Home Updates, Accessories & Tours

My Favorite Spring Candles

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I know it is really early but the stores have been releasing things so early that it is hard not to purchase your favorite items when they are available.

I stopped in White Barn Candle during their semi-annual sale and saw that some of my favorite spring scents were available.

My candles at home



So I figured why not….. I purchased White Gardenia, Lily of the Valley, and Fresh Cut Lilacs (my favorite). I hope that they will come out with some hand creams and body lotions in these lines. That would be great! I still miss my favorite scents from my college years. I loved sheer freesia and night blooming jasmine. 
Go and check them out soon. They are quite wonderful.

(photo via Mrs. Shockley)

Inspiration for a Dining Room Table

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I mentioned that I am on the lookout for dining room inspiration. We have had our current dining room table for about 7 years. There is nothing wrong with it, it’s just that the table and chairs are just to high.

Honestly, it has a bar room table feel and I loathe it! The only reason why I purchased it in 2010 was because it was within our budget, it had six chairs and it was practically indestructible. Now that I am getting older I wanted something a little more sophisticated and something that will last. I want something timeless.

So my husband and I went to Restoration Hardware to get ideas and samples for the kind of table we want.


Of course, I had to take a picture of the chandeliers. They are just mesmerizing. 

This is an actual photo that I took inside the store. This is what we want. We both love the color and shape. 

It was a great visit and we really enjoyed it! We got a table sample of what we wanted and some paint colors. I love shopping for furniture and I just love home decor. Really, I just love being a woman. If you want to read my blog post about my first visit to Restoration Hardware see here.


(photos via Mrs. Shockley )

Furniture Shopping for my Home ~ Round 2

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Last weekend I decided to go and look at some furniture. The last time I did this was in 2014 see here to read about it. As I look back on that blog post I can see that I have not wavered in my choices of furniture nor colors and honestly we have purchased most of those items! I was a bit tickled when I realized that.

I wanted to take a look at the Joanna Gaines Collection at Value City. I think most of us have heard of this lovely duo. She has a wonderful blog called At Home: A Blog by Joanna Gaines. I just recently found it and will be reading it more often. I have a subscription to her new magazine and have written a blog post about her see here.

I was really excited to see her collection and took photos of my fav pieces. If you have an opportunity to see her collection in person I would encourage you to go and take a peek.

This beauty was upfront when you walked in. 

I can’t get enough of this Carpe Diem Accent Chairs. 
I had my husband sit in one and he thought it was really comfortable! Yeah!!!
Now this I also LOVED. It is called the Dapper Sofa- Emerald. I love how rich the color is and the velvet. Honestly it’s different and here in Indiana everyone seems to have the same furniture in their homes. It’s really sad. It’s like we all visit each other’s homes and then we can’t figure out what we want so we just go and copy our friend’s or families homes. Sick of it!!!
I am not doing it! I will only buy what I love and what sings to me.  
Another Carpe Diem chair…..
Now this is not apart of her collection but I do love it. 
It is called the Venus Serving Cart- Rose. 
I thought this was fabulous! This is called the Final Estate Canvas Print.
Different and lovely….
This was another great sofa. Not from her collection again but it was a great color. 
I don’t like the pillows but it’s wonderful. It is called the Candice Sofa- Gray. 




And finally we saw this wonderful sectional from the Joanna Gaines Collection. 
It is the Chisel Sectional. It is very stunning!!!
So stunning that…..
We purchased it!!!! We do love it and we are enjoying it. I have been wanting a gray sectional for 2 years now and the wait was worth it. I am so glad to be getting rid of the brown furniture that we have had for years. I have also been incorporating blue and white into the family room and kitchen. 
It’s different and chic..
I am really enjoying the changes in my home and will be doing some more changes down the road. I am hoping to get a new dining room table soon. Fingers crossed!

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Small Details Around the Home ~ Part 3

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Each year I try to share little details of my home life. These are just small photos of items around my home and how we live…..

