Villa in Umbria, Italy

Hi Everyone!
     Today I would like to share a little piece of our trip to Italy. I can't stop talking about the beauty of this country. I promise I will not bore you with all the details and all the photos of our trip.
Our trip took us to the cities of Rome and Florence. These cities were magnificent. A beauty that can't be put into words. But for me, I fell in love when our trip took us to a villa in the Umbrian town of Monteleone d' Orvieto. This was the countryside, the mountains, the olive trees and the grape vines. This was such a peaceful, tranquil corner of the world. I never wanted to leave!

                                                               View of valley from villa deck

                                           

                                                                     Living Room

                                 
                       Bedroom- take notice of frescoes on ceiling and patterned floor.
                       

                                                               Eating Area in Kitchen

                                                                      Kitchen

                                                                       Bathroom

                                                                  Library

                                                               Bedroom

                                                                           Fresco

                                                                      Bathroom

 This villa was so beautifully decorated. I just had to share it with you!!!

 Thank you Lisa & Chris for showing us this beautiful corner of the world!!!



                                         xoxo
                                               Sue              
                                                                     

             

Lola's Bedroom

Hi Everyone!

             I know it's been awhile.....but I'm back!!
     It seems like this winter just won't end. Snow on April 2 and snow is predicted for tomorrow. Ugh!!
 The pansies are for sale at the local nursery, so spring can't be very far away.
With Spring comes the excitement to refresh our home inside and out. I have a million ideas and I'm excited to get started!
   
     The post today is about color.
It's amazing how color can transform a room. It is by far the most simple, inexpensive way to give a room a new look. I do not find it easy to choose colors for my home. As hard as I try, I always end up painting the walls some shade of white. White or pastel walls are my comfort zone. I remember a few years ago painting our bedroom in a color called café latte. To me, it was a new adventurous color. Big change from my usual. My family found it amusing how I even called this a color. To them it was just another shade of my usual white. I do find it easier to use color in the furniture, rugs  and accessories.  My home may be painted bone white, but I so admire anyone that paints their rooms beautiful, bold colors.
      Recently our granddaughter, Lola decided she wanted to redo her bedroom. She will be turning 13 soon. Lola decided that the dolls needed to be put in the attic and the room needed to become more suitable for a teenager.
     Lola has always been a girl that loved color  She loved to color in her coloring books from the time she was a little girl. Lola would mix and blend colors that made her pictures come alive.Her pictures were more than colorful, they were beautiful! I admire this talent of hers. She may no longer color in coloring books, but that talent to put colors together is evident in everything she does. She has a gift to create beauty in every thing she touches.
      When Lola began to redo her bedroom she decided the color would be Teal. Her favorite color.  Paint chips hung on her wall for weeks so she could chose just the right color teal.
Lola allowed all of us to give our opinion of which color teal she should paint her room. But I believe none of our choices influenced her in making her final decision. Just as she would choose the crayons for her pictures in her coloring books Lola knew just what color she wanted. Her choice never wavered

Lola's Bedroom

The paint color on accent wall is Mermaid's Song. The paint on other three walls is Italian Ice. I just love the white furniture and bedding.  Lola wanted me to mention that the room isn't finished yet. She is still searching for just the right art for over the bed. She also has to hang her fairy lights. 

 The room is a beautiful mix of color and style. It is young, fresh and just Beautiful.

Love your new room Lola!!It is so you!!! Enjoy!!!

Please leave a comment

sue

xoxo

The "Paris Grey" Dresser for the Guest Room

      Happy Friday Everyone!
                   Todays post is about this cute little dresser I found .
I had been searching for a small dresser for quite some time for our guest room.  It was such a difficult task because the room is so small. The dresser has to be narrow and small.
Not easy!
After months and months of searching I finally found this little dresser hidden in the back room at an antique shop. It was just the right size and an added bonus was the attached mirror.
I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint," Paris Grey"and protected it with Annie Sloan,"Clear Wax".
Now, I just have to say something about this paint.....it was easy to work with and covered the original black paint on the dresser and mirror in only two coats. The clear wax also was easy to apply. I did follow directions and allowed it to cure as suggested. The end result is a very professional piece of furniture.
I am in love with this paint!!! I will use it again! The Annie Sloan paint finish is just beautiful. The color is just what I've been looking for.
It's funny how one piece of furniture can add just that finishing touch. This little dresser took the room from ordinary to fabulous!
   

