Christmas Haus 2016

Vintage, hand blown ornaments.

Vintage, hand blown ornaments.

It’s been a busy year.  That is the introduction to my apology for not posting more frequently.  I vow to rectify that in the new year.

Although this is my second Christmas, post renovation, I felt more settled in the home this year.  More relaxed.

But I digress.  I have some holiday pictures to share.  Plus, let you know that I am posting on Instagram.  As of this moment,  I have 13 organic followers.  And I am proud of each one of those.

So finally, thank you for continuing to follow my blog and continuing to check back for new posts.  I hope the holiday and the new year are good to you and your family.  As for me, I am optimistic and have nothing but good, sweet thoughts.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Clustered with fresh greens, these vintage ornaments look like holly berries.

Clustered with fresh greens, these vintage ornaments look like holly berries.

Old linens.

Old linens.

Tin containers from Round Top filled with fresh garland, pine cones and mason jars with battery operated flickering candles.

Tin containers from Round Top filled with fresh garland, pine cones and mason jars with battery operated flickering candles.

The exterior. White picket fences are meant for red bows and fresh garland.

The exterior. White picket fences are meant for red bows and fresh garland.

An old bench, a Round Top find with a vintage watering can and some fresh greens.

An old bench, a Round Top find with a vintage watering can and some fresh greens.

A Christmas Farmhouse Kitchen.

A Christmas Farmhouse Kitchen.

Fresh greens, a holiday red velvet quilt and a lovely tasseled throw for a lovely Scandinavian style Christmas.

Fresh greens, a holiday red velvet quilt and a lovely tasseled throw for a lovely Scandinavian style Christmas.

A little cheer for the holiday guest...

A little cheer for the holiday guest…

Sparkly pine cones on some wire for a festive garland.

Sparkly pine cones on some wire for a festive garland.

Dried hydrangeas with fresh greens make a lovely arrangement.

Dried hydrangeas with fresh greens make a lovely arrangement.

Fresh greenery arrangement.

Fresh greenery arrangement.

Christmas red tucked in many corners.

Christmas red tucked in many corners.

The master bedroom.

The master bedroom.

The master bedroom.

The master bedroom.

A nook for settling in for a winter's nap or reading a good book.

A nook for settling in for a winter’s nap or reading a good book.

A guest room with some holiday cheer.

A guest room with some holiday cheer.

Handmade stockings from Round Top, many, many years ago.

Handmade stockings from Round Top, many, many years ago.

A stately pose.

A stately pose.

Fresh greens against white walls.

Fresh greens against white walls.

Old ironstone and fresh greens.

Old ironstone and fresh greens.

An Ikea lantern with a battery operated candle for each fence post.

An Ikea lantern with a battery operated candle for each fence post.

Using old, white chippy cast iron finials to hang grain sack stockings.

Using old, white chippy cast iron finials to hang grain sack stockings.

A easy chair with a bit of red for the holidays.

A easy chair with a bit of red for the holidays.

A touch of Christmas that is as easy as a white pointsettia

A touch of Christmas that is as easy as a white pointsettia

Nooks

sitting-area

A stair landing that otherwise would be used for nothing other than a pass through becomes a place to get away.

When you build out every square inch of an old home, parts of the structure become architectural features.  The space under a stair way or the pitch of a roof become central to the design and the aesthetic.

My cottage is case and point.  Every space is somehow made cozier by having to work within the structure that creates these small, lovely nooks.  Or corners of respite as I like to call them.  Somewhere to tuck away and relax.

Every room in my home is small.  It is by no means palatial. Throughout the house, I have managed to squeeze in some place for one to tuck away.  To cozy up with a good book or a cup of tea  and just relax.

Fall will be here soon.  I look forward to curling up and contemplating.

I hope you find some inspiration.

 

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

south-guest-after-2

The corner of a room is a great place to tuck a Victorian wicker chair recovered in painters drop cloth.

master-after

The pitch of a roof makes a great place to add a pair of sitting chairs and a comfy ottoman to put your feet on.

 

French Farmhouse Window

 

This gem will be used in found condition.  With the exception of glazing; there will be no treatments of the surface.

This gem will be used in found condition. With the exception of glazing; there will be no treatments of the surface; it will be installed as is.

For the renovation, I have been searching for architectural pieces that I can use in found condition that will reinforce the age of the house.  With all the new construction, I have made careful design decisions that will keep the old cottage feeling old.

One piece I came across from one of my favorite downtown McKinney antique dealers, is the old French Farmhouse window.  It will have a place of prominence in the house.  It is in the direct line of sight as soon as you walk in the front door.  It will be set, with its current worn finish against a wall of white plank boards in the kitchen, above the kitchen sink.

The kitchen sink, by the way, will be an old zinc trough.  I believe the pairing of the old window and trough sink will be lovely reminders of the age of the house.   I have seen them at a number of dealers at Round Top, so I’ll add it to my list of things to get:

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The cherry on the sundae will be an old brass wall mounted sink faucet…if I can find one.

As I was looking on the Houzz website this weekend, an old French farm house kitchen caught my eye.  When I clicked on the link and saw pictures of the entire house, I spied a window very similar to mine.  I am in heaven.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

xoxo

Beautiful French farm house bedroom.  I love the stone floors and the architectural salvage bed.  But mostly, my eye was drawn to the window above the door.

Beautiful French farm house bedroom. I love the stone floors and the architectural salvage bed. But mostly, my eye was drawn to the window above the door.

The window looks very similar to the one I bought from Chase Hall in downtown McKinney, pictured above the post.

Capture

 

 

The Prettiness of Ugly


-- Download The Prettiness of Ugly as PDF --


We are at a bit of a standstill with the renovation until we get our permits approved.  So when I went by the house this weekend, I didn’t expect much would be different.  And I was right.  But what little had changed was choice indeed.

The six or seven layers on the kitchen floor were pulled up and to reveal original hard wood floors.  They don’t look especially great right  now, but everyone loves a Cinderella story and these little ugly ducklings have a shot at becoming pretty.  What a sweet surprise!

My contractor believes we can salvage the floors in the kitchen.  All the floors will be refinished in a honey pine tone.  They will be a nice, warm contrast to the exposed ships lap on the walls which will be painted white as part of the renovation.

 

The top half of the picture shows the newly revealed kitchen floors, the bottom have of the pic are the floors that were already exposed.

The top half of the picture shows the newly revealed kitchen floors, the bottom half of the pic are the floors that were already exposed which are in serious need of refinishing.

Here is a general sense of the feel I am going for:

A simple palette: white walls with pine flooring.  This will make the house a canvas for my antique pieces.

A simple palette: white walls with pine flooring. This will make the house a canvas for my antique pieces.

Discovery: Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker

I have become quite keen on a new cooking show on Food Network, Farmhouse Rules.  Basically, anything with the word Farmhouse always catches my attention.  In one episode, they made cocktails using a mason jar cocktail shaker.  I was hooked…I had to have it.  A little mining the internet and voila.  I found the website: http://www.masonshaker.com/

With this new gadget, I am looking forward to experimenting with simple syrups and flavor components to create really great cocktails.

I hope in the  New Year, you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

 

Savory and refreshing.

Savory and refreshing.

Mason Cocktail Shaker.

Mason Cocktail Shaker.