One of my favorite rooms in my home is the Conservatory. It's sort of a Garden Room and Music Room in one.
(click on any photo to enlarge)
It sits directly off our Living Room. You can see a bit of the green Living Room couch in this photo. The Conservatory is fairly large as it houses both a seating area and baby grand piano.
My favorite features are the mouldings and the huge arched french doors which lead out to our brick patio. Sun pours in from three sides of this room, including the front windows in the living room. It has gorgeous light through out the day.
Here is how it looks most of the year. You can see the greenery through the windows. The light in the photo is not the best, but it gives you the general idea.
On the wall opposite the piano I recently purchased a set of nine intaglios from Things that Inspire's new business venture, Quatrefoil Designs. TTI was so helpful to me. We decided on a "gliver" frame color (a cross between silver and gold) which really compliments my other artwork in the adjacent living room. Instead of paper matting, TTI was able to use the remnants of my 100 year old antique linen from my Swedish furniture re-upholstery project, as the background mat for the intaglios. They turned out stunning.
Hanging them proved to be a tedious task. My sweet husband spent several hours making sure they were straight and symmetrical. He's so good at math and so patient! Thank goodness opposites attract!
The finished wall turned out better than I could have hoped. The texture of the antique linen mat is such a wonderful compliment to the Swedish furniture. I hope to eventually find some beautiful sconces to hang on either side.
The Intaglios are very high quality and the price is very reasonable. If you are thinking of adding a set to your home do check out out Quatrefoil Designs.
As I mentioned the French doors open to the backyard and the brick patio.
I love the mossy brick and old stone walls. Both are original to the house; over eighty years old.
I have posted so much about not over doing the holiday look but working to enhance your already beautiful rooms. I wanted to share with you some of my Holiday decorating. The "bones" of my house are so lovely. I also adore my antiques and do not want to have them get lost because of over zealous holiday decorating. Each year I edit and use less decorations, but it seems my house still looks festive. Here is the Conservatory as it looks most of the year. (Well actually without action figures, ipods or dog bones laying around)
Here is the room decorated for the Holidays, just after we got a few inches of snow. I have a collection of antique Mercury glass, mirrored and silver glitter trees. They look gorgeous on the piano and the pedestal. They catch the light and all the day the room just sparkles.
Here is a close up of the piano during the year. The crown sits on its own pedestal behind the piano.
I just replaced the fresh flowers with the silvery trees and relocated the crown to the table in the seating area. Notice the sparkles of light on the doors to the right. All day the light sparkles move around the room.
And here is a close up of the newly upholstered Swedish chair (read more here) and Tara Shaw Maison iron table (read more here). I just added another needlepoint holiday pillow and a mint julep glass with holiday greens for a festive touch. Simple, but beautiful.
Over the next few days I will post the rest of my house decked out for the holidays. And if you hear singing, its most likely me Fa la la la-ing!!
(all photos property of Willow Decor - please link)
When I was 28 I purchased my first Mora Clock. I was living in Germany and fell in love the look of Swedish antiques. The Swedish look was not popular then and I was lucky enough to be able to purchase several beautiful pieces on my newlywed budget! 
Over the years, like so many of you, I have marveled over her rooms, many of which I still have in files ripped from the pages of magazines. 
As you can imagine, one of the highlights of my trip to New Orleans was meeting the incredibly talented designer, Tara Shaw. 
With so many years of seeing and dealing in beautiful antiques, Tara has just launched Tara Shaw Maison, a new line of reproductions inspired by antiques from Sweden, Italy and France.
Tara has designed projects for the famous and the infamous! One of her most documented projects; one that has circulated and recirculated the blogpsphere; is the home of Emeril Laggasse which made the cover of Veranda. A gorgeous mix of neutral interiors with fabulous antique pieces.
Tara has a wonderful ability to allow a room to gently reveal itself to you. 
All the while her rooms remain a perfect balance of restful and interesting at the same time.
