Connecticut Country House Blog

Busy Sidewalks

December 22, 2015 |

Christmas in Connecticut would not be Christmas without a trip into New York City. Having lived in Fairfield County for most of my life, I’ve been grateful for it’s proximity,…

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Go Local

December 21, 2015 |

My dear friend Dana and I, love serving wines from local vineyards. For Dana it’s wines from New Hampshire and Maine, and for me, it’s Connecticut and New York. Local…

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#AllSprucedUp Design Challenge

December 18, 2015 |

When my new Instagram friend Jessica, reached out to me to participate in this fun holiday design challenge on Instagram, I wasn’t sure what to expect. So when the theme…

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Snip And Tuck

December 16, 2015 |

It’s amazing what you can do with just a few leftover sprigs of greenery that’ve been tied up with pretty ribbon. A little bit of green can bring a lot…

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Balsam Chandeliers

December 15, 2015 |

Every year, I deck out my chandeliers for Christmas with big boughs of freshly cut balsam. Armed with my trusty Felco pruning shears, I head out to the back woods…

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We Choose Love

December 14, 2015 |

As Christmas approaches, we here in Newtown, Connecticut, must sadly pause today to acknowledge the heartbreaking events that took place 3 years ago in our backyard: the tragedy that has…

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Nantucket Inspired Gallery

December 12, 2015 |

When I’m developing a theme, I always keep an eye out for inspiration in unexpected places and things. It not only keeps me focused, but also provides a cohesive end…

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A Gift From The Sea

December 11, 2015 |

A simple idea, that’s so easy to do! In keeping with the ocean/Nantucket theme, think of sea salt. I have a pair of very large rosemary plants that are always…

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Our Holiday Gift To You!

December 9, 2015 |

In keeping with the Nantucket themed Christmas at Connecticut Country House this year, we created beautiful nautical gift tags. Inspired by 19th c. engravings rendered in a wonderfully inky indigo,…

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Holiday Mantelpieces

December 8, 2015 |

Fireplace mantels are one of the best spots to decorate for the holidays. The hearth, the heart of the home, is the perfect focal point of any country house. This…

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Seeing Stars

December 7, 2015 |

I love the fun you can have with dessert plates. Not just for presenting sweets, these little guys are the perfect size for serving up savory sandwiches or pre-dinner nibbles.…

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Dana’s Rosemary Roasted Party Pecans

December 4, 2015 |

‘Tis the season for entertaining. Whether you’re going somewhere, or hosting, this wonderful recipe from my friend Dana Shwartz, featured in our Holiday 2014 issue – https://noramurphycountryhouse.com/magazine/holiday-2014/ – is absolutely…

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The Relaxed Table

December 3, 2015 |

I love the relaxed attitude and generous size of these kitchen towels! I pulled together a collection of crisp, striped kitchen towels (from Homegoods) to substitute for the expected cloth napkin.…

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Act Now While Supplies Last!

December 1, 2015 |

Black Friday came and went as I stayed home, cozied up with family. I sailed through Small Business Saturday and survived Cyber Monday without a trace of a blister on…

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Thanksgiving Leftovers

November 30, 2015 |

Thanksgiving dinner is always pretty amazing, but, I have to say, the leftovers from the feast are just as highly anticipated. The same goes for recycling the floral elements from…

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