Restyling My Bookcases

I've never ascribed to the theory that less is more - I'm definitely a "more is more" kind of girl.  I tend to get as much "stuff" as I can into any given space.  I've tried to love the "spare" look - and I do, for someone else.  But more is me.

So I decided to redo my bookcases, to get more "stuff"!  They had a lot before:

Then I decided to move them together to create a sense of coziness:  So I created a "corner" library where they met on adjoining walls.  And then I decided to paint the backs green.

Now I reformatted them, and we'll see how long these changes last.

The wicker baskets are what kick started this redo.  I love texture, and have wanted baskets for storage for some time - just didn't want to pay the prices I've found.  However, a few days ago I was in one of my favorite antique stores and saw these baskets, reasonably priced!!!  So I have a lot of my books and cds that aren't very attractive in the baskets.  Most of these books (except for my decorating books) are vintage.

 

I collect books with pink spines (and they're pretty hard to come by!).  I am loving this particular vignette.

My view when I'm watching tv

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Partying at:

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Debbie at  Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Monday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Centsational Girl Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Be InspiredCommon Ground Thursday  
Yvonne at  Stone Gable  for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits Thursday
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday 
Denise at THROWBACK THURSDAY
Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
 The Thrifty Groove ~ Thrifty Things Friday
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home Friday
 French Country Cottage Friday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Cindy At My Romantic Home

Karen at A Stylish Interior for Stylish Friday Finds

The Cottage Market Friday

Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House

Funky Junk Friday 

It's Overflowing Saturday 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading

 Seasonal Sundays

Around My Kitchen

When we bought our house about three years ago, the kitchen was covered in blue striped wallpaper.

I like blue, but didn't want blue walls in the kitchen.  The kitchen opens onto the living room; and through all the color changes in the living room, the blue in the kitchen was just "in your face".

We had the wallpaper removed, and the walls textured.  Then my husband did a two-step paint treatment.  Now I just love my kitchen!

Much sunnier and happier to me

The curtain fabric is one of the few decorating choices I've made that my 25 year old daughter approves of.  I love this fabric!  It makes me smile.  I made the curtains from a free tear-off at Hobby Lobby.  However, the directions were wrong, so don't go looking for them!

Looking in from the living room. No longer "in your face"!

Above the cabinets.  A friend painted the rooster in the middle of this picture.  I love it!

See the chipped plate below?  I embrace imperfection.

Purchased these little beauties at Warrenton several years ago.

I love my vintage scale hiding out on top of the frig.

And my Welsh dresser - my pride and joy!

So even though I'm not crazy about cooking (only about eating), this is a room that I love to be in.  It just wraps itself around you.

But I could sure make a cup of coffee any time you want to stop by!

Partying at:

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Debbie at  Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Monday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Centsational Girl Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Be InspiredCommon Ground Thursday  
Yvonne at  Stone Gable  for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits Thursday
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday 
Denise at THROWBACK THURSDAY
Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
 The Thrifty Groove ~ Thrifty Things Friday
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home Friday
 French Country Cottage Friday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Cindy At My Romantic Home

Karen at A Stylish Interior for Stylish Friday Finds

The Cottage Market Friday

Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House

Funky Junk Friday 

It's Overflowing Saturday 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading

 Seasonal Sundays

Happiness Is

If I had to pick only one decorating picture, and could only save one, I have found it.  It could be my style, or it might not be.  But this one picture just makes me so happy.

It is, of course, by the master himself, Mario Buatta.  Love.

New Serving Tray

I recently went to Target to look at their boots, and somehow ended up in home decor.  (Isn't it strange how that happens?)  Am so glad I did.

I've been looking for something "fox" to go with my hunt themed home, and to date had found nothing satisfactory.  But that changed with this delightful fox serving tray.

It's from Threshold.  Don't you love that line?

They also had some fox head wine stoppers, but I didn't like them that much.  I think I like this because the foxes are running.

