~Breakfast Room Light~

 

The farmhouse table and benches are finished and will be ready for pick up, Monday.  We are excited to see how they look at the condo.

 

While we were awaiting the table and another piece of furniture, we made a small change in the breakfast room, here at home.

I have looked, awhile, for a bar type light fixture, for above the big table, in the breakfast room.  I found several, but they were too heavy and ornate for the look I wanted.

Last Wednesday, I was browsing JC Penney Wednesday Deals, when I found exactly what I had in mind.

Before

AFTER

The regular cost was around $150.00.  The price was marked down to $60.00.  There was a code for reduced shipping costs.  I ordered the light Wednesday. It arrived Friday afternoon.

I recommend looking at JCP Clearance and Wednesday Deals.  I’ve found several bargains.

I’m linking to Rhoda’s Thrifty Treasures.

If all goes according to plan, I will post photos of the new table and benches, Tuesday or Wednesday.

~The Fireplace Project~

 

Faux fireplace, that is…..

 

 

Hearth Room Fireplace

The hearth room fireplace is gas, as is the stone fireplace in J’s “lodge”, in the lower level of our home.  The back porch fireplace is wood burning.

I have thought about using a mantel to create a faux fireplace, but never ventured any farther than thinking about it, until recently. 

I try to remember to check JC Penney Wednesday Deals.  One particular Wednesday, a few weeks ago, while looking at the Wednesday Deals, I clicked on clearance and found a fireplace surround, marked $179.99 from $499.99, with free shipping.  I didn’t see how I could pass up an offer like that.  I ordered it before I could talk myself out of it.  It arrived within two days.

With the garage sale and a few other little interruptions, the faux fireplace project was delayed until this past weekend.

 Faux fireplace elements include the surround, paintable wallpaper from Lowe’s, and leftover ceramic tile, from the master bathroom.

The surround is not attached permanently, but rather hangs by keyhole mounts on two anchors.  The wallpaper can be easily removed.  Instead of  installing the tiles, they sit on a strip of non slip drawer liner, to keep them stable and protect the hardwood floor.  The surround can be taken apart, should we want to use it in another home.

We began the project, early Saturday morning, by hanging a tin ceiling look paintable wallpaper.

It has been said I am a “bubble off plumb”, in more ways than one.  I hope you keep that in mind and not examine the seams too closely.

As you can see, the Pampered Chef pastry roller is a handy tool for pressing wallpaper seams.  I have also used this little gadget when pressing peel and stick tile.  It is great for rolling pastry, too.

The wallpaper will, hopefully, give the appearance of old tile.  I set the surround legs up to sort of test the idea.  The “fireplace” sits next to the master bedroom door to the hallway.

The idea is to give the appearance of a fireplace that has been plastered over; often seen in older homes.

Sunday afternoon, we finished the install. We still need to cut trim to fit on either side.  I’m also looking for a piece of tile or trim to put on either side of the tiles, to finish out the look. 

Because it is close to completion, I decided to feature the “new fireplace” in this post.

The screen is one we used on the back porch. It’s a tad crooked, but will do until we find something else or add an electric fireplace.

I found a few things, around the house, for a vignette.  I am sure the mantel will be changed often.

 

The print is from a water color of Haldimand Bay, Mackinac Island, Michigan.

This fireplace is at our 2nd home, a condo at Lake of the Ozarks.  The TV niche was painted Sherwin Williams Mink to de-emphasize the opening.  A lake neighbor made the mantel.  We rarely use this fireplace, which is gas.

 Have a wonderful week. 

We are on our way to the lake, for a few days, with a couple of g’kiddos.

Linking to Marty’s Table Top Tuesday.

Because I got such a bargain, with the mantel, I am adding this project to Rhoda’s Thrifty Treasures.

 

~Rockin’ Chairs, Lanterns & Such~

Thrifty Treasures

 

It is Saturday afternoon; our 2 day subdivision garage sale wound down about an hour ago.  We pronounced ours a huge success. 

Our leftovers were donated to the local high school show choir, for their garage sale in August. Others will donate theirs to a church and/or local charity resale shops.

I found a few thrifty treasures, around the neighborhood, I think you will like.

 

 

I saw this wicker rocking chair, a few days before the sale, at a home on the next street over.  We went by Thursday evening and asked if it was on the sale.  There was a little bit of pre-selling happening, that evening.

We bought the rocker for $20.  It is so comfortable.  It will get fresh paint and a new cushion, before we take it to the lake.

 

A set of six snack trays with cups and a serving piece, in pottery, found at one of our neighbors, the first day of the sale, $5.

 

Another neighbor sold new light fixtures, deeply discounted, from a local lighting store closing. 

We are going to try this lantern style hanging light on the back porch. Although it is an interior light, we believe it will be okay on the porch, because it is enclosed on three sides and has a roof.  This one was $50.

 

I purchased the fixture, above, for over the table and chairs at the lake.  I’ve looked for a bargain in this style light for awhile.  The cost was $8.  The neighbor, selling the lights, bought two of our large rugs.  In other words, we traded even, for both lights.

 

Free! 

Eldest daughter brought this ottoman up for the sale. I grabbed it for the lake…no charge. 

 

We brought J’s grandparents’ chairs up from his “lodge”, for comfy seating at the sale. 

Our patio fan was used to keep us cool, during Thursday, Friday and Saturday, in the garage.  It was nice having those rockers and ample glasses of iced tea, too.

Among the items, we sold, were three stand fans.  They were hot items, during these warm June days.

I’m linking to Rhoda’s Thrifty Treasures.

We are off on a little road trip.  I don’t know if we have internet, at the lake, at this time.  I guess we will find out when we get there.  If we do, I’ll be checking in from there.  If not, I may have to take a little trip to the bread company, for WiFi access.

