It's been fun pulling the guest room together and it's finally finished!

I wanted this room to feel warm and cozy with colonial farmhouse touches.  I also wanted to furnish it by shopping the house; spending as little as possible by using what I already have and hoping it comes together well.

I didn't paint the room or purchase curtains.  The walls were already a pale yellow with red drapes hanging, so that was my starting point; bright walls and curtains in my favorite color...red!

Hoot! Hoot! He's So Cute in the Keeping Room

My Hydrangea Morning was productive and the cuttings are drying nicely.

I was so glad to have the hydrangea cut and in containers of water for the drying process

but I also wanted to place some around the house to enjoy while they are drying.

I found the perfect vase for just that
and
hoot-hoot...he's so cute!

A Little Summer Pizazz

There wasn't enough red in this room!

No really, my mission wasn't to add more red in the keeping room, even though red is my favorite color.  I just thought it would be nice to have a little color in front of the fireplace opening and that's when something in my stash came to mind.  So in came more red.

There was another change too.
This small table was between the two red chairs in the keeping room, but no more.

Little to No Cost Spring Decorating ~ A Southern Magnolia and Clematis Centerpiece

I've been wanting to change the centerpiece in the keeping room
and with the white clematis in bloom and plenty of southern magnolia leaves to gather,

my plan was to bring some outdoors in for this centerpiece.

There was one little problem, rain!

It's been raining and raining and according to the weather forecast it's going to continue through Friday.  I didn't want to wait that long, so with an umbrella in one hand and my pruners in the other, I headed outside.

Spring Vignette in the Keeping Room

Spring is like a welcomed breath of fresh air!

The sun is shining,

temperatures are warm,

birds are singing and building their nests,

trees are bursting with new green leaves,

and flowers are blooming.

I do love spring!

I've gathered a few things for a spring vignette in the keeping room, like this Haviland France Limoges tea cup with its delicate rose pattern, the perfect resting place for a bird and its nest.

Spring Kitchen Island

It's bright and cheerful in the kitchen.

Since adding spring touches to the mantel in the keeping room, more have been added in the kitchen.

On the island I've used gifts from friends, the bunny a gift from one and the tray a gift from another.

Decorating with Collections ~ One Thing Leads to Another

It is true.
We decorate our homes with pieces that speak to us.

It was a bit of a surprise, discovering a collection of pups while straightening up some cupboards.
A fun surprise while doing early spring cleaning,
finding one here and another there,
to realize I had a collection of pups of many different types and styles.

Pieces found over time,
not intentional,
they had spoken to me and is how this collection came to be.

With my new found collection, I decided to use some of them.

The Staffordshire pitcher was added to the table by the couch here.

One thing always leads to another.
I brought this pothos plant in from the kitchen, moving it to the marble top table in the great room.
I love the vivid green in this blue and white transferware pitcher,
something bright and cheerful on these dreary days of winter.

Staffordshire Pup Pitcher ~ Changes in the Great Room

I've been straightening up some cupboards, early spring cleaning I guess you could say.
That's when I realized a number of pups that I have collected over time,
so I decided to change things up in the great room.

One of the pups I came across was this Staffordshire pitcher

and that's when all the changes started.

Another Thrifty Find for the Guest Room

Yesterday, I shared about my new find for the guest room.

While we were at the antique shop getting this...

There was a little something else that caught my eye,

another thrifty find for the guest room.

This old brass chamberstick with candle push up...

Some folks say brass is out of fashion, but not me.

Love brass and especially fond of the push up...

How about you, found any good finds lately and do you like brass?

You can see more here...New Find for the Guest Room.  

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New Find for the Guest Room

I have a thing for lamps, especially antique marble lamps and I always keep an eye out for them, but they are usually too pricey.  Not this time!

While on the way to Florida to visit family for Easter, Mr. Heart and I stopped in one of our favorite antique shops and there she was.

I remember seeing her last year when visiting this shop, but she was too pricey.  This time when I went to check the price the tag was so faded we couldn't read it.

So I asked the shop owner, "Can you please tell me how much for the marble lamp in the back room?  The tag is too faded to read."

So she headed to the back room with me and putting her glasses on so she could get a closer look, as she was peering in at the price tag I said,
"You know that faded tag is a sign.  It's a sign this lamp has been here to long and it's time to sell her!" (giggle, giggle)  And she agreed!

