Color Trends

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I think I am a little scared of this spring's color trends! Especially after I just watched the Today Show and they were giving their color fashion trends for spring. I know I am getting older but the only place you'll see any of the neon colors they forecasted on me, are maybe my toes! (A very small accessory may not be too bad) I think I'll stay away from decorating my home with them as well. But Pantone has also pulled a line of many other colors, bright neon colors are among them for this years picks, but the winner is Tangerine as the color of the year.

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Changing your wardrobe from season to season is a lot easier then changing your home decor. If you are one who likes to keep up with the new color trends, it might be much easier if you treat these trends in your home as accessories, just like you do for your wardrobe. (love the Burberry bag with tangerine and how cute are these earrings!)

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 Accessorizing your home with the lastest colors can be a lot of fun and definitely easier on your wallet. Get a new fun pillow in the latest new trendy color that works with your exisiting decor, vases or art work could bring in that pop without having to change everything you have. Who couldn't use a tangerine mixer!

The picture below shows a good example of using the hottest color right now with a neutral gray sofa, you could change out those pillows with just about any color and still have it look great.

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 If you want to go a little more adventurous, paint is a great inexpensive way to change your room with the latest colors, a bit more time consuming, but cheaper then changing out all of your upholstered pieces of furniture just to stay trendy and hip! Here's an easy fix,  just paint the front door.

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Or go a little bolder, paint the walls

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Country Living

Furniture can also make an impact

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Tangerine looks great with blue shades too because they are complimentary colors. I wrote a previous posting on The color orange, where you can see how versatile the color really is. But what ever the next trendy color is that comes along at least there are ways that you can incorporate them without changing everything you already have.

Valentines Day Fun

BHG

Happy Valentines Day! I thought I would share some fun, love inspired Valentines Day ideas, it doesn't all have to be red roses(I think they are completely over rated anyhow) and chocolate(well maybe a little chocolate would be nice).

I love the chartreuse shutters on the mantel with the bright colors of the banner in the picture above.

BHG

This heart banner is also really cute above the bed, and love the red dog pillow.

BHG

We could all use a little love.

BHG

And a little poetic quote is nice.

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I love this play on an old traditional eye chart!



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WE all need a little something sweet, this is a really cute idea.




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How cute is this cupid kit.

This idea was given to me by a friend via Pinterest. How cute is this? This is Abbie my 8 year old, we had fun doing these over the weekend with the kids.

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This is a sweet display to commemorate the day.

But whatever you do on this Valentines Day have fun and remember to let those around you know how much you love them!

local B & B tour

Picture credit to Faunbrook

The other day I took a tour of a local B&B called Faunbrook in West Chester, PA.  It was quite a treat. The B&B was built in 1865 and owned by the Darlington family, who were a very well known family in West Chester. Faunbrook is a beautiful large estate with many great facilities. There are 7 guest rooms, 5 of which are named after the Darlington's 5 girls.

The present owners, Lori and Steve, have been running Faunbrook for the past 4 years. They have many events on site, including weddings, corporate events, birthday parties and what I thought was a really fun idea, a murder mystery night. They are open to a variety of events and have such a great setting to be able to enjoy, between the huge dining room, living room, small sitting room (my favorite) and a beautiful wrap around porch that can be enclosed if needed. Every one of the guests rooms was very unique and different, most with fireplaces and all seem so cozy, but this was my favorite of all  the 7 rooms, it is one of the suites. I would love to get  away and sink into that great big tub!

Faunbrook is decorated with a Victorian flare - this room was so bright and inviting.

 Upon entering, the whole B&B was filled with the most delicious smell of bread, which I was so happy to have been offered a piece of. Lori does all the cooking with occasional help of her husband. I had a piece of pumpkin spice bread just baked that morning and a cup of coffee that were delicious. I asked if she had any other specialties that she makes at breakfast and among them were, blueberry pancakes, and an asparagus egg bake. For larger events she does use a list of wonderful caterers from the area, but I would just like to pop in for breakfast! Below is the beautiful and very large dining room.

This was my favorite room, I would love to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine or hot tea.

