Mantel with my Favorite Fall Wreath

Hi Friends, I always look forward to fall and decorating the mantel to create a cozy comfortable space in the hearth room. I'm all about autumn hues and changing leaves, pumpkins, pears, and dried hydrangeas. Quilts and pillows and cozy throws make the seating area a great place to cuddle up, have a cup of tea and read. 

Rustic Garden Seashell Display

Hey friends...

Most of the red/white/blue is packed away, with a little red left behind for "summer". Mid-summer is here and I now have a short space of time to bring out the seashells and put together some fun displays and vignettes using some vintage elements as containers.

Breadboards in Vintage Decor

Hello Friends and Welcome to the Lifestyle of Love bimonthly gathering where we share how we use vintage items in our décor. This month we have a fun topic of "Breadboards". These workhorse kitchen items of the past used to be plentiful at garage sales and flea markets but recently are becoming harder and harder to find. And those you can find have crazy high prices. So I'm sharing some old ones, some new ones, and reproduction pieces.

Flowering Bulbs for Vintage Spring Display

When we moved into this house a few years ago, I was so excited to see what kinds of blooming bulbs and perennials might start showing their little green sprouts and beautiful blooms as we approached Spring. Needless to say for such a lovely large yard and landscaping, there were very few flowers or bulbs that showed up. After living here for four years I now know why...

Bountiful Vintage Fall Baskets

Using baskets has been a fun and creative way for me to decorate since I saw the first issues of Country Living Magazine back in 1978. One of the best things about them is that they can be found at any vintage market, flea, antique shop or garage sale, usually for a price that will fit anyone's budget. Baskets come in so many varieties; mostly wood products, wicker, willow, and even metals. Since I turn first to vintage finds, I have a good stash, big and small, that I can choose from. 

Flowering Bulbs Spring Vignette

I mentioned last week how we didn't have any flowering bulbs planted at this house. (insert sad face) This last 2 years after 2 spine surgeries, I just wasn't up to a plan for bulb planting in the Fall, but I'm hoping this year I can get a few out. (optimistic face!) A mental plan is the first step to getting something accomplished!

The Fall Dining Room and Needlepoint Pumpkins

It's now October, but since the weather hasn't been very Fall-like, I'm still feeling the need for the "lighter version" of Fall Decor. When I was first adding Fall to the Dining Room I was going for Fall colors, but not anything dark and heavy. I don't want a bunch of that when it's 90 degrees outside. I started thinking about maybe using a vintage print on the buffet that had all the Fall feels, but still added some lighter color and a little "white".

Sunflowers for a Late Summer Dining Room

Since August shows up a little later in the week, I'm adding some "Late Summer" color with Sunflowers. They're the perfect way to transition into Early Fall. Real or faux, spread them around for some "happy face" time. You just can't look at Sunflowers without a big smile showing up. I'm adding a touch of "Late Summer" here in the Dining Room on the buffet with a few Sunflowers and prints.

Back Porch and the Potting Bench

This has been the week to finally share my outside spaces... good and not so good. Earlier in the week I posted my front porch that's in the middle of a facelift. That post is a kind of a cringe-worthy "before photo", but I know it's going to get better. So now to the back of the house. I'll show you the potting bench first, since it's the most fun to look at.

Stacking Painted Baskets

I'm very fortunate to have a long wall in the Hearth Room that can handle multiple pieces of furniture, and I've made use of it to bring back two vintage pieces I've had for years. I didn't know how they would look together, but I realized I'd need something of a different size and texture to go between the two. 

Bountiful Fall Baskets Blog Hop

Using baskets has been a fun and creative way for me to decorate since I saw the first issues of Country Living Magazine back in 1978. One of the best things about them is that they can be found at any vintage market, flea, antique shop or garage sale, usually for a price that will fit anyone's budget. Baskets come in so many varieties; mostly wood products, wicker, willow, and even metals. Since I turn first to vintage finds, I have a good stash, big and small, that I can choose from. Today I'm joining in for a Fun Fall Blog Hop that's showcasing Baskets decorated for Autumn. If you're coming from Follow the Yellow Brick Home, so glad you're here. I think Amber loves this time of year just as much as I do.

Dressing up a Metal Basket for Thanksgiving

When you are in the biz of having a space at a Vintage or Flea Market it's just inevitable that you will end up with a few pieces that are a big head scratcher. Why did I spend real money on this? (even if it's just a few dollars) Will anyone else see any potential for this item? Do I just chuck it, or hang on to it until inspiration grabs me by the collar and forces me to make a little effort?

A Few Ways to Transition a Dining Room to Fall

No matter the season, I usually start the change-ups in the Dining Room. That's probably because I get an idea for a tablescape or something new to do on top of the DR table, and that kind of gives me a theme and direction. This year I pulled out a new piece of gorgeous Fall looking fabric that I bought last year but never ended up using. 

French Wagon Vignette

Earlier in the Spring you might remember that I decided to paint my little black Frenchy wagon a light gray. Since then it's become my favorite tabletop decor piece for the Dining Room. I had put off painting it for years, even though I knew I would like it much better. Now it sort of "disappears" on the tabletop, which helps it blend in with all the other elements I love to use.

A Mantel, a Living Room, and Whatever's Left for Thanksgiving...

Hey Everyone,

today I'm going to share the rest of the Thanksgiving decor. Yes, there are bits and pieces left that have not yet made it here on the blog. I hate it, but November 1st to the day after Thanksgiving is hard to navigate in the blogging sphere. I think most of us are coming to the conclusion that there just isn't enough time to relax, celebrate and enjoy Christmas unless we get a jump on decorating. We rush around and make ourselves (and our families) crazy the moment we clean off the table and put the Turkey leftovers in the fridge.

Pumpkin Roundup in the Dining Room

Hi Everyone, I hope you're having a wonderful week. We've had a taste of Fall here in Southwest Missouri these last few days with the trees getting more vibrant, a day of gray skies and soaking rain, and some much cooler temps. (High of 63). We'll hit 80 again, but it was sure nice for a change.

Summer Buffet Scape with Ticking Tablerunner and Sunflowers

A few weeks ago I shared some inspiration of one of my favorite Late Summer decor combos; Indigo Ticking Stripes with anything "Sunflowers". Ticking brings to mind lazy breezy summer afternoons on the porch swing, and Sunflowers are those wonderful happy faces that let us know that Fall isn't too far away. 

I have a cupboard full of mismatched ironstone and transferware, and that includes a stack of old platters that I use for cookouts. A good steak or Bar-B-Que requires something substantial so I put a few things together for an impromptu Summer gathering.