Farmhouse sinks, exposed brick, vintage-inspired appliances...the rustic country chic aesthetic is having a major moment. But this trend isn't just about looking good on Instagram – it's about creating a kitchen with those copper accents
A blog with a little seasonal home-making, crafting, thrifting, gardening, and flowers on practically everything.
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Farmhouse sinks, exposed brick, vintage-inspired appliances...the rustic country chic aesthetic is having a major moment. But this trend isn't just about looking good on Instagram – it's about creating a kitchen with those copper accents
SchindlerIldi Na, de miért is szeretjük a nagyi konyháját? -
Introducing my Grandma's Kitchen Watercolor Clipart Bundle, the perfect addition to your fun and creative collection! At an affordable price, this bundle is a practical investment for anyone looking to add more fun and creativity to their projects and everyday life. Use this bundle collection of Grandma's Kitchen watercolor illustrations to create beautiful personal projects or unique gifts. The pack includes all the illustrations you can see at the listing images. Perfect for digital crafting and paper craft, be it for journaling, scrapbooking, wall art, coasters, mugs, invitations, greeting cards, planners or anything you can think of. May your creativity be your only limit! *The bundle includes a total of 10 individual watercolor illustrations, providing you with many, many creative possibilities. *Sizes are 10 x 10 inches or 25.4 x 25.4 centimeters. *All files are high-resolution 300 dpi, perfect for printing to ensure your final products will be the best possible quality. *The files come in JPEG format with a fully colored background, so please be aware that they are not transparent. *Please note that this listing is not a physical product that will be delivered to your address.* *The watermarks will not be on the purchased illustrations. My watercolor clipart bundles are an instant download, allowing you to start using it immediately. You can access your purchased collection at any time from your Etsy profile and download it unlimited times without any worries. *Sizing* All my bundles come in a single size, but they can easily be resized to meet your specific needs. If you prefer a different size, you can easily resize the images yourself or at a printing service. Please note that I do not take size change requests. Please note that currently I am unable to offer larger sizes than what is provided in the purchase. The highest quality of the image is guaranteed for the size offered. However, please be aware that if you decide to print it in a larger size, I cannot guarantee the same level of quality and cannot take responsibility for it. *Printing* Kindly note that the colors may slightly vary depending on your monitor settings, as well as the printer and paper used during the printing of the images. For the best results, I only recommend having the files printed at a professional printing service or shop. Home printers cannot produce high quality results due to their limited color range and the quality of the paper used. *Requests* Thank you for considering my digital downloads to work with. To ensure the best possible product and experience for all customers, I kindly ask that any color changes or alterations to the images are requested before purchase only. I will not be able to accept any request after the purchase has been made and refunds cannot be given because of that. I'm happy to discuss any custom requests and will do my best to accommodate them. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. *Commercial Use and Angel Policy* All of my bundles come with free commercial license which allows you to use the images for personal projects as well as for products that you sell. You may modify or alter the images to suit your needs. However, please note that you are not allowed to resell the unmodified digital files. You may only sell finished physical products, and the use of the images for art prints or posters and selling on Print on Demand (POD) sites is also not allowed, as these are not covered under the commercial license or angel policy. Likewise you are not given permission to share, forward or redistribute the images. I appreciate your understanding of the proper use of these images. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. **Downloading your items** If you didn't receive a download notification email, please check your spam or junk folder, as well as your Social and Promotions tabs if you use Gmail. If you still can't find it, don't worry. You can access your purchased digital items anytime from your Etsy account, and download them as many times as you need. This way, you'll always have your collections at hand and will never lose them. To locate your digital purchases in your account, follow these steps: Sign in to Etsy.com and go to Your account. From the drop-down menu, select Purchases and reviews. Look for the order that contains the items you want to download, and click on Download Files. Your ordered items will be listed there, and you can download them by clicking on the button on the right side. Please note that if your payment is still processing, the Download Files button will be grayed out. If you're using the Etsy app, unfortunately, downloading digital files isn't possible at the moment. Instead, please use the download link that you'll receive in the email sent to the address associated with your Etsy profile. If you encounter any issues with downloading, please feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to help you with any download related problems. *Why my images are JPEG and not PNG* All of my images come as full colored background JPEGs as almost all of my works are watercolor style. Because of that, I do not offer transparent PNG files. When the background is removed, parts of the images that are too close to white become transparent too, losing delicate details. For example, the creamy color of a cute animal's fur may have transparent parts when the background is removed, so when placed on a new, different colored background, the new background color will be visible and look out of place. Which is why I have decided, for now, to keep the backgrounds colored and give you the option of removing them if you choose to. There are many online solutions that can remove backgrounds simply and for free. *Because my products are instant download and per Etsy's policy, refunds cannot be provided and exchanges for a different item will not be accepted after purchase. Please be assured that what you will receive will be as described and shown in the listing. If you experience any difficulties, do not hesitate to contact me, I will do my best to address any issues you may have. *** *Thank you for visiting my shop and taking a look at my items* Your support for my small business is really appreciated! With your help I can make my dream come true. Please check out other unique and creative digital designs I offer: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Liededrom If you didn't find something you love today, please keep checking back as I'm constantly adding many new different bundles for your creative passions. If you have any questions or requests for items that you would like to see added to my store, please feel free to contact me through Etsy messages. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Hope you have a lovely day! erzebeth, Owner and creator at Liededrom~
Farmhouse sinks, exposed brick, vintage-inspired appliances...the rustic country chic aesthetic is having a major moment. But this trend isn't just about looking good on Instagram – it's about creating a kitchen with those copper accents
nyc. urban life. b&w. cars. stars. art. decor. desert landscape. old motel. abandoned places. 1800s @ 1970s Disclaimer: I don't own any of these images and totally remain the property of their owners. I've posted them for entertainment purposes only. If your work is on here and you want it...
'America's first nostalgic guesthouse' is a trip back to the good old days. You can sprawl in front of the console TV, rediscover why folks call it 'dialing'...
Back when I started this blog my header said "Creating Our Little English Cottage" Amongst The Oaks. And I did sort of tell how we remodeled this house into a cottage, but then I started drifting and wandering and experimenting and sharing all kinds of different things. So I was compelled to change that line to "Our Little English Cottage" Amongst The Oaks. Which of course worked fine but I still harbor the idea of creating a truly English style home; thick walls, casement windows, simple finishes, lots of clutter, nestled in a garden. Well folks, my latest issue of Cottages & Bungalows has shown me the way. See at the top where it says Eco Beauty? That's it! My new house. And we can make it ourselves! All we need is bales of rice straw and plaster. Not only is it energy efficient, it's gorgeous too! I really like the way the house snuggles in the garden and under the wisteria. Doesn't it look terribly English? Deep window recesses, simple white walls, lots of clutter. It could be a little cob cottage in England, couldn't it? I think I'm in love with this idea. Does anyone know where I can buy 1000 bales of straw?
Farmhouse sinks, exposed brick, vintage-inspired appliances...the rustic country chic aesthetic is having a major moment. But this trend isn't just about looking good on Instagram – it's about creating a kitchen with those copper accents
All those little fruits over her fridge.
Christmas in grandma’s kitchen – simple Christmas ideas and vintage decorations that bring memories What beautiful memories from Christmas in our village this phrase evokes in us. Grandma’s kitchen still…
Explore the vintage cottage's 522 photos on Flickr!
Hello friends! I thought I'd share a few pictures of Spring decor around our home that I've captured over the last few weeks. We've been doing some cleaning both inside and outside our home as we prepare for the warmer months. The last couple of years I have enjoyed planting spring bulbs in planters to enjoy inside our home to get a jumpstart on the season. They really do bring that spring feel and scent into the house. I planted some pansies in the window box outside the kitchen windows and they add so much to both the inside and outside. They will probably only last about a month or so but I will begin to trade them out for geraniums as the weather warms up. I found the vintage paint-by-numbers with a yellow covered bridge a couple of months ago and knew it would be perfect in our spring/summer kitchen. I also brought out this colorful runner for the season. We added some DIY panels made from a block print fabric in our dining room. Up in our primary bathroom and bedroom I added in lots of color too. Can you believe it's been 10 years since we finished this bathroom? I think many of the choices we made have stood the test of time and held up really well. Finally, a Dax smile to thank you for stopping by our home today for a visit. Happy Spring!
