Friday Favorites - Maison de Cinq

The Classic Every Woman Should Have – The Trench Coat

For today’s Friday Favorites post I thought I would talk fashion. I haven’t done a fashion post in many weeks and I miss them! I love decorating and design inspiration, but when fall rolls around, I definitely fall into that “back to school” spirit and get in the mood to shop. Not a whole overhaul, just a little closet refresh. And one thing I love to buy, especially in the fall, is coats. I’m a coat lover (as I’ve shared before!) Seriously, I definitely should be living somewhere other than Southern California! However, an absolute classic coat that I didn’t have until last year is a classic trench coat. And it’s ironic since of all the coats that might be most appropriate for California winters, it would be the trench! read more

Decorating with Pewter – The Perfect Way to Add Patina to a Room

I’m not sure when I first fell in love with the idea of decorating with pewter plates, but I’m pretty sure it was around the time I saw this photo!

How gorgeous is this kitchen?! And the pewter plates on the range hood just take it over the top. Design by Suzanne Kasler. read more

Vintage Baskets and Charming Ways to Display Them

Today’s post is all about vintage baskets! I have always been a fan of baskets. In fact, when I was in 7th grade I was allowed to “decorate” my room all by myself for the first time, and I chose to hang different sized baskets on the wall over my bed. I don’t quite know where I got the idea, but I do remember loving it! I still love baskets, though now I try to buy vintage baskets whenever I can. There is something so charming about them! They have age and patina that the new ones don’t. And the ones with writing, or buckles or straps? Be still my heart! read more

Decorating with White Hydrangeas – My Favorite Flower!

Today for my Friday Favorites post I thought I would talk about decorating with white hydrangeas. White hydrangeas are my all-time, absolute favorite flower! As some of you already know, I’m a big fan of white flowers in general. I even switched over my garden to all green and white a couple of years ago. But the one flower I find I always come back to, the one that has my heart, is white hydrangeas. I grow them in both my front and back yards, and I almost always have a pitcher of them on my counter. Not only do I love their charming, fluffy blooms, but they are one of the longer-lasting flowers you can buy. And they’re almost always available at the market or Trader Joe’s. Often times I can make a $6 bouquet last a couple of weeks! And for even more flower tips and tricks, make sure you check out my post all about Decorating with Flowers!

An arrangement I did last spring with white hydrangeas and seeded eucalyptus in a vintage ironstone pitcher.

And the best thing about them? They work year-round in decorating. A lot of other flowers have a strong seasonal association. Peonies in the spring, paper whites in the winter, or gladiolas in the summer. But hydrangeas really are around most of the year, so they look great at any time, for any occasion.

Seriously?! Does it get any lovelier than this? I adore the white hydrangeas against the old wooden box. Via Debra Hall Lifestyle. read more

Fabulous Dough Bowls: Where to Find Them & How to Style Them

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t even know what a “dough bowl” was until about three years ago! I think I first saw them in my local antiques store, and then again on a blog. And then on another blog. And that’s when I became intrigued and had to find one. Maybe it’s because I’m a baker, but there is something so romantic about antique dough bowls! I love the thought that someone once made homemade bread in them, that they were used to feed their family and friends. And their patina! Now there are plenty of reproductions around these days, but the patina on the real ones is far superior. It’s taken years of work and use to make them look the way they do, and that’s a pretty hard thing to copy. read more

Vintage French Bread Boards and How to Decorate with Them

I know you guys know I love just about anything French, but vintage French bread boards are something that I kind of stumbled on in terms of collecting. I don’t even remember where I first saw them, or what made them call my name, but they did! They are plain, and worn out, and definitely unglamorous, but wow, do they have character. They’re something my mother would probably think belongs in a garage sale (haha!), but I just adore them. Actually, I like any bread boards, even new ones, but the old French ones are particularly special. They are usually quite worn, with an amazing patina that comes from years and years of use and handling. I love the texture they add wherever you display them. read more