The Little Red Chair

Little Red Chair Has Moved!

2013-09-01T12:53:00.001-07:00

Hello friends! I finally made the decision to hop off blogger onto a platform that gives me a little more leeway in the way I design and use my blog! I now have my very own blog address, sans ".blogspot". Visit me at me new address: littleredchairblog.com! Click on the bike or paste my URL into your address bar! Can't wait to see all you lovelies at the new LRC!

Nature herself - Free Download!

2013-06-19T09:45:00.001-07:00

'T is the true out-of-doors with it's

genuine hearty phiz;

It is Nature herself, and there's some-

thing in that.

-James Russell Lowell

This image was created for you by me! It's a FREE DOWNLOAD, feel free to download it and use/print to your non-commercial content!

My Kitchen Inspiration Board

2013-01-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

I've done a kitchen collection like this in the past, but this beauty features (mostly) new products. Best of all some of the materials below I've already ordered, and plan to order for our project house. I love shopping, so putting boards like this together makes me feel like I'm being productive while shopping ... please don't try to convince me otherwise, it just might kill me.

Yesterday as I was drywalling my heart out in the front of the house, Brett was in the kitchen tearing down an old soffet. The kitchen already looks bigger, I can't even describe the difference that it makes. That being said, it's also looking pretty torn up at the moment. This is another reason I like shopping ... avoidance. I mainly live in a fantasy land where everything is clean and all projects are finished.

Favorite thing on this board: mint green sink WITH drainboard ... that thing was mad just for me, I'm tellin' ya! What do you think? Too many patterns/textures, too much brass, green sink just doesn't do it for you, or may be it's just perfect the way it is? Let me know what you think!

ps, everyone needs a comfy chair in their kitchen ... only fear about this one, I will unavoidably spill coffee on it at some point.

Picture Quote

2012-10-13T09:34:00.002-07:00

This one's from Augustine of Hippo aka, St. Augustine. He's the author of many, many great quotes. Hope you're all getting the good stuff this Saturday.

Let's be free!

2012-10-12T11:31:00.001-07:00

Things in this world that I don't care about:

1. How your hair looks

2. How new your car is

3. How much money you have

4. How new your iPhone is

5. How big your house is

Things in this world that I do care about:

1. Deep conversations - you should be able to have them

2. Compassion - show some to the world

3. Your laugh - make it genuine

4. Intelligence - Learn something, like every day

5. Respect - demand it from yourself

If I were to create a self portrait I think it would turn out something like this:

via

What does your self portrait look like?

Williamsburg Hill, Ridge Cemetery

2012-10-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

Williamsburg Hill is known to be a haunted spot in central IL. It's home to Ridge Cemetery which is the only remaining part of the town that once was Williamsburg. When my sister came to town last week she insisted that I take her. So my sister, husband, brother in law and I all made the treck up the hill to find the cemetery. It's surrounded by woods that are constantly making the strangest noises, and there were at least 20 turkey vultures swarming over us all day, but other than that we found the cemetery to be incredibly peaceful and calm. We had a really fun day messing around with photography and waiting for a haunted moment. I brought my Diana Mini and just scanned in my film today, so this lot is a mixture of favorites from the roll of film and my trusty digital. Enjoy!

There is obviously a ghost hovering above my sister as she lays above one of the graves.

Saved the best (or at least my personal favorite) for last ... what is that thing walking towards me!!

Pumpkin Cream Cake

2012-10-02T07:23:00.001-07:00

Last week my sister was visiting from Seattle. I know she loves it when I bake her a cake :) and I also know that she loves pumpkin bread this time of year. I didn't want to use the better part of a day baking a cake from scratch while she was here, so I decided to find an easy solution ... and let me tell you this recipe is EASY.