Martina Casonato’s top renovation goal was to recreate an Italian grandma’s kitchen in her 120 year old London home.
The right kitchen gadgets enable you to cook healthy foods with less time and effort. Ariane Resnick, a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author, rounded up the best tools and equipment on the market, including the best air fryer and food processor.
Visit my store to see items like this and more! https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePewterPig?ref=seller-platform-mcnav Celebrate Grandmas everywhere with this 'Grandma's Kitchen Where Memories Are Made And Grandchildren Are Spoiled' design. The design is heat transferred onto a 26x26 100% ring spun cotton flour sack towel using premium black vinyl. A perfect gift for any occasion! There may be slight variations due to the custom nature of the product. Care instructions: Wash with cold/warm water Mild detergent Normal dry setting No bleach May be ironed, however avoid design/or cover the design to protect (I remove mine promptly from the dryer to avoid ironing) Questions? No problem! Just drop me a line and I'll be happy to help any way I can. Custom orders welcome!
I hope you enjoy your visit here. Your welcome re post from me, but dont put links on pictures I post and dont copy and re-post them.I report and block all PORN and NUDITY. I dont follow blank blogs or blogs I just dont have anything in common with. NOT a Trump supporter! If you are fine give me the...
I hope this makes you smile. . . .as it did me. . . .After several days of farm chores. . . .weeding flower beds. . . .and preparing home cooked meals in between. . . .I'm beginning to look LIKE her. . . .A little mussy. . . .wearing an everyday cotton work dress. . . .hair tied up in a scarf. . . .tools of the trade in my pockets. . . .I'm prepared for anything. I'm taking a 'break' this morning to make Farmer John a chocolate cake. I intended to whip up the vintage recipe below. . . .I've never used Karo Syrup in icings . . . . Thought I might give it a try. . . .This one looked scrumptious. . . .and I liked the No Cook part of it. It reads: "Fluffy Marshmallow Frosting Without Cooking" It's so easy you'll top all your cakes with this good-looking icing. You whip it up in a bowl in a few minutes. Gives you lots and lots of smooth frosting. . peaks up high and handsome. It's never grainy. . .thanks to Karo Syrup. Try this 'no-cook' magic on your next cake--and tell your friends. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to 2 egg whites. Beat until frothy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, gradually beating until smooth and glossy. Slowly add 3/4 cup Karo Syrup (Red or Blue label) and continue beating until frosting stands in firm peaks. Fold in 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. For any tinted frosting, use Karo Syrup Red Label. Flavor varieties: Add 2 tablespoons cocoa; or 1 tablespoon grated orange or lemon rind; or sprinkle with 1 cup shredded coconut." I was a little hesitant to make the icing because of the egg whites, so I searched the net and found this on E-How: "The best way to prevent this (Salmonella poisoning) is to use pasteurized egg whites that can be purchased ready-to-pour in a bottle, as opposed to using fresh egg whites that you crack open yourself. Pasteurized eggs or egg whites sold in the refrigerator section of the supermarket have already been completely heated, so any bacteria inside was killed. These are safe to use in raw mixtures, such as frosting. Good to know. . . .Maybe a cream cheese icing for now? I do plan to whip up the Fluffy Marshmallow Frosting one day. . . .I love trying vintage recipes. . . .and the addition of coconut makes me think of Grandmother's coconut cake. . . .Her icing was different from the ones I use. . . .Wonder if Karo Syrup was her secret? One more 'mint green' thought. . . .(Did you notice the theme?) Coming in mid-May, my post A White House Cookbook of My Own will be featured in the online Summer issue of Ewenique Treasures Magazine! Hello my name is Gen, I publish a free online magazine that features bloggers such as yourself who contribute recipes, decor, crafts etc. I'd love to feature your post Covering a White House Cookbook and your blog in the upcoming Summer Issue The book cover of this vintage cookbook was pretty beat up, so I used a vintage kitchen towel to cover it. . . .The doilies are bookmarks. . . . There's a semi-tutorial with the post. . . .A simple thing. . . .and quickly done. Thanks to Gen for including me in her up-coming Summer issue! I must get back to work. . . .I'm loving the sunshine and being outdoors. . . . which makes gardening all the more sweeter. . . . Once I ice the cake, I'm off to soak up more rays! . . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .
