The Lettered Cottage

Beer Garden Bench Re-do

2009-07-11T11:29:00.002-05:00

I decided to tackle the Beer Garden Bench project myself...Mr. LC had some things to do, and I just couldn't wait to fix it up any longer. :-)

I made a short video, outlining my steps. They may not be exactly what the pros would do, but I wanted it to have a very rustic feel, and like Nester always says- "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful". :-)

I didn't use primer on the metal legs because I don't really care if they get bumped and some of the original green paint shows through. That'll just give them more character!

The bench cost just $45, and it was exactly what I was looking for- I needed something that would hold at least three booty's. :-)

It came straight from an old beer garden in Germany, and it's got German words carved into it's underside to prove it- too cool!

I'm getting a new rug (which looks just like my old rug- that Mr. LC spilled a gallon of white paint on) to use under the Dining Room table this week- so I'll post photos of the bench in its new home soon!

Hope you can learn something from the video. I'm not making any promises though- it may end up being more for entertainment purposes only. :-)

It was fun to get away from my computer desk, and get sweaty, even if it was only for a couple of hours. (But after editng my final cut- I told Kevin he may not want to leave me alone in the backyard, with power tools and a video camera anymore though- ha ha!)

Layla

Happy July 9th!

2009-07-09T10:00:00.006-05:00

What?
Can't we celebrate every day like it's a holiday?
Every day is special, after all.
Special, and fragile.
Full of opportunity, and inspiration.
Don't forget to seize it!

Take last Thursday for instance.
Sure, it could have just been another Thursday.
Just another "July 2nd"...two days before the real holiday.
But it wasn't!
Why?
Because I made a conscious effort to make it special, and inspiring.

And it all had to do with a certain New York Times best-selling author named Mary Kay.
:-)

That afternoon, my Mom, Kevin and I headed out for a fun adventure none of us had ever experienced before.

As we made our way west on the I-10, the sky in front of us slowly began to look like a giant bruise, and the shades of red, blue and purple all played backdrop to a dark and mountainous thunderhead.

But the storm didn't deter us as we made our way towards the charming, seaside town of Fairhope, Alabama.

Thank goodness, the torrential rain didn't start until after we had reached our destination.

It was a quaint, two-level bookstore called "Page & Palette".

It wasn't long after we arrived that a relentlessly fierce gust of wind ripped a tree clean in half on the sidewalk, right outside the store.
Now normally I would have been panic-stricken with all the destruction carrying on outside.

But not this day.

This day, I was completely captivated by Mary Kay's voice as she read excepts from her newest novel-

"The Fixer Upper".

The atmosphere in the small room we all gathered in upstairs was electric, and it wasn't because of the lightning. Mary Kay proceeded to tell us about how she developed some of the characters in the book. She shared interesting and humorous anecdotes about her life, and her house she calls, "Breeze Inn", on Tybee Island, in Georgia.

(Mary Kay's home, "Breeze Inn")

One of my favorite stories she told, was the one about her trip through Tennessee on the previous Tuesday. One of her Facebook friends directed her to an antique store along her route, called "Rare Bird".

(Mary Kay and her new friends at Rare Bird in Goodlettsville, TN)

As soon as she mentioned that she filled an old suitcase full of treasures from the shop, I was dying to know what was inside! Of course when Mary Kay began to take questions, I raised my hand to ask.

She delightfully answered my question, first describing how thrilled she was by a booth that had been decorated for the 4th of July. She said the booths owner was a talented folk artist, and that she bought one of his handmade Uncle Sam dolls, completely made from vintage textiles. The little guy was even holding a vintage box of sparklers! She also bought a vintage black-and-white photograph, taken at the beach. But the pièce de résistance, was a 1920s, wool, one-piece bathing suit, ready for framing, and displaying at the Breeze Inn!

