Winter Whites Tabletop Vignette

I don't share this little table often because it tends to be a catch all for whatever I'm putting together in the Garden Room. But it has a sweet little shelf where most of my ironstone pitchers live year round and my vintage silver tray and a mix and match coffee service. It turned out that it was a perfect spot with just the right amount of space to pull together a "winter white" look for these early days of January.

A Few Finds for Fall

Sometimes I forget to let you all see what I bring home from my vintage market shopping. But I had been looking for one of these standing vintage baskets for a while, and I just had to share it with you all. You can never have too many white pumpkins for Fall decor, so when I found a crop of these  "new" metal distressed pumpkins, one had to come home with me. and... I have a Brown Transferware detector built in, so I also grabbed up this little Brown Aestheic Transferware pitcher/gravyboat that was only $5. It's a cloudy and rainy day, so I had to quickly take some pics here in the Dining Room, where the light is always good.

On the Mantel with Pears and Pumpkins

So, I had to look back through my list of posts to see exactly when I had last shared what was happening on the mantel. Last Christmas? you're kidding me? Basically, I've left the main elements the same and have just changed up a few things in the center. I have to drag out a step stool and climb around to work on this monster, so it's just been easier to ignore it.

French Cottage

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a new publication by Hoffman Media that I think many of you will really enjoy, but may not have heard about. It's from the company that puts out two of my favorites, Victoria Magazine and The Cottage Journal. Last Spring they released a Special Issue called French Cottage. It was in magazine form, but could have been a hardcover "coffee table" edition. This year Hoffman came out with a second edition, this time in the hard cover.

Sunroom Ideas for the New House

We've been busy packing and cleaning and updating this last six months at our old house, but I've needed to allow myself some "dream" time to think and gather some inspiration for what I'd like in our next home. I loved my little sunporch; it was a place I expressed myself and had fun. It was a place I could play and decorate and change up for whatever holiday and when the mood would strike. Color and pattern and lots of vintage goodies made it my own special play room.

May 2013

(Following images can be found on my Pinterest boards,

Planked Walls and Potting Benches.)

I know that I'd love to have a bigger space in this next house, but it needs to be a sunroom. Not just a porch. It was often too cold in the winter months to fully enjoy it, so I really want this new space to be part of the house, and hopefully right off the kitchen like before.

These are inspiration pics of what I'd like to do with the shape of the room and the planked walls. I love the look of an old home, maybe added on to over time, and think that the "cathedral" or arched ceiling with planks and beams would be perfect for that vintage vibe. My first love has always been vintage garden goods, so I thought it would be fun to have the sunroom also have the look of a potting or garden shed. 

LOVE those beams! These pics are just to get an idea of the ceiling and walls. I want a white or neutral backdrop for all the vintage pieces and elements to show.

This sunroom space would serve as a sitting room,

 and a place to relax and watch tv or read.

But I want it to be rustic and garden-y, too.

And of course a chandelier or two would be perfect.

with a set of French Doors.

A cupboard for pots and vintage garden goodies...

I always love Kathleen's wonderful inspiration!

A place to display old garden tools...

  I'm the biggest fan of Mary's wonderful Potting Shed.

http://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2011/03/28/gardening-rules/

I love all the light in this wonderful greenhouse,

but wouldn't want glass roofing...

not with the hail we get in this part of the country.

and I'm hoping there's a way to include a brick or stone floor...

or maybe just a "look alike".

This may be where my big armoire in the kitchen ends up,

if so, I'd love to paint it a weathered gray.

My favorite wicker pieces from the old sunporch would be there, 

and I want to find a white slipcovered loveseat for more seating.

and make room for my potting table...

then put my little window conservatory on top.

OK, just sharing a few ideas that are rattling around in my head.

We haven't made any solid plans as yet, but it's not too soon to start dreaming.

Hope you all are having a great week...

We're making real progress at the home front.

We worked on the two decks last weekend, painting and repairs...

I only have one word for that...

YUCK!

I'll be joining in on these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

From My Front Porch to Yours

Mrs. Olson's

French Country Cottage

Jennifer Rizzo

xoxo,

Be Inspired # 153 White Done Right.

Hi Everyone and Welcome to Be Inspired!

Can you believe that we're into the home stretch of August?

and Fall is just around the corner...yay!!!

There are a few people I can easily gush about, and Lynn from Shabby Story is one of them. Lynn and her hubby recently finished a new garden house, where these photos were taken.  Here are a few pics of her decorating start in the interior. Lynn's style and photos are always so lovely...she's a girl that does "white" right!

And here's more great inspiration from last week's party:

Mallori from Vintage Finds has been working on her Dining Room and recently found some cane back chairs to make over. I'm in love with this wonderful brick wall and another fabulous chandelier.

Karen at A Stylish Interior gave us a tour of her porches, where they recently painted them out to keep up a Southern Tradition of Haint Blue Porch Ceilings.

Tammy from My Flower Journal

created some fresh fun Flower Art using old book pages.

Pat from On Crooked Creek

has outfitted her Dress form Lizzie, perfectly for Sunflower Season.

And check out these adorable Beatrix Potter Book Page Letters

from Jamie at Domestically Speaking.

thanks so much gals for sharing all the inspiration!

(Please click on the original post to pin any images.)

Today's Sponsor is Michele from Glass Bead Treasures. Hope you'll take a minute and run by and take a peek at all the fun items in her wonderful Etsy Shop.

thanks so much Michele!

Time to get this party started!

Link up all your inspiration from this week; vintage, decor, diy, crafts, recipes...

whatever has been inspiring you!

Please be a follower of Common Ground 

and please have a link back to this blog,

 within your post to be featured.

Thanks so much for joining in!

Perfect Patina...

On our trips to St. Louis we always try to make it to at least one antique store, flea, or mall before coming home. The trip before this last one we visited two of our fave places, Big Bend Antiques and Treasure Aisle, both in Maplewood.

This tole basket had some heavily rusted areas,

 but it's perfect chippy patina made it impossible to leave behind.

It was really dirty, and even after a soft toothbrush cleaning,

it still had some grungy spots.

And this next piece was love at first sight.

I'm not sure exactly what it came from,

but I think it may have been from some sort of small stove.

any ideas?

It originally had a knob at the bottom too.

It's iron, and super heavy.

Maybe a small wood burning or coal, parlor stove...?

It's on the hearth for these pics.

I'm not sure what I'll do with it,

but it's here for now.

I'm buying much less these days. Being on overload for the last 7 or 8 years selling, I've become much pickier about what I bring home. It really has to be different and definitely call my name. These two patinaed sweethearts really knew how to get my attention. And I've learned if there's something that won't leave me alone, I better get it, otherwise I end up regretting it.
The weather has been amazing the last few days; short sleeve and flip flop weather. Hopefully I can get some plants potted for the deck soon, gosh, I'm so behind on everything. Oh, but I DID see my first hummingbird yesterday morning. YAY!! Hope you're having a great week! See ya Thursday morning for...

I'm sharing this week at these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

TTT at Stone Gable
Treasure Hunt from My Front Porch to Yours
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Jennifer Rizzo

xoxo,