Recently I came across a poem that has hung in many kitchens in the past generation. It reminded me again of the importance of making the kitchen the center of the home with each meal prepared as a service to my family and to those who grace our table. It makes me feel nostalgic and sentimental to reflect on the days when the kitchen truly was the epicentre or heart of the home and the dining table was where great conversations happened over a hearty meal. It was a time of coming together, sharing the events of the day, and offering encouragement to one another around a comforting and nourishing meal. Life has gotten so busy for many families, including our own. I think that is why I cherish the Christmas season so much. It is such a joy to be gathered around the table with family and friends, making me so grateful for those special times. It is my renewed desire to make each meal a pleasant event around our dining table as I create special memories for my family and for all those who grace us with their presence at our table. God bless my little kitchen, I love its every nook, And bless me as I do my work, Wash pots and pans and cook. And may the meals that I prepare Be seasoned from above With Thy great blessings and Thy grace, But most of all Thy love. As we partake of earthly food, The table before us spread, We’ll not forget to thank Thee, Lord, Who gives us daily bread. So bless my little kitchen, God, And those who enter in, May they find naught but Joy and Peace, And Happiness therein. Author: M. Peterson (1944) I have mentioned Gladys before in a blog post recently as I admire her gentle reflections and astute observations of the world around her. Gladys Taber (1899-1980) is the author of 59 books and was also a columnist for the Ladies Home Journal entitled, Diary of Domesticity. She is a kindred spirit in her love of country life, nature, good home-cooked meals and being a keeper of the home. You can take a visit to Stillmeadow here “Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came back in time to light the candles and set the table for supper. I cannot conceivably influence the world's destiny, but I can make my own life more worthwhile. I can give some help to some people; that is not vital to all the world's problems and yet I think if everyone did just that, we might see quite a world in our time!” "At Stillmeadow, there is no predicting. (the time of our meal) But in the end, we always manage to sit down to a candle-lit table and the rib roast is not overdone and the Yorkshire pudding is crusty and tender with rich juices bubbling at the edges and the salad is not wilted. I even have remembered to take the cheese from the refrigerator so it has become room temperature, and I did not park the fruit bowl on the radiator! When everyone takes that first mouthful and breathes a happy sigh, that is the time I relax and become the gracious hostess. My hair may not look like a Vogue illustration and my face is shiny and I never did find time to slip into that fresh frock, but I am a very happy woman." ~Gladys Taber The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest. ~Thomas More No matter where I serve my my guests, It seems they like the kitchen best. Bless this Home Ella Miller Bless this home, O Lord, we pray Guard it safely night and day, Bless the family living here Bind them close with love and cheer. Bless the food which is prepared And each guest with whom it's shared. Bless the children through the years Guide them in their joys and tears. Bless the Mother - tender, kind And the Father by her side Bless their pure and faithful love Making home like Heaven above. Bless this home, O Lord, we pray Where we live and walk and play, Bless us all that ever we May live O gracious Lord, with Thee.
Blog sobre decoração, arquitetura, artesanato, paisagismo.
Local real estate news, home and garden resource, and insights from the best interior designers and home builders in Dallas.
Blog sobre decoração, arquitetura, artesanato, paisagismo.
From decorating cakes to hacking your way to a clean kitchen- these super simple kitchen hacks are a busy cook's lifesaver!
