Returning soon!

Rooms around home are about to undergo some change!

Kids are moving out -- I've got some new ideas.

Stop back again, and hopefully I'll have something new to show you!

Cheri

Use what you have decorating

A new look - without buying new . . .
The cost of living is rapidly rising leaving many of us with little left in our pockets for decorating our homes. Yesterday I spent 4 hours at a home using items the owner already had. She had many sentimental items, yet she didn't have them out to enjoy. Her home is new, and has a classy feel to it, yet the items she loves are earthy and farmhouse style. We tried to blend it all - sentiment, class, farmhouse and earthy!

This is the way the tv and fireplace looked when I arrived.

The top of the tv now displays a cherished chair from her childhood, books, a natural looking picture, animal pellets (fur) - that are sentimental ~ draped over the chair. The driftwood, eagle feathers, and pottery from the mantel are arranged at the foot of the chair.
Standing at the fireplace and looking toward the kitchen . . .
Table rotated, bookshelf rearranged and large yellow crock removed. Counter cleared. Lamp, old collectible cookbooks on butcher block with hand embroidered cloth on top.
The plant was moved to near the tv. Soft blue chair added for conversation in the kitchen.

Before

After

Before

After

There were a few minor changes done after the photos were taken.

If you live in SE Minnesota and would like to give your rooms a new look - let me know - for less than the cost of a new chair, you can give your rooms a new look!

Re-arranging

Family Room re-design. I forgot to take before and after pics. The before was so bad it was embarrassing. Our rec room is small. And dark. And has a mismatch furniture collection, a huge treadmill, and large tv to deal with. But, nothing like a litle re-arranging of furniture to make a room feel like a whole new place.

I have two awkward shelves that don't go together, however they are both black. I put the two of them together in the corner and it made a huge difference.
Remember: "keep like things together" - think out of the box and try new arrangements!

The black blob near the stairs - that's the huge treadmill - I raised the platform for the summer to give us more room.

I'm Back !

Finally, I got some inspiration. My decorating mojo was down the tube. It's this darn Minnesota weather - and lack of sunshine. As soon as it warmed up and the sun started to shine I got my groove back!
Here's what I did...
Sanded top of this kids table (on my list for 5 years at least) - and painted it. The top has a tongue-oil finish. Done in 2 days - about 2 hours total time.
Spruced up the top of the buffet. Although this changes more than anything around here. I get bored easily.
Took Formby's wood cleaner to this old trunk that I use for a coffee table, then put tongue-oil on it too. Added a try, pretty wine glasses, an empty wine bottle with candle topper and flowers. Trunk: 30 minutes. Decor: 5 min.

Cleaned this table with Formby's furniture cleaner, did the tongue oil treatment and freshened up the table top. The branches are from my curly willow tree and are rooting in the water -- and leafing out! I'll plant a few more curly willow trees from these starts in a couple weeks after last frost.

That's only part of my activities~ I have begun the process to paint my kitchen cabinets - soon. And some other fun projects I'll be showing you in the coming days.

~~~Cheri

Here's a few pretty table tops ...

I love these candlesticks!

Note: The above photo's were taken in a family member's home.

Harker Pottery

I love dishes. I'm addicted to dishes too. Ok, there, I've admitted it. Happy? I really don't have many but what I do have, I really like....and they all have a story... This dish story is about my Harker Pottery - Mallow pattern... This is my collection (minus 4 of the small custard dishes)

They just got a new "home" on top of my kitchen cupboards.

This casserole was my grandmother's. I have two pieces from her.
This is a plate and the lid to the casserole
This is another piece I got from my grandma...a mixing bowl with spout.
This is the inside of the mixing bowl. I love this pattern...it makes me happy everytime I look at it. Because of the two pieces from my grandma, I started to collect these pieces. The other pieces I have were bought at a garage sale. The little custard dishes were from the Red Barn in Northville, NY...a must visit place if you are in the village of Northhampton.

This little spot in my kitchen is prime decorating real estate! I love changing the "scene" here, however it had been neglected for a while. Then suddenly (as usual) it came to me. "Put the adorable doll table and chairs my father-in-law made for my daughter here." This is my favorite "scene" to date! I love pulling little pieces of the past out and using them.