This Humble House

Our New Adventure

2011-01-04T09:42:00.004-06:00

You just never know where life may take you! My last post to the blog was about my "new" job back in September 2009 and now our family moved 1200 miles to another state! We left 80 degree "winter" days for the real thing in Twin Falls, Idaho! From West Texas to Southern Idaho! We've only been here for a few weeks! Everything is still so new and strange! There's so much to get used to all at once!
I am not sure what I am going to do for a job. I still have to work that out. I may use this blog for staying connected to friends and family back home. I'm still thinking about it. But, I do have a lot of extra time right now, so I may start posting again. I miss it! I had a lot of fun doing it and I miss keeping up with all the other blogs, too!

Good News & Bad News

2009-09-16T20:06:00.003-05:00

I disappeared for a while, didn't I? I sure have missed everyone in blogland! I got used to being here everyday and keeping up with my favorite blogs!

Well, here's the deal - I'll start with the "Bad News" - I won't be around much for a while. I just don't have the free time that I once did. I have started working full-time again!

...And that leads me to the "Good News"!

I am back at work as a Visual Decorator! I am the one and only decorator for a 17,000 square foot furniture showroom! I've been spending my day hanging art, accessorizing the different vignettes with candleholders, vases, trays, etc. I've been putting out rugs and moving furniture around! I also get to open it all and tag it when it comes in!

It's a really fun and interesting job! I did it before a couple of years ago and now I am back at it again! I get to use my degree and be creative all day!

But it really put the kabosh on my blog activities! You see I am EXHAUSTED when I get home at night! I am hoping to get used to all of this and not be totally spent at the end of the day!

I think it might be fun to blog about the things I've learned by working as a visual decorator! There are lots of "rules" that I could share as far as how we make the store look so beautiful!

Anyway...I guess my blog is on hold for now. But, I am hoping to be back soon!

'til then...

Affordable Art for the Family Room

2009-09-02T08:38:00.005-05:00

I'm joining Transformation Thursday over at The Shabby Chic Cottage!

The first decorating blog I ever saw was The Nesting Place! I was just blown away by her style, her ideas and her philosophy! I felt like I had found a friend! My favorite idea was when she used doors on the wall as art! Brilliant!

We had lived in our house for over a year and I had yet to put anything above the sofa in the family room. I wanted something with a big impact. And I wanted to create it myself.
I knew this was the right idea for me because lo and behold - I had a set of doors just sitting out in the shed! They were left here by the previous owner! Perfect!

I used some exterior green paint I found out in the shed, too! They were in pretty good shape, just needed a good cleaning. Sorry I don't have any before photos - this was before I had ever thought about doing a blog! But, I just painted them green and then roughed them up a bit.

I found the metal art at Hobby Lobby - 50% off of course! Everything just kind of came together and worked! I can always change out what I put on and around them, but the doors are not going anywhere! It took hubby and I forever to hang them! The big obstacle was the fact that there are 2 of them and I wanted them hung tightly together! It was a chore, but we got through it!

I showed the fireplace in this room for Thrifty Monday. And some other parts of the room here.

I'm going to head on over to The Inspired Room and see what everyone is posting for her Fall Nesting 2009!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Thrifty Monday

2009-08-30T18:49:00.005-05:00

Well, I didn't make it to the yard sales this week! My partner in crime is under the weather! (Hi Mom - Love You!) So, I thought I would show my fireplace. It's chocked full of thrifty treasures!

I have kind of a nature/bird theme going in my family room. The tile, brick and paneling were all recently re-done when we moved in. They were well thought out and look really good together. Unfortunately, they have a bit of a pinkish tone. That's not exactly what I would have chosen for my Autumn color scheme. I decided to go for it anyway and I think it still works.

Here's the rundown of what I have on my fireplace starting on the mantel going from left to right:

Oops...left a couple of candles on the mantel, didn't mean to do that! The topiary has a match on the other end. I got one of them at Michael's with a coupon and the other I found at a yard sale shortly after! Bird house art from Hobby Lobby - when they had one of their framed art 50% off sales! The green pineapple candle holder was from a yard sale. I love the yellow bird candle holder! I got that at a thrift store for $6. I thought it looked good with the pineapple 'cuz they are the same kind of metal.