The sunlight shimmers through the Lemon Verbena Lady's gorgeous herbal jellies. An unexpected gift we received this week. BEFORE-Not our style, though the tile is great. The old plastic cupboards were falling apart. I don't want to see microwaves, etc. out in the open. I love open shelves, not closed shelving. AFTER-Open shelving, an overhead vent (instead of through the floor), antique lighting, old sink, and our beloved stove, Abigail, named for my plump Grandmother Lovejoy. BEFORE-A small sink complete with a garbage disposal, which we NEVER use. We believe that kitchen garbage is worth its weight in gold. It all goes into a bucket under our sink and is dumped into the worm bin daily. We donated all the cupboards to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, all the tiles were set into the stonework of our new outdoor dining room. No waste! Nope, no garbage disposal. The worm bucket. The old kitchen had very little storage. With slide out drawers and the use of a lazy susan, we were able to double the capacity. BEFORE-A wall that took more turns than a country road. An oven installed next to the refrigerator, which was, perhaps, the noisiest fridge in the world. It conked out on us. To the left is the laundry area and far left, the one and only pantry. AFTER-Slide out shelving in the pantry. AFTER-I actually have a place to store things. I really only keep what I use; other things that aren't often used were donated to Hospice. AFTER-ugh, I can't stand to see appliances. These cupboards are all fitted with electric plugs so everything can be plugged in and used in place. AFTER-What was once a crooked wall is now all the same depth, the cupboards are simple, and there is room at the top of the cupboards (thank you, Jeff) for some of my big wooden bowls. Did I want a stainless steel refrigerator. NO WAY, but this Liebherr is the greenest one imaginable. Even the way they are manufactured is considered the greenest in the industry. Very low watt usage. Good food storage, but I wish I had an old one, or maybe the Northstar that looks old. AFTER-I now have two drawers for storing my Grandmother's iron skillets, dutch ovens, and cornbread molds. BEFORE-Storage in the protruding wall, a dropped ceiling with can lights. AFTER-Protruding storage removed, bookcases installed (great windowsills for plants here), and floor patched and repaired. Antique cupboard for kitchen linens, and just because I love it. BEFORE-Floor vented cook top, tile counters, no storage under stove because of vents. AFTER-Make way for Abigail! Maple countertops with breadboard ends, and I love the little cutting board niche that Jeff designed. AFTER-Two Fisher-Paykel dishwashers are under the sink apron. One on each side. The light above the sink is from Maine. AFTER-Almost finished. I love the repaired and refinished wooden floors, the warm and welcoming work-family table in the center, and my old miner's coat rack from Pennsylvania, which holds my copper pots and pans. And my favorite thing in the kitchen? These two recipes for "Heavenly Pie" hand written by my two beloved grandmothers. See Grandma's pie crimper? Forgive me for posting such a long entry, but I am answering dozens of questions that we've been asked these past few months. Now you can see what we've been up to. We hired a cabinet maker to do the fine work on the cabinets, but when it came to elbow grease and willing learners, well it was us. We're so happy to have it within a feather of being finished. Sending love and thanks to all of you who have written and who have sent notes about the Country Gardens article in the early spring issue. Followers, this is your last week to sign in for the give-away, which will happen next Saturday. Love to all of you. Now dig in and start working on your dream kitchen. The elbow grease really makes it affordable, as does shopping in salvage yards, the ReStore, and antique shops. Such an adventure. Sharon Now a word from Jeff Let me explain why it has taken so long to complete our kitchen. If we ordered new appliances and fixtures, we could have finished in less than a calendar year. You have to remember that we spend at least five months a year in Maine, so our California year is only seven months less any traveling we have to do. When we bought this house, we knew we needed to remodel the 1980’s kitchen and return it to its original 1930’s time period. We’re willing to wait until we find what we want. What we wanted in our “new” kitchen was a farm sink with high back splash, open shelving, lots of pantry space, a niche for our huge antique wooden bowls, bookcases for cookbooks, room for an old farm table in the center of the kitchen, and an old stove. First we had to find an old stove and a sink, the heatbeat of our kitchen. In the meantime, the dated appliances that came in the house started to poop out one by one–first the dishwasher, then the cook top (we were down to one burner that worked). The refrigerator, whose only saving grace was that it was so loud you couldn’t hear traffic outside, conked out too. I’m sure being installed next to the built-in oven (yes, a