(Another vintage bathing suit, on display at the Breeze Inn)

I went to Books-A-Million yesterday, here in Prattville, and was so excited to see that "The Fixer Upper" is now at #6 on the New York Times Best-Seller list.

Congratulations Mary Kay!

Thank you for sharing your amazing gift with all of us, and thank you for making July 2nd such an thrilling day for me. I was inspired to the very edges of my soul!

(Mary Kay Andrews, telling me about the color she painted Breeze Inn)

(Mary Kay Andrews and me, smiling for Mr. LC)

Flea Market Finds- Fishing Basket Lamp Base & an Architectural Element

2009-07-07T10:22:00.006-05:00

Sometime last month, I came across this lamp base at my local flea.
It's tag read, "Fishing Basket Lamp- $10".
Of course it instantly appealled to my love of all things sea-inspired, so I bought it. Now I just need to find the perfect spot for it, and the perfect shade for it, of course.

Upon my initial glance at it, I was reminded of this $79 base that Pottery Barn is selling:

...and this one they're selling for $159...

The $10 price tag on mine made me giddy with excitement! :-)

That same day, I also came home with this wooden, architectural element that cost just $7.50:

I'm not sure if I'll hang it with this side facing the room...

...or this side:

I'm not sure where I'll use it yet. It works in so many different places. It does just happen to fit perfectly over the door that leads to our Master Bedroom, so it may end up there.

Obviously, it needs a paint job...which from the looks of the all the little spindles, is not going to be an easy task. :-)

As soon as it stops raining today, Kevin is going to start on the "Beer Garden Bench" project. I keep looking out the window of my home office, praying for the clouds to part. He gets a kick out of my impatience. :-) I'll "tweet" on Twitter the second he starts!

Independence Day Video

2009-07-06T12:22:00.007-05:00

Here's a sneak peek into our day :-)

Happy July!

2009-07-05T22:39:00.009-05:00

Did you have a nice 4th? :-)

It's become one of my favorite holidays. Seems like it's always an extra hot and hazy day, which makes the dip in Mom's pool exceptionally refreshing. And by "dip", I mean the kind that leaves your hands alarmingly wrinkly, and your nails cleaner than you ever thought possible.
This year, thanks to both of our Mom's, there were piles of fried chicken & porkchops, platters of corn on the cob & watermelon. Big bowls full of broccoli slaw and baked beans, and even a metal pie pan full of the best homemade peach cobbler I've ever eaten.
Kevin and I also caught a parade this year- live, in person- not just on TV, like we usually do.
The outpouring of American spirit was incredibly inspiring. I don't know if it was the way the Elvis impersonator sporting a red, white and blue polyester jumpsuit, singing "Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love" made the whole crowd wanna dance, or if it was the kids with American flags painted on their cheeks, throwing candy to other kids from elaborately decorated floats that did it- but it really got me. I just sat there and smiled, while tears of complete joy pooled inside of my sunglasses.
On the night of the 4th, we all sat under the stars, on a blanket & lawn chairs, eagerly staring up at the night sky. There's something so fascinating and hypnotic about giant, colorful, sparkly art- exploding against an inky black canvas.

Next year, I'm buying Sparklers. :-)

We had a wonderful holiday with our families, and hope you all did too!
I'll post some photos and video here tomorrow.

Mr.LC and I also picked up a very old, seven foot long bench at a roadside flea market on the way home. The shop owner told us it originally came from a beer garden in Germany. Kevin is going to spruce it up and blog about it here this week sometime.

Stay tuned! :-)

Lettered Cottage Photography- Farewell June Sale!

2009-06-29T17:41:00.014-05:00

I posted some new 4x6 Lettered Cottage Photography over at our

Lettered Cottage Art blog today.

I took all three of the newest photographs in Charleston, South Carolina while visting earlier this month.

Strolling the cobblestone streets,

I was absolutely captivated by the antiquated Southern architecture.

The salty sea air had created the most incredible patina on many of the details I photographed.

