Home Updates, Accessories & Tours

An Elegant Book Cabinet~ My Next FBMP Hunt!

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Good Morning Friends!

I hope you all had wonderful weekend! It was great having three days off. I got a lot accomplished, but my list is still long. We celebrated Father’s Day for my husband. I got him a few dress items to wear, and we had dinner at his favorite Japanese restaurant. On Monday we went to Trader Joes. I have not been there in years, and they had the most beautiful peonies! I got 4 bunches and at $10 a bunch you could not beat it! I also got some wonderful new foods to try with dinner. Yesterday evening I made a roasted chicken and some mushroom risotto from Trader Joes. Oh my goodness, it was so good! I will be going back for more. 

Today I wanted to share my next FBMP item that I am on the hunt for. 

 

photos via Facebook Marketplace

 

So, the photo above is a photo of a white cabinet that I was going to purchase about a month ago for my home office. I was going to use this beautiful piece as a bookshelf for all of my books. The gentleman told me that it was available and then texted me and told me that “another family member” had sold it. Now I don’t know what really happened, but I was in LOVE with this piece! 

 

 

Also do you all see the price?!! It was probably too good to be true. I have been on the hunt ever since! I can’t seem to find anything close. I will continue to look but if you are local and know of an item like this for sale, please let me know! My heart is still breaking. 

Has this ever happened to any of you before? Let me know in the comments below. Enjoy your week!

 

 

 

 

Indiana Decorators Showhouse ~ 2023

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And Happy Sunday!

I am heading to Columbia, South Carolina in the morning for management training. I am looking forward to networking with other paralegal supervisors in the DOJ. I attended the peony festival here in my city yesterday. I got the most gorgeous peonies this season! I hate to leave them!!! I am begging my husband to keep an eye on them while I am gone. I hope that I can enjoy them a little when I get back. I will be sure to share some photos when I return. 

I did purchase some new chairs for my front porch and a small table. It has turned into a little oasis for me. I also got a new garage cabinet organizer for my gardening supplies. I am so in love with it and so happy to finally have an area to put my items.

In boutique news, I am trying to find a new plus size spring/summer dress. It has been really hard for me to find something that is a good fit. When I find a dress I either like the top part and not the bottom, the bottom part but not the top and if I like the entire dress then it is sold out! I am trying but it is hard.

Now that the Showhouse is over I feel like my schedule has gotten a little lighter. Being about of the Guild this year has been really fun. I am hoping to become a designer liaison next year so we will see. But let me show you some of my favorite rooms from this year’s Showhouse!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

This was the outside of the house this year. It was tucked away in a quiet part of the Meridian Kessler area here in my city. This beautiful historical home called “The Failey House” was built in 1928 and was owned by the same family for over 80 years until recently. The total square footage of the home is 7,000. It is huge! 

 

 

When you walked into this home you would have seen this beautiful wallpaper from the Great Masters Collection from Historic Royal Palaces from Cole & Son. It was truly a work of art. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

The living room had a lot of things that I loved about it. It was designed by Cornerstone Interiors. The floor was herringbone wood floors and marble fireplace are original to the home as well as the scones are the walls which were from France! The furniture and accessories were Asian inspired. 

 

 

My next favorite room was the kitchen. Now the orange wall color was not for me but the accessories and furniture really pulled it together. I loved this green settee! 

 

 

I loved the wonderfully large island that was quartzite countertop and had walnut cabinets. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

And I cannot forget my dream stove which was this La Cornue range. Goodness, it’s beautiful. 

 

 

I really liked this piece that was in the kitchen. I believe the artist was Carolyn Bradley from Ohio and this was from the collection of Christel De Haan. 

 

 

Wallpaper is making a huge comeback. This bathroom was off the kitchen and near the butler’s pantry downstairs. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

The master bedroom was another favorite of mine. It felt like a spa. I actually got to docent this room during one of my shifts and the actually designer Jill Holt Dale was there with me the entire time explaining the process which was great!

 

 

 

I should have taken more photos of the master bathroom but I really just wanted to enjoy my docent shifts without the camera. I wanted to absorb everything that I could about being apart of the Guild, learning about designers, and understanding the process of these designer homes coming together. I just wanted to enjoy it and I did. It felt a little different being behind the scenes this time. If you want to read about the first showhouse that I visited and the second I have linked there for your reading pleasure. I hope you all have a wonderful week. I will return with some new posts and hopefully a new arrival for the boutique!

