Chippy Old Windows

February 16, 2013, 1:38 pm

I love seeing old windows with all their character used in decorating. There are so many fun and creative ways to use them. Donna at Funky Junk Interiors is having a special old window themed link up and I'm joining in.

My first window was a $10 yard sale find paned mirror in 80's pine that I painted and distressed for our basement guest bedroom. You can see rhe Pottery Barn-inspired Pine Window Mirror Makeover here.

This past Fall I also found two chippy windows for $5 each from one of my favourite pickers. I was buying a piece of furniture and he gave me a good deal on them. This past summer at an outdoor antiques sale there was a pile of old windows for $20 and up in this size so I knew I was getting a good deal. At Christmas I used the single pane window in a mercury glass, naturals and whites Christmas display on the dresser in our living room.

In January the single paned chippy window was propped in the same spot with a simplified winter decor with whites and mercury glass.

I used the second $5 window frame, and eight paned one, on our porch for a Christmas vignette. In January I removed all the 'Christmas' elements and now use it as a winter vignette.

You can bet I will pick up more if I find them at affordable prices because there are so many great uses for old windows. I'm heading over to Donna's party now to take note of other ideas. Do you use old windows in your decor?

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Craving Some Colour

February 20, 2013, 1:17 pm

≫ Next: Crochet Project and Thrifty Finds

≪ Previous: Chippy Old Windows

It might be the winter weather or just this time of year, but I have been craving more pops of turquoise and aquas in our home.

I love snowy winters but this one is dragging a bit and I miss green grass and gardens. I am really missing spring and summer colours in nature. Our home has plenty of whites and neutrals, and I love using blue accent colours, but now I am on a mission to add more.

More aqua, turquoise, robin's egg, and navy. Even some bright grassy greens.These photos of our home are from previous years, and they show some of the soft aquas and blues that we already have.

I am on a mission to start adding more.

Last week at the thrift store I bought a chunky solid pine bread box that was waiting for a makeover. Do you ever come across a piece and you just know it is sitting there on the shelf, sometimes a bit dusty or neglected, and it is telling you "I would look so much better painted a lovely {insert colour}?" Or a local home decor or fabric store has a new item with just the right shade to inspire you? The breadbox was telling me it would look so much better in a lovely robin's egg blue.

So this weekend I started painting it, in between working on my sister's black dresser, and hope to have it finished one day after work this week. I'm not sure where I will use it, but you can bet the colour will inspire me. I will be sure to share photos.

I'm sharing this with...

The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home party

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Crochet Project and Thrifty Finds

February 22, 2013, 3:02 pm

≫ Next: Ironstone in Our Dining Room

≪ Previous: Craving Some Colour

On the way home from work yesterday I stopped at a thrift store in a neighbouring town and found some new pieces for my collections. I thought I would share them today with a crochet project I am working on.

These granny squares will be made into an afghan. So far there are about 40 squares completed -still a long way to go.

When I bought the yarn, Impeccable by Loops & Threads, I had thought about using a rainbow of colours for the centers but kept coming back to these shades of Aqua, Grass and Clear Blue. For now I am going to stitch a bunch of them and try a layout then I will decide if I need to add more colours. I love the sea glass colour palette feel of these three colours.

After Christmas I broke one of my vintage pudding molds/bowls while cleaning so you might guess I was excited when I saw this larger one on the shelf for $1.99. Shoes don't excite me, but old ironstone, oh yeah!

I also picked up this Mary figurine, either to sell or for my collection here.

Milk glass is another favourite collectible that I use in our ensuite bathroom for pretty and practical storage. This footed piece was $2.99.

We are getting more snow and maybe some freezing rain. I'm off now to our youngest son's evening hockey game, in the coldest arena in town, so I will have to save my stitching for when I get home and my fingers warm up! Wishing you a great weekend.

I am linking up to the following parties...

