Canopy Beds: To Curtain or not to Curtain?

So. I have a big ol' canopy bed. Actually, it is similar to this one here (though mine is not as ornately carved). Very British-West-Indies-meets-farmhouse. I utterly adore it.

Bombay Company (alas, no longer in the US)

Like this one, my bed has those 4 horizontal slats across the top of the bed. All I do is stare at the center two. I'm not sure I want them there. They sort of bug me. I catch myself staring at them when I'm trying to fall asleep. I dream of ways to fix that sitch because it's weird to obsess over 2 silly slats. Options? Oh yes.

1. I could remove them entirely and have only the 4 outside slats (PS our ceiling vaults this same way):

{House Beautiful}

2. I could turn it into a very tall 4 poster bed:

{Paula Deen Savannah Poster Bed}

3. I could add curtains:

{Pottery Barn}

4. I could add an actual canopy like this draped one:

{Bombay Co.}

5. Or a tailored canopy like this one:

{Martha Stewart}

Which look do you like the best? I'm leaning toward either removing the 2 middle slats or adding simple tie-on curtains. There's something very cozy when I think of cuddling up behind drawn bed curtains as the weather gets colder. If they tie on, it would be very easy to clean them, too. Hmm...decisions, decisions.

Labour and Wait

 

Happy September you crazy kids!

Truth be told, I'm ready. I'm ready for cooler temps, fewer mosquitoes, open windows, Boardwalk Empire (I'm such an HBO Sunday night junkie) and gearing up for the holiday shopping season at Hello Magpie.

Is it too early to start thinking holiday shopping? Heck no! I'm already starting my list...beginning with one of my favorite UK shops Labour and Wait. It's practically impossible for me to start narrowing my wish list, but I will try.

 

With the end of summer upon us, is there anything special you're looking forward to as the seasons change?

Library Meets Dining Room

 {image}

What do you think of dining rooms with shelving? I'm seeing images popping up more frequently lately of dining spaces with shelving -- whether they be built-ins, floating shelves, armoires, etc. Does it not only work for small spaces, but for larger spaces, too? We have a gross lack of plain, flat, usable wall space in our home. AND quite a lot of books. Shelves of some sort could act as a design element AND be functional. But books in my dining room? Is it weird? Could it work? These photos almost make me think it could...

 

 {image)

list twenty-one: GreenSpot commitments

I posted on the Hello Magpie facebook page last week some exciting news... Our home (and thus, Hello Magpie) have been approved as a Columbus GreenSpot! As a local "green" initiative established by our Mayor Coleman, GreenSpot allows Columbus homes and businesses to commit to changes which will create a more ecologically responsible environment. Once approved, GreenSpot encourages each of us to share our lists -- to reconfirm our intentions and educate others on our actions to be eco-aware.

This is my GreenSpot pledge. Many of these, we already do; others will be gradually introduced.

Here's how I will conserve energy

• I will replace my regular incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent ones.
  
• I will drive 10 fewer miles per week.
  
• I will purchase foods, goods, and services that are grown or produced close to home.
  
• I will turn my thermostat up in the summer, and down in the winter, or I will install a programmable thermostat.
  
• Other ways we will conserve energy. Please tell us what you will be doing in the space at the end of the form.
• We will line dry our laundry the majority of the time, rather than using a clothes dryer.

Here's how I will conserve & protect water

• I will water my yard only once a week, keeping in mind that 1 inch of rain/water is enough to keep most lawns healthy.
  
• I will install a rain barrel in my yard to collect rainwater, and use it to water my plants.
  
• I will install a low-flush toilet, or put a bottle of water or a displacement bag in my tank so I use less water with each flush.
  
• I will plant a tree on my property.
  
• Other ways we will conserve & protect water. Please tell us what you will be doing in the space at the end of the form.
• We no longer use our dishwasher. Instead, we use eco-friendly cleaning products and hand-wash our dishes, controlling the amount of water used.
• We no longer take excessively long showers.
• We no longer let the water run when brushing our teeth.

Here's how I will reduce, recycle and reuse

• I will carry reusable bags when I shop.
  
• I will choose products that use less packaging and less harmful material.
  
