Time to Spruce Up the Porch

The unseasonal warm temperatures last week gave me the push I needed to start getting our screened porch ready for use. Our screened in porch, right off the kitchen, is a favorite place for meals and just plain relaxing from spring into the fall.

Mr. Chateau Chic was kind enough to scrub the floor and rails so I could begin the fun part.

I'm using this cute little bird bath as a planter inside my screened porch.

What I love about this bird bath is that it can be put outside year round

and it keeps the same patina and it will not break or crack in freezing 

temperatures....which we didn't have much of this winter.

I found this at a favorite shop of mine, Bella Villa, in Aldie, Virginia.

This beautiful shop carries flower urns of all sizes as well as these smaller bird baths,

all made in the USA. I love them!

The little vintage terra cotta pots on the chair are from the 1940's.

I moved my french bistro table, that I used inside over the winter, 

to a corner of my porch.

I have an iron screen....that I brought home from the shop.... to

use as a backdrop. 

I love how this corner of the porch is shaping up with

the two french side chairs from a cafe in Baltimore.

I'll show more pictures later when I finish 

pulling it all together.

Blessings,

Mary Alice

Linking to:

At the Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

Rooted in Thyme Simple & Sweet Fridays

Always Tweaking, Always Changing

Will someone please tell me I'm not crazy! Will those of you just like me please admit it and come forward! I know I have a problem.....I've already changed my little demi lune table that I just showed you in my previous blog. Yup.... I need help!!

You see, I found this irresistible vintage door on Saturday.

I'm loving the arch of the window and the

detail in the corners.

Of course the chippy paint lures me in every time.

What can I say.....this seemed like the perfect spot to

prop it....I love propping instead of hanging.....

just in case I need to move it again.

Now.... I have a better reason for changing up my teeny tiny wall

near the front door. I moved my French bistro table onto

the screened porch when we were having summertime 

temperatures last week.

This seemed like the perfect spot for this

pretty little French side table that

I was supposed to sell in the shop....you know

the drill....use it for awhile and then sell it.

I am wondering, though, if the color of the table and

the shutter work together. What do you all think?

I tried to tie it together with these two

French enamel pitchers.

Okay, I was going to show you one more change.....but this post is getting

too long and I don't want to lose you....so that will be for another day.

Because..... I do want to give you a sneak peek.....

....of this wonderful old scale.....look how the green accent

on the scale stands out when sitting on this bistro chair. I love it!

The good news is....this could be yours!! Yup, I'm soon ready

to open my Etsy shop.....I've been gathering some wonderful

vintage items to sell.

How cute is that little scoop with the wooden handle.

That's going to be for sale too.

So keep checking back because my little shop will be

up and running soon!

Blessings,

Mary Alice

Linking to:

Faded Charm White Wednesday

Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

No Minimalist Here Open House Thursday

All About Vignettes

You might say that I love creating vignettes in my home. They're everywhere! Maybe it's because I have so many collections that I love displaying in a variety of ways.

This little demi lune table with the yummy patina

is a great place for a vignette because I

pass it every time I go up and down

the stairs.

Spring is such a happy time to decorate when

everything looks so fresh and bright.

This has to be one of my favorite empty frames.....

probably because of the delicious color!

I love getting out all my urns and popping in some greenery.

 For spring I used the frame to surround a vintage mirror and a

dainty botanical.....whose frame and glass I broke.....so I

salvaged the print to use by itself.

The styled table makes such a pretty reflection in the mirror

on the opposite wall.

Très Belle!!

Blessings, 

Mary Alice

Linking to:

House in the Roses Show Off Your Cottage

Our Delightful Home Show Me What You Got

Knick of Time Tuesday Vintage Style Party

A Stroll Thru Life Tabletop Tuesday

French Bottle Drying Rack

Last fall I bought a French bottle drying rack from Sunday Brocantes wonderful etsy shop.... who, by the way, is having a giveaway going on now. Be sure to check it out and enter. Cat included little jars wired to hang on the rack to fill with flowers or candles. Over the winter I used the bottle drying rack as a mug holder, but now that spring is here it's been fun to fill the hanging jars with flowers.

I moved it onto my screened porch.

I love the sweet blooms that I can see from my kitchen window.

I added 4 moss rose ironstone cups I found at a flea market

to the shelf above the table.

Look how nicely all the colors, even the colors of the table,

coordinate. I love when that happens.....by chance?

Looking forward to being able to use flowers 

from my garden.

Thanks so much for visiting. I appreciate all your sweet comments!

