Dining Room Accessorizing

The Dining Room decorating has begun!  The inspiration started with a Cezanne print that I picked up for free. It was the first thing I hung on the walls when we moved in. 

That French Farm feel is my inspiration for the entire room!

Now I'm trying to find rustic pieces that will set the mood that I want. I'm working on the kitchen at the same time to try to keep the styling consistent.  Rustic chargers and a table runner, combined with mason jars, tin watering cans, and hints of that farmhouse feel (mostly through cow accessories) offer a good start. I am looking for/ considering making cover for the pillows you see in the background. These ones used to be in a brown and gold guest bedroom (when we lived in MI).

Natural Table Runner $17.99 from Target. Chargers also from Target, Emma White plates from Pottery Barn. Mason jars with tea lights are one of my favorite things. The cow pail was a graduation gift, as were the "M" coasters. 

I got the vineyard mirror on clearance at a decorators store that was going out of business in GA. If you are wondering what is being reflected in it, those would be Joe's books!  

Dining Room Inspiration: Country Farmhouse

I should be on a plane right now.

Our flight to London tonight was abruptly canceled, with no explanation given. After working through every possible option with the travel agent, we were able to get onto another flight tomorrow evening leaving from a different city. And so a day of London sight-seeing has been lost. :(

So instead, I spent the afternoon internet window shopping for my dining room. I'd like to bring in even more of a farmhouse feel. These pieces I found are going to be my inspiration:

1. Black colonial chandelier, from lightingcity.com

Even as a renter, I want this. I'd be able to take it with me, and  would love it forever!

2. Burlap table runner

Less than $20 from Amazon.com. I am on a bit of a burlap kick right now, but it's just too cute! And I'm really drawn to neutrals for this dining room redo. 

3. Vintage Milk Bottle, worldmarket.com

I picked this up at World Market! I want to use it for decor though rather than actually for holding milk (I've already got one for that!). The problem is, I can't have real flowers with Dougie the cat around, and I haven't found longer fake flowers that I like. To be continued...

Anyway, I'm going to be making the updates slowly. The chandelier for example is a bigger project and purchase, so I'll want to spend more time looking around and making sure I find the *right one*. I've got so many projects going on right now, that when we get back from our trip I really need to just focus on one at a time and get them done! It's fun to daydream about design though! 

DIY Vintage Canvas Art

This week I discovered that a computer, a printer, and a little creativity can go a long way!

Vintage prints are so popular right now. However, they are kind of impersonal. Don't get me wrong- I love the look of a random French advertisement printed on a pillow, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it had a special meaning to me as well?

That was the goal for this project: to create my own vintage art that could also be personal. Since I am leaving soon for a week long vacation to the Isle of Man (a small island in the Irish sea to which I have strong ancestral ties), I thought I'd design something that would remind me of this trip for years to come.

To start, I did a search for vintage clip art that I could download for free. I was surprised to find so many options, such as:

thegraphicsfairy.com
vintagefeedsacks.blogspot.com
missmary.com

I eventually settled on an anchor from the Graphics Fairy.

Next, I wanted to find a vintage looking font, and fell in love with (the ironically named) "Ugly Qua" font, which I downloaded for free from www.dafont.com. (Note: you will need to download the zip files, extract the files, and then save to the "fonts" folder under "Control Panel" before you can use the font in MS Word).

Once I had typed up my design in Word, I bought some canvas scrapbooking paper (can be purchased at AC Moore or Michaels). It's thin enough to run through the printer, though I had to trim it to size. I also picked up a black frame for $5 at AC Moore. For less than $10, I was able to create my own personal vintage-looking artwork!

Ta-da! I hung it on the wall under one of my vintage maps. It looks great! 

What Paris taught me.

It's no easy task writing about Paris. Paris has been discussed, analyzed, fantasized about, and selected as a core design inspiration since forever. After having completed a thesis on medieval French music, I'm convinced that it was just as magical then- pre-Eiffel Tower- as it is now.

What is it that makes Paris so magical? How can a city be so effortlessly stunning? I don't really have answers. I'm just fortunate to have been able to experience Paris on several different occasions now. Walking its streets, eating excessive amounts of its pain au chocolat, and allowing myself to be romanced by its twinkling lights all taught me a few things that I hope to incorporate into my design.

1. Soft colors are calming and romantic. The greys and whites of Parisian architecture, alongside the natural greens of the gardens and the blue of the Seine, create a charming palate that never gets old.

2. Surround yourself with a few key lovely things. The Eiffel Tower is breathtaking from every angle. No matter how often I see, I can't catch a glimpse without appreciating its presence. The same can be true for home design- a few key pieces can set quite the tone. Sometimes less is more.

3. Appeal to all senses. The smell of fresh baked baguettes, the feel of soft linens, the sight of great impressionist art, the sounds of accordion in the metro...Paris attacks and enchants each sense. Your home should be comforting in the same way.

4. Live. Though I'm usually intimidated by cities, Paris is just so friendly. It proves that it is possible to have lovely things that still allow for a livable space. French pinstripe linens and old feedsack, for example, create rustic elegance but are easily washable.

5. Love. Be passionate about people. About things. About art, music, and life. Let your passions guide your design and your house will feel like a home.

6. Simplify. Yes, there are some people rushing down the street gripping cell phones in Paris, but there are far more eating lunch in one of the many parks, strolling casually down alleyways without any real sense of urgency. As I wandered around the city, turning off of the beaten path, I think this is what surprised me the most. There was a calm and quiet to Paris that I had not expected. And that's the best way to enjoy a city- to unplug and just be there. Couldn't we all use more of that in our lives and in our homes?

Paris, je t'aime! 

Paper Flowers

My friend Jackie shared this tutorial with me: peonies out of coffee filters! Taken from this great blog. Here is my attempt:

It was actually really easy to do! I love the bright white look of it.

Napkin sale!

Thanks to a sale at Sur La Table, I got these great napkins for $1.95/each! While a lot of Spring decorating is based on lively pastels, I find myself more drawn to neutral tones of white and beige. Add a black ribbon and it's a great Wake Forest tribute. I would love to get some nice neutral napkin rings too, however. I may have to visit SLT again soon!