• I will request to be taken off junk mailing lists, stop catalog orders, and pay my bills online.
  
• I will avoid one-use items such as paper plates.
  
• I will buy small amounts of items that have a short shelf life and bulk amounts of items that do not go bad quickly.
  
• I will donate unused or unwanted items instead of throwing them away-and explore thrift stores instead of always buying something new.
  
• I will recycle paper, steel, glass, and plastic by using my local curbside subscription program.
  
• I will separate my yard waste (like grass clippings and leaves) from other trash, and leave it by the curb on my assigned day or I will compost it.
  
• We avoid buying petro-based plastics as often as possible.
• We are mending older clothes, making new clothes from vintage/thrift store fabrics, supporting handmade artisans, and committing to giving handmade gifts.
• My home business philosophy is that of eco-awareness and conscious consumerism, providing eco-friendly goods, functional, long-lasting products, and vintage items -- all of which support reducing waste by extending product lifecycle, reducing waste, and encouraging reusable items. All of my shipping materials are 100% recycled, repurposed, or reused.

Want to be a GreenSpot, too? If you're in Central Ohio, visit the Green Spot website to apply. If you're elsewhere, check out the application for great ideas on how to go beyond recycling!

list nineteen: the home improvement list

{country home}

Happy Memorial Day! This is a special day and, first and foremost, I want to thank and remember our servicemen and women, to those who gave their lives for our country + those who serve us all proudly today. Thank you for preserving the nation that I love, in all its imperfections. Thank you for protecting us and preserving our freedoms, allowing me to live the life I choose, actively and fully.  
God bless all of you -- here and gone. Thank you.

·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·

 So it's the unofficial start of summer and we all  know what that means...home improvement! Yippee!

There's been lots of talk around our house about getting back on the home improvement wagon. We accomplished so much last summer; I'd like to keep that momentum going. Here's the ongoing list...most of which we'll tackle slowly, but surely, and certainly, within the next few years.

1. Finish painting exterior front door (last year, we did 2 coats of black, but it wasn't enough!)
2. Powerwash the house, front porch, and back deck
3. Replace the windows
4. Improve roof/attic insulation
5. Build a garage
6. Until that happens, find or build a suitable shed for mower, bikes, and gardening tools
7. Upgrade kitchen countertops
8. Stain or seal deck after powerwash
9. Paint stairwell walls
10. Sew kitchen banquette cushion covers
11. Build a new dining room table
12. Finish kitchen nook table
13. Replace kitchen pendant
14. Full bathroom remodel
15. Paint front porch
16. Repaint exterior trim
17. Look into partial-house solar panel systems
18. Consider addition of whole-house gray water system
19. Update wood blinds to new blinds or plantation shutters
20. Cut down dead tree in back yard & plant a new one

Though this is a daunting list, rather than let it get me down, I'm keeping positive and forward-moving. Baby steps. That's all it takes! I especially am eager to power wash something. I think it looks like fun! And building anything sounds impressive and incredibly overwhelming, but the visions of grandchildren rolling out cookie dough on a table that my husbie and I made, with our  own two hands the first year of our marriage? That brings out the little Bob Villa in me.

What fun, thoughtful, and wonderful plans to do you have going on today?

Wanted on Wednesday: Plantation Shutters

 Oh how I miss the plantation shutters we had in our room in Jamaica. Even before then, I had nothing short of a huge obsession with plantation shutters. They are just so...classic. And functional. And cool. To me,shutters are the perfect window covering. I want them everywhere -- living room? Definitely. Bedroom? Of course. Dining room over the sliding glass doors? Well duh! The faux wood blinds + drapery combos we have now are sufficient (and look pretty snazzy, all things considered), but bright white plantation shutters are the stuff of dreams...but I'd take them in this soft driftwood gray, too. Aren't they gorgeous?

{1.mine, 2. shutterfly fabulous, 3. country living, 4. niche blinds}

Farmhouse Modern

{1. This Old House. 2. West Elm via Knock Off Wood. 