What a great place to have in my local area. If you happen to be near West Chester, PA it is definitely a place worth looking into for your sta. Nothing beats a cozy room and a homemade breakfast. Check out their site for their specials, Valentines Day is just around the corner. And also West Chester is a great place to visit with many amazing restaurants and shops.  For more information on my local town visit here at,  WCbid

Faunbrook is also the preferred B & B for the Chester County Antiques Show, which is a terrific antique show held in March, for more information check out their website for information on the show here, and if you are visiting for the show, consider staying at Faunbrook. 

It's great to get out there and find local attractions in your area and find out about new places to stay if you plan on traveling.

super bowls

With the super bowl coming up tomorrow, I thought I would give my pick for some real winners of super bowls, but of course I'm not talking football. I came across some pieces that I think are great bowls that you would be proud to have on your tables all alone or filled with your favorite foods.
 I found these beautiful bowls on Etsy, you can find so many great things there. These bowls are from a seller by the name, One Clay Bead, the designer makes great organic looking bowls and other ceramic pieces, here are a few of my favorites

Here are a few others that I think are super bowl worthy

Beast bowl from Anthropologie

Footed bowl from Pottery Barn

Vintage carved wooden bowl from Pottery Barn

Large clam shell bowl from Ballard

favorite finds

A few years ago my husband was asked if he wanted this old work bench. Someone he knew through his job didn't feel like moving with it, and I am glad he said yes. But it wasn't until just 2 years ago that we decided that it would look great set up as a really cool table. It was just sitting in our basement collecting dust. I had just seen one like it in Pottery Barn for over $2,000, then another one at Terrain for over $3,000, then I was really glad he got it! It really is so fun- I had it in my dining room for awhile until I got my buffet piece that I painted and posted a little while back, and then moved it and put the work table in my family room. It's a great conversational piece.
 Here is our table, we left the back part of it off, we sanded it and used paste wax on it, it had a much darker finish on it before
.

The one I saw at Terrain for over $3,000 was a couple of years ago but I saw this one that they have there now just yesterday.

Feels good when you know you made a good decision about something and wow am I happy! I actually even like mine better. Couldn't find a picture of the one from Pottery Barn but I felt good just seeing this!

new rug for my foyer

I am in search of a new rug for my foyer, I haven't come across too many that will go well with both my living room and dining room since they are both off the foyer on either side. I do love my rug that is there now but it is so worn out and old looking that I think I can't pull off that it is an antique rug any more! I found some great rugs this morning on One Kings Lane, these rugs are by Jill Rosenwald, they are a great collection with beautiful "dynamic" patterns, as described on One Kings Lane. They are handwoven wool rugs, I find that wool rugs are easier to clean and a bit more forgiving. I love the rug in the picture below, although that would not go with what I have, it's just fun.

This rug was one of my picks, it is the Haven rug in sea foam and cream. I have both of these colors in my dining room and living room rug so it would be a great neutral color and I love the pattern. It would also go great with the color on my walls which is, Gray Wisp from Sherwin and Williams.
The price is great too for a wool rug, but I need to act fast because not only are they all selling out but this particular sale ends today!  You can check out more of their great sales on the link above, they are always offering beautiful designer sales.
I also love this rug from Ballard Designs, if I can't decide on the one above by today this is also a great choice because it is an indoor/outdoor rug. I like the larger one shown which is the Geneve rug in neutral.

Decisions, decisions....the clock is ticking!

second chance for an old chair

I have been so tired of looking at this chair of mine in my family room that I threatened many times that it was just going to go out in bulk trash and I was replacing it with a much nicer newer chair! Well after I was out and about the other day and came across a few beautiful chairs for inspiration, well I really wanted to buy them but instead used them to inspire me. I went home, tore of the very old worn out slip cover, I had loved this Williamsburg fabric years ago and now can't stand to look at it! But I decided to paint the beautiful wood trim that was hidden under the slip cover in ASCP Old White, distressed it a little and waxed it- but there is still a problem because it has the old wedge wood blue colored velvet underneath.

 So I went up to Calico Home and found a couple of fabrics that I had just seen on a few of those chairs of inspiration. I brought a couple of the fabrics home and decided on this one-

 I love how it looks on the chair and matches the navy in my pillow, yes again another problem, I need someone to make the slip cover for me and make it to show off my newly painted wood!

But I am glad I didn't throw the chair away, it looks better even like this! I love the old grain sack linen look of the fabric, I saw it on so many upholstered pieces the other day. So when it is finished I will post my "new" chair, it saved me many hundreds of dollars which is always a good thing!