Mystique in my French Attic

Before I begin this post let me thank everyone for your great comments/suggestions/advice 

on my last post "Is it Cozy or Cramped." 

So many amazing ideas. 

I wish you all could go to the cabin with me to help me move furniture!
Thanks so very much!

***

Now on to this week's post "Mystique in my French Attic."

As I sit at my desk in a room I've always thought of as my tiny French attic,
it's raining and snowing outside.
Skies are painted Paris gray and gold leaves are tumbling down the street. 

But I'm snug and warm in my office,
a place that makes me think of the romance and allure of Paris.
Shall we rendezvous in my French attic?

Here's a wide shot of this tiny attic space.
You'll notice I've painted the bistro chair at my desk French blue.

The desk was six different primary colors when I bought it at an antique store. 

Looks completely different all white and pulls the room's French decor together. 

I love the warmth of a small lamp on my desk.
The shade is punched with tiny pinpricks reminding me of a magical starry night in Paris.

Note the wicker stand next to the red leather chair (estate sale bargain). 

The top holds decorating magazines and the bottom shelf stores large books.

I like to drape monogrammed linens over the front.
Don't you wonder who they were lovingly created for?

I found this pretty curvy gate in a neighborhood alley 

and it was the perfect size to frame my wicker flower stand.
I can imagine it on an ivy-draped French patio
where women were wooed and men were charmed.

Behind the red chair you'll notice the tall chippy post we rescued from a construction dumpster.

It adds age and patina to that French attic mood.

Tying my white sheers in the middle lets in light

and makes me imagine stepping outside onto an iron balcony
overlooking the rooftops of Paris.

I moved my vintage typewriter to the shelves above my desk, making room for a classic telephone.

This red mid-century modern cart complements the Paris apartment mood
and holds this enchanting vintage telephone.
 I wish it still worked.  I have to admit I like playing with the rotary dial!

You can't really see the top shelf in this room but it's lined with old black and white hat boxes. 

I wonder why we stopped wearing hats.
I loved the mystery behind the netting held with a black velvet bow.

It's fun to watch 1940s black and white movies to see how things have changed. 

Women were always dressed so beautifully and men looked so dashing in their fedoras!

It won't be long til the street below is dressed in white, a film noir just outside my window. 

So where are all the men in fedoras?

***

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Linking with:
Little Farmstead, Our Southern Home, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Designthusiasm,
21 Rosemary Lane, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage

~~ A Post on a Post ~~

A post on a post? Why not? 

You won't want to miss this post . . . I didn't!

Find out why I went dumpster diving for a little piece of history. 

It all started when contractors started to demo an old house on our block.

The housing market in Denver has exploded recently and many of these lovely small bungalows 

are being scraped down to the ground or are popping their tops to add more square footage. 

The next few photos are about five minutes walk from our house in an old neighborhood. 

Such a dramatic change. 

Usually,  a modern structure that doesn't fit with the character of our old neighborhoods 

is hastily constructed where a lovely little bungalow once stood. 

Or a block of cracker-box "slot" condos that house too many people, increasing traffic 

and taking up limited parking spots, changes the vibe of these turn-of-the-century streets. 

It makes me sad to see the character of our historic city being overly-modernized,

especially when it happens on my street. 

These boxy condos are everywhere you look. 

How'd you like to live right next to the new lite-rail/noisy freeway?

So, back to my story.

This pretty Victorian on our street that was being demoed had lovely stained-glass windows 

and white columns on the front porch supporting a balcony. 

We kept an eye on the pillars the workers had leaned up against the house. 

I have been known to "rescue" alley finds 

but I restrain myself from actually taking anything from someone's property.

Then came the day when an enormous truck arrived to remove the full construction dumpster. 

I watched out my front window as the truck backed up to hook onto the dumpster.  

That's when I saw a white column sticking out of the top of the dumpster. 

I called Ron and we rushed outside and approached the workers in front of the house.

"Could we have that white post in the dumpster please?" we asked politely.

"Sure, but make it quick before he drives off."

We ran to the truck driver and asked if we could have a minute to rescue the column. 

He nodded and said the boss had told him to wait while we got it. Such a nice bossman!

So, we tugged and pulled until we were able to remove the pillar from the dumpster, 

thanked the driver, and scurried home with our treasure.

I didn't know what I was going to do with it but not only was it part of our neighborhood history, 

it was chippy and white and I loved it. I knew I'd find a home for it somewhere. 

Ron set about removing rusty nails from the top.

Inside, I tried it here and there and finally found the perfect spot for it in my "attic" office.

The top piece of the post was missing so I put an old plate on top 

and nestled a spider plant on it in front of the window.

That plant has a fun story as well. We were leaving an estate sale and saw a man loading a big spider plant into the back of his truck. That's when I saw a baby spider get torn from the mother plant. 

After he left, I ran over and retrieved the little baby from the sidewalk. 