3. Remodelista via Apartment Therapy. 4. Acacia}

I love modern-meets-farmhouse design. To me, it reflects the best of both worlds -- fresh, uncluttered aesthetics married to a nostalgic, comfortable place. Farmhouse modern isn't sterile or cliché. It is simple, unique and unfussy. A perfect combination, wouldn't you agree?

Just the other day, I was checking out 'say YES to hoboken', one of the blog finalists at The RikRak Studio's Handmade Olympics, Event #8 -- Favorite Blog with a Handmaking Focus. Tara at Scoutie Girl was the judge for this event and she posted all about SYtH, so I had to check it out for myself. Let me tell you how happy I am that I did, too, because I really love this blog. Full of inspiration, great photos and creative projects, it's right at the top of my new favorite dailies.

So, while poking around, I came across this rocking idea -- a DIY farmhouse table. As soon as I saw it, this DIY project jumped right to the top of our summer projects list. I love eclectic pieces and a modern farmhouse table would be a perfect replacement to our current dining table. Though our current auction-rescue table is still in pretty good shape and is a decent size, it's getting rickety, has weird legs that aren't conducive to seating lots of folks and I am desperate for something we can grow into.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that I really, really don't want to spend much money on it? Bubs is totally on board with a new DIY adventure (and this most def will fit the bill...), so I'm really excited to get started. As soon as the weather breaks, we're going to give this DIY farmhouse table a go. What do you think? Can we do it? For $30 in materials and a weekend, we're willing to give it a try. I may even keep my fingers crossed, head over to Columbus Architectural Salvage (one of my favorite places ever) and see if they have any reclaimed wood for the top planks. To make it even better, I have two wooden benches to pick up at my family's old homestead that would be perfect additions -- recycled, full of happy memories and free!

Refreshing the Kitchen: Stage 1 Complete!

{1. unknown, 2. Country Living, 3. unknown, 4. House Beautiful}

Winters in Ohio are a good time to tackle indoor home improvement projects. My friends did a bit of remodeling to their kitchen recently and it got me motivated to do a bit of sprucing up around here, too. I had been wanting to paint our kitchen white for awhile now. It's hard to resist when you see such gorgeous inspiration. Just look! Seriously, what's not to love about these kitchens? Bright, clean and inviting -- just the direction I want to take for ours.

There really isn't much wall to paint in our actual kitchen. It's mainly the eat-in kitchen space that needed repainting, so it wasn't that huge of a task, but wow, what an impact it had. Dingy beige walls, no more! We now have a bright, cheery, sparkly bright white kitchen and I'm seriously in love.  Just a couple of days and two coats of Sherwin Williams Pure White Harmony (low VOC and completely rocking) paint to get us that much closer to our inspiration kitchen.

Aren't blank canvases fun? I can't wait to keep going on this project! Here's what we have left to do:


Refreshing the Kitchen Project:
· Paint kitchen
· Replace eat-in kitchen lighting fixture
· Choose & install task lighting above counter
· Sew new banquette cushion covers & accent pillows
· Paint table legs & join to tabletop (Can't wait to share this!)
· Have glass cut for tabletop
· Replace the laminate countertop with butcherblock
· Find accessories & wall decor
· Declutter the countertops
· Create a recycling station
· Repair (or replace) the dishwasher


So that's what we're doing at home right now, but we're dreaming of lots more. What home improvement projects have you been working on or would like to begin?

Must Have: Farmhouse Wares

All this snow here in Ohio has me longing for those familiar wintertime comforts, like hot chocolate, snuggling in front of the fire and baking. While in the midst of some sprucing-up of the kitchen, I've been on the hunt for great inspiration and recently found Farmhouse Wares. So much comfort and nostalgia can be found in the well-made, down-to-earth treasures at Farmhouse Wares. Betsy has a pretty great philosophy, too. "When I talk about environmentally-friendly, I'm not just referring to our planet, I'm referring to the very environments we live in. I believe home is the place that keeps us centered and gratified." You can say that again, sister.

{1. glass milk bottle. 2. yellowware batter bowl. 3. glass retro canister set. 4. wire egg basket.

