Cottage Style Curb Appeal

It's the weekend!  Yeah!  I just wanted to share a couple of photos I took of two shops that grabbed my attention as I was driving by them. 

Now this building is an old building.  Nothing great about the building right?  But the color they have added with the flowers has made this shop adorable.  It's incredible what color does for things. 

And the awnings...I love them. 

 The flower shop below was behind the hair salon.  I could see it from the road and had to take it's picture too.  The colors instantly grabbed my attention. 
This was something I had to take my hubby back just to look at it.

I didn't get a chance to stop in but I'm going to make it a point really soon.

I love the color they are displaying in front of their store. I hate to say it, but this photo really doesn't do it justice. (could be the photographer...me)  It was a quickie picture on the way back from the airport. 

Have a good weekend!

Energy, Strength and Power

We're talking red.

Energize your room with doses of red.

The Pops of red grab your attention.

Throw pillows add instant freshness

A little red here and a little red there.
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Drawing your attention to the artwork

Featuring H2O Beauties

How about walking outside your home and being able to see something like this?  Isn't this amazing?

Ok, sign me up for this water feature.  This is a dream from Artistic Landscapes .

Another beauty from Artistic Landscapes .Talk about talent.

This is quite a different view than the two lush water features above. To me, this is more of an urban water fall from Landscape Los Angeles, which is also awesome.  We could use a waterfall like this in our yard.  I think connected to the deck somehow would be amazing. 

Napkins are Like Pillows

When you think about it, napkins play a big part in a table scape..  They add instant color and personality.  Sometimes they are your inspiration piece for the table scape you are planning on creating.

I found these blue and white stripped napkins on Etsy at Linen by Inga to show you.  The stripes first of all grabbed me but the fresh look of blue and white just makes me feel good.

This was set up for a kids Easter party by William- Sonoma, but you could do this for a casual adult event too.  It's simple and yet still looks nice.

This Paula Deen place setting is adorable.  The bright yellow will bring excitement to the table. 

Cottage in the Mountains

I love going to the mountains.  Especially in the summer.  The air is fresh and the scenery phenomenal.  . 

When I think of mountain cottages or cabins, I generally think of dark logs and dark decor on the inside but this ones different.  Notice how they kept the decor rustic with manly touches and the small statue of the deer on the wall.  Much better than a big head of an animal. (in my opion).   If we stayed at a place like this I wouldn't complain a bit

 

So awesome!

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What a great screen porch.  Perfect for an after dinner cocktail.

Living With Casual Vintage

Casual vintage accessories add flavour

A casual table top is shown by Vintage Ambiance.

 
Wouldn't this personalized typography be really cute in your family room or anywhere for that matter.  Love this brick wall too.

I adore this space.  This was an old mill at one time.  Can  you believe it.  Georgous!
 

There's Just Something About Pink

I can just see this pale pink bathroom in a country farmhouse. I love the soft pinks and green.



I Can't believe I Won a Prize!

Hey yall!

I'm simply blown away.  I don't think I have ever won anything.  This is a new experience for me.  I really don't know how to act or what to say.  As I was reading my comments today I lost my breath for a second and had to read it again....What!?! I ask myself,  no it can't be.  But the comment said to go back to the blog for further instructions.  So back I went and indeed the post did say "and the winner is....Tammy from Barefoot in Bluejeans .  I couldn't believe it.  I did win! Wow and how fun!  I won an I-phone case and a really cute one too. 

Now let me introduce you to the super cute, fun and full of life, Suzanne from Shabby Chicks blog spot.

I found her blog a couple of days ago and instantly felt right at home.  She has an adorable family and her post are always fun and exciting.  I have made her blog one of my daily stops. She said some really nice things about me and I have to say "DITTO".  Please stop by and say hi and tell her Tammy sent you. 

Yall have a fantastic day!



Easy Does It

Sit and relax a while.



 The perfect view.

One of Natures Perfect Colors

Green!
In honor of St. Patrick Day.

Designer Pat Healing  designed this room modern traditional.  Does that make this room fun and serious at the same time?

Going to Pot

There's an area of our yard that's been vacant for a while. So, I think I will take it and make it a garden potting area. 

First I need some ideas.....

This is cute.  A simple design and colorful.  This is one to keep in mind.

So this is pallets !  I was shown this on Pinterest and thought it was very interesting.  I always thought that surely there was something you could with them.  How about a pallet deck.? Isn't that something.  Although this is not a garden potting area as done here, but I could do something similar and make it what I wanted. My husband is not a fan but I think it's very creative and fun.

housetohome keeps it simple, a table, shelves and some tools.
I guess time will tell.  Hopefully I can get started working on it soon.