Be Inspired at Common Ground

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin

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Ironstone in Our Dining Room

February 25, 2013, 2:56 pm

≫ Next: Beyond Midnight Dresser

≪ Previous: Crochet Project and Thrifty Finds

It is not a very sunny day today but that didn't stop me from assembling a little vignette on our dining room table after work this afternoon.

I find that at this time of year if I wait for a sunny day to take photos (when I'm not at work) the opportunity seldom comes along. I still need tons of practice in manual but I find that using a tripod really helps. What doesn't help is my sucky vision as I get older. I get yearly vision care and new glasses too. Sigh lol.

This afternoon I grabbed a stack of thrifted ironstone platters, two pudding bowls and vintage linens to create this vignette on our pine dining room table. The black Mennonite hutch is also filled with lots of white dishes, as is the white and aqua pie cupboard barely seen to the right of the window. The table runner I used is a white cotton moire (leftover fabric from my wedding dress) with a deep ruffled edge that I sewed a few years ago.

Last week I mentioned craving some colour so I added a few spring like blues to the vignette with a turquoise book, faux speckled eggs and stone chips in a mason jar.

The ceramic egg holder was a Real Canadian Superstore purchase for $2 last year.

The stack of ironstone platters have been collected piece by piece at thrift stores for a few dollars each. I have others that are being used in different spots in our home.

Vintage cutwork napkins are in the smaller pudding bowl.

Thelarge pudding bowl I picked up last weekis filled with vintage crochet table runners. The old Crown canning jar is filled with blue stone chips, picked up on clearance for $1.25. Everything on the table was bought inexpensively, either thrifted or on clearance.

Last week I also mentioned picking up a pine breadbox for $3. It was a plain pine sealed piece and looked like it had never been used. I painted it robin's egg blue and now have to decide whether to distress it or not before I wax it. The table I plan to use it on needs painting too, so I am showing it here for now.

We are expecting another snow storm tomorrow, this one tracking into Ontario from Texas. So although we are not quite done with winter and I'm not ready for full on Easter decorating, I am enjoying adding more blues to our home. Is your home taking on a lighter or spring-like look?

Linking up to these great parties....

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Cowgirl Up Party at Cedar Hill Ranch, The Farmhouse Porch and Crafty Texas Girls

Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

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Beyond Midnight Dresser

February 27, 2013, 6:03 pm

≫ Next: Robin's Egg Storage Box and More Snow

≪ Previous: Ironstone in Our Dining Room

I have been working on a few furniture pieces in our basement this week and finished one this afternoon.

My sister is turning one of their bedrooms into a guest room/library and asked me to paint the dresser that was part of her children's nursery set. I can't find the before photo I took, so today I will share the after. This four drawer chest was a medium solid wood piece that I primed and then painted with Origins by Benjamin Moore in Satin (kitchen, bath and trim.) The colour is Beyond Midnight. Origins has built in primer but I didn't want to sand so I used primer just in case.

I used Minwax paste wax and then changed the hardware to brushed stainless pulls. The paint was $23 for a small 946 ml can but I still have 3/4 of a can left. The brushed stainless pulls were a garage sale find, brand new in packages last year, 80/$20 (about 25 cents each.) Now I just need my husband and son to carry it upstairs and deliver it to my sister.

We got the snow and rain mix that was predicted. School buses were cancelled today and we received lots of heavy wet snow. It has mostly been snowing since last evening. Come on spring!

Linking up to the following parties...
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Under $100 Linky Party at Beyond the Picket Fence

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Robin's Egg Storage Box and More Snow

February 28, 2013, 1:52 pm

≫ Next: Decorating with Plates

≪ Previous: Beyond Midnight Dresser

I am enjoying adding more blues to our home, this time a lovely robin's egg on a solid pine breadbox.

The box was a clear solid pine piece that I picked up for $3.99 at a local thrift store. From the new condition and markings on the bottom it looks like it was a craft sale purchase that someone decided not to use. The before photo (and yesterday's dresser before) are misplaced so I will share how it looked before distressing.

I used acrylic craft paint and then distressed it, finishing with a paste wax. The knob came with it.

