Spring Vignette in the Living Room

 

I wanted to add a little spring decor in my living room without spending much money. So, I shopped my home and came up with a pleasing spring vignette.

Thrift Store Finds - Staffordshire Ironstone, and Porcelain Farmhouse Pitcher

 

I truly believe that when it comes to discovering amazing finds at thrift stores, timing is everything. There are three shops in my town that I frequently patronize: Habitat for Humanity Restore, ARC Thrift, and Goodwill. All three stores are on my way home from work, so it's easy just to pop in. I don't always find something when I visit. However, it's always fun to browse, and sometimes I return for another look in the next day or two if I don't feel like going right home. Just something fun to do, and it helps me unwind from my job. It's often that second day visit that is the charm. Something has just been put out that day, and I'm fortunate to be the one who's on hand to claim it. My vintage french country night stand is a great example of an amazing "second day" find. 

I usually find good deals at ARC thrift store on Saturdays. That's the day they offer 50% off four of the five price tag colors they use. I always  check out their serving pieces -- platters, bowls, sugar and creamers, etc. Especially the white ones. I am particularly on the hunt for ironstone, which I never find. So imagine my surprise when I spotted this vintage Staffordshire White Mist ironstone creamer and sugar set.

They were priced at $4.98 each, which I thought was an unbelievably great price. The price tag color wasn't one of the colors on sale for 50% off, and that was fine. But get this. I had also picked up a few little items that were all 50% off, and when the clerk checked me out she gave me everything including the ironstone for 50% off. It wasn't a mistake. She let me know exactly what she was doing. 

When I got home I did an online search to see what the Staffordshire White Mist Creamer and Sugar Set might be worth. Turns out an Etsy shop has a set priced at $40. And that set has a little crazing. The set I bought is pristine. Needless to say, I'm pretty jazzed at having found this beautiful ironstone.

Earlier this month I discovered a white porcelain farmhouse pitcher at Goodwill that made its way into my cart.

I think Target sells a pitcher like this for $14. This one was $6.99, which is a little more than I would normally pay for a thrift store pitcher unless it's one that is in perfect condition, has great style, and is priced lower than one I can buy new. This gorgeous pitcher checked all the boxes. I know I'll enjoy it for a long time.

These new acquisitions have brightened my kitchen. All part of my after Christmas refresh.

Are you refreshing your home?

Hugs,

Fall In The Kitchen

 

Fall has definitely arrived here in Northern Colorado. Overnight lows have been in the 30's. Brrrr. And while I don't like the colder temperatures, I do like the turning of the leaves and seeing my neighbors placing pumpkins in their garden beds.

How I Created A Budget Friendly Cottage Living Room (with a Hint of French!)

When I purchased my mobile home sixteen months ago, I had a decor vision of Cottage style mixed with French Country. I also envisioned a mostly neutral color palette with subtle touches of color. I wanted my home to be warm, welcoming and comfortable. Nothing too fussy, nor too trendy. My goal was to create timeless rooms, and I needed to do it on a small budget.

Thrift Store Wall Decor Makeover

 

Greetings Cottage Friends,

I've been working on makeover projects this week. Give me home decor screaming for a makeover, place a paint brush in my hand, and I'm a happy girl.

I found a wall hanging at the thrift store, with one of my favorite scripture verses, for $4. I liked everything about the piece, except the frame.  That didn't stop me from buying it though; I knew I could makeover the frame.

Half way through the painting process I realized I hadn't taken a "before" photo, but I did manage to get a portion of the frame so you can see what it looked like before I painted it.

 I felt like the colors used on the frame were bland and didn't do justice to the raised design.  I gave the whole frame one coat of Waverly steel chalk paint, and a dry brush of Waverly white chalk paint only on the raised portion of the frame.

Now this wall hanging works with my style.

The scripture is one that I have clung to through difficult times, and it has always encouraged me.

Hugs,

Table Reveal and Other Chit Chat

Greetings Cottage Friends,

So glad you're here. I hope you're finding joy in each day, regardless of what is going on around us. I know for me right now I have to practice "joyful living". When I start to feel anxious I remember the words of Paul in Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV):

    "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

It may be fall, but here in Northern Colorado we've already had our first snowfall; 9" a few weeks ago. Then it warmed up to the 60's, and we've had a few odd days in the 40's and 50's. I'm happy to say almost every day we have sunshine here. 