Blessings, 

Mary Alice

Linking to:

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

At the Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday

Debbiedoos Newbie Reunion Party

A Little Bit of Whimsy

Finding the right lamp for a room is difficult for me. Maybe that's why I hang chandeliers instead.

I was in a favorite antique and home decor shop the other day and

happened to see the sweetest lamps that caught my attention. I
wasn't really on the hunt for lamps.

I guess it was the colors, style, and  

burlap ties with the nest in the middle

that called out my name! 

All you crafty people out there are probably thinking.....

That would be so easy to make! And you're absolutely right....but

 they were also so easy to buy already made. :-)

I wasn't sure where I was going to use the lamps, but knew

I could find a place. 

The first try was in a bedroom..... Didn't work for me.

Then I had one of those AHA moments.....

they would be perfect on my blue buffet!

You might notice I gave each lamp a little more height

by placing them on top of a vintage book that

actually coordinated nicely with the lamps.

By the way, see the header piece on the back of the buffet?

That was actually added to give the piece a little more pizzaz....Just 

the right size and perfect style, don't you think?

Back to the lamps.....

Since there was a lot of blue going on,

I pulled in some white accessories.

 The ironstone compote is holding a nest and a French menu.

I love how the violets in the nest draw out 

the sweet violets on the menu.

Vintage flower frogs make great card holders.

  I used spiked flower frogs to hold the French menus, 

both of which I purchased from Faded Plains etsy shop. 

 Don't these lamps add a bit of spring whimsy on my buffet?

I like to think that the lamps are to the buffet as jewelry is to an outfit.

I appreciate you all stopping by!

Blessings, 

Mary Alice

Linking to:

Knick of Time Tuesday Vintage Style Party

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

From My Porch to Yours Treasure Hunt Thursday

No Minimalist Here Open House Thursday

Styling Challenge

Who hasn't had a spot in their home that never seems to be quite right? You know what I mean....you try different pieces of furniture from around the house, but it just doesn't work the way you envision.

I had a corner like that in my family room. 

My goal was to lighten the room

while keeping some natural wood antiques

in the mix.

I tried all sorts of tables in this corner.....

an antique tavern table, a painted farm table,

a glass top with iron base round table.....

You name it, I tried it.

Now don't get me wrong....I didn't dislike the tables I moved 

in and out of this space.

But.....I didn't LOVE them. And if you're like me,

you want to LOVE every corner in your house.

Then I found this french style painted desk.

The light gray color and the style were perfect!

 The contrast of the white chippy door behind it was perfect.

I added the little white cubby on top of the desk for some height.....

.....and accessorized the desktop with

a variety of vintage items.

I can now say that I LOVE this corner of the room.

Challenge solved..... for the time being anyway! :-)

I appreciate each of you who takes the time to stop by.

Blessings, 

Mary Alice

Linking to:

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

At the Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

2805 Potpourri Friday

Nutmeg Place Show Off Saturday

The House in the Roses Show Off Your Cottage

Spring Mantel

The mantel in my living room is definitely a focal point.

So I wanted to keep my spring display light and airy.   

I gathered together some of my favorite spring decor.

Vintage mirror, birds, nests, white urns.....

Throw in a little ironstone.....

.....with a touch of black to provide an anchor.

I think the different shades of whites in the display accentuate the 

details in the mantel instead of detracting from it.

This mantel has enough charm and character to stand alone, but 

that will probably never happen  

as long as it's in my home!

Blessings, 

Mary Alice

Linking to:

Fox Hollow Cottage Mantel Party

Faded Charm White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Style Sisters Centerpiece Wednesday

No Minimalist Here Open House Thursday

Grits and Glamour Spring Mantel Party

The Lettered Cottage Spring Mantel

Seasonal Gate

Hanging on a wall between my kitchen and dining room 

is what I call my seasonal gate.

Being as I'm not a minimalist, I thought this was

the perfect wall to also add three small black tole trays.

This gate was love at first sight. Painting the

flowers white so they'd stand out was the only change I made.

The curled vertical rungs provide the perfect spot

to hang some vintage enamel pitchers.

It's a fun piece to use for seasonal decor.

One more thing before I leave you today.......

My good friend who frequents auctions bought a

box lot full of all kinds of stuff. In it was a

large assortment of wooden spools.....

......which she was kind enough to share with me.

Looking around my house, I found the perfect french

wire basket in which to display the 

bright colorful spools.

I'm blessed to have such a lovely friend!

Thank you so much stopping by and for leaving

such encouraging comments.

Blessings,

Mary Alice

linking to:

Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

2805 Potpourri Friday

Funky Junk Interiors SNS

Nutmeg Place Showoff Saturday