Right now it is in our basement kitchen with not the best lighting. I plan to use it in our family room to store usb and camera cords as soon as I find a larger computer table.

We got that second storm overnight, a rain snow mix.

These are photos in our neighbourhood and on my drive to work this morning. The snow is very wet and heavy.

At least the roads were a bit better today. The plows hadn't reached too many sidestreets by early morning, but the main roads were fairly clear.

Kind of pretty with the snow coating all the trees and bushes and although some are very weighted down, hopefully they will bounce back. Pretty as it is, I am looking forward to spring!

I am sharing this at the following link parties...

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

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Decorating with Plates

March 2, 2013, 12:49 pm

≫ Next: A Spring Gift in the Mail

≪ Previous: Robin's Egg Storage Box and More Snow

I love collecting both new and vintage plates and platters and using them for practical and display purposes in our home.

My current obsession is collecting ironstone platters. I love them in a pile or used under a basket of flowers or to corral items on a bathroom counter.

Plates add a nice back drop to displays in hutches or china cabinets.

I love plates and platters in all shapes and sizes.

I like to switch out plates in seasonal vignettes.

A stack of plates is a great prop.

In our basement guest bedroom I used three different white plates with patterned edges inside a trio of frames for wall decor.

They are on the wall at the end of the guest bed.

Besides lots and lots of white plates, we also have a few seasonal plates that I use in different vignettes. Square Halloween plates....

Solid colours and some pretty patterns too.

I guess collecting them is a bit of an obsession.

In our dining room in the pine china cabinet are the plates I bought new. The tall stack of white plates are caterers plates that we use instead of paper for parties. On either side of our dining room window I hung a pair of vintage brown transferware plates.

We also have 16 place settings of plain white dinnerware from Real Canadian Superstore in the china cabinet. Pretty enough to use for nicer dinners, but cheap enough that I won't worry if they break.

My blue and white transferware is currently in the basement kitchen cupboards. I'm looking for a plate rack to display some of the pieces and I might even remove a cupboard door or two to display some more.

I love collecting little plates too. This butter pat and smaller plate hold my late mom's rosary in our living room.

Single plates and dishes work great as soap dishes in bathrooms. The one on the right is currently on the edge of our soaker tub in our master ensuite.

Plates also help corral containers and bottles. This vintage ironstone oval plate holds the hand soap and lotion in our main kitchen.

I also use mismatched plates or platters as saucers under plants. So, are you a plate junky like me? Thanks for visiting and if you are looking for some other plate inspiration, check out Donna at Funky Junk Interiors decorating with plates themed link up.

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A Spring Gift in the Mail

March 9, 2013, 9:53 am

≫ Next: A Wood Crate and Ironstone

≪ Previous: Decorating with Plates

Today in the mailbox I received a lovely Spring package from a blog friend.

What a treat to get a package from my friend Northern Cottage.

We are just starting our March Break here in Ontario, and I am looking forward to getting a few spring projects completed so this burst of Spring colour was just what I needed to get started.

What pretty colours they are too!

The gift included this lovely altered notebook with ribbon handles. It will be fun to jot notes and lists in it and pretty enough to leave out too.

I will enjoy all the inspiration in this copy of The Cottage Journal -Spring book/mag too. The colours on the front cover are perfect.

And just look at these adorable handmade mug mats.

Love the colourful pattern and the pretty coordinating backing. They will make my tea even more enjoyable.

The packaging was so pretty too, and check out the lovely two sided petite tag (mug rugs for you and sweet) -adorable.

Thanks so much my sweet friend. Now I just need to tear myself away from this magazine and my other newest magazine love, Romantic Homes, and get started on those projects.

Here is a closer look at the true colour of the pine bread box I painted robin's egg blue and shared in this post. Those photos were in our basement kitchen and it is hard to get true colour there.

I am really looking forward to having a week off from work. We have a few things planned but lots of time for myself and some playing around the house. Yeah! Hoping you have a great weekend and that you get some of this lovely sunshine too.