Time worn, and deliciously crusty,

soul radiates from every nook and cranny.

I hope you enjoy the images I captured as much as I enjoyed discovering them.

:-)

-------------------------------------------------

June is a very special month for Mr.LC and I.
Not only were we both born in June of '74, we were also married in June of '04.
So to bid our special month adieu, we're having a Lettered Cottage Art sale!

For the next 7 days, anytime you...

Spend $20 on Lettered Cottage Art or Photography, you'll receive a FREE 8x10 of your choice.

Spend $30, and receive a FREE 8x10, and a FREE 5x7 of your choice.

Spend $40, and receive a FREE 8x10, a FREE 5x7 and a FREE 4x6 of your choice.

Spend $50, and receive a FREE 8x10, 2 FREE 5x7s and 2 FREE 4x6s of your choice.

Spend $75, and receive 2 FREE 8x10s, 2 FREE 5x7s and 2 FREE 4x6s of your choice.

And to sweeten the deal even more, any orders over $40 that are placed from June 30 - July 6, will receive a FREE Laugh & Smile Quotecard Set.

When you place your order, just make sure to list the names and sizes of the FREE photos you'd like in the "Instructions to Merchant" or "Message" section of the order form.

Here is the address of our Lettered Cottage Art blog:

www.LetteredCottageArt.blogspot.com

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at LaylaPalmer@aol.com, and I'll be glad to answer them! :-)

Lettered Cottage- Guest Bedroom, revisited

2009-06-29T09:13:00.006-05:00

I get a lot of questions about the wood wall in our Guest Bedroom, so I thought I'd re-post this little video Kevin and I filmed last year while uncovering our "buried treasure"...

Of course the room looks different now...

...you didn't really think I could leave well enough alone, did you? :-)

Layla

Awesome Item Alert- Rockett St. George

2009-06-28T21:11:00.005-05:00

I LOOOOOVE these antiqued wooden signs from Rockett St.George.

The description on their website reads:

A beautiful, handcrafted, wooden, antiqued sign - "All you need is love...Love is all you need", taken from the famous Beatles song, comes in two separate pictures both measuring 92cm x 46cm. Both pictures put together measure 92x92cm.
Each set of 2 pictures are unique pieces of art. All are completely handmade and handpainted. The artist uses real wood and painted finishes that create a warm, aged look. Each sign is signed on the back by the artist.
This makes an absolutely fantastic gift for any loved one and great wedding present idea!
Please note: this item is made to order and takes 28 days for delivery.

Makes me miss my musician hubby....but I really love this item!

Barn Beam Stool Giveaway

2009-06-28T11:16:00.002-05:00

Don't forget! Today is the last day to sign up to win this baby:

Head on over to Houzz.com to sign up!

Lettered Cottage- Water Ski Sign

2009-06-28T10:38:00.008-05:00

Hey y'all!

(My Southern hubby must be wearing off on me...I'm from Minnesota, and don't think I've ever type the word "ya'll" until today) :-)

I am so excited about the latest addition to the Living Room here at the Lettered Cottage.

The girls at White Flower Farmhouse sent me this great, old, hand-painted water ski yesterday and I absolutely LOVE it!

That Lori sure can wield a paintbrush- she did all the lettering by hand:

I love how the slate blue matches my shutters flawlessly....and the fresca blue-colored shadow on each letter is the perfect too...

It's even neat that the sign actually points South...which is what direction the beach is from our house. :-) (I know, I'm a nerd)

Slowly, but surely, this place is being accessorized, which makes Mr. LC very happy.

Because believe it or not, when he's not doing this...

...he is consumed with creating an inspiring place to live, just like me. (How did I get so lucky?)

And speaking of Mr. LC- it's his birthday today!

But unfortunately he won't be here today- so honey, if you're reading this- (and I know you are)

HAPPY 35th, I LOVE YOU!