Okay, so confession time...see the little metal sign that says FAMILY? Well, it's hanging on a big fat nail that I can not take out! I didn't want to do a traditional centered piece of art, so I just had to find something to hang there. That's what I came up with for now. Got the FAMILY metal sign at Hobby Lobby when metal stuff was half off. I love the mini topiary and white iron bird! Those are from the thrift store, paid a couple of bucks for each of them. The LIVE-LAUGH-LOVE is from Kirkland's. I bought it with a gift certificate I got as a house-warming gift. They still sell a similar sign with those words, but they changed the design a bit right after that. I like this one best.

So I really like things made of wire, like little chairs, birdcages, baskets...I've had these a long time and I don't remember where I got them or how much I paid. The lamp was a gift from my mother-in-law, she couldn't use it anymore. The metal square art is from Hobby Lobby (50% off) and the "C" was a gift.

That is a one-of-a-kind original watercolor painted by my Mom! It's one of my favorite things and it is in a place of honor so I can look at it every day! Thanks Mom!
More little chairs, bucket was a gift. I just stuck some fake Hobby Lobby grass and berries in it. Those are extra pillows from our sofas.

So, that's a peak at my family room! I wanted to do it now, because I've started decorating for fall. It's all different now!

I'm joining Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and Today's Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality! Let's head on over and check out all the treasures and transformations!

Words to Live By

2009-08-29T08:15:00.003-05:00

Comparison destroys contentment!
- Unknown

Has this ever happened to you?

You get up in the morning, get yourself ready for the day. You look in the mirror and think - Hey! This looks okay! Then you get to your destination and look around at the other women. Suddenly after noticing a friend in her new outfit, you look down at yourself and think - What was I thinking? This doesn't look good!

Or maybe you are okay with that 6 year old sofa in your living room. It's seen better days, but it's comfortable and it still goes okay in your room. Then you go to a friend's house and they just got themselves a brand-new sectional! You go back home and look at that sofa again only this time you see a dusty old piece of junk!

Why do we do that to ourselves? That's the kind of comparing that we just don't need to do! And the sad thing is...many times those same women are probably doing some comparing of their own to our lives and feeling the same way!

Here in Blogland we do a lot of looking at each other's homes, DIY projects and crafty ideas! That kind of looking is a wonderful way to inspire us! But, that doesn't have to be comparison - maybe a little admiration, and some inspiration - that's all good!

We are all just trying to do the best with what we have and that's why I love it here! I have really enjoyed "getting to know" all of you! Thank you for your lovely comments and encouragement!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Show Us Your Rooster Party!

2009-08-27T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's time to join the party over at Bella Vista! I've been waiting and waiting! I just can't wait to see what everyone is going to show us!

DISCLAIMER: I discovered as I was taking pictures, that I don't have quite as many Roosters as I thought I did! It seems some of my Roosters are CHICKENS! He He

...oh well! Here we go!

Now comes the chickens!

Thanks for looking! I can't wait to see what everyone else has!

Art from Reclaimed Wood

2009-08-26T01:00:00.000-05:00

Love this! It's from Pottery Barn - of course! They just do everything right! I think a person could duplicate this design if they had a pile of scraps, a saw, some paint and a lot of free time! Or they could just buy it here.

Another great piece of art from Pottery Barn!

Pottery Barn

Who doesn't love stars?

Pottery Barn

I may just have to buy myself a circular saw...

...and some wood...I guess buying new wood would kind of defeat the purpose, huh?

I have the paint and the nails though... :-)

Thrifty Monday & Transformed Tuesday!

2009-08-23T17:36:00.005-05:00

Hey everybody! My little project is just some cheap melamine doors my stepdad found in the dumpster! They look like they were from a kid size cabinet. He thought I might be able to do something with them. I had these cork squares that I got from a yard sale for 25 cents. The doors were already white and I thought I would just stick the cork inside the frame on the front of the door. I used some ribbon to hang them by the doorknobs. Easy peasy!

I just covered the seams with how I put the stuff on the cork board. Now I have a place to put my inspiration photos near where I sit to do my blogging - which is at one end of our sunroom.