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A Wood Crate and Ironstone

March 11, 2013, 2:19 pm

≫ Next: A Bucket of Flowers to Brighten Our Kitchen

≪ Previous: A Spring Gift in the Mail

I love old wood crates and boxes used for storage and display and just bought one for my small collection.

Last year our oldest son and I made a crate with castors and I have one other small wood lidded box. The large ones I have seen at antique shows are lovely but way out of my price range. This weekend I found this little wood crate at a new antique/junk shop for $10. More than I would normally pay but I loved the patina.

I'm not sure if it is old, but I love that it is rustic and has Canadian Classics stamped on each end.

Sunday was a warm and sunny spring day which inspired me to add some vintage ironstone and crochet doilies for a few photos.

All the pieces were thrifted except for the white medallion crocheted runner in the crate that my paternal grandmother stitched.

I think it will look lovely to add hydrangeas to mason jars in the crate this summer. And late spring (around May) will bring the beginning of yard sales and antique markets around here and you can bet I will be keeping my eye out for wood crates and boxes. Do you collect and use wood boxes in your home?

Sharing at the following parties...

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

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A Bucket of Flowers to Brighten Our Kitchen

March 12, 2013, 2:42 pm

≫ Next: Flowers in Our Living Room

≪ Previous: A Wood Crate and Ironstone

It has been raining and overcast here this week so I thought a bunch of flowers would brighten up our kitchen this afternoon.

Just a simple bunch of flowers in an old galvanized sap bucket. Instead of using the bucket as a centerpiece on the table I placed it on a paint splattered step stool for a casual farmhouse look.

Except for a few bowls of coloured eggs I haven't brought out the Easter decor yet.

I'm currently working on painting a coffee table for our living room. Taking time away from painting to take photos of the flowers is a lovely distraction though.

I am enjoying being off this work this week for March Break. It is only Tuesday and already I got two different visits to the hospital for scheduled tests over with (no worries!), a trip to our youngest son's favourite hockey store, dinner out with some girlfriends, hanging with my sister, lots of little projects and plenty of relaxing. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the week too. But right now I'm going to make some banana bread and a pot of hot tea and enjoy these pretty flowers. And ignore the rain that has now turned to light snow as I wrote this post.

You can find me partying here...

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Be Inspired at Elizabeth & Co.

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Flowers in Our Living Room

March 14, 2013, 10:52 am

≫ Next: Happy St. Patrick's Day

≪ Previous: A Bucket of Flowers to Brighten Our Kitchen

A few days ago I shared a sap bucket of leftover flowers in our kitchen. Today we woke to sunshine and I was inspired to take photos of the other bunch of flowers in our living room.

I love this $10 chest of drawers in our living room for the display space and storage that it provides.

The pretty pinks, purples and white remind me of spring and upcoming Easter.

Besides hydrangeas, carnations are one of my favourite flowers. Oh, and tulips. Even more than roses. It is not that I don't like roses, I just like the others a bit more ; )

Do you like the shawl on the hoop back chair? It is made in Scotland and was still wrapped in plastic at the thrift store for $3.99 (I washed it with my fingers crossed because it said dry clean recommended and I threw it in the washer-no problem.) Kind of too big to wear but it makes a nice throw and a great pop of colour.

If you've been around here a while you know that I love my blues in lots of shades. Too bad the carnations aren't blue -half kidding.

See how pretty it looks against the Mercury Glass white chair I painted? I have two more of those chairs in the basement waiting to be painted but spindles are not so fun to paint.

The top of the dresser has some of my favourite collectibles: ironstone plates, an ironstone pudding bowl filled with a linen cutwork napkin and faux speckled eggs, mercury glass votive holders, vintage flashcards, a rosary, and butter pats.

I would love to find a little lamb and sheep for Easter and display them with the flashcards. I have looked in gift shops locally but no luck so far.

I liked this angle of the wall gallery above the couch while I was enjoying my tea.

