Roses and Buffalo Checks!

A cottage in a ski town with a LOT of junker finds is this sweet cottage. The owner of this house chopped down the pedestal and painted the coffee table white. She then made all the slipcovers and pillows. Multi talented lady. But look how everything just seems to go together with her "styling hand"!

Her dining room is the epitome of graciousness with the touches she has applied here also. Now I wouldn't call that chandelier "crystal elegance" but somehow it just works here. She's painted some chairs black and some white and one is even slipcovered. The table underneath that black and white check table with the lace drape isn't elegant at all but with the beautiful cloths over it who in the world would know? It goes so well with her black and pink curtains on one window and the lace and topper on the other window. I had to do the same thing in my living room because of a small side window - just put a lace curtain and a small drawn back drape because of its size. Works though!!

A small entry near the stairs is more victorian looking with an antique sofa and then another sofa with black and white checks and a "hint of pink" on the wall. A pot of flowers is hanging with a mirror and what a statement it makes! A throw made out of her favorite fabric matches the other rooms in close proximity to this entry.

A lounge chair with more of her favorite flowered fabric in an upstairs hallway is surrounded with candy apple red walls and a "vacant" old frame letting the beauty of that red show through. The other frames have mirrors reflecting the walls and are hung high and low also - something I've done and recommended assiduously for years. Remember HIGH and low!

Her yellow and red guest bedroom looks like some place we'd all like to hunker down in! A collection of hats hung vertically down a wall and the little birdhouses make her statement. A miniature chair on the bedside table and on the chest mimics the larger one on the floor beside her chest. Notice how many different roses fabrics she has on just that one window making a very bold statement. Think "remnant fabrics" here and create your own style! The golden yellow of the walls make it such a cheery place and the red quilt and pillows just punches it up a notch. The plaid border brings it all together in this room.

This is another view of the room and sweet vignette she has on the wall.

The kitchen window has not been finished yet but she didn't let that stop her from making it beautiful to look at with some viney branches and a bit of lace drawn back at the window and then some tacked on to the sill. Maybe she has one of those hubbies whose list of honey dos far exceed his time to get them done!

Maybe I'm just "into" checks today but I thought this is rather bold also - a white sectional sofa and red buffalo checks with flowers. I'd call this "feminine/frou frouy country"! I really do like this room with all the antique touches with a girlie girl feel.

And what a bedroom! Red walls, tole trays, antique mirror and painted wicker trunk, black and white buffalo checks, beautiful shawl hanging from pegs along with an old straw hat, beautiful roses rug and luxurious bed linens.

This is another part of her bedroom - a wicker chaise lounge with white lace pillow, wicker table and chair for writing and layered lace at the window. Notice her collection of purses hanging on the wall and the cute white curio cabinet hanging above the desk. Just a lovely place for an afternoon of relaxing.
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A Book Tea Party

Several years ago I had a book themed tea party. I served some coconut shrimp and cooked cucumbers and scallions in a cream sauce. The ladies were astounded as it was a great surprise to them. The picture above reminds me of that day.

I had to invite them with something less than the truth because they weren't into afternoon teas, but they came. And boy were they surprised. I had the menu all written out for them in french on little menu cards at each place setting. There were the requisite place cards and lovely china, shiny and sparkling silverware, gorgeous stem ware because it really wasn't really a tea but more a luncheon with sparkling beverages.

The theme was books and I have old pages torn out of old but not valuable books put down as their place mats. They there were stacks of book all over the table. I had lemons in a bowl for a centerpiece on my finest white linen tablecloth. It was spring I believe. They had pencils and note paper to write down their observations, feelings or just about anything they wanted. I had old eyeglasses strewn about the table. We had candles on the table but I had a glorious huge chandelier in that house. It was delightful.

But the most fun part was watching these women experienceing something they'd never experienced before. Most were middle aged and some were younger women who had never attended anything like this in the small town we lived in at that time. We'd moved there from a very large city and it was enlightening to see how small towns lived. Actually, it was a real eye opener. But I decided to do this for them to have the experience. I believe they loved it. I know I did! I didn't eat with them. Jack and I waited on them just like a maitre d' in a fine restaurant. They were astounded when they left my house and I was lifted up because of what I gave them that day - a luncheon they'll probably never forget. I know I won't. I loved it and them!

My New "PINK"!!

Okay, I've been teasing my PRH sisters for 2 days now telling them I'm making something "pink" and will post it. This is it! Noooo, it's not a bathrobe. It's a coat.....a pink fleece wrap coat! I have 2 others I've made through the years and love the ease of making this coat. I've gone around the edges with a "trapunto" type stitch and then "pinked" it. Not a single thing is done by hand. Well, except for cutting it out. But it is "pinked" around the whole thing. The sleeves, the hem, the lapel - everything! So easy to make and it keeps me super warm when wearing them. But this one isn't the blue or gray from previous years; it's pink fleece with roses on the big pockets. (I think the store clerks are weary when they see me coming because it looks like a "shoplifter's" coat! Hah. But I downsized these pockets from the other coats and think I like it better. I could get a six pack of Pepsi in the other pockets!