Here's some more bargains from my home office area:

I love the framed art from Kirkland's that I got at a yard sale for $2!!! It still had the $69 price tag on the back!!! Birdhouse on a stand and metal bucket are both from yard sales, too! The cloth napkin is another bargain from Pier 1!

I'm joining my favorite Mr. Linky parties:
Met Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Today's Thrifty Treasures - Southern Hospitality
and Trash to Treasure Tuesday - Reinvented!

I love seeing what everyone has come up with this week! Please head on over and check them all out!

Words to Live By

2009-08-22T14:52:00.005-05:00

Never, never, never give up.

- Winston Churchill

A favorite quote from days gone by...one that I have heard from my Mom...seen on funny posters...but it is so true!

This one's for you today Mom! I love you so much and I wish I could make it "all better" for you today just as you have done for me so many times! You are the strongest person I have ever known and that strength is what will get you through now. Look upwards and turn to the One who can get you through! I am praying for you and I love you soooooooo much!!!

~ Your darling daughter!

Hooked on White Kitchens

2009-08-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

Country Living

White kitchens! I am hooked on them! I know that they may not be the current trendy choice, but I think their classic qualities make them timeless! There is just something about the clean, fresh feeling of white cabinets and bright colors!

Country Living

Of course, kitchens with a little whimsy in them are the best! Casual style - open shelves, rustic sign, using above the cabinets as storage..

Country Living

White and rustic! Perfect combination! Love the old farmhouse sink and antique table turned island. The wood floors painted white and chandelier for a kitchen light keep it casual.

Country Living

Painted white floors, mis-matched stools, open shelving & fishy accents make this kitchen so warm and inviting!

...and a few more Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

I joining Hooked On Friday over at Hooked on Houses! Click here to see what others are hooked on!

Color Inspiration

2009-08-20T01:00:00.002-05:00

I have a favorite color palette. It has been my favorite for so many years and I just keep sticking with it for my family room and dining room areas. It makes me think about family, good times and why I love it when the seasons change! It just so happens that my favorite colors are the colors of Autumn! I guess that's not a big surprise since that's the theme I chose for my blog design, too!

In fact, I daresay that I think Fall has almost replaced Christmas as being my favorite holiday to decorate for! (I said - almost!) I am planning on getting out all my decorations next week! When are you putting out your Fall decorations? I put mine out early, but I also decorate for Christmas starting the day after Thanksgiving!

I found a really neat toy when I was looking at colors for this post. It's called a Color Palette Generator! You upload your photo and it finds all the colors for you and creates a palette! You can give it a try here.

More colors of Autumn that inspire...

What is your favorite color palette?

Cottage Sign Shoppe

2009-08-19T01:00:00.004-05:00

Cottage Sign Shoppe on Etsy makes the cutest wooden signs! They have some unique designs and great prices, too. I discovered them while searching through home decor items the other day. They have over 250 different signs for sale.

I love signs with words on them! Probably too much! I have them all over my house! I think they just make a house feel like a home by injecting a little of your personality into your decor!

They've got dozens more! They also do personalized and custom designs. You can view all items in the shop here.

Thank you Mary for letting me talk about your beautiful signs!

Giveaway!

2009-08-18T12:20:00.003-05:00

Over at REINVENTED they are having a give-away with today's Trash To Treasure! I didn't have anything ready to post for the Mr. Linky party today, but I am excited to see what everyone else has done! You can enter the contest and check out the Trash to Treasure contributions here!

Thrifty Monday and Met Monday

2009-08-16T17:13:00.010-05:00

One day my hubby and I happened into Furniture Row just looking around. I noticed this sweet thing in the clearance section! I got so excited! Then I noticed one of the doors was just leaning against it. I proceeded to ignore that, because it got in the way of my excitement over this bargain in front of me! They had a price tag of $89 on it! Woohoo! I really wanted it and I had no idea where I would put it. Hubby didn't think I was serious and wasn't sure it would fit in our Honda CRV...I let him talk me into leaving with out it.

But, after we got home and he left to run another errand I figured out EXACTLY where I would put it! So I called him and talked him into running up there at 10 minutes before closing! He's such a sweet guy!

