New England Homes Magazine: Styling in 2012

With every New England Home story, the work of the most talented architects, interior designers, builders and craftspeople in the region is brought to life. This New Years Day, I proudly reflect back on some of the wonderful projects I've had the good fortune to style in our region. The following homes are among my favorite stories from 2012, each bringing a different look to the magazine.

Photo by John Gould Bessler

The art, New York Drippings, a stunning twenty-seven-foot multi-panel painting by Venezuelan artist Sigfredo Chacón in this home's entry is part of the modern Latin art collection that is showcased in dramatic ways throughout this home of classic architecture, appearing in our New England Home Connecticut summer issue. 

Photo by Jim Westphalen

It was well worth the five-hour drive to find this well-designed timber-frame mountain home. The home’s dramatic style mirrors the breathtaking mountainside slopes. I was thrilled to find this home and work with Interior designer Jennifer Palumbo for our November/December issue.

Photo by Eric Roth

This early-1900s summer cabin restored to new splendor was a huge and exciting surprise. Sitting on the beach-y coast of Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod, we decided to feature it in our September/October issue. The home’s wood paneling mixed with a modern design creates a very successful marriage of a bygone era and today’s forward vision.

Photo by Jim Westphalen

Photo by Jim Westphalen

In the most unlikely of places, I discovered a concrete house hidden along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire. Inspired by the designs of renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the home combines concrete and glass to create a modern look. The home captivates views inside and out and is included this year's May/June issue.

Photo by Michael Partenio

While touring projects with Lewis Interiors, I found this extraordinary, stately and glamorous Beacon Hill condominium, featured in the March/April issue. It reminded me that tradition thrives abundantly in the city of Boston.

Photo by Laura Moss

One day last spring, in a quiet Connecticut neighborhood of historic and antique homes, I visited this avant garde and forward-thinking renovation of a 1960's contemporary, which I styled for the fall issue of New England Home Connecticut.

Photo by John Gruen

This family-friendly lakeside home was designed with children in mind. This room, from the September/October issue, gets my best kids’ workspace award combining ship-lap siding and vaulted ceilings to create a bright modern workspace.

Photo by Miki Duisterhoff

Lastly, this spectacular seaside home offers breakfast with a picture-perfect view! This photo graced the cover of our July/August issue.

My New Years 'Scouting' Resolution for 2013? Get more, innovative, diverse and beautiful home projects within New England!

If you have home designs that you would like to share, please send them my way. We would love to hear from you.

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For the complete article, click here. 

Fall Tailgate Party | Better Homes and Gardens Oct Issue

"There is so much to love about Fall:  Pumpkins, chrysanthemums, the leaves changing color, AND football!

Last October,  Better Homes and Gardens editor Amy Panos asked me to create a fall entertaining feature for their 2012 October issue magazine issue.

I grew up in a house where fall football parties and tailgating were a big part of the fall season. These memories inspired me to come up with this twist on the tailgate party idea: "How to Have A Tailgate Party Inside" 

Amy Panos and the editorial team approved my idea, and last November I put my design ideas into action.  Working closely with Amy together  we embraced what BHG always offers its readers:  Taking creative ideas and turning these ideas into fun things anyone can do that are easy, affordable and fresh.

Plaid Blankets and tailgating go hand in hand.  We got the look using a blanket as a table cover.

One of my favorite blanket stores is Sorcha in Hingham, Massachusetts! Just love her amazing bright colored throws and scarfs. Perfect for this feature! 

The scarf was perfect for hanging the chrysanthemum party wreath!  Easy to make, too! Just use a mix  of big spider mums and football mums.  Cut the stems to 1" length, and push into a styrofam base. Easy as pie! (Added bonus, the mums will last without water for days!)

Perfect for any Fall party: 

Sugar cookies cut with fall leaf cookie cutters make the best leaf cookies!!! 

Use colored sprinkles from the food craft section of any grocery or cook shop. 

