Mid Summer Formal Living Room; Yes I Have One

Hi Friends, I've been wanting to share our formal living room for a bit, since it's been a while. I don't usually tend to do a lot of seasonal decorating in there. (Many of you may not know this room even exists) Things don't seem to change too much, probably because we use this room so much. The coffee table is right in my husband's sight line to the TV, so whatever I decorate with there has to be compact and not distracting. He tends to keep some of his "stuff" out on the end table along with the remotes so it's always a bit of a pain challenge to clear off his personal area in order to take current pics. Since it looks just like it did several years ago, I just thought I'd "re-share" those photos which were actually taken this time of the year. 

Art in the Living Room

It's taken us awhile to get the framed wall art up on the walls here at our new place. In the past I've zoomed through decorating a new home, but this time, I've taken longer to really think things through. One of my main goals in decorating this place is to not overwhelm it with "stuff" and clutter. That includes the walls.

Update on New House Living Room

We've always enjoyed having a more separate Formal Living Room; giving us a place to relax in the evenings after Hubby comes home from work. After the kiddos left home, we found ourselves having dinner with a lap tray while watching TV. It's just always been our time to relax and unwind.

New House Journal: Living and Dining Rooms and a New Recliner

We had a busy last week with another partial move and then working over the weekend at the new house. This last trip we got my office furniture, most of the Living Room, more basement stuff, guest bedroom and the big room size rugs for the Living Room and Dining Room that I cleaned last weekend. Phone pics ahead; sorry for the less than perfect images.

New House Journal: New Hardwoods and Carpet

This post is probably way more exciting for me personally than for any of you readers, but it's part of my documenting the progress of our new house. When we first walked into the Entry, other than notice the shiny ceilings, was the fact that the formal living and dining rooms were covered in carpet. Now I have nothing against carpet as you will see, but I really wanted hardwood floors this next time around.

Rustic French Fall Decor

I'm in the middle of messy packing mode, but I'm still looking for Fall Inspiration. Nothing over-the-top, but some subtle color changes and natural vignettes. I thought I'd share some classic French Country Autumn seasonal decor with you today from previous Septembers. I like to look back through the archives and see what I was doing "this time of year" from years ago. 

If a Lamp Falls in the Forest...

In my "real world" time I would be giddy that the calender has changed over to September, but I now seem to be living in the alternate universe of packing up my house for a move. The daytime temps are cooling down and the evenings are wonderful. Even the trees on my street are beginning to show some beautiful shades of Autumn color.

Spring Home Tour 2018

Hi Everyone, and welcome to the 2018 Spring Home Tours hosted by our friend Marty from A Stroll Thru Life. Marty herself is putting the finishing touches on her lovely home and has taken us on her remodeling and decorating journey this last year. Thanks so much for including me in the tour, Marty. If you're here from Far Above Rubies, I know you enjoyed Anita's amazing one-of-a-kind vintage eclectic home filled with wonderful color and pattern. If you've missed part of the Home Tour, I have a list of participants at the end of the post.

Easter Mantel with a Vintage Touch

Since changing up my fireplace mantel is like climbing Mt. Everest, I try to keep things a little easier to decorate. If I find a piece that works well up here, it tends to stick around for awhile. The mirror, wreath and Monogram are staples here, keeping those in place, I can more easily find elements that fit the season or holiday.

Welcome to my un"Official" Fall Home Tour

Hi Friends, this is a post from our previous home in 2017. We may no longer live there but it's still one of my favorite Fall "Home Tours". 

I think I have all the photos together now to put together my annual Fall Home Tour that I will keep on the sidebar for the rest of the season. Each year, I like to bring all the Fall Decor into one post to remind myself how I decorated that year. So I'll keep the words to a minimum and let you look around. Welcome!

October Fireplace and Mantel

 Hi Everyone, Happy October! This is my favorite month of the year... I can't believe that I didn't come jumping smack dab in your face to announce it! Well, yes, I can... this has been a long week already; more to that later. First I want to share my little owl friends that I've had for several years. They are excited to be back taking center stage on the mantel.

Creating My Fall Mantel and other Conundrums

I really love Fall. That is an understatement by a long shot. I mark the days off the calender so to speak, until I can start decorating the house. But if there's one part of decorating that I would want to shove to the end of the list it would be decorating the mantel. Yes, you've heard it before, this is my least favorite, and most difficult to come up with ideas for, part of Fall. 

It's even hard coming up with a post title for this. Let's see... "Exercise and the Fall Mantel", "How to Climb a Step Ladder for Fall", or maybe, "Scratching Your Head While Avoiding Small Animals". 

Summer Change-ups in the Living Room

Hi Friends, can you honestly believe that it's June? It's officially Summer, and I just got my container plants for the porch and patio done this last week! Someone asked me not long ago why I don't show my Living Room more often here on the blog, and I said that it's because things never change up in here very much. Basically all I did for "Summer" was to replace my sofa pillows and add the new white and chippy wicker Demi-John I found a few weeks ago. 

The Official, better late than never, Spring Home Tour

Hi Friends, after the last post, there's probably no doubt in your minds that I've been a little cray-cray this year, but I realized that I've never posted a complete Spring Home Tour. I like to keep an "Official" Tour on my sidebar and on my "pages" for each season. I just rounded up most of my photos from earlier this Spring...before Easter, so here they are, all in one spot.

2 Spring Totes

Hi Friends, I hope you were able to catch the Spring Home Tours this last week. So much inspiration! I shared my Kitchen Sitting Room and Living Room on Wednesday, but there are a few items where I'd like to share a bit of detail.

Living Room and Sitting Room Spring Home Tour

Hi Friends, are you feelin' all the "Spring" Love this week? It's overflowing here in Blogland with all the Spring Home Tours filled with beautiful decor and ideas to get us out of the winter doldrums and bring us into all the fresh colors and warmth of the new season. 

Spring Forecast for Next Week

No matter what the weather might be like on the other side of the door; one week in the 80's with trees and flowers blooming, the next week lows in the upper teens ... it's Spring inside the cottage. I thought I'd share a few snaps of how Spring has Sprung this last week...

Cozy Winter Living Room

January is all about warm and cozy for me. Find a comfy spot and snuggle up with a blanket and a  cup of hot tea or cocoa and a good book. Part of my January routine is to make things visually cozy and warm so that means I bring out the fuzzy stuff. Leopard print pillows and my leopard print throw for my chair and ottoman are basics. I like to focus on neutrals and textures here in the living room, and then using the leopard print as my little touch of fun.

Vintage White Suitcases Make a Comeback...

January is the month for a fresh start and a clean slate. I always look forward to a new calendar and the possibilities that the New Year brings. No matter what the previous year has held, good or bad, I thank God for His good plans for the future, and I'm grateful that we are moving forward with a positive attitude. 

Christmas Home Tour 2016 Part 2

Hi Everyone, 

I hope you're having a wonderful week before Christmas.

I imagine it's a busy one too!

I'm here to share Part 2 of my Christmas House Tour with you.