Fall Mantel 2015

Delicious Autumn!  

My very soul is wedded to it and if I were a bird, 

I would fly about the Earth 

seeking the successive Autumns.

-George Eliot

I love that quote as it pretty much

sums up how much I love Fall!

♥♥♥

It's about time I shared this year's mantel with you....

I put together a rather simple mantel this year.

I made the hydrangea wreath myself.

I bought a burlap covered straw wreath at Joanns.

Then I just glued some pretty fall colored hydrangeas to it,

as well as some leaves here and there.  I topped it off with a simple

bow and that was it...very simple & very quick!

I scattered some pine cones around.

I couldn't resist & added a strand of lights.

I have to say, now that it's getting dark earlier in the evening,

I do enjoy watching TV with the lights lit.

It adds such a warm glow to the mantel and the living room.

I filled a pretty basket with some fall goodies

to add a little something extra to the hearth.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my mantel today.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

 

Fall Decorating Begins....The Dining Room Hutch

Strange things are afoot here in New York.

Last I checked, the calendar did say it was September...am I right?

Well, we've been enjoying (and I use that term loosely)
temperatures in the 90s with high humidity.
Unbearable humidity.

This is technically weather we might experience in July, 

seldom in August, never in September.

We've been enjoying the pool, which is unheard of in September

  (unless maybe you have a heated pool). 

Most pools in this area are long ready to be winterized 

by the time Labor Day hits.  Oftentimes, our pool 

gets little use in August even because August can 

be such a sketchy month.  But here it is, September,  

and Summer is holding on.

Like I said, strange things are afoot here in New York.

Ok, now that I'm off that soapbox...

the house has been decorated for Fall, 

despite this unseasonable weather we're having.

Today I'm going to show you the dining room hutch.

I have to admire all the subtle fall touches that 

I've seen in blogland. They are really very lovely!

Unfortunately, you won't see them here.

I just don't think I'm a "subtle fall girl."  

I'm more of  a "bring on the warm, rich, beautiful colors of fall, 

in your face kind of girl."

Here goes:

I just pulled everything together here with

stuff I already had.  Nothing is new.

Well, I did make that little Autumn sign,

so I suppose that could be considered new,

but...

I had everything on hand already to make it,

so it didn't cost me anything, which is

a nice for a change.

So tell me, 

are you a "subtle Fall girl" or a more of an 

"in your face Fall girl"?  

Thank for stopping by today.

Enjoy!

Revealing the Upstairs Bathroom Remodel

Hello friends!

 I have been meaning to share our upstairs bathroom remodel 

with you for a few months now.

 There are quite a few pics, so you might want to grab some coffee, 

or maybe something cold to drink as you browse along.

Let's start with the before pictures, shall we?

Can I just say how much I despised this bathroom?

This bathroom is upstairs

and primarily used by my kids...who are now teenagers.

Before:

I loathe those blue fixtures!

I can't get over my tendency to want to shield my eyes!

Cringe worthy!

During:

The contractors came and gutted the place.

Oh what a mess!

Why such a mess you ask?

This bathroom was obviously added on years after the house

was built in 1933.

The walls were sheet rock...or so we all thought. 

When they got to tearing down the shower wall.....

it was plaster!  

(Just like in the rest of the house.)

Even though this bathroom is upstairs,

that plaster dust covered every single surface of my

house both upstairs & downstairs!

I really could have cried.

Thankfully, things starting looking up quickly.

After:

What an improvement, huh?

I fell in love with this gray wood look tile.

I loved it so much I wanted it used on both the floors...

...and the shower walls.

So much better!

I just need to add a few little accents to 

the walls yet, but other than that, she's all done!

If you're digging this whole before & after thing,

you can see the reveal of my downstairs bathroom

from a few years back by clicking right here.  

Thanks for stopping by today!

Linking to:

Tuesdays @ Our Home at Our Home Away from Home

A Table Rescue

Don't you think it's amazing how quickly this summer is flying by?

I can't believe it's the last week of July already!

Last year, after my new living room furniture was delivered, 

I found I needed a little side table...one that would fit between the couch 

and the radiator.  I knew this would not be an easy find

because the space between is so narrow.

One day, I dragged my poor husband out into the middle of nowhere for

an estate sale.  And there, I found it!  The perfect table!

I know you're probably thinking, 

"This was the perfect table?"

I know, I know, my husband was skeptical as well.

He was also not happy that I paid $20.00.

He thought it too much for something so beat up.

I brought it home, got right to work using

 a little "miracle elixir" which I know

you all know about.  :)

Annie Sloan's Old White chalk paint.

See now?  She's looking pretty good, huh?

I stenciled the top for a little added something.

Exactly what I was looking for!

She really was the perfect table!

Don't you just love it when you rescue something

and transform it from ugly duckling

to beautiful swan?

Have a wonderful day, friends!

 

Summer Mantel 2015 with Beach/Coastal Flair

Hello, hello!

Is there anyone out here?
(I sound like a Pink Floyd song!)

My goodness, I've been lost to blogland for way too long!

But, I'm back and I'm glad of that.

I hope that it has been a great Summer for everyone, so far.

Let's take a look around today...the Mantel & Living Room are set for Summer.

I went a little beachy/coastal in my decor.

I found this postage stamp sign @ Home Goods and fell in love with it!

The rest of the room was decorated around that sign.  

I had to spread the "blue" love around by making some pillows

and adding blue here & there.

The coffee table got a little nautical treatment,

as did the shelves of the entertainment center.

I love this light & airy feel for Summer!

Have an excellent day and stay cool!

Spring Days & Birds are Chirping...finally

I am one of those people

who is never really convinced it's Spring 

until she sees that first robin.

I saw one this past week and

along with it, came Spring!

Finally.

It was such a perfect week, too.

Warmer temperatures & sunny skies...

finally.

Spring is always a busy time for us.

Between end of school year activities,

baseball games & now even

touring colleges on weekends, 

I haven't been around as much as I would like.  

But the birds are chirping

and that makes me sooo happy!

I had a little fun here in the dining room.

I plan to enjoy Spring this year instead of hurrying it along...

even if my calendar is filling up quickly.

I hope you are enjoying Spring to the fullest as well.

Have a great day!

Spring Mantel 2015

Hello friends!

♥♥♥

I would love to share my Spring mantel 

with you today.

Welcome...come take a look...

I kept things very simple.

It all started with this sign that I made a few years ago.

The sign was my spin on a Pottery Barn sign.

You can read about that right here.

I added a couple of cute birds from Joann Fabrics.

I filled two matching white pitchers with yellow Spring blooms.

I find there are never enough white pitchers in my life!

 I used the white lanterns that I purchased at Kirklands 

once again just because they are so versatile and 

really fill in the space of this large mantel easily.

I don't know if you've noticed, but

I've always had an empty space to one side of my fireplace.

Well...

not any more anyway!

I did a little IKEA shopping on Friday.

This wicker chair came home with me, along

with a lot of other goodies!

♥♥♥

Happy Spring to you!