Libby's has a pumpkin bread mix on the shelves during the fall months. It is so good, and supposedly all natural. It comes with a mix and a can of that delicious pumpkin... stuff, you use to make pumpkin pies on Thanksgiving. You can get it at Fred Meyer, Walmart, Safeway, whatevs, it's out there, and it looks like this:

The kit makes two loaves, this is where my brilliant idea comes into play, If the box makes two loaves then it will make two 9" round cakes. I'll stack them and fill the middle with pudding!

I told my sister of my ingenious plan and a day or two later (before I made the cake) we were in Arthur, IL home to the Amish. We were shopping in one of the Amish grocery stores and low and behold my sister finds a little tube of homemade bavarian cream ... if that isn't a sign from the gods to create an epic cake, I don't know what is!

So that's all there is to it. Pick up a Pumpkin Bread Kit, bake the "loaves" in cake pans. Carve out the top of the bottom cake, to act as a vessel for pudding/bavarian cream/whatever your heart desires. Stack the second cake atop. Frost with white frosting and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon over it. Voila!

Haunted Houses

2012-10-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

The unhallowed and haunted are common themes for this 10th month, but these forgotten, abandoned and rejected homes live year round. These homes are anything but empty, they hold the secrets, stories, and ghosts of what once lived inside.

All homes photographed for this series stand in central Il, USA and were photographed by yours truly. Prints are available here.

The Williamsburg Plantation

Willie Johnson's Lake Home

The Arthur Victorian

The Anstee Estate

The Maygrove Farmhouse

(note: this home and photo was the inspiration for this project. I went to revisit it this fall and found nothing but the path that once led to the front door. This house no longer stands.)

Elwin's Prairie Home

The McMahon Shotgun Victorian

The Schafer Country Charmer

The Westervelt Cottage

Lakewood Family Home

Picture Quote

2012-09-15T15:44:00.001-07:00

I took this photograph not two hours ago, just for you! This quote is desperately romantic and deep ... the influence of the Crawleys, I dare say ;) Happy Saturday.

Things I Love Thursday: Downton, of course!

2012-09-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

I'm going to just lay my cards out on the table, and expose my deep love and obsession for the brilliant British television series, Downton Abbey. This is precisely why I don't like getting involved in a television series, I become too emotionally bonded with the characters and can barely stand to live outside the fictional world, that some know as reality. I'm the same way when it comes to a good novel... aren't we all?

My current status on the show is, I plan to finish season 1 tonight (Instant on Netflix!). I've persuaded my husband to start watching because I'm in absolute agony not being able to talk about the show. He's way behind me and I want to start the second season with him, so I may have to wait until next week for season 2. My favorite character? I probably can't choose, I love them all, but I went with a Mary theme for tonight's post because I can't wait to see how her character develops. Who's your favorite Downton Character, and what do you love about the show?? I must know! (but no spoilers please)

and the paper dolls!

The people you love, are the people you eat with.

2012-09-10T19:08:00.002-07:00

If you know Brett or me, you know that we love to cook, we love to dine, we love to experience food with our friends and family. We never eat out, and especially now that we are living in the Midwest. If we can dream it, we can cook it (if we can find the ingredients)! I truly believe that eating should be a complete sensory experience. Brett and I always dine together and it's something to look forward to every day. When we have guests I love to set the table, create atmosphere, and share a family style meal.

I sincerely miss living somewhere that we are surrounded by diverse cuisine, fresh seafood, and quality ingredients. Then again, I love that we are now eating home grown beef and eggs exclusively. I love that we are constantly being gifted fresh vegetables from the gardens of friends and family, and there is the possibility to continue becoming more self sufficient in feeding our family. It has become one of the most important goals in my life to grow what we eat.

“But I do think the idea that basic cooking skills are a virtue, that the ability to feed yourself and a few others with proficiency should be taught to every young man and woman as a fundamental skill, should become as vital to growing up as learning to wipe one’s own ass, cross the street by oneself, or be trusted with money.” -Anthony Bourdain

1. Family Style Meal

2. Sandwiches on Baguette

3. Lobster

4. Stinky Cheese

5. Picnic

6. Gyro

7. Squid

Picture Quote Saturday

2012-09-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Late night picture quoting after one of the best Saturdays I can remember. This is a photo I took on the Washington coast in the spring of 2010. What a beautiful time, what a beautiful place.

