French daybed debuts in the dining room

 Spring is coming, and I can't wait to get back outside.  Last year we

created a French style courtyard in the back of the house. Part of our 

plan was to access it by adding French doors in the dining room
 that will lead directly to the small narrow gravel courtyard.  We got the doors 

completed, leaving me to dream about how we will enjoy the courtyard as

soon as spring arrives.  When I spotted an antique French daybed at SOWA, our local

Boston vintage market, I decided it would be the perfect accent for the courtyard.

But for now the daybed is sitting in my dining room, and I figured I could just
 work around it if I made it look like it really belongs in this room.  So, here it is!
At the end of this post you can visit my design blogger friends who have 
all joined my in an ode to Spring, and see what they have done to usher in the season.

But make sure you check out my table, as I have been working on that too.

 A pretty table setting for Easter was one of the purposes of a recent photo shoot. 

 The table has my purple transferware dishes holding center court.  

Silver baby cups hold purple Easter grass and a few luxury chocolates for

 our grown up boys.  It is a new tradition for our Easter table, 

and it's a sweet nod to Easter when it once was all about the basket.
Vintage lilac colored damask napkins are folded inside of amethyst colored footed cups,
then set on top of the Clarice Cliff purple transferware plates.

White tulips reinforce the coming season so that this pretty dining room

 is all set for spring... even with the new unexpected addition. 

 Its a dreamy combination I think, a day bed in a dining room!

 For this dining room shoot, I moved in the piano bench and I think it might just be staying. 

 The slipcovered linen bench looks really pretty tucked under the table, 

which makes space for the daybed.

 The photo shoot I was talking about earlier, was actually a video shoot with 
Matthew Mead for our Decorating Channel on Youtube.  
We shot a video tour of my living room and I explain why I love it so....
from the newly painted blue walls, to the painted piano,
 to the antique Italian hand painted floral tea table,
 to my opaline chandelier and the romantic mantle I created using appliques....
well I LOVE it all!!
If you want to check it out you will see it all too. 
Seeing a room on video is very different than looking at photos.
 It comes to LIFE!

Visit my Living Room tour on our DECORATE channel by clicking HERE.
One more thing...!

Today I'm joining in with some very talented design bloggers 

to bring you some ideas to jump start your spring style! 

Please visit them all for lots of beauty and inspiration.

 French Country Cottage

 Housepitality Designs

Maison Decor

Savvy Southern Style

Shabbyfufu

 Stone Gable

Read more »

Spring fever!

 Officially it is spring but not here in Boston! 

At least the sun has been shining for the past couple of days 

and the snow is starting to melt off of the lawns. 

I am soooo ready for some beautiful spring weather!

White pants and a bright blue top for me today! Yesterday 

we got some official Annie Sloan logos for our store windows

 and doors~I ordered mine in Henrietta pink 

which matches the paint job on my shop. 

 My screen door is painted Duck Egg Blue which is 

a vintage aqua color~I love pink with aqua!

 My massive armoire is finished but for the finish coat~

I love how it came out. Its also a vintage aqua color.

 A rustic pot of lavendar looks springy on my desk.

 Great looking faux, which I think are hard to find. 

We often carry these in our shop~both online and in 
our brick and mortar stores.

 From the outside of the shop my cheery pink sign hangs welcoming all!

And in the window is Mr. Easter Bunny~

I plan to cook Easter dinner this year~

what another triumph that will be for me,

I have already got it all planned out.  Not doing a traditional Easter Ham 

but a roast beef with some of my favorite pureed cauliflower and leek

 (my lo-carb mashed potato substitute). 

We will have regular potatoes too and lots of veggies.  

Finishing up with a delicious coconut cream pie!!! 

(Marie Calendar's in the frozen food section makes a knockout!)

 We loved getting in Annie Sloan's new book 

Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture! I decided to

 make a small book area on this great old scrubbed pine bookcase 

carrying only the books that I love!! See how selfish you can

 be when you have an odd little shop like this one?  

There are no rules, only the ones you want to have~

so I want only the books I love to read. 

Most are french inspired, or cottagey reads

 and of course Annie's selection which we sell online.

 This week we are painting a battalion of Mora clocks! 

Today we have two Old White clocks getting finished up, 

Justin and I will be working side by side on these babies, 

with his little dog Sylvia at our feet.

I will be adding May  WORKSHOP classes to the online shop soon~

April is SOLD OUT, except two seats in the April 28th class.

  Come have a blast and leave with so much information 

your head will explode~! When I teach my Annie Sloan Introductory class

 I really give you all you need to go ahead and translate that 

information into the ability to paint furniture.  Tons of extra tips 

and inside knowledge will make you feel assured of what project awaits! 

 Happy Spring everybody!!

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