I've wanted to write blog posts more frequently, however I've been working 10 - 11 hour shifts the past two weeks, and when I get home at the end of my work day I just want to snuggle under my electric throw (oh, how I love that invention!), and watch Youtube. Yes, I am a Youtube junkie. It's how I get my news, music, Bible teaching, instructions for crafting and home projects, and so much more. 

That being said, I have worked on some home projects here and there the past month,  one which I will share with you today.

In August I showed you a thrift store table I purchased for $15.

I told you I would "change it up", and that's exactly what I did.

I had it in mind to do something special with this table, and started by giving it two coats of Waverly white chalk paint to cover the orangey wood. 

I could have done some distressing and stopped there, but I wanted to jazz up the table and give it some "shabby chic." So, I ordered a birch accent mould from Home Depot, glued it to the table front, gave it one coat of white chalk paint, and then dry brushed the entire table with Waverly chalk paint in the color steel.

This is the first time I've dry brushed anything, and I found that dry brushing is an easy and fun process. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

While we're looking at this corner of my living room, let me tell you a little about my other decor finds. As I've mentioned before, I have to do everything in this home on a very small budget. Even more so since I've had some unexpected large expenses recently, which I'll explain more about in a bit. So, here's a closer look, along with how I pulled it all together on a meager budget. 

First off, let me explain that the chair and pillow, and the area rug came with me from Texas. I purchased those while I was working at Pier 1, and was fortunate to be able to get them on sale and/or use my 25% employee discount.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the framed print of a French street scene at the Habitat Restore for $14. The frame has a small crack in it, largely unnoticeable. I'm very fond of the print, and it fits in well with the style of my home.

To the left of the print, I hung a wire basket that I picked up at a thrift store for about $3.00, and filled it with white sunflowers purchased at Joann's at 60% off. The price was unbelievable -- like better than thrift store prices -- and so I got a bunch of faux flowers that day. (I will share more of them in upcoming posts.) A 99 cent crocheted doily covers up the flower stems and adds a romantic touch. 

The total for the table, including the cost of the paint and the decorative moulding came to $22.50. Here's a close-up of the tabletop decor. 

I shopped my home for the gray bird. The candle in the tin is from At Home. I think I paid $4 for it. The $2 white vase and 99 cent faux hydrangea came from a thrift store. The lamp, a Goodwill find, cost $2.99. A word about the lamp: I'm not crazy about the color of the shade -- the colors in the rest of the room are more muted -- and I had thought about either replacing or painting the shade, or even replacing the fabric on the shade. However, we're entering the Christmas season and I kind of like the red touch in this corner. Also, if you look closely at the framed print, you'll notice that there's a bit of that same shade of red in it: the awning under the street lamp. So for now, the red is going to stay. I may look for a replacement shade to use most of the year, and pull this shade out when Christmas rolls around in years to come. At any rate, I think the lamp was a great bargain. 

So, when I add up all my expenses (not counting the chair, pillow and rug, which I already owned), this vignette cost $50.47. Definitely budget friendly.

My reason for sharing all this information is to encourage any of you who don't have a money tree in your backyard and may feel like creating a beautiful home is financially impossible, don't believe it. It can be done on even a  very limited budget. Now, I will tell you that I didn't put this together all at once. It literally has taken me months of thrift store shopping to frugally decorate this area. But the hunt is the fun of it! It's so worth it to wait patiently for just the right decor at just the right price. My easy chair faces this corner, and every time I sit there and see what God has provided for me, I smile. The Lord wants to give us gifts. Sometimes we're so ungrateful when He does. I don't want to live like that! I want to appreciate not only what I have, but more importantly the One who has provided it all. That's joyful living!

I told you I would share about my unexpected expenses. Again, I'm doing this to encourage you. Life is filled with trials. In September my homeowner's insurance company informed me that I had 30 days to add steps to my back door, or they would cancel my insurance. That, of course, would make my mortgage company extremely unhappy. Now, one would think that it's pretty weird not to have steps outside of any door raised above ground level, right? But apparently mobile home owners often times don't put up steps at the back door because they never use it, except for emergencies. Picture a fire breaking out and having to jump from four feet in the middle of the night. 

Uh, no. 