And I thought I would end with this photo to show the deep purple carnations that sort of hide against the dark greenery. Does anyone know what that white spikey flower is called? Oh, and if you are really talented at arranging flowers please don't laugh at my throw them in a vase style haha.
Thanks for stopping by today, and welcome to my new followers, both on gfc and fb. We are still enjoying our March Break and I'm loving the sunshine today that helped melt some of last night's snow.

I'm joining up with these great link parties. Hope to see you there...
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
Beyond The Picket Fence Under $100 Link Party
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

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Happy St. Patrick's Day

March 17, 2013, 5:23 pm

≫ Next: New Bedskirt For Our Bedroom

≪ Previous: Flowers in Our Living Room

Happy St. Patrick's Day to those of us with Irish heritage or who are a wee bit Irish just for today.

We have been busy all weekend deep cleaning and organizing our basement storage areas so I thought I would share these old family postcards instead of St. Paddy's decor. Wishing you all a great week ahead.

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New Bedskirt For Our Bedroom

March 23, 2013, 11:10 am

≫ Next: Adding to My Painting Furniture List -Maybe

≪ Previous: Happy St. Patrick's Day

I have made a little more progress in our master bedroom freshening starting with sewing a new king size bedskirt.

I had posted about using this fabric in our living room for new pillows and drapes here, but I am known to change my mind. A lot. I like the neutrals and whites in our living room and decided that I will use this fabric to freshen our bedroom. I love how it looks!

I love the different colours of blues and the neutral background.

I also sewed drapes for the side windows in our bay out of the lined blue fabric, so similar to Wythe Blue. I just need to hem them and then I will share photos.

Now I am waiting for good weather so I can take the dresser and night tables outside to sand and paint. It may be awhile, but I will share the progress when I get it done.

Like many of you, we have had a crazy busy week balancing appointments, sports, work and volunteer so I hope to catch up soon.

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Adding to My Painting Furniture List -Maybe

March 24, 2013, 4:30 am

≫ Next: Easter Decorating in Our Kitchen

≪ Previous: New Bedskirt For Our Bedroom

I have quite a few furniture painting projects lined up here at our place but that doesn't stop me from trying to add another to the list. I am currently negotiating with our 16 year old son to paint his bedroom set.

He is using the double cannonball bed, night stand and small dresser that I bought when I got my first nursing job when I was 20. I visited the craftsman and picked out the pieces that he constructed special order. When my husband and I married a dozen years later, this was also our first bedroom set for a few years (after two kids and a bigger bedroom we up-sized to a king, thank goodness.) These pieces are very ~~dinged and knicked~~ loved. We had the set in our guest room and when K was old enough he insisted on it for his room. And now the debate begins. I would love to update it a bit after seeing this inspiration photo from Country Living:

I love the matte black distressed paint finish. He wants to keep it as is and maybe refinish it one day. We'll see how it goes. One thing we do have in common though is that we both love original Canadiana pine or reproduction solid pine pieces. Even if we had an unlimited budget we would both lean to this style. He gets his love of cows from mom too.

As you can see, his room is not styled but very much liveable (with a straight from the dryer wrinkled coverlet) for a teen boy who lets the dog sleep with him. He also likes to display the fair ribbons and framed prints he wins for 4-H showing (beef, dairy and rabbits currently.)

And just keeping it real, this is the dresser ~~messer~~ of said teenage boy. The pile of papers is mostly agriculture related booklets and brochures. I also think we could come up with a better idea for his ribbons than the twine and push pins he is using. Maybe a rusty old crib spring or framed chicken wire. Hmm....

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Easter Decorating in Our Kitchen

March 25, 2013, 3:31 pm

≫ Next: Painting Outside My Comfort Zone

≪ Previous: Adding to My Painting Furniture List -Maybe

I have stepped away from the simple look of ironstone, glass and wood on the hutch in our kitchen by adding some colourful Easter decor.

Today was a cool but beautifully sunny day, until I walked in the door after work this afternoon. Out came my camera and in came the clouds. I went ahead and took photos while I had the chance.

