What Goes Around Comes Around

Back in the days before Pinterest and Instagram, I used to tear pages from my favorite 

decorating magazines and file them away in notebooks, organizing them by room. 

Sometimes I'd save a magazine but often it was just a photo here and there that I wanted to keep.

It's amazing now when I look at pictures of things that caught my eye in the 1970s 

how much I still like them and have actually incorporated many of these looks into my home today.
My style hasn't changed that much.
Then there are other pictures that make me shake my head and say, "What was I thinking?" 

But who knew I liked French Country in 1982 when I saved this spread 

about author Peter Mayle's home in Provence? 

Funny how what goes around comes around. 

Guess I am an old French soul.

Take this 1984 cover of Country Living.
(note the price was only $1.95!)
See the shelf on the left side of the photo with the cups hanging under it?
I remember tearing this cover off and mailing it to my father with a sweet request: 

"I'd love to have a shelf like this, Dad. Do you think you could make one for me? Pretty please."

Well, not only did my Dad-who-could-make-anything create a perfect replica of this shelf 

but he made it so it could be disassembled easily (no nails, only hand-carved wedges) 

for shipping it off to me in a flat box.

I had used it in a previous home but when I moved to this little house
with so many doors and windows, I just didn't have room for it. 

So it was stored it in my attic for the last twenty years,
while all the time I was wishing I could find a space for it.

Then recently when Ron decided to sell his yard-sale desk in the guest room/office, 

I suddenly had a space for Dad's shelves.Yippee!

Like assembling a jigsaw puzzle when all the parts are the same color,
it took some time and concentration to put all the pieces and wedges back together.
We laid all the parts out on the floor, 

turning them this way and that until they all fit together beautifully. 

And, because the shelves were only seven inches deep, 

the shelving unit didn't take up much floor space in the guest room. Perfect!

I couldn't wait to style it with my vintage treasures and books.

So, thanks Dad! 

This beautiful piece of furniture means so much more to me
because you made it especially for me. 

I'm happy that it can finally take its place again in my home.

By the way, I still tear out pages in magazines of rooms I like and clip them into my old notebooks. And, yes, I do save pictures on Pinterest too. 

But there's just something about holding a picture in my hands and studying every detail. 

Old fashioned? Yes, I suppose so.
But I guess I'm just an old-fashioned girl.

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Linking with:
Little Farmstead, Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Rustic & Refined,
Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar HIll Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane,
Katherines Corner, My Thrift Store Addiction, French Country Cottage

Lighten Up for Spring

The first day of Spring is just around the corner and it's time to bring a fresh look to your home. 

The good news is you don't have to spend a lot of money to lighten things up. 

Just shop your house, move things around, bring the outdoors in, and celebrate the new season.

I like to use lots of white with red accents for Spring. 

Tucking a white matelasse coverlet over a brown sofa 

shows the living room in a whole new light. 

The guest room gets a fresh Spring look with cheery linens and piles of pillows.

In the sunroom, the farm table is all dressed up in red and white. 

I love a splash of red and white in the Spring kitchen.

I keep the foyer simple with some straw accents and a basket of dried larkspur.

I don't usually photograph the bedroom but it does look cozy in the soft morning light.

I moved my enamel pitcher and bowl to the space just outside of the bathroom
for a fresh French Country touch. 

So, what do you see in your decorating future for this Spring?

Wishing you a lovely Spring!

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Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all of my favorite photos.
Thanks so much!

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Linking with:
Rustic & Refined, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse,
A Stroll Thru Life, Botanic Bleu, Savvy Southern Style, A Delightsome Life,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, 21 Rosemary Lane, Peonies and Orange Blossoms,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage

High Hopes for a Hamper

It was fun just to get out of the house after a bitter cold snap but

I was also hopeful I'd find something on my wish list
as we scouted out a little town north of Denver called Lafayette. 

I didn't have much luck in the charming town, but, as we were leaving
we spotted a little antique store and pulled into the parking lot.
It didn't look very promising on the outside but the inside was filled with lots of
tiny rooms filled with goodies. Even the basement was jammed with treasures.
I had a good feeling.