 

 

I don't have plans to "serve" anything at the moment, so for now the little foxes will have to be content to run around the table.

 

As always, thanks for stopping by!  Hope your day is full of sunshine today!

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Debbie at  Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Monday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Centsational Girl Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Be InspiredCommon Ground Thursday  
Yvonne at  Stone Gable  for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits Thursday
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday 
Denise at THROWBACK THURSDAY
Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
 The Thrifty Groove ~ Thrifty Things Friday
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home Friday
 French Country Cottage Friday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Cindy At My Romantic Home

Karen at A Stylish Interior for Stylish Friday Finds

The Cottage Market Friday

Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House

Funky Junk Friday 

It's Overflowing Saturday 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading

 Seasonal Sundays

Let it Rain

My morning glories are so happy with the rain, and the (finally) lowering temperatures.  It was such a hot, dry summer.

So thankful for this wonderful rain.

Coming Home

I love to read.  One of my favorite authors is Rosamunde Pilcher, a true jewel in the British crown, in my opinion!

 !

I first read her book Coming Home twelve or so years ago, and was truly smitten.  After that, I devoured the rest of her books.  Her style is so charming, cozy, welcoming, and warm.  This book is also a tremendous history resource.

The story begins in the late 1930's, in England, as the young girl Judith is starting boarding school while her family is off to Singapore because of her father's job.  We follow her through a romantic childhood into young adulthood during the war.  Her life becomes forever entertwined with the family of a dear school friend.

From a historical aspect, I learned more about the Second World War from this book than I ever did in school.  Ms. Pilcher personally served in the WRNS, and so her descriptions of that life are first hand knowledge.  Her future husband served in the Gordon Highlanders, and she drew a lot of knowledge from that, I'm sure.  Reading this book, it struck me how much we take for granted, and how good we really do have it, even in a tough economy.  A whole generation of young people had their youth stolen from them.

The story itself is charming, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.  Her descriptions of England make me want to go even more than I ever wanted to before.  This is a book that will delight you, haunt you, and entertain you altogether.   You will want to read another of her books as soon as you can. 

Warrenton!!!

Last week was the semi-annual antiques fair in south Texas.  Marburger Farm is where it all started, but now it has grown to include many little towns in that general area.  It's one of my favorite events to attend.

We made a day trip there, and had a really good time, except for the heat and humidity.  At one point I was ready to leave (which you never hear me say in the same sentence as "shopping") because I could feel the sweat running down my back.

Didn't purchase much, but here they are.  First is my antique iron bench which is wonderfully chippy, painty, peely.

 

I have been looking for a bench like this for years, but they are hard to come by in our area.  The dealer had the complete set, but for now I just wanted the bench.

Aren't the layers of paint just wonderful?

 

I have never seen the design on this platter before.  The dealer, who is from Atlanta, had some wonderful things that I don't typically see around here.

The design is "Rural Scenes" by A. J. Wilkinson and, according to the dealer, was made in the 1920's.

 

 Isn't the design on the edge of the platter just wonderful?

My husband bought a vintage telephone.  When I asked him where he wanted it, he said "Put it with your stuff".

(photo styling!)

And the piece de resistance - the one I had to let get away because of the price. But isn't it precious?  I would love to have it in my collection.  I forgot the name of the pattern - does anyone know it?

So it was a full, fun and hot day.  Thanks for looking with me!  And thanks for coming by!

Partying at:

Mosaic Monday

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Debbie at  Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Monday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Centsational Girl Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Be InspiredCommon Ground Thursday Yvonne at  Stone Gable  for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits Thursday
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday 
Denise at THROWBACK THURSDAY
Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
 The Thrifty Groove ~ Thrifty Things Friday
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home Friday
 French Country Cottage Friday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Cindy At My Romantic Home

Karen at A Stylish Interior for Stylish Friday Finds

The Cottage Market Friday

Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House

Funky Junk Friday 

It's Overflowing Saturday 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading

 Seasonal Sundays