FABULOUS ARTWORK FIND!

One of the most "Southern Shabby Chic" things a girl can do is decorate her home with artwork that has real meaning.  I admit that sometimes I'll find a little print here and there from the local Bed Bath & Beyond, just to make the house look nice. But, finding that special piece with meaning can make an entire room, not to mention a great conversation piece. It's not always about finding that bargain painting, sometimes it's about making an investment in artwork with meaning! 

Fortunately for me, one of my dearest friends is an amazing artist and I cannot wait to place one of her pieces in my new home.  Leslie has been painting for years now and you can see her passion in her work. If you are interested in hiring Leslie for a special piece, please contact me and I will be happy to send you her information!

 I am obsessed with the warm feeling and gold touches in this painting. Just beautiful!

Leslie's artwork is so special, it doesn't need a big beautiful frame. The painting on the canvas alone speaks volumes. I'm already thinking of ideas for my home : ) Love you girl!

Bed Linens for the Bride-To-Be! (and groom too)

 Well this mountain girl got to take a wonderful trip home to Eastern Kentucky this past weekend and one of the things I was looking forward to was registering for my bedding at my momma's store Simple Changes! For the longest time, I have had dreams of an ivory and white bed and now I get to make it happen! I chose to go all out with the Pine Cone Hill brand. They encompass the shabby chic feel that I love so much! Hope you enjoy as much as I do : )

 

I have been using these Classic Hemstitch Sheets for years now and I will swear by them. They are so soft and smooth, not heavy at all. You definitely get that sigh of "ahhhh" when you slide into these at the end of the day!

 

I decided to go with the Juliet Duvet cover in white with two matching standard shams. Don't they look so sweet and comfy, not to mention vintage?

 

Another view of the duvet and shams

 

I can't wait to have our cloud of a bed!

 

So the bed won't be so cold with all white, I wanted to pull an ivory quilt with two Euro Pillows. I love mixing texture, and this Rosary pattern was love at first sight.

This bedskirt is so soft and airy. Another added texture, linen!

May I just add that my mother taught me the importance of making a bed. It's the best way to begin your day, and it sets the mood for the entire room. Take pride in your bed! Don't just pull the blankets back and throw pillows on top. Take a few minutes to make it up nicely. I promise there is nothing better than crawling into a freshly made bed at night. 

How I make my beds:

• Smooth out wrinkles on the bed sheet and do the same with the sheet above.
• Tuck corners of sheet under mattress at the bottom of the bed and pull tight at the top of the sheet.
• Do the same with a quilt or coverlet over the sheet set. 
• Fold down both the sheet and quilt at the top of the bed, maybe 8 to 12 inches (personal preference)
• Tri-fold duvet cover or blanket at the bottom of the bed, to show quilt or coverlet. 
• Neatly place sleeping pillows on bed sheet at the top of the bed and place Euros and/or decorative pillows in the front! Voi La! Example below:

 

I may add a boudoir pillow in this pretty Lady Apricot print. 

Shabby Chic Quote of The Day

"But there are a few chosen pieces that I consider "forever to keep":  the quintessential classic, the perfect patina, or the perfectly functional practical piece, these are the elements of forever.  But I do not only treasure star pieces.  Equal in importance for me are the details, the bits and pieces that take the supporting and understudy roles which are vital when it comes to creating a complete story.  And finding and compiling these takes time-- it takes editing, it takes research, but it separates magic from mediocrity. And it creates soul." 

Rachel Ashwell

ANTIQUE HEAVEN!

Yesterday, my future mother-in-law and I went antique hunting for shabby chic furniture that I could refurbish and place in my "dressing room"! Oh man, you will not believe the fun things we found! I attempted to take pictures with my phone, so my apologies for the picture quality. We started our hunt at Chintzy Rose.  We sat down for some tea and yummy quiches to gain our energy then took off with open eyes! My main goal of the day was to find one big piece for my dressing room, and once I get it refurbished and repainted, I would go back for more antique treasure.  From Chintzy Rose we took the hunt to Dutch Valley Antique Mall, and there I found the piece I needed! I found an antique dresser from the late 30's for $165.00! It was love at first sight! 

 

The glass had aged and there was a small crack on the far right side, but to me it was perfect. Can you imagine the history of this dresser? Just think of the beautiful lady that spent years looking at her reflection in this mirror. I cannot wait to make it my own!

I wanted to share with you other fabulous items we found on our hunt. Although I didn't purchase anything else, you better believe I'll be back once my project moves along! Let me know what you think I should get for my dressing room!

