My beloved father-in-law passed away last week unexpectedly.  It has been an extremely hard time for my family.  He was the most kind and sincere individual I have ever known.  Recently he bought a condo down the street from us.  He asked me to decorate it.  I was so so excited, I went out the very next day to purchases furniture, art, and accessories. Rick was an easy man to please, he was thrilled with the progress I had made with the condo.  Sadly, I did not get to finish decorating his condo.   I love you Rick!

So Long Southern Accents

Southern Accents has announced that the September/October issue will be its last.  Another great magazine will be gone.  Thanks for all the inspiration!

Affinity for Antlers

My Own Antlers

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor

Recently I have noticed the increased popularity of mounted antlers used as decoration pieces.  I have to admit that I think they are pretty terrific.  I have had a pair of mounted antlers hung in my house for years.  They were handed down to me from my father.  My father received them from his mother, my grandmother, who brought them over from Germany.  They hung in her families home in Munich.  My father believes they came from a German Red Deer.  I have always loved them, maybe because I remember them hanging in my beloved grandmother's home.  I have received mixed reviews from visitors who have taken notice to them.  Some people seem to think they are an interesting decorating piece.  Others ask why I would hang them in my house.  I love them and I feel pretty cool now that I see them in popular magazines.  Let the nay-sayers snicker all they want!

Dining Room Chairs

Over a year ago, I purchased six old dining room chairs with the hopes that my husband would refinish them.  As you can probably figure out, they have not been refinished.  I have since decided that I am not as fond of them as I thought.  I came across these chairs at West Elm.  I love the modern look of them.  I think that they would go quite well with my antique farm table.  I like to mix styles and I feel that the chairs and table would complement each other.  I like to think of the combination as Dominoesque, a term I use for the love affair I have for all things seen in Domino.  Now I have to convince my husband.  He will think that they are too utilitarian.  I think I will win though because he won't want me to nag him anymore about the old chairs he has yet to refinish.

Simple Changes

OLD

NEW UPDATE

Last fall, my husband knocked down half a wall between my kitchen and dining room.  My kitchen had been dark and boxy before.  Now more light comes into the kitchen and the space actually feels larger.  Per my request, my husband built me a banquette in the corner of my kitchen under my new, half wall.  I LOVE my banquette!!!  We purchased an old, dinged up farm table to go along with the banquette.  Choosing fabric for the banquette cushions was quite the process.  It took me a good month to settle on fabric I knew I could live over the years.  The upholsterer I have used in the past for slipcovers did an awesome job on the cushions.  I am so pleased with the outcome of the entire area.  Recently though, I decided that it needed new lighting and art.  On a recent trip to IKEA I found a pretty drum shade for $5 that my dad, an electrician, hung for me.  I also changed out the darker framed art for more brighter prints that I also purchased at IKEA.