Layla

Colorful, Modern Photo Consultation

2009-06-27T13:12:00.012-05:00

(Hover over the photo with your cursor to see my Photo Drawing and the "before" photo!)

I worked on a really fun, modern, Photo Consultation recently, and thought I'd share it here today.
My clients dilemma was figuring out what type, size, color and style of artwork to hang on one wall in her Living Room. She also wondered if any of her existing artwork might work.
Lastly, she and her family are huge fans of color, so she really wanted to inject more of it into this area of the room.
She said she and her family love their green shaggy rug, so as you can see from my photo drawing, I suggested bringing in a little more green in the form of decorative, moss-covered balls, accessories on a narrow, dark wood, wall ledge- and stripes in some of the throw pillows.
To further satisfy her love of color, I also injected blue, orange and charcoal gray.
The large, dark orange piece of framed art really pops against the complimentary bluish gray accent wall, and the orange tones in the cognac-colored leather throw pillows, and hammered copper bowl on the coffee table really speak to the orange tones in the artwork.
The bi-fold shutters doors in my drawing got a coat of black paint, to give them a more interesting presence. I love dotting the color black around a room, so I also suggested black on the framed art. Because the curtain rod and coffee table legs are already black, there would be a very well-balanced feeling throughout the space with my suggested additions.
That "symmetrical sprinkling" of color occurs again with the white mat around the orange artwork, the white sofa and the white lampshade.
The charcoal gray table lamp base is from Crate and Barrel, and while it makes a strong statement, it also blends nicely with the bluish-gray wall color behind it- allowing the artwork to really be the focus of that wall.

I love this fun, yet sophisticated, style and can't wait til she sends me their "after" photos!

Southern Living Giveaway Homes

2009-06-25T12:30:00.006-05:00

I'd love to win this first house, because it's only about an hour from the Lettered Cottage...

Carolina Jessamine Cottage - Callaway Gardens, GA

Sugarberry Cottage - Beaufort, SC

Cottonwood Casita - Bryan, TX

Whisper Creek Cottage - Asheville, NC

...but they're all amazing!

Calligraphy Atlanta Winner

2009-06-25T08:26:00.004-05:00

Congratulations Lynn of Somewhere in the Sun! Your the Calligraphy Atlanta winner!
Please email Faith at CalligraphyAtlanta@yahoo.com to claim your prize.
I'd love to see what you end up using your monogram on!

Thanks to all that entered!
Layla

Shutter Style on BHG.com

2009-06-24T10:28:00.004-05:00

Loved this on BHG.com today...

Shutter Style

Add character to plain rooms by propping architectural salvage, such as these vintage shutters, against a bare wall.
Budget Tip: Rotate accessories in and out of rooms to keep them fresh. You'll save money by not purchasing new items, and the ever-changing accents will create intriguing displays.

A $50 Amazon.com & A Photography Giveaway

2009-06-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

PJ over at the"Seens from the Backs of my Eyelids" blog is giving away a $50 Amazon.com "e-gift certificate" this week.

Just head on over to learn more about how to join her "You Write The Caption" contest and be entered into the drawing.

You have until midnight, Sunday 6/28 to enter.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, 6/29 and will receive his/her gift certificate on, or before, Wednesday 7/1.

Good luck!

Also, Kelly at Kelly Ann Studio is also giving away one of her fabulous prints. It's called "Heartpages". I have the same one here at the Lettered Cottage and I LOVE it!

Good to those who sign up to win it!

Awesome Item Alert- Ruffled Shower Curtain

2009-06-23T15:58:00.004-05:00

I have always loved this bathroom:

There's a great, inexpensive version of the fabulous shower curtain for sale on Target.com.

Pop on over if you'd like one for your bathroom!

Houzz.com Interview

2009-06-23T09:06:00.004-05:00

Visit Houzz.com today to read my Lettered Cottage interview, and to sign up to win this lovely little barn beam stool I chose to give away from White Flower Farmhouse courtesy of Houzz! (They're so sweet!)