Things I Love Thursday: Back to School II

2012-09-06T11:29:00.002-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I featured some awesome back to school fashions for little girls, but I didn't include anything for the boys! Even though our Lennon hasn't reached school age yet, he is still growing like a weed and needs a new fall wardrobe. Shopping for boys is one of my favorite things to do, but it can really be a hunt! Why are little boy clothing sections so tiny compared to the girls? Lennon loves getting dressed and he also likes to look good, more so than our daughter most of the time. I love finding unique threads for our little lad, here are just a few of my favorites from Couverture and The Garbstore.

Grandfather Clock Before&After!

2012-09-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Remember that old grandfather clock that I had you help me choose a color for? Well he's painted and he's regal red!

I was waffling between hot pink and red because I wanted something bold and totally unexpected. I've always wanted a grandfather clock but would never have the heart to paint a solid wood antique, so when I found this 70's relic in a heavy duty plastic material for $5.00 I totally jumped on it. I settled on red because simply because it's a more fitting color for our parlor. I used a high gloss red and then finished it with a dark wax to give it a little dimension. He's fully operational and has a delicate chime on the hour.

Tempus Fugit, latin for "Time Flies"

and here's the before photo:

So what do you think? Do you love it, hate it, wish it was hot pink, wish I wouldn't have painted it?

Linking Up With Liz Marie Blog!

Honest Abe and His Honestly Impressive House

2012-09-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

This must be the greatest Abe photograph in existence. I love it.

We went to visit the Lincoln home in Springfield, IL today. It was the only home that he had owned in his lifetime. He and Mary Todd lived there together for over 15 years.

I know you know that I love old houses, and this one just totally did it for me. The Lincoln house holds most of the original family furniture and it has been completely restored to look just the way it did when Lincoln lived there. The wallpaper that Mary Todd had special ordered from Paris has been replicated and rehung, and it's by far the most amazing part.

The Lincoln story is romantic and tragic and absolutely fascinating. I love Mary Todd. She must have been such a strong woman, being partner to an idolized political figure and living through the death of three children and, of course, the death of her husband.

Here's a photo of the house taken during the days of Lincoln's Funeral in 1865.

and here's one that I took today with my iPhone, from the same spot!

Tour time? I think so.

This is the front parlor. The curtains are amazing, the wallpaper is fantastic and the original furniture is all upholstered in black horse hair! Magnificent!

On the other side of the house is the family room, my favorite room in the house by far. This is where the family would hang out together, Mary would stitch and the boys would play with Abraham on the floor. Have you ever seen a family room more regal? Look at those valences, and all this time I thought I didn't like valances! The green curtains caught my eye right away. I also love the wallpaper and even more there is a tiny border at the top of the wall that Is an awesome detail.

There is also a dining room, second parlor, and a kitchen downstairs, but my camera died half way through the tour so I didn't get photos of everything ... talk about an unprepared photographer!

Up the main stairs you can access a guest room and Abraham's room, the rest of the family rooms are only accessible through Abraham's room or the back stairwell that lead into the kitchen. The first room off Abe's is, of course, Mary's. Mary's room leads into a hallway that accesses the children's room, the maid's room, and the back stairs. Here's a couple photos of the children's room. (ps, you can see me taking the photo in the mirror... whoops!)

And here's one more photo that I found to show you the wallpaper in the guest room. Definitely my favorite wallpaper in the house!

And finally a photo I took of a photo in the visitors center of a rally outside the Lincoln home in the mid 1800's. I love how you can see figures in the upstairs windows, so cool! The two windows to the left would have been through Abraham's room and the middle window is actually on the landing at the top of the stairs.

