Picture Perfect

Via

Isn't it nice that we no longer live in the day where everything has to be picture perfect? Growing up,  I attended many Home Interior parties with my mom. They would make a "grouping," usually consisting of a picture, 2 sconces and a shelf.  We probably would have thought something like this was a mess.

Via

It's nice to have the pressure off and just hang what you like. By the way, if anyone has tips on how to photograph a picture under glass, please share. This room has open sunlight in the day and a light fixture at night. Both reflect.

I found this great fox hunt picture, navy blue mat and all at a local antique market. Marked down to $16. Sold!

This is all I will do for now. We have someone interested in our house and we haven't even put a sign up yet! Hoping and praying!

Via

More on the photo storage and resizing issues - Two more suggestions made: join Google+ to acquire more free storage or embed your photos from a host site like Flickr. 

Via

I thought it would make things easier by downloading Picasa. However, it proceeded to download every single photo and file off my computer. Felt very invasive! I'm sure there was an opt out button somewhere in the original process that I missed. Seems crazy that you'd have to go into the tools menu to opt out for each of your files. I can't be worrying about that. I'll go back to Picnik for now or just skip this whole ordeal of resizing!

Via

Reminder- E.W. McCall Giveaway! Enter now if you haven't already. Winner will be announced on Friday. 
Posting my thrifty find of the foxhunt picture to Coastal Charm!

Horsing Around

Via

 No secret that I love the equestrian style.  I'm working on my little foyer which is merely a pass through to the dining and living rooms so I want it to flow with the style. Other than purchasing a mirror, I didn't plan anything. Never do. My decorating usually just happens. That's out of necessity, not because I can't dream something up. 

I stumbled upon these two art prints at a yard sale. Can't remember if I paid $10 or $15 each but figured the frames alone were worth that.

I like how they are kind of beat up.

I actually passed these up but couldn't get them off my mind so returned later in the day to get them, and surprise! They were still there. The reason I almost walked away is because I didn't have a clue where they would fit. Not to mention our upcoming move.  But when I went back and read about the artist, I knew it was meant to be.

Joseph Petro was a medical illustrator. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Medicine. I might put these in Doc's office some day.
I have no idea if they are worth a lot. The names of the prints are Bay Plate I and Chestnut Plate II.  The backings say, "... certified to be one print of 5,000 and checked and autographed by the artist."
Maybe one of you have heard of this artist?
I am making them fit in my foyer. Sometimes we just have to make things fit. 

Via

The reason I'm not showing my foyer yet is because... see that light fixture right up there? I'm trying to convince my hubs that the house would sell better if we installed it in the foyer. 
Actually, I'm not totally convinced myself that it would help. What do you think? Would an outdated fixture kill the sale of a house? Or better yet, do you think I would get the total bang for my buck?

In The Red and Instant Photos

My beautiful red head. 

Thanks for all the support and compliments on my photography yesterday! There is so much I need to learn. Starting a blog has forced me to take better photos. I never retouch photos for the blog but I've been having fun playing around in picnik with my kids' photos.

Speaking of photography, I recently picked up 3 vintage cameras for $10 each!  This is one of them.

I loved Polaroid cameras when I was a kid. The instant photo was great. Do you remember blowing on the photo to speed up the drying process?

I'm thinking of how much film I would have wasted the other day. So nice to be able to see the image before we even print it! 
We've come a long ways, baby!

The Little Chair

Introducing the "little chair."  You saw the man's chair, now here's the lady's chair in all her petite goodness.  The animal print pillow is from Target- $29, chair from a flea market- $15.  

She cleaned up quite nicely with fabric cleaner. 

I don't remember why I was in a flea market days before moving. Must have been an escape from packing.
Never go to a flea market or thrift store when:
-you don't want to buy anything.
-you can't buy anything.
Murphy's law: you'll find the best bargain at that exact moment. 

How could I even think about another piece of furniture to move?

This one wasn't so clean but I loved its soft curve. Even though both pieces had been recovered with the same fabric, I don't think they are original mates. Close enough.

I bought the chair first, went home, then returned the next day to buy the sofa- $55 after a bit of negotiating.  A bargain is always justified right?

Hopefully re-upholstery will be done before my next move.

Thinking about the color.

I so love the peacock blue velvet.

Via

Via

Or a light blue/gray leather.

Via

Gray velvet is nice too.

Via

But really, neutral always makes the best sense.

Via

Via

You know the routine. Add the pillows.

Via

Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY!  There is still time to enter!



Posting to:
My Romantic Home
At The Picket Fence 
Common Ground 
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
The Vintage Farmhouse
No Minimalist Here

Louis Chairs

I love chairs. If I bought every chair I loved, my house could not contain them.  But some are worth making room for.

These two Louis XVI chairs have moved from room to room in every house I've owned for the past 13 years.

I was fortunate to find them at an estate auction for $40 each. They are in the exact great condition I found them. To this day, I still love the fabric and details.

They have a formal look and are probably not the most comfy to sit on so I usually put them in a welcoming area or a spill over space for guests.

To keep them from being too serious, I added the circles pillows and modern sphere lamp from Target, the wrought iron tables with heavy glass from a yard sale, vintage books from Goodwill, and bookends and a vase from Marshall's.

The difference between a Louis XV and Louis XVI chair is the shape of the legs. XV legs are curved while XVI are straight. You probably already knew this but, if you'd like to read a little history, go to this neat blog, I Dream Of Chairs.  La Dolce Vita has a great summary on the chairs as well.

Via

Louis XV

Via



Pinterest



Louis XVI

Via

Pinterest

The Louis ghost chairs are chic right now.

Via





And I do love them.

Via





I saw some ghost chairs at Tuesday Mornings a couple of weeks ago for about $100 each. I'm sure that was an excellent deal but I had to keep walking.

Via





My blog is turning 2 years old!  Stay tuned for a giveaway!

Posting to:
 Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
 Savvy Southern Style
 Charmed Bracelet Diva
Sugar and Spice

Wall Art Gallery

Need to fill up a large area on a small budget? 
Make a wall gallery.  

I bought these book prints at Winterberry Cottage on etsy.

The matted frames were puchased at the Christmas Tree Shop. (Caution- cheap frames are hard to hang straight. Some of them are different sizes and hangers are in different places. Nothing like a photo to help you see things. I've since gone back and straightened up some of these.)

For less than $100, a big wall is amply decorated without a lot of fuss.

In case, you missed a previous post, the houndstooth ottoman came from Target.

I'm a little unsure about the durability since so many prop their feet on it but... that's what an ottoman is for so we'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Three years ago my living room looked like this-

We moved and leased out the house. Tenants destroyed it, especially the floors. So we came back and continued the wood throughout this room too.

(stain is a blend- 1/2 pecan, 1/2 ebony.)

I'm amazed at how much larger it made the space feel.

More details to come.
Other sources in these photos-
Sofa: Craigslist
Rug: JC Penney's
Vintage Style floor lamp:  The Christmas Tree Shop (only $16!)
Red tray on ottoman: Ross
Circle pillows: Target
Chevron pillow: Tuesday Morning's
Silhouette pillow: A Cozy Cup of Tea
Paint color: Sherwin Williams Pediment

Posting to:
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage