving! We’re getting ready to feed the works to 30 people – all made from scratch (Britain not having tinned pumpkin, etc.). Just having a quick break before I tackle the next chore. Still, it will be fun to see everyone!
30 people, Shelley! (I can’t imagine.)
While I do enjoy stimulating as well as “nicely appointed” interiors, my own home is a mélange of what we like to live with (as qualified by what we can afford). We have never purchased furniture at or from a furniture store; each piece has been acquired in some unique situation that brought it to our attention. Decor most often has come from my travels (for instance, a stunning photograph of the Aurora Borealis found during a business trip to Alaska; a cane acquired in Kenya; a balalaika given to me in the USSR). Our home is a reflection of our lives (and so I imagine realtors will tell us that it must be stripped before we put it on the market sometime soon…Bah!).
With kids far away, Scott and I celebrated Thanksgiving Day with a delightful friend who has no relatives nearby. As for Thanksgiving dinner, I planned the menu (including cranberry-orange sauce with a bit of port and a hint of fresh ginger), wrote the grocery list, did some of the shopping and all the clean-up, and Scott did the rest of the shopping and, with help from our friend, all of the cooking. It was quiet, cozy and comfortable, with calls and videos from the kids and brothers and sisters punctuating the day. We talked and talked, walked with the dogs, read, snacked on the season’s first mandarins for lunch and enjoyed the late-afternoon feast. There was no shopping on Thanksgiving Day, and there will be none the rest of the weekend. Bargains can be had at other times…shopping this weekend would be my idea of hell.
Your Thanksgiving dinner sounds wonderful…I am so glad that you are following your Stop Stressing advice. French films on YouTube…we’ll be following you there tonight! Thanks for the delightful post.
Your Thanksgiving (and decor) sound just right to me! As for French films, if you haven’t already, may I recommend whatever Scandinavian fare you can round up? (Wallander, Rita, Broen (The Bridge; Danish-Swedish)… All so good.)
Remi cooked a roasted chicken (with a whole citron confit inside – insanely good) and a sautée of champignons de Paris and that was it. 🙂 No shopping forseen for the near future…
The words on the wall. YES. I want them. But husband probably wouldn’t. They’re great, though. Maybe on a table for me.
Those words on the wall. Divine. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. xo
Thanksgiving … brunch with friends and neighbors, eggs from the host’s chickens, tartiflette (from me,) squeezed orange juice, sausage, homemade apple bread from another … you have the picture. Dinner was beets and lentils, easy and simple after all that brunch. But now, my burning question: what French films on YouTube? Thanks!
That all sounds good to me, Suze… By the way, do you have a tartiflette recipe to recommend? (Yummy stuff, but I’ve never made it.)
The French films? La Ligne de Démarcation if I remember correctly. 1966. (Followed by some classic Columbo, which I never tire of!) There are actually some wonderful things you can find on Youtube when you let your fingers do the walking.