The Renewed Home

 

A reproduction vintage alarm clock perched on my coastal design books make for great bedside reading!

A reproduction vintage alarm clock perched on my coastal design books make for great bedside reading!

Post before last, I blogged about having to re-design my downstairs in order to accommodate being able to care for my special needs dog.  I had to move the master bedroom downstairs so that I wouldn’t have to physically carry her up and down stairs during the night as she weighs 47 pounds.  The truth is that I love the new downstairs.  Creating a bedroom that has adequate clothing storage on any day is a good day in an old house.  After living out of plastic storage containers in a small guest room, the day I completed the re-design was an over-the-top good day.  It is the little things, some times, that mean the most.

True to my word, here are the “after” photos.  What used to be a television room, is now my master bedroom.  All-in-all, a great improvement.  If I were forced to critique one thing, it would be that this room is a pass through to two other parts of the house.  But, we who love old houses, learn to accept the quirks in exchange for a time worn interior.  A more than fair trade in my book.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

xoxo

Cindy

Before

You will see a number of navigational markers with the decorative items that are given new life in the new Master Bedroom.

Den.

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AFTER

A reading nook with a comfortable old wicker chair and lamp is perfect for curling up with a good book.

A reading nook with a comfortable old wicker chair and lamp is perfect for curling up with a good book.

An old quilt, pillows made from vintage fabric and a ambient lighting make this one cozy bedroom.

An old quilt, pillows made from vintage fabric and a ambient lighting make this one cozy bedroom.

This, believe it or not...is the only closet in the house and I don't even use it for storing clothing!

This, believe it or not…is the only closet in the house and I don’t even use it for storing clothing!

A basket in the corner with a vintage basket cover is a great place to keep extra blankets and quilts.

A basket in the corner with a vintage basket cover is a great place to keep extra blankets and quilts.

I formerly used this cabinet to house a television, it now is used for clothing storage in lieu of a dresser.

I formerly used this cabinet to house a television, it now is used for clothing storage in lieu of a dresser.

This lovely white, weathered armoire doubles as my closet.

This lovely white, weathered armoire doubles as my closet.

Can you pick out the two Pottery Barn market items?  The poet's lantern on the left is vintage PB and the mercury glass task lamp is a new item.

Can you pick out the two Pottery Barn market items? The poet’s lantern on the left is vintage PB and the mercury glass task lamp is a new item.

A small table is the perfect fit for this little space.

A small table is the perfect fit for this little space.

Baby’s Breath

 

Baby's Breath in antique vessels.

Baby’s Breath in antique vessels.

 

I’m not prone to fill my house with market items, as I prefer to fill my home with antiques and vintage items.  But sometimes when you find a market item with the right vibe, it doesn’t matter that it isn’t old.  These mother of pearl drawer pulls with brass centers is just such an item.

Waiting in line to pay for my merchandise at Home Goods, no less…standing by all the impulse buy displays, I spied these lovely little drawer pulls that amount to mother or pearl flowers with a brass bead for a center.

Bunched together, they look like a lovely bouquet of Baby’s Breath.  The neutral tone of the mother of pearl flowers against the somewhat tarnished brass makes for a perfect foil of the rustic against the refined….my favorite style approach.

Trying to find the best place for them proved rather easy.  I chose a bedside table where some vintage and antique brown transfer ware reside.  There seemed to be a parallel between the cream and brown tones of the antique pitchers and the drawer pulls.  It didn’t take much convincing…I was sold that this was the right place to put my great little market finds.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Delicate little mother of pearl petals refine the old, crackled paint finish.

Delicate little mother of pearl petals refine the old, crackled paint finish.

 

The rustic against the refined; beautiful inexpensive drawer pulls add to the charm of an old, antique table.

The rustic against the refined; beautiful inexpensive drawer pulls add to the charm of an old, antique table.

The drawer pulls reminded me of a bouquet of Baby's Breath.

The drawer pulls reminded me of a bouquet of Baby’s Breath.

The little touches that make this little space pretty and useful

The little touches that make this little space pretty and useful

 

 

The French Laundry

Fresh, white and clean sheets with lavender scent in the vintage French Laundry Basekt

Fresh, white and clean sheets with lavender scent in the vintage French Laundry Basket

I stumbled upon some french laundry baskets this Memorial Day weekend at an antique warehouse in Forney, Texas.  I have wanted one for a long, long time but hadn’t found one at the right price.  As luck would have it, DeRidder Antiques was having a Spring Cleaning sale and they were very reasonably priced…so I bought three.

Few simple things bring as much pleasure as line dried bed linens washed in home made lavender laundry detergent.  The smell and feel of crisp, white linens pulled taught on a freshly made bed that beckon a heavenly rest.

My laundry closet is like my house; not fancy or well appointed…but simple, straightforward and quaint.  No apologies…it just is what it is.

The perfect place for home made lavender laundry detergent.

Simple Washing Powder

16 cups baking soda

12 cups borax

8  cups grated castile or glycerin soap flakes*

3 tablespoons lavender,  lemon or grapefruit essential oil

Combine baking soda, borax and  soap flakes. Add essential oil and mix with a wire whisk. Use 1⁄8 cup per  load.

 

The basic items needed: Borax, Baking Soday, Soap Flakes and Essential Oil.

The basic items needed: Borax, Baking Soday, Soap Flakes and Essential Oil.

Soap flakes just look clean, don't they?

Soap flakes just look clean, don’t they?

 

A vintage enamel bowl is put to good use to mix Borax, Baking Soda, Soap Flakes and Lavender essential oil.

A vintage enamel bowl is put to good use to mix Borax, Baking Soda, Soap Flakes and Lavender essential oil.

Vintage containers hold linen water, Borax and cleaning supplies

Vintage containers hold linen water, Borax and cleaning supplies

 

Vintage Mason Jars filled with old wood and wire clothes pins with a sweet home made label

Vintage Mason Jars filled with old wood and wire clothes pins with a sweet home made label

 

Using office supply oak tags and alphabet stamps for laundry room labeling

Using office supply oak tags and alphabet stamps for laundry room labeling

 

Home Made Lavender Laundry Detergent.

Home Made Lavender Laundry Detergent.

Freshly dried and folded linens in the French Laundry Basket.

Freshly dried and folded linens in the French Laundry Basket.