But her calm interiors belie a more savvy Tara Shaw. A force to be reckoned with, Tara has an incredible ability to locate, select and import many of the premier Swedish, French and Italian antiques available in the US today. Her showrooms and warehouses in New Orleans and Houston are filled with treasures, but unfortunately, only open to the trade. Lets take a peek at what's inside!
With over 16 years experience in dealing with antiques, and from a family of diamond and jewelry importers, Tara has a fabulous eye for selecting the best of the best.
Over the years Tara Shaw has seen some of the most beautiful antiques in the world. The unique and special is evident at every turn in her showrooms.
After years of coming across fabulous one of kinds, many which she welcomed into her home, Tara recognized another need. She was often designing a room and wishing she had another Rococo bench, Italian table or Swedish banquette that would be "perfect" in that space.
So, taking inspiration from the treasures in her own home, she spent over five years developing the Tara Shaw Maison line. Many of the pieces are from Tara's personal, private collection or from her elite clientele. Her finishes and attention to detail are sublime.
Pictured above and all the photos below are only a few of the many items from the Tara Shaw Maison line. 
The furniture selected is a compilation of the most requested and classic forms Tara has seen in her career. Each antique was painstakingly recreated under Tara's ever watchful eye; down to the detailed carving , hand rubbed paint finishes and accurate distressing.
As a collector of Swedish and French antiques for over 15 years, I can tell you that I have NEVER seen a more beautiful and true to life line of reproductions. These are very special pieces. 
So, of course they must be extremely expensive. Guess again!
Above are some promotional photos of vignettes of some of the pieces available in the line. I was able to personally see all of them and here are some of my favorites.
As you all know I have love of Mora clocks.
And here it is recreated!
I took these photos in the New Orleans showroom. Look at the attention Tara has paid to make sure every detail was included.
Of course the clock works and even has a swinging pendulum - Isn't it fabulous?
Here is a older photo of Tara's sitting room (she has since moved).
Incredible detailing on the recreated altar table!
Here is Tara's interpretation of her Italian Fauteuil chair. Notice the attention to detail in the hand carving and the gilding on the arms and the bottom stretcher. Flank two of these by your fireplace and viola, you immediately add a richness to the room! 
Here is another chair; these are recreated Louis XVI side chairs. 
The classic Swedish settee-a favorite of mine.
First, the Italian Desk with an antiqued mirrored top. When I arrived home my husband commented that he thought it would look fabulous in our study as a desk! (Note: my husband never comments on these things, but I couldn't agree more!)
As a matter of fact, below is a photo of the original table that is in Tara Shaw's office in her New Orleans showroom.
When I saw the original and reproduction side by side - I truly had difficulty telling them apart.
The Swedish Formal Dining Table is, in my opinion, the most creatively designed piece. This table is actually three tables - Two fantastic Demi lunes and a wonderful gate-leg table. All come apart and can be used separately or locked together for a longer table. If you move often as I have, this is a wonderful piece to invest in, because it can change as your home design needs change. 
The French Bibliotheque is a commanding piece. Recreated from the original, which sits in a very famous clients' home, certainly brings a taste of France into any room. The slate blue painted finish on this piece is amazing. 
The Swedish Corner cabinet is a pale washed gustavian gray. It is a wonderful recreation.
The ribbed/fluted diamond detailing and distressing is so close to authentic that I originally asked Tara how it old it was!
You all know I would love this Swedish Bergere!
Take a closer look at the detail work on the lion head carving!
Tara also included an Italian wooden lantern. Here it is handing in the warehouse in New Orleans -Isn't this fantastic! 
And of course two sizes of turned wood chandeliers.
Tara also added mirrors in the mix ! This is a wonderful smaller size which measures 28 X 20". 
And the larger one. This mirror measures 95X52". 
You can really see the scale in the photo above. 
Here is a closer look at the mirror detailing and finish.
There are so many other items, 53 in all - including candle sticks, small side tables, benches, wood crowns and architectural fragments.
