My latest project...

Today I share with you my latest project, a simple side-table makeover. I bought this three-tier shelf years ago. It was actually part of a closet organizing system. At the time I got it, my daughter was quite young and in need of a small table for her bedroom. It seemed to be indestructible, and the price was right (I think it was about $27.00). Over the years this thing has been in several rooms of the house, serving various purposes. I have kept it around because it is quite a handy piece, although, I 've never been happy with its appearance. Most recently the table has been used in the living room between the sofa and an oversized club chair.

Let's take a look at the before and after pictures, along with some shots that show how nicely it now fits into its my living room.

Before: the shelf unit in its original state. It is made of white oak slats, and is super sturdy.

After: I added some ceramic tiles, which were custom cut to slip into place. After a coat of paint, summer white, my favorite from Sherwin Williams, and some faceted crystal globe finials (actually cabinet knobs), this table has become as sophisticated as it is usable.

Here is the made-over table in back in its old spot.

My home has no formal entry, so this table and the coat tree are the places where outdoor gear, keys, glasses, etc. get deposited. Daffodils from my garden bid welcome to all.

The second shelf holds a divided serving tray that corrals the trappings of our everyday living.

Yellow and green accents add cheer.

I like the angles of the porch gable, as they are seen through the lights of the front door.

The view from the kitchen into the living room. Whiskers, my oldest cat, remains steadfastly perched on the back of the couch.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my project. It's been fun for me! Maybe this will inspire you to take up a simple project of your own.

Until next time...

Anne

Fabulous flea market finds

In honor of the advent of yard sale /auction/flea market season, here is a toast to creative re-use. The beauty of sales of this type is the sense of discovery and adventure one encounters when scoring the perfect find. Each day of sale-ing is different. There are days where little to nothing turns up, and there are days when it is like hitting the jackpot. Sometimes before a day of going to these sales, I picture the item I am looking to find, whisper a prayer to the yard sale gods, and verbalize my intention for the day. It rarely fails! Oftentimes, I find the very thing I had been searching for at a reasonable price. Give it a try next time you venture out, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

The images for the day all come from Better Homes and Gardens. They demonstrate clever and lovely ways to reuse, repurpose, and reclaim vintage or cast-off items. Sometimes all it takes is a good cleaning or a coat of paint to give your latest treasure a new lease on life. Come take a look.


The birdcage plate protector is just for fun.

A vintage cupboard sports linens and stoneware.

Clock faces as three-dimensional hanging art...gotta love it!

Notice the great patina on the dresser and tub surround.

Outdoor elements bring a sense of ease to a room.

Ironstone pitchers are a perennial favorite.

A can of spray paint adds dazzle and a celestial aura to a once non-descript mirror.

Shutters used in any way add fabulous texture to a room.

The porch- post bed is perhaps my favorite image of all. How truly clever!

I hope these images give you some inspiration to get out, enjoy the beauty of spring, and let your creative side shine as you explore ways to use your latest treasures in your home.

Until next time...

Anne

Architectural inspiration: white-washed wood ceilings and walls

I live in a cottage that has a lot of wood, as you may have seen from previous posts. It was years before I was able to convince my husband to allow me to paint it. I once read a quote in a magazine that said something along the lines that wood, for men, is sacred; and I believe that to be true. But I finally was permitted to work some magic with my paintbrush, there has been no stopping me. Having wood walls is great for sound containment and for arranging art. You don't need to have a stud-finder and limit yourself to sinking supports deep into the framing in order to support heavier pieces, and any holes are easily filled with paintable wood putty. Perhaps the best thing, however, is the gorgeous texture they provide. There really is nothing else like it.

I scoured my files for rooms that would demonstrate the wonderful texture of painted wood on walls and celings. Come take a peek and see what I mean.

image: costal living
Along with the all white-palette, I find the repetition of lines in the flooring and wall boards to be visually soothing. The furnishings are sparse and non-fussy, perfect for summertime living.

image: cottage living

This entry way has the feel of a porch, with all its painted wood. The blurring of indoor and outdoor spaces, often found in casual beach cottages, inspires a carefree attitude. The dark wood column becomes a sculpture in this all white space.

image: country living

This bedroom has several different textures. A ceiling such as this one sets a tone for other textures to come into play. The wicker chair and ottoman add a casual note. The potted palm evokes the tropics. Notice how the bedding is kept plain to let the architecture stand out.

image: costal living

This entire space is covered in white-washed wood. The exposed floor joists add such great depth to the ceiling. See how the wood tones look so warm against the flat white painted surfaces. Accents from nature increase the organic vibe.

image: house 2 home

All the textures in this room, from the sisal rug to the wicker to the floor joists, keep it feeling warm and casual. Pale sage green walls looks great with the color of the wicker and the gray sofa. The dual coffee tables add an unexpected touch. The uber-plush sofa looks nap-worthy. Contrast comes from the black chair.

image: house 2 home

In this room, the line and texture are of the wood are quite evident. It lengthens the space and draws the eye forward. The worn leather chair and wood table add some masculine notes to this otherwise girly space.

image: house 2 home

The organic feel of this room is fostered by the variety of textural and natural materials. The serenity of this space is unparalleled. Accents are minimal. The throw and pillows add subtle pattern. Multiple sets of french doors divide the space from other rooms in the house. This has got to be one of my favorite rooms!

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of wood-encased rooms. You can't beat wood, whether planked, paneled, or tongue-and-groove boards, for the casual texture it adds to your home.

Until next time...

