Scottish Tartan Throws for Decorating

Hello friends, how's your mid-February going? Warm... cold... a little of both? Since it's still February and currently 40 degrees today, I guess technically it's okay if I share a little something in the warm/snuggly/cuddly category. I'm talking about Tartan wool throws and blankets. I have several that are vintage, that I use for Thanksgiving and Christmastime decor. I just love anything Tartan plaid and I'm a teensy bit obsessed with all things Burberry or resembling that particular plaid.

Decorating the Sideboard for Christmas

This week I've been sharing Christmas in the Hearth Room, so next I wanted to show you the rest of the room and the antique sideboard. I've always loved the little curved shelf above the mirror, but this is my first time actually decorating it for the Christmas Holiday. A few little British crocks, some white reindeer, and bottle brush trees keep it light, bright and lots of fun.

It only took 5 years...

I'm usually pretty diligent on getting a task or a job done. I can make excuses with the best of them, but when it's something I actually want to do I get it accomplished quickly. But, it's been 5 years since my mom moved and didn't have a place for this wonderful old porch column and it's been sitting in my sister's garage waiting for me to pick it up. 

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.

Layering Decor in the Hearth Room

We are getting furniture in place and unpacking "decor" throughout the new place, so I've been trying out ideas and moving pieces around. One of the house projects that made a big difference in looks and functionality in the Hearth Room was a beef-up of the concrete mantel. Not sure why it would have been made of concrete, but the big problem was that it was a very narrow ledge and wasn't proportionate to the size of the fireplace. You can read about that project here. The update is a huge improvement.

New House Journal: First Look at the Sunroom and Armoire

I know to some of you our "move" seems unconventional to put it mildly. Even my husband commented last night that the way we've handled this renovation and the moving process "has been weird". The reno part took far longer than we had ever considered, since we ended up having to do much more work to get things ready to move in.

(I'm laughing when I see in this photo that the little white decorative piece on top of the cupboard had fallen over. It was almost dark when I took this, and I didn't realize it until we'd already left the house, so no time to go back and redo this shot.) 

Warning: Phone Pics Ahead

New House Journal: Moving little by little

We have one "move" down, probably two more to go. We are using a small moving company that we've used before and found a few guys that we really trust. They are amazingly careful and so far have been able to get some BIG furniture down the stairs. My hubby has taken my office furniture and computer apart for this week's installment, so it may be a bit before I can get pics for posts, other than phone shots.

Out of my Comfort(er) Zone

So far in the 2& 1/2 years of living here, I've managed to get away with not showing you our Master Bedroom. There are a few reasons why I've not shared it; here are my excuses...

Ideas on Styling a Cabinet or Cupboard Top

I started a little "project"on top of my Dining Room China Cabinet right after we moved into this house last November. We have really high ceilings here, and I love them, but sometimes the furniture looks lost. Believe me, these pieces are huge (this one is about 7 1/2 feet tall) but there is still a big distance between the ceiling and the top of this cabinet. So now 3/4 of a year later, I finally have some kind of decor up there to help fill in this space.

Antique Armoire

The post I shared last week about the Kilim rug really started out to be about this armoire. You remember it? I had it in the kitchen sitting area at the lease house as a pantry/cupboard. Before that it was in the lower level family room as a quilt and pillow cupboard. Now it's morphed into a TV cabinet for the Master Bedroom. I added the little Kilim rug to give the space a little interest and "oomph".

Kitchen Sitting Room

I was ready to show you a new tabletop vignette I had put together when I realized that I hadn't shown the rest of the Kitchen Sitting Room pics. This space is such a departure from what I had at the other house, but still "my style". I had been concentrating on just whites in the small kitchen eating area, so it was fun to bring in some "woods" over here. I like a mix of the woody tones and whites and neutrals, and having this unexpected space off the kitchen, I have been able to use some pieces I never thought I'd be able to.

This big armoire was in the basement holding quilts and pillows, but since I needed extra storage for pantry items in here, I brought this with us. I had originally hoped to put the tv in here but it took up valuable shelf space, so it's on a separate wicker table.

Yes, it's black on the sides. The girls that had this piece in their shop were spray paint "happy" back before chalk paint came along. They just painted the two sides, (glad they didn't mess with the front of it) but when we get settled, it probably will get a paint makeover...not sure what color.

The two large breadboards are from Antique Farmhouse,

 and the laundry basket is filled with extra linens.

I found the French Cheese sign at Robin's Vintage Suitcase.

This little shepherdess is one of my all-time favorite prints,

it was in the powder room right off the kitchen in the old house.

I love this dark comb painted frame.

I told you about this antique table and chairs here.

It still has initials carved in the top from one of the kiddo's guy friend's.

When I found out, I thought of man-handling him...

good thing he could run really fast.

sorry, sort of blurry

The kitty girls had to find new napping spots here, 

so this is now a fave.

Bonus is that the grain sack replica is burlap,

 so when she's not napping she can chew on it.

(Madonna Pillow from Elliot-Heath Designs)

One of my milkmaid prints is hanging here, 

 the other one had such a heavy frame 

I didn't want to put in the wall anchor for it.

I'm so glad I was able to use this wicker settee that had been on the sunporch.

 It's my new coffee drinking spot first thing in the morning.

An old bench is doubling for a small coffee table.

Just big enough for one of my black tole trays.

Toffee Check Chair Pads from Ballard Designs.

I don't think I've ever shared this old ironstone hexagon shaped tureen bottom;

another basement decor piece.

(I had all kinds of things hidden down there!)

Cute little English Cottage Salt and Pepper.
(you all know I have a little English Cottage thang going on)

Don't forget to enter the Give Away with 
French Bleu Vintage HERE

Joining these Party Places:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Exchange at City Farmhouse
From My Front Porch to Yours
French Country Cottage
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Jennifer Rizzo
Sundays at Home with Alice
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
The Scoop at White Lace Cottage
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Hope you're having a great week, 

March cannot get here fast enough!