Lets Get Together

We have a family party to go to this weekend...

and this farmhouse picnic kind of reminds me of how our family parties start...a bunch of tables pushed together to seat everyone.  This set up is really cute, casual, fun and simple. 

How about dinner with friends. 

There's those tree trunk seats again.  I think I'm really liking this idea.



A little bit of alfresco dinning for two. (by way of Pottery Barn)

I'm big on texture (if you don't already know that) and I love this setting.

I'm Moving Out!

How many times have we parents heard the phrase...I'm moving out? Or maybe I should say...how many times did you say...I can't wait till I move out!  And now you are out...on your own. 

 I have 3 kids that have just moved out in recent months and in my years of decorating and re-decorating, I have learned a few things along the way.
I have always been one to constantly move my furniture and change things around.  Oh boy, when I did not have a J.O.B., I came up with more looks in a room than one could blink an eye at and I had a great time doing it.  It felt so refreshing to me.  On the days I felt like I really needed to clean my house...guess what, furniture and stuff would be moved to a different area and we'd call it done for the day.  I remember when we were just starting out, parents and "older" people would say, "these kids today think they have to have the best when they start out.  And then they would continue to say, back when I was growing up, all we had was milk crates for chairs.....yadayadayada, you know how it goes.  So I guess they used milk crates for chairs and tables.!? Maybe I can show you...

(Wait a minute, this one doesn't count, it's kinda cute.)

Source: Extreme Makeover Edition

 

Wooden Milk Crates

These are really cute too.  I think I need to move on.  I'm not proving my point to good here.  Milk crates aren't what they use to be. 

 Anyway, now that I am one of those "older" people, I say...when your starting out, buy one good piece at a time. 

Of course, if you can take your bed and bedroom furniture with you when you move out for the first time, even better.  If you can't, it seems to me the most logical thing to do is buy a good mattress and box springs with a headboard (if in fact you do want a headboard) then fill in the spaces with a dresser, mirror, chair, etc. Keep in mind, quality counts, but make no mistake, I remember how the dollar had to stretch back in those days. (it still does come to think of it).  Anyway, there are great places to shop to get these things on a budget. 

Don't rule out thrift store shopping. You can find solid furniture at some of these places and give it a fresh coat of paint with new hardware and you've got a new to you dresser with out the high sticker shock. This looks like the bottom piece to an old hutch and is redone so cute.

 A re-freshed chair for seating, maybe for your desk can easily be done and look super cute with a fun fabric on the cushion.

There are so many things you can find at bargain prices if your up for the hunt and willing to put a little elbow grease into it.  I could go on and on about ways to furnish your room on a budget whether with thrift store or flea market finds but I'll leave you with an inspirational photo.

This room could easily be done on thrift store finds...

* large dresser or bottom piece of a hutch (for storage) painted yellow

*large mirror painted white (You could even make it scrolley to add a more feminine flair)

*Vintage lamp and shade

*for the curtains you could use sheets

*prints for your walls can be found on the cheap. Look for prints with at least a couple of the colors your using in your room.  As far as the frames, you can find some that are wood and paint them. Or find old frames, paint them, get a white mat and use a fabric for your print.

*The bed/couch could be a bed pushed against a wall with pillows along the back side to where it looks like a couch by day and useful as a bed by night. Find a solid grey comforter and keep your eye out for a fun throw to put on it.  Sometimes you can find these at stores on sale or Ikea would be a great place to look.

* the rug you might also find at Ikea if you aren't willing to wait and hunt at thrift stores. 

 (If I were doing a room like this, I would add a bit more frill to it with a pretty chandelier and a piece or two of pretty glass or crystal.  But that's just me.)  Adding your own spin or personality makes this space yours. 

I'll be honest.  This room is complete with the grey walls.  But if your living in an apartment, you probably can't paint.  There are other options...stick on wall paper, large canvases covered in fabric etc.  One day I'll do a post on those kind of things too.

Happy hunting!

(Some) Rules are Made to Be Broken

Back in the day, there were rules for decorating.  Remember those?  Today those rules have joined forces and bonded together to create even more decorating styles than we could ever have imagined.  How awesome is that?  There are still  those who stick strictly to one look or the other but many, as I myself  have, brought together a couple of different looks to become one.  I was curious and decided to try a couple of the decorating style test.  You can try them here to see what your style is.  BHG Decorating Style Quiz or HGTV Whats my decorating style quiz .  Both of mine were mixtures of a couple of styles.  One was...Polished Casual, which I agree with and the other was...Old World- new look which I also agree with (but just a little bit).  So...I believe you can have more than one look in your home.  The one rule you don't need to break is if your rooms are open to each other and join together, like your front or formal living room with your formal dinning room. They need to compliment each other with the same style. 
Below are some very basic styles ( nothing over the top) that could be a style like yours or you could be like me a marry two styles.
Let me know if you take the test above and what your outcome was.

