fluffin’ for fall

We have had the most beautiful fall weather. Here in Montana we don’t usually get to enjoy Indian summer weather. Generally we go from hot summer to brief cooler temps right into shoveling snow.  It’s such a gorgeous time of year. I secretly wish it was like this year round.

I’ve had a yucky cold and haven’t felt like doing much but sleep. Today I finally decided to do something productive besides make me a cozy nest on the sofa.

I started cutting back the flowers in the yard, trimming bushes and raking leaves. . . again. . . My old fashion yellow rose bush is putting on a pretty display so I brought some of the colorful branches in to enjoy before they disappear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I brought out the tan and brown tones to compliment the fall colors. I’ve always been drawn to the neutral colors, they go with everything. I’m thinkin those little transfer ware dishes will be on my Thanksgiving dinner table. 

 

 

 

 

I go to great measures to hide outlets and cords. The huge ironstone pitcher, from my mother, does a good job hiding the one that is in the center of this wall.

 

 

 

 

It’s getting to be blanket weather. I scattered a few of my blue ones for a little color. I have to admit blankets have been my best friend the past few days.

 

 

I don’t like to take pictures from this angle because of the wall A/C unit. I haven’t figured out how to hide it (yet) so I guess it is what it is. That’s my shadow, Rossie, sleeping and photo bombing, as always.

 

 

 

 

I finally caved and switched out the display box for this awesome advertising crate. My husband is a welder so I am attracted to anything steel. I found this at a yard sale for a buck. . . it’s been hangin out in the basement holding pillows and blankets, the ones the Grands use for makin forts. . .

 

 

Keeping it simple, I used some collected poppy seed pods and dried pomegranates. The old yellow ware bowl came with the house, it was my husbands Gramma’s.  A gift from my mother in law when we moved in. It’s perfect for displaying fall collections.

 

 

 

 

The area with the A/C is the front porch (AKA the doggie dorm) Their toys, food and water are kept here, due to lack of space anywhere else.

 

 

 

 

The aprons and cow print in this photo came from Christine at 1817farmhouse. She has a sweet picture trail gallery where she sells her goodies, a lot are handmade by the talented Christine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last up is the mantel. Just a little sprig of field cotton and a white punkin’ is all that’s needed.

Real Simple Style

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stoppin by. ~d

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween.

My new treasure

Meet my newest pride and joy. My husband got me a gift certificate to one of my favorite antique shops, The Peddler Station. The first thing I spotted was this cupboard but it was way more than I had to spend. A few years ago I sold an antique candy counter to the shop owner. It came out of a store from her home town. I know she loves to buy and sell so I approached her with a few items I had. Items I loved but not as much as I loved this cupboard. Joy Joy she said yes. . . I ended up paying less than half for this prize.
 

Here it is in its *before* state. . . wonderful bones. . . paint job not so much. . . one of my biggest pet peeves is when people TRY to distress pieces that would be better just left alone.  This had dark wax/stain on top of the blue green paint.

 

 

 

I couldn’t remember when I looked at it if the inside was as horrible as the outside. . . much to my dismay . . .it was.. . Oh well, nothin a little  lot of paint won’t fix. Notice the shine. . . uggg.  I just love the beadboard. One day I hope to turn this room into a dining room. First I have to put a 1/2 bath in the basement, which is where the the living room will be moved to.  Then I will fill this with ironstone.

 

 

I’m hoping I can find the perfect color of brownish~black paint to do the inside. I want something to compliment my ironstone.

 

 

I LOVE this old latch !

 

 

 

Here it is all fixed up. . . I couldn’t be happier. . . I really needed this cupboard. . . really bad. . . I thought I would replace the Woolens display box, I have had it on top of every cupboard I have had in this room. . . but I just like it  too much to not have it on my new favorite piece. What’s not to love, it’s black and white, it has a sheep on it, and it screams textiles.

 

 

The dogs were running a muck. . . welcome to my world of messed up rugs and pillows. . .

 

 

I did switch out the boring round wood knobs. I found these porcelain ones in some of my stuff, I forgot I had them. I was saving them for the perfect piece. . . I think this is it. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

I haven’t painted the inside yet so it’s not ready to show. I’ve had fun playing around with different displays. I cant wait for Christmas. . .! !  Oh the possibilities.