Long story short - he soon found out why that door was leaning against it and not installed. It seems there was a problem with the way it was made and it is missing one row of grooves. So, the door can never be installed. I thought about it for about 10 seconds and I said - let's get it anyway!

After getting it in place and all accessorized I decided you really don't notice it. It kinda looks like it was made that way!

I even found a place to use that missing door...

I stuck it on the side table in my dining room! Maybe someday I will get over to Hobby Lobby and have them cut me some cute mats and stick some photos in the window panes! The table is also full of yard sale finds and bargain roosters! I will post more about them for the Rooster Party on August 28th over at Bella Vista.

There are plenty of thrifty treasures on the black bookcase, too...

From the top:

Little wire basket that I put my coasters in: $2 at antique mall
Candle dish under brown candle: 25 cents at yard sale
Green placemat and beige placemat: $1.50 at Pier One on clearance
Bird on a stick: $1 at yard sale
Cute vintage picture frame holding my precious Penny: 25 cents at yard sale
Cloth napkin under photo: $1.50 at Pier One on clearance

More bargains from the dining room:

Black metal shelf and letter "C": Hobby Lobby on 1/2 off
White metal basket on the wall: 25 cents at yard sale
Green berries: 25 cents at yard sale
Chicken: $1 at antique mall
Red vases: Hobby Lobby 66% off sale
Leafy little framed art: $1 at yard sale

Thanks for looking! Please check out what everyone else is showing over at Between Naps on the Porch and Southern Hospitality!

Words to Live By

2009-08-15T23:59:00.002-05:00

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.

-- Charles R. Swindoll

That quote reminds me of something that my Mom and I always talk about - making memories! Just spending time with your kids...laughing, playing, hugging and loving them!

Hope you are having a
wonderful weekend!

Keep it Bright & Cheery!

2009-08-13T00:15:00.001-05:00

Country Home

Lately I have been thinking about what I can do to finish up our home office area. One end of our sunroom is set up as our office/craft area. I have a wishlist already of what I need to make it just right. I love white! I think it is just so bright and cheery! I am on the search for another desk that I can fix up! Or maybe I might just make one out of an old door!

Country Home

Cute idea for storage of craft supplies! I am always looking for cool ways to store supplies! I came across an idea for making a phone charger station out of a minnow bucket! Cute huh?!

Country Home

BHG

Great idea! Use an old toolbox as a desk organizer!

Two examples of bright & cheery home offices from blogland:

Cheryl at TidyMom posted about her recent project. She did an amazing job in her home office! Lots of paint and some de-cluttering and she has a beautiful fresh new room. You can see more photos and read all about it here, including some trash to treasure transformations with some of the accessories.

Over at Just Beachy, Chris Kaufman showed off her built-in kitchen computer nook created from an old hutch and buffet! Wow! Hard to believe looking at it now! I love all the details on this! See more images here.

As for me, I am still hoping to come across one of these office chairs at a yard sale:

Pottery Barn

I don't hold out much hope! They are so pretty, though! And I am still trying to figure out a second desk option. Time to hit the yard sales again and keep searching! That's my plan for tomorrow anyway!

Country Home

Have a great weekend!

Transformed Table

2009-08-12T23:00:00.001-05:00

This is my favorite day in Blogland! I love to see the transformations! It is just amazing how a can of paint and some imagination can work miracles!

This is one of my favorite bargains/transformation stories. I got this little home-made table and the 2 Pier One chairs from a sweet little lady for a grand total of $50! She had them in storage, packed in with a ton of other things that she needed to get rid of.

Sorry I don't have a before shot of the table, but it was stained a medium brown. It was definitely needing some love! She had decoupaged some ducks on the top - remember the ducks in the rain holding umbrellas thing? I loved the chairs just as they were - I couldn't believe it when I got them home and turned them over - Pier 1! They are very well-made - no wobbling!

All I did was sand it a little. Then I painted it blue - I think it was just some craft paint that I had. Next I just dry-brushed some white over it. Then a little more sanding on the edges...

I could have/should have put some sort of protective coat over it when I was done. I didn't want it to come out shiny, so I just didn't do anything. It has held up really well and I thought it wouldn't matter too much if it gets a little more wear and tear on it.

It doesn't "live" outside! I have it in our breakfast room/mud room area. I just couldn't get a decent photo in there, so I asked my "men" (hubby and son) to move it outside for me!

