Front door makeover done..

The whale's tail shiny silver knocker won.

Pretty nickel hardware added to our shiny "Chantilly Lace" front door completes the entrance.

Remember the before above? Do you like the change?

lounge in progress

lounge 8/18- 5 days after moving in.. walls prepped for painting.

lounge 8/24- walls painted chantilly lace by Benjamin Moore.

lounge 9/2- pictures and mirrors getting arranged for placement.

lounge 9/26- brown velvet arm chair moved in, new sea grass rug, straw loveseat couch and brown paisley armchair bought.

lounge 9/30- some lighting coming together.

The house is shaping up a little more every day. I'm quite the pro and the old drill and hammer.. 3 curtain rods up this past weekend... and they are straight!
The lounge is making the most progress at the moment as one thing led to another and it just ended up getting all the attention.

Here it is as of 10/6 getting quite cozy!

Waiting on strong men to hang mirror above fireplace and chimney sweep.

Throw blanket, roaring fire, vino and a good book.. can you see it?

Yummy cushy paisley armchair. I so chose this and pictured it as my spot and then hubbie claimed it his chair last night!..hmph!

bit'a'sparkle for the pasiley chair!

So I guess this is MY chair.. Not so bad, this was my chair in the apartment.

My pretty hourglass purchased in Nantucket last summer with a "smelly" candle and a pretty ceramic ghost tealight holder.

My mom brought us this dried hydrangea wreath last week. It lasts forever in these lovely colors as long as it's not in direct sunlight.

Starting new lets me surround myself with things i love and move the rest on.. My fish card is the welcome to the neighborhood card from lovely Ali. This candle of ladies has been around for many years.. Ken and I bought it at a restaurant that had them at the bar about 9 years ago! It smells like lilacs and it is collapsed on one side because we left it in a sunny window sill once!.. I can't give it up though! The iron fly is from a friend of my mom's. It was in a housewarming gift basket from when we bought our place in the city 6 years ago. The peonies are silk. I don't love fake flowers but I do love peonies so these are more of an ornament than a fake out!

Velvety armchair and its crisscross pillow got a little bling with a metallic leather boudoir pillow!

Love the chandelier but too low for this room arrangement so it might get moved to the dining room.
The lamps and tables I bought with the intention of painting but I've ended up doing a "Rachel" and leaving it alone and being happily surprised.

With a pencil, ruler, measuring tape, drill and a little patience, this happened.

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Stores Are Re-Opening!

This was the title of one of my morning emails!!!
How happy am I? YAY Rachel fabulous news!!
Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

image from Rachel Ashwell's new book Shabby Chic Interiors.

I spend hours wandering my garden..

...Yeah right!
I did inherit a beautiful mature garden with our new home though and am trying to be a green fingered goddess.. It's just hard when one is also trying to be a domestic culinary goddess, a decorating goddess, an un-packing goddess, a laundry goddess, a pre-school parent board goddess and a non-shouting mommy goddess. I have had time however to be a social goddess too.
Lot's going on. School starts in 3 days (still who's counting) and I will be on a curtain mission, my first order of business to tackle here! I just have to try to stay ahead by not getting any ideas to silkscreen and sew each panel myself.
p.s. If you know what any of these plants are please comment! I know a rose and I hope the last one is basil because we've been eating it with tomatoes.

Getting whiter, getting whiter...

shingles are Benjamin Moore white cloud

all the downstairs walls are Benjamin Moore chantilly lace

We're getting there. Painting is officially complete.

loveee!

So here's something pretty to look at before you read my vent..
So my head is a mass of unfinished rooms. Days are rolling into the next with fun things like bills and organizing filing systems at the top of the list. My 2 sweet angels, 4 and 2 are running wild from 6am until 8pm so there's not much time to really get things done. The good news is, I am thoroughly enjoying just being with my kiddos.. A walk by the water, lunch sitting outside at the pizzeria today and just giggling with them.. The city as much as I love it, was too tough on our relationship.. (the toddlers and mine that is) Here we run crazy and get in each others hair but there's room for it.. loads of room! Although chicken nuggets were on the menu tonight, I have to boast that fabulous meatballs were served two nights ago and mini lemon cakes from scratch in my inherited KitchenAid (thank you Pamela) were made yesterday.. so there's a lot going on and I'm keeping it interesting with culinary wowing but I must say when preschool starts in 10 days (who's counting?) I am looking forward to giving this house a little one on one time. I have floorplans and design boards, furniture finishes and inspiration clips swirling!

pretend and pretty too

Silicone to-go cup.. Isn't it cool? Urban Outfitters. Now that I'm making my own coffee every morning and jumping in the car, this is a fun alternative to my Starbucks in stroller cup holder of city days. So the settling in has been fun, exciting and pretty tiring! Each day is finding a new shop, taking a walk in a new part of the area, and just enjoying our new home. I have been putting off first picture to hang but i think I'm finally ready to take the plunge! I wanted to get the boring unpacking stuff out of the way before the decorating. Will start posting photo updates shortly!

the house (before pics)

So here are before pictures. These photographs were taken before we moved in so things are changing slowly. The house is nearly all white outside and all the rooms are painted. I'll post the progress over the next few weeks.

the front

front door

front porch

above 2- dining room with fireplace

above 4- living room

above 2 - kitchen

above 2- room off kitchen

above 4- basement (playroom, office, TV area and laundry and half bath also)


master bedroom

boys room

girls room

guest room

backyard