Lighten and Brighten

Hope you all are enjoying the day.  It's absolutely gorgeous here ... I have *no* business being indoors, let alone playing on the computer!

So, I'm taking you into our sitting room today.  Some of you may remember that it used to look like this:

It was a yummy metallic chocolate brown (Ralph Lauren Metallic paint in Lush Brown), which I absolutely loved.  However, because the furniture in there is dark, the room began to close in on me. 

After:  I painted the walls BM Manchester Tan, switched out the furniture, the rug and window treatments. 

The chairs and ottoman are from the great room (which also has a new look). I've ordered natural colored slipcovers for the chairs ... hope they work.  And, a smaller jute rug replaced the larger, darker one we had.  I like having more of the wood floor exposed:

I found this silver tray at a local *ha-uge* antique store called B&B:

I've moved things around in the bookcase and have added a few Fall touches there, as well.  Love the vintage Tequila bottle (also found at B&B):

A baby white pumpkin is perched on a nest of shredded paper which all sit on top of cute bowl I just bought at a friend's awesome gift shop called Crazee Birds:

Fun textured pitchers (and, yes ... a-NOTHER bird plate).  I also lightened some of my books up by wrapping them in painter's paper (from Lowes):

This fancy mirror once *lived* in the dining room, but has since moved here:

And, a fun find from Home Goods:

We're really enjoying the new look in our sitting room, especially in the afternoons when the sun pours in through the windows.   

Well, I hope you have a wonderful day!  I'm off to finish up the dining room:

I'm linking up to:

BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday

Make it for Monday

It's So Very Creative

Transformation Thursdays

Inspiration Friday

FJI for Saturday Nite Special


Thanks for stopping by,

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Fall Buffet

Happy Tuesday! It's almost *chilly* here today, which I love!  Since finishing my Fall tree that I shared with you yesterday, I've been tweaking my Fall buffet that sits in our great room.


This is the view of it from the foyer (feel free to click on any pic to make them larger):

A little closer:

A cream pedastal bowl sits in the center filled with pumpkins,  pinecones, leaves, a starfish and a baby pumpkin tucked on top of a little nest:

A vase from Willow House holds sprigs of little leaves, flowers, pumpkins and feathers:

 A cute bird plate from Home Goods:

Continuing the touches of the bird theme, I love this rustic birdhouse I found at one of our local gift shops:

This pumpkin sits on top of a vase I wasn't using.  At the base of the pumpkin sits a round wild *spray* that is supposed to be used at the base of a candle.  Oops:

And, there ya' have it!

I think I may crash Marty's Table Top Tuesday party, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality, Feathered Nest Friday, Color Outside the Lines for Vignette Fridays and Show and Tell Friday.  Come on over and join the fun!

Thanks for stopping by,

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My Fall Family Tree

My poor husband ... he's such a great sport when it comes to supporting my decorating obsession hobby.  He'll make countless trips up into the *sauna-like* attic for me when it's time to decorate for the holidays.  HowEVER ... he wasn't quite prepared to pull a Christmas tree down ... in Sept-EMBER!  lol

I really wanted to do a *family* Christmas tree again this year ... I'm just putting it up a tad bit earlier.  And, it's not *really* a Christmas tree, per se ... more of a FALL family tree, with rustic, muted ornaments (and, okay, a few sparklies mixed in, too)!

I wrapped it in both burlap and grapevine garland and added lots of bird feathers ...

gold and copper-y ornaments (WalMart), and a picture of one of my older sisters and her family while visiting her husband's family in France ...

a few sprigs that have birds' nests on them (with a little gold birdie perched in one now).  The glittery topped acorn sparkles away in the lights ...

gold layered balls (have them in copper and apple green, too).  I found them at Dollar Tree last year ... 2 for $1 ... score!) ...

a baby owl, who found another empty nest to rest in (alongside a picture from when my husband and I renewed our vows in Punta Cana for our 15th Anniversary, this past July):

pinecones scattered on branches and a burlap *skirt* peeking through (you *know* I love the sparkly leaves) ...

Annnnnd, you'll see branches and more feathers sprouting up from the top, along with bows in pretty colors of browns, golds and creams (gotta add more birch):

But, the most important *embellishments* on our tree are the family pictures and sayings that grace it, reminding us what this season is about .. being thankful for family and friends.  I've included pictures of generations past, and I love having them as part of the tree ... part of the season.  Even though I'm not good about visiting my family in Virginia, they mean so much to me.  I get sentimental putting these pics on the tree, especially as I see members of my family who are no longer with us.  Years gone by ... moments that are now memories.  

Here's my younger sister (now 35) surrounded by my late grandfather and other relatives, while she models a lovely purse (*ta-da*) at a family gathering.  She's always been the stylish one!  And, my most treasured picture ... the moment I first held and met my son.  Okay, where are my tissues?

Thanks for visiting!

I'm linking up with:

Making the World Cuter Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Motivate Me Monday

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B is for Beads!

Happy Thursday ... another week is almost done!  Well, it's still gloomy here in South Carolina; however, the sun is supposed to return tomorrow (yay)!  So, while I'm enjoying an evening inside, I thought I'd join Jenny Matlock for her fun Alphabe-Thursday party.  This week, the letter is "B" ... so I've chosen "Beads." 

