Sort of Shabby guest room

 Sometimes I like to just go in here and sit..

 I'm working on the guest room. I purchased an inexpensive Bed in a Bag. This is where all my cherished shabby pieces hang out, that I couldn't bear to part with. This little buffet piece is one of my favorite chalk painted pieces, it houses my special dishes I collect. The space still needs work. Stay tuned.

 I have some things I'm going to use together for a headboard. Looks lonely without anything huh?

I love this corner, it sings my name. :)

Related articles

• Bedside table gets the chalk paint treatment
• Achieve a Shabby Chic Bedroom for under £330 at IKEA

New Home Tour

We've talked of it for years and we finally made the big plunge. When things are supposed to happen, they happen! We wanted a single story and a little land and now we are here. It's been a year now and my blogging has been sporadic with all the challenges of a move and big projects of building a workshop and a pool, and then there is life.... : )
Pinterest has brought many visitors to my blog, I am flattered and I wanted to get back to blogging because I love writing and sharing. I especially love to hear what others think of my style.
So today.... welcome to my new home. As I gathered photos, I realized the transformation that has taken place.

I love all the features of my home, but I had been transforming my other home to "somewhat shabby chic", and then with my Mediterranean new home came challenges to incorporate some things I really couldn't part with, along with family pieces into my new space. I would love to hear what you think? I had to approach this as adding a little "Italian Farmhouse" decor to include things I love. So come in and come back to see the transformation. 

This was the view shortly after we moved in. Not a lot has changed in the courtyard, just changing out plants after winter and things that survived getting bigger! The gardner in me loves this space, It is so fun to make it more beautiful.

When I moved in this was the beautiful morning view I had from our bedroom window. You can see all the plants out to the left brought from our other home, waiting patiently for their new place. They didn't know it at the time but it would be through a long harsh winter before they'd find their proper place.

This was taken from the bedroom window shortly after the sod and beds were placed. The plants are even larger now. :)

Here was the patio going into fall of last year. The sectional made a great place to cozy up by the fire all winter.

The sectional was moved to view the pool for summer. You can see our vintage steam table there in the distance. See what I mean about shabby coming over?

Looking back toward the house as tree removal began. 

After pool, flower beds and sod, it is becoming our new oasis.

I have lots more to share, I hope you come back, thank you for visiting!

Make your window treatment sing

These were my simple window toppers. I have loved them for many years. Each of our three bay windows had a matching valance like this. My bar stools are covered in the plaid, the beautiful garden print spilling out of the pleated corners and used as cording matched the glass dining table chairs. The beige linen could not have been a closer match to my den walls that coordinate the combined space.

Now the makeover

Changing to my Farmhouse, Shabby Chic feel that is creeping in to each corner of our space

:)

I planned to use shutters beside the center window, as you may have noticed in a previous post. This is the left window. I chose these metal shelves sold by Hobby Lobby since the width of them perfectly hid the wooden blinds when I want full light. For now I have left them in the bronzed finish as they came. I loved this biscuits and gravy sign so much I bought each of my kids one. (Kind of goes along with a family tradition where we tell each other "I love you like.....(whatever your favorite thing might be)" I found this on Decor Steals. I'm hooked on their deals! Not getting paid to say that either.

The little clock is something I picked up for a couple of bucks on clearance. The lunch box belonged to Nick's dad. :)

As you will see, I have two drying racks on the top of two old fence boards, supported by wrought iron  shelf supports. (Confession, the fence boards are not really old. I found a great way to distress them into looking old.....yep, on Pinterest of course.)

The lovely wreath I just bought at Garden Ridge on a sale table for a couple of bucks! The Bouquet sign I found at our local Restore. If you haven't been to your Restore you best look into it. I got my shutters there too! $5 That little green wood crate came with a flower arrangement someone sent me.

Let's stand back with a view of the middle shelf. 

A lantern perches on the opposite end of the shelf. Shelf positioned to hide blind when pulled all the way up. Me likey! :)

This is above the right side window. I love enamelware, thus the colander and tray with Bluebonnets painted on it. (I was thrilled to find this at the Bluebonnet Festival this year). Number 4 galvanized vase came from Micheal's. (on sale...big grin) I'm not sure what all the numbers out there are for in decor these days. You can be sure though that I have a couple of number 5's hanging around because of my 5 fabulous children, now grown. 

Ok now for a full step back view of the breakfast as it is now.

It's very cozy here. Still working on my 2 antique breakfast chairs for this room.

Changing my decor to Shabby Chic, cottage, farmhouse

I'm shaking things up at my house!
Like so many others I had the country look in the 80's and into the 90's. Then we moved and I totally switched gears. I went with more of a Tuscan feel and felt very comfortable there with my greens, and earthy tones and some splashes of deep red. Must say looked really nice at Christmas!
After being in my house for more than 10 years, I have finally grown tired of my Tuscan (eclectic) look. I never got rid of my antiques so I have a good base of things as I collect and turn the corner to my new design.
I have been playing with Annie Sloan chalk paint and have numerous things on my list to attack! I have already posted my dads little table previously.
My next project was my sofa. Mine isn't that old and is still very pretty.

My hubby gave me a decorating budget for Mother's Day! Yippee! However, note the word budget...
I hired my paint man to give my kitchen cabinets a facelift. No new counters, floors or appliances. But you will see all of that soon as we progress.
So my plan was to incorporate the lovely soft blue greens by changing the pillows on my sofa. I ended up finding my perfect choice of fabric and used Jo-Ann's Store half off sale to buy my fabric. I used the stuffing out of my old pillows to keep from having to buy that and am keeping the two silk pillows that match the sofa.

I purchase the three small throw pillows on sale at Steinmart. I love the look and am on my way to my new look.
The den is keeping its current color and my silk draperies in there stay.
Stay tuned as I venture along shabby-ing up the place!