summer house tour

It's Sunday afternoon and I have the house to myself!  For the last month that I've been MIA, I've been on sort of a rearranging rampage around here.  So this post has all the makings of a rambler.  

As you can see in the above photo there are some new to me things.  Nothing was purchased at a store that sells new things but of course you knew that already.  I've pulled lots of junk into the house from the basement and that always makes me feel good which is so strange b/c I love putting things in the basement.

Can I talk about this wall?  Or any long wall for that matter, they are hard.  It has been so difficult getting it right.  And trust me it isn't perfect.  I've had tons of ideas for it ranging from wallpaper to moulding to large art to gallery-style to absolutely nothing.  It has driven me mad once, twice or a zillion times. Those prints are from an old botanical book that I've had for ages and the vintage bamboo frames too.  The iron wall sconces were found at a yard sale about 8 years ago for $1 each.  The ironstone plates are old too.

Here's our Lady looking as regal as ever.

I found this book for $1 and thought of her.

This corner which is connected to that wall has also driven me bs crazy.  But this is what I've come up with.  An old wicker table with the most amazing vintage glass lamp (I found a pair.)  That old deep green pot, .25 from an estate sale filled with hydrangeas from the garden.  The mirror was $1 at an estate sale b/c the top was broken off.  I glued some twigs and 3 tiny pine cones that I picked up at Highgrove Gardens on my garden tour.  I've already been scolded and lectured for stealing them btw.

Here is the other side of the room.  Sorry these pictures are so bad but I'm using my phone these days b/c I'm lazy.  The black and white photographs that used to hang here are in Larry's office atm.

This desk.  It still makes my heart skip a beat.  The little ocean oil painting came from Redlands Country Mart as did the bottle holding the branch.  I know I'm biased but I love that place.
Those are new roman shades from JC Penny which proves I'm a liar b/c I said just 2 minutes ago that nothing was new. Here's the link...Roman Shades.  Quick review of them...they are really great for the price.  Love the bright white color and easy to install.

Lord this is an awful photo but I wanted to show you that I painted the inside of the cabinet with some Annie Sloan Chalk paint that everyone raves about.  It's pretty inside.

I used her Ochre color which is a soft beige.  Now the plates stand out a bit.

Same as 10 years ago.  Not a whole lot changes here & still love it all.

My fern is doing well in this spot which makes me so happy and you may or may not have noticed that the painting above the stove is different.

Alex had given me that gorgeous print of Yosemite a few years ago and needed it for a photo shoot (so he says) and he replaced it with this one which I kinda love even more.

Again, another annoying picture.  But you get the drift.  I made this pillow cover out of a Robert Allen remnant that I've had for years.  I love the charcoal colorway b/c of its soothing qualities. Oh and the light fixture is new (old).  The chandelier is gone which Larry is so happy about because he hit his head on it pretty much every single day.

This room needs flowers stat.


So that's what I've been up to.  What about you?  Someone in the previous post wanted to know how our mortgage is coming along. We are still ahead of schedule.  We've had a few setbacks here and there but are back on track baby.  Also, there's been a few questions about my hair.  I've not touched any dye since I made the decision to go grey.  I like all kinds of grey, from solid to streaky which is what I have.  I imagine one day it'll take over and that'll be ok.

Talk soon like hopefully not a month.   xo