Fun Vintage Brass Accessories on Etsy

I put together a fun collection of some vintage brass home accessories. I used a tool that Jennifer told me about. You can find a link to that tool at the bottom of the second group of pictures. 

All the items are all available on Etsy. This first set is my group shot.

On this set, you can click on each image to take you directly to that item. 

Happy shopping!

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

I know, I need a life. What did you do this weekend?
 

Schedules & Links

School has finally started for both my kids. We are always the last to get out of school, and the last to start up again. Next summer will be really short for them because they get out at the end of June in NJ and the Florida schools start back up in August.

I like being on a schedule and I actually think my kids do better on one, too. I'm going to be thinking of summer while I fill out the endless stack of paperwork that comes home the first week of school.

I thought you might enjoy some television talk...

If you haven't seen the preview for Downton Abbey, here it is. 

The sneak peak for Revenge is also out and Emily is in a wedding dress!?!

The Scandal Season 3 promo is out. Looks like a great year for this, too.

I'm also looking forward to Bethenny's Talk Show. It's filming in NY and you can get tickets here.

Please help me out before you go, what's for dinner in your house?

I hate that question.

Have a great weekend!

 

Meg Braff Inspired Mirrors and a New Painting Tool

I love Meg Braff and it's not exactly a secret. I stalk her on Pinterest and have long looked to her for design inspiration. With the sale of our home inevitable, I have been going room by room staging and prepping so I won't need to do it under pressure. For my stairwell, I decided to use this Meg Braff color scheme for inspiration. 

We have lived with this boring stairwell for far too long.

It looks much darker than it is. There is a window opposite this wall, only you would never know it. There is also a chandelier that does not get the respect that it deserves. I am moving  that to another room soon and will put something else here.

When I got up close to the wall to hang the mirrors, I noticed scuff and dirty finger marks.

This stuff drives me nuts so soon after I had this freshly painted. I decided to try this ColorGlide tool. I put the video in if you wanted to watch, but it is so easy, you could figure it out just by looking at it.

This reminded me of polishing shoes....I know a few of you are saying, "what, you polish shoes?" It was so fun and easy that I am going to have my kids teach my husband how to use this and touch up everything before we list our home.

After the walls were freshened up, I hung the mirrors and added some Meg Braff inspired accents. You can barely see that Chinoiserie fixture. It's fantastic, and will be moving soon.

Black bamboo, blue and white porcelain, and pale blue mirrors. 

The ColorGuide people gave me two additional TouchUp Tools to give away. If you would like one, just leave a comment telling me. I will pick two people Sunday night.

I did not receive compensation for this post, I just wanted to test this product.

 

Kitchens - Definitely the Heart of My Home

I have been working on some finishing touches to my kitchen. I realize I have never given you the full tour and I have one coming soon. I love my kitchen and spend most of my time in it. The number one thing about my home that I will miss the most when we move, is definitely my kitchen. Since it is probably doubtful that I will find a home with my idea of the perfect kitchen, it looks like I will probably have one more kitchen remodel in my future. The thought of a kitchen remodel makes me really happy. No sarcasm, I love looking at kitchens. I have a few features I am in love with, and made a few mistakes I could live without. I have an island and definitely love it.

Sealy Design

Siemasko + Verbridge I also have a prep sink in the island and use it more than the big sink.

Dejeau Poage Construction I did not put in a pot filler at the range. So far, I have never wished I had.

Moroso construction

Brownhouse Design I'm looking forward to showing you my kitchen. I want it documented so I can remember it. Do you like your kitchen?

 

Labor Day Link Party

An InLinkz Link-up

Please email me with any difficulties you may be having. 

 

Circular Driveways

When I was growing up in Los Angeles, having a circular driveway meant that 'you had arrived'. We did not have a circular driveway, nor did we live 'south of the Boulevard'. ...Valley talk for those of you who are in the know. 

Land in California is very expensive, thus if you had a large enough lot to stretch your driveway from end to end on your property....times were good. I think the perception has changed for many people, and circular driveways can be quite beautiful and functional. 

Fast forward, when we were designing our landscaping plan with our landscape architect, he asked us if we wanted a circular driveway? You can see in this picture that we did not put one in. By the way, I use the term 'we' and 'us' to be kind to my husband. For the record, he never met the landscape architect nor did he have input on the design.....and you all know that he doesn't read my blog. 

I turned down the idea of a circular driveway for this home because I wanted more green landscaping. I was afraid WE would get lazy and always park the cars right in front of the home, thus never seeing the front porch or door. 

These pictures make me want one!

Harrison Design Associates - Atlanta

David Ludwig - Architect

Heartwood Custom Homes Inc.

Stonewood LLC

Witt Construction

Circular driveways seem to be popular in Florida. I guess there is probably one in my future. 

How do you feel about circular driveways?