My Friend ~ The Decorating Diva

on't you just love gals who aren't shy when they come to your home? I've never used the services of a professional decorator/designer. However, I was a winner in the Valentine contest at SuzAnna's Antiques ~ my prize, one very special hour with Linda, their assistant at the shop and a decorator/organizer extraordinaire!! After showing this bundle of energy around the cottage last Friday, enjoying a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of French apple cake with a dollop of creme fraiche, we started playing house!

Linda removed her fabulous black suede MOD wedgie Maryjanes and proceeded to hop up on my bed. She removed the little carving I'd temporarily hung above this mirror, and placed this already painted and shabbied iron piece ~ the roses being the perfect grey blue of my wall paint and shabby shutters!

Voila, love at first sight ~ different, unique, brings the garden in!

Before reaching the French inspired guest room still languishing in makeover mode, Linda hauled this amazing old, heavy, slightly shabbied frame up the stairs. No place in the guest room but how about here, bringing a little life to another blank and boring attic storage space door at the top of the stairwell. It really looks wonderful as one glances up the stairs from the cottage entry and works well with the damask covered chair.

This European mirror with slightly marred glass, pretty etching and a graceful shape is another piece Linda brought along. The color and design is perfect with the hand painted chest I've had many years.
Moving into the guest room, Linda was excited to see many of the pieces she'd help me choose earlier from SuzAnna's ~ the secretary of course, along with picture frames, the bedside table and other small decorative pieces. We discussed the chair seats and she agreed with my decisions on these which I'll show later after the sewing part is completed. I did splurge on this beautiful trim for the little toile pillow on the chair next to the window - perfect color with the shutters and quite French looking with the generous ribbon loops.

Linda's decorating hour passed far too quickly ~ we had a lot of fun and she helped me no end when it came to taking things just a little over the top. Her eye sees quirky beauty in everything old and previously loved. She is never at a loss as to what something unusual, scuffed or chipped can be used for around the house or garden.............and she will paint anything that will stay still long enough to give it a new life!

Thanks so much Linda, it was great fun................and thanks again Susie and Anna for this wonderful prize.

I'm off to sew now ~ darkening storm clouds are gathering outside our windows and hopefully we'll get much needed rain this afternoon and evening.

Will you be my guest?

This little guest room makeover became more involved as time moved on! What was just going to be fresh paint and a few French inspired decorative items kept growing until I almost felt like it would never be completed.....................and it isn't, yet.

However, as I promised some photos I've decided to give you a glimpse as to what's been done so far.

My painter scraped off the ceiling texture, then painted it along with the walls giving me a blank canvas. I painted and distressed the pine bed, head and foot boards, also painted and hung the old wood shutters.

I added this small table with a drop down front, already painted and bit chipped - perfect in place of the cumbersome nightstand which was moved into the closet to be used for extra storage as it has two good sized drawers. I added the antique metal French styled bow.

For years I held on to this magazine page because I love the old French rope samples. I mounted it on a red and aqua scrapbook paper and stamped the mat with French words.

Some of the old books I purchased recently ~ the crystal, silver lidded powder bowl on the left was a 21st Birthday gift to my Mother (c. 1932), the other one a gift to me from a dear friend on a visit home to England.

The closet doors got their new painted finish ~ and yesterday I installed the wall writing.

Aimez, riez, revez ~~~ et allez dormir

(Love, laugh, dream ~~~ and go to sleep)

The pine armoire has not been revamped yet ~ a project for another time. This mirror is now crowned with a painted carving.

The French wire basket holds old books and rolled sheet music.
Another shot of the recently purchased secretary which took the place of the pine chest of drawers. This piece is certainly the biggest change in this room. The antique chair will soon have a new seat cushion.

The newly painted attic storage door on which I hung an old oval picture frame which I painted and glazed ~ it looks like molding and adds some decoration to an otherwise utilitarian door.



Above and below, my precious photos of my Mother and her siblings, and my Grandmother.

I'm now working on the items requiring fabric, trim, thread and the sewing machine........will show you these later. Last but by no means least, awaiting the chandelier...................that, I believe, will be the finishing touch for this room.

