A New Look for an Old Crate

Please note:
Last week I experienced some technical difficulties with my computer and am not sure this post was distributed to everyone. Therefore, I'm sending it again to all subscribers under a different name.
The original post was called "French Wine Crate 2.0."
My apologies if you've already seen this post. If not, please enjoy.


Have you been wondering whatever happened to that rare French wine crate 

I uncovered last summer in a dusty basement at an estate sale? 

Well, here's a little hint.

You might remember my post about that wine crate.
Here's a link if you missed it.  Wine Crate Find

The crate was perfect for containing a sparkling centerpiece on the dining room table.

But you know we can never leave well enough alone, right? 

I wanted to find another way to use this beautiful crate and I found it in the kitchen.

By turning the crate on its end I was able to make some space on my kitchen island 

and now I'm using it to hold bottles of wine and cooking utensils. 

Looking at the wine crate from the side,
you can still read the beautiful French writing on the front.

This really opened up the counter space and gave me a little more elbow room.

The display makes me think of a fancy kitchen store like Sur la Table.

This stand-alone cabinet is handy for parties, baking or unloading market baskets.



Don't overlook everyday objects like these Prosecco corks
when creating a unique accessory.

Cheers, my friends!

So, what do you do with your wooden boxes and crates? Love to hear from you.

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Let There Be White!

After the exuberant stimulation of festive holiday decor,

I'm craving something calming and simple like white.

White is so easy to live with. It calms a chaotic room and soothes our busy minds.

This simple bookshelf turned china cabinet holds some of my white ironstone
and is a restful focal point in the dining room.

I moved the old clock that had been on the top shelf to the living room mantel, 

making room for a large ironstone pitcher.
Because the pitcher had a tiny crack in the handle, I got it for just $25!

White goes with any style from Farmhouse . . .

. . . to Frou Frou.

It adds a touch of elegance to a simple vignette

and is the perfect foil for highlighting a few special pieces.

I love how white contrasts with dark wood.

A unique piece like this garden statue really stands out among white objects and old mirrors.

This statue was a wonderful surprise Christmas gift from Ron. 

I'd raved about it when we saw it in an antique store 

and he sneaked back to buy it for me. I just love it.

My china cabinet seemed to be overflowing with white ironstone

so I thinned it out a bit, letting each piece shine on its own.

I love how it looks through the leaded glass doors.

Here's where that vintage clock ended up.

The dark wood of the clock looks rich against the white mantel.

I also like the empty space at each end of the mantel, 

allowing some breathing room for the wall sconces. 

White decor makes me dream of a snow-frosted meadow in the Rocky Mountains --
a calming place where I can catch my breath and feel at peace.

***

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.
Thanks so much!

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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

Notes from the Attic

Not long ago, this room on the upper floor was wasted space, used mostly for storage. Then, I decided to transform it into my office. Now, it evokes the feel of an attic in Paris and makes me think of those famous Impressionist artists like Monet and Renoir and many others who all knew each other and actually shared living space in a Parisian attic because they were poor, having spent all their money on painting supplies. Can you imagine the conversations they must have had!

On the east side of the room, I look out tall floor-to-ceiling windows swathed in white sheers tied in the middle with ribbon. In the morning, the sun streams through these windows and fills the small space with golden light. It doesn't take much imagination to see the zinc rooftops of Paris out these windows instead of a narrow residential street in Denver.

I've furnished this room with thrift store treasures and estate sale bargains. In front of the tall windows is a vintage red leather chair and ottoman, now covered with a linen floral slipcover from a thrift store. The slipcover comes off in the winter so the red leather can warm the space. Built-in bookshelves surround the chair and an old white wicker planter that had been destined for an upcoming yard sale has a new life filled with my favorite decorating books.

Next to the chair is a small French-inspired table, a thrift store find for under $10. It came home with me wearing a very dark stain, not looking at all French. But, after several good sandings, a coat of primer and two coats of white paint, it's been transformed. I distressed those edges that would see normal wear and topped it with a lamp (also thrift store) that could have come from a Paris flat. I love the little glass ball on top of the shade.

The centerpiece of this space is my desk which I actually bought at an antique store (okay, I paid retail but it was on sale!). It looked nothing like it does today though and it took an open mind to see its potential. Someone had painted it in stark primary colors...lime green on the drawers, bold red on the legs, stark yellow on the sides and a damaged white top. Ugh. Lots of sanding, priming and white paint turned it into a beauty with a serpentine top, curved legs and pretty carved details. An old piano bench with a sheepskin throw makes it a perfect place for blogging.

An old mirror, a tin vase of dried flowers, some worn books, a rosary and a candle--all from thrift stores and yard sales--create a charming vignette.

At night, lamps and candles lend a warm glow to the space and I can almost hear Cezanne and Pissarro arguing about who has to sleep on the floor!

Special thanks to Ron Boyd for photography.