refrig next to an oven) accelerated its demise. Every time we used the oven the refrigerator compressor was called into action. We found a double drainboard farm sink at Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley. It arrived in the salvage yard the afternoon we were leaving the San Francisco Food Show. So, we detoured to Berkeley to look at it and decided to buy and store it until we were ready for installation. The monster sink took up most of our small garage. We located a man who resurfaces old bathtubs and sinks, and he spent a couple of days restoring the finish. He didn’t do a good job and right now I am learning how to refinish it myself. When the cook top retired, we were luckily enough to find a 1950, six burner O’Keefe and Merritt with double ovens and broilers in a Paso Robles antique shop, only 35 miles away. The 42 inch wide stove got stuck half way through the doorway. I had to get out my trusty Sawsall and cut a four inch section out of an interior wall so I could move the oven into the house. Once we had the pieces assembled, we demolished the inside of the kitchen and started the remodel. We filled voids in the floor before we had it refinished and I patched the walls and ceiling where I removed laundry and storage closets and a dropped soffit in the corner. I designed the cabinets to hide countertop appliances (Sharon can’t stand to see these modern conveniences) and to have adjustable shelving to suit our needs for in-cabinet workspaces for the Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, and Vita Mix. Form follows function without compromising aesthetics. This year we found the hanging light at Let There Be Light in Stillwater, Wisconsin, and installed it. Once we determined the lighting pattern, we decided on the location for a wall hung light Sharon bought over a year ago at Trifles Antiques in Bath, Maine. Then, I pulled out the canned lights, removed the speakers in the ceiling, and patched everything with drywall and mud. A few finishing touches and it should be complete...complete? Sharon will find more chores for me, I’m sure. And I love doing this creative work. Jeff
If I'm going to be doing some things like my ancestors did the first thing I need is an apron. I had a few aprons hanging around my house but they were totally falling apart.
Serve up these springy dishes for a tasty dose of nostalgia!
Join Grandma Jean in making salmon croquettes. They are simply delicious any time of year. #cooking #homemadefood #comfortfood #gnomeandbackyard...
I made this cake for our desert. It is about the 5th time I have made it... we LOVE it! It is a recipe that was popular during the great depression because it is milk and egg free!!! Also a great recipe for those with egg or milk allergies. It mixes up quick and it is soooo moist and yummy it doesn't need a frosting! My chickens are still on their winter "vacation" so I am forced to buy my eggs again... wow has the price of eggs gone up (from about 2 years ago when I last bought eggs)! As we all know the price of milk hasn't been going down... this recipe fits the bill for me!! Enjoy! (The great depression era) Spice Cake 3 cups flour 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 2 cups cold water 1/2 cup canola oil 2 TBL white vinegar 2 tsp vanilla Directions: 1) In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, soda, salt and Spices. 2) In a separate mixing bowl mix together the remaining ingredients. 3) Stir the water mixture in with the flour mixture till smooth. (I use my whisk) The batter will be thin. Pour into a GREASED 9*13 baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack! Enjoy!! You might find it odd that this recipe calls for vinegar! I did...until my Mom explained to me the purpose of the vinegar. Combined with Baking soda it is what makes the cake rise. You will notice that when you pour the water mixture in with the flour mixture it will bubble.... just remember those volcano science fair projects! It is 5 o'clock.... What is for supper??? To end this daily stress join me at www.simplefamilysupper.com
Hello! My name is Ellie, and I live with my husband in a small rented duplex in Lincoln, Nebraska. This month will mark just our second year of marriage - and even though we are many years away from owning a house of our own, I'm so thankful for the cozy little home that we have. Please come in! The livingroom is my favorite spot in the house. I love rustic french country style, and that's the look I went for in the livingroom, with lots of drapey linen curtains, antique textiles, a casual white slipcover on the sofa, and worn, rustic wood. The livingroom has a mostly neutral palette, but gets a touch of color from vintage blue ticking feather pillows and antique european grain sacks... a few of my favorite things! With the huge west-facing picture window, the livingroom turns into a bright, warm sunroom in the afternoon. A television is not usually something you see featured on design blogs, but let's face it - if you watch TV and don't have a nice big cabinet to hide it in, it becomes part of the decor. I hung a big