Mirrors and picture frames that are perfect for a shabby chic room! (Chintzy Rose)

 

I fell in love with this mirror and no paint needed! (Chintzy Rose)

 This ar moire was sold : (  But fortunately for me they will be getting another one in soon! (Chintzy Rose)

 This buffet had my name written all over it. Love the chipped paint and glass knobs. (Chintzy Rose)

 Another fabulous chic mirror. (Chintzy Rose)

 Perfectly sweet vanity and chair, a must for a dressing room! (Chintzy Rose)

 

A painted dresser drawers that matched my antique dresser! (Dutch Vally Antique Mall)

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE this Victorian style sofa! I wouldn't touch a thing on it. The color of the fabric is so beautiful! (Dutch Valley Antique Mall)

 

The ornate detail on this chair from the 20's made me drool! Imagine painted in cream and new fabric upholstery! (Dutch Vally Antique Mall)

 

How fabulous is this chair? Maybe a silver finish with a fun fabric reupholstered? Yes! (Dutch Valley Antique Mall)

 

Hello relaxing Victorian Chaise Lounge! I think I may NEED this for my dressing room. A new pretty fabric and fluffy down pillows...yessss (Dutch Valley Antique Mall)

 

Remember these?? (Dutch Valley Antique Mall)

 

I love to find things that remind me of my friends or family. These vintage cameras had my best friend Allison's name all over them! Not only could she put these to use, but they would make beautiful decorative pieces. (Dutch Valley Antique Mall)

 Hope you enjoyed my treasure finds! 

Love, C

Shabby Chic Quote of The Day

"MERE COLOUR CAN SPEAK TO THE SOUL IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS." 

OSCAR WILDE

Project of my own!

For those of you who don't know, I just moved in with my fiance! Along with the happiness and excitement of the move, I'm even more excited to redecorate! Fortunately for me, I have a fiance who trust my design aesthetic and said I could do whatever I wanted. Little does he know, I'll be redecorating everything (overtime).  Since we are still dealing with unpacking and the mess I brought down with me, what better place to start than my closet, right?  Did I mention, I'll be turning my fiance's office into my closet? He he he. He get's a man room, surely I can get a dressing room! : ) In all honesty, my fiance has a fabulous walk in closet connected to the master bedroom and I wasn't about to move his already organized things into the smaller closets. He never uses his little office, so why not? 

I wanted to share with you what I'm working with and progress along the way. Hope you enjoy!

 Pardon the mess, I just moved!

 

 I love red for clothes and cars, but not for small rooms. Just to let you know, my fiance did not paint the room red, he bought the house this way.

 First things first, cleaning out the entire room...fun

A few little things I brought from home, maybe some inspiration? We'll see!

Stay tuned for the changes!!

My love for white...again

Back to my love of white, artist Leah Anderson shows some ideal examples from her own home. She had a recent article titled "The White House" in Flea Market Style Magazine and I found some great pictures of her home at allthingscottage.com. I will save this article forever because the images are so inspiring. Her secrets to a "white house":

• Mix Cool and Warm Whites - "That's what adds the visual interest, the different tones and values," says Leah, who tries to simply let loose and have fun with whites.  "If you try too hard it will looked orchestrated...Spontaneity creates the magic." 

•  Focus on Texture - "White on white can be 'cold', and the only way to counterbalance that is through texture," she advises.  Bleached driftwood warms up her home; wood planked nailed to the walls and ceilings add visual movement.

• Bounce The Light Around - "I love light and movement," says Leah, who knows sunshine makes an all-white house even happier.  She uses high-gloss paint on ceilings and a satin sheen on walls, then adds mirrors and chandeliers for shimmer and sparkle.  (Quotation from Flea Market Style Magazine #116 p. 107)

 

Leah Anderson

 

 

 

HOLLIE WOOD STYLE

If you haven't had the chance to pick up the latest Flea Market Style Magazine, then please check out Designer Hollie Wood! Words cannot express how much I love her work and her talent! She is fearless when it comes to vintage finds and totally an inspiration to me. I could look at her website for hours and I will definitely be following her blog. The next time I'm in Charleston, I have to meet her and pick her brain!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just adore her and her style!! 

Pictures are from her website, www.holliewoodstyle.com

WHY I LOVE HOLLIE CHAMBLISS!

 “I’m trying to take that
mundaneness out
of life. What is the
purpose of living if you
can’t enjoy beauty?
Life is full of abundance.
We need to enjoy it.”
— Hollie Chambliss, floral designer (Article in Keeneland Magazine)

May I just tell you why I love my wedding florist, Hollie Chambliss? She is AMAZING!  Not only do her designs speak for themselves, but Hollie's personality is just sunshine : ) 

My family and I have been trying to keep this wedding planning as stress-free as possible, and when it came to looking for a florist, we wanted someone who could take our budget and guide us in the right direction. From the moment I first met Hollie, I knew she was our "Wedding Florist Soul Mate".  She was so much fun and totally got my vision, "Southern Vintage".  

As the bride-to-be, I wanted to find that special florist I could completely trust with my vision and Hollie is that florist. I know she is going to produce nothing but perfection! Just look at her work below. These are just some of my favorite designs. You must check out her website for more! Hollie designs more than just weddings. She has an amazing resume of past events, estate designs, and magazine articles. I'm just so thankful I found her! Our flower angel! 

   http://www.chamblissdesign.com

(click on photos to view larger image)

 www.keeneland.com/visit/Keeneland%20Stories/KM_HollieChambliss.pdf