New Home Tour

We've talked of it for years and we finally made the big plunge. When things are supposed to happen, they happen! We wanted a single story and a little land and now we are here. It's been a year now and my blogging has been sporadic with all the challenges of a move and big projects of building a workshop and a pool, and then there is life.... : )
Pinterest has brought many visitors to my blog, I am flattered and I wanted to get back to blogging because I love writing and sharing. I especially love to hear what others think of my style.
So today.... welcome to my new home. As I gathered photos, I realized the transformation that has taken place.

I love all the features of my home, but I had been transforming my other home to "somewhat shabby chic", and then with my Mediterranean new home came challenges to incorporate some things I really couldn't part with, along with family pieces into my new space. I would love to hear what you think? I had to approach this as adding a little "Italian Farmhouse" decor to include things I love. So come in and come back to see the transformation. 

This was the view shortly after we moved in. Not a lot has changed in the courtyard, just changing out plants after winter and things that survived getting bigger! The gardner in me loves this space, It is so fun to make it more beautiful.

When I moved in this was the beautiful morning view I had from our bedroom window. You can see all the plants out to the left brought from our other home, waiting patiently for their new place. They didn't know it at the time but it would be through a long harsh winter before they'd find their proper place.

This was taken from the bedroom window shortly after the sod and beds were placed. The plants are even larger now. :)

Here was the patio going into fall of last year. The sectional made a great place to cozy up by the fire all winter.

The sectional was moved to view the pool for summer. You can see our vintage steam table there in the distance. See what I mean about shabby coming over?

Looking back toward the house as tree removal began. 

After pool, flower beds and sod, it is becoming our new oasis.

I have lots more to share, I hope you come back, thank you for visiting!

Easter Mantel and Spring Decor

easter mantel and spring decor

I am finally getting around to sharing my Easter and Spring decor, it will soon be time to take Easter down.

I loved these little grass pots, they screamed spring to me. I propped them in tiers using some old spools

I had been seeing the coffee filter wreaths on Pinterest and wanted to make one. These are very hard to make loose. I'm pleased with the outcome. This is the view of the entire mantel. I love the daisies in the old enamelware tub.

The centerpiece for the breakfast table is relaxed and makes me smile each morning. The napkins are some new ones I picked up at Pier One and could not resist the burlap bird napkin rings.

I love using odd items for napkins. These butterfly drawer pulls made me swoon. A bargain at Hobby Lobby.

This little creamer stays out all year. This cabinet in my breakfast houses very special items that mean a lot to my husband and myself. I love things that tell a story. This little creamer belongs to my 90 year old mother. A neighbor gave it to her when she was a little girl. I cherish it. The little lamb statue was something my husband gave to his grandmother when he was a boy. His mother passed it back to him, it has been well loved, broken, re-glued and rubbed to death. The plate behind was also his grandmothers and the white canisters belong to my mom.

I have had this bunny in a crochet dress forever. This year she lounges inside a gathering basket under the cabinet in the breakfast room.

Pier One had these cute Easter trees bundled in burlap, of course I couldn't resist. I ceramic basket was a Goodwill find.

If you know me you know how I love birds. The ornaments for this tree are so sweet. A fun accent to this years Easter decor.

You know those little dollar bins that Target has at the front of their store? I always find cute little things there. Most of the time for my grandkids. But I simply couldn't resist this cute paper egg for $1. :)

My dining room centerpiece stayed very simple. This is most cheerful, I love it.

 You might recognize this little branch from my Valentine post, yes I just swapped out he galvanized heart ornaments I made and replaced them with cute egg ornaments.

In our family we love this song, "Don't worry, 'bout a thing cause every little thing's gonna be alright". When I saw the cute bee post pins I knew in a moment what I would do with them, love the play on words.

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Make your window treatment sing

These were my simple window toppers. I have loved them for many years. Each of our three bay windows had a matching valance like this. My bar stools are covered in the plaid, the beautiful garden print spilling out of the pleated corners and used as cording matched the glass dining table chairs. The beige linen could not have been a closer match to my den walls that coordinate the combined space.

Now the makeover

Changing to my Farmhouse, Shabby Chic feel that is creeping in to each corner of our space

:)

I planned to use shutters beside the center window, as you may have noticed in a previous post. This is the left window. I chose these metal shelves sold by Hobby Lobby since the width of them perfectly hid the wooden blinds when I want full light. For now I have left them in the bronzed finish as they came. I loved this biscuits and gravy sign so much I bought each of my kids one. (Kind of goes along with a family tradition where we tell each other "I love you like.....(whatever your favorite thing might be)" I found this on Decor Steals. I'm hooked on their deals! Not getting paid to say that either.

The little clock is something I picked up for a couple of bucks on clearance. The lunch box belonged to Nick's dad. :)

As you will see, I have two drying racks on the top of two old fence boards, supported by wrought iron  shelf supports. (Confession, the fence boards are not really old. I found a great way to distress them into looking old.....yep, on Pinterest of course.)

The lovely wreath I just bought at Garden Ridge on a sale table for a couple of bucks! The Bouquet sign I found at our local Restore. If you haven't been to your Restore you best look into it. I got my shutters there too! $5 That little green wood crate came with a flower arrangement someone sent me.

Let's stand back with a view of the middle shelf. 

A lantern perches on the opposite end of the shelf. Shelf positioned to hide blind when pulled all the way up. Me likey! :)

This is above the right side window. I love enamelware, thus the colander and tray with Bluebonnets painted on it. (I was thrilled to find this at the Bluebonnet Festival this year). Number 4 galvanized vase came from Micheal's. (on sale...big grin) I'm not sure what all the numbers out there are for in decor these days. You can be sure though that I have a couple of number 5's hanging around because of my 5 fabulous children, now grown. 

Ok now for a full step back view of the breakfast as it is now.

It's very cozy here. Still working on my 2 antique breakfast chairs for this room.

Come in Fall!

This metal pumpkin I picked up last year during a post holiday sale. I just bundled up some fall leaves , inserted a candle stand and I love the simplicity of the fall feel it gives my console table.

Normally I'm dragged kicking into fall grabbing onto summer as long as I can! But for some reason this year, I'm ready for soup, cooler nights and days. Last year the Bradford Pears even gave us some fall color here in Texas.

Fall foliage peaks in the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I've been busy pulling out fall and Halloween things and spreading them throughout the house. So I will share a few of my fall home photos. I have been so inspired by the lovely fall things I find on Pinterest. If you haven't got on yet, you must go check it out. There is a button over there on the right where you can follow my boards if you want.

To my ladies who follow my organization ideas, don't worry I haven't abandoned that part of my blog. Just been in the middle of redecorating the house and caught up in chalk painting and bringing in a new look. 

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