Tray Service

I've got a serious thing for trays. They're so practical yet come in various styles and materials ranging from just plain beautiful to whimsical and fun. Metallic trays instantly makes whatever you're doing fancy; I tend to use them for fruit and cheese service when I'm entertaining. My makeup and cosmetics bottles are corralled on a lacquer one. And I have an array of plastic trays that get used for cooking or tucked under a planter to keep my flowers alive. Don't get me started on all the decorative things I do with them! What do you use your trays for and do you go for certain shapes or styles?

My travels to Turkey and Morocco and countries that load you with wonderful tea and mouth watering small plates of food called mezze, have made me a convert to using any cool old or new bowls, baskets, trays or stools throughout my home that aid me in re-creating some of my memorable travel moments. Each piece has multiple uses. Use them in your bathroom, patios, and by all means to add dimension to your entertaining accouterments.

There are still towns where craftsmen using old techniques have not changed in 1000 years. This group mixes old and new pieces, all useful, re-purposed and functional.
From top left clock wise...

• Large Mezze tray with wrought iron stand
• Hand engraved tinned copper platter
• Deep tinned copper tea tray
• Ottoman tinned copper bowl with lid
• Tea tray with 3 handles
• Recycled tire and wrought iron stool
• Ottoman tinned copper bowls
• Zinc baskets

Living Outdoors

I tend to leave my things out year-round even though the snow and rain can be brutal to outdoor furnishings. Every spring my balcony is in a bit of disarray with faded tables and chairs, broken pots and just the dreary remnants of winter. I just give everything a good cleaning, move things around so it feels new and add a couple of pillows to brighten things up. That's usually more than enough to get me in the mood. But sometimes, just sometimes, I just want to start with a fresh slate and get all new stuff. So I did a bit of on-line daydreaming and gave my outdoor space an indoor-inspired makeover.

Vintage Herki Tribal Rug // Hmong Pillows // Vintage Bolivian Frazada

Casbah Love Seat (CB2) // Huron Side Table (West Elm) // Ficus (Home Depot)

Bolga Market Basket // Orange Broom Chairs // Bend Dining Table (West Elm)

Handblown Water Glass & Carafe // Burmese Nat Figure

Plus, here are a few Pinterest finds that are inspiring me to live outdoors 24-7 from some of my favorite blogs/bloggers:

From Garden & Gun, a fantastic lifestyle magazine about the finer aspects of the South. This is the second time in a week I've seen that outdoor bar made of pallets. Love the rustic qualities of this garage turned into event space. See all the images here.

I follow The Glamourai for her fantastic fashion, but her shots of The Surf Lodge in Montauk are right up my alley too. So colorful and inviting.

As a kid, I would absolutely die for a loft tree house like this. As an adult, yeah, I'm still over the moon for this space. Can't you imagine being under the tree tops with a good book and some wine?

Photo by Maxwell Ryan. Full step-by-step directions can be found on Apartment Therapy.

I'm also a total sucker for swings. You just never grow out of that.

Left, image via Garden & Gun, but unfortunately, I couldn't trace down the link!

Right, Asset Soup via Apartment Therapy.

image via Joanna Goddard of Cup of Jo, one of mine favorite bloggers. I'm not alone in my adoration of Joanna, she has a huge fan base. Follow her Home board on Pinterest.

Finally, my dream space. As much as I love the idea of being outdoors, the bugs often keep me IN. This is a perfect compromise. Image via Justina Blakeney who I adore on both Pinterest and twitter. This image is from her Welcome to the Jungalow board. For more outdoor inspiration, you should also check out her The Great Outdoors board.

Spring into Silver

 After the holiday partying and a long spell of cold weather, many of us locked ourselves in nice and tight. With spring weather just around the corner (although it's proven to be elusive for some of us), entertaining, especially outdoors, is high on my priority list.

Naturally, decorating The Loaded Trunk style, we like to add lots of shimmering metallics to our table top. Silver and tinned copper are the perfect partners to showcase spring's big blooms like peonies, tulips and hydrangeas, don't you think?

I love, love, love using trays to entertain. Whether they're loaded up with icy cold drinks, fruit and cheese, appetizers or dessert, trays just help make service easier. The nice thing about doing one "metal" is that you can mix and match a variety of styles and designs and still have a really cohesive look.

Other silver accents you can add to your table: a tinned copper pitcher (for drinks or flowers), fun ocean-inspired napkin rings, elegant silver serving spoons, a Moroccan sugar pot filled with cubed sugar a large handful of mint for your tea drinker.

Here's to hoping spring weather catches up to all of us soon!

Shades of Bali

Summer has blanketed us with heat already in Kansas City!  Umbrellas for the pool, umbrellas for the rain and umbrellas to delight any table. 

 photo by vision bali

Photo from Stanley Korshak $76.00

An ornament for any table

Photo by the loaded trunk

The Loaded Trunk $50.00

photo by the loaded trunk