Here she is...

I don't believe I've ever shown you this upstairs guest room before.

The wall color was chosen back when this was my daughter's bedroom which was a l-o-n-g time ago.

And through the years this room has become the landing spot for pieces of furniture that used to be in other places in the house that ended up in here.  Do you have a room like this, a catch-all room?

The details with the deep gray veining and intricate carvings

are so pretty, don't you think?

Do you like her?

Check out my other marble lamp find here 
and
"Little Lamp Love" here.

Thanks so much for coming by, please leave a comment so I'll know you did!


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FALL COLORS IN THE DINING ROOM

I've been wanting to add a little Fall color to the dining room,

so I gathered a few dried hydrangea blooms and mahogany pods, things I have on hand.

Thinking they would look nice with a bit of shine,

I placed them in a silver pitcher

on a mirrored stand.

I have a thing for the popcorn plant.

It is a staple in Charleston flower arrangements, but is very hard to find.  

Every time we are in SC I search for them, and a while back came upon a few bunches, so I quickly placed them in my buggy.  I was excited to have finally found some.

Thinking the bright white and gold tones would add a nice touch, a bunch was added at the base of the pitcher.

This is Bella, she's a blue point Himalayan and most days this is where you'll find her.

I think I'm bothering her because she just keeps staring at me, bet she is thinking...

"Please go away so I can get back to my nap!"

It is getting dark too early these days, which doesn't make for easy picture taking...

A little Fall color in the dining room, this will do for now!

So sweet friend, what have you been up to?

Blessings,

Cindy

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JOSS and MAIN CHAIRS and A FALL CANDLE TRIO

The house is slowly getting back in order,

and even though they are not in their intended space, and won't be for a while, I am really liking our new chairs from Joss & Main!

These Lovell parsons chairs are slipcovered with button backs.  

They are a little shabby and bit tailored too,  which is just the look I was hoping for.

Now that the chairs are paired with the glass top table,

I decided to do a little Fall candle trio...

The deep wood tones and lines of the Lambard arm chairs,

with cream color fabric finished with nailhead trim,

are the perfect compliment to the parsons chairs.

I was nervous purchasing two different types of chairs, from two different manufacturers.

How could I be sure they would be the right size, and would the fabrics would work well together?

It was a little bit of a risk for me and I'm not usually a risk taker...

I prefer to sit in a chair prior to purchasing it, to be sure it is comfortable and "fits".  Not only fits the space, but also is comfortable for the person sitting in it.

Some TIPS on CHOOSING chairs...

It really can be tricky purchasing chairs online, because in most cases the dimensions given are for the "over all" chair size; Dimensions: 42" H x 27" W x 31" D

This measurement allows you to be sure the chair will fit your "space", but that doesn't mean it will be a comfortable chair for the person you are buying it for.  Make sense?

The chair needs to fit the person...

source

To be sure the chair will be comfortable to sit in you'll need these dimensions...

• Seating Area : 21" wide × 21" deep
• Seat Back: 19" high
• Seat Height (floor to top of cushion): 19" high
• Arm Height: 21" high

The seating area dimensions allow you to know if the chair is the right width, plenty of room for your hips. You wouldn't want your hips to be smushed, now would you?

And the seat depth is important to be sure the cushion ends at the back of the knee.  If the seat is too deep you wouldn't be able to bend your knees, so your legs will be sticking straight out in front of you.  Comfy?

The seat back is important because you may want a high back chair so you can rest your head against the back.  Or, you may need a low back chair because you don't want a high back interrupting the flow of the room.

The seat height is real important because if it is too high your legs will be dangling...like they did back when you were in kindergarten...ha!

And who wants to sit in a chair with real low arms or arms that are too high?

source

Yep, it can be tricky when ordering chairs online, especially when there is a no return policy

which is the case when purchasing from Joss & Main.  Scary!

I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive when placing my order,

but am happy to say that we are very pleased with our new chairs from Joss & Main!

Here's a closer look at my fall candle trio.

It is very simple,

with an Autumn colored table runner,

some candles,

small pumpkins, beans, and acorns...

Hope you'll hop on over, the parties started...AMAZE ME MONDAY!

Blessings,

Cindy

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