My Inspiration!

For those of you who don't know, my mother Violet owns a beautiful Bed & Bath Boutique in Eastern, Kentucky. The name is Simple Changes and thanks to my mother being my number one inspiration, I have also been able to meet a few of my other design heroes! If you are in the Eastern Kentucky area and you haven't been to Simple Changes, you don't know what you're missing! 

1. Simple Changes Violet Elizabeth

That's my mom Violet on the right!

 

 

 

2.  French Laundry Home Debbie Jones

 

There is Debbie with the ultimate Queen of the South, Paula Dean!

 

3. Ann Gish  anngish.com

Ann seemed like a long lost northern aunt of mine!

 

Sometimes the simplest things have so much more meaning

Sometimes the most simple things have so much more meaning. If you have grandparents or great-grandparents that grew up like mine, chances are they kept everything! C'mon now, this doesn't mean they are hoarders, they just lived in harder times ; ) Trust me, this can be good for you. They knew they needed to keep these things for a reason. 

Brighten up your rainy day with these blue colored Ball Mason Jars. Pop a little votive candle in one, or your favorite flower.  These are guaranteed to bring a little smile to your face. Since I'm going to be a "Ball" soon, I'm especially partial to these little beauties.

Make your own art with your girlfriends!! LOVE!

I cannot wait to experience this myself! Have a great time with your friends and leave with a beautiful piece of art, not to mention the memory you will always have of that fabulous time! There are Painting with a Twist locations all over the south!

I don't know why, but I cannot get enough of these things! My inner green thumb is itching to do some gardening! Wow...I feel old now ha ha

All things Lace!

When you think of Southern Vintage, some may tend to picture lace doilies spread throughout their grandmother's home. Lace everywhere, is something I am not a fan of, however finding lace in interesting places, to me, is the epidemy of shabby chic!  No matter how expensive or cheap, lace is a luxury. 

Call Me Crazy

Call me crazy, but you gotta know what I would do with this vanity mirror!

 

 I would totally take it apart, paint it black, silver, white, or maybe even turquoise, then hang it on a wall as three separate pieces!! Gotta love www.etsy.com 

If you're ever in the Knoxville Area...

If you're ever in the Knoxville area and you love shabby chic, vintage finds, you MUST stop by Chintzy Rose in Halls Crossroads. If you get overwhelmed by the awesomeness of this store, don't fret! You can take a break for soup, a sandwich, and some fabulous sweet tea! Warning: This is not the kind of place you can stop by for just a few minutes! Give yourself an hour or two, or make it date!

The owners also specialize in refurbishing and repainting antique furniture.  Check out this article about Chintzy Rose. You don't want to miss this hidden treasure!

http://tnjn.com/2010/dec/07/shop-combines-vintage-funishin/

Sometimes more is MORE!

You have all heard "less is more," but sometimes more can be just that, more! Take advantage of your favorite collections and show them off.  Organization is key. This wall of mirrors is so "me".  The use of like-colored frames placed on thin shelves, rather than hanging, makes this wall interesting and beautiful. The black shelves and table give the space a masculine touch. LOVE!!

 

My dearest friend Allison, has a love for vintage finds and this photo from Country Living Magazine has her name written all over it! The use of vintage suitcases for a decorative piece is an awesome idea. Not only can you show off your favorite collection, but they can be used for storage too. HELLO!!  The use of cream walls, glass lamp, and white flowers lighten up the heaviness of this design. Perfecto!

Flowers

Um...did I mention I'm getting married in August and since the wedding planning has started, I have become OBSESSED with garden roses and peonies?!?! Spring is just around the corner and soon I will be able to make my own arrangements. Nothing like fresh flowers to brighten your day, especially ones that smell so lovely : )

Don't be afraid of white, wrinkles, or wear...these are the things that make your home lived in! 

White is the perfect canvas to begin with. Just add any color you like.  I personally love keeping white with soft colors and bright flowers! 

Welcome to your heavenly cloud of a bedroom! This is a design by Rachel Ashwell, one of my favorite designers. 

 

White slip covers, vintage pillows, and fresh flowers. It's like a breath of fresh air!

www.shabbychic.com

Day One!!

I wanted to start a blog to share my love of design, especially "Shabby Chic" design! I have always believed a house is just a building, but what's inside makes it a home. Personalizing from the largest to the smallest of things, from brand new to vintage finds, make a house a home.

So, I'll just get started! No sense wasting time! Don't know where to start when it comes to decorating your shabby chic home? Color Palette is where! For me, my favorite palette is WHITE. Yes, I said it, white. I know, white is technically not a color, it's actually an absence of color, but what a better palette to build on?! Anything work with white.