Fourth of July at Home

     The colors of summer are easy to love. Outside my front door in the first days of July, those colors are enhanced by Independence Day accents. The light gray siding, the airy iron mesh furniture and landscaping plantings made lush by the recent days of rain, are perfect foils for the patriotic hues of red, white and blue. None of these are big bold displays or grand gestures but rather simple accessories: little flags and a primitive painted wood sign added to the basket already holding a red spray of flowers, a bright red pillow sprinkled with white stars perched on the glider, and more flags that stand sentinel along the front walk. These are OUR declarations of independence!

Santa to the Point

     This group of Santas graces the top of a shelving unit in my dining room. They share a distinctive feature: a conical shape and pointy hat! Of course, that is what led me to place them in a proximate area. However they are constructed quite differently. The green pair are soft-sculptures - printed fabric that was cut and stitched together, then stuffed with polyester. They are special to me because my grandmother made them several decades ago. The red trio are treasured because a dear sister-in-law gifted them to me, also many years past. They are wooden; and can be pulled apart and nested for storage. I love the unusual but analagous shapes - pinnacles overseeing the dinner table!

The New Gray Room

     This is the room we call our computer room, although it serves other purposes as well. It is a smallish room that was once our son's bedroom and the color scheme has remained the same since he occupied it more than twenty years ago. Time for a complete change, I decided, and painted the white walls over with a light gray. Painting isn't exactly fun, but I don't mind if I have the necessary supplies, like a tall Bloody Mary and some furry company. Another plus is getting nostalgic over little things like the grandson's signature on the closet door - initially I didn't want to paint over the little Picasso's work but figured a photograph would preserve it better.

Also the newly painted doors are much prettier (and you can see here another purpose the room serves - golf bag storage - not my idea but half the time they are in hubby's truck anyway.)   

     The opposite wall contributes to the storage of another accoutrement of hubby's hobbies - his electric guitar, which I don't mind because it is attractive and the black accent harmonizes (!) quite well with the rest of the room. (Note the pet portraits on each wall. We picked favorite photos of our past and present beloved pets, enlarged and framed them. The mismatched frames were bought at various estate or garage sales, then painted with a bright white enamel and I think they coordinate nicely.)

  

   The curtains are custom made by moi because I searched high and low and far and wide for ready-made, and could find nothing that appealed. Then began a similarly fruitless quest to find fabric - all I wanted was a large gray and white buffalo check - and finally found a website that had something that looked promising and was reasonably priced. The results were not only satisfactory but beyond my expectations; I love them and so does Dunc!

     Carpeting was the last step and the old brown plush was replaced with a lighter-colored, tweedy Berber that is low looped and durable. Again, I think Dunc approves; we all love spending time in this room that grandson dubbed, "very restful".

Back Door Window Curtain

     The kitchen door was not just outdated - it was worn, discolored and less than energy efficient. The inset window was unattractive, to say the least - the exterior jalousies were operated by a crank, which was long gone, the interior was a sort of ridiculous storm window that had been altered for privacy with a DIY leaded pattern filled in with an etch-effect paint, and in-between was a lovely collection of dust and cobwebs. Suffice it to say, we were thrilled with the new steel door and its nine-paned window, even with the tags still attached.
     However, the privacy issue loomed again and I searched for suitable ideas, considering different styles of curtains and shades. After settling on a lace panel with top and bottom rod pockets, I visited the hardware store and was pleasantly surprised to find a product that I did not know even existed - magnetic rods! No need to put screw holes in the new door! It took very little time to measure and hem the lace (which I  found in my fabric stash) and hang up the new curtain. I love the new clean look and since the grandchildren are (mostly) grown and the dog is (mostly) well-behaved, the rods stay pretty much in place.
 