I saw it almost right away. 

I'd been watching for a vintage hamper for some time.
I knew exactly what I was looking for:  

about a foot tall, woven base, wooden lid and curved side handles. 

I didn't care what color it was. I could always paint it. 

Except for the horrid Easter-egg-green paint on the top, it was just what I'd been looking for. 

I kept going back to look at it and the owner said: "That piece is calling your name."
And it was.
Lucky for me, I get my bargaining skills from my thrifty mother

and from living in the Middle East where bargaining is the norm. 

After a short conversation, I got the price down from $32 to $20. Sold! 

I think this little beauty is from the 1940's, maybe a child's hamper. Adorable.

 I vowed to paint it the next day which was forecast to be clear and sunny. 

I thought it would take an hour at most. It took about four. 

Masking and then removing the tape because I forgot to take a "before" picture. 

Putting the tape back on and realizing it wasn't sticking so I had to put fresh tape on. 

All the little nooks and crannies took time with a small artist's brush. 

Fortunately, the cream-colored sides didn't need painting.

Finally, after two coats of white paint then sanding and re-painting the lid 

where the hinge gunked up the paint, I left it in the sun to cure. 

I couldn't wait to bring it inside and figure out where to put it. That's half the fun.

I finally decided on the foot of the daybed in the guest room. 

It's the first thing you see when you enter this room and it creates a cheerful, welcoming feeling. 

Of course, I could always use it as a guest hamper but it's much more fun to fill it with flowers!

 Love it! Check that one off my wish list!

Sharing with:  Shabby Fu Fu, Thoughts from Alice, Our Southern Home, Rustic & Refined, Dwellings, Karen's up on the Hill, Between Naps on the Porch, Cozy Little House, Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll thru Life, Bella Rosa Antiques, Elizabeth and Co., Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time, Maison de Pax, From My Front Porch to Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life, The Vintage Nest, Poofing the Pillows, Peonies and Orange Blossoms, Adirondack Girl at Heart, Hawthorne and Main, Rooted in Thyme, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage, Shabby Art Boutique, The Cottage Market, D.D.'s Cottage

Be My Guest -- A Room with a French Twist!

Bienvenue! Welcome!
It's the holiday season and that means guests.
Are you ready?

I'm excited about my first houseguest since I revamped my guest room.

We transformed the office into a comfy cozy guest room with a French twist.

Of course, it takes more than a pretty room for a guest to feel at home.

So, here are a few suggestions to help make your guests feel welcome:

Perhaps most important are fresh sheets and a light blanket on the bed with fluffy pillows. 

Having an extra blanket handy for cool evenings and fresh towels in the bathroom are appreciated.

Flowers and a lamp next the bed are a nice touch too.

Extra hangers in the closet and space in the drawers for clothes are necessities. 

And little things like tissues, a new toothbrush, and magazines say welcome.
It's always a good idea to have a trained guard dog on alert to provide security.

A clock on the wall and a big mirror are essential as is easy access to the phone and computer.

I wish I had room for a comfy chair in this room but an ottoman will do
for putting on shoes or sipping morning coffee while planning the day.

The yummy smell of homemade cookies will make your guest feel special 

while a fresh-bathed dog provides non-stop entertainment.
She also teaches yoga classes!

Make time to catch up while playing a game by the fire.
Dominoes anyone?
These are vintage ivory-colored pieces from the 50s. I think they're bakelite.

And as evening steals the day, enjoy a glass of wine by candlelight.
A toast to friends and family! Sante! To your health!

So what do you do to make your guests feel at home?

Sharing with:  Rustic & Refined, Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Cozy Little House,
Coastal Charm, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Bella Rosa Antiques, Elizabeth and Co.,
Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time, Maison de Pax, Ivy & Elephants, A Delightsome Life,
From My Front Porch to Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Northern Nesting,
Adirondack Girl at Heart, Meadow Lake Road, Rooted in Thyme, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage, Creative Country Mom, Shabby Art Boutique, My Romantic Home, The Cottage Market,
Shabby Fu Fu, Thoughts from Alice