Calligraphy Atlanta Giveaway

2009-06-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Originally from the New Orleans area, Faith Miller began writing calligraphy as a high school student with a heavy background in art. These days, she enjoys writing as an outlet from her job as a wife and mom of three. She's worked with clients such as Valentino and Cartier, and you can see her work in the Fall issue of "Brides Atlanta" 2008.

Here are some samples of her beautiful work...

Faith has graciously offered to give one my readers a free, custom monogram. Here are a couple of examples of a couple she has done...

These designs normally start at $40 and go up, but if you win, she'll create one for you for free in the style of your choice!

The process is this:

1- Pick which style font you'd like your monogram in
2- Faith will sketch up a rough draft for your approval
3- Tell Faith about any changes you'd like made if necessary
4- Faith will sketch up another draft implementing your requested changes
5- Your final copy will be scanned in at a high resolution version and will be emailed to you
6- Lastly, she'll mail you a hard copy version via snail mail

Then you're free to use the monogram on whatever you'd like to put it on.
The sky is the limit!

To enter this giveaway, just let me a comment here with your email address or blog address. Then make sure to visit Calligraphy Atlanta and say hello to Faith!

Contest ends at midnight on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009. Good luck!

Flea Market Shutters & Frames

2009-06-22T08:11:00.013-05:00

What do you get when you find two dark smoky bluish-gray shutters, for $12 a piece?

Jewelry for your oversized mirror, of course! :-)

Kevin ("Mr.LC") has been begging me to "accessorize" the walls on either side of the big mirror in our Living Room for loooong time. And I was all for it, because it looks so lonely to just stick one flat object, up on a 'sea of wall'...

But until now, I just hadn't found the perfect, inexpensive way to do it. Gotta love the versatility and charm of old shutters!

I love the dimension the louvers create...and their color is just the direction I want to move in palette-wise.

No more navy blue (I've already re-painted the coffee table legs black). Now I'm thinking more smoky grays, light dusty grays, espresso browns, khakis, blacks, ivories and whites for this room. There's a reason I'm drawn to monochromatic color schemes, and I've decided I'm not going to fight it. I'm going to follow my heart, and let the shutters be my inspiration!

They hang down a little lower than the mirror does, so we're going to make a shelf for that area to display candles on, to make it all nice and symmetrical.

When I saw the slightly chippy, wooden, dusty gray-colored picture frame below marked just $8.75, I snatched it up faster than you can say "patina"...and the two little medium-toned wood ones were just $2.00 each...

The coordinated beautifully with each other and the rest of our furnishings...

I immediately took out the artwork that came in them, and they're now hanging to the left of the fireplace- peacefully awaiting the addition of some of our own art and photography...

My dog, Maximus, seems to like the new look... :-)

And for those of you having "one of those kind of days" (or weeks!)....I read this Ralph Marston quote today and it absolutely captivated me.

Hope it helps to fire up your neurons too! :-)

Respond with purpose

What upsets you is not what happens.

What upsets you is your response to what happens.
Just as easily as you respond in a negative way,

you can easily and naturally respond in a

positive, empowering, uplifting way.
The biggest problems are often caused by

what you choose to do about the smallest problems.

Most of those big, painful problems are so unnecessary.
Keep reminding yourself that you are in control of you.

You are in control and you can decide

exactly how you wish to feel at any point.
Imagine the power of remaining calm and focused

and resourceful when some totally unexpected,

disappointing development interrupts your day.

Truly, you can make the disappointments not disappointing at all.
Respond on purpose, with purpose.

Feel the power and the joy as every moment gives you a way to move forward.

Ralph Marston

The Lettered Cottage = TLC

2009-06-20T00:01:00.005-05:00

When I named our house, I didn't even pay attention to the fact that the first letters of the words "The Lettered Cottage", are "T, L and C". Someone brought it to my attention the other day, and I just had to smile because of how completely fitting it is. :-)

This house was SO badly in need of TLC when we bought it. And as you've seen from the recent photos of my Guest Bathroom, there are still lots of rooms that could use some.