Guest Room

                                                                   

                                                Have a great weekend!!

             

xoxo Sue

The Gilded French Mirror

Hi Everyone!

                                      I have been hibernating this winter
    The cold weather, snow and ice has made me just want to get under the covers and stay there. I seemed to lose my motivation. You would think I would use this shut in time to be creative, but instead I spent a lot of time dreaming of what changes I want to make this year in decorating the house.
     January seems to be a time for change. And that is exactly what I have began doing!
If you have followed me you know that the townhouse we live in  has an open floor plan. I want to begin to make changes to all three rooms...the living room, dining room and kitchen.
During my hibernation this last few weeks I began to reread some of my favorite magazines. It's funny how reading a magazine for the second or even the third time allows you to see things you missed or dismissed the first time.
My favorite magazine has been " French Style". I came away with a million ideas. The best words I read in this magazine were, "Don't just play it safe when decorating your home, decorate with the things that give you butterflies"  Great advice! Especially for someone like me that always plays it safe.
     The motivation has returned.....I am excited once again. I want a different look than what I had in our other home. I spent the first few years we have been here settling in, but now I'm ready for change.
       I purchased a beautiful French mirror for the living room. It was my Christmas present. The room is small so the mirror will make the room feel larger. The gold added just the right about of
bling.  I am in love with it! Bring on those butterflies!!

French Gilded Mirror

             Have a great week!
                                Sue
                                      xo

A Christmas Wish...

                         From Our House To Yours,

                                                 Wishing All A Very Merry Christmas!
                           
                         

May we all find the Magic of Christmas as we did when we were little children.

May that Magic fill our hearts always!!

xo,  Sue

Paperwhites in Time for Christmas

Happy Almost Christmas Everyone!

         Here we are down to the last few days. Sometimes these days are the busiest.
The house is all decorated, the presents are wrapped and most important the paperwhites are in bloom. I held my breath waiting for these blubs to bloom in time for Christmas. There were days it looked like nothing was happening...and then there was no stopping them...one bloom after another.  I am always a little doubtful. I think the fact that I talked to them every morning helped! It's hard to believe something so beautiful could come from something that is so easy. All it takes is patience.
They are well worth the wait. They never disappoint!!!

xo

Sue

"It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas"

 Hello Everyone!
     Well, here we are 10 days until Christmas! I know, how did the time go so fast? Wasn't Thanksgiving just yesterday? I know for me, there never seems to be enough time. But this year we started decorating a little early with the intention of saving some time to enjoy the season. Well you know what they say about the best of intentions!!! It seems that I'm never done! I always seem to find one more ornament to hang on the tree or one more Christmas item I just have to buy at Home Goods.
So today I am taking a pause....
When I mentioned enjoying the season what comes to mind is our family trip to New York City.
I don't know just when it started, but it became a family tradition. We would take the train into the city to enjoy the excitement that New York City offers at Christmas time. The beauty of the store windows that are decorated for the holiday. Macy's has a whole floor of decorated Christmas trees. I  so look forward to seeing those trees. They are so beautiful.  They inspire me! I can't forget the smell of chestnuts roasting,or the sound of the bells ringing by the street corner Santas. We would always visit Saint Patrick's Cathedral which was filled with what seems like a million poinsettias. It's a sight to behold.  Just the hustle and bustle of the shoppers on the city streets brings excitement. At the end of the day we would make our way to Rockefeller Center to see the lighted Christmas tree. Now, I can't say enough about the beauty of this magnificent tree. It is truly a sight to see.  It's one of those things you cannot describe in words or even pictures. It is so beautiful it takes your breath away! This one day in New York City at Christmastime would give our family that feeling of warmth that only Christmas can give.
Just thinking about all our trips to the city for Christmas brings me back there. They are great memories!  This is my favorite time of the year!
       I believe my love of Christmas is what makes me enjoy decorating the house for Christmas.
Let me share some pictures with you.....
..

                                                                      Living Room Tree

                                                               Christmas in the kitchen

The dining room table set with the Christmas china. The centerpiece of Paperwhites. I planted the bulbs the beginning of December. I can't believe how well they're growing.I will take another picture when the Paperwhites come into full bloom. They should be in bloom by Christmas.

                                                Hot chocolate station with all the fixing

                                                               Guest Room Tree
                                                                             
                                               
May we all enjoy the Christmas Season!!
                                xo,
                                   sue