So there you have it! And in case you're wondering, I DID stay up past midnight last night ringing in my personal New Year, and it's off to a great start ;) Hope you all enjoyed your three day weekend!

just a cup of tea and my thoughts

2012-09-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

I think I will make an attempt at blogging ... If I haven't forgotten how. May be the rain has me in the mood to put some thoughts to paper (virtual paper). After living through a scorching and dry summer, this steady drizzle has dredged up some strong nostalgia and a little homesickness.

We moved from Seattle to rural Illinois a full year ago this month. I still don't feel at home. There are many things that I love about living in the country, and I'm excited about what our future here holds, but there's still a huge void. I miss the city, I miss people, I miss culture and diversity, I miss having a job, I miss feeling truly inspired and stimulated.

I think the rare blue moon brought out some crazy in me, did you feel it? I went sorta nuts on Friday and am still recovering. Whether it was the moon or just a wake up call, I had a moment when I realized that I'm not really living, but just going through the motions. I've never been the type of person that is okay with just letting my life happen. I haven't been in control, and I haven't been doing the things I love (like blogging!) I haven't set up my darkroom and we've been here for a year! I set out on a mission to be more adventurous when I turned 27 and I have certainly not seized the day.

It's not intuitive how to break from a slump. You feel tired and always want to rest, but the more you rest the worse you feel. You don't want to leave the house and don't have the energy to get ready, even though it's probably the only thing that can help pull you up.

Now that I'm recovering from my self proclaimed astrological awakening, I'm feeling strangely recharged. I think I will convince my husband to stay awake with me until midnight and declare September 3rd New Years Day. That's step one, step two is blogging again, and step three is getting out my 4x5 camera, dusting it off, and remembering why I'm a photographer.

My apologies for the sudden and unexpected diary entry but it's all part of the process ;)

Did you know that if you drop a frog into boiling water it will jump out immediately, no harm being done to it.... But if you put a frog in cold water and slowly heat it to a boil it won't have the wit to realize the danger it is in and your poor frog will boil to death?

A Bath Decision

2012-08-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

First of all, I need to thank everyone for chiming in on my big bath dilemma! I read every comment and went back and forth several times. I received a comment from Anna Scandinavia last night (who I am fairly certain could be my Swedish soul sister), a light bulb turned on when she suggested a retro bauhaus style bath.

I love our claw foot tub that we have now, but we live in an 1885 victorian and the tub here is giant. It has to be 6+ feet long. I took a shower last night with both my kids, not an unusual occurrence. I love that our tub accommodates all of us, I love that it's beautiful, and I love that it's fitting to the home (It's original to the house so it truly belongs here).

The farmhouse is much different in aesthetic than our victorian. The original part of the farm house was built in 1860, at that time it was literally a room on top of a room, tiny. We can be sure there was no indoor plumbing, and therefore, no real bathroom. When Brett's great grandparents bought the house circa 1920, they added what is now the main part of the house. The home is very true to the early 20th century. It's not frilly like a Victorian, It's simple and has many of the arts and crafts details that we love.

I swear I am getting to a point ... It really took this much rationalizing for me to make a decision, so bear with me!

In the early 20th century, Americans started to abandon the victorian style and move on to the more simple craftsman, and at this time claw foot tubs became less popular. New homes at the time were being fitted with "Sanitary Bathrooms" White enamel and ceramic fixtures, pedestal sinks, and built in tubs.

My new inspiration photo:

I love this ad so much. Look at the woman, she's SO stoked on her bathroom, even though it seems that she is an actual human in an illustration ... her enthusiasm is still infectious.

This ad just brought it all together for me, it makes sense. The style, size, and feel of this bathroom fits the farmhouse. That is exactly what I want.

So here is a possibility for the new tub (in the spirit of the ad it is an American Standard tub):

link

This tub is also easy on the budget, ahhh, it feels good to make a decision!

**UPDATE: Approximately 2 minutes after I finished writing this I found a message in my inbox from Anna Scandinavia, linking to this incredible inspiration bath. Are we on the same page or what!? Thank you Anna for helping me realize my dream bath ;)

Bath Dilemma!