I’ve been fluffing the bedrooms. I will have a story about them soon.

I’m helping a friend redecorate her family room, which is going to be a project. It sure is fun spending someone else’s money. If she will let me, I will share pictures when I’m all done.

 

Have a good weekend. . . I’m spending mine with 2 of my Grands. . . ~d

Bathroom reveal

I know I know. . . I’ve been a bad blogger. It has been a crazy busy summer. Thanks to all of you that poked me to let me know I was missed.

The last few weeks I have been working on my *UGLY* bathroom. It’s the last room to get a face lift. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I just put off tackling the project. When I started there was heavily textured vinyl wall board on all the walls, impossible to clean. The floor was gray linoleum that I took up with a heat gun. I found hardwood underneath, but it was going to entail much more work than I was willing to do.

 

It’s such a small, space, better for remodeling, taking photos, not so much. I have seen larger walk-in closets.

The tiled shower, tongue and groove walls and window trim are all new.(Oops,  I still need to get a plate for the electric box under the cupboard)

 

 

 

 

I took out the vanity, which as way to bulky for the small space but that left me with nowhere to put *stuff*. I have an awesome leaded glass cupboard I really wanted to use here. But after I got it hung (which wasn’t easy) it became obvious it was too big, bummed me out. So I had to resort to this lil cutie. I gave it a fresh coat of paint (Bone Folder by Martha Stewart). It used to have drawers but they were hard to open and I was afraid the cupboard would get pulled out of the wall. So I did what any crafty gal would do. . . I took out the drawers and used the open space for *stuff*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The French soap and ironstone soap dish are from Christine Kuus (1871 farmhouse).

 

 

 

I love to use antique pieces to hide otherwise ugly things we use everyday.

 

 

 

 

I really wanted a wall sink, from the beginning. When I went to buy the new sink, I was afraid the walls wouldn’t hold the weight. So, I bought a pedestal sink. Lucky for me it didn’t work either because of the drain. There was a medicine cabinet, not a cool one, above the sink. It had to go. When I took it out  I was able to check out the walls and discovered they  were concrete and there is evidence there used to be a wall sink there at one point.  So I got my wish. Just meant the plumber had to come back for the 3rd time. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a good thing I have a mirror obsession, I had to shop my house for one that fit just right in this small space. The light is also new. The old one was an oak bar with the bare round bulbs that stared you in the face. . . you know the kind. . . uggh.

I used to keep the shower curtain closed because this was such an eye sore. Now I love what I see. Did you know painters canvas drop cloths make good shower curtains? My mother in law has the original (I think) claw foot tub. I fully intended on using it in here. But when I got the old flooring up I realized they had cut the floor out under the tub because it sets lower than the floor. It could have been done, but it was way too much for me to do alone. I may still do it one day. Just not now.

 

 

 

 

There used to be. . . 3, yes 3 grab bars in the shower. Until the reno I used them to hold shampoo and other necessities. Now that they're gone I needed somewhere to set the *stuff*. So I hung the antique, homemade shelf that I added the schoolhouse hooks to for holding towels.

 

 

 

 

I found the sweet lil shaving mirror at a second hand store for a buck!  The old coat rack came from an antique store in my home town.

 

 

 

 

Don’t you just love the old toilet tissue holder? I bought it a long time ago knowing I would want it someday.

 

 

 

 

I love my wall grate. There's a heater there. I replaced the louvered vent cover. As you can see it doesn’t fit exact. That’s a job for hubby. (The only thing he will have to do in the entire room). He hasn’t seen the new room yet. He’ll be home tomorrow. Hope he approves. And you can see the floor tile I chose. I remember these sort of tiles in the girls bathroom at my grade school. Brings back memories.

 

 

 

 

I’m so glad it’s done.

 

 

 

Hopefully there won’t be such a long gap in between blog posts. Hope everyone had a good summer. I’m lovin the fall weather. Not lookin forward to a cold winter. Welcome to all my new followers. Thanks to all for hangin out until I came back. ~d