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

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi Everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!
      Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! It goes by way too fast!
Our holiday did not turn out as planned!
Our son and his family were traveling to our house this year for Thanksgiving. We shopped, we cleaned, we prepared the food, we set the table. We were preparing for days all excited to spend a long weekend together with our kids and grandchildren.
      I received the text that they were on their way. Everything was going as planned. Well, that was until I got a phone call from Paul saying that our granddaughter was sick and they had to turn around and go back home. We were all so disappointed!!! But all we wanted was Emily to feel better.
Things don't always go as planned.
The good news is, Emily is feeling better! Lauren was able to buy the last turkey in the supermarket when they got home. And in spite of the change of plans we all had a Happy Thanksgiving!

  Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for our families. It doesn't matter if we are seated around the same table. We give thanks for each and every one of them!!!
    

                        xoxo,
                                    Sue

" Little Italy " in Pittsburgh

          Hi Everyone!
              Today I'd like to take you on a trip to the"Strip District" in Pittsburgh, Pa. This is the Italian section of Pittsburgh....even Pittsburgh has a "Little Italy".
This section is one long block of wall to wall Italian specialties,dried meats, homemade pastas, ravioli, imported olive oil, olives, cheeses, pastries, biscotti. This is only a small list of what is available. You can find everything you need to cook an Italian feast! 
 One of the things I miss most about living in N.Y. is not being able to find all the Italian foods I am so used to. This section of Pittsburgh was like a trip back home. I wanted to buy everything and bring it back to Northeastern Pa. but we did the next best thing...we ate lunch in a great little café.
Enrico's Café was like going back to Venice, Italy. The food was just wonderful!!

Now, no matter where I go I always manage to find at least one store that has something to do with decorating the house. I found the prettiest little shop, Roxanne's Dried Flowers. A beautiful shop filled with dried flowers. My daughter-in-law, Lauren and I got lost in this shop. Lauren and I share the love of flowers and gardening. We both find dried flowers the next best thing.  The

displays were to die for!!! Roxanne was gracious enough to allow us to take some pictures.

                                             Arrivederci,
                                                                               sue

Fall Curb Appeal

           Todays post is about decorating the front of the house. It may be small but I try to give it as much impact as I can.
           I like to decorate the front of the house. To me it says, "Welcome".
 The Fall season has so much to offer in the way of decorations. Corn stalks, pumpkins, hay stacks, gourds, winter pansies, and don't forget the beautiful mums. I don't think I ever saw so many colors as I did this year.
          This year we went to about three different farm stands and nurseries to purchase the decorations. I was in awe at the variety.

                         There was so much to choose from... I wanted it all!!
.

                                                                           Front Porch

     

      A Basket of Mums in the Perennial Garden

The townhouses are all the same on this block. We didn't have a choice about color or shape of our units. They all look alike....but it is through our decorating that we bring our own personality and uniqueness. I love to walk through the neighborhood and see how each person has decorated their home for the Fall. Somehow we have all managed to add a little bit of who we are to our homes. The neighborhood not only looks festive it looks LOVED!!!

                           xoxo
                        Sue

Decorating for Fall Con't......

          Fall decorating is continuing this week. I am ignoring the fact that it's 90 degrees outside.
                                                              Inside it's Fall!!
          I can't seem to get enough of the white pumpkins.....Just love how beautiful they look in my black and white kitchen.
       

                                                          There's always room for flowers.    

            Nothing says "Fall " in our house like candy corn. They are one of Phil's favorite candies. I have to confess I love them too! You know fall has arrived in our house when a jar of candy corn
shows up on the kitchen counter. Well maybe not just one jar.....maybe three and some extra in the pantry. Did you ever wonder why we associate certain things with a particular season?? For me It's the colors of Fall ... the leaves, the mums, the fall flowers and the pumpkins... and oh yes, the candy corn. For Phil it's just the candy corn!!
         
                                                What is it that says "Fall" to you?
                                                                                       

                             xoxo,
                         Sue
                                                                                  

                                                                                              please leave a comment!!!