Don't get to excited.....second floor home tour.

Here is the home tour of our second floor.  There is really not much to show.  I apologize in advance as the cheap  inexpensive camera I use does not do justice to the color of the rooms.  Again, do not get to excited as our home is a lived in, comfortable to us home.  You will not find anything fancy or impressive here.

This is a hand drawn picture of our home.  When we purchased the house the previous owners gave us the picture.  It currently hangs at the top of the stairway to the second floor.  You might ask why so close to the window.  Unfortunately, there is an old capped gas pipe there and the picture is helping to cover it.  The wonderful surprises of older houses :) The walls are a medium beige.

This is the end of the hallway on the second floor.  The odd little "cupboard opening" on the left is actually a working laundry shoot.  We use it daily.  The mirror at the end of the hallway was my Paternal Grandmothers.  It always hung at the bottom of her stairway. I could not put at at the bottom of mine so it hangs with honor at the top.

This is what you see when you step into our bathroom.  This is an oddly shaped room.  The little "counter" that you see to the left is where the toilet sits.  Smack dab in the middle of the bathroom.  To the right of the toilet, where you see the green wall by the sink is the shower area.  Who would have put the toilet in the MIDDLE of the bathroom?  NOT us, but VERY expensive to move. The wall color is a mistake from Lowe's but we love it.  It is a blue/green.

The view from the "throne"

The shutters are the medicine cabinet area.  Original to the house.  We are lucky we have many shutters in the home.  I love them all!!

A little shelf area at the entrance of the bathroom.

This is our oldest sons room, who has since moved out.  Eventually I will make this into a guest room.  Right now, I leave it as "his room".  The walls are a deep Burgundy.  His choice in color. 

This is the door to our youngest sons room.  He still resides in there and it is his domain.  I do not clean it.  Therefore, no photos of this room will EVER be posted in the present condition.  Love young men and their lack of cleaning.

This is our "master" bedroom.  Nothing master about it.  The walls are a light green, almost a mint green.  It is comfortable to us and that is what matters.  Right?

Again, you see we have shutters for window coverings.  I prefer to leave them as only shutters.  However, my hubs works odd hours and is usually trying to sleep during the day.  So I added curtains to help keep out the sunlight.

This I show for a friend of mine, Deb S.  It hangs above the laundry shoot.  Her mother Marilyn crossed stitched it for one of my wedding showers a mere 28 3/4 years ago. I love it and it has always hung somewhere in our home.

Well, that is pretty much the rest of our cozy little bungalow.  Not fancy, not expensive.  It is our home and we feel safe and happy here.  That is what is important after all.  Right?

Thanks for stopping by.  Next post I hope to show a redecorating of the front porch and entrance....getting ready for Fall.

Have a great weekend. 

Peace,

Stephanie

Name that object

I thought I would do something a little off the wall for fun.  Nothing to do with decorating, cooking or thrifting. Something just for fun. 

Here are close up images of different objects see how many you can name correctly.

Have fun.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

ANSWERS:

#1 - zipper teeth

#2 - wooden toothpicks

#3 - venetian blind

#4 - bristles of toothbrush

#5 - blades of grass

#6 - cotton balls ( I bet you thought marshmallows)

How many did you get correct?
Thanks for stopping by.
Peace, Stephanie

FEATURED PRESENTATION......THE MODERN COTTAGE

So today I received permission from Alison at the Modern Cottage to post her blog as a featured presentation.  Something I have not done before. I think you will find her blog and talent breathtaking, so without further a do.......   Her home is very inspiring.  She is one of many blogs that I go to daily for inspiration.    These are just a sample of what you have to look forward to when visiting Alison @ Themoderncottagecompany.blogspot.com

This is Alison's cute family room.

Here is a photo of The Modern Cottage foyer.  Love the colors.

This is Alison's darling kitchen.  I am attracted to every aspect of this room.  This room gives me hope for our kitchen.  LOVE, LOVE the floor!!  Nice work.

This is Alison's living room and dining room.  How very chic.

Here is the master bedroom.  I have this exact color in our den. Never thought of using it in the bedroom as well.

I think you too will enjoy the sites and inspiration over at the Moderncottagecompany.blogspot.com

Thank you Alison!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Peace,

Stephanie

Fall or Autumn. Which Do You Prefer?

Sitting on my side porch on this beautiful August evening.  The sun is slowly going down and the locust are playing their evening music.  There is a smell of the local Fair food in the air and I can hear the various sounds of the fair.  Wow, where has summer gone?  In a few short weeks the children of the area will be returning to school.  The evenings are getting cooler and the days are somewhat shorter.  Are you  ready for the change in seasons?  I am not.  Don't get me wrong, I love Fall.  I just do not love what follows the beautiful season. WINTER.  Winter here in Ohio seems to go FOREVER.   Enough of the silliness...onto the subject at hand ;)

Which do you prefer Fall or Autumn?  Without really thinking about it I generally always use Fall.  I am not sure why I do.  Autumn sounds so grand.  Every year about this time, I start to want to decorate for Fall.  I sometimes think I am rushing the wonderful seasons, but I think it is just I yearn for changes in scenery.  Here are some Fall decorating ideas I came across today.

