Officially the calendar says it's fall, but outside it's a sweltering 90-degrees here outside of Chicago. And the heat is supposed to continue for the next several days. Ugh. Still, I'm keeping an autumn state of mind and am sharing a few pretty fall vignettes with you that might help you get your own home ready for the changing of the seasons. Pumpkins and Gourds Okay, so this category of fall vignettes is pretty obvious. When in doubt, grab … [Read more...]
National Coffee Day Is Coming Soon!
September 21, 2017 By 4 Comments
Are you a coffee lover? Next Friday - September 29th, 2017 - is National Coffee Day! Do you plan to celebrate? Maybe you'll enjoy a decadent coffee recipe on this special day. Or maybe you'll finally create that coffee bar in your home that you've been craving. In anticipation of National Coffee Day, I'm sharing coffee-inspired ideas to enhance this special day. And at the end of the post, you'll find where to enjoy National Coffee Day … [Read more...]
My Fall Farmhouse Tour: Part One
September 19, 2017 By 43 Comments
Welcome to the first part of my fall farmhouse tour! I've been getting rooms ready ever since Deb at Seeking Lavender Lane decided to organize this fall tour of farmhouse bloggers. Every day this week, different bloggers are sharing their homes decked out for the fall season. The links are at the end of this post. A special welcome to those of you heading over from Sincerely Marie Designs! I love Amanda's home and style. And thank you to … [Read more...]
Architectural Details: Charming Home Tour
September 17, 2017 By 6 Comments
Today's home tour has unique architectural details that I think you'll find quite appealing. Not only does this home enjoy good bones, but it's beautifully decorated by Lauri Rossi Interiors. Take a look and see for yourself! Note the transom windows above doorways in the living room (and the dining room beyond). Painted in black, the transoms stand out instead of fading into the background. Photo by Tom Grimes Photography Beautiful … [Read more...]
The Gorgeous Colors of Fall
September 16, 2017 By 5 Comments
Although I love summer, I love fall too! I'm enjoying the emergence of the gorgeous colors of fall. Everywhere you turn there's visual evidence of autumn's charm. From the turning of leaves to the gathering wheat in the farm fields, there's an abundance of eye candy. Wouldn't it be fun to stack a pile of pumpkins, squash, and gourds out in the yard? Our local farm market is now carrying a variety of heirloom pumpkins. Photo by Rikki … [Read more...]
Vintage Bird Printables for Fall
September 13, 2017 By 17 Comments
Fall will officially be here in less than two weeks! I've been cozying up my rooms with warm colors for the autumn season. I saw beautiful bird prints in round black frames that I loved, but didn't purchase them due to their price. Instead, I decided to make my own. And what's more ... I have the vintage bird printables here on my blog that you can download to make your own! Today I'm joining several bloggers to bring you a variety of … [Read more...]
Small Space Kitchen: Style and Storage
September 12, 2017 By 11 Comments
Do you struggle with storage and space issues in your kitchen? I think most people do, regardless of the size of their kitchen. Today I'm featuring an adorable, small space kitchen that's large on style and storage. When I discovered it, I was amazed at the smart use of space! This charming cottage kitchen was designed and befitted by Middleton Bespoke, known for their quality craftsmanship. Old World charm flows throughout the functional and … [Read more...]
Craftsman House: Charming Home Tour
September 10, 2017 By 5 Comments
The first home I purchased was a craftsman house. I loved all the architectural details of that small charmer. It was a perfect starter home. Today's tour features an updated craftsman house by Kelly and Co. Design that's quite larger than my first humble home. A simple farmhouse bench greets you when entering the home, hinting at the warmth and comfort in rooms to come. Photo by Kelly and Co. Design A dark-paneled wall surrounds the … [Read more...]
The Return to Small House Living
September 9, 2017 By 42 Comments
Turn on HGTV today and chances are you might see one of the popular tiny home shows. Before the economic downfall, the housing trend was leaning toward McMansions and then around 2009 a movement toward small house living was launched. You've probably seen those tiny houses that are less than 500 square feet in size. While that's a little small for my liking (I have claustrophobia), I can see the attraction toward cozier cottages. How adorable is … [Read more...]
Warm Up Your Rooms with the Color Brown
September 7, 2017 By 8 Comments
Normally I'm attracted to whites and cool colors when it comes to decorating my home. That all seems to be changing these days. For some reason, I've been strongly attracted to brown, tan, and other neutral tones like gray. Honestly, I think it began when I featured the Randolph Cottage in my Charming Home Series. The color scheme is a great way to warm up your rooms. Here's the living room from the house that started it all. I love the warmth … [Read more...]
Vintage Fall Mantel with Brown Bottles
September 5, 2017 By 11 Comments
Although it's not officially fall, the autumn decorating season in the blogger world has begun! Last week I joined Taryn Whiteaker and a few other ladies for a DIY fall project. Today I'm joining a slightly larger group to share more seasonal decor. See how to create a vintage fall mantel with old brown bottles and baby boos! (This post contains affiliate links.) I love me some vintage bottles, no matter what the color. My collection … [Read more...]
Hamptons House: Charming Home Tour
September 3, 2017 By 3 Comments
Today we're touring a charming Hamptons house decorated by Alison Kandler. I love her playful use of color - it's not overbearing but rather, just the right touch for each room. Step inside this delightful home with its quaint appeal. A brightly painted Dutch door beckons you to come inside and make yourself at home. Photo by Alison Kandler Interior Design Painted bead board wraps around the walls of the mudroom with built-in benches. … [Read more...]
Fall Decorating Ideas to Boost Curb Appeal
September 2, 2017 By 17 Comments
Our temperatures are dropping slightly here in Illinois. Summer hasn't left yet but fall is trying to wiggle her way in. The trees can't ignore the shorter days however, and leaves will start to turn color in few weeks. While it isn't here just yet, autumn is such a beautiful time of year and worthy of a post about fall decorating ideas to boost your home's curb appeal. Photo by Rikki Snyder A fringe of red leaves creates a pretty … [Read more...]
Hi! I'm Jennifer and I'm happy to have you here! I live where the suburbs meet the country, which affords me the best of both worlds. Come along on my journey where I share decorating, cooking, gardening and more as it relates to both city and rural life. 
