Does anything give a call to summer more than a pair of outdoor rocking chairs? Spending a bit of idle time rocking on the porch with a glass of lemonade or iced tea stirs up a nostalgic and simpler time. (This post contains affiliate links.) Photo by BraytonHughes Design Studios A pair of white mismatched rockers on a cabin porch beckon you to slow down and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Photo by Timberland Design A … [Read more...]
NEW French Vintage Decor Book: A Giveaway
June 7, 2018 By 130 Comments
French vintage decor is both elegant and practical. It enjoys a mix of antiques, French items, chandeliers, mirrors, and more. The new book, French Vintage Decor, shows how to effortlessly achieve this beautiful look. This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy. Today I'm so happy to announce the new French Vintage Decor book by my friend Jamie Lundstrom who blogs at So Much Better with Age. Jamie has perfected her French … [Read more...]
Update a Room with New Artwork
June 4, 2018 By 7 Comments
An easy and fun way to update a room is with new artwork. Prints and canvas art can be inexpensive and immediately gives your home a new look. Since adding board and batten to our dining room, I've been searching for new artwork for the south wall. I found an Antique sign for the north wall that worked out well. You might remember the my cream-colored buffet was on the north wall with painted shutters and a wreath above … [Read more...]
Summer Mantel: How to Style
May 30, 2018 By 19 Comments
Styling a summer mantel needn't be difficult. Simply arrange a few of your favorite things in a pleasing manner using a variety of heights. Today I'm happy to be joining other bloggers as part of the Seasonal Simplicity Series organized by Krista at The Happy Housie! We're focusing on summer mantels and you're sure to find inspiration from everyone's creativity. The inspiration for my mantel started with a pair of rosemary … [Read more...]
How to Artfully Display Pottery
May 15, 2018 By 3 Comments
Most of us have a treasured collection at some point in our lives. Maybe you collected marbles or pretty stones as a kid. And now, you might have a collection of beautiful shoes or pillows for every season. I've always been a fan of dishes and pottery and appreciate all the beautiful ways to display pottery. Given ample space in a vintage cupboard, a humble pottery collection takes the form of a still life painting. The spacing of the pieces … [Read more...]
Colorful Bathroom Ideas: Go Bold
May 8, 2018 By 10 Comments
Have you noticed a trend toward neutral tones when it comes to bathroom design and decoration? Neutrals are typically soft and soothing, but a bright and bold bathroom can be a fun place to start your day. Enjoy this collection of 12 colorful bathroom ideas (grab your sunglasses if you're not a fan of bold color). Vibrant Red Bathrooms An advantage of a claw foot tub is that you can paint it a fun color. Here, the red is toned down with paler … [Read more...]
The Antiques Sign That Changed My Dining Room
May 1, 2018 By 11 Comments
An innocent trip to HomeGoods changed the look of my dining room. I was shopping for a housewarming gift for my daughter, and walked away with an Antiques sign that ended up changing my dining room. A large wooden Antiques sign jumped out at me from the clearance aisle at HomeGoods. I realized the size was perfect to replace the mirror I had just hung on the wall. It walked out of the store with me. After hanging it above the board … [Read more...]
Painted Staircase Ideas and Inspiration
April 28, 2018 By 4 Comments
For some people, stairs are simply a vehicle to get from one floor level to the next. And then there are some of us who view stairways as a potential work of art. They can add architectural beauty to a home. An easy way to customize a stairwell is with paint. Here's a few painted staircase ideas to get your wheels spinning on what to do in your own home. Pale blue and white come together to create a fresh staircase in an old Colonial … [Read more...]
The Story of My Rabbit Lamp
April 21, 2018 By 11 Comments
Have you ever found a treasure when shopping but decided not to take it home with you? Such was the case in the story of my rabbit lamp. I first spotted it at The Little Traveler in Geneva and hemmed and hawed over it before finally walking away. The following weekend I decided to go back and get it. Unfortunately for me - the rabbit lamp had sold! (This post contains affiliate links.) Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed. That … [Read more...]
Decorating with Ticking Stripe
April 12, 2018 By 12 Comments
Back in my early twenties I was a huge fan of Asian-influenced decorating. My first rental home was decorated in traditional style with heavy influences of the Orient. Then my older sister showed me an issue of Country Living magazine and everything changed. I fell in love with casual country style and never looked back. A tried and true staple of country decor is ticking stripe and today I'm sharing various ways to use its subtle beauty … [Read more...]
Blue and Green Spring Mantel
March 6, 2018 By 16 Comments
Spring decorating is in full force this week at my house. Yesterday I shared my spring sitting room and today I'm sharing the other side of the room. A spring mantel, which is decorated with a few blue and green items that caught my eye in my favorite store. During a recent trip to Cocoon in Geneva, I spied beautiful vases in shades of blue and green. Cocoon is located in an historic home and I love wandering from room to room, knowing that each … [Read more...]
11 Entryway Ideas: Make an Impact
March 2, 2018 By 5 Comments
My old house is weird when you walk in the front door because it doesn't really have a designated foyer. I've kind of created a makeshift entry of sorts so it's okay. But I'm truly envious of homes with a designated space to greet guests. Here's a few entryway ideas if, like me, you're looking for a bit of inspiration for the entrance of your home. Wood and white always looks good together. Gleaming floors. A beamed ceiling. All that's needed is … [Read more...]
Why We’re Not Moving
February 24, 2018 By 32 Comments
About two years ago I started thinking about selling our 150-year old home and moving into newer construction. The temptation to move began shortly after our basement flooded two summers ago and we painted our home's exterior. Replacing a collapsed basement wall due to a freak rainstorm and flood, along with sprucing up the exterior with paint was a lot of work. And stressful, too. (This post contains affiliate links.) We started … [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. 
