Finding the perfect Greige...

You all are probably like me, and have this little memo board in your brain where you file away ideas and inspiration for projects... ideas that won't go away...but that you're just not yet ready to take on. Thoughts and plans for bringing something to life; it's just that we know it's not the time yet.

 Sort of like little Pinterest Boards in your head... 

Let me share some inspiration for that...

(remember you can click on any pic to make it BIG)

Last week I ran over to one of my favorite stores, Robin's Vintage Suitcase, here in Springfield. I know most of you have seen the posts I do on Robin's store. She doesn't sell on-line, but I like to share her displays and ideas for decor because there is always something to "take away" from just seeing the pics. I try to convey the atmosphere of her shop even though you might not ever be able to get there in person.

She keeps her displays fresh and current, so you never know what you'll see when you first walk in the door. That day I was smitten with her wonderful "gray" furniture and "whites" tablescape.

So, back to the deep recesses of my psyche where my Dining Room furniture lives. I've wanted to paint those pieces for. ever. But couldn't "get there" with the idea of just white. I've been thinking about the "stripped and weathered bare wood" look alot. Like this pic from Restoration Hardware.

...but, the gray, greige, idea has been vying for my attention. Some of you may remember that I painted my perfectly wonderful "gray" console a couple of years ago. (I'm not going to revisit that, some of you wanted to string me up) But I have to tell ya...that color of gray (with the blue undertones) just doesn't look good in my current surroundings where there's a lot of cream and tan. I need a paint color that has some gray, but with warm undertones. But, this wonderful gray paint patina on this old table just knocked me up the side of my head...

It's authentic, not recent...

see the green underneath peeking through?

As a companion piece,

 Robin had painted this fabulous buffet in her homemade paint concoction.

(here are a couple more store pics)

(and for all you locals,

 Robin's having a big sale that you might want to check out)

 I scoured Pinterest looking for other wonderful gray, greige, beige,
 "almost white with a little gray in it", furniture pieces...so take a look at these.



A couple of beautiful pieces from
 Kelli Wright at  Restore Interiors

Here's more...

My favorite color and technique so far...

Love this one too.

These are all pinned into my Pinterest Board

  Gray and Greige Painted Furniture if you want to take a peek.

This is my way of giving this idea in my head some credibility.

It might just be the table, or the buffet and table...

I'm not ready yet to take the plunge...

but I'm working up to it.

anyway, it's fun to dream.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Joining in with these parties:

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

Be Inspired #152: Salvaged Treasures

Hi everyone, you all shared lot's of fun inspiration at last week's party. I know many of you are getting kiddos ready for school and finishing up Summer plans and projects, so thanks for coming by to join in on the fun! Let's see what was happening last week...

I really admire the ability to find a random vintage item and then transform it into something new and different. Betsy from My Salvaged Treasures knows how to think outside the box in giving her vintage items a whole new look and purpose. Last week she shared how she created this wonderful upcycled photo and jewelry display from a shelf of an old baker's rack.

Betsy's also shared an old cooler
that became a flower container.

She recreated a retro bench with a fun Union Jack pillow cover.

and old industrial office accessories are updated with numbers.

Thanks for giving us such great inspiration each week, Betsy!

And here are a few more links from last week:

Dru from Country Farm Home created 

a relaxing seating area in her summer Keeping Room.

Carol's home from Art and Sand is alive with wonderful color.

Have you seen her hubby's amazing paintings?

Incredible!

Nita from Mod Vintage Life

had a brilliant idea to create the easiest Chandelier ever...

Yes, a Vintage Birdcage with remote control candles.

(don't you love that yellow wicker chair?)

And Suzan from Simply Vintageous (along with her hubby)

has a fabulous makeover of a 70's Mediterranean Style Armoire

(these two are hilarious and need to go on the road)

And how about an Apple Crumble with Butterscotch Pudding
from Anjana At the Corner of Happy and Harried.

thanks gals, for sharing the inspiration!

French Bleu Vintage is in the Sponsor Spotlight today and most of you are familiar with Dee's wonderful Shop. She's been marking down some beautiful items in her French Estate Sale Department, so run over for a look to see the bargains. And while you're there, be sure and browse the rest of her shop for some amazing vintage finds.

thanks Dee!