 

 

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My Third FBMP Purchase ~ Pale Green Settee

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Good Morning Everyone,

What a busy weekend! We had our neighborhood HOA sale this weekend. A few things have sold out from the boutique and have been removed from the site. Lauren went to prom and she ended up having a great time! On Sunday I had another showhouse duty shift. It was very crowded despite the pouring rain that we had. I am completely wiped out! This week at work will be pretty busy as well as my upcoming Saturday. It will be my last showhouse shift. We take a break off for the summer. I do plan on having lunch with the ladies in my group once a month and next year’s house has already been chosen! I can’t wait to see it. I will be sure to share some photos from this year’s home. 

As you can see by the title, I have found another treasure on Facebook Marketplace! I have been looking for a new settee for office as well as a new desk chair, and bookcases. I have a few things saved on my list but saw this beautiful settee and had to reach out!

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

When it appeared in my newsfeed, I took a big sigh! I was so beautiful, and the price was only $175! I could not believe it! I messaged her right away! As I waited for her to message me back, I began to study the color and the beautiful wood. I love the pale green color. It’s something different and unique yet elegant. When she reached back she told me that it was available and that I could come by her warehouse to pick it up. Wait a sec? You have a warehouse? There’s more!???

 

 

She told me to come to Violet Vintage Rentals and when I walked in my mouth hit the floor! So many beautiful, vintage pieces, and china! Turns out that her and her husband have a party rental company that allows you to rent their beautiful furniture for your parties. I have my eye on those white and gold shelves. 

 

 

Isn’t it stunning!? I can’t believe that I found this by buying an item from Facebook Marketplace. 

 

 

There were rows and rows of vintage teacups, china, elegant vases, vintage mirrors, and other elegant props. You can borrow it all for your parties. 

 

 

And every so often, they have garage sales! They had one this past Friday, but I could not go! I was so frustrated. These two pale green chairs are for sale on FBMP right now. 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley

 

Of course, I could not leave without my pale green vintage settee. There was a man there by the name of Richard who worked on their restoration projects. He restored this settee. He told me that it was from the 1920s! I could not believe my ears. I could not wait to get it home and put it in my office. It fits perfectly and I love looking at it from my desk. 

 

 

The scallop detail on the back is amazing! I wish I had a better way of showing it but I don’t at this time. This settee has hardly any damage to it. I adore it with each passing day. 

All I can say is FBMP is becoming my source to find furniture for my home. I usually can’t find things in the store. It’s usually too modern or has the farmhouse look which is something that I am not interested in. 

I have about 10 more items saved on my FBMP list. I will be going back to Violet Vintage Rentals for their garage sales. I don’t think that I could continue to pass those up! Let me know in the comments section below if you have purchased from FBMP! I am curious about your finds.

I also wanted to let everyone know that I only have a few more dresses in the boutique. The inventory is getting very low on some of the dresses. I only have two Daphne Flutter Dresses, and only two of the Maggie Stripe Mid Dresses. I did add a size 3x to the list in the mauve and white. It does have a sewing defect on the right sleeve and is on sale for $15. I do plan on trying to get some more inventory, but we will see. Enjoy our day! 

 

 

Adding Something New…

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Good Morning Everyone,

I hope everyone is well! I have been so busy the last few days trying to get things done for Lauren. Our college list is full of to-dos! I am also gearing up for the Showhouse. It is done and the house tours start next Saturday! I am nervous but excited at the same time. My mother-in-law’s birthday is next week, and I am still trying to get her birthday gifts. She is so hard to purchase for. There are a lot of events coming up and I am just trying to make sure that I stay on top of everything. 

I received a great response on my recent Instagram poll about adding the vintage Elizabeth Arden beauty jars! I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek below. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

Beautiful, aren’t they? What I learned is that they date back to the 1970’s -1980’s era. I am still trying to find out more information on them. I think that they are so beautiful and if you love a beautiful vanity like me then having one of these is perfect for you. They will be on the website soon! Have a great weekend! 

 

 

A Desk Update

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Good Morning,

Everything is in full bloom here! My Canadian choke cherry tree is blooming and so are my lilac bushes! My peonies are coming up as well! I’ve got the Peony festival scheduled on my calendar. I hope we can attend this year!

Lauren’s college visit went very well. There is a lot that we have to do. She got to see the campus, her potential dorm room, and meet her Art Director! It was a very productive day. I on the other hand, got a new delivery recently…

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

This was my desk in my office. It is actually my dining room table from my first apartment in 2002! I have been using it as a desk all this time. It has been great. It has provided me with the space that I needed and saved me a lot of money! Most of you know that I have been on the hunt for a new desk for some time now. I have been collecting office inspiration for a few years now and I am still trying to find items and decor pieces that fit into my style and what I need. 

