Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Fall Sitting Area

Last month when I shared my "Holiday Cupboard" I mentioned that I'd show you the rest of the room. We have two seating areas in our walk-out basement. One for media, the other is next to the French doors where the light is wonderful, and the girls and I will set and hang out if the guys are playing video games or watching sports.





Someday I'll get new lighter rugs for down here, but it hasn't happened yet. This last summer I found uglysofa.com and knew I had a solution for this space. The slipcovers require a little tucking and nudging, but for the price you cannot beat them. I have a gorgeous red botanical print sofa underneath, but I was ready for a change. (I also have a quilt added for more "cushion") Restoration Hardware French Linen pillows and a couple of flea market finds make for a comfy spot to lounge or nap.


The round coffee table on casters had been my in-laws, that I painted out last year. Hey, one more place to decorate!! yay! The grain sack red stripe runner is a purchase last year from French Garden House. I love it Lidy!

The "Holiday Cupboard" is one of my fun spots to decorate seasonally. 


A vintage wicker settee, flanked by two of my fave tables, a vintage wicker, and a wonderful piece that I just painted out the base on. Love the contrast of the dark walnut top.

And the area to the left of the photo?
...it's my husband's hangout...'nough said.


The grainsack pillow on the back of the settee is an antique French piece with embroidered initials, I just have a couple of down ticking pillows inside.


My seed box is the base for a basket tray with note cards, antique spectacles, and family photos and notes.






I made this ceramic pumpkin cookie jar back in the ceramics rage of the 70's. During one of our moves the lid broke in two, but I had to glue it back. not a very good job, don't look too closely.




Some Fall vintage teapots, jars, and fois bois pitcher.


Old window box and hurricane candle that stays out all year. just change out the accessories.






Two mismatched vintage wicker chairs with Fall quilts, pillows, and footstools. 





I'll be partying with these gals,

         


            


      


       



We're supposed to have our first frost tonight, and I'm just not ready.
I've been lulled into complacency by 80 degree days!
I think I'm just going to have to throw a blanket over my geraniums,
since they're not ready to winter indoors and hope for the best.

See ya Thursday afternoon for 

xoxo,


www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com
www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com
www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
www.decortoadore.blogspot.com

Monday, October 17, 2011

Take a Walk on the Dark Side

I love my white and shabby, and my white and frenchy, and my white and cottage-y, but I also love my "black".  Especially when this time of year rolls around.  We drag out the jack-o-lanterns, and the creepy and spooky, so I'm lovin' all things dark, Victorian, and a little off beat. The Victorians knew how to use "dark" so well in decor; heavy tapestries, lush fabrics, dark woods, and vibrant hues of the deepest colors.









These are the things that have inspired me this time around,
putting together my outside soiree. 



Actually, this very old parlor table cloth was my inspiration.
I found it several years ago and have used it as a base 
for many Fall and Halloween displays.


It's made entirely of silks with so many wonderful fabrics.
All edged and banded in black.
It's tattered and threadbare in places,
but it has always reminded me of a "party"
 with it's gorgeous pieced patterns and festive "banner" design.


I rummaged through my storage room
 dragging out this large black mirrored candle sconce.
I'd found these two sets of orange cups and saucers too,
they had to be used!



A couple of vintage cabinet cards
sugar and creamer,
old wire basket with some Fall flowers,
and of course my fine feathered friends are here.










The two caned seat antique chairs are a set that I keep downstairs 
at a round table for games or computer work when the kids are visiting.



The small table is an old sewing machine base with a wood top,
which usually sets behind my loveseat in the fireplace tv viewing area.






An antique luggage stand with an old tray holds my heavy pottery teapot.


My napkins and silver are tied up with a jute string and a
freshly picked soft maple leaf or two.



I have a funny story to tell you. I'm my dad's daughter and I don't like to let things go to waste, so I tear up old bread and throw it toward the back of the yard for the birds and critters. We live by the lake and woods and we have "critters". The crows have been my lunch guests lately as they love the organic sprouted grain bread that I buy. The whole time I was out here setting up the table they were perched in the trees "talking" to me. If you've been around crows for long, you know they have a variety of "voices" that they use. It's a real chorus of strange and creepy...



So....I had taken some photos and came inside to download them, checking to see how things were looking. When I came back downstairs my husband said it had been really noisy outside and that the cats were spooked. I go back out to take some more photos and one crow was knocked over and the other one was on the ground; nothing else out of place. We think they saw my fake crows as interlopers and didn't want them to share in the goodies. very strange...















So glad you dropped by for the fun...
watch out for the crows!

I'm partying with















I'm up to my eyeballs in Fall!!!
xoxo,


Sunday, October 16, 2011

Latest News from the Seed Box Antiques


I ran into Brian and Meloney last Friday afternoon at Relics and was able to catch up with them on what they're up to for the rest of the year. This coming weekend they will be heading to Houston, Texas to be a part of  Urban Market on Saturday October 23. Then in early November they will be a guest dealer at one of their friend's Bed and Breakfast's Christmas Open House which is near Branson, Missouri. More coming on that show with location, dates and times.

Here are a few photos Meloney sent from her phone
of their space at Round Top.










Brian and Meloney, The Seed Box Antiques



For those of you who don't know, I do their Shop Blog for them. They don't have a storefront at this time, but  have been selling antiques at many of the great shows for years. They live in Chadwick, Missouri which is in the wonderful Ozark Hills so Internet is touchy there at the homefront. Hope you'll take a minute and click over to their blog. I try to keep up with all their latest news and photos. 

Hope you'll drop by their blog and get to know them.
Browse their Open House posts for some great Inspiration
and check out the Garden House that Brian built last year. 


See ya back over here later this evening with my
Outdoor Fall Tablescape.
xoxo,