Please check out other DIY projects over at A SOFT PLACE TO LAND and THE SHABBY CHIC COTTAGE...

Over the Top Houses

2009-08-12T08:34:00.001-05:00

House hunting of a different sort! Are you looking for an adorable English Cottage? This one can be yours for only $5,900!!! What's the catch, you ask? The new occupant must be under 2 ft. tall...enjoy long walks...sleep alot...eat with out utensils...be extremely loyal...and have 4 legs (or at least 3 legs to navigate the front steps!)

These are some incredible pooch palaces! The scale of them is what impresses me! This isn't your usual little box with a cute red roof! Some of these have 2 floors! They are big enough for your canine to have company, too!

...and a couple more in the cottage style:

Love the copper details! The puppy seems pretty content! This French Chateau style can be yours for only $5900 also!

The Victorian will set you back $10,000! These houses are big houses, you can see the pooch that lives here in front of the steps. Wow! He even has a mailbox!

This next Hacienda style dog house was created for Rachel Hunter. It has lighting, running water, air conditioning and heat! It only cost $30,000! Wow.

All photos are from Beyond the Crate.

Beachy Bargains

2009-08-11T08:00:00.006-05:00

I posted about my Master Bathroom Re-Do here. I had too many photos on that post and I didn't want to overwhelm everyone! I wanted to share my bargain accessories, too!
In the photo above:
Blue Wooden Tray - TJ Maxx ($3 or so)
Wicker Basket - Yard Sale 25 cents
Blue Fish on a stick - Hobby Lobby (Clearance 66% off!)
Candles - Hobby Lobby (got them when candles were on sale)
Floral thingy in the background - Michael's (cheap!)

The best part about this collection is the 2 shelves that I got at a Yard sale for Six bucks for both! I priced these at Target and they would cost around $50 in a store! Woohoo!
The framed art was from Bed Bath & Beyond and I waited until it was 40% off! The 2 small canvases are Hobby Lobby - also 40% off. I grabbed some sea shells while I was there. The Star fish are from Michaels - cheap!

The aluminum LOVE sculpture is an original by the artist Robert Indiana. I bought this years ago at a store in Dallas called Millenium. It is the real deal and I love it. I would never part with it, although I have checked it out on ebay and I could get a nice chunk of change for it!

MORE BEACHY BARGAINS FROM MY BEDROOM:

Chair and ottoman from Kirklands. I wanted this look when I first saw it in the Pottery Barn catalog! But, I couldn't afford their prices, so I was so happy when I saw it at Kirkland's! And even happier when I went to the store and saw that it had been discontinued! They were selling the last chair off the floor (the ottoman was new in the box). I even got him to lower the price because it was a floor model. I can't remember the exact price (it was last year) but both pieces together were less than $100! That's not bad!

This is just some things I have on my dresser. The basket is a bargain I picked up at Hobby Lobby when they had a sale. The table runner is from a yard sale. Round wicker box is a 25cent yard sale find, as is the thing with the wooden planks in the background. The vase and the greenery is from Michaels, too (on sale of course!)

I loved these little beachy things on a stand when I first saw them at Hobby Lobby! I bought one with a coupon and then went back and got the other when they went on 66% off.

Lastly...not my most brilliant decorating move, but I got these frames for 50cents each at a yard sale. I didn't have anything to put in them, so I printed off some photos from the internet. I will change them out someday with something a little better.

That's the end of my Beachy Bargains tour!

EDITED TO ADD: I am participating in Trash to Treasure Tuesday over at Reinvented! Please go on over and check it out!

Bathroom Re-Do

2009-08-09T11:11:00.009-05:00

I am joining the Met Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch.

I have done some transforming to our master bath. It's not done yet, by any means, but atleast I can stand it now! When we moved in it definitely had a real 90's Southwest vibe! Check out the wallpaper:

I will say they got some nice quality fixtures. They may be mauve but atleast they are Kohler! These babies are solid! Not a chip or hardly a sign of wear and tear on them!