5. cupcake stands. 6. galvanized oval planter. 7.  brick french dishtowels 8. rustic glass dryer rack}

Ta-Da! New Year, New Shelving

{source}

We did it. We bit the bullet and bought new furniture for my office. OMW, it's super crazy fantastic loads of goodness. Who knew that metal and melamine could make a girl so happy?!

So on Sunday, I woke up all bent out of shape, as the previous two days (on and off) were spent cramped at my old desk, contacting suppliers, working on my business tax filing and brainstorming. Sure, I got a lot done but I didn't enjoy it like I should've because most of it was spent swearing under my breath at my (very) rickety ugly ol' desk, piles of paperwork, yarn, fabric, plastic Joann's bags, general disarray and lack of shelving. I was just salty about it and doing a fair share of sulking about it, honestly.

Bubs noticed the sulkfest, of course. He asked me what I wanted. We discussed some options. Briefly. I knew I had wanted an Elfa wall system from The Container Store for the last three years. I knew it was a good product because I used to work there. I also knew that it wasn't the cheapest solution, nor was it the most expensive. The deciding factor was that, until sometime in February, all Elfa products at The Container Store are 30% off. Holla!

Honestly, I had carefully weighed my options with Pottery Barn Outlet, JCPenny's, craigslist fixer-uppers, Ikea...you name it. For me, I wanted the best quality and most stuff for my dollar...intrinsic value, if you will. Elfa designs are free (online or in-store), free to pick up, easy to install, extremely well-made, adjustable and portable. It really was a pretty easy decision to make. The stuff really is that good.

Off we went to pick up Mr. M's van and drive on over to the store. With the trusty (to scale, of course) wall elevation of my Elfa plan in hand, we knew what we were in it to win it. That was around 4 o'clock. At 5:30, we were on our way home with all the shelving, standards, boxes and bags. Sure, it took us HOURS getting everything just so, but that was partly because we dilly-dallied, had to track down our level, measured a million times, made a frozen pizza and then I cleaned every computer component and did some major wire organization while I was at it.

Please excuse the work-in-progress photo, but I had to share. See all the white shelving and massive work top? That's it! What do you think? This office will be organized if it kills me! More shelves and things will be added as our budget allows, but for now, I'm beyond excited to have a happy, closer-to-tidy space to work in. By the way...all of that shelving is held up with 10 screws. Pretty rad, isn't it? I wish I could have Elfa in every room of our house. Oh, especially in a bright white laundry room. That would make me actually want to do laundry. Well, it would make me not loathe laundry time, anyway...

P.S. In case you were curious, the ugly desk currently resides in the spare room, to be reborn into my packing + shipping center. Hurrah for repurposing!

Butcherblock Love

We eat, prepare, bake and cool food on our kitchen counter. We also use it as a beverage station during parties, a craft table and a drop spot for mail, groceries and other stuff. What are your thoughts butcherblock regarding cleanability, durability and appearance after breaking them in?

Does anyone have one who may share advice and bits of wisdom on their maintenance? We have atrocious faux butcherblock in the kitchen now and I'm not such a fan, but I also don't want to spend a fortune on granite...I'd prefer to save up for a sexy subway tile backsplash, too ;)

The Hot.

Stick a cork in it.

Or, perhaps, "Stick it in a cork." That seems more the more accurate phrase, doesn't it?

I need a cork board. Badly. Aren't these versions fantastic? One of these days I'm going to get around to making one. Simply too lovely not to! I can wait until after Christmas, honest!

{top to bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Have you seen West Elm lately?

That store is chock full o' goodness right now! Sis and I happened to pass by West Elm over the weekend and fell in love with a good handful of things just looking through the windows.

My faves:

{source}

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Drying For Freedom, A Film About Clotheslines

Laundry in the Back Yard via Flickr

Apartment Therapy has a good write-up and video snippet on the documentary Drying For Freedom, A Film About Clotheslines that I found interesting. It's all about promoting clothesline drying and cold water washing to reduce energy consumption, being driven by Project Laundry.

I've been talking for ages about wanting to line dry again (when I was a kid, we line dried our clothes whenever Ohio weather would allow us.) Nothing smells as lovely as line-dried clothing, not to mention how unbelievably more responsible it is.