The Guest Room, on the other hand, has received lots of TLC, and looking at how far its come really motivates me to create a design plan for our Master Bedroom re-do later this year...

Before:

After:

But re-doing a whole room takes time and money, and if you're short on both, sometimes doing a quick mini-fix on a inexpensive, flea market find with potential can be just as fulfilling.

My most recent mini-fix was an old table for our Dining Room. I spent about 30 minutes sitting on the floor painting its legs black one day. Sure, my bones ached when I stood up, but I love the way it turned out. I'm thrilled that we finally have enough places for the whole family to sit when they come over for a meal now!

I'm not going to be using any of the chairs that came with it, but they'll do for now.

I have plans for long benches on each side and two upholstered or wicker chairs on the ends.I like the way the newly painted black legs speak to my black painted pantry screen door...

Other inexpensive, new additions to the Dining Room are the rattan-sleeved drinking glasses are from TJ Maxx...

...and a big, lidded enamelware pot that was only four dollars at Angels Antiques in Opelika, Alabama...

The hydrangeas are from out in front of the house, and I can't tell you how happy they make me every time I pass by them!

Have a great weekend!

Good luck with whatever mini-fix (or major fix!) you are tackling!

:-)

Inspiring Bathroom Photos

2009-06-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

I've had a ton of requests to post the photos that were included in my Smilebox slideshow, so without further adieu....

Consultation Givewaway

2009-06-18T10:33:00.005-05:00

Is your bathroom driving you nuts?

Does it look more like this:

than this:

Are you tired of trying to come up with a plan to re-do your bathroom?
Let ME do it for you!
Erin, over at Rare and Beautiful Treasures is giving away one of my Consultations.

Make sure to stop by for your chance to win today!

(And tell her I said hello!)

:-)

Beachy Bedroom on BHG.com

2009-06-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

Chaotic Playroom: Before

After years of video games, air hockey, and basketball, this bright blue playroom was transformed into a cozy master retreat. See how designer Jeni Hilpipre-Wright took this room down to the bare bones and into a beachy paradise.

Cozy Retreat: After

Beaded board on the ceiling, grass cloth on the walls, and painted faux studs were the perfect formula to create this Cape Cod feel. Jeni wanted to brighten up the room by using white furniture paired with soft blue and mushroom-color fabrics. Pops of bold red accents give the beachy color scheme a modern twist.

Mix and Match-
The room's focal point is the bed where the color scheme is in full bloom. A painted wood headboard with an upholstered panel carries out the beachy theme. For a new look, the headboard can easily be reupholstered or flipped to the other side, which features distressed beaded board in warm cream tones.

Quick tip: To give a traditional room a modern touch, use linens with a mix of colors and patterns, like these pillows which feature a strong floral look mixed with bold stripes.

Frame It-
A trio of vintage bird prints framed in old rulers creates a classic and unique focal point above the headboard.
Make it yours: Search local flea markets and antique stores for classic vintage calendars that can be turned into quick and easy artwork.

Double Duty-
To give the room a little more personality, a distressed sea blue chair, found at a local antique store, takes the place of a bedside table and adds to the room's beachy cottage feel.

Accessories and Storage-
This one-of-a-kind bookshelf was created by enlarging vintage travel ads and decoupaging them to an unfinished wood shelving unit.

Savvy storage: Wicker baskets, like the ones used in this bookcase, offer stylish storage for keeping everything in its place.

A Family Affair-
Personalized chairs at the end of the bed give this master bedroom a personal touch everyone in the family can enjoy. The folding lifeguard chairs are light enough to keep the room feeling spacious and can be moved throughout the home for additional seating.

