Parker House Bakery

Posted on January 7, 2014 by lissyparker

Well, not really, but I have started baking a lot of bread. My editor is an avid bread baker and encourages me. I’ve bought all of the equipment—a grain grinder, lots of grains, special pans for baking … even a Swedish mixer guaranteed to go the distance.

This is one of my early attempts at bread baking. I’ve discovered that I love the free form loaves—the heck with the pans! I made this loaf using a no-knead recipe given to me by a friend. (Let me know if you need want the recipe.) Why not try and back a loaf of bread—invite your friends and neighbors over to try your new baking talents. I can guarantee they’ll love it.

Start with a great bread flour—this is a very wet dough

Risen dough—love this part

Now for the hard part—WAITING

Finally—doesn’t this look great

And now call your friends and neighbors over for the taste test

xo♥, Lissy

All photos by Lissy Parker for lissyparker.com. You are welcome to ‘borrow’ my photos—just please credit the source.

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 24, 2013 by lissyparker

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2014.

Hope all of your Christmas’s are White

Enjoy the Season—and the sleigh ride

xo♥, Lissy

All photos by Morris Weintraub

Christmas Wish List

Posted on December 23, 2013 by lissyparker

Here is the answer to all of your last minute shopping needs—Boxwoods! You can find all of the last minute gifts you have been searching for at one location. Just take a look at what I found …

Tree trimmings and Santa!

Beautiful decorations looking for a Christmas table

Orchids, orchids and more orchids

Cute elves working away in the workshop

Sparkles and Christmas cheer everywhere

Red and Green seasonal fun

Ho,ho,ho … Merry Christmas!

xo♥, Lissy

All photos by Lissy Parker for lissyparker.com. You are very welcome to ‘borrow’ my photos—just please credit the source.

Wait Till the Last Minute …

Posted on December 22, 2013 by lissyparker

If you’ve waited till the last minute … I have you covered. Here a few gift ideas. Jump in your car and head over to B.D. Jeffries for one of the stunning stocking stuffers below. (My alliteration problem seems to be returning.)

Have a wonderful time shopping!

Beautiful Bone Boxes

Purses, Peanuts and Pointy horns

Helpful Hand Heaters

Furs, Feathers and Fun

Books, Books and more Books

Crystal, Candles and Christmas Cheer

xo♥, Lissy

All photos by Lissy Parker for lissyparker.com. You are welcome to ‘borrow’ my photos—just please credit the source.

House Crush—part two

Posted on December 20, 2013 by lissyparker

Well, here we go again—the fabulous house for sale in in the Highlands-Cashiers area of North Carolina. If you missed the first post on this home, you can find it here. Billy Roberts of New York and Atlanta decorated this charmer. He worked for Ralph Lauren Designs and just happens to be the home owner’s son. I’ve just learned that the architect who designed this house was Michael Faust; he also designed the house in a previous House Crush here. Enjoy the rest of the tour.

Here is the link to take a closer look at this home—Betsy Paul Realty.

Kitchen is the heart of this home—open to the living area

Porch and fireplace—just off of the kitchen … yes, please

Wide hall leading to the quest wing—love the floor and all those windows

Wide hall leading to the quest wing—love the reclaimed French Stone floors and all those windows

Blue and White is a great color for this guest room off the hall

You can never go wrong with a vanity from an antique piece of furniture—or a copper sink

Powder room has charming lantern sconces—love the towel rings on both sides

Glorious green paneled wall line the office—TV area … desk is behind the antique doors from Israel

A wall arrangement to copy—Pin this one

Red and White warm the Master Bedroom wall … who doesn’t love a chaise with a view in the bedroom

I need this chest for my Master … wonder if anything is for sale

Warm those Winter nights with a fireplace surrounded by Antique Minton Tiles and a rustic beam mantle

Warm those Winter nights with a fireplace surrounded of Antique hand painted tiles from France and a rustic beam mantle from Kentucky

Antique windows are used for mirrors in the Master bathroom … Great idea.

Marble Vessel sink is featured with the antique window mirrors—oh, there is a pair

I love these sconces in the guest room upstairs—click on the link for more pictures of charming house

xo♥, Lissy

All photos by Lissy Parker for lissyparker.com. You are welcome to ‘borrow’ my photos—just please credit the source.

House Crush!

Posted on December 18, 2013 by lissyparker

The beautiful home featured in this ‘House Crush’ is currently on the market in the Highlands-Cashiers area of North Carolina. Location, location, location—this house has the perfect location close to town with a stunning mountain and lake view. You are going to love this one—the owners son, decorator Billy Roberts, designed the home for his Mother. He is a former Ralph Lauren design employee … so you know you are in for a treat! We’ll need two posts for this enchanting home. So, go grab a ‘cup-a’ and settle in for a little winter warmth and ideas for your Pinterest boards! See Betsy Paul Realty to take a tour of this beautiful home or call Michael Cox for more information. I have just learned that the architect who designed this house was Michael Faust; he also designed the house in a previous House Crush. Click on over to see it here. Enjoy!

Welcome to the English Cottage inspired home

The entrance is full of Winter interest in the flower beds

Even the front porch entices you in for a visit

What’s not to love about a Dutch door

Lots of storage around this window seat in the entry—also French Stone Floors

I know … it’s great … love it all. Beams are from a Kentucky barn

Dining area and a glimpse of the view

Love those red lamps … and the blue chairs

A closer look at the dining room wall … more great lamps

Design ideas and details fill every room

Side entry door and more window seats line the hall

Love the way the light passes through these panels

The whole house features these stunningly beautiful reclaimed Brazilian Walnut floors with hand hammered square nails

The whole house features these stunningly beautiful Reclaimed Austria Walnut floors with hand hammered square pegs

xo♥, Lissy

All photos by Lissy Parker for lissyparker.com. You are welcome to ‘borrow’ my photos, just please credit the source.

Need a Christmas Present?

Posted on December 16, 2013 by lissyparker

It’s that time of year again. For all of you out there still shopping, I have a few gift ideas … especially if I happen to be on your list! Juliska has added to their designs by Deborah Sears of Isis Ceramics. I’m crazy about all of the new patterns—the ‘Country Estate’ pattern featured on my side bar—as well as the Christmas pattern they introduced last year. Country Estate pattern is available in the original gray and now a beautiful blue. The Winter pattern is Red and perfect for the holidays. I found this great display at Erika Reade Ltd. on Roswell Road here in Atlanta. Check it out, or just give them a call 404-233-3857.