Trestle Table Restoration

     Husband and I bought this table about thirty-five years ago. We were newly-weds with very little expendable income and had been eating off of a borrowed card table for several months. At that time, Grandpa Pigeon's had a limited inventory of  furniture and we found an unfinished trestle table (of very good quality) and four ladder back chairs with rush seats (of not so good quality). I stained and sealed the table to match the chairs and was very pleased with the look

     Twenty-five years later, the table top was showing quite a bit of wear, so I resurfaced it. (Grown up son, Mike, feigned disappointment that his math problems from second grade were no longer etched in the finish). The chairs, still in very good shape but not exactly comfortable, were relegated to the basement and we bought six beautiful new ones in matching oak. 

     This autumn, I thought briefly about replacing the table because the top was again showing wear and the legs had multiple puppy teeth scars. Instead, I decided that the table just needed some new life so I spent almost two weeks stripping, sanding, priming, staining, painting and sealing. I love the new contemporary look for my old friend!

Easter Happy

     Because I love the colors and themes of Easter, it makes me sad to put my decor away for the season. These tiny ceramic candle holders are a case in point. They are new, picked up at a local antique shop where I had gone to browse with my sisters and no intent to buy. They are also an odd size and I did not have candles to fit. Not wanting to wait on another shopping trip, a candy egg atop each filled in nicely and I have actually grown to prefer this look, because they flank another candle. I think I will keep my tabletop display in place for another couple of weeks...

Headboard-To-Shelf Transformation

     A short while ago, I posted about my new upholstered headboard, which was the first step in my bedroom rehab. The plan was to take apart the old headboard shelves, cut the pieces to size, and reassemble with the narrowed shelf attached atop the existing nightstand. This required meticulous measurement and calibration, as I wanted the new shelf unit to match the height of the dresser-top mirror. The thirty year old suite of furniture was all beautiful hardwood and sturdily built so the careful deconstruction took longer than the rebuild!

 
     Well everything went swimmingly - which was quite a surprise. The addition of  some framed artwork and new swing-arm lamps completed the project, and I was more than pleased - I can't stop admiring the fresh look, and especially love the new lamps.

(Before)

Superbowl Tree

     When we took down the Christmas decorations in early January, Pop lamented losing the ambiance of the tree in his "man cave" television room. I suggested perhaps we could maintain the tree for a while longer by replacing the holiday theme with football motifs. Eagerly, he agreed and printed out some NFL helmets and other items. Leaving in place the blue and white lights that match the room's decor, we were both pleased with the result, and guests on Superbowl Sunday enjoyed it as well. (There will not, however, be a Valentine or St. Patrick's Day tree!)

Jingle Bell Reflections

     Packing away holiday decorations is a sad task in our house. The season seems an awfully short time to enjoy the special colors, sounds and smells we enjoy so much. However, I often pause and reminisce while wrapping certain treasures in preparation for storage, and often a little cheer is restored. Case in point is this framed photograph. The jingle bell frame was a gift from dear friend, Trudi, which initially I deemed rather garish but because I love Trudi, I packed it away and hoped that someday I might reconsider. Which I did! Recently coming across an old photo of me and my three younger sisters with Santa, I thought immediately of the frame. I enlarged the photo, slipped it behind the glass and was delighted with the juxtaposition of the innocence and joy of a childhood Christmas, and the sparkly, jingly bells. (And I remember that photo session in 1960 - there was a fan blowing to help Santa keep his cool and little Judy's hair kept blowing in her face!)

Post-Season Sprint of the Cardinals

     When we bought our house almost thirty years ago, it was agreed that Pop would be in charge of the interior design of the basement and I would captain the main floor. My concern, and hence the reason I proposed the arrangement, is that the entire house would assume the look of a sports bar if Pop had free rein! The plan has worked well, with only a minor battle here and there. 

    Recently our St. Louis baseball Cardinals made their final sprint of the season by competing with the San Francisco Giants for the National League Championship. The Giants were triumphant, not sweeping the series but winning in five games - to us Cardinal fans it felt more like post-mortem than post-season. So with heavy hearts we find that it is now time to remove the red accents that have appeared, by mutual agreement, in MY autumn decor.

