INSPIRATIONAL picture of fabric!

Ralph Lauren fabrics! I just love this stripe! This really strikes me as 'beach' for sure! Love the crisp feeling! The one thing about my style is that I do not like all items, fabrics, furniture and accessories to blend together. I have learned through trial and error and living with furnishings that I do like the drama of high or medium-high contrast.

So, the dilema is, I love off whites, and just love creamy off whites. So, if I do some fabrics like this crisp white in that RL stripe, then mixing in the off whites might take away from the crisp look. I could do this in a room with all naturals using it as an accent. Will be fun to explore this look! I love RL so I am motivated!

ONE YEAR!
It has been one year since I started this blog!
I can't believe that much time has gone by!
Thanks for staying with me during the incredible year

and for all the new friends I met and wonderful things I have learned from all of you!

Since our house is on the market, and we will be relocating, that means Another house!

Another house to turn into a HOME! That means all new projects, photos and ideas to gather!

I am so happy I have a wealth of inspiration out there with my Blogger friends!
This next year of Blogging will be interesting!

Craigslist mirror FIND!

This mirror was on Craigslist for $35! I called, met a nice lady (who has a nice Shabby Chic home) and got it home.I placed it in front of my mantel Acorn-shaped mirror already hung there.

I put it on the mantel since there was no other place to put it right now... and it looked so good I am leaving it there till time to pack it! Turned out to be Empire style...(my style!) It is smaller than the one I already had, but well made and in almost perfect condition! Not bad for $35! AND I met a nice gal who does Shabby Chic and collects some interesting things. We talked for a 1/2 hr while she gave me a tour of her creative home! I am introducing her to Blogging!

What you are seeing in these two mirrors is Duncan Phyfe and Empire mix, they play off each other since they are both in the same style and era. They both are made of mahogany and have a mahogany wood backing.

Foyer new paint freshened

We repainted the front hall/foyer. It had been painted some time ago, so we refreshed it. I picked SW's Pacer White. It has a cooler tone than cream (no yellow) or tan (no orange), I think it goes better with sand. The ceiling is pure white. Thought I would show the molding details.

I had to search for the rest of the photos I wanted to add that show the rest of the foyer!

This photo shows the 'before' picture. The baseboards were smaller, we moved electrical, added columns and crown. There also was no french doors leading into the living room, was just an opening. We also changed out trim to a larger size. This was the only room with hardwood flooring, we added to this for the whole first floor.

Taking a few days off posting!

AS some of you already know, we are packing the house, and sprucing it up for sale. We bring boxes to storage to clear clutter, but clutter keeps finding us! ha ha.
I keep thinking we are near the end... but more shows up!
Sold some things that do not match, things I do not use, and things I do not like.

The END RESULT should be that the next time around in our newer house should be a begining with things that I like and go well together. I am hoping!

We have a few houses in mind, but cannot DO anything until we have a commitment on this one. The house just went on the market last week. We are just taking it one day at a time. As my friend Chris says on her Blog... Refining Life we are Refining our lives.

Our Goal: To downsize, live simpler, easier and in a warmer climate, with the great reward of being closer to grand children!

Happy New Year!

I took down some of the silver to leave more wintery setting. I left the heavier over mantel shelf. Happy New Year Everyone! Project of mantel shelf is here on my Projects Blog.

Table setting for Christmas!

Playing with my tablesetting for Christmas dinner. Silver, shells, birds, paper roses (I made from coffee filters) crystal and dishes! I used a few carnations to fill out arrangement until I can make more roses!

Plates (white with silver stripes are from Target.