Linda {Calling it Home} 2/3/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 2/3/12

A Funny Friday

Have you seen this yet? It's kinda viral. You will see it on the Super Bowl. It cracks me up!

Just wanted to get something up to share.

Linda {Calling it Home} 2/2/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 2/2/12

Tangerine........ Roses!

If you are a gardener, right about now, you are probably getting inundated with mail order plant catalogs. I am, and I love it. I get great ideas from those images and when it is winter, I am also reminded that spring will be here soon. I could use a few new rose....ground-cover, bushes, or topiary...I don't care. Well, this got me to thinking, will Tangerine Tango (you know what that is) work its' way into our gardens?

Here are some lovely tangerine roses

Source

For a very long time, I have had a garden "policy" of "no reds, no yellows". I prefer the cool shades...purples, blues and whites. My ultimate dream is to have an all white garden, but I already know that I don't have that discipline for that. Over the last few years, I have broken down and let yellow into my garden. I am still holding strong on "no red". It is just too commanding for me.......but what about tangerine? Will you try tangerine in your home or garden?

Linda {Calling it Home} 2/1/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 2/1/12

One Room Challenge (week 3)

Hi Everyone, thank you for coming back! This is week 3 in the One Room Challenge. In case you are new here, you can start the challenge series here. This week, I think I made a fair amount of progress with my room. I managed to finish my side chairs. If you have not seen them, you can check them out here. This is how you last saw my dining room

I also finished the planks on the ceiling and I LOVE it!! Unfortunately, if you follow the #1RoomChallenge on Twitter, you know I fought hard to get the semi-gloss ceiling finish looking good. I love the way it looks here. However, working overhead on a ceiling when you are only 5'3" (on a good day) is a challenge. After the entire weekend of up and down on the ladder, I broke down and called a painter. He is here today putting the finishing coat on it. On the bright side, since I did ALL the prep work and one coat, it isn't costing very much (hey, a tip!).

Moving on, this corner (before)

Now looks like this

And this pine piece (before)

Has been relocated to another room, and replaced with this piece that I had

It is cream and could use a fresh coat of paint. Do I paint it cream again, or white?

The sconces also got a fresh coat of paint. From this

To this

What color shades do you think I should do?

Remember when I asked you what color I should paint my lanterns? Well, here is a peak into the direction I think I am going

The 6 weeks are flying by and I am not sure how it is going to end. I can't wait to come back and find out. Thanks for checking in with my room, now be sure to make the rounds to the other rooms and see how they are doing. For week 4, go here

Saved By Suzy   Nicole Scott Designs
Dutch.British.Love    Kim Macumber Interiors
Trapped in North Jersey Rue de Emily
The Pink Pagoda   refreshed designs
Nana Moon Shop    Taylor Morgan
insideways House Four
Living Savvy   (A Lifestyle Thing)

Linda {Calling it Home} 1/31/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 1/31/12

A Few Great Gals!

Like many of you, I often wonder what to write about. Will you find it interesting, inspiring, or entertaining? Will you come back tomorrow? My counter tells me you came...but does "no comment" mean no interest? I know we have all felt this. I am so lucky to have an amazing group of ladies in the One Room Challenge. I know I can count on several visits from them, and that is enough.

Now I would like to tell you about a few gals who are not in the challenge. These bloggers don't need to check in with my blog on a consistent basis. They don't need to come back at all...BUT THEY DO. They come here almost every day. They always leave a comment. They are fun, bright and have super terrific blogs! I could go on and on, instead...I would like you to meet my newer bloggie friends (in no particular order).

First up, Mimi from First Come Flowers.

Mimi has lovely tips and ideas on how to add flowers to your everyday life.

Next up, Kerry at Design du Monde. Kerry is an interior designer who is not afraid of a little DIY. She also designs fabric. I love this one of hers

Kerry has a real practical way about her with an eye for high-end.

Finally, there is Tiffany from Worthwhile Domicile. Tiffany and her husband are renovating their home. She has amazing taste, and is quite witty. Just look at the tile she chose for her powder room.

My favorite part of her blog, is that she really wants to know what you think....and I tell her!

Thank you, Ladies, your kind comments make my day! If you are not familiar with these blogs, I encourage you to stop by and check them out. I promise that you will have a warm welcome from them. Who are your most loyal viewers? Have you thanked them?

Linda {Calling it Home} 1/30/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 1/30/12

Dining Chairs, a tip...and some Thank You's!

Before I tell all of you about my dining chair make over, I want to give a huge thank you to Serenity Now and Craptastic for featuring my china hutch. It made my weekend!

Now, onto my dining chairs for the One Room Challenge. I love vintage chairs, like most of you (I read all of your profiles). However, vintage sets usually only have 4 side chairs and 2 head chairs. Today, most of us want 6 side chairs and 2 head chairs. This is the best tip I have ever received.....vintage head chairs are the SAME SIZE as their matching side chairs....only they have arms. What does that mean? If you remove the arms, and patch the holes, you will have 6 side chairs! Hello Craigslist.

Disclaimer, pictures were taken long before I blogged.
Potential side chairs

This is what the set looked like when I bought it from a neighbor.

4 side chairs, 2 head chairs

For tips on upholstery, you can go here. I removed the dated caning and painted them a gloss white. I also made semi home-made piping for them.

The various stages of the painting process. I cut a 1/4" thick piece of wood for the center and upholstered both sides. Now, they look like this

6 side chairs. In the beginning of the One Room Challenge, I showed you the head chairs that need to be reupholstered. Now, aren't vintage dining sets get a whole lot more appealing?

***Linking to***

Project Queen
A Bowl Full of Lemons
My Uncommon Slice
Kammy's Korner
Debbiedoo's
DIY Home Sweet Home
Funky Junk
Serenity Now
2805
Chic on a Shoestring
Miss Mustard Seed
Common Ground
French Country Cottage
My Romantic Home
Saved by Suzy

Linda {Calling it Home} 1/29/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 1/29/12

Take a picture of your screen!!!

Last Wednesday, ABC has decided, yet again....to show a rerun of my favorite show Revenge. I am sure it is part of a plot to hit it hard during February (sweeps), and get huge ratings. What ABC doesn't know, is that my other favorite "Hampton's" show just started....Royal Pains!

You know where I was headed (with all my extra time, thanks ABC) ...Hooked on Houses. I wanted to find some great images from previous episodes for some inspiring ideas. To my shock...Julia (Hooked on Houses) did not have Royal Pains! For years, I have found EVERYTHING I have ever searched for on her site. I sent her an e-mail and she let me know how she does the "magic". Now, many of you may already have figured this out....this post is not for you. For everyone else.....Julia watches a show on her computer and takes a picture of the screen. Here is how you do that.

So easy, right! I went to an older episode of Royal Pains, and took this shot

Here is the disclaimer....although I found this a cool bit of information to know....I won't be doing this very often. Julia also told me that it takes a huge amount of time to capture images from television shows. That was an understatement!! So, for me...my plan is to continue to go to Hooked on Houses. I'll let Julia do all the work. I might dabble with this again, when I have huge amounts of spare time. Is this something you would ever try?