Day 458

Looks like I'm not the only one with antique shopping on the brain lately. My Notting Hill shared a great-looking shop that has several locations in Virginia, Random Harvest. I love, love, love this tufted sofa, and the semi-symmetrical arrangement happening around it.


Mrs. Blandings discovered this lovely shop, which is filled to the brim with treasures (you're going to want to click to enlarge this image to get the full effect). This gorgeous desk (or one like it) is on our dream list for Wes' office. Pieces like that are just destined to become heirlooms, and are therefore more justifiable in my book. Though I suspect this Italian beauty is much too unjustifiable for our budget.


Eddie Ross and Heather of Habitually Chic took the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market by storm, and each came home with some great finds (including that pair of marble lamps, which Heather scored for just $100).


Joni of Cote de Texas brought back the most drool-worthy images of the week. The shop was so gorgeous, in fact, that it made her want to redecorate. Coming from a woman with a beautiful home, that says a lot, I think! But, you know what they say about the grass always being greener.


Is this place not fabulous?!

Found any great antiquing spots lately? Leave a comment and let me know!

Day 457's fun

Wes had to be out of town over the weekend for work, so he left Maddie and me to our own devices, and we had some fun girly time. We headed to Auburn on Friday night to celebrate my sister's 23rd birthday and tailgate with friends and family before the Auburn-Tennessee game. Both of my sisters have pups that are just a but younger than Maddie, so she really enjoys hanging out with them (and is still pooped two days later!).

On Sunday I piddled around the house decorating for fall. I'm always moving things around so it'll probably change before Halloween, but I like it so far. All it took to spruce up the living room was a fun blue-green-gray pumpkin on a cake stand, and a couple of white pitchers from my small collection (probably inspired by this).


The front of our house is seriously lacking in curb appeal, and I was amazed at how much better it looked with the easy additions of two urns filled with yellow mums and a couple of pumpkins!


We bought these urns at the end of the summer last year, but haven't made much use of them (though not for lack of trying). The cement color was getting a little lost against the gray-green of our siding, so I took care of that with a little black spraypaint. I love the graphic statement they make.

Now if we can just do something with all of that wrought iron ...

Day 454

Photo by Michael Luppino for Country Living

I hope you all enjoy the first offical weekend of fall! I'm going to try to squeeze some autumnal decorating in between all of the football and socializing that I've got planned.

Happy Weekend!

Day 453's kitchen

Our kitchen remodel seems to be getting further and further away (ugh, stupid economy), but that's fine because it means we can really get our thoughts together about what we want/can afford.

I found this beauty floating quietly along in the blogosphere and just had to share. The countertops are honed granite, and the single-basin farmhouse-style sink is flanked by two dishwashers. And those windows!


This new home is outfitted with plenty of classical touches that make it seem more like a carefully restored farmhouse -- but with all of the amenities! I really love the latches on the top cabinets.

Notice the cabinets go all the way to the ceiling. The owner notes: "I am so thankful I stuck to my gut instincts on the kitchen. So many people tried to talk me out of going all the way to the 10' ceiling with the cabinets. Now I have that rare space up top to store holiday items and outdoor entertaining stuff."


In lieu of a traditional island, the homeowners found a slab of oak and had it slightly planed (to make it more level) and then built legs and an apron to support it. Love that. She didn't name her source on the oak slab, but did tell us its location. My best guess is this place.


On a narrow stretch of wall across from the pantry, they added a built-in hutch to house dishes. "We had just enough depth for plates, so it was meant to be. Now the kids can set the table for meals and NOT be in my cooking space. Its so nice," says the homeowner.

I love the bins full of pasta and such, too!


And now a little something for you appliance junkies (ahem, Erika!). When I find out the make and model I'll let you know! Until then, enjoy the pretty vignette above with a cool corbel from an old church.

Day 452's combo

Photo by Melanie Acevedo for Domino

I'm dying for a chest-mirror-lamp combination in our dining room.

Photo by Annie Schlechter for Domino

My mom is dying to know what we want for Christmas, so I'm feeling the crunch to come up with one I like.


I lurve the French Directoire Dresser from Wisteria, but it's a little bit out of the price range. I'd love to find something in bleached wood, but I'm not holding my breath.

Martha Stewart Living

I'm open to something that can be rehabed from drab to fab with a little paint and some new hardware, so here's to hoping my favorite auction will produce something decent before December 25!

Day 450

Photo by Melissann

As of 10:44 a.m., local time, it is officially fall and I could not be happier about it! I'm celebrating by wearing tweed -- although in the form of long shorts, as it is still too warm for full-length tweed pants.

Happy Autumn!

Day 447's pretty

Finally, the low country pictures. First up, Savannah, Georgia.


Reading historical markers in Savannah.


First of many "haint blue" sightings. You know I loved that.


Peering at the gracious architecture through the branches of beautiful live oak trees.


Lovely hydrangea with pink, purple and blue flowers. Mmmm love the spanish moss, too. What a romantic fungus!