Anne

A Texas Farmhouse

Welcome to a grand, old, stone farmhouse set deep in the Hill Country of east Texas. This house was featured in Country Living some time ago and has remained one of my all-time favorites. If memory serves me, it was built by German immigrants in the late 1800's.





Stone dwellings have always enchanted me. I love the simplicity and straight-forwardness of this particular home. It is classic, but not ostentatious, with good lines and nice proportions. The stone lends solidity and a sense of having been there forever. The aged tin roof suits it well, I think.






This is quite a spot for open air dining! Notice how weathered indoor furniture is used out here on the porch. Blending of styles and purposes is more interesting to me than adhering strictly to convention.




A sconce adds light and ornamentation, beauty and function.

The rusticity of this room is something I find to be exquisite. In rooms with great architectural features, like stone walls, one needs little decoration to accent the space. Each piece seems carefully chosen for its color or texture, and they all harmonize well.

Notice the variety of textures in this room--stone, beaded board, metal, natural wood. The owners use an old farm table in place of a standard kitchen island, a nice touch. The industrial stools compliment the table. The transom window above the door gives me such delight. I adore transoms! The first school I attended had them above all classroom doors, and they enchanted me. My new house in the woods will have transoms, along with ceilings high enough to sponsor them.

There is that stone again. So cool! The glimpse into the adjoining bedroom is inviting.

The plaster in the entry way is so rough and raw. Pressed botanicals hang in a grid above the console table, and that basket on the floor provides storage.

Here is a collection of dishes and serving pieces on display. The cabinet is painted gray to allow the other colors to stand out.

The bluish-gray of the cabinet and the taupe of the plaster look sweet when paired with the toile shams. Straw hats add such wonderful depth and texture when used as wall art.

An antique clawfoot tub is also on my list. One like this, that is a tad beat up, would suit me well. A gauzy curtain billows in the breeze. The wall shelf is a cute and clever way to provide storage, display, and pegs for drying towels.


A close-up of the shelf reveals a bowl of handmade soaps and more botanical prints, tying this space to the rest of the house.

This wall of beaded board hosts a couple closets, few furnishings highlight the simplicity here.

In another view of the same room, we see that simplicity does indeed rein. The colors in this room evoke sweet summertime for me. They are delightfully fresh and clean. The windows are left bare to let in breezes and light.

This picture shows the texture of the walls, doors, and baseboard. They contrast nicely with the polished black chair.

This house is all about honesty of materials and allowing spaces to speak for themselves. I will use it as a model for my house that is forthcoming (eventually). And I hope it inspires you as well.

Until next time...

Anne

Simply scandinavian

Scandinavian design is something I have admired for years. In a part of the world where light is a precious commodity, they have perfected the art of harnessing and amplifying what is available. They do not shy away from white in all its many variations. And their interiors are richer for it.

In perusing a beautifull Norwegian blog, http://stinemos.blogspot.com/, I stumbled upon a link to a Danish company that puts out a magazine and sells home furnishings and accessories. The company is called Jeanne d'arc Living: http://www.jeannedarcliving.dk/default.asp?lang=uk1. I could not believe the treasure trove of eye candy there! The magazine is now printed in English; however, they are unable to sell their wares in America for some reason. It was worth a stop there just to see the images that sport their merchandise. The photos are tastefully styled and accessorized in that inimitable Scandinavian way. All images today come from this beautiful site.

Whites, wood, gray and green.... it doesn't get any prettier than that!

I am drawn to the aged mirror and the pitcher of white lilacs.



Chandeliers in the garden add such a luxurious note.

Loads of white with black accents, including the light fixture. Lovely contrast.


Linen pillow covers paired with white and iron are like a simple summer salad--fresh, light and crisp.


I love the mesh covering the door and the scrubbed table top.


Spare and simple.


The mirror propped in the corner is an unexpected touch.

What a gorgeous spot to pen one's poetic masterpiece.

A lush exterior frames the view into a serene indoor space. Notice those french doors, both inside and out. Beautiful!

I strive to bring some of this esthetic into my own home. The rooms here never appear cluttered and yet have enough to keep my eye roving and involved. Of course, I also admire the serenity of the spaces. In this hectic, modern world, I crave calm, and my home must be the one place where that craving is fulfilled.

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of Scandinavian design.

Until next time...

Anne

A toast to green

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today I am celebrating that most natural color of all-- green. I snapped some photos of a green-accented corner in my sunroom and some of the greening going on in the world outside.

Emerald, olive, kiwi, lime, forest, moss, apple, sage, cerulean, jade, chartreuse, seafoam, mint, pea... Green is certainly one of the most versatile colors (next to white, of course). There is a shade of green to compliment all other colors, regardless of their warmth, level of saturation, lightness or darkness. One of my favorite combinations is a crisp, apple green with aged wood tones. I also love sage with taupe and light gray.

In my sun room, a wicker chair in the palest green blends right in. The window behind the stacked-box side table was purchased for a couple of dollars at a yard sale. I love to use disgarded architectural pieces as free-standing sculpture. The hosta leaf birdbath was cast in concrete by a friend.

Another view with more fern foliage for accent.

Notice all the different whites in this image. They range from clear and bright to warm and comforting. And they all look splendid with a variety of greens.

A chinodoxia peeks above the leaf litter as the bleeding heart to the left begins to emerge.

A solitary daffodil, one of the first of the season.

More daffodils on the way.

Daylilys are making their presence known.

I wish you a day filled with green thoughts. In my part of the world, spring is finally here. I hope this inspires you to add do a little greening of your own.

Until next time...

Anne