A cottage feel ...

I love the cottage style of this kitchen ... :)

In the corner of the kitchen ...

I love how the kitchen sink is in this little corner of the kitchen ... :) And I especially like the windows!

English Chestnut

Check out that hardwood floor! It was by far the most challenging project we took on - I love the color and the feel it adds to this old house.

Stain: English Chestnut by Minwax

The red berry wreath.

I found a red berry wreath during the Christmas season and decided to let it stay up - year round! I love how it looks and it makes me happy ...

I really believe our houses should be a refuge from the 'everyday stuff' and the things we choose to decorate with can add happiness to the day to day routines. Look around your house - what makes you feel calm and at peace?

Thanks red wreath for your cheery presence...

The simplicity of white.

I like this little grouping - white. simple. elegant.

The mantle gets a restyle ...

See that mantle pictured above? I bumped into that piece while we were on a family trip. It was in an old shop in a little, old town and we were on our way home from a day hike! When I saw it - I knew it had great potential and needed to come home with us. Luckily, the lady wanted to sell it and luckily we had room in our truck! (This was before we bought this old/new house of ours).

I painted it and gave it a 'Wendy makeover' and stored it. Then when we moved into this place, it didn't fit in the fireplace location ... I just couldn't get rid of it! What to do?

We decided we could use it in the corner to hold our TV and gave it a restyle. We added some bead board to the back of it and secured two shelves in the middle = instant WOW!

I love finding new uses for old pieces.

Soup of the day ---

Served with hot rolls and crackers.

Romantic ...

This is what you see when you first walk in our old house... I think this little duo is so romantic.

I need to take lessons and learn to play! :)

Charming!

I love magazines! I also love old magazine holders ... I found this piece on a little 'treasure hunt' one day and gave it a 'Wendy makeover'. :)

There is something so charming and rejuvenating about finding an old piece and giving it a new look/feel and style!

White.

Decorating takes time. It takes energy and effort ... it also takes patience. I used white curtains in every room and every window of this house. There was just one place that I couldn't figure out what to do with. The certain place was in the dining room! I tried a variety of different fabrics, colors and styles on this one window and finally yesterday, I found the perfect fit for this spot. Yes, it's white and yes, it's simple. And I love it. (See photos above).

PS: I find that decorating a house is a lot like 'decorating your life' ... it takes time. You can't give up and the journey is most of the fun! :)

For more inspiration please visit my Moments blog

The doors.

Bathroom linen/supply closet door ... Check out the door knob! I love all the old doors and the old trim in this house. We kept all the trim around the windows and the original doors. I figured they earned the right to stay!

That's a 67 year old door knob... Screaming with personality, wisdom and charm.

Love it.

That's the inside knob of the upstairs linen closet. I keep thinking I'll restore them and strip the old paint off ... but I'm leaning towards letting them show their years/history and paint stories.

Another upstairs closet inside hook knob.

An old black door knob - aged to perfection! :)

When we were going through the house and taking everything (and I mean everything apart), we lost the little screw that goes to this old door knob...bummer I know! So for now it looks like this. :) Notice the little hole in the door for the door knob - vintage.

Someday, I hope to get the doors repainted ... but for now, we're just enjoying their age and charm.

Did I mention?

That I love this red hutch in the dining room? Oh, that's right ... I've mentioned this lovely red hutch many times :) ... still - I love it.

In a reflective mood ...

I love how during the Christmas season - everything is more magical. The first Christmas in this new (old) house of ours was one we'll never forget ... :)

During the month of December, we figured out some electrical issues, figured out that the house needs more instillation and enjoyed staying up ultra late during the holidays watching movies in our new theater room ... (lots of snuggle time). I think we're all having withdrawls for more of that! All in all - 2010 was a great year.

This house has been a GRAND adventure (and continues to be) ...!

The red hutch ...

This was one of my favorite restore and restyle projects of 2010! I took an old (orange-ish, brown) hutch and painted it red. I then filled it with a few of my favorite white vintage dishes.

I just walked by it today and thought - I love that little hutch in the dining room....!

On the Menu ...

Nothing like a big pot of chicken noodle soup and fresh hot rolls on a cold January day :) ...

M'M' good ...

Beautiful.

Nothing like hot pink flowers to add a little 'magic' to a room ...

Simple.

Check out that door knob ... OH I love it. It's the simple things that make life so wonderful ...
Yes, I did a happy dance once this was on and working!

Happy New Year from our house to yours.
PS: Slow down and appreciate the little things that add meaning to life! :)