To the wood crate and linens on the kitchen table I added a trio of pastel candles and the Easter egg-shaped plate and tiny bowls, both birthday gifts from work friends last year.

On the hutch I added the wavy edge yellow and blue plates, an Easter tea set from many years ago, and a pair of little bunny figurines.

The cream bottles hold some faux speckled eggs.

The children's tea pot, salt & pepper and two tiny teacups with saucers are all that remain from a larger set. Two tiny dessert plates and a cream and sugar were broken when the Easter bin fell a few years ago.

We have great memories of my mom making milky tea with my kids and nieces and nephews, sometimes using this set.

We are expecting lots of little great nieces and great nephews for Easter dinner on Sunday after church, and I hope they enjoy the Easter bunny decor. I enjoyed that everything came from the Easter bin and I didn't have to buy anything new.

Sharing this at...
The Scoop #59 at Cedar Hill Ranch, Farmhouse Porch, Crafty Texas Girls and Lolly Jane
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin

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Painting Outside My Comfort Zone

March 28, 2013, 7:15 pm

≫ Next: Happy Easter

≪ Previous: Easter Decorating in Our Kitchen

I enjoy playing with colours, and paints especially, but I'm not an artist by any stretch.

On the March Break I decided to step out of my comfort zone of painting walls and furniture and try something different. I ended up spending a pleasant hour attempting to paint a beach scene on a little canvas. The colours in this photo are looking a bit darker than in real life, and I should probably lighten the sand a bit, but it was fun to create. One of those things that looks better at a distance lol, but I'm glad I tried it. Have you created something outside of your 'comfort zone' lately?

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Happy Easter

March 30, 2013, 8:54 am

≫ Next: He Has Risen!

≪ Previous: Painting Outside My Comfort Zone

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He Has Risen!

March 31, 2013, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Farm Fresh Feature for April

≪ Previous: Happy Easter

Christ is Risen!

Truly He has Risen!

Alleluia!

Happy Easter! This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. --Psalm 118:24

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter!

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Farm Fresh Feature for April

April 1, 2013, 7:33 am

≫ Next: Our Home Featured at Old Time Farmhouse

≪ Previous: He Has Risen!

Our home is the Farm Fresh Feature for April at Old Time Farmhouse today.

Stop by Cindy's Old Time Farmhouse where I'm sharing lots of photos and answering questions on my 'farm fresh style' style. Hope you have a great day!

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Our Home Featured at Old Time Farmhouse

April 3, 2013, 3:15 pm

≫ Next: Saturday Shopping and Crafting

≪ Previous: Farm Fresh Feature for April

Last week Cindy at Old Time Farmhouse asked me to be part of her Farm Fresh Feature. I thought it would be fun to share it here too. Warning though, I tend to write too much and Cindy asked for lots of photos, so here goes:

I am very happy to be sharing our home here at Old Time Farmhouse. I was super excited when Cindy asked me to be part of her Farm Fresh Feature.

Our Kitchen

What would you like to share with us today?

I am very happy to share a tour of our home today. We don't live on a farm or in the country, but in a suburban home. I hope to inspire others who live in town to not be afraid to add some farm fresh style to their homes.

What farm fresh style do you embrace?

My farm fresh style is rustic country farmhouse at the lake! Now that is quite the mouthful, eh? I prefer things rustic and country with lots of farm and farmhouse elements to reflect our love of agriculture, but I also add lakeside elements to reflect our love of the great Ontario outdoors and our fabulous lake beaches.

I decorate with simple cotton quilts, fabrics and linens in shades of white, leather and white slipcovers, painted and natural woods, rusty and galvanized metals, pinecones and birch bark, sap buckets and canoe paddles, browns and tans, white and black, lots and lots of blues, rugged denim and romantic crochet or lace. My farm fresh style is casual, diy and handmade, repurposed and vintage.