I had planned to add steps, but wanted to wait awhile since I had just paid for a new sink and faucet. But, I complied, and that cost $775. The good news is that I became friends with the carpenter I hired, and he has come to my aid in emergencies since then. One example was last Friday afternoon when I came home from work and found my water heater was leaking. Badly. He came over and helped me get the water turned off, and I called my plumber. After the plumber looked at the problem and we talked about options, I decided to get a new water heater since the existing appliance was 15 years old. I know you're probably thinking "Well, that's not so bad. Water heaters aren't terribly expensive." And you'd be right if you're talking about water heaters for any kind of house besides a mobile home. But mobile homes don't have regular water heaters. They have "mobile home water heaters", and they're up to three times more expensive than regular water heaters because of the location, hookups, and the governmental codes. Anyway, I was without water for a couple of days and just got my new water heater hooked up last Sunday morning. The final price was shocking. Shocking I tell you! We're talking about thousands of dollars for the new water heater, all the fittings and hoses, and labor, etc. So for the next few months I'll be working on building up my savings again. Good thing I've been working a lot of overtime.

I'm not complaining, really, and I'm not looking for sympathy. We all have problems. Some financial, some health related, some relational. My situation could be so much worse. I think about what would have happened if my home had flooded. Fortunately, I caught this leak early. The reason I discovered it was the hissing noise I heard coming from behind the panel that separates the water heater from the rest of the closet. The hissing was the leak spraying from just below the hose connection. If my home had flooded? Yikes!  (Thank you, Lord, for protecting my home!)

I hope to share next week about the progress in my kitchen. I finished the wall texturing and painting, and did something fun with the glass front cabinet over the range, and I have some other things planned, like painting the cabinets. Of course, all this is put on hold while I get my finances back in shape. But, hey! I'm getting pretty good at waiting. That whole "patience" thing, you know?

Hugs,

Table Talk

Hi Cottage Friends.

So, I took time this past week to do some furniture painting, starting with my little $3.99 Goodwill patio table. This is how it looked before.

Not too exciting in its original state, but after applying a can of Rustoleum Antique White spray paint, it took on a whole new personality. Not only does the white bring out all the pretty details, but it brightens up this spot, too.

Another one of my thrift store finds got a makeover this week. While nosing around Habitat for Humanity recently, I found this little table with no price on it. 

A nice young man who works there told me I could have it for $7.00. Needless to say, I happily took it home. I knew it would be perfect next to my chair and ottoman.

I didn't want a large table, just a side table big enough to hold my coffee while I have my morning devotions. (Right now I'm enjoying online Morning and Evenings devotionals by Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon's wisdom and ability to articulate biblical principles with heart and candor inspire me.)

I debated about how to paint this table since it sits in front of my floor lamp (new from the days when I worked at Pier 1) which has a lot of distressing. I love the lamp and didn't want my table to compete with it. Then I came across a pin on Pinterest that inspired me.

Source

I wondered what would happen if I sanded the finish off the top of my little table. Would I end up with the same natural color as the inspiration table? It turns out my intuition was right and that the original wood is very close to the color of the wood on the inspiration table. Painting the rest of the table white was easy peasy. I still need to put a protective wax or poly on the top, but I'm happy with the finished product.

I took my granddaughter to brunch today to celebrate her 19th birthday. Her birthday was actually last week, but between her work schedule (she's a CNA, working her way through nursing school -- I'm so proud of that young lady) and my work schedule, we had to postpone our date until today. We enjoyed eggs benedict and lots of girl talk. When we got back to her parents' house I hung out with everyone for awhile and then headed home. On the way home I stopped at one of my favorite thrift stores just to look. I really didn't plan on buying anything. However, I did find another table for my living room; solid wood priced at $15.

You know I'm going to change it up, don't you? Any thoughts on what I should do?

Hugs,

The Right Size Chandelier and a Lighting Giveaway

Hello Cottage Friends,

When we were designing our cottage I spent a lot of time gathering information on interior fixtures. One area, in particular, was lighting. It's pretty easy to choose home lighting that looks great. There is, however, much more to lighting decisions than simply zeroing in on a preferred style. Knowing what size fixture to install for the task is just as important.

Take dining for example. Did you know there's an easy formula that can help you determine the right size chandelier to place over your dining table?

This post is sponsored by parrotuncle.com. The topic, content and opinions expressed are my own.

Tiffany Chandelier Lighting

According to lighting experts, the chandelier diameter should be one-half to three-quarters the width of the table. This means if your dining table is 34" wide, the chandelier diameter should be at least 17".

As a rule, the bottom of the chandelier should hang approximately 30" - 32" above the table. This is primarily in a room with an 8' ceiling. If the ceiling is higher, raise the chandelier 3" for each additional foot.

Of course, there are always exceptions. In our dining area I chose a 12" pendant to hang over the 34" wide table because a larger fixture would have dominated the small space. Still, these tips are a great place to start.