 

 

I went back to the furniture store that I purchased my new dining room table and dresser from and found the desk version of my table! 

 

 

I do love it. It is called the Charthouse Office Desk and I got it on sale 2 months ago! I got a steal! It’s not on sale now so I am really happy that I got it while it was. 

 

 

It has so much table space. I love having all this room. I can actually do some paperwork in my office and write! I have never had that before. My old dining room table was not big enough if you can believe that. Also, the color goes so well with my office decor. My office is my next project area. I am trying to wait until the kids go to college. I can’t believe that I am staying that but they both will be going in the fall. My stepson is taking his furniture in his bedroom so I can finally clear out his room! Yay! I am going to move some things in there and get rid of some other items. I can’t wait to purge both of their rooms! 

Another idea that I have been thinking of is adding vintage pieces to sell from my antiquing adventures to my website. This past Sunday I found these gorgeous vintage Elizabth Arden vanity jars. 

 

They had “made exclusively for Elizabeth Arden in Japan” on most of the porcelain jars. I had to buy two!

 

 

Gorgeous! Now my question to you all is if I went back and purchased a few more of the jars and added them to my website would you purchase any? Let me know in the comments section below! 

 

Nicola Bathie ~Spring Table Styling Tips

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Good Morning,

It’s the last week of March! My goodness! I have been so busy this month and I am gearing up for a busy April as well. In the first week of April I am taking the flower arranging orientation class for Random Acts of Flowers. I am so looking forward to arranging bouquets for hospital patients! Then we have Easter! I look forward to listening to my favorite preachers and teachers discuss our Lord’s triumph and spending time with family. This year I decided to make turkey and dressing along with Jennifer L. Scott’s black forest cake. I will share how that all goes. 

We also have our daughter’s freshman day at her soon to be college, and the Guild’s Decorator’s Showhouse starts! Lots of things going on! I also hope that the weather will be a little better. I am so looking forward to seeing the peonies this year. I know everyone is looking forward to spring. I was recently looking at my Victoria magazine and saw an article about Nicole Bathie’s beautiful tablescapes. 

 

Photography via Nicola Bathie McLaughlin

 

In the March/April issue she gives her tips on how to decorate with vintage pieces and antiques. Nicola mentions to “not be afraid to layer.” I am learning about and experimenting with this technique. It truly is all about what you want. I know things that I put on the table have been conversation starters. 

 

 

She also mentions that “petite bud vases add intrigue in between other accessories; they also make the perfect take-away treasures for guests.” I love that idea! Using a single bud vase as a gift? It’s simple, elegant, and I guarantee you the guests will love it. I know I would. If you want to see the rest of Nicola’s ideas just read the rest of the article here. 

I really love Nicola’s style and I get a lot of inspiration from it. I hope this article brightens your day. It did for me! Have a great Monday!

 

 

FrenChic ~ New Antique Store!

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Good Morning Everyone,

Happy Valentine’s Day! I know it is tomorrow but I just wanted to say it early. Yesterday Mr. Shockley and I went to a new restaurant. It was called Monterey Cuisine. I ordered the roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, and honey roasted brussel sprouts. My husband got the filet, with house purple mashed potatoes, and broccoli. It was so delicious! We are definitely looking forward to going again. 

If you read my blog post on Friday, then you know that I took the day off went and watched Funny Face at a vintage theater and visited a new antique store. It was such a wonderful day. I went and visited two antique stores. I went to FrenChic first and it was a really cute store. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Walking into the store I spotted this beautiful bird cage and lots of beautiful porcelain surrounding it. 

 

 

It spent a lot of time on the first floor looking at all of the art, light fixtures, vintage rugs and jewelry. 

 

 

 

I walked around the corner and saw these huge tassels. I loved the colors! The black and gold looked so sophisticated. I knew that I had to find a place for it in home. 

 

 

photo credits: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I then turned around another corner and saw this gorgeous tablecloth! It was only $20! I had to have it!

 

You can see my gold tassels in the distance hanging on the curtain rod. 

 

I purchased the tablecloth and tassels. Once I left there I went and visited Vintage Whimsy . I didn’t see anything there, so I left and headed to the vintage movie theater. I grabbed a small popcorn (no butter) and a small lemonade and went and got a seat. There only about 30 of us in the room and it was wonderful! I sung along and absorbed all of the vintage fashion and decor in the movie. I enjoy Funny Face. It reminds me of the movie called, “The Devil Wears Prada” but I love this so much more! I am thinking about buying it on dvd. I found it on Amazon recently. 

I don’t mind spending days by myself. Never be afraid to explore your city. Find all of the elegant things that you can! Have a great Monday!