About that Big Basket

Thank you all for your nice comments about my living room.  It seems many of you like the idea of no rug – at least during the summer months.  I must say it is a lot easier to keep clean!  I am not sure how the feet will feel come winter but that is a while away.

I had several people inquire about the large basket.  It is a vintage French covered transport trunk.

I purchased it from Bonny Neiman Antiques and I am absolutely thrilled!  Bonny was so nice to work with and I highly recommend her shop.  I also bought the pretty mirror which hangs above the bed in the master bedroom from Bonny.

To be honest when I bought the basket I really did not pay attention to the size and had no idea where I was going to put it.

At first it found a home in the family room.  Although it looked fabulous, the trouble was, now I was left with no place for the wagon.  Then I came across this picture.

Via Southern Living

A perfect solution!

I immediately hauled the basket upstairs and in the bedroom it went – making a perfect bedside table.

I love the extra layer of texture it adds to the room and how it is a bit unexpected.

I have to admit I was fortunate that things worked out so well.  

Have you ever purchased something without knowing  where you were going to place it? I would love to hear what you bought and where it ended up!  

Going Bare!

One of the consequences of photo shoots is lots of furniture moving and rearranging.  Some people may not look at this as a positive because it is a lot of work and creates a lot chaos but I actually love it!  By moving things around you gain a new perspective on the spaces in your home and the possibilities you might not have thought of before – case in point, the family room rug.

 

While it served its purpose well, it definitely had seen better days.  So when we were asked to remove the rug for the photo shoot I was amazed at how much lighter, brighter and bigger the room looked.

In fact, I liked the bare hardwood floors so much I decided not to put the rug back.

I have seen several very pretty rooms which also have no rugs, several of which I had saved to my inspiration file.  (I apologize for not knowing the sources for these photos.  If you recognize them please let me know as I would love to give credit to the designers/photographers of these beautiful spaces!)

source unknown

source unknown

source unknown

So for the time being I have decided to bare it all and going “rugless.”

What do you think about the bare floors?  Would you try this in your home?  I would love to hear your opinion.  

Photo Shoot Sneak Peek

Last week was a whirlwind, but in a good way!  The photo shoot took three full days of set-up, picture taking and clean-up.  It was so much fun but lots of hard work too.  Although I can’t show any pictures of the actual shots (they are beautiful!) which will be used in the magazines, I can show you a very small glimpse of what went on behind the scenes.

 Photographer John Bessler and Regional Editor and Producer for 

Meredith Publications, Donna Talley looking at the details of a picture

Every time I have the privilege of participating in a photo shoot I learn something new, and this time was not an exception.  Photographer John Bessler had been to my house a few years ago to photograph the basement for Better Homes and Gardens.  I was beyond excited when I learned he was coming back for this shoot.  He is such a professional, an amazing photographer and most important, a super nice person.  John was even kind enough to give me a few pointers on how to use some of the features of my camera while I was taking pictures of him and Donna at work!  (You will have to let me know if I was a good student or not based on the photos in future blog posts.)

A favorite part of the photo shoot for me is all the fresh flowers.  I have always said if I could afford one luxury it would be to have fresh flowers in my house all the time.  As you can see from the above picture, they pretty much took over my entire kitchen.

Donna on set-up day preparing a label

One of the observations I have made during my time watching photo shoots is that it is all the little details which really bring a photo to life.  Just like in decorating your home, the small touches you add make such a big difference.  Take for example, the label Donna is making in the above picture.  Everything for each picture has to be prepared and planned well in advance.  Donna has such a creative gift for making sure every tiny aspect of a photo is thought out – a talent I truly admire.

Unfortunately, I do not have a definite date as to when the stories will appear in print.  Sometimes they appear quickly and other times it takes months.  I will be sure to let you know if I get a heads up as to when they will be published.  As I mentioned earlier, the pictures are incredible.  I can’t wait for you to see them!

A Country Farmhouse – the RDH April Blog of the Month

Today I am happy to be featuring A Country Farmhouse as the April Red Door Home blog of the month.

A Country Farmhouse is the story of Trina and her husband’s renovation journey of an old farmhouse in the country.

Before

After

Along the way, she shares her passions for country life, antiques, old houses and healthy living.

Her eye for the beauty in every-day objects, her uncluttered, fresh decorating style, as well as her amazing photographs, are just a few of the reasons A Country Farmhouse is a favorite of mine.

When I think of Trina and her wonderful blog, the first words which come to mind are elegant, simple sophistication.

I just love how every object in her home seems to be something she loves, uses and is not just for show.

You may recognize the Country Living magazine cover from this past winter shown below. It is a picture of Trina’s living room all dressed up for the holidays.

There is a lot more prettiness to see, so be sure to stop by A Country Farmhouse. A thank you also to Trina for allowing me to feature her amazing blog!