Bye Bye Blue

Six years ago, when we moved into this house, long before we even started our renovation, we had all of the walls painted.  For our bedroom I chose a bold blue, something beachy, with hints of green in it.

Originally I had picked a paint that was a much more mellow color, it was almost white with just a hint of blue/grey in it, but after seeing how well the bold color in our son's room turned out I changed my mind and went with this blue instead.  I had had a bold color in our bedroom in our last house which I loved, so I thought what the heck, it's only paint, and went for it.

After a few years I began to see this color all over the place and that's when my fond feelings for it faded.  I'm weird like that, and as soon as something becomes popular, well I tend to hate it and want to move on.  You know, kind of like when they play a really great song over, and over, and over on the radio...and that song you once loved just becomes annoying?

So, about 4 months ago I began the hunt for a new wall color...yeah, I have lived with a paint color I didn't like anymore for about 4 years and 4 months!  Just because I don't like it any longer doesn't mean I feel like changing it.  I used to not bat an eye at painting a whole room, but I did it for so many years, that now I just cringe at the thought of re-arranging furniture and clearing a room out to paint the walls.  I think a whole house renovation will do that to you, it sucks the remodeling/changing things up life right out of you!

But as much as I detest the idea of painting, I'm even more tired of staring at 3 different color paint swatches on my walls.  But I have finally settled on a color, and we even have the new paint, so there really are no more excuses I can use.

I thought I wanted a soft grey that had a lavender undertone, but once I put it on my walls, and even though this room gets a TON of light, it just looked muddy.  Instead, I ended up with a soft pale grey that looks almost white.  This from a girl who swore she would never want an all white room...well besides my kitchen.  Oh, and white walls are all the rage right now...so forget what I said earlier about things being popular...blah, blah, blah.

But I think I'm going to like it.  It has enough grey to make it interesting, and it still looks nice against the bright white trim in there, so fingers crossed it will work.  But the blue won't all be gone from the room when it's finished because my ticking stripe duvet and new bolsters will make sure that the blue isn't really gone.

And in a separate act of craziness, Mr. Tide and I have decided to try and tackle our kitchen backsplash tile installation ourselves.  After having numerous installers come out and say it seemed too complicated, or wanting a fortune to do it, we've decided to just do it ourselves.  We've done tile work before, and after being so frustrated with not finding someone to do it I was actually looking at buying different, more simplistic tiles we could do ourselves.  But after pricing out new tiles that I would actually like, we thought what the heck...the worst that can happen is that we have to get all new tiles if we screw up, and we are thinking about doing that anyway...so why not at least try!

I think this might actually drive me a little buggy before all is said and done!

To my Canadian readers, I wish you all a very lovely long weekend in celebration of Canada Day! :)

New Uses for Old Things

When I decided to sell my grandparent's dining room furniture, it was a tough decision.  I knew that it wasn't incredibly expensive antique furniture dating from the 1700s, but it was still beautiful furniture that had been in my family for over 70 years.

Before I listed the table, chairs, buffet, and tea cart on Craigslist, I decided I would keep the china cabinet.  That way I could pass it along to one of my children if they ever wanted to use it in their own homes.  I am happy to report that our old dining room table and chairs have found a very happy home.  The couple who bought them on Craisglist was kind enough to send me photos of the table and chairs in their dining room, and it looks amazing, so I know they will enjoy it for many years to come!

Because I had a new china cabinet on the way, which you can read about here, I knew the old one couldn't remain in the dining room.  So I started looking around our house to see where I could put our old china cabinet.

One day, while lying in bed, I realized that the wall between our closet and our bathroom was the perfect spot for it.  The more I thought about it, the more excited I got about moving it in to our bedroom.  I could use it to store linens, almost like a linen press, and some of the special things that had been shoved in our closet for too long, like a collection of scarves and gloves from my grandmother and mother.  Now, with easy access I would maybe wear some of these pretty pieces.


 

And I would simply relocate some of my Beatrix Potter collection so that I could enjoy them everyday when I get up each morning.

They seem pretty happy in their new location too.  Mrs. Rabbit is fixing something yummy for dinner, and I spy butter and a pitcher of milk being carried by a certain kitty cat in the background.

Having the china cabinet in our bedroom also allows me to display some vintage linens, like the crocheted popcorn bedspread that my grandmother or great grandmother made.  And while cleaning out my parent's house, I lucked in to an old Ivory Soap laundry sack that no one else wanted, so I've folded it and placed it on top of the bedspread.  I may eventually turn it into a table runner or a pillow, but for now it will live here in the cabinet.

I've also put some pretty soaps, lotions, and bath salts inside the cabinet and I really love how it gives me easy access to things while still looking pretty enough for display.

I'm really glad that I decided to keep this cabinet since it was something my grandparents purchased together and enjoyed for all of those years.  And I love that it provides me with some extra storage space in our bedroom, for free!