Phone Stand

     After we painted the walls in the dining room, I found a simple iron and wood stand to place near an outlet. Its main purpose was an out-of-the-way place to hold my phone while it charged overnight, however I am equally thrilled that the stand became a pleasing accessory to the room's decor. Since the drapes and the area rug are predominately a dark red, I searched through my books and gathered some matching volumes, which then were bound with a wire-rimmed ribbon. A decorative metal milk can that is usually part of my autumn decor, was placed on the lower shelf and filled with a spray of greenery. Love my little phone station!

DIY Hanging Pot Rack

     Another of my "keep busy and don't despond" projects resulted in this pot rack that hangs above the kitchen sink. I'd often thought this might be a good idea, especially since cabinet space in my kitchen is barely adequate, but:
#1. I didn't want any of the window  view blocked
#2. I didn't want the lovely natural light impeded
#3. Despite the airy vaulted ceiling, I was afraid it would look cluttered.

   
     However on a Christmas house tour, a featured kitchen smaller than mine included a similarly-placed rack and all of my fears were allayed. A short time later, fifteen dollars and a trip to the hardware store provided the scant materials; a five foot piece of electrical conduit, a pack of ceiling hooks (with toggle bolts included) and several packs of S hooks. Oh, and I splurged on end caps - $1.79 apiece for brushed nickel cabinet knobs that matched the existing ones in the kitchen and were glued on each end of the conduit.
     Now my pans are always within easy reach and I have a cabinet freed up for other uses. Even husband, who was skeptical upon hearing my plan (and who has taken up quite a bit of cooking in recent months), admits that he likes the arrangement.

The Twelve D's of Christmas (D = Favorite Decoration)

1. Santa salt and pepper shakers that I loved as a child and didn't even know they still existed until we had to sell Mom's house last year! The little ceramic fellows never fail to inspire a wistful nostalgia for Christmas's past.

2. Simple potholders featuring screen printed  images on cotton fabric -  these were sewn and quilted by my maternal grandmother, who I miss dearly, but never more than at Christmas.

3. A fish ornament that is not vintage, nostalgic, or even traditionally holidayish, holds a special place in my heart because it was a gift from a special friend and because it is so unique, with its animated features and sparkly colors.

4. About twenty years ago, I found a page of vintage Christmas images (meant for decoupage) inserted in a magazine. I cut them out and glued them to stock paper, and gold or white doilies trimmed to size. Red embroidery yarn was tied on for hangers. The ornaments have such a lovely old-world appeal.

5. A paper mache reindeer is regally transformed with a painted finish that has the rich appearance of burnished gold. He is also a planter and holds a small bush of shiny berry-laden holly.

6. A spruce wreath hangs on the front porch to the left of the door. Originally it had just the small gold ornaments, red berry sprigs and the red bow. Later I bought the little sled at an after-Christmas sale but couldn't seem to find the right spot for it, until it finally found a just-right place on the wreath.

7. Santa takes on a whimsical form, again on the front porch, atop the summertime fern stand. For safety in the blustery winter winds, his ceramic form (now wait, is he a snowman?) is wired to the stand. 

8. Another holiday resident welcomes visitors on the front porch - this vigilant cardinal that I rescued from a local thrift shop. I used acrylic paint to cover the faded metallic finish and was pleased with the realistic palette. My redbird looks right at home, perched among the potted ivy, scarlet berries and winter flowers.

9. Small shelf at the end of the hall holds two skating snow people, a snowman candle holder and some greenery, and radiates a quiet charm at night with a tiny candle glowing in front of the mirror.









10. Simply because I love it, the nature tree stands atop the computer desk all year long but for the Christmas season, small apple ornaments and tiny gold bells are added. Oh, and a gold nativity ornament assumes the highest point on the tree.