antique mirror directly behind the TV to reflect light from the opposite window, and help take the focus off of the big black screen, and draw your eye to the rest of the wall. The chunky antique wood TV table also offers an unexpected place to display one of my many vintage collections - metal flower frogs. I know it's not a room, but my white ironstone collection deserves it's own stop on the tour! I started with one small chipped platter that I found at an antique mall for $1.50, and I've been collecting ever since. I love the simple lines and the warm, rustic patina that old ironstone gets. I love pieces with lots of crazing and discoloration... the darker and more beat up the better (and usually cheaper). Most pieces I've found have been under $10. My favorite pitcher... just 50 cents at a flea market. Needless to say, the collection is constantly growing! Old mirrors are another of my favorite things to decorate with. I don't usually like a lot of artwork or framed photos on my walls, but I love mirrors. This shabby white full-length mirror in my entryway is one of my favorites. Without a designated room to use as a home office, I tucked a chippy white desk behind the couch in the livingroom, and used a stack of rustic wooden boxes to hide mail, cords, computer accessories, and other clutter. Instant home office! The office is conveniently right next to the library. Ok, ok, we don't actually have a library, either :) But with sooooo many books, there will always be at least a library wall in our home. The dining nook also shares space with the main living space, and is just off of the kitchen. We switched out a dated light fixture for a small, sparkly chandelier from Ikea when we moved in. It was a quick and inexpensive change that made SUCH a difference - and we get to take it with us when we leave! I'm a sucker for pretty dishes! The small galley-style kitchen is certainly not high tech, but it's full of character and reminds me of an old farmhouse kitchen. I love the simple painted cabinets. While there's nothing all that special about them, I like that they are rustic and primitive - nothing too fancy or modern. The landlord let me repaint them when we moved in, so I used a rich greenish golden paint from Olde Century Colors called "Thistle", which is a great complement to my collection of antique yellowware. A small antique drop leaf table and a tall free-standing cupboard provide extra prep space and pantry storage, and make the kitchen feel lived in and comfortable. Yellowware is another collection where I love to find imperfect pieces. Most of my bowls have chips and cracks, which means they were all affordable - so I can have a whole mass of them, rather than one perfect, valuable example. A huge antique lidded wicker basket neatly hides the kitchen trash can, while keeping it right out where I need it. A fancy antique mirror above the sink adds a touch of elegance to the rustic room... and makes me feel like I have a window to look out of while I'm doing dishes. The bedroom is the only room with hardwood floors, which I absolutely love. They are so pretty that it makes resisting the urge to wildly rip up the carpet in the living and dining room nearly impossible. But I've been good so far :) The rustic wood bedside table was a $10 flea market find. I love the curvy shape of the top and the dark primitive touch that it brings to the soft and bright bedroom. Just like the livingroom, the bedroom gets almost all of its color from fabrics. A few pillows and a graphic red and white antique quilt at the foot of the bed is the perfect amount of red for me. Remember what I said earlier about having a lot of books? The same goes for magazines! I love picking up past issues of decorating magazines at antique malls, garage sales, and thrift shops. A collection of baskets, including this antique basket from Maine that I bought on our honeymoon, sits on top of the short primitive antique magazine rack. The chippy white dresser in the corner also serves as my make-up vanity. The bathroom is tucked in the hallway between the living area and the bedroom. There are a total of 4 doors in this itty-bitty space, so painting the doors and trim all a soft buttermilk color (instead of the original strawberry-blond stain) makes the busy hallway look pretty and peaceful. That's it! The house is small, but it's just perfect for the two of us. I work from home, running my handmade soap business and online antique shop, so I have my workspace set up in the basement where I can make as much of a "creative mess" as I need to, and then close the door on it at the end of the day. My work space is still a work in progress... I'll share pictures of it in the future! Thanks so much for visiting! It's been a pleasure to share my home with you. The next stop on the "Parade of Homes" is Organizing Made Fun. Enjoy! The Parade of Homes continues throughout the week, so keep following the links at the end of each blog post to lead you to the next house. Want to start at the beginning? Click the button below to head to A Bowl Full of Lemons and start the tour from House #1.