Unique Shelving-
A grid of painted 2x4s adds to the cabin-like look and doubles as dramatic display space for beach-themed accessories.

Get the look: Simply attach to your wall grid together as one large unit. Then attach it to the wall. Make sure part of the grid is built into the studs for stability.

Customized Curtains-
To make room for this large dresser, the closet's bifold doors were replaced by patchwork curtains. To tie everything together, the panels are made from all the fabrics used in the room.

Save big bucks: Reuse and recycle pieces of fabric used in the room to create new accessories, such as the curtain panels, pillows, or chair covers.

A Cozy Spot-
An attractive blue and cream stripped chaise offers comfortable seating in the master bedroom. The drab carpet was replaced with new distressed hardwood floors in a light finish, to keep with the rest of the 1929 home.

Lettered Cottage - Guest Bathroom Accessories (Part 2)

2009-06-17T08:48:00.007-05:00

Remember the cast iron pedestal I got at Eastbrook Flea Market for $7.00?

Well, about a week ago, I took a break from doing consults and ran in to TJ Maxx to see if they had anything I could use in the upcoming Guest Bathroom re-do. I left with this candleholder for $16.99...

I love the chicken wire cloche, and the little bird sitting on its tin top.

While I was at the store, I was thinking it might actually be the right size to fit on top of my cast iron pedestal.

And when I got home, I was super thrilled to see that it did indeed, fit perfectly!

Who knows if I'll actually use it on top of it or not, but I love it when things like this happen, because this Gemini always needs lots of options! :-)

PS...I'm trying to work my way through an enormous amount of email and orders that have come in over the past couple of weeks, please forgive me if I haven't responded to you yet. Don't fret though, I will get back to you as quickly as I can, and the Guest Bathroom will just have to wait until I'm a little more caught up work-wise.

"Don't waste your effort worrying about what you have not done.
Spend your time working on what you now can do.
It's amazing how much you can accomplish when your heart is in it.
Drop the doubts, self-criticisms, and anxieties, and positively put your heart into what you're doing.
Enjoy the delicious feeling of making real progress based on your own focused efforts.
Have fun watching yourself accomplish as you complete each task.
Taking effective, meaningful action will put you in a positive frame of mind.
And that will open the door to many great new possibilities.
Go beyond wondering about it, or thinking it through, or planning for it.
Just go ahead and get it done.
Choose your destiny and delight in the fulfilling effort that makes it happen.
You can do it, and now is when."

- Ralph Marston

Lettered Cottage- Guest Bathroom Accessories (Part 1)

2009-06-16T08:43:00.004-05:00

I've started to pull together some accessories that may, or may not, make it into the Guest Bathroom.

I love the shape of this piece...

...and the frame really speaks to me too. I'm thinking I can "re-do" the middle part somehow. Haven't thought about what I'll do yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. :-)

It was marked down from $7.50 to $5.00 at a flea market, so I snapped it up.

This oversized wooden ball was a fun find, priced at $7.50 (marked down from its original price of $15.00)

Not sure how I'll use it, or if I'll paint something on it, but I thought it might be neat mixed together with other round objects.

This old hook rack immediately called my name when I spotted it sticking out of a bunch of stuff in a booth at one of my favorite local flea markets. Imagine my joy when I saw that it was priced at just $1.00!

I may paint it, I may stain and seal it, I may leave it just the way it is....I'm not sure yet. But I can't tell you how much I love it.

And lastly, I picked up this little towel/trinket holder at the same flea market I got the toothbrusher holder at. The owner of the shop marked it down from $12, to $10 for me.

It needs some work, but I look forward to spiffing it up!

Accessorizing is definitely the most fun part of re-doing a room, but a lot of my clients have said that they don't know which ones to use. I believe that if you accessorize with things that you LOVE, you'll never get it wrong. Also, take cues from photos in magazines and online. Notice the way the stage their rooms, how they arrange things, and what colors/finishes appeal to you in those photos.

Layla