The football field table cover brings the game inside!  You can pull it all together easily with Craft paper, white electrical tape from the hardware store and craft store adhesive numbers .

These mini football whoopie pies are made using boxed pumpkin bread mix in egg shaped muffin pans and cool whip for the icing.  

Check out the current October Better Homes and Gardens magazine for the whole story and  get more inspirations for your own football gathering.

 Styling by Karin Lidbeck, Photos by Dana Gallagher

More blankets from Sorcha. check out their website you'll love her products

www.sorcha.com

English Rose Bouquets - Country Gardens Magazine Spring 2012

 Produced and Styled by Karin Lidbeck-Brent

Photography by Kritsada

Country Gardens Magazine 2012 Summer Issue 

It was a great day for me last spring when Editor, James Baggett of BHG Country Gardens magazine called me with this awesome assignment, " I want you to create 8 flower arrangements using the glorious David Austin cut roses".  This is the kind of assignment I jump at,..... I happily accepted that job and immediatley got to work.

My to do list:

1. Design 7 - 8 bouquets that represent all 6 varieties of David Austin roses.
2. Order flowers -300 stems of 6 varieties of David Austin roses, gather other shrub roses and    perennials to mix in.
3. Look for a location for photography: a sunny place with a pretty setting inside and out.
4. Decide on containers, props,  and surfaces
5. Gather all materials for the photo shoot, prep all the flowers and head out to our location for photo shoot.

I had the great fortune to work with Kritsada, a Meredith photographer that flew out from Des Moines. We started at 6:30 a.m. to catch the early morning June light.  WE took advantage of the noon high sun for a nice lunch and then worked thru the early evening light.

You can get the entire article with the how to's and all of the David Austin information in the summer issue of Better Homes and Gardens Country Gardens magazines, just out and available on the news stand.

Hibiscus adds Drama to Styled Room- Country Living magazine

Country Living Magazine

This sunny window in the hallway sets the scene for a super simple but dramatic display with trailing hibiscus.

An oversized basket is the perfect container, just plop a potted plant in!

Unlike cut flowers, there's no fuss and it will last for months, but don't forget to water once a week.

I love the informal relaxed feeling it gives to this country home I styled for Country Living magazine.

The gorgeous blooms breathes life into this space. Imagine how different this space would have look without it!

A Special Treat - The Art of Kitchen Styling by Karin Lidbeck

My job as a stylist is to show off the fine lines of kitchens architecture. I like the kitchen to feel used, but not sterile. I refer to it as making organized chaos.

Removal of all the homeowners appliances and personal knick-knacks allows me to start with a clean slate. The fun part is creating the story, a sense that something is happening that draws you into the photo.

I love styling a country style kitchen that can take an abundance of propping. Styling is the same as creating a painting, you move the colors, shapes and objects around and around until you get a pleasing to the eye moment!

Creating a scene suggesting a meal in preparation can be tricky.  You want it to feel real without looking like the real mess that really occurs when cooking.

Kitchens with a lot of open shelves and glass cabinets like the two above have many challenges and always require a car load of props for organizing and creating pretty!

Photos by Michael Partenio 

Beautiful Kitchen and Kitchen Makeovers magazine

Sometimes a quiet and simple scene is best.  De-clutter, and add a few simple objects that make a statement without overpowering the space. Collections of white always works in any kitchen.

Photo by Michael Partenio 

Kitchen and Baths Idea magazine winter 2011

The homeowners collection of blue mason jars set the stage for the props I brought in. Creating the harmonious balance of well placed accessories takes time. Open shelves should be  used for a proud display of your favorite objects.  Keeping colors in the same family creates tranquility and balance

 Michael Partenio, the photographer could not resist getting this shot of the homeowner's daughter. It's a winner!.

Sometime the location of the shoot calls the shots when it comes to the props. Who could resist the idea of Cape Cod oysters? Can you feel the summer breeze blowing thru the windows?

Photos by  Michael Partenio

Renovation Style magazine 

Gee, I love my JOB!