I wish I had the funds to completely rehab this bathroom, but that's just not in the cards right now. So I started with what I could do something about - the wallpaper! You wouldn't think it would be a big deal to remove one wall of paper and a border in a small bathroom...but it really was! I am more of an instant gratification kind of person and I don't like long processes! The spraying and the scraping and the cleaning up all the little pieces...yuck! I did it over 2 weekends, so the bathroom was a mess for a while! Thankfully we have two! I chose a paint color that reminds me of sand, wet sand that is! I am going for a beachy theme in my bedroom.

I also replaced the towel bar and bought new, really nice knobs for the cabinets. I kind of splurged on the knobs, but the way I look at it - they belong to the house and I am always thinking of re-sale. I want the changes we make to the house itself to be something that will add value. Which brings me to the cabinets...

I am trying to decide what I want to do with the cabinets. I like this new distressing paint kit I saw over at A Soft Place to Land. The doors have a more contemporary detail on them and I am just not sure how it would look. And the big question is - what color? Should I go with an off-white distressed look or maybe a black stain?

More later on where I got my beachy accessories...

Words To Live By

2009-08-09T08:33:00.006-05:00

It takes a lot of courage
to show your dreams to someone else.

- Erma Bombeck

Hooked on Yumi Art

2009-08-07T09:23:00.005-05:00

Edited to add: I am joining the blog party over at Hooked On Houses!

This is my kind of art! Whimsical, fun, bright and cheery! I love this! This art is available at Etsy.com. Please visit her shop here. She is selling Giclee prints of her original art from $20 - $72!

Another reason I love Etsy - it's like taking a walk through a local art festival! It's a place to purchase really unique art at prices you can actually afford.

Here's a few more from this talented artist!

Thank you Aline for allowing me to feature your delightful art!

Please visit her shop by clicking below!

Using Cats in Home Decor

2009-08-05T21:27:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I know this blog is supposed to be about home decorating...stay with me here! I think I can tie it all together...

Cats make wonderful accessories for your home! They can add that special something to your cozy chair in the corner of your bedroom - see photo above! That's my daughter's cat, Meg. She's a real beauty queen, isn't she? She's got that super model pose going on, like a real pro!

They also make great basket fillers:

MEG

PENNY

They make great last-minute gifts, too...

MEG

They look great on an end table...

MR. SHADOW

They look fabulous placed around your sunroom...

MEG

PENNY

PENNY AND MR. SHADOW

PENNY

I must admit they aren't that useful to have around
when you are trying to make your bed...

PENNY

Thanks for letting me share some of my favorite photos of our fabulous felines! I really love them! They have given us so many hours of entertainment! Pets make a house a feel like a home!

Just a couple more...

This post is dedicated to Lexy! RIP pretty girl! Miss you!

This Humble House

2009-08-04T09:15:00.011-05:00

This is our Humble House! It was built in 1958 and sits in the middle of a beautiful old neighborhood full of tree-lined streets and gorgeous homes. It's just the kind of neighborhood that I always wanted to live in, like something out a TV show. I love to just go on walks and just study the houses. They all have such character! So many details to look at - the gabled roofs, the multi-paned windows, the landscaping! I can't say enough about how truly Blessed we feel to live here! We waited a very long time to buy our first home and it has meant so much to us!

We searched on-line every day, but in the end it was up to us to hit the streets and just drive up and down looking. That's what we did! We drove and drove and drove some more. That is how we really narrowed down where we wanted to live. And, once we had the neighborhood figured out - we just tried to be patient and wait.

We only found our house by accident. Our on-line searches were for 3 bedroom houses, not 2 bedrooms! My hubby found it by driving around the neighborhood.

At that time our house was built, 2 bedroom floor plans were still popular. But, thanks to some remodeling over the years, the front living/formal dining was divided into 2 parts. The old dining room was changed to an office and the door was added. This created an extra room with out a closet. Because of the missing closet, it can't be called a 3 bedroom. (If we ever move, we will probably put a closet in before we sell)

As for what we did about the missing closet in what is now our son's room...
We gave him a section of a large closet located near the hall bathroom. It has worked out just fine so far. If it does become a pain for him, we can always build a closet in his room. He got his bunk beds that he always wanted and he likes the location of his room, near the action. So he's a happy camper right now!

