Tablescapes, Home Decor, Thrifting, Cooking

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

I love my house ~~~BUT ~~~

 

 

Out of approximately the nine homes we have owned (moving around a lot with the military) I have found our new home to be probably the most challenging to decorate.  I miss walls to nestle furniture around, and a place to hang more pictures. (sorry the pictures aren’t better.  I tried at night…too dark.  I tried in the day…too bright with the snow!) Just try to pretend they are better.

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With ten foot ceilings and an open floor plan I feel it is harder to create an intimate setting in my living room.  Look at the picture above and below and you will notice I have moved the tree around.  I had a nice wooden fern stand in the one corner that sold and now I have an area just begging to be covered!  If I see an empty space, my husband always says I feel the need to put something there…. And he is right!  Never have I been one of those people to say “Less is more”.  This house is also lacking bookshelves.  I have my eye out for a nice 7-8 ft. piece of furniture that can hold books as well as pretties.  A great secretary would be perfect.

 

It would go in this area next to the fireplace.

 

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Here you can get a better idea of the floor plan.  This picture was taken in the entry and shows how the living room is across from the dining room.

 

That empty corner just haunts me!

 

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This photo shows the dining room and entry.  Don’t mind Maggie who insisted she would continue her bath even with people looking. :) 

 

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Just so you don’t think I am going overboard on the trees, the one in the dining room corner is for sale.  They are just too big to store once I have them potted for my business, so they normally just find a corner in my home waiting for a customer to claim it.  My friends are used to seeing trees and arrangements with price tags dangling.  LOL!

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Occasionally I wish I hadn’t gone the “safe” route with furniture and window treatments.  Here is a closeup of the living room draperies.  I really do love them with the beaded trim.  There is a pretty stitching in the fabric, but you do have to look for it from a distance.

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After evaluating the overall look of the room I recently noticed what I am missing ~~~ PATTERN.

 Some big checked pillows or something to liven up the room is definitely what I can see is lacking.  That should be pretty easy to solve.  I have had the urge for awhile now to get my old sewing machine oiled up and try my hand at sewing once again.

If you have an idea for improvement don’t hesitate to suggest it!

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A winter coffee table with red velvet flowers and log looking candles should work a few more weeks.  By then I will definitely be interested in something a little more springy.

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Really, I’m not complaining, but do you see another area that’s hard to decorate? 

 

I have a three sided fireplace mantle!  You can see two sides in this picture.  It wraps on around to the hearth room.  While building the house, I was excited at the possibilities.  In reality, it is tricky!  What you place up there has to look good from several angles.

 

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While I was snapping away with my camera I happened to look out the window.  Thinking I might  see a deer rooting around for food in the woods, I saw a male cardinal at the feeder instead.  Look at all the black feathers on his lower back.  That seems odd to me. 

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Today ( a little late) I am joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life with  the 50th Tabletop Tuesday.  There are always great ideas just waiting to find at Marty’s.

 

Is it snowing in your neck of the woods?  The weatherman tells of just how far the snow is reaching so there is a pretty good chance.

 

Stay snug and warm…

 

Donna

33 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

I love your home and how open. Our last house was like that and now I just feel closed in. I think you have done a wonderful job with your decorating. Bookcases or a secretary in the corner would be fabulous. That should totally do the trick. Everything looks wonderful Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

Melissa Miller said...

Donna your home is beautiful! I really love an open floor plan but I hear you on the *harder to decorate*. No walls are tricky. You did a fanastic job on the rooms.

Have a good week.
~Melissa :)

Terri Steffes said...

I thought I always wanted an open floor plan... and I still do but I can see you do have to give up some decorating for the openess. I love your home!

Debbiedoos said...

Donna, I think you are doing a fantastic job. I know what you mean though, I have very little wall space, all open. It is a challenge to make warm...but I can see you did a great job...and I think I did OK too:) It's all in the colors!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Donna! Your home is beautiful! I think you have done a fabulous job decorating it! I laughed when I read your comment about your need to fill empty spaces...me, too! Hello to Miss Maggie from my staff! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Slice of Pie said...

Oh! Your home is beautiful ... but I cannot imagine having lived in nine different houses! Military life wouldn't have been good for me ... but we are so thankful for our military families. It takes a special wife to do what you have done.

I have a friend who used to live in a house with that kind of fireplace. She placed a very tall silk floral arrangement on the end ... that was visible from both sides ... then created very different mantel displays that dropped in height at an angle from the tall arrangement. Would that work?

Sherrie said...

I too struggle with strange walls and nooks that make no sense. Not sure why I was so drawn to this house.
I think adding that bookcase by the fireplace would be gorgeous!
Have a Wonderful Day and stay warm!

Jacqueline said...

I think you are too hard on it, it looks warm and inviting and very cozy to me. It is good to get other's opinions because sometimes we can't see our own homes in a very good light. I just helped my friend accessorize her new living room furniture that we picked out last week. Her husband had two huge bronzes that dwarfed the end tables and made the end tables look bad. When we took them out and used the smaller accessories, the end tables were wonderful.

The Charm of Home said...

Oh, your home is lovely! I love that fireplace. An open floor plan is a challenge, but it is great to entertain in. How nice.
Sherry

Theresa said...

You have a beautiful home! I loved looking around at all of your beatiful decor! Thanks for sharing your home with me, I really enjoyed my visit! Next time I'll stay for dinner:) Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting with me! HUGS!

Nancy said...

Donna, I will join the others in saying your home is beautiful!! I love the openess.

I cans see why that empty corner would bother you. And frankly, I think bookcases are a must in a house. To me that warms up a house alot. I think that corner would be an excellent spot for bookcases. What would you think about floor to ceiling built in bookcases? I think it would look great!