2012-08-12T18:14:00.002-07:00

The farmhouse reno is coming along. We are still up to our eyeballs in plaster and lath but I am keeping my spirits up by planning out fixtures for the main bathroom in the house. Seriously though, I can't lie, I LOVE ripping down walls .. I just don't like plaster in my bra.

My big dilema is that the tub in the main bath needs to be replaced. This is the perfect time to replace the tub with a claw foot! But then I started thinking seriously about it. I obviously can't buy a new claw foot (I live in a world where I like to think no one has a bathtub that expensive), I desperately want to buy a rusted out old one and refinish it but that project would add a lot of time and energy to an already very intense project. Not to mention that self refinishing can be tricky and the results may not be long lasting.

via

Do I take the risk and go for the labor intensive, time consuming project OR do I just say, forget it on this one and buy a perfectly usable, clean, brand new, fiberglass tub that I can dress up with a pretty tile surround? This is the best "normal tub" photo I could find, but I'm envisioning floor to ceiling subway tile and a more classic color palate.

via

So what do you think? Take the risk for timeless beauty, or go standard for ease?

Things I Love Thursday: back2school

2012-08-09T07:07:00.003-07:00

I don't even want to put this in writing, at risk of jinxing us, but it seems that our extreme heat wave has finally broke. A couple of overcast days and temps in the low 90's and high 80's have fully transitioned me into a (pre)fall mindset. After so many days in the triple digits, anything in the 80's feels like fall, especially if there is a breeze, and I have to say, IMSOREADY!

I have back to school on the mind. I love back to school shopping, always have. Here are a few of my top picks this season, you might just catch Jude sporting one or two of these things this fall ;)

via: Boden

The Before Tour

2012-08-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

Helloooo! I was MIA last week after a busy weekend, Judith getting her cast removed and starting physical therapy, and working on the new (old) house. I am happy to report, however, that we are making progress! Slowly but surely we are starting our first demo project in the house. Before the reno began I went through the house and photograph it so I will have good before material when everything is finished! I thought I would share a little sneak peak at our project with you, so here we go!

This is the kitchen.

Pros: beautiful picture window over sink, Nice solid wood cabinets, Good layout.

Cons: dated lights, soffit, appliances, and overall look.

Planned reno: tear out soffit, replace lighting, change out couter tops, sink and appliances, paint cabinets, replace flooring, and install backsplash. (that sounds like a lot after writing it out ... oy!)

here's a photo of the kitchen through what will become our office space

Dining Room (family room in a former life)

Pros: Room for our huge table, Great floor with patina and character, open to the kitchen.

Cons: Scattered recessed lighting and random fan, Oak trim that gives the space a dated look, lacking in natural light.

Planned Reno: We plan to plank the ceiling in this room, install two pendant lights where the table, paint the walls and the trim.

In the corner (behind where Im shooting) there is a wood stove that was formerly used to heat the house. We will keep the stove and clean it up.

Art Room (Office in a former life)

This room is on the opposite side of the kitchen from the dinning room (you can see the entrance in the dining room picture above)

Pros: Tons of beautiful natural light, deck access, great space for art projects and homework.

Cons: Dated track lighting and fan, drywall tape is pulling up in almost all corners in this room, floor.

Planned reno: Replace fan and two sets of track lighting with new warehouse pendants, repair drywall, install new floor, Lot's of paint!

The door way on the right leads to a bathroom and the laundry room.

Laundry Room

Pros: It's a place to do laundry

Cons: Strange layout, old appliances, dated flooring.

Planned Reno: Carry floor from art room into this room (and bathroom that is not pictures), Install warehouse pendant to match neighboring room, new appliances, Lot's of cleaning and paint, May be a little rearranging :)

PS: I've already changed that gold door knob when I painted the outside doors (post on that coming soon!)

Office (dining room in a past life)

This room is directly off the kitchen.