~ Shopping List ~

SuzAnna's Antiques, Raleigh, North Carolina
Shutters
Ballet slipper used as blind pull
Bedside table
French style metal bow
Vintage books
Oval wall mirror
French wire basket
Antique Secretary
Picture frames

Fetch Treasures for the Home, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Antique chair

Michael's
Small lamp on desk
French style glass bottles

Homegoods
Waste basket
Toile storage boxes on armoire

Home Depot
'Shabby Chic' style switchplate

Lowe's
All paints by Valspar
Wall color ~ Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford
Doors and Bed - Lyndhurst Stone

Wisedecor Wall Lettering
Typeface 'Handwriting' ~ Color Tan

Weekend Break

No, not taking off anywhere, just taking off a couple of days to catch up with things around the house and garden while the weather is warm and sunny!

So I'm hanging up my blog on this pretty hanger seen at SuzAnna's ~ will be back soon with guest room makeover pics.

Meanwhile, some more lovely items from SuzAnna's Antiques. If you happen to be fortunate enough to live near, or drive close to Raleigh, North Carolina, this is a MUST stop. Susie and Anna, owners, their wonderful 'decorating diva in residence' Linda (more about Linda in an upcoming post - she was here at my house yesterday!), and the other great dealers, consignors, and assistants at the shop, are all fabulous. Then there are the kindred spirits one meets while treasure hunting there................artists, decorators, gardeners, realtors, vintage dressed gals, flight attendants, pretty children with their moms, grandmas, even cute guys!

Next to SuzAnna's is a great new spot, Sam's Country Porch. Sam's a real Southern gentleman and a bit shy, I only got a back view! He has great antique and vintage items too - I found some great old books there last week.

Sam's Country Porch Antiques

.........'til next time.............enjoy your weekend.

Is this your lucky day?

It was truly wonderful to have so many of you enter your name in my First Anniversary Giveaway. This has been an amazing year. I have enjoyed meeting you all, receiving your generous comments, reading your interesting blogs, and just getting to know you. Wish everyone could be the prize winner, but this time around it goes to..........................
Computer problems earlier today had me worried...........would I actually be able to post the winner's name. While cutting and folding the slips of paper with your many names, I moaned and groaned to dh about the Internet, the desktop, my laptop, the new 4 in 1 printer which is driving us nuts, technology in general................how chilly it is today, how I wanted him to go to the store because I want to make black beans and rice, how I fancied whole wheat pita with freshly made hummus, and a juicy spinach pie from a our local Lebanese bakery/restaurant etc. etc.

But before he left, I made sure he picked a winner. He mixed the names about in my hat for what seemed like an eternity, then dug down to the bottom and pulled out Manuela's slip!

Well everything is working again and I'm able to post the news..............congratulations Manuela. If you haven't visited Manuela at The Feathered Nest you are missing out on knowing this decorating diva and busy fun blogger, so stop by soon.

Manuela, I'll be in touch by e-mail to get your mailing address then your box of goodies will soon be on the way to Georgia.

Thanks again everyone, enjoy your week........and please keep in touch.

Front Porch Moments in the Rain

~~~~~~

Thunder in the distance mid-morning. Rain came down soaking the parched red clay earth, filling the fountain and birdbaths. Small rivulets ran down the driveway, the songbirds went into hiding in the shrubbery. Grabbed a jacket and my camera, filled my coffee mug. Sat on the front porch watching the rain fall and taking a few pictures.

Porch crystal candolier outlined against the neighbor's brick chimney and the still bare trees.

Shhhh! A good day for porch napping as the soft rain fell.

Rain, rain don't go away, stay with us another day.

We are in a severe drought and need every drop we can get!

~~~~~

Almost There

Still pulling the guest room together ~ hope to have pictures for you later this week.

The shutters are up! Today I'll crank up the sewing machine and tackle the sheer panel for the window.

This is the look I'm going for, just a simple flat panel which can be folded back to let light in.

I will attach it to the window casing with the decorative tacks, no rod. I have blinds also on this window which can be used at night for privacy and room darkening.

Then on to mirrors, art, lighting. Still looking for a small chandelier!

Have ordered 'wall words' ~ will show you when they are flowing across this little French inspired room.

Call for Entries

Don't forget, if you haven't entered the drawing for my one year blog anniversary giveaway, please leave your name on my February 10 post. I will be picking the name of the winner the evening of February 27. ~ I could be writing your name here ~

~ so please enter ~

Edited - 2/26/08

As my post for the giveaway tomorrow has dropped off, you can leave a comment here and I will still add your name. Drawing for the winner will be tomorrow, Wednesday.