Our Florida trip: the tale of the Venetian Mirror and saving our dog and phone from the pool.

Getting through a New England winter is easier if you can escape to a warm and 

sunny destination.  So hubs and I planned ahead last fall, and scheduled a trip to Florida.

Since we travel with Colby, we always look for rental homes or hotels that accommodate

dogs.  We weren't too picky about the area, just that it would be nice to be near the airport

at Fort Meyers, because my parents live in Naples, and we wanted to be able to see them on our trip.

Dave drove down with the dog and met me, my mother in law and our 15 year old son at the airport as we flew.  He stayed in dog friendly hotels along the trip down the eastern seaboard. 

A main requirement on our house list was that the rental needed to have a pool inside an enclosed lanai.  Colby is very good about not going through screens.  Dillon, our last dog, would barge right through them.  I imagined that all of us would recreate around the pool and the dog would be able to have free reign, without being tethered.  And that is exactly how it played out.  We had a marvelous time in the lanai, and Colby loved looking across the lawn to the water way. 

 We picked up my mom and dad from their home in Naples and brought them back to our rental home in Coral Gables for an overnight visit.  They are officially "snowbirds", as they leave the winters behind and head to Florida every year.  In their 80s now, they haven't skipped a beat.

 The enclosed pool got a lot of use.  Colby swam with his flotation vest on a few occasions, although he was wary of getting into the pool because of his first frightening experience. The first night we arrived at the house,  Colby walked out onto the pool cover, not realizing it was a body of water and he started to sink!  The pool cover started to swallow him up.  Luckily, hubs was able to grab ahold of him by the scruff of his neck and pull him out. Phew! 

Right after that, I dropped my iPhone into the pool, and watched it sink to the bottom.  

OMG

My 15 year old jumped into the pool to get it, then hubs turned it off and shook the heck out of it, water droplets spewing. Next, we put it in the oven (which I had preheated to 170 degrees for a few minutes) to dry it out. We googled advice of what to do, but we kind of came up with our own plan.  And it worked!! After leaving it in the oven for a few hours, we put the phone inside a container full of oats (you could use rice but we didn't have any).  The oats would absorb the moisture we figured.  Then we didn't turn it on for 2 days. That is key to recovery. Let it dry out. 

 Happy to say that my iphone 6 completely recovered!  

( The iPhone 7 is waterproof, but not earlier models.) 

 For the most part, our vacation was all about family time hanging around the house and the pool. However, the thought of those awesome consignment shops scattered about Florida kept lurking in my mind.  We don't have these kind of shops up North.  And when one rainy day came along, I asked hubs to take me out to look at a couple of shops for a treasure hunt.  Not looking for anything in particular, but hoping I would find something that I couldn't resist.  As I turned a corner in the shop, I spotted it.  Oh boy, look at this old Venetian mirror!!! It was beautiful and old and had gold etching in a neoclassical motif.  Tiny glass rosettes covered the screws.  The mirror had mild foxing (the term for aging and wear on the mirror which makes it cloudy or blackish), which I happen to LOVE.  Meanwhile, hubs was quickly roaming through the rooms of the shops, and I waited in front of the mirror to beckon him for a look.

 Hahahh!  I love this shot I took of him as he approached. 

 Look at his face!!! Hahahha!!

He was likely thinking, "you have to be kidding me! Another mirror?"

 Oh Dave, look at this mirror.  Its old, and its Venetian and I love it!! I told him the price was a steal and we had to get it.  No, he told me it would most likely break on the ride home (he drove down with the dog, while our son and mother in law flew with me).  Having a car meant I could bring it home!! But he was saying it might break.  "But you are the expert packer of all things"..... he was trying to suggest I find anything else but a mirror.  But I had my heart set on it.  I asked the girl in the shop  if the price was solid or discounted?  
She looked it up in a book and then said the magic words:

"THAT MIRROR IS HALF OFF". 
 What??? "Honey, its half off, that is the second sign from the Universe 
that it is meant to come home with us!!"  

And so it came off the wall and out to the car!  I loved the back of the mirror

almost as much as the front!! Squealing with joy inside, I was a very happy girl.

The first sign from the Universe about the mirror was this:

Just that morning I was looking at my phone and saw this amazing Venetian

mirror photo posted on Fifi O'Neill's instagram account.  This set me to thinking about

how beautiful old Venetian mirrors are...and I had one reproduction mirror several years

back that I sold in my shop, Maison Decor.  Other than seeing some for big money

at the Brimfield Fair, I had not run across any antique Venetians.  How do you

explain this turn of events?  I say it is the "law of attraction" or a "sign from the Universe".