Answers

Someone asked about the lens I used for this photo, in the Blue White Yellow post.

Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.4.

I’m shopping for a new macro lens and have in mind what I want.

We have been so busy since Wednesday, I haven’t had time to check in at the Back Porch or other blogs. I’ll be back around soon, though.

Hope your weekend is going well and your week ahead is wonderful.

~Back Porch Spring-Summer 2010~

 

Back Porch Dresser Before

I shopped for inexpensive furniture pieces, when we purchased the condo, seven years ago.  I was able to find accessories and furniture, in a sort of British Colonial style, to furnish and accessorize our room, without spending much.  One of the pieces was this dresser, found at Big Lots.  A small matching bedside chest was purchased at the same time.  The cost, for both pieces, was just at $100.00. I’m still considering whether to use the smaller chest on the back porch.

I changed the look, of the condo bedroom, to a lighter more coastal feel.  We moved the dresser to the deck, where it sat all last Summer, Fall and Winter. It looked great on the deck, but turned into a cluttered catchall for minnow buckets, nets and other fishing gear.

 

I make small changes to our back porch, each season.  When I was thinking about what direction I would take the porch, this Spring, I remembered the dresser.  I thought my idea over and made the decision to bring the dresser home and paint it white.  I found the colorful knobs at Hobby Lobby, 50% off and purchased eight, for the dresser, at a total of $12.  I picked up a gallon of white paint, at Lowe’s, in a satin finish. I hope this finish will make it a little easier to clean the dresser of dust and pollen.

The cushions for the chair and settee are from Lowe’s. The pillows were found at Home Goods.

There will be more photos of the back porch, throughout the Spring/Summer seasons.  We tend to have our meals on the back porch, warm weather temperatures permitting.

 

 

A little back porch reading…

I’m adding this post to Today’s Thrifty Treasures, at Rhoda’s Southern Hospitality.

The dresser was something I already owned, for several years.  I used inexpensive paint and 50% off knobs from Hobby Lobby, for a thrifty makeover.

The shell lamp is from Marshall’s, Osage Beach, the butterfly was purchased at Screen Porch, Asheville North Carolina, a few years ago. It is made from salvaged metal and wood.  The frame holds a photo of back porch flowers in years past.

~A Little French Countryside~

This home, in Missouri, looks like it might be located somewhere in the French countryside. 

Because this post mentions French Countryside and we visit an old French town, in Missouri, I’ve added the photo.

Wickliffe Kentucky

We began our trip home, from Tennessee, early Friday morning.  I charted a course through Franklin, to West 96 and south on 100, to Highway 40, west of Nashville. 

I am the navigator. Anytime I plan a trip away from cities and interstate highways, J is a very happy camper.

We turned north on 641, just east of Jackson Tennessee and drove to Hazel Kentucky, where we saw antiques, before continuing on to Paducah.

Because the Cardinals were in town, Friday, and the traffic might be a tad heavy in St Louis, we decided to spend the night in Paducah, Kentucky, where we hatched a plan to cross the Mississippi River, somewhere south of St Louis.

This plan is the reason why you don’t see a photo of the Arch, upon our return home.

Early Saturday, we crossed the Mississippi, near Wickliffe Kentucky. 

Although we enjoy our road trips, it’s always good to come home to Missouri.

Ste. Genevieve Missouri

We stopped at Ste. Genevieve, an historic French Colonial town, about an hour south of St Louis, on Highway 55.

The Bolduc House Museum

The Bolduc House was the first authentically restored historic structure in Ste. Genevieve - an outstanding example of French colonial architecture. Built in 1770 out near the river on the Le Grand Champ field by Louis Bolduc, a Canadian lead miner, merchant and planter. The house is of vertical log construction but is a post on solle or foundation. The house features a distinctive stockade fence, galleries and hip roof. After the great flood of 1783 the house was taken apart, and reassembled in its present location in 1784. The house, located at 123 S. Main, is open to the public April thru October and is owned by the Missouri Society of the Colonial Dames of America.

Information from Ste. Genevieve Website

 

Ste. Genevieve County Court House

Fountain in the garden of a Ste. Genevieve Restaurant

Church of Ste. Genevieve steeple, seen through the branches of a Kwanzan Cherry tree, across from the court house.

As we drove north, toward home, we talked about stopping at Kimmswick, Missouri and The Blue Owl, a wonderful and very popular restaurant, just a short drive north of Ste. Genevieve.  We decided if the wait was 20 minutes or longer, we would buy a pie to take home and continue our trip, rather than wait.  Just as we thought, there was a wait.  Those of you who know The Blue Owl will not be surprised. Believe me, had we not been on the road from vacation, we would have waited.  It is absolutely worth it.  We recommend The Blue Owl.

J chose a pecan pie with chocolate chips, a delicious treat with a glass of iced tea, when we arrived home, 8 hours after we embarked on the last leg of our road trip.

The trip home, from Paducah, is usually a 3 or 4 hour drive.  We  enjoy the journey, which means, for us, back roads and meandering.

While in Ste. Genevieve, I found a couple of pieces to add to my Mikasa French Countryside, at an antique shop; an 18 inch oval platter and a covered vegetable bowl.  I’m linking to Rhoda’s Thrifty Treasures, because I could not believe my eyes when I saw the prices.

Mikasa French Countryside 18 inch platter and covered casserole/vegetable. A little more than yard sale cost, but extremely bargain priced Thrifty Treasures.

  

This post is rather lengthy with a few extra links.  I hope you will click them, because they are worth the visit.

In the meantime, stop by Rhoda’s

and Mary’s Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

I’ll return, later this week, with more Franklin, Tennessee homes.