Recently I was invited to dinner at the home of friends.

Wonderful hosts.  Fabulous food.

As often happens while entertaining around a dining table the conversation eventually turned to the discussion of wine.

Red wine, white wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Italy, France, California.  Expensive vs. cheap and cheerful. etc. etc.   

Not being an imbiber of wine and having no knowledge on the subject my interest in the conversation waned.

Instead I started focusing on the surrounding décor.

The hazard of being a home stager/designer is that I start to envision changes.  What would I change in the room?  How would I rearrange furniture?

Not that anything needed changing.

But for me I enjoy imaging.

And if there are wonderful pieces to play with, all the better.

The hosts own an impressive, massive-sized, carved wood gold leaf Venetian-style mirror that they acquired at a Paris flea market while on their honeymoon.

(I have no photos to show as I did not think it fortuitous of me to take out my phone and start snapping away!)

There is a lovely down-filled settee.

A beautiful vintage silk kimono hangs on the wall.

And artwork; great smalls hang in a grouping.

Now if there is one thing one is to understand about me, I have been playing with furniture since I was a child.  These miniature wood toys were mine as a young child and have kept them all these years.  I have no other childhood toys except these; no Barbie dolls, no games, nothing.  Just these cherished pieces. 

So there I was in my reverie imaging the décor as I would when I realized the host was watching me ‘audit’ his livingroom.

BUSTED!

We both smiled.

Fortunately for me the hostess at that very moment entered the room carrying the most impressive looking, sky-high tall cake that I have ever seen.

And it was delicious.

Cheers!