If you've been featured then feel free to grab the image below.

OK, Time to link up all your ideas and inspiration, vintage goodies, projects, DIY, crafts and recipes that you've been working on this week. Please be a follower of Common Ground, and please take a minute to be sure you have a link within your post to be featured.

Thanks so much for joining in!

Top Visited Links from Be Inspired

Hey Everyone, it's Wednesday and time to take a look at the Top Visited Links from Be Inspired last week. Thanks to each of you that come by weekly to share all the fun that you've been up to!

Here is Anne's adorable cottage house tour

 at Design Dreams by Anne

Andrea from Town and Prairie shares the vision 

of her adorable little vintage travel trailer.

and Kathy from a Delightsome Life gives us a breakdown 

of how she is planning her farmhouse kitchen renovation.
(this girl knows how to do details!)

Thanks gals!

See you tomorrow for this week's Be Inspired.

xoxo,

French Lavender

What is it about the fragrance of Lavender? 

To me it just smells like Summer rain..

My long awaited dried lavender bunches arrived from Antique Farmhouse and I couldn't be happier. It's so hard to find lavender here in the Midwest, and online prices generally run high for just a small bunch. I tried growing my own last year, but bees took over our back yard and built hives in the birdhouses and pool equipment... that was the end of my lavender growing.

If you don't know Antique Farmhouse then you should. They have beautiful items with new "events" daily. Things sell out fast so you have to be quick. I don't think it's available at this moment but keep checking back they may have more in. Anyway, I bought two orders of 3 bundles each, and I could smell that magical fragrance before the box was opened.

...so I had to do a little styling in an old Frenchy basket. Anyone know technically what this basket was used for? Harvesting flowers maybe? I've also used it for wine bottles, and French Baguettes. 

I collect these little gift books from the early 1900's 

and this one has precious illustrations.

We're in the Living Room on one of my Bergere Chairs that I slipped a few years ago. And I wanted to show you my new grainsack that I talked about here. It's heavier than my others and has two yummy caramel stripes down the center. 

 The bundles came banded with rubber bands, 

so I just covered them with some burlap ribbon.

I just used three of the bundles in the basket, so the rest came into the Dining Room and found a spot on the breakfront in a wine crate.

Styling Assistant at the ready...

she didn't want to eat it, just roll in it...

It's been raining for days,

and I'm ready for Fall...

joining in with these party gals:

Knick of Time Tuesday

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Blitzed on Pinterest at Debbiedoos

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire

It's a Party at DIY by Design

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

What's it Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants 

TTT at Stone Gable

From My Front Porch to Yours

Craftberry Bush

French Country Cottage

The Charm of Home

Shabby Art Boutique

Jennifer Rizzo

Hope you're having a good week,

xoxo,

The Marketplace: Etsy and Online Boutique Showcase

Hi Everyone, it's Monday and time for 
The Marketplace

This is the place to come link up your Etsy Shop and Online Boutique items. If you're new here, so glad you found us. You don't have to have a blog to join in, just link up to three of your individual items. If you have a blog post about your shop or items that's great too, just be sure that what you link is for sale. Here are some great items from last week.

Vintage Jewelry Embellished Wall Mirror

from Glass Bead Treasures

Set of 6 Victorian Open Salts

from The Lazy Peacock

Set of 25 Lavender filled Wedding Favors

from Prince Snow Farm

Vintage Amber Pitcher and Glasses

from  The Zoe Bird

Forever and Always Sign

from Homeroad

Today Sweet Magnolias Farm is in the Sponsor Spotlight, hope you'll run by and check out Sara and Abby's wonderful Fresh Farmhouse Goods. Also check their blog to keep up on the latest shows and news.

Flour Sack Kitchen Towels

Set of 4 Napkins

Burlap Table Runner Farmhouse Blessings

thanks gals!

Time to link up, and if you're here to shop, then wonderful, we're so happy to have you. This link is open all week, so be sure to stop back by throughout the week for new items being listed. Thanks so much everyone!