Have you repurposed a piece of furniture and turned it into something useful in your own home?

House Love

A special thank you to everyone who gave me their honest feedback for my questions in yesterday's post, I really appreciate it!  It's great to hear all the different perspectives so that I can make a more informed choice about whether to open an Etsy shop or not.

I sometimes get asked if I have a favorite house among the ones I've written about over the years.  And I have to say that it's a tough question to answer.  I see so many different styles, from contemporary to all out Victorians, that to pick a favorite would be like saying you love strawberries more than peaches...I love them both!

But there are a few notable homes which come to mind when I think of the type of home I would want to create if given a blank canvas to work from, and the house I'm about to show you would be one that would surely be at the top of my list!

I have to honestly say that sometimes it is not only the house that I love, but also the homeowners.  In my career as a writer I'm happy to say that I've never come across an unfriendly owner, which makes my job much easier.  But there are some owners who you connect with better than others, and who you end up staying in contact with over the years.

The moment I set foot inside this gorgeous waterfront home I knew it would be something special.  Even from the outside you could tell it wasn't your typical house.  And it didn't take long for me to figure out that the owners were special people too, an added bonus for me!

Because I have so many photos to share with you, and because the house truly is the star of the show, I'll try and keep my comments to a minimum and just let you enjoy the beauty of this very unique and special place.

What's not to love about a house that has a boat hanging from the ceiling...

And a graceful floating curved staircase...

I love the stained treads, handrail, and detailed tread brackets against the crisp white spindles which resemble rope.

Lots of windows, including skylights, fill the entryway with beautiful natural light.

Off of the foyer is a round game table, grounded by a colorful rug.  To the right and down a few steps is an intimate sitting area with a one of a kind fireplace clad in old barn wood and created by local artisans.

Comfortable furnishings make this a perfect spot to read a book or simply enjoy the view.  French doors lead to one of the many decks found on the water side of the home.

Also located just off the gaming area is a small bar with a beautiful stained glass window depicting the view from the house to the opposite shoreline.

A large great room is the centerpiece of the main level of the home, featuring lovely antiques, soaring ceilings, and colorful furnishings.  Beautiful artwork and sculptures can be found everywhere in the house, and a series of french doors frame one of the prettiest pieces of art, the view to the water.

One of the homeowners is an artist, with a keen eye for beautiful things.

Located just off the great room is the spacious dining room.  A large custom made table, which comfortably seats 10, boasts a correctly oriented compass rose in the center.  A catwalk accessed from the master bedroom upstairs creates a unique ceiling and french doors flood the room with additional light, highlighting this beautiful handmade chandelier constructed from driftwood the homeowners collected during their travels!

A gourmet kitchen flows off the dining area and features a mix of stained and painted shaker style cabinetry.  Dark granite counters, professional style appliances, and two large islands make this a chef's dream kitchen!  I love the way wood and tile were used to create the unique diamond patterned floor, it's both stylish and practical!

As you head up the grand staircase you get a unique perspective on the first floor, and breathtaking views of the grounds and water beyond.  

No detail was overlooked, even the boat sports a vintage life ring, not seen from below.  And the white built-in bookcase holds a secret too...it is actually a secret door that leads to the downstairs powder room...I love that!

The entire upstairs is comprised of a lovely master suite and office area.  Soft yellow walls, punctuated by beautiful white trim highlight the curves of the room.  A semi circular headboard floats in the middle of the room orienting the bed toward the windows and water views, while providing built-in nightstands.

Narrow doors and luxurious draperies in the bedroom close the catwalk off from the dining room below, allowing for extra privacy.  But with just a step through either door, you can wind your way out to an upper level deck to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, or you can always put in your breakfast order to someone downstairs in the kitchen. 

 

Dormers create a light filled hallway which leads from the master bedroom to the bathroom and office/studio area.  

The bathroom is made up of his and her spaces connected by a sumptuous dressing area and ample glass fronted closets.  "His" side of the bath houses a large glass fronted shower with a television, while "Hers" features a deep tub for long relaxing bubble baths.  I love the ornate mirror and beautiful sconces which give a feminine feel to the space.

If any of you are avid golfers, this will tickle your fancy.  An upstairs balcony located off of the office area sports a gate which can be opened, allowing you to practice your swing out to the green located on the property's side yard.

Even the outbuildings on this property were carefully thought out and executed! 

Believe it or not there is even a large basement area with guest rooms, a covered stone patio, and a wine cellar...swoon!

If lounging is more your style, why not wile away the hours soaking up the sun by the pool, or laying in the hammock taking in that view?!

And if you grow tired of your surroundings you can even head out for an afternoon on the boat...for a little added relaxation.

I hope you've enjoyed touring this beautiful one of a kind home as much as I did when I photographed it.  The homeowners are both extremely hardworking people who appreciate every square inch of this home and I'm so happy they let me share it with all of you!  Thanks A & M!