Here's the floor plan we were given by the appraiser:

It is the classic floor plan, with the formal area across the front and the big picture window. I am so thankful to whomever it was that decided to close up the dining end of the front room! We would never have been able to consider this house if they hadn't!

Here's some photos I took on the day of closing and right before we moved in:

This is the family room. I really love the beams across the ceiling and the tube skylights. The fireplace had been painted, and I really liked how it looked.

To be honest, I was not a huge fan of tile floors. I would have much preferred hardwood floors. But these are really pretty! I love how they laid them in a diamond pattern. On the right side of the picture you can see the opening to the sunroom.

The sunroom is what really sold us on the house! We really wanted some kind of extra room or space to have a home office and just another place to hang out in the house. I asked for the furniture as part of the deal and they agreed! They even threw in the rug! This is my favorite part of the house. I really enjoy the views of the backyard and all the windows.

The dining room also has the beams across the ceiling. Like I said before, this was the formal living area when the house was originally built. It makes for a pretty big dining room! That's a good thing, because I have a large table and hutch. We can keep the leaves in the table now and it fills up the room. It was already painted the perfect green for my country Italian theme. It just needs a new light fixture and maybe a different window treatment that is less formal.

The kitchen was remodeled by the former owners. This was a huge plus for us, all the work was done! The appliances were all new and they really did a nice job. I actually liked the wallpaper, too! I have been able to work with it - I like the colors and the grape theme just fine.

This is the corner bedroom and guest bath. Both the bedrooms have a pink-toned carpet. Not my first choice! But it is a neutral tone atleast! This bedroom has the lovely multi-paned windows that I always wanted!
The really neat thing about the bathroom counters is that they are the extra tall height. It is really nice to stand in front of to get ready in the morning. The wallpaper has to go and eventually we hope to replace the sinks, toilet, tub and tile. But with a little paint and some accessories we can live with it for a while. It is a nice size for the kids to share and I love that it has 2 sinks. There is also plenty of storage for them to each have a section of drawers.

Another really cool thing about the house is the doors! If you look closely in the photo of the dining room above you can see the hall closet door. All the doors in the house are solid wood multi-paneled doors. They are so beautiful! I think they really add charm to the house.

Lastly, this is the master bedroom. We really liked the size of it. It also has 2 large windows and nice his and hers closets. The bathroom is a good size for a house from this time period. I don't mind not having a tub, the shower is really nice. Notice the octagonal mauve sinks! There is also a mauve Kohler toilet to go with them! More ugly wallpaper that had to go. But in this bathroom the tile is a nice clean white. I can work with that for now.

Well that's a little "before" tour of our house. I will post the "afters" soon. Thanks for looking!

Saturday Yard Sale Finds

2009-08-02T16:46:00.001-05:00

Joining the party over at Southern Hospitality! Everybody's talking about their yard sale finds from this weekend!

Another successful Saturday morning for Mom and I! We found 22 yard sale ads in the paper and made it to them all! We always start by looking in Friday's paper for the Saturday only sales. We don't like to waste our time on the sales that started on Friday. Mom highlights all the Saturday only ads and then she comes over and we start printing out maps. We print a page for each address, if we have several that are in the same area then we list them on the same paper. When we are done printing out all the maps then we plan our route! We start at 7:15 or so and go until around noon. We do have to stop and take a sausage biscuit break around 10 o'clock - you know, to keep our strength up!

I usually take around $20 in cash. This time I found some pretty cool things! I like to buy plates, candle holders, art, seasonal stuff, foliage and baskets! I also try to find something neat for the kids. I picked up a Star Wars Monopoly set for our son for $1. I got the cutest bowl and plate with colorful cats painted on them for $2.50. They already have a hanger on the back and I plan to hang them in my sunroom.

I also scored a glass Christmas cutting board for $2. I can just set it out on my kitchen counter out during the holidays in place of my current clear cutting board. I thought that was pretty neat. It is definitely something I wouldn't normally buy in a store.
I got these wire chicken shaped baskets filled with real eggs that I am going to use above my hutch. Not sure where that cute fat cat is going to go. I guess he is meant for the garden, but he is cute enough to live in the sunroom, too.
The fall mums are a matching pair. I will find a good use for them, maybe as a centerpiece on my dining room table.