Pros: Central Location, Cozy space,

Cons: Dated lighting, acoustic tile ceiling

Planned Reno: We will Install matching flooring through the front hall, living room and this room. replace lighting, paint, replace ceiling

Living Room

Pros: Beautiful, huge, picture window, nice comfortable space

Cons: Acoustic tile ceiling, dying ceiling fan, gross (very old) carpet

Planned Reno: Paint, new ceiling, new floor, new light

Hall

directly off living room

Pros: Very old, awesome staircase, great old molding on doorways

Cons: Carpet, ceiling, plaster walls are sagging, balusters are not matching and some are missing.

Planned Reno: Tear down all walls, take down ceiling, strip thousands of years of paint from old wood work and repaint, runner on stairs, repair work to balusters, new lighting. We're planning a bead board ceiling in the hall.

Front Porch

(at the head of the hall)

Pros: It's a cool old porch with awesome windows, old porch planks under the carpet

Cons: carpet, uninsalaeted

Planned Reno: Insalate and drywall, tear out carpet and revitalize old floors, Paint!

I'm not showing any bedrooms or bathrooms (today at least) We will DEFINITELY be renovating them. The bathrooms are probably our bigest projects, so I'm going to save those for later ;)

Here's a look at some of our "progress" I actually like the exposed floor joist more than I like the acoustic tiles!

note: those beer cans aren't ours, they fell out of the ceiling when we were ripping it out! (ever wonder what's in your ceiling??)

Stay tuned, I'm hoping for more progress this week!

Picture Quote Saturday

2012-08-04T11:49:00.002-07:00

I have home cooking on the mind today as Brett is taking 20 pounds of garden fresh tomatoes and turning them into delicious marinara sauce. I love home grown meals! Happy Saturday y'all!

Picture Quote Saturday

2012-07-28T07:28:00.003-07:00

Picture Quote for your Saturday. Have fun and stay cool!

Big News

2012-07-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

In a short and sweet post this morning, before running out, I have decided to make public the news that we've been keeping under wraps for a while.

We're Moving.

Yep, we're moving... we're going 100% rural and moving into the home where Brett was raised. There is certainly good and sad involved in this decision. We are very torn about leaving Shelbyville and even though we'll only be 15 minutes out of town, our kids will be going to school in Bethany. There is also, of course, our beautiful house that I don't feel I have had adequate time to experience. After many long conversations we've decided that the pro's greatly out weigh the cons in this move. We will be spending the next 6-9 months renovating the country house (by ourselves and on a very strict budget). We hope to move next Spring.

I am so very excited to live in the country, I have a strong connection with the bucolic life and our kids are spectacularly happy in the wide open space.

Now I'm off to continue painting doors!

This is the house, we cleaned the siding and gutters last week, and she's gleaming!

Door Magic

2012-07-23T06:53:00.004-07:00

Today's agenda consists of painting some exterior doors ... stay tuned for the results! What color is your front door?

Things I Love Thursday: Eames

2012-07-19T07:26:00.002-07:00

I was turned on to an amazing documentary by a friend, called "Eames". It's on Netflix now, so go forth and watch it ... you will be inspired.

I watched the documentary last night and it was just what the doctor ordered. I've been lacking in the creative department lately and I'm blaming the extreme heat. I'm missing the city and have been soul searching, trying to figure out what the universe had in mind when it lead me hear. Charles and Ray Eames are just the progressive couple that I needed to come into my life to inspire me to press on.

Husband and wife duo, living a life before their time, inspiring each other and everyone around them. It struck me that the core values that they carried through their life and business are mirrored by some of the most successful and creative organizations today.

They are most well known for their furniture design that continues to be replicated decades after it was originally introduced in the 1940's via Herman Miller.

The Eames' went on to create many amazing things in their lifetime and I really, really want you to watch the documentary so that you can share in my heightened excitement for life!

Here's some original Eames design on today's market:

via: allmodern

(I love Ray Eames' house bird, so much)

I'll leave you with a word from Charles Eames: