Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Our Master Bedroom


(Thank you to Cedar Hill Ranch/The Farmhouse Porch and A Stroll Thru Life for featuring this post!)
I want to thank everyone for your kind Birthday wishes!  I had a wonderful birthday!
I've never posted pictures of our master bedroom, because I was saving them for 'Cottage of the Month' at The Old Painted Cottage.  Now that they're 'out there' I thought I'd give you the official grand tour of our bedroom!


It's been a work in progress to get the look that I want.  When we first moved in I started out with all dark pieces in here, then gradually began collecting vintage cream colored dressers and chests, to lighten up the room.


I wanted to create more of a comfortable farmhouse feel.


I want our bedroom to be a peaceful, soothing space, and I'm happy that it finally feels that way!


This sweet little chair came from a local antique store. Of course I love its chippy, shabby patina!  I already had this little pillow that fits perfectly.


I 'stole' this ladder from our shop.  I thought it would be a perfect way to display some of my vintage linens.



I love to accent in red.  Keith painted this armoire in milk paint for me many years ago.  I was going to paint it cream, then decided to leave it red for a pop of color in the otherwise neutral room.

 


I'm always changing the top of this piece...here is the current vignette.


Our headboard has a great story...


Waay back in the day (about 15 years ago) I had been drooling over this wood and tin headboard in the Pottery Barn catalog; but at $800 for the queen size it just wasn't gonna happen for me.  About a year later my mom and I were scouring the Pottery Barn outlet (that was an hour from my house) when I spotted MY headboard, in the exact size I needed!  "That's the headboard that I've wanted!"  I hissed to her and ran over to check the price. Ready for this?  $50!!!   We asked the sales person if she could hold it just for a couple hours while we went back home and got our pickup truck to bring back and get it.  But she said they couldn't hold it!  Now what?  I couldn't risk it getting away!


So I called Keith and God love him, he left work, went home and got the truck then drove an hour to where we were to pick it up-and never even complained! (I'm sure he heard the desperation in my voice!) All the while my mom and I stood guarding it!  What we'll do for a bargain!  :)   Luckily this headboard has stood the test of time, and I still love it!


My curtains and bedding are from Ikea.  My friend Carol spruced up my shams for me by stenciling them, and she made my bedskirt, too.  I just love having talented friends!


Although all the other pieces in here are vintage, I couldn't resist this new wicker trunk from Hobby Lobby.  It adds great texture, plus needed storage.


So there you have it...I hope that you enjoyed the tour of our master bedroom.  I'll soon show pics of the master bathroom that is attached.


Have a wonderful day!
I'm joining these fun parties:    The Farmhouse Porch (The Scoop)
                                             Coastal Charm
                                             Knick of Time 
                                             My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
                                             Lavender Garden Cottage
                                             Ivy and Elephants
                                             Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen
                                             Shabbilicious Friday
                                             Rooted in Thyme
                                             Common Ground
                                             French Country Cottage
                                             Jennifer Rizzo
                                             i should be mopping the floor 
                                             A Stroll Thru Life

Friday, June 21, 2013

My Birthday Week!


Hi, everyone!  This Sunday is my birthday-46 years young!  I'm a firm believer in celebrating your birthday for a whole week (my hubby says the truth is I like celebrating the whole month!)   So this week has been full of FUN birthday shopping!  Whenever I wanted to justify a purchase I'd say "well, this is my birthday present to myself"....works for me! :)   So I'm going to share with you some of my fun finds.
First off, my favorite:  this large, tarnished, engraved trophy from the 1930's!


My heart literally started beating faster when I spotted it on a table full of 'junk' at the flea market.  Around these parts these babies are hard to find, and when you do find one, it'll cost ya your firstborn (which I don't have anyway! :)  So I was extra thrilled to get it for a steal.
I also found the creamer next to it-I thought it had very unusual lines and looked 'trophyish' (I think I just made up a word.)  This next little set is so tiny and cute, I couldn't resist!


I've always wanted one of these 'banana crates' but just like with the trophy, whenever I've seen them the price has been outrageous!  (If you haven't noticed before, I'm quite a bargain shopper!)


I was so excited to find this and for a very reasonable price-score!


I filled it with dried hydrangeas and set it in the middle of our dining room table.



Unfortunately it won't be able to stay here because a certain naughty kitty, for some strange reason, thinks dried flowers are a tasty snack!


Anyway, back to my finds...adding to 2 of my growing collections are a feed sack and a Dundee Marmalade jar...


A large perfectly chippy frame...


A fun, shabby 'For Sale' sign...


 A gigantic flower frog...


And this huge wire basket...


So, what do you think?  Which of my new treasures is your favorite?
It's been a great birthday week, and I haven't even gotten my 'official' presents yet! ;)
Thank you so much stopping by, and have a fantastic week!
 I'm sharing this at these wonderful parties:    Shabby Art Boutique
                                                                  Knick of Time 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Living Room Showcase


Hope you all had a great weekend!  Besides being Father's Day, yesterday was also my dad's birthday, so we took him out and had a nice day.
I haven't showed you my living room in awhile, so I thought I'd share a few pictures of it to refresh your memory.


I got this old drawer unit at a garage sale many years ago.  It was buried in my basement and I had forgotten about it.  When I was trying to think of something functional to put beside the couch, I suddenly remembered it! It's perfect to hold our remotes, coasters, etc. I love the quirkiness of the one drawer that's been stripped!


My hubby stenciled this factory cart with my favorite number 3 and our birth year on top when I was out of town a couple years ago, as a surprise for me. So sweet!


He also surprised me another time with this bottle carrier.   I'm thrilled that my seltzer bottle collection fits in it perfectly!


Actually, now that I think about it, he grabbed up this street sign (over the patio doors) at the Randolph flea market in Chicago last year when we had gone separate ways for a bit.  Does he know how to find 'good junk' or what? :)


My mom found this old barnwood shelving unit for me when I was searching for something to put on this wall. I love its simple, rustic charm.  I've changed it around quite a few times, but this is what  it currently looks like.


I gathered up some of my favorite things to display on these shelves.










My friend Carol stenciled this basket-love it!



So there you have it-one side of my living room, at least.  The mantel is on the opposite wall and I've changed it up again (big surprise!) so I'll be sharing that soon.  Have a fantastic day!
I'm linking to these great parties:   Creative Home Acre Hop
                                                  Knick of Time
                                                  Coastal Charm
                                                  Lavender Garden Cottage
                                                  Ivy and Elephants
                                                  Have a Daily Cup of Mrs.Olsen
                                                  Rooted in Thyme
                                                  Common Ground 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Shopping in Chicago


Hi, everyone!  Remember when I told you that I went 'shopping' at Kris's (Junk Chic Cottage) house?  If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then visit this post to read about my trip to Chicago, and meeting up with Kris.


When my hubby Keith and I were taking a tour of her home, I was admiring this sweet little cabinet...here it is hanging on her kitchen wall.


"Do you think you could get that through the airport?"  Kris asked me.
"Ummm, I don't know...why?"  I answered, perplexed.
"Because I've been wanting to replace it, so you can take it if you can get it home."
Me, stunned and excited..."What?!  We'll get it home somehow!"


Long story short...her hubby Terry immediately got a drill and took it off their wall, and now it happily resides on this chest of drawers in our office!


Let me tell you, this baby is like 2 1/2 feet tall, and not exactly lightweight.  The airline wouldn't let us carry it on, so Keith had to wrap it in a garbage bag that Kris had given us and we had to check it in!


 I was so worried that it would get broken (have you seen how they throw luggage around?) but luckily it arrived safely in one piece.


I have a thing for numbers, and also for cubbies, so this is perfect for me!  I had NO problem finding little goodies around my house to display in it.  In fact, I keep playing around and changing the cubbies out.


I actually found these little wooden milk bottles at a shop in Chicago. They're slightly bigger than another set that I have, and I thought they'd fit perfectly here.


I'm so happy that Kris was ready to part with her cabinet and that I could give it a new, loving home. :)  Gotta love friends that let you 'shop' their home!  Have a wonderful day!


I'm sharing at these great parties:  Common Ground
                                                 i should be mopping the floor