Alle of oaks framing the fountain in the famous park (which I cannot remember the name of!)


Just cannot get enough of these gorgeous trees.


The engineers of the group (Wes and Ben) got a big kick out of this beast, as seen from River Street. And now onto Beaufort, South Carolina.


Charming river-front park (which is actually intercoastal waterway-front, but whatev) just block off the main drag in Beaufort. This whole little leg of the trip was such an accident. We literally pulled out of the house in Hilton Head and instead of turning right to go home, we turned left. Those kinds of detours always make the trip!


After exploring the business district, we headed on foot through the adjoining neighborhoods, oohing and ahhing and snapping pictures and trying to figure out how to uproot our lives and move there.


"Hey look, that one's for sale! If we all six pitch in we could totally afford it, and it's got more square footage than all of our places combined, anyway!" We even picked up a couple of recent issues of Homes and Land: Beaufort. You're just not thinking clearly when surrounded by so much beauty ...




Wait for it ...


... needed a wide-angle lens to get all of this guy in one frame!


When we live here, you're all invited to come visit! It will be so lovely!

Happy Weekend!

Day 446's new friend

It's Thursday, and I'm in love. I think I might be the last person on the planet to meet (virtually, at least) Eddie Ross, and clearly, I have been missing out! His blog, his apartment, his collection of ironstone, it's all fabulous. And don't forget about his portfolio, which is home to basically all of my favorite images from Martha Stewart Living.


On the blog, you'll find before-and-after furniture endeavors ...


... object lessons ...


... flower arranging tips and more. Eddie, if you're reading this, let's be friends!

Day 444's dilemma

We've got some major bare floors happening in our house. We love, love all of the hardwood, but now that the weather's turning a bit cooler (it's been so hot that 65 feels positively frigid!), I'm ready to cozy things up.



Problem is, I am clueless when it comes to rugs. "They" say a room should be designed around a rug, but if that were the case in our house, we would have nothing done. We've got seagrass in the living room, and a cheap-o fake natural fiber from Wal-Mart in the kitchen. We bought it when we were desperate for something in our apartment, and hey, it works.

Photo by Francesco Lagnese for House Beautiful

This custom beauty by designer Markharm Roberts caught my eye. And in case you are wondering, those are hand-stenciled stripes on sisal. YUM.


Also spotted recently, Erika's lovely handiwork. Don't have stairs, but this would be fab in our long, boring hallway.

What kind of things do you use to cover your floors? What would you choose if you could have anything?

Day 444's loot

On Friday night, I headed about 40 minutes out of town to an antique auction with my mom. She's been to the twice-a-month event a couple of times, and has yet to leave empty-handed. This should have been my clue to stay far, far away, but she wanted the company, and this is actually my idea of Friday night fun, so off we went.

I have distinct and fond memories of going to country estate auctions as a child, and I can trace my love for all things old from both of my parents. I remember loving walking around exploring old homes and farms with the jabber of the auctioneer in the background.


If it weren't for the auction, downtown Pell City, Alabama would definitely be much quieter at 7pm, but on this Friday, people came from around the area to check out the loot. There were armories, dining chairs and tables, chests, dressers, cabinets, and sideboards galore. As well as about twenty olive oil jugs, several lamps, mirrors, paintings, all kinds of silver and ceramic pieces -- basically everything you'd find at an antique store.

At first, the atmosphere was a little stressful. Bidding live is much different than bidding on e-bay! But I eventually got the hang of it -- and had some fun!


I really loved this 1850's chest, but it was bit tall for our dining room. I think it went for $150. My grandparents, who came with us, bought a gorgeous walnut dining table from the 1920's with six chairs and a huge sideboard for $395. I could not believe my ears!


I've had my eye on these olive oil jugs for several months, and at $35, I couldn't pass one up! Here it is in our living room in all of its crusty glory.


I've also loved these huge dough troughs for a while. I can't wait to fill mine with moss and candles for Christmas!


How could I not pass up this adorable tufted slipper chair?! I don't really have a place for her (or the money or energy to have her orange tweed replaced), but at $15, I couldn't say no (AND I was the only bidder!). For now, she'll live in my sisters' living room.

And speaking of chairs, they're coming back from the upholsterer today (again), so cross your fingers!

If you're local, find out more about the auction here.

Day 440's pretty

More loveliness from Phoebe Howard.

Happy Weekend!

Day 437's confession

Sooooooo last week I promised you some delish eye-candy in the form of fabulous low country shopping destinations. But before I knew it, it was Friday, and now it's Tuesday and I still haven't delivered!

Well, that's not entirely true. I did blog about my new favorite shops in Savannah and Beaufort, but not on The Newlywed Diaries. As a part of my job, I contribute to You've Got to See This on MyHomeIdeas.com, and (since blogging there is a part of my job description) I managed to carve out some time to post it all over there.

So, if you're still interested, please click here to read about Savannah and here to read about Beaufort (which is where I snapped the lovely image above). It's good stuff, I promise.

And then come back here later in the week for some more scenery shots from the trip (for real this time!).