Now, imagine for a moment that you're not allowed to line dry your clothing? Really think about it.

Taken from the "Right to Dry" Campaign: "Community covenants, landlord prohibitions, and zoning laws are the three primary means of stopping people from using clotheslines. State, local, and federal legislators are encouraged to introduce "Right to Dry" legislation to stem this growing problem; government executives and commissioners are encouraged to act by executive order or rule-making. It is time for Americans to re-claim their rights and shine the sun on common sense solutions."

So let me ask you: How do you feel about line drying laundry? If you already do it, what advice would you give to those considering it? If you don't, what would it take to convince you to start?


Did you know that almost 6% of residential electricity consumption goes to your clothes dryer? That's appalling, actually.

Kitchen Inspiration Loveliness

{Cottage Living via MyHomeIdeas.com}

I came across this photo and am determined to polish up our kitchen in the same fashion. Honestly, we're pretty close as it is (white cabinets, silver pulls, some stainless steel appliances) but it would be nice to continue to push the design further. Those sliding glass doors are fantastic, aren't they? I wonder how hard our standard cupboards would be to convert..?

Currently, we have a rather cool metal Ikea shelf above the sink, with a small halogen light as well. It doesn't function quite as efficiently as I'd like it to, though I'd be sad to lose the light if we did a built-in plate rack (of which I am very fond.)

{Cottage Living via MyHomeIdeas.com}

Note the white subway tile back splash. Ah, love it! One can never go wrong with white subway tiles. They would contrast nicely with our chalkboard wall, wouldn't you agree? (Please ignore the poorly-placed phone jack.)

In the far corner of the kitchen, we have a nook with an L-shaped banquette of which I am not a huge fan. The lamp above where a table should be isn't centered properly and you tend to feel a disconnect from the rest of the kitchen, though the seating comes in handy. Personally, I'd like to replace it with this (and thanks to Copy Cat Chic, I know to opt for the JCP version!)

{JC Penny's via Copy Cat Chic}

Where My Hose At?

Sometimes I don't have to go far to forget I live in the city. Check out all of the little trees growing along the fence. We get so many growing in the yard that we have to pull them like weeds. Last year, Mr. M. tried to transplant them at mom's, but alas, their roots are too shallow and zero of 30-ish survived the move.

My own secret garden.

I'll Take Biddlesden Park for £20,000,000...

Seriously. I can't even get over the fact that homes estates like this are still standing, let alone available for sale on the Internet! Amazing. Almost unworldly. Like living inside Pride & Prejudice, but minus the corsets. Sign me up! And mom, if you're reading this...yes, I think I could spare a room or 5 for you :)

Oh geez. It comes with an indoor pool, too. Why do I even torture myself like this?!

{Buy It Now...and invite me over!}

Want more? Here's the history:

Biddlesden is a village in north west Buckinghamshire, on the border with Northamptonshire. It is situated about 3 miles to the north east of Brackley and five miles north west of Buckingham. The River Ouse forms part of the western boundary of the parish and the ancient royal forest of Whittlewood extended to the northern border of the village. The village name is Anglo-Saxon and means either house in a valley or Byttel's valley. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village was recorded as Betesdene. In the early medieval period, Biddlesden was the site of an important Cistercian abbey, founded in 1147 by Ernald de Bosco. The abbey was seized by King Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Although the abbey continued after this time as living accommodation for those in favour with the monarch the building wasn't maintained thoroughly and fell into disrepair. By the 18th century the abbey was in ruins and was finally demolished in 1727. The house of Biddlesden Park was built on the site of the abbey and small remains of the abbey can still be seen in the gardens today. Biddlesden Park is an archetypical English Country estate with a grand Georgian country house, farmhouse, lodge cottages, coach house, farmland, woodland, lakes and parkland. The house is listed Grade II* and retains many original features including plaster work, wood panelling, door and window casing etc. The current owner extensively refurbished the house when it was purchased in the 1980's including re-plumbing, re-wiring and re-roofing. Steel trusses were added to the 2nd floor to create more ceiling height and rooms were created with stud walling, so the 2nd floor offers the opportunity to completely re-model the accommodation and layout, subject to listed building consent.