Shabby SuzAnna's

No time for treasure hunting this week but did stop by my favorite place, SuzAnna's, last week and found even more wonderful things I would have loved to bring home.

Just look at this spectacular shabby, rose encrusted dresser - with a little TLC this would be a stunning addition to any room in the cottage. These French beds below were to die for - some lucky shopper has picked them up by now I'm sure. Note the old lampshade frame with shreds - this idea seems to be a popular look for Halloween decor in some current decorating magazines.

Actually I did grab this already shabby twig sculpture - using it on my table with the white and pale green pumpkins - thought it would also be pretty decorated with crystals and red hearts come Valentine's Day.
Mirror, mirror on the wall......................loved this display of old hand mirrors.

Just so many great items at SuzAnna's. When I return from England I'll be heading over there for their Holiday Open House. I have a new decorating project in mind, the guest room, so know I will find plenty of lovely already shabby and chic things, at reasonable prices, to bring home. Those wonderful gals just get better and better when it comes to finding and hauling back the best treasures to their charming shop.............and it's just the most fun place in town to shop, meet up with friends, have meaningful chats, and just feel good. One almost wants to move in with them to stay surrounded by so many beautiful items full of history.........and then take some home to start a new life in one's own cottage!



This is an early Inspiration Friday post - hope you all have a great weekend treasure hunting in cool Autumn weather.

Inspiration Friday - the Welsh touch

If you enjoy reading international magazines such as UK Country Living or, like most of us, anxiously await the return of Victoria which hopefully will have pages of British/European country style homes - you will be familiar with the Welsh Dresser. This sometimes built in, or otherwise free standing "hutch", was used in country kitchens before cabinetry was discovered. The daily china was stored on open shelves, cutlery in the drawers, food prepared on the wider shelf, and often cookware was kept on the "potboard" at the bottom.

These first two beauties are authentic antique free standing Welsh dressers.

This pine version was probably purpose built for this English kitchen and to house this fabulous china collection.

This one, also in an English kitchen, was obviously built-in to fit the available wall space. My sister-in-law had one similar to this in her Edwardian period London house. Longing to have a baby, she found a photo tucked in the back of one of the dresser's drawers. It showed a Mum holding her infant taken on the front steps of the house. Feeling this was a good omen, it was not surprising that she conceived a year or so later and presented me with a beautiful niece - who is now almost 16. They now live in the South of France - their fabulous kitchen there is a whole other story.

......................and here's my version, which some of you have viewed before, just right for my cottage dining room...............waiting for a good Fall spruce up, cleaning, and decorating with some white pumpkins, and perhaps my new Halloween witch a bit later.

Enjoy your Friday and be inspired to do something Fall-ish over the weekend.