Things I am loving Thursday and house updates!!

Good morning! Hope all is well with you.....boy these days are going by fast and furious! There seems to be ANOTHER issue with blogger, many of my favorite blogs' newest posts are not updating automatically on my side bar, how strange! I just happened to see that many of them have newer posts that I found by chance......very annoying. Blogger get it together!And now that the back to school campaign is officially in high gear (much to my dismay) I really feel the crunch to try and savor this last month of August. I am escaping to the beach next week for a few days but not  for the length of time that I had planned, just too much happening on the home front so 3 or 4 days is max. but its certainly better than nothing! My days are spent mostly getting things done for the house, but I am not complaining, whatever it takes to wrap this up! Hope you are having a great week, and savoring summer for all it is. So here we go....

HOUSE UPDATES. The gutters were put up this week, the porch is officially done, paint on the trim outside done, now they are working on finishing up the upstairs paint. Kitchen is moving forward, they delivered part of the butlers yesterday, its a slooooooooow process but as my kitchen guy explained it, they add to it one layer at a time. Patience IS a virtue, right? Thankfully I really love the way its coming out, so wait I shall. Bathrooms plumbing is getting done, templates are done for countertops, layer by layer things are getting done. For those that follow progress week to week, this might not look so different from last week, but I assure you it IS moving forward (trust me I would have it no other way)!! I think by next week I will have some signiificant updates especially in the kitchen and butlers pantry.

Second round of beams just got installed (the curved ones)

Bookcases done

Looking into the breakfast room

Looking into kitchen from family room...

Looking from family room into kitchen

Looking from family room into small hallway leading to dining room

Breakfast room second beams just went in

Looking from breakfast room into family room and kitchen

Back stairs

Eventual window seat in mudroom

Love this post.....

Sons tub done...yeah!

I love the way all the showerboxes came out, I put chair rails around each of them

Living room parquet floor just about done...

Herringbone in library complete!

Sm. powder room off library's inspirations

Part of sink vanity in kitchen

Butlers pantry, OK I know it doesn't look like much but just wait till this gets done!

In a week you will be loving this......

It is the darkest stain you can do, like a dark java, a love!

Sons bath floor done...

CURRY SCONCES. Always on the prowl for great lighting. I think Curry has some great looking pieces and the price point is certainly very fair. Then if you are really lucky, they have their Curry in a Hurry program where they stock many of their items, that ship right away....here are some of what I have found, what do you think? Click here to see more of their awesome things.

Ordered this for our main powder room

This is the matching chandelier

Love this one, ordered two pairs of these for possibly my bathroom

Very elegant looking, great powder room fixture

This comes in a few finishes.....kind of fun.

OK this doesn't apply to me, but how great would this sconce be for a beach house?

BLUE BOOK. A few friends told me I had to get this book, all about the world of living and decorating with blue. One day Diane from The Buzz mentioned it again and right that minute I paid a visit to Amazon and bought it. What a great book!!!! If you like decorating with blue, you must, you must get this. It is chock full of incredible pictures, has all kinds of tutorials and even a pull out blue paint chart with all the recommended faves. A must have!!!! I have been going through it a lot lately for divine inspiration...do you have it already?

GORGEOUS CUSTOM RETURN ADDRESS STAMP. I love this line, just ordered it for someone as a housewarming gift. It came out so pretty, and she was so excited! I loved it so much just ordered one for myself.....love this line. Click here to visit the Etsy shop online.

MARIEBELLE TEAS AND COCOA HOUSE. Do you like tea or coffee? If so, have I got a place for you!  If you are lucky enough to live in the NY area, then you should pay a visit to MarieBelle. I first found out about them when I saw one of their tins and fell in love, I then googled them delighted to see I could order online! Then I found out that there is a tea/cocoa house/salon right in NYC and vowed to go on my next NY trip. Eventually I was able to go and it was such a special treat, a scene right out of Paris! They serve many different flavors of aromatic teas and hot cocoas, along with desserts, pastries and chocolate....whats not to love! Click here to to go to their site......

Outside is just a hint of the charm inside...

Inside the flagship store where all the goodness lies........

How charming is this!

Their famous silk screened chocolates...they are the original!

A GREAT WALLPAPER/FABRIC COMBO FOR BACK POWDER ROOM. To set the tone, I have included visuals of the powder room console sink, sconces and faucet to be used. I found the simple but great wallpaper in gray and white and this goregous fabric, it has birds and I LOVE birds. Its the pale blue that I love, with pops of gray and white....thoughts? I love to know what my savvy readers think, think its nice with the marble....

This is the console sink going in there.....

And here is the faucet

And the sconce going in that bathroom....

And here is the wallpaper and fabric I am considering..... now that all the "suspects" that are being used have been lined up for you to see...thoughts please!!

Well that's what I am loving this week! How about you? Anything special on your plate or that has crossed your path that you are loving? Always love to know! Wishing you an enchanted Thursday!

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Theme design : Yellow and Gray color combination!