This kind of thing happens to me a lot, where I think of something and then POW, it presents itself.

Does this ever happen to you?  

Anyway it does to me and now hubs is driving home as we speak 

with Colby and the Venetian Mirror.

Our beautiful home on the Cape Coral waterway, 

with the heated enclosed pool is now a fond memory in our family scrapbook.  

And where will the new mirror go?

The dining room is where I imagined it to hang, but until it arrives I 

can't be sure.  What I am sure of, is that it is going to look great where ever

it ends up.  And that every time I look at this old mirror, I will see a memorable

family vacation, with an incredible husband, son and parents.

Oh, and before I go, I saw this yesterday at Lowes.  My home on the cover!!

If you read my blog, you know I had a photo shoot with Fifi O'Neill and she chose

my home to be the covershot for Romantic Country.  Well it is still on news stands but

not for long.  I was amazed to see it at the Lowes Home Improvement magazine section.

Just a heads up in case you might want to grab a copy before its too late. 

Read more »

My ugly backyard turned dream space lands the cover!

 Oh My!!! 

Turning our ugly outdoor space into a French courtyard was a dream 

home improvement project of mine.  Even my friend, magazine editor and creator

Matthew Mead, like it so much that he decided to shoot it for his new special issue.

Upstyled Home Outdoors 

I was blown away when I recently learned it landed the coveted cover shot!

This special issue by Country Sampler will be on news stands when Spring

arrives in New England, sometime near the end of April.

Until then, here are some of Matthew's images from this splendid outdoor issue.

 When April arrives I will be more than ready to fling open my french doors

to head outside if we get an extra warm and sunny day.

Fluffing up the day bed, and putting the umbrellas back into position will be 

first on my list of things to do.

The kitchen garden will not yet have been planted, but this 

beautiful photo of our charming garden shed and simple vegetable garden

will remind me that in just a few months time, the tomatoes will be ripening

on the vine.  The weather will be perfect for sipping cool drinks and enjoying

the courtyard and the garden terrace.

In other pages from this issue, was this great outdoor feature. 

Are you like me, always wishing you had a potting table?! 

I love the simple idea of stringing lights between bamboo stakes 

to give it extra whimsy and charm.

 Harvesting lavender will be on my list of things to do as I had

planted a border along the house in the courtyard. 

 For those of you with country roads to pedal along, 

how about planning a fairytale picnic one day?

I think this would be a special thing to do with kids or grandchildren.

 Country tables in backyards and on porches are always ready to host an outdoor party.

Spiffed up with linens and garden bouquets, this one under an arbor is especially appealing.

Light wines and farm stand fruits show off

the best a summer time gathering has to offer with easy country style.

Matthew's images show how effortless entertaining in summer should be,

and how beautiful our spaces can look with just a little attention to details.

(I love that green door in the background!!)

Our courtyard was used every single evening as a gathering place

at the end of the day.  One by one we would meet outside and take in the 

soft air and enjoy the scenery as we sipped our cocktails and club sodas.

Maybe this is the year that you dedicate the time to create a gathering 

space for you and yours....or simply just for you!  

I have seen the preview of the magazine, and its truly the best!

I will be offering some as free giveaways once we get closer to spring.

(above, my photo of an everyday kind of 5 o'clock happening)

Maybe because we live in New England that I love my outdoor living so.

I try to make the most of being at home, and this new space enhanced that ideal.
The collage below shows the basic steps we took to create the courtyard.

Decide which space you want to makeover and then 

apply some of these inspiring ideas from the pages of Matthew's latest

special issue, Upstyled Home Outdoors. 

( PS. For those of you who want to order online, there is a link to do so

from the Country Sampler site.  But mind you, it could be 6-8 week delay

from when it hits news stands.  However if you are in a rural area without access to 

magazines, then this link could be the answer for you. Click here to order.)

Read more »

A cozy reading spot and an antique jaunt full of treasures

Winter time is here. Finally.  

Today is the first day of February and the

snow finally arrived in Boston.  All of January brought little if any of the 

white stuff, and last night it snowed bringing just a few inches.

Cold weather makes you want to get cozy and that is just what we do around

the fireplace every morning.  We?

Colby and I can be found in here every morning.  The fireplace heats

up quickly and so its off and on until coffee time is over.

Magazines at the ready, a place to put my cup of joe, 

lamplight if its still dark outside, and all is well in 

my beautiful world at home with my peeps and dog.

Some days even Mr. Maison Decor has time to join us, which is a treat.