I plopped her into a glass of water when we got home and she immediately grew some healthy roots. Now she's potted atop my rescued post and sending out more babies.

So, this story ends well for everyone.

The orphaned spider plant has a home, the rescued post adds a dilapidated grandeur to my office,

and the history of our old neighborhood has been preserved.

The End (or is it?)

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

Favorite French Country Posts for 2017

Slipping into a new year, I thought it would be fun to look back at 2017 

at some of my favorite French Country posts.
So, please join me as we view my Top 10 picks from the year of 2017.

To read more about each post, just click on the link.

1.  French Country: Romancing the Home

A romantic home has a feeling of being transported to another era.

2.  French Country's Friend: Ironstone

Ironstone is the perfect accessory for a French Country look --

that timeworn feeling of simple comfortable elegance.

3.  French Wine Crate Find

Who knew this French wine went for up to $3,500 a bottle!

Definitely one of my favorite finds!

4.  French Country Farmhouse

This white rooster . . . love at first sight.

5.  Cafe Bleu Reveal

Before & After -- a private French Country retreat.

6.  French Country Garden: Pretty in Pink

My June garden is so pretty, it's blushing! I'm yearning for Spring.

7.  Romantic French Farmhouse

Here are some simple tips to set a romantic mood.

8.  French Country: A Quiet Transition into Fall

Inspiring Fall touches to quietly complement the season.

9.  French Country: Get Galvanized for Fall

That rusty patina captured my heart!

10.  A French Country Christmas Dining Room

A simple French Country look for Christmas without a tree!

Looking back recaptures fond memories and teaches us a few lessons along the way 

while looking forward brings exciting new challenges and fresh ideas. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog this past year
and hope you stay tuned for a fun year in 2018.

***

If you enjoyed this look back, I hope you'll follow me in 2018.

Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.

You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.

Thank you for a wonderful year and I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year.

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Designthusiasm, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

A French Country Christmas Living Room

In my last post I'd decided not to have a tree this Christmas. Wait! What?
(If you missed that post, you can read it by clicking this link.)

A French Country Christmas Dining Room

Instead, I thought I'd decorate my living and dining rooms with vintage pieces,
while giving these rooms a little French Country flair.

So, let's start in the foyer. 

Welcome to my French Country Christmas!

This old nativity scene is actually Italian so it has that European feel.
I love the blue and red together.
The angel wreath always hung in my mother's kitchen window when I was growing up

and my sister hand painted the three sheep.

Come on in to the living room.

The mantel is always the focal point in holiday decor.
I love to use lots of candles and a few bottlebrush trees.

Cozy up to the fireplace.
An ironstone pitcher holds a stash of white candles on the console table behind the couch. 

A few baubles on a vintage wire tree and a candle bring sparkle to the living room . . .

and a French market basket, filled with holiday goodies, adds a bit of French soul.

An urn laden with holly, pine cones and antlers is a simple natural touch,
an important element in French Country design. 

Of course, I think everyone should decorate with whatever makes them happy.
But I've decided I'm content with how our house looks this year (without a tree).

So enjoyed hearing all your comments and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch , Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

French Country: A Touch of Bleu in the Foyer

I still love my neutral palette of creams and whites, but when I discovered 

a chippy blue window frame in the alley, I decided to incorporate it into my foyer design.

Here's a "before" picture without the touch of blue.

What a difference that little bit of blue makes!

The window frame leaning against the wall 

makes a pretty backdrop for my straw-covered bottles.

And the bleu really pops!

In a sea of neutrals, blue draws the eye and amps up a space.

 This color makes me think of a beautiful blue sky or a soothing indigo ocean.

I scrounged around until I found the perfect old blue book -- 

"David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens to add to the grouping.

I think the rusty orange berries and the spicy orange candle are a nice contrast to the blue
(and they're Denver Bronco colors!).

Blue and orange are opposite each other on the color wheel,
making them striking complementary colors.

What does the color blue mean to you?
For me, blue inspires calmness and a sense of serenity.

It symbolizes freedom. optimism and new beginnings -- a perfect color
to incorporate into my foyer as we look forward to a new year of possibilities.

This blue-framed house blessing is a special greeting in the foyer.
I just love it.

In case you can't read it, it says:

Peace abide beneath thy rooftree
Cheer along its rafters ring,
Joy and mirth and laughter gather
Neath thy firelights flickering.
Hope illumine all the shadows
with a radiance divine,
And the arms of love forever
Shelter thee and thine.

I hear designers are proclaiming blue is having a moment now.
I guess that means the style gurus think it's the current must-have color.

I know it's always been one of my favorite colors even though I don't have a lot of it in my home.
But I do think a touch of bleu is just right.

Happy November everyone and let's remember
to honor our veterans on Veterans' Day, November 11th. ! 

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch,
Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Katherine's Corner, My Thrift Store Addiction,
French Country Cottage