This is a lovely place to sit from Rebecca's at Front Porch Ideas.

I love the welcoming colors.  This looks so grand. ( HGTV Fall decorating ideas.)

I like the pumpkin topiary.  Might have to try these this Fall.

(HGTV)

A rustic vignette (Front Porch Ideas)

Now if I could steal borrow an antler from the hubs I could copy this rustic setting.  (Front Porch Ideas)

Simple and elegant.

(Front Porch Ideas)

I find this to be very inviting.  (Front Porch Ideas)

Hope this inspires you to decorate your home for Fall, I mean Autumn ;)

Thanks for stopping by.

Peace,

Stephanie

THRIFT SALES AND TREASURES

Here are a few of my most recent treasures that I have acquired.  Thought you might enjoy some thrifting photos.  I was and still am in search of a small table with storage that can be used for a phone center.  No luck finding such item. 

Our village had a event called Antiques in the Alley yesterday.  This is where vendors can rent a lot and set up business.  Of course, I apologize, I did not take my camera along.  There were some unique items there along with some that just simply caught my eye.  HOWEVER, it seemed to me the prices were marked a little on the high end.  Some of the items were second hand furniture.  Some you might say were collectible, vintage but definitely not antiques and the prices were in the triple digits.  I had to pass on these. Here are the items I have purchased over the last few Friday's.

These were from different sales.  I am pleased to say that the hubs purchased the crocks and the wooden buildings for me at a local sale.  He is so good to me.  The crocks are from a collection of Holmes County Pottery.  These pieces usually are priced at $20 and up.  My dear husband found these for $1 a piece.  He did good!  The wooden buildings are from a collection called the Cat's Meow.  They are historic buildings that are hand painted by a local artists.  I collect only those from the Holmes County area.  These were made only for a short period of time and are very hard to come by.  Hubs did it again, he purchased these for $3 a piece.  Generally these are $20 and up.  Good job dear!!

This building is the Millersburg Hotel. Which is now a Victorian style hotel and a dining/banquet area.  Good food.

This building is Maxwell Brothers.  This building was erected in 1866 and was home to one of the oldest family owned clothing stores in the USA.  It is now a unique, eclectic store called 55 West and is sadly for sale.  The owner has health issues and can no longer operate this wonderful little shop.

So sorry about the flash glare.  This picture was "shopped" for free at my Mom's home.  This picture had ALWAYS hung at the entrance of my Maternal Grandmothers home.  I am not sure of the history of the picture, but it has sentimental value to me.  Thanks Mom!!

This is the original wooden frame of the picture from Grandma's house.  I love the little rope detail.

These were from the FREE shop at my Mom's basement. 

Mom's "shop" again.  Love the rolling pins and scale.

I thought it was time for a change in the kitchen.  So I did a little switching on the shelf.  These are little vignette's of vintage kitchen items.  The Campbell' Soup is actually a game from my childhood.  It is a version of scrabble.

 I think the scale cleaned up pretty nice.

I added my newest Holmes County Pottery to one that stood on top of the fireplace. Sorry for the bad photo.....still learning.

This was the shelf BEFORE, with the baskets and such.

Well thanks for stopping by.  I promise to give you a small tour of the second floor of my home soon.  There really is not much there to show.  But I will do my best.  Maybe you all can give me some advice of the "guest room and master bed room".  I need a change.

Thanks again.

Peace,

Stephanie

Ten Things I love.....(at this moment)

Ten things that I love at this moment.  First off I find attracted to  any cozy home, farmhouse style, cottage style or beach cottage that instantly feels like "HOME".  You know the place where you feel welcome, warm, cozy and relaxed.  As I age broaden my horizons, my decorating style seems to change.

Porches.  A place to sit, relax and visit with friends, family and neighbors.

White pitchers.  I really like Ironstone, but any nice white pitcher gets my attention.

Flowers make me smile and especially big, beautiful hydrangea flowers.

White dishes.  I love the way this kitchen has open shelving to display the white dishes.  (Photo from Goodbye House Hello Home)

Vintage silverware.  Why?  I do not know. Maybe it is the history it holds, maybe it sparks a special memory for me.  Unsure.  I am sure I love vintage silverware.

Unique, classic lighting.  It just feels like HOME.

Cozy quilts and beds that just say "Don't leave. Stay awhile longer and snuggle."

Wooden cutting/bread boards.  Again, it is the warmth, the history and the many hands that must have touched the boards.  (Photo from Our Vintage Home)

These are few of my favorite things.  What inspires you?  Do share.

Peace,

Stephanie