This morning I found my son Colin sitting in the French chair with his

laptop before he went to work out.  You know you have a good furniture

arrangement when you find everyone wanting to plunk down and stay.

After putting away the Christmas stuff, I moved all the furniture around, and

put the piano back in the original spot.  Moving stuff around brings a new look

to an old space and its something I have done forever.  I bet many of you  just keep 

your arrangements the same, but I just can't do that!!

I am a serial rearranger.

Colby loves the snow, and I think he may have forgotten about it 

from his first winter season.  Now with the fence in place, he has

figured out how to give a check on the neighborhood before coming back

inside by perching up on the step and leaning against the fence.

Then he runs inside and plunks down in his bed by the fire.

(Colby and I have been going to dog training classes, by the way,

in addition to our daily walks around the hood. ) 

Our living room is cozy because its on the small side.

Adding the console table next to the chair is temporary as it 

is a bit too long.  I will be looking for a piece to fit here that will 

fit the wall space, which means more antiquing in my future!

I like the idea of an unpainted piece, but I am sure once I see it, 

I will know it and just buy it....thats how I shop.

Last week I went antiquing with Matthew Mead and our friend, Ellen McHale.

The pretty brass lantern came home with me, and now holds a candlestick for 

adding a little more ambience in the evening.  I was attracted to the star cut outs on the glass

and I figure it will be nice for the courtyard, come Spring.

Its also a great reminder of a fun time with special people.

The older I get, the more I find myself dragging less things home.

Things that have meaning and are associated with good times are ideally 

what I want to use to decorate my home.

If you want to tag along with us on our recent antique jaunt, click on the video

below.  The antique cooperative was at Pulaski Mills, in Peabody, Massachusetts.

You will see me find that special lantern and also what caught Matthew's eye

and the treasure Ellen found that I secretly lusted over.

 And mom and dad:  click on the box in the right corner that has the shape of a square and that will make the video go to full screen so you can see it easier!

Read more »

Planning for Spring and Outdoor living

Last year's efforts brought about my French Courtyard with kitchen garden, 

perhaps my all time favorite DIY project ever.  One project after another, both

big and small in nature, were required to get this done so we could enjoy it for the summer

months.  But it didn't happen on a whim, it was the winter months of dreaming of outdoor 

living that started the ball rolling.   Creating a loose plan of enhancing a space and then dreaming upways to make it have both form and function is what I did.  

So have you been doing any planning for your outdoor living yet? 

 Spring will be arriving in a few months time, and now

I want to build on what we created and add some other features to the space.

 One of the big projects was the white picket fence.  If you think you want a fence, 

get quotes from fencing companies in your area.  Knowing the cost is always a great first step. 
This was a project that was hired out, as we live in an area with ledge and fence installation
would prove to be very laborious.  However fencing can be a DIY project at a fraction of the cost.

 Our fence comes in at the top of my list for the additions we added to our home in 2016.

Look around at eyesores or things that have bothered you about your own outdoor space and then spend some time "dreaming" up a way to make it disappear.  I detested this fireplace vent on the backside of the house since it was installed.  But at that time we didn't use this side of the house, so it wasn't a problem.  But as things developed, having a vent on the side of the house was a major issue in my way of thinking.  So, a plan was needed to make it disappear...

 I got creative and imagined a bird house on a pole that would effectively cover the vent during the summer, which works well, as we don't use our fireplace during the time we are using the courtyard.

 An evening shot shows the bird house on a pole, and it was a great solution to an ugly problem.  Made out of an old wooden crate for a base, I built a little roof and then added shingles to mimic the cute little shed I had just finished resurrecting from the scrap heap.  

The bird house vent cover is purely decorative and wire mesh will prevent birds from settling in and starting their home and families.  The rustic wood plank top to the table was another idea I had to change up the look of my 20 year old wire patio furniture. 

 Planks were simply place on the top of the wire table and then strapped together underneath with thinner pine boards on each end to keep the plank top in place.  Then I  upgraded the chairs to an outdoor wicker set in brown ( shown in the previous photo) that I found at Lowes Home Improvement stores.  These changes made a big difference.

Spend a little time doing some winter planning and Spring daydreaming 

to get the jump on your own outdoor living plan.  

Whether you are a weekend warrior or have more time, 

as I do now, the efforts will reward you on a daily basis.  

My family loves this space that I dreamt up, and so do I.