I am slowly collecting and updating our furnishings and my favourite furniture style is early Canadiana or reproduction solid pine pieces. I love Windsor chairs, sturdy farmhouse tables, cannonball beds and simple chunky dressers. I have some treasured pieces that I will always keep and some that I update with paint and will resell when I find keepers.

Tell us a little about your space.

We live in a medium sized town in Ontario, Canada. We are the original owners of our 14 year old builder home in a great suburban neighbourhood. It is a 1900 sq. ft plus finished basemnet,.four bedroom, three bathroom home. On the main floor we have a living room, a family room, kitchen with eat in area and a half bath. Our second floor has the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, laundry room, main bathroom and three additional bedrooms (two for our sons and the smallest for my studio.) We added a full basement suite for my parents when we first moved in with a large bedroom, a bathroom, small kitchen, living room and storage rooms that is now used as a guest suite.

The finishes are builder basic but we are ever so slowly and on a tight budget trying to add a bit of character. It is normal that the many homes in our growing neighbourhood are on small lots with the garages out front.

While we look forward to retiring to a farm in the country, for now our home is close to our jobs.

Exterior of Our Suburban Home

Our Living Room

Please tell us more. What have you done? Any future plans?

We picked our home plan and finishes from the available builder selections but the biggest changes we have made on our tight budget so far are the basement suite and adding laminate wood to the main floor (that I would love to go back and change.) We also are close to finishing the board and batten trim in our kitchen and on our family room fireplace wall. Outside we added a brick paver patio in the backyard. A new garage overhead door and garage man door are on order due to our tough Canadian winter climate.

We are currently working on updating the trim and flooring in our basement stairway. Future plans include re-carpeting the upstairs (and hopefully some hardwood too) and I would love to paint and re-stain the main stairs bannisters and railings.

What is your favourite spot within your home that you are sharing today and why?

Our front living room is my favourite spot in our home. Because we have a family room and basement TV room, we don't have a TV or computer in our living room. It is a nice spot to chat with my guys, visit with our extended family and friends, or just read or stitch. I hope to have bookcases for a bit of a library feel one day but for now I enjoy sitting in my favourite spot on the leather couch and looking out onto our porch and our quiet street. The picture gallery has a real farm fresh feel, with the photos, stitched piece, print and hand painted sign being farm related. It is a work in progress and I plan to expand it.

Our Dining Room

Do you have any collections, interests and/or hobbies that you would like to share?

I do love my collections! White dishes, both new and vintage ironstone. Especially ironstone platters, tureens and pitchers. Also, farm and especially dairy and cow related items. From vintage brass cow tags and milk bottles to framed pictures and signs I paint. We have cowboy boots, lariats, tractor collectibles, cow halters and tie ropes and more that are my boys' 4-H supplies, everyday wear or collectibles. I also love collecting, using and decorating with vintage mason jars, especially the aqua ones. Vintage linens in shades of white are another collection I enjoy adding to. I also collect vintage wood spools, rosaries and religious statues, transferware, galvanized metal pieces and rolling pins. My collections were mostly found at the thrift store or garage sales so that helps me keep things affordable.

I enjoy painting furniture, both for our home, my sister's home and for resale. I love needlework and find it very relaxing, including quilting, stitching, knitting and crocheting. Working full time outside our home (school hours) I just wish I had more time for all the projects I want to complete! Volunteering for our Church and being a 4-H leader keep me busy too.

Our Family Room

Our Master Bedroom and Ensuite Bathroom (in progress)

Our Basement Guest Bedroom

What do you cherish the most about your farm fresh life?
That would be my family. Starting with my three favourite guys, my husband of 20 years Rob, and my two boys, Kyle 16 and Joshua 14. I am one of eight children and have a very large extended family. My nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews are very special to me as well, and many of them live nearby.

Our Boys in 4-H and Our Pets

Fresh Flowers in Our Home

Where can we find you?

My blog is Blue Clear Sky, http://blueclearskies.blogspot.ca/ . You can also find me on Facebook at Blue Clear Sky, with the link in my blog sidebar. I hope to reopen my etsy shop, Rustic Maple, this summer.

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