As I mentioned in my last post (sharing my Fall mantel), I was determined to add a beaded garland this year; however, I simply couldn't find one a.ny.where!  I am NOT a crafty chick; however, I realized that if I *really* wanted the look I was going after, I was going to have to make the garland myself.  *Heavy sigh*

Off to Michael's I went.  There, in the jewelry section, I was pleasantly surprised to find these little beauties!!  The colors were perfect for the natural look I wanted:

So, while watching my favorite(!) show, Modern Family, I simply threaded the beads randomly onto picture frame wire.  I chose this type of wire so that it would withstand the collective weight of the beads, and also allow me to manipulate the wire into the shape I wanted.

And voila:

While it's certainly not going to be featured in Martha Stewart's Living magazine (lol), I'm happy with how it turned out ... mainly because it was super easy and inexpensive!

Thanks for stopping by,



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warm blush...

It's official, in my home the 'warm pink' is the fall colour:-)

What are the hues that are painting your fall this year?

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"Le" Fall Mantel ...

Happy Tuesday!  One day closer to the weekend .... yay!  It's still so dreary here (even though we *really* need the rain)!  This icky weather has *forced* me to stay inside and work some more on my Fall decor.  Darn!

Well, I thought I'd share our great room mantel (or mantle) today.  Here it is, all decked out for the Fall season (feel free to click on pictures to enlarge).  I'm still so happy with its *new* look:

You see, pictured below is what it looked like last year (and, please excuse the metallic background behind the mirror ... that was RL Metallics Paint/Golden Candlesticks, and whenever a flash bounced off of it from a camera, it would "light up."  Crazy).  While we thought our fireplace surround was "nice," it looked like every other mantel in our neighborhood (with the arched cutout above).  I really wanted to "beef it up," and set apart from everyone else's. 

So, I found a few inspirational pictures ... drew up a sloppy sketch, and a friend of ours (who has an amazing talent when it comes to woodworking) brought my chicken scratch drawing to life.  We love it!  It's so much more fun to decorate, as the mantel is not only wider, it's also deeper, so it can hold more of my "stuff" ... yippee!

I was determined to hang beaded garland this year, but I couldn't find any.  So, I bit the bullet and decided to make it myself (yikes).  I found pretty wooden beads at Michael's and simply strung them onto picture frame wire.  Voila ... super easy, coming from a NON-talented crafter!  (lol) 

I shared my pumpkin/guord filled hurricanes last week, but here they are again:

Love the muted pumpkin/leaf garland I found at Hobby Lobby! 

I tucked some feathers in for fun:

As for the floral arrangement ... nothing fancy ... I just threw some sprigs with tiny leaves and tiny rust colored flowers into a vase I wasn't using ... tried to keep it simple:

Of course, I just *had* to add feathers and tucked some leftover burlap garland around the base of the florals.  It looks like the arrangement is wearing a burlap scarf ... lol:

And, I gotta give a little shout out to the *oh-so-pretty* coppery/bronze-y container that I found at, none other than, Home Goods!  And, even though we have a gas fireplace, I decided to fill the bucket up with logs ... just thought it might add to the rustic feel I'm going after this year:

Before I go, I leave you with how the mantel looks at night, all lit up:

Oh, and, *speaking* of all lit up, I can't wait to share my Fall tree with you!  Yes, that's right folks ... I said Fall *ter-ee!*  I've.gone.mad!

Thanks for stopping by,

I'm linking up with:

The Nester's Fall Mantel Party

Hooked on Houses for the Fall Open House Party

Falling Up for the Fall Linky Party

DebbieDoos for the Before and After Partay

Funky Junk Interiors for SNS

Southern Hospitality

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Dinner's Ready ...

Sunday, already?!  Where did the weekend go?  We're getting *much* needed rain ... it's been a lovely, lazy day (or as we here in our household like to call it ... a "Lifetime" day). 

Thank you all so much for your kind comments about my humble abode!  I sincerely appreciate your visits and thoughtful notes ... they make my day and are so encouraging!  I've learned so much from all of you, and love that I get to share my passion for decorating with such talented folks as all of you!  Thank you!

Soooo, my dining room (which used to look like this):

... has taken on a new look (imagine that), which I can't wait to share with you.  A little peek:

For now, I thought I'd at least share my dining room table, all dressed up for Fall!

I chose to keep with the more muted tones like I did in the breakfast room:

The lovely stemware is from Marshall's ... the leaf bordered chargers are from Wal-Mart, the cream plates and the green leaf plates are both from Home Goods (last year), and the cream bowls are a recent purchase from Wal-Mart (only $3 a bowl ... score)!!  The soft gold napkins (as well as the avocados) are courtesy of Pier One.

I shared my hurricane filled with acorns/pinecones during the recent "cloche party," but here it is again.  I'm loving the white pumpkins:

This pretty little fella was a score from my fave, Home Goods (last year).  It fits perfectly on the candlestick to give it a little height.  I placed the cool antlers from Pottery Barn at the base of the candlestick ... all of which is resting on a rustic, sisal table runner (also from Pottery Barn):

And, yes, folks ... another CariKraft framed card:

I'm really having fun with this new look.  I've always been so strong into lots of bold colors ... this is a fun change for me.  Wonder how long it will last?  LOL

I'm linking up with:

Metamorphosis Monday

Make it 4 Monday

Table Top Tuesday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Toot Your Horn Tuesday

Thanks for stopping by,

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