Each color has certain characteristics. They are generally classified as 'warm' or 'cool' color. Some are bright, intense and radiate energy, while some are soothing and neutral. Yellow is the sunny color. Its bright and full of energy, stimulates senses and is perfect when combined with a neutral like gray. Gray is such a regal color, not too heavy like black, yet it makes its presence felt, it adds the touch of serenity.

Together, the combination of Yellow and Gray is great for decorating any room. They are the perfect foil for each other. The neutral serene gray which lets the yellow pop out. Here are some stunning designs to inspire you to explore this color scheme.

This living room is so stylish!! Its like a work of art, each decorative piece has been chosen with deliberation. Love the choice of pillows and cushions. The subtle detailing on the wall is so pretty!

The color combo in this bedroom shows the possibilities with yellow and gray together with black and white. Gray and yellow balance each other quite like ever favorite black and white. The stylish chrome and interesting pattern on the cushions hold the eyes. Beautiful regal!

Simple chic modern living room. If I were to design one for myself, this would be it. Its so delicate, the rose pattern rug, wall hangings and retro lamp. I would snap the tables in a heartbeat! beautiful rustic,and can use them for extra seating. 

Darker shade of gray with yellow is so masculine! The color is so dark and rich, and the yellow almost glows. Yet another idea for a makeover for adolescent or teen bedroom. The stripes keeps the whole look very interesting.

Hallway designs are not easy. The space is limited, yet it makes a big impact. It sets the tone to the entire home. This is a fun and fabulous way to decorate a lobby or even under the stairway. Get out those vintage pictures, buy art in black and white, use just one bright color like yellow to jazz it up!!

We have been seeing a lot of modern designs, however the color combination of gray and yellow is equally good in a traditional setup. This living room is brimming with ideas! Look at the interesting curtains and the hardware on the bureau. Retro modern decor is so fascinating!

Very stylized, modern space saving design for teen bedroom. This bedroom utilizes space to the max for two kids. Includes study with cabinets to boot! Yellow keeps the place full of energy and warmth.

Yellow against a slate gray wall is powerful yet elegant. Gray is present in many shades with deliberate pop of yellow to break the monotony and ease the effect. The interesting textures add to the grandness of the room decor. 

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mad pax

For those who shop with us, I am sure you have seen (and many, many of you have bought) the totally awesome Mad Pax backpacks.  Well, for the entire month of August we are offering 20% off any Mad Pax backpack when you bring in an old backpack to donate.  So, bring in those old backpacks and get your child set for the school year with the very coolest new one.  And speaking of the new school year and making donations, check out this podcast with the founder of Phoenix Collegiate Academy on Raising Arizona Kids Magazine.  It is a school for underprivileged kids and they are in great need of many supplies for the school year.  You can see the entire list here and where to donate your items.  Just another way we can all help!

Take a peek at this video from the toy fair with the lovely Tina promoting her amazing product...



Now come on in and get your Mad Pax back pack!

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A Sense of Enclosure

Hello Everyone,

      At the south of our little garden cottage there is a small enclosed garden that is a nice sheltered place to enjoy lunch. It is amazing how quickly this garden filled in as it is only a few years since I moved some rose suckers into a narrow border along with a Beautybush that was being crowded in another bed.

Anyway,I have set up a table and collected the china that you may have seen on the new cupboard in the cottage that I showed you a few days ago.

My thrift shop pink plates and some Fairy roses.

Some sparkling raspberry drink

There is a clematis on either side of the arbor along with the roses.

The angel is watching over us.

She must have plucked this rose from the bush nearby!

The clematis on the right is Joesephine and on the right is Jackmani superbra.

Tea anyone?

I love a sense of enclosure in the garden- don't you?

Just a reminder to any local readers of the garden tour here on Sunday afternoon from 2-4:30.Tickets are $8. and all proceeds go to Muscular Dystrophy.
Today I am joining Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and also Tea Time Thursday at Kreative Korner please go and check them out!

Thank you for visiting me,

Carolyn

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A Little Help From My Friends, Please

"What would you do, if I sang out if tune?  Would you stand up and walk on on me?  Lend me your ear and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not to sing out of key."

Does anyone know where I can get a custom stamp made?  Is there anyone here in blog land that does it?

I am looking for a custom made stamp, so that I can stamp my Lavender Hill Studio name, website. etc on these tags.  I want it to have a bunch of lavender included in the custom stamp.

Does anyone know someone who does this? 

p.s. have you checked out the newest Flea Market Makeover?  Click the link on my side bar...

" I get by with a little help from my friends." 

Welcome Home,

Penny

Read More

A Little Help From My Friends, Please

"What would you do, if I sang out if tune?  Would you stand up and walk on on me?  Lend me your ear and I'll sing you a song and I'll try not to sing out of key."

Does anyone know where I can get a custom stamp made?  Is there anyone here in blog land that does it?

I am looking for a custom made stamp, so that I can stamp my Lavender Hill Studio name, website. etc on these tags.  I want it to have a bunch of lavender included in the custom stamp.

Does anyone know someone who does this? 

p.s. have you checked out the newest Flea Market Makeover?  Click the link on my side bar...

" I get by with a little help from my friends." 

Welcome Home,

Penny

Read More