in need of a makeover

Lately I have been playing with the idea of exterior remodeling for homes that I have come across that are lovely...but need a little help cosmetically. In fact, their sheer need of a facelift is probably why they have been on the market for as long as they have been.

This home for example is in a fabulous neighborhood with 1.0 acre lots, has a spectacular backyard, has potential everywhere inside, lots of room to grow as a family, and is priced oh so well....but the exterior is *yawn.*

I am thinking of painting the brick, adding some shutters, and giving that front entrance more presence...double doors with a over hang of some sorts.

Something like this:

But with double doors like this:

But...I have no idea how to do this on a computer.

Anyone know who I could turn to? I would love to explore this home and show Mr. B a "vision" rather than me doodling all over a print out. Because I will be honest...I can't draw.

Cheers~

e

road to the final tchotchke winners

U of L hospital has me as busy as ever & exhuasted beyond words, but I had to post my winners of my tchotchkes from the little blog party. I LOVED this party and I only hope enough of you loved it to do it again in the future. FYI...Winners were selected using a random number generator. OK...here we go:

Winner: #9 - Kathy Janicki www.sassystamper.blogspot.com said...

I love, love, LOVE these! They would look perfect in my bedroom on the wall that I keep looking at & wondering if I'll ever find the perfect 'something' to put there.

Winner: #2 Susie Q said...

I'm not going to ask either, but I really like that. Been redoing our family room with a beachy theme so this would be perfect!

I look forward to getting emails from you ladies and we can go from there.

Congrats aggin!!! I hope everyone enjoyed this little party...who doesn't enjoy free stuff?

Cheers~
e

farmgirl meets surburbanista

I feel like I have been blessed to have been raised in the country.

There is something special about Elizabeth, Indiana. I know I grew up in a happy little bubble of swim meets, garden tomatoes, church picnics, barn kittens, and acres upon acres of woods to play in..but it is a blessed bubble that warms me on cold nights in the world of reality.

When 1st choosing a home of our own. Mr. B and I decided on a cute home in the suburbs. We needed something low on the maintenance scale and a safe little place for us to have a family. I had no idea how much I would love surburbia. From yard sales to borrowing sugar....it has been a delightful experience.

I guess you could say I am torn between the country and the burbs. I love the convenience of everything in my home now.

The home I grew up in was 35 minutes from "town." Until you have lived far from "town" that required you to scheduleandd plan everything in reverse, let alone go home ASAP if you have ice cream in the car...you can never fully appreciate the convenience of being close to it all.

And then I came across this home:

I love the look of open shelving and wish my parents would try this in their home.

For the love of beadboard and white....oh so pretty.

It is like this home already knew of my love for checkered floors.

I can see my magnolia plates above this bed. :)

Maybe I could redo a home like this in the historic section of town? I am still trying to figure out my style...but something about this style whispers to me. Lastly, this little home makes me rethink that bigger is not always better.

So much loveliness to inspire.....and of course, it makes me question everything.

Cheers~
e

whole wheat



Long time ago in the land called the nest, I met a sweet nestie named Shortycake. And oh could she renovate. She was one of my 1st buddies in the world of the nest. She took an older home in Kentucky and turned it into a showplace. I have had this picture in my files because it inspired me to go with a warm color in my home.

As much as I try to explore outside the realm of Whole Wheat by SW...it is still my go to color. I love the color with white and black. It is fabulous in my book. In fact, I still find more rooms to add to my decor files that uses the color in the most dreamy ways.

Here the color is again...but it is famously known as Tobacco Road in this home....I love it against the black armoire. I adore that same depth of contrast with my own entertainment center and Whole Wheat.

picture from a google search that links to YHL

Oh..and now add a touch of striped silk. Look at how divine the the color is with the black and the white.

Am I wrong to love a color that screams 2005? :) Haha...that sounds funny, but with styles going to more of a cooler tone, is there still room for warm & crisp?

Cheers~

e

i copy more than i create

Ever think to yourself..why didn't I think of that?

Ever think to yourself...why didn't I do that project last week, now

I look like a copy cat if I post about this week?

I am hoping I am not hearing crickets after I type those questions. I fall into that downward spiral of questioning way too much. And after much thought...I am over it.

It is hard to not find something not brand new in the real or the vitual world. It all gets reused, renewed, and recycled...and everyone does it beautifully. I think the thing to do is embrace it and move on.

Ever wonder who found that 1st can of chalk board paint? Who made the 1st coffee filter wreath? Who wrote the 1st silhouette tutorial?

Well it really doesn't matter {unless you're that person..sorry that we have never met}...what matters is that it was found, made, and written...and that we have blogs to spread their fabulousness.

Cheers~
e

Come by this blog hop for free shopping...FREE...yes, life is this wonderful. :)

a tchotchke in honor of the nester

Well..amid the chaos of my little one getting sick again...I was completely delighted to see that the nester actually tweeted about our little blog hop/shop/swap. Talk about the BEST advertising and making me beam all at once.

 

So in honor of that thrilling "shout out," I decided to give one of my tassels away. I started making these about 3 years ago after seeing a lady at my church make them for a local decorator/home stager as her trademark when showing homes for clients.

So this is my little dainty in honor of the nester. It is an oldie but a goodie with cream and green..oh and my trademark/brand...a droplet of twinkle. I will pay for shipping..

Any takers? {please be a follower}

Cheers~
e

road to the last tchotchke

We all have items we have that we don't need.

In fact, I am sure you can walk into your garage or open any clost and find something that you could live without. Well...wouldn't it be fabulous to give that item to someone who would treasure it in the light of its true nature?

I know lots of people in the blog world are having "yard sales" of sorts, but I thought it would be even more special to have a yard sale of FREE stuff. Yes...free.

Also, I want to include as many people as possible in this little adventure. Sure I have lots of stuff, but I am sure you do too. What if we could have a place to showcase all our baubles and treasures in hopes of finding new homes for them?  Hence....

So...what is this and how do you do it?

This little hop is all about bringing bloggers and their love for shopping together in a massive swap of tchotchkes. In my thoughts..I would rather give those candlesticks that don't work in my home to someone who would cherish and love them. Hence the thought of the gift will flourish with its new owner and give us bloggers one more element to bring us closer together.

First thing is first..find your item. Please only pick a home decor item {if this is popular maybe we can have future ones all about shoes, toys, clothing, or accessories}. 

Then take a picture of the item you wish to give away for free and create a post all about the item. In your post please indicate any pertinant measurements, colors, or specifics of the item. Your post also needs to address shipping issues {will you cover shipping, will the receiver cover shipping and if so...how much and how will they pay}. Lastly your post might want to address how you will "pick" the receiver if there are more than one interested. {I plan on doing a random generator.}

Once you have your post and all the nitty gritty worked out, link up to the blog hop with the picture of the item you are wanting to give away for free. Please limit one link per item. You can give away more...but for each item, please link & post it separately.

The hop will be open for a week so there is plenty of time to shop your house to give something away and time to shop the hop. Then on Tuesday, March 29th...run your generator or pick your winner. Please wait till that date so anyone and everyone has a chance to link and then shop.

You do not have to link up to shop...just have fun and who knows...your gift might make its way into a new friend's hand. In my opinion...this is a delightful way to get rid of clutter as well as meet/make new friends.

Cheers~

e

PS Please get the word out...the more we have participate, the more treasures we have to choose from. :)