If you're in the market for lighting, I've got good news for you. ParrotUncle.com has a remarkable Holiday Sale going on right now until Christmas -- save up to 50% off their already discounted prices. And they offer free shipping and free returns, too. Parrot Uncle ceiling light fixtures are just one category in a plethora of lighting options. 

A big sale. . .what a perfect time for them to host a giveaway for my peeps, right? Entering the giveaway is super easy. Click here to go to the Parrot Uncle web site and view their lighting. Then come back and leave me a comment. Just tell me which product is your favorite. The winner will receive a new lighting fixture valued at $50.

This giveaway is open worldwide, and you don't need to be a blogger to enter. Make sure I have your email address, though, so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. I'll announce the winner here on November 6.

Now get crackin' and good luck!

Girl Meets toile de Jouy- 16 Master Bedrooms Featuring Toile

Hello Cottage Friends,

My calendar says spring has arrived. 

Although it still feels more like winter than spring here, I'm enjoying the longer days and hints of green I see.

Gathering ideas for our new cottage is enjoyable, too.  I like toile, and hope to use it somewhere.  Perhaps in the master bedroom.

I hope you don't mind if I share some photos I found with you.  It's always fun to look, right?

Red Toile



Horchow: Sherry Kline Home Collection "French Country" Bed Linens and Houndstooth Quilt Sets

1.  Vibrant red and ivory French Country.  This appeals to my love of mixing patterns.

 

Horchow: French Laundry Home "Bird" Bed Linens

 2.  Subdued French Laundry.  Grain sack, ticking and toile.  Very pleasing. 












Brighton Red Toile

3. English Country.  Scalloped edges and ticking.  A nice light and airy look.


 

Traditional Bedroom by Washington Interior Designers & Decorators Sroka Design, Inc.

4.  Here toile takes a back seat to the bold red door and throw.  I think I'm more in love with that fireplace than anything else.

 

Mediterranean Bedroom by Scottsdale Architects & Designers Higgins Architects

5. French Country Estate.  The bench's buffalo check and toile definitely make a statement. 


Black Toile

Farmhouse Bedroom

6. Colonial Williamsburg.  Formal, structured -- a safe use of toile.  No surprises for anyone who's a true traditionalist.  I love that chair, by the way.

Ethan Allen Lisette

7.  Toile with a Celtic twist.  Now this is different -- in a good way.  Tailored and fun at the same time.  The pillows punch it up. 


Neutral Toile

Horchow:  Country House Bedding.  Sherry Kline Home Collection.

8.  Taupe and white always look right together. And, oh those gorgeous needlepoint pheasant pillows. 

Horchow:  Spa Toile Bed Linens

9.  Nearly neutral.  Just a touch of soft blue in this toile.  So serene.



 

Traditional Bedroom

 

10.  I'm not a big wallpaper fan, but I love the café au lait shams with the white. The headboard is fabulous.

 

Blue

 

 

Horchow:"Country Manor" Bedding. Sherry Kline Collection

 
11.  Classic blue and white.  Does it ever really go out of style?
 

 

Traditional Bedroom by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Anthony Baratta LLC

 

12.  If you can't get enough of blue and white toile, then this could be the bedroom of your dreams.  Just don't ask me to come and hang the wallpaper.

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Bedroom by Portland Interior Designers & Decorators Kate Byer Interior Design

13.  Lovely toile in a room where I'd have breakfast in bed.  I'll always appreciate four poster beds, even if I never own one.  Love that bench.
 



 

Traditional Bedroom by Cypress General Contractors Stillwater Builders

 

14.  Blue and white and elegant all over. 

 

 

 

 

Horchow:  Legacy Home "Lutece Cypress" Linens

15.  Luxurious blue and yellow.  Once upon a time I had a guest room in these colors.  I loved it.

 

Green
 

 

House to Home Designs.  Brighton Green Toile - The Colonial Collection

16.  Like a pretty garden.  It makes me want to plant something.

My friend Kim @ Exquisitely Unremarkable blogged about adding pink to her green bedroom.  I love the combination.

 

 

This is by no means an exhaustive look at toile. Simply a few examples of interest.  Toile is popular now, and is available in contemporary patterns, as well as traditional.

Do you like toile?

Just a reminder that the Every Room In The House party is still going in The Master Bedroom.  Link up your master bedroom ideas, or show off your own master bedroom now through the end of March (not toile required).  And visit the master bedroom posts of others who have joined the party.

Inspire and be inspired.

 

I'm sharing at these wonderful parties:

 

Tweak It Tuesday

French Country Cottage

Every Room In The House