Simply Traditional



If you are one to like classic comfort and sophistication, this may be your design style.
As seen in this transitional room by  Shelly Riehl David at http://www.hgtv.com/designers-portfolio/room/transitional/living-rooms/2318/index.html#//room-living-rooms  ( you can find her designs at  www.riehldesigns.com )

This style tends to be more predictable with muted colors.  The furniture does not skip on comfort and will sometimes be found in pairs.  You may gravitate towards oriental rugs, oil paintings, some vintage or antique pieces.  

Modern Chic 

This is a beautiful room.  Straight lines, minimal color, natural wood tones.  You will often find elements of glass, metal, concrete, leather or silk in a modern room.  These rooms are seen as clean and functional and no clutter to be found. 

Easy Breezy Cottage Style

Keeping things small and simple is the way you like to live. Cottages can have lots of styles on the inside, and even on the outside.  When I think of cottages the first thing that comes to mind is something like the photo above from Coastal Living . But that's not the case.  The Definition of cottage is a small simple house, usually in a rural area like on a lake or in the mountains.  Sometimes used as a vacation home.  I wish I had one of these on a beach in Florida.

Country Living

Country Living is casual living.
Plaids, florals, stone, wood floors, wood accessories and displayed collections from the past are usually found in your country living rooms.  Colors can be bright and sunny or toned down to a more muted tone.  Sometimes they can be a combination of both.

Vintage Retro Style

You enjoy shopping thrift stores and flea markets to find items from the past with a retro flair.
Color doesn't scare you.  Your up for fun from the get go. Vintage fabrics will add to your look as does the shape of your vintage furniture.

Tuscan Design

As seen in this beautiful Tuscan kitchen from Granite Transformations , this style is more of a casual lifestyle.  Lots of use of wood and muted colors like golds, yellows and greens are used.  Tuscany style rooms carry a comfortable and old world feel.  Arches and iron works are frequently found in homes with this type of design. 

French Country

This French Country breakfast nook shows how colors are used in this design.  Mixing the old with the new is a staple for this look.  It's simple and charming, relaxed and casual. You'll find wood, stone and tin mixed in the decorations and fabrics with mixtures of prints like florals, stripes and checks.

Flowers I'd Like to Grow

Surely everyone is feeling the same way I feel.  With Spring in the air, fresh flowers have got to be on every ones mind.  These are a few flowers I would like to grow myself.

Hydrangeas ...

This garden just feels good.  I mean really, who could go wrong with a picket fence?  But besides the picket fence, these Hydrangea flowers are beautiful and the way they line the fence is a perfect frame for the yard.  Beautiful!

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If I grow these maybe I can do this....

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Climbing Roses...

I've always wanted climbing roses.  We have an entrance that leads into the woods that surrounds our home.  I've always wanted some kind of archway that invites you to walk down through them.  I think climbing roses would be the perfect flower to climb and cover the archway.  It would create a sort of welcoming effect.

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But on the other hand...if I did have some climbing roses, I would probably do something like this...

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Last but not least...

TULIPS....MY FAVORITE FLOWER IN THE WORLD.

I think I would probably create the same beds to grow them in.

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So that after they bloom I might be able to do this....

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Oh, I sincerely hope I can do at least one or two of these flowers this year.  We will see. 

I hope you all have a really good and happy Friday.

Did You See the Moon This Morning?

Normally I don't get too excited about things in the sky...But I could not help my self this morning.  Driving down the road on my way to work, I noticed it and thought...wow, look at that moon.  But on this one particular road...there it was right in front of me.  It looked like a big huge beautiful ornament hanging in the sky right in the middle of this street.   All I could say was "God your amazing,  look at your work".

My husband took these pictures with out me even calling him (which I was going to do and forgot), I'm so glad he did.

And God made the two great lights - the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon to rule the night...

Genesis 1 :16



Table Scapes to Set the Right Mood

Good morning everyone.  What a way to start your day, sitting down for breakfast here.  I adore this setting!  The way it's so bright with white and just enough color to make it interesting.  And the lighting is too cute.


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A bit of personality takes this super cute table to another level.  Love this idea!

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This colorful and whimsical table scape is way to cute and fun! I'm dying over the creativity that someone had.  


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Welcome Spring! I love the centerpiece.

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What a great way to use doilies.  There's something about them that I have always liked, but I thought they were too old fashion to actually use,  But this works.  I really like this idea.

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Pick me up and set me down at this table with family and friends, you'd find me in a happy place.  I love this setting.

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