Cathy said...

I've tried the less is more for a very short time and I couldn't pull it off. You have a beautifully decorated home. I think a secretary would be perfect for the corner.

I love your coffee table.

Marlis said...

I love your home!! It's great for entertaining, for a large family to come visit.. I think you've done a marvelous job. Your curtains are great. And the big tree in the dining room, well it's great!

www.thewhitefarmhouse2.blogspot.com said...

Like everyone else, I think your home is beautiful. Love the open floor plan, but I can see how it would be tricky. I love the big comfy couches that look like you sink into. The dark wood trim. Your drapes are almost identical to mine. I know you said the pics are dark, but I think the problem is, there is no contrast. I don't think you need more stuff. I happen to like the less is more look. Switch around some of the pieces. Put some lighter pieces on the mantle so they don't blend into the wood and wall color. Maybe some lighter colored pillows on the couches. Just some contrast to bring notice to all the other beautiful things you have.

Thank you so much for visiting! I really enjoyed looking through your blog and will be back.

The Other Maggie Who Doesn't Bathe In Front Of Company

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna! OH, your home is so gorgeous! I love all of the light you have in there. My home is really on the dark side - one of the downfalls!
Your furnishings are so gorgeous and I think you put the hammer to the nail, just poke on some print pillow on your sofa! Those drapes are gorgeous!
Thank you for popping in to see me.
be a sweetie,
shelia :)

April said...

Hi Donna! So happy you stopped by my blog today and signed up for my GIVEAWAY! Good Luck! I am now a follower of your blog...I will be back soon!

Miss Char said...

I tried less is more a couple of years ago and it didn't work for me either. I think that blank wall is crying out for a secretary....meet me in Chicago and I'm sure we can find one somewhere, wink, wink!

The open floor plan is great for your growing family, my home and its divided spaces makes it hard to have big family gatherings. I'm already trying to figure out how I'll do dinner for 14 for Valentine's Day.

Kathleen said...

Hi Donna,
Your home is lovely! Those drapes are so beautiful!

Paula@SweetPea said...

A secretary in that corner by the fireplace really would look pretty.

Your home looks perfect to me!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh, you have a lovely home...I love that fireplace....my uncle had one years ago and I loved his also!!

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady,you have a beautiful home sweet lady and I would put the secretary by the fireplace also ~~~Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my Tablescapes. I hope you have a nice Evening.
Diane

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Donna,
I really like the bookcase idea...give it a try.

Blessings,
Linda

lvroftiques said...

Hi Donna!!
Oh girlfriend it was soooo good to hear from you!! I'm actually late night surfing because I've been pondering your room. First let me say your house is gorgeous! But that fireplace is tricky! And my friend you've handled it beautifully! Just a thought?.... I was wondering if a bookshelf might be too heavy there? I love the idea of a secretary! And I was thinkin' maybe a french scrolled iron console table would look fab? As you know I am NOT a less as more gal either lol! And even your available space has me wanting to fill it! Sorry my friend *winks* I know whatever you do is going to be fabulous! Vanna

My Cozy Corner said...

Hi Donna
I love your home. And, your blog is beautiful. Thank you so much for visiting My Cozy Corner.
xo
Betty

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi Donna, you have a beautiful home, although I can see where no walls would be hard to decorate around. I love that Maggie joined in.. she's a cutie. I agree your "blank" corner is screaming Secretary.. hugs ~lynne~

Unknown said...

Donna, I didn't realize that our dining room areas were so similar. Mine is also just to the right of front door and completely open to the living room...only separated with columns. Yes it does make for challenging decorating issues, but you've done a great job...beautiful!

Elizabeth said...

Hi Donna, I just discovered your blog and I love it! Your decorating is beautiful. I also read cookbooks and enjoy trying new recipes

Jane said...

You have a beautiful home and you have a real eye for decorating. I know what you mean though about open floor plans. Our house is pretty open and I would love to have more wall space for "stuff".
Have a wonderful weekend!
Jane

Anita Diaz said...

What a gorgeous home!! Oh how wonderful all that space looks! I love your window treatments too! I used to have wonderful tall ceilings and space. but I'm working with what I have, lol! I'm not sure what kind of gospel artists you might be looking for, but since my mother is in southern gospel, I know lots of them!! The Inspirations, The Primitive Quartet, The Diplomats, The Isaacs. All kind of different but in the same genre. So you know them??

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Oh yes, Donna, a secretary would look great in that corner. A lamp, some books and accessories ~ lovely! Meantime, maybe you have an extra table or chest somewhere. I think whatever you put there incorporating a lamp is always a good idea.

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I like less is more -- for other people -- it just doesn't work for me. We don't have snow right now, but we're supposed to get some on Thursday...I'm sick of snow!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Donna! I'm back for a peek at your beautiful home! And to answer your question...yes, I made my burlap table runner. There's a link to the instructions on the sidebar! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Anonymous said...

I love your home Donna! Our last home was more of an open plan with floor to 2nd story fireplace ..one side on the family room and the other side on the living room and like you, no walls. But on the walls I did have, I used very bold paintings and statement pieces. Lots of layering works too. You should be able to use very very large vases and other decorative elements that closed in rooms can't use. I looked at and fell in love with a home last winter. After two months, my better half decided we weren't going to buy it and I pouted for a long time. But it was like your home...no walls hardly and none at all in the kitchen and morning room. I wondered where in the world would I put my antique secretary, step back cupboard and other cupboards. The house I am in now has lots of walls but very closed in. I guess there is always a trade off somewhere.

Love your kitty in your newest post. I have had a few pieces by that name but don't know much about it. :) xoxo (P.S. sorry to go on and on)