The cherry on the top of our beautiful courtyard is that Matthew Mead photographed it for his spring issue of Upstyled Home for his special Outdoor Edition (due in Spring 2017).  I have seen the layouts of all the garden spaces, patios, porches and the like, and know that if you are looking for outdoor inspiration with real ideas with remarkable results, you will LOVE this issue!  My own space looked more  amazing when it was presented in print.  I was so proud of it, and it wasn't that hard.  It was an idea that came together with a "things to do" list, and one by one I checked them off.  So get dreaming now, make a list, and then turn your own outdoor space into a wonderful place.  From small secret gardens to family size gathering spots, enhance what you have, 

and it may become your own favorite DIY project too!

PS.  I just learned I landed the cover shot!!
Can I tell you how excited I am about this??!!
A dream come true, now I just have to wait for April to come.

Read more »

Today's French Country Style

The lovely French Country style can work in today's modern homes.

This style has fanciful elements mixed with things to take it down a notch,

making it a nice livable style choice.  Mixing in some rustic pieces is the secret

to getting the right mix for French Country style, so you don't feel like you live

in a museum.  Its a style I have a passion for, and I hope you enjoy this post.

Let's take a look at some rooms that have the perfect mix, in my opinion.

Pamela Pierce Design

Everything about this room has wonderful French Country style for today's living.

Rustic and feminine meet to keep the room welcoming to both sexes.

 This home had the stone walls that set the rustic tone, so softness and femininity was added with fabrics and flowers. Look at the accessories: a pillow with an antique toile remnant, a green metal garden dining table used as a console,  old books, weathered finishes on the chair, lamp and shutters, and crocks and vases of a single type of bloom speak to an easy country life style, which is what French Country style is all about.  Bravo Pamela!

Veranda Magazine

A slice of a view of this room from Veranda magazine shows

a monochromatic scheme in camel and white.  The traditional checked

fabric keeps things approachable and the burlap drapery panel along

with sisal carpeting gives the room it's rustic elements. This room is more

French Country Cottage, as most of the design incorporates simple pieces,

with no gilded or fancy accessories anywhere in sight.

Traditional Home Magazine

A beautiful living room with doors that open out onto an 

inviting courtyard has the ubiquitous checkered

curtains flanking the french doors as well as on the upholstery.  

Lots of rustic elements from the walls to the grass rugs and the

 country style accessories make this room a great example of French Country.

It is decorated simply with well chosen accent pieces.

Pamela Pierce Design

Every thing this Texas designer does, I love!  

Pamela Pierce's trademark look is a feminine french style and she

balances it out with an old rustic ambience.  The stone walls create a nice setting

 for the painted rococo table and the slipcovered sofas in linen.  

Her signature is the ruffled slips that you will

find in many of her rooms on sofas and chairs.

 The lavender fabric makes this room light hearted and fresh.   

Veranda Magazine

Grey is the color of the decade, and here it is used in several shades on the 

wall paneling to great effect.  Black and white transfer ware plates

are hung all around the room, a  great French collectible indeed.

Another set of checkered draperies keep this room in the French Country style, 

as you might imagine fancier silk draperies would set a different tone.

The mix of painted chairs with the wooden table is another way this room keeps

to it's French Country style.  The iron lantern light fixture keeps the formal feel

of the furniture from becoming too precious.  I love the mix in this room.

Source Unknown (Pinterest)

This is such a great little banquette dining nook done in French Country style.

A built in library effect was created with flanking bookcases 

and then the area done in mirror behind the built in to visually increase the space.

What gives this room successful FC style is the use of the tan and white buffalo check on the painted French chairs, and the overall tone on tone color palette.  A painted chandelier hangs above a painted

table, and then a random French chair in dark wood is added to take away from the matched set.

A comfy banquette in checked and solid linen pillows makes it quite a charming spot.  What a nice

way to outfit a less than large eating area in a smaller home, townhouse or condo.

Via The Enchanted Home

French Country style has evolved from this look, where there was tons of color and pattern everywhere you looked.  Toile fabrics, painted furniture and coordinating fabric patterns where once the way to create the "French Country" room.  Now it is a "less is more" kind of look, using some of these elements, but not all of them together.  A more subdued interpretation of this beloved look is a modern way to use French Country style in one's home.  Imagine this room without the curtains, just the shutters.  The table without the cloth, and that the table would be an iron garden table or a simple rustic pine piece.  Painted chair with checkered pad is perfectly fine as is.  Strip the wallpaper and use a neutral white or greige paint on the walls.  Finish it off with an antique French mirror  flanked by some of the transfer ware plates, over the painted blue sideboard, or use a Swedish style plate rack.  Now that would be an easy room makeover with stunning results!  Do you have a French Country room that could use a little updating? 

Read more »