My poinsettia in my sitting room

My Christmas plates

My table for Thanksgiving
Our kitchen. I love my chandelier!

My Ralph Lauren ginger jar that I found a T.J. Maxx.
Love….
My Christmas cactus in my office. It’s blooming!!!

Another view in my office. Yes, I have poinsettias every where. 



I hope you enjoyed the small details of my life. If you wish to see the other posts about this see here and here.
You can also read this post from last year, see here.

(photos via Mrs. Shockley)

Europe in New Orleans ~ Home Tour

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Ms. Tara Shaw has an absolute dream home and I love how she incorporated her antiques into her everyday life. Take a look at this glorious home tour…

photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Tara with her whippet Brother Luca, named after her favorite city in Italy.
photo credit Max Kim-Bee
Louis XVI Console
Antique French paneling was refinished in creamy tones.
photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
18th Century Swedish bench and 19th Century Italian chandelier.
Gustavian daybed in a Holly Hunt mohair; 18th-century Italian armchairs
photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Empire bed; curtains in a David Sutherland fabric
Bed and mirror, Tara Shaw; 18th-century Swedish bench in a Kravet velvet.
photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Antique Swedish cane chairs in Donghia linen slipcovers; oval mirror
Photo credit Max Kim-Bee 
Flagstone pool graceful curves the terrace.

Just stunning!




I sure hope you enjoyed this home tour. I know I did…..
To read the original article see here.
(photos via Veranda.com; text via Julia Reed)

Unique Blue

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Blue and white dinnerware add such a cheerful note to your home. I love my blue and white plates. They look so smart and striking. That is the way I felt when I saw this collection by Burleigh called Blue Calico. 



photo credit Victoria Magazine 

 
 
So delicate isn’t it?
 
 
 
 

photo credit Victoria Magazine 
 
It’s such a hearty pattern.
 
 
 
 

photo credit Victoria Magazine 
 

“Although producing Blue Calico is a time-consuming process, it is truly a labor of love. Because each piece is made by hand and bears the distinctive touch of an individual decorator, collectors know they are getting one-of-a-kind treasures. At a time when most dishes are mass-produced by machines, it is especially poignant to collect a piece that exemplifies the skills of dedicated craftspeople using a process repeated through many generations.”

 
text from the Victora Magazine 

 
 

 

This is not Blue Calico but this vase sure did remind me of the pattern. This is my blue and white vase that I picked up at Von Maur earlier this year.

 

It is pretty large and I love the colors. I had to have it shipped from another store and it took us weeks to find it. I am so glad we did. I believe this could be a beautiful heirloom someday.

 
   

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful collection and if you want to view the original article see here.

Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(photos via Victoria. com and Mrs. Shockley)
 
 
 
 
 

Cottage Love…

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My lunch break is a great time for me to sit down enjoy my meal and read. I was reading a spring issue of Country Living magazine and saw the best cottage ever!!!

This home is 125 years old and is only 970 square feet but boy is it lovely…..




 
photo credit Roger Davies  

 
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies
 
I love the gilded mirrors and antique hutch and desk.
 
 
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies
 
What a great way to use space. I love the open cabinets and farmhouse sink.
 
 
 
 
photo credit Roger Davies 
 
I love the fact that she added a chandelier, oil painting, and floor-length draperies to the kitchen.  So exquisite! Oh and the lamp on the counter in the corner and fresh herbs too! J’ dore!
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies 
 
They replaced the bathroom door with a toile curtain.
Very creative….
 
 
 
 
 
 

photo credit Roger Davies 
 
Can you believe she paid only $10 for her chandelier? She found it at a garage sale! I love the artwork in her room. It is inspiring…
 
 
 
 
 
 
photo credit Roger Davies 
 

Blue and white outside? Yes!

Plates on the wall outside? Double yes!

 

Oh, I hate that this tour ended but it was quite enjoyable.

If you wish to see the original article view it here.

 

 

 

 

So beautiful….
 
 
 
 
 
 
(photos via Country Living.com)