m o d e r n   c o t t a g e   s t a l k s   t h e   m l s

Happy Friday friends.

A new home popped up on the MLS just today and I really love it. 

I adore the four square shape {I am pretty sure this is what this architecture is-correct me if I am wrong} and how it looks unpretentious but pretty, like I could just move right into this home tomorrow and make it my own.

Clean and pretty entry.

Love the wingback chair, now I want one. But I am really taken with  the modern shaped arms {yet slip-covered} of the couch and simple vintage lighting. I would like a square shaped  {to match the angles of the couch} and larger coffee table {instead of the round shape } but that is me being picky.

{I have a white bench in my shop right now if you like this one!}

Do you notice the cool chalkboard in the kitchen?

Dang, this bedroom looks comfy. I love that it looks pretty but "undecorated" almost like it is a rental cottage by the beach.

{Maybe I have a rental beach cottage on my mind-that would be nice}

d a r n   c o m p u t e r

I had planned on a new post on the shop but  I forgot my nice camera at home so all of the new shop photos were taken with my iphone {just warning you ahead of time about picture quality} and then as I was trying to photo edit my computer kept wigging out and shutting off. 

Want to see some {not so great} pictures of what I have been doing in the shop this week?

We moved the checkout to the front of the store {where my furniture used to be} and I moved my space to the front left hand corner of the shop. I have less space but that is fine with me. I am having a hard time keeping up with getting new furniture in the door to replace what I sell every week. This is a good problem to have but I feel better with a smaller area.

I plan on taking my laptop to the shop tomorrow while we are open, so I will post some new pictures of the

other girls spaces.

I have to get off this darn computer before it shuts off again.

XOXO  -Alison

Oh, and have a super Thursday!

v i c t o r i a n    f a r m h o u s e s

I don't know that much about the history of Victorian Farmhouses, other than I live in one. Our home was built in 1910 and I have been working over the last few years to fix up the inside of the house but the outside is looking tired.

We are probably going to paint the house and fence this summer, so today I was getting some inspiration from Pinterest. 

I thought I would share some of my favorites.

{also, I know most of them aren't technically victorian farmhouses but they are still beautiful}

link here

link here

link here

link here

link here

oooh, this one is my favorite.

{yes this is colonial, but hello front door!}

Want to see my house?

{old picture, I don't still have pumpkins on my front porch}

Come back tomorrow. I went "junking" with Crystal and Merri from the shop today {random, spur of the moment shop girls field trip}

Tomorrow I will show you what we bought, but for now I will show you how excited I was to be hunting for treasures.

{yes, that is me- in my painting clothes. And I was a cheerleader back in the day, can you tell?}

 a n o t h e r   m  a k e o v e r 

a n d 

m y   l o v e   f o r   b e n j a m i n   m o o r e

What a week! I haven't crossed everything off my list to be painted, but I did come close.

My latest piece might be one of my all time favorites. I want to keep this one sooo badly but I would have to redecorate my entire living and dining room to keep it, so off it goes to the store.

The bones of this dresser are fantastic. The serpentine shape is probably an all time favorite of mine, it is so sassy. I thought this gal was begging to be dressed up in a springtime color.

{before- ugly I know!!!}

I went right over the brown base color {I did do a little sanding first} with a paint by Benjamin Moore in Aura. Oh, how I love this paint. The quart was very very spendy but it went on like butter in two coats and it is so strong I don't need to seal it with a poly or wax. 

I did a little distressing and added my favorite knobs. 

Oh I just love this gal. Darn it! I want to keep her.

linked up

http://missmustardseed.com/2012/04/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-a-link-party-8/

s p r i n g    g r e e n   m a k e o v e r

I have a quick makeover for you-sorry I forgot the before picture!

The original color was white, and I decided to paint the green right over top of the white .

{I wanted the white to show through when I distressed}

I painted three coats of the green, distressed, glazed with dark walnut stain, and sealed with a wax.

Then I added my signature door knobs.

I love the color, so pretty and springy {is springy even a word?}

I still have to paint the inside of the drawers. If I get that done tomorrow, then this will be in the shop by Friday!

4   w a y s   t o   u s e   a   v i n t a g e    g l a s s    l i g h t    s h a d e

I always come across really cool vintage glass light shades. They are usually a buck or two and last week up I bought a few to take to the store and put candles in.

I thought, there have to be more uses for these glass shades. 

 It makes a beautiful planter. I put rocks on the very bottom for drainage.

How about a candle holder?

 Maybe add water and float flowers?

And it makes  a pretty fruit bowl

{you mush wash, wash, wash first!}

So next time you are out thrifting, take a look and see if they have any of these cuties. I have seen hundreds of styles.

Next time I am down at the store I will take a picture of the nautical one I have on the front counter.

So far this week is productive. Boy, I hope it stays that way. It feels good to get things done.

 m c c    s t a l k s    t h e    m l s 

{and a bonus}

Ready for a fabulous house tour? This is my favorite by far that I have done in 2012.

listing

It just feels so crisp, new and clean. Right now my 1910 home feels a bit worn and tired.

Darling right? I adore this house, I want to move in.

This week I have a huge painting week ahead of me. And because I work at the store on Fridays, everything needs to be done by Thursday night.
I have to paint-
*a buffet
*three dressers {one custom}
* four end tables
and a bunch of other things like shelves, frames and I need to sew some pillows.

I am so glad I am feeling inspired again but I might have given myself too big of a "to do" list.

I am totally into black and white this week. I am loving my vintage suitcases and new trunk stacked as a side table. They will make their way to the store by next weekend but I am going to enjoy them in my home for the week.

Let's see how much I can get done this week.
Ready, set, paint!

f e e l i n g    i n s p i r e d

Do you ever feel really inspired and full of energy but have no time to get your projects even started?

This is exactly how I felt this week. As you know I am coming off several weeks of being sick with pneumonia and I am finally starting to feel better but I really didn't have time to paint much of anything for the store this week {or projects for my home}.

I am almost finished with my new coffee table, it just needs a final coat of wax.

 I haven't decided if the vintage suit cases are going to stay at home with me or go to the store.

I did manage to bring in a couple new items to the store.

-new white sofa table

-new garden finial

-vintage window 

There is my black shelf from my family room! It finally made it's way off my front porch and into the shop.

 Today I hung a map that I have had for a while and I never got around to hanging it in the store.

I plan on bringing this sweet side table and vintage stool to the store with me tomorrow. I haven't decided if I am going to paint the table yet. I will bring it with me unpainted tomorrow and see if it sells.

I am running out of room to store my furniture projects. I got the black shelf down to the store but now I have this buffet sitting on my porch!

I plan on painting it a soft yellow, with a dark wax, and black and white knobs.

Stay tuned for the after!

It feels good to be inspired. Now hopefully I can complete some projects. Get them off my porch and into the shop!

Ps-Thanks for sticking by me and coming back to the blog while I have been sick and a bit MIA :)