11. Husband started this collection of ceramic buildings a few years ago and now they sit on a bookshelf in the living room. A snow blanket and pillowy pine trees complete the winter look, which glows with tiny lighted windows in early morning and in the evening. (The village is on the same timer as the Christmas tree - no need to hassle with wires or awkwardly placed electrical plugs.)

12. I made the stately swan three decades ago. The fowl, and the holiday wreath encircling his slender neck,  was made from a kit - preprinted fabric which I cut and stitched together, then stuffed. He perches on the highest shelf in the vaulted kitchen, among a collection of cookbooks.

Optimism and a Refinished Bathroom Vanity

     Life has dealt me some changes in the past year that have preyed on my normally happy psyche: the rapid decline in Mom's physical and mental health, the race to ready and sell her house so as to afford an assisted living facility, and psychological trauma that caused my son and his family to move thirty-five miles away (generating grandchildren withdrawal!) It is easy to sink into self-pity and depression even while I remind myself that there are worse things to be suffered in life. Therefore I allow myself time to grieve for crumbling customs and traditions, and seek diversion by keeping occupied as much as possible. 

     So that encapsulated disclosure explains why, when I realized how outdated and dull this bathroom vanity had become, refinishing it appealed more than buying a new one. Besides the wood was in very good shape so after removing the hardware, a regimen of sanding, staining and varnishing produced a beautiful glossy espresso finish. The old pulls were trashed and shiny stainless steel replacements, which match the newer faucet and towel bars, were found at the local hardware store. The smart contemporary look pleased me more than I had expected - now what can I do next?

b

Refurbished Upholstered Stool

     An old upholstered stool has slumbered in the storage area of the basement for more than twenty years. I picked it up for a couple of dollars at an estate sale with the intention of refurbishment but as usual things piled up (boxes and other projects!) and it was neglected, but not forgotten. Midwinter weather prompted a basement overhaul and I carted the stool outside to tackle the cobwebs and spider eggs (ew!). After unscrewing and removing the top, which was badly worn and dirty, I cleaned the wood framework and rubbed it with lemon oil. A trip to the local hobby store provided a piece of four inch foam to increase the height of the cushion. The next week, a snow day gifted me with the time to sew and reupholster the top of the stool. My scrap box held two strips of a green and gold damask that were left over from a giant pillow cover I had made the previous year. After joining them together lengthwise and sewing box pleats at the corners,  there was just enough fabric to staple to the top frame.

     The result was an interesting piece of furniture that coordinates with the living room and can be used as either extra seating or as a table if topped with a tray. I loved it even before I gave it a final rub of more lemon oil to shine and feed that thirsty old wood!

Curtain Call

     The sun had begun to rise and though the room was still dark, this skeletal fellow loomed just bright enough to cause a slight rise in my heart rate this morning. Although he is only a plastic window cling and I was the one who placed him there, that leering grin managed to startle me momentarily as I entered the room.

Sail Away Bathroom

     The guest bathroom has a beachfront motif and I like that a visit to the small room feels like an escape. Its simple decor and natural colors create a peaceful and relaxed mood. For many years, the toilet had a polished oak seat and  lid to match the vanity. However recently, it became obvious that the wood finish was failing and I felt that it harbored germs, even after a good cleaning. So the oak was discarded and replaced with white, easy-to-clean plastic. The smooth, gleaming surface of the lid may have been hygienic but it was certainly not attractive, so I shopped for covers and found none that appealed. Then, during an unrelated internet search, I saw this sailboat quilt square, which was easy to adapt and sew onto an equally simple-to-construct, poly/cotton cover. Quarter inch elastic edges the cover to keep it in place, and now the lid is not just utilitarian, it is a piece of decor!



The candle on the tub corner was made in North Carolina by my daughter-in-law, and also contains sand, seashells and a nautical rope tie.

Because the tub and tiles were already a sandy hue, I sewed a shower curtain of sheer and glimmery blue, to add an aquatic feel.

And finally, a wall grouping that includes a boat, a life-saving ring, and a starfish. (The walls were painted antique white and then striped with a color called "Sandpoint".)