Porches and Conservatories

Is this cute or what?! I love that porch swing and can't remember ever seeing one like before. A vintage piece for sure. But the porch itself is wonderful also with its ancient teacart and pillows, birdcage. stone floor, rug and flowers jutting out of an old vase. But the unique thing I find about this porch is the stripes painted over the header. Those aren't common to any porch I've ever seen. A person could sit here and look at that view for hours with those comfy old cushions.

Imagine the fabric it took for this lovely "room." But I don't think I'd want to clean them! It gives it a tent feel and just so warm to relax here. It it quite large for porches but I can envision it enclosed with glass for year round use. The fabric is blue as is the floor not covered with the large rug. Just lovely.

The enclosed room above reminds me of my friend, Sharon, who lives in Florida. She paints the tiniest most beautiful heart charms and loves victorian things and antiques and is NOT one bit afraid of color. You should see her house! But this seems like something Sharon would like because of the deep colors and the furnishings in this room. I especially like the drapery added across the opening to more garden area.

Simple is the only way to describe this darling vignette. Two vintage chairs with pillows, an antique tea cart and tricycle between 2 windows on a weathered shingle house. The bleeding heart hanging from the porch adds a bit of cheer to the scene. Tea anyone?!

This room is a bit more whimsical in its colors scheme - bright yellow, bright bold colors and fabrics. Plus the brick floor adds flair to the room. It looks tropical but it could be in any climate with the glass enclosure and heat running to it.

Golden sun beats down on this front porch leaving a glorious warm glow on the wood floor and the settee cushions. This is the perfect example of an old fashioned porch in any part of the U.S. - ionic columns supporting pink geraniums, pots of hydrangeas spread around with more foliage, baskets of more flowers, wicker seating, warm colored pillows and a beautifully old fashioned porch light. Of course the green shutters makes the white siding just pop out at you.

Somehow this is reminiscent of classical greeks - the statues, the columns and the fabric coverings on the entries onto this beauty. Purple and blue are favorites also. A jewel of a hammock stuffed with flowered pillows along with the chairs. The ceiling is painted with the vines and echoes the lushness of the yard beyond and within this room.

What wouldn't each of us give to have an old english conservatory like this one?! It looks like a greenhouse attached to the back of a home. Tropically lush with a trellis highlighting a golden back wall. The lacy grillwork adds much to the ambiance of the room and the glass roof lets the sunlight come through to warm it but there are also beams from which to hang pots of flowers.

Same home, different view. Looking out over the gardens from the dining area of this room is the vintage folding chairs looking like they are straight out of a Lawrence of Arabia movie. The delicately lacy pot stands holding lovely pink blooms.

A close up look at a vintage chaise lounge with a downy like cushion, wicker basket to hold your tomes and magazines a tiered planter to have your fragrant flowers near you and vines and flowers climbing the trellis adding even more lusciousness. Then a gnarly tree table near by for drinks and a sun bonnet in case the sun gets too bright. The stone would warm up to keep you toasty on a less than warm day also.
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Especially for Princess Amy Bunnyrose!

I told Amy I was doing a special one for her today because she is painting her home's main areas yellow. Hubby said he can stand just so much pink and then he would like to see another color! They've decided to go with yellow. So I thought I'd show Amy the possibilities of pink and yellow together. That is my favorite color combo also. So this is for a young woman who lives in a house with 5 boys and a very masculine hubby!
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I love pink and especially red, pink and yellow together. This is a shabby little cottage I could move right in to. A bright red sofa with a pink cover thrown over the back, lovely yellow pillows, persian rug and pink walls. But the black and white punctuates the room with "punch" and makes quite a statement certainly. Just lovely. Of course, the pink walls are an added bonus in this gorgeous room.

Black and white is carried over to the dining room in the chair covers with the bottom a black and white check and the tops black and yellow. The pinkish red wallpaper takes it from blah to ah in a snap but the french doors and curtains add to the ambiance here. I love this room. And it just flows easily from the living room to there. The vintage chandelier is an extra special treat to have in that room

While there is a lot of pink in this bedroom, it is also punctuated with the yellow tones in the bed frame and green on the bed quilt. Triple layered bed coverings add to the charm of this cottage. Delightful...........

Would you just look at that chintz teapot?!?! And as a table, some old hat boxes have been used with a touch of a napkin for a topper. Carrying through with the theme of yellow there is a comfy tucked yellow chair and a tiny tea tin on the "table" and little yellow blocks on the windowsill. So charming! I'd be spending my spare time in that chair reading a good mystery or espionage book. :-)

What a view to look at after a day of "franticness"!! Blue skies aren't that familiar on the northwest coast so it's a rare day indeed here. The garden has also the pink, red and yellow color scheme. The blue-gray garden wicker table and chairs adds to the serenity of that outdoor room with the trellis framing it. I think I may do that to our patio out back.
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