The Back Porch

curiosities framed art gallery wall holiday home decor napkins oddities place cards place mats place setting seasonal serveware table setting table settings tabletop unique decor wall art wall decor
Cloth Napkins: Unleashing the Eco-Chic Elegance & Sustainability

Cloth Napkins: Unleashing the Eco-Chic Elegance & Sustainability

When it comes to dining, there are several options for wiping your hands and face. Most people probably opt for a paper napkin, while there are others who use their jeans, shirt, dish rag or paper towel, you know who you are. But what about cloth napkins? Are they worth investing in, or are they just an unnecessary hassle? Keep reading because I am going to explore the pros and cons of using cloth napkins and whether they're a worthy addition to your everyday place setting.

Shop our Cloth Napkins

— Anne Keen
Tagged: napkins place cards place mats place setting serveware table setting table settings tabletop
Blog about Crewel fabrics and techniques

Don't Be Cruel to Crewel

What do you know about crewel? My grandmother had a wing back chair with ball feet in the living room. The fabric had flowers bursting off winding vines in rich colors of deep blue, dark rose and forest green. We called it the itchy chair; it was a crewel fabric which is embroidery but with wool thread instead of embroidery floss. My aunt had similar chairs in her living room and they were the first thing you noticed when you walked into the room. Crewel fabrics are best on foot stools, accent chairs, pillows and drapes; that don’t get as much wear. But don’t be fooled by the crewel. These fabrics can be pretty hearty in weight. Crewel is truly an art form and you just don’t see it much anymore.
— Anne Keen
My Pillow Obsession

My Pillow Obsession

Let me start by saying I love pillows. My current pillow count in my home is 54 pillows. This includes all the pillows on the sofas, daybed, bedroom beds, chairs, floor and outdoor. So, I don’t consider this unreasonable or cause for concern. Pillows are non-committal. They are like a short-term rental. They are just hanging out for a season or until they start to fall apart and unstuff themselves or until I am just ready for a change. I can’t pin point exactly when this obsession, let’s just call it love, started.

Shop our Pillows

— Anne Keen
Table Settings: Time to Set the Table

Table Settings: Time to Set the Table

We all remember while growing up being called down before supper to set the table. It was a ritual in my house. This included a paper napkin, knife, fork and...
— Kirsten Recce
Tagged: holiday napkins place cards place mats place setting seasonal serveware table setting table settings tabletop
If Your Walls Could Talk, What Would They Say About You?

If Your Walls Could Talk, What Would They Say About You?

Have you ever wanted to create your own gallery wall? It can be both exciting and a non starter at the same time. If you have never done anything like it before, it can feel overwhelming at the thought of having to coordinate colors, frames, subjects, and sizes. I spend countless hours browsing the internet for inspiration, looking through catalogs of art, and trying to find pieces that speak to me.

Shop our Wall Art

— Kirsten Recce
Tagged: framed art gallery wall wall art wall decor