Your Toddlers Magical Kingdom

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Susan

” There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child...There are SEVEN MILLION.” ~ Walt Streightiff

Suddenly, before you barely have had time to blink, your precious little babies grow up over night and became part of the new “toddler era.” How did it happen so quickly? As a tender and adoring baby, they were lovingly cuddle-some, docile, full of wonder and awe as well as breathtaking. Your heart was filled with such felicity with each stage of their growth…Bath time was something you really looked forward to as they looked so cute in your kitchen sink! 🙂 Now, (at times,) they can be on the fussy side, cranky, volatile and a bit selfish. Hmm… Could it be that they are entering the new stage in life called, ” the exploring and finding out WHO they really are phase?” I believe they are seeking to find their self-dependence, desiring to have their own individualism, thus a few changes in their precious personalities, would naturally be occurring! This humorous quote made me laugh… “Having a two year old is like having a blender that you don’t have the top for.” ~ Jerry Senfield

My love for children began while I was a senior in High school. It was not a ‘chance happening’ that our family moved to a charming, ‘much easier to take care of,’ Town-home in Mission Viejo, CA., (A huge change for our large family of 7, leaving our Brobdingnagian 6 bedroom home with a galvanizing swimming pool and pristine yard behind.) For myself, the gift of that difficult move was what awaited me every morning in our cozily shared courtyard with our new neighbors. Without failure, each summer morning, a beautiful 18 month old little angel appeared outside our double pained sliding doors, just staring at our home and smiling. I went outside to meet her one day, and we became the best of friends instantaneously. (All she wanted was a new friend to ‘hang out’ with.) 🙂 Her name was Samantha and she blessed my life with pure joy. We were inseparable for years…who would have ever thought you could become best friends with an 18 month old? It was in meeting and falling in love with Samantha’s innocent spirit and loving heart that caused me to know my ‘calling’ was to work with the little ones, so I began studying Early Childhood Development in College. In my mind, when I travel back to that era of reverie, splendor and smiles galore, it brings many a wondrous and nostalgic feeling. After I got married, I became a part time nanny, (as I was also busy writing.) I simply adored my season with the undeniably charming , exceedingly dauntless, and ‘energized-bunny, fraternal twin boys, Warren and Paul,’ (who unbeknownst to them,) forced me to work out at the gym to be able to keep up with them. (That and 5 cups of strong coffee a day.) 🙂 They charmed me into giving them stroller rides up and down the hills of southern CA.. (Have you ever pushed two little boys, in a ‘twin, double stroller’ up a hill,?) playing hide and seek ALL DAY LONG, (in a two story house mind you) and I still am amazed how they would always lose me when I took them to the toy store! 🙂 I also cherished my time with two winsome and charming little boys, William and Jackson. William was 9 months old and held my heart captive from day one…Jackson was three, with flaring red hair, mischievous but “oh so cute,” (and I must add my ‘combative match.’) 🙂 Those two boys taught me that ‘no two days were ever a like, expect the impossible, and life with them, from then on out, was going to be an “E” ticket ride.’ 🙂 At this time in my life, I was taking ultra- mega, EXTRA vitamins and my caffeine intake was even higher. 🙂 My days teaching preschool and directing childcare at the YMCA, ( I call them my days of blissful insanity,) were a 7 year experience I will never forget! Take two kids and multiply them by 50…it equals plenty of “head shaking, finding the new 8th, 9th and 10th wonders of the world and instant weight loss.” (Yes, being responsible for 75 to 100 kids a day is better than any Weight Watchers plan to to get that skinny waistline back.) 🙂 Children are a true gift from God and I feel so very blessed in all the little ones He brought into my life… Children are a bountiful slice of paradise that grace our lives. Not only did they all change me as a person, (for the better,) but they filled an area deep within that only the utter, pure and unconditional love of a child can do.

Your curious and energized toddlers first room, (their ‘baby room’ as they call it,) is no longer up to their liking…Because their tastes are developing, they actually have their own “Color palette ” now! 🙂 They want a ‘voice’ in what the decor of their room looks like. Is your little girl frilly, a lover of bright colors, adores playing with dolls, wearing lipstick, and dancing to her favorite Taylor Swift music? Perhaps she is more like a Tom-boy where she adores wearing bluejeans, Tee shirts, playing soccer, going fishing, collecting baseball cards and would rather give up her favorite TV show before she’d ever wear a red ribbon in her hair. 🙂 Yes, your little girl will definitely want a say in her rooms ambiance. Same thing with your rambunctious little boy…Is he athletic, always running wild, barely able to keep his shirt on, likes to wear his baseball cap everyday like the movie stars, and knows he is just ‘to adorable for his own good?’ Or perhaps he is more artistic, a lover of music and books, enjoys being held, and is very demonstrative of his love to friends and family? It’s funny, when I was a ‘nanny’ to Warren and Paul, ( the fraternal twins who were completely opposites, both in their personalities and stature,) their mom shared with me an intensely vivid dream she had about her sons. In her dream, the twins were about 18 years old…One was siting on a Harley motorcycle, with his sun soaked athletic physique. He had a smooth way about him as he was conversing with his friends, was a little flirtatious and he had become a successful, (and quite popular,) high school football ‘star.’ Her other son in the dream was slender, well dressed in his fashionable attire, was quiet and shy, loved the arts and was very studios, amicable, and happy. I said; “Let me guess which one was Paul and which was Warren.” I was right on the money…they were just grown up versions of who they already were as ‘little people.’ 🙂 ( I have not seen them in 12 years…they were about 5 and half at that time, so that puts them right about 18 years old at present. It would be interesting to see them and what they are like, and to know if her dream was truly ‘prophetic.’ 🙂 Little boys will also want a say in their room’s ‘flavor,’ as they too are so diverse in their ‘styles.’ I have a few suggestions… In choosing the decor for your toddlers rooms, allow them to feel as if they are choosing the decor themselves, by hinting at how very special it would be to have a motley painted mural of a cloud filled sky, painted on the ceiling with a rainbow on the wall, etc. (Show them pictures to evoke excitement, wonder and awe.) Many a times, your toddler will love what you think , as for them, your opinion is ‘really cool.’ They also have an innate, deep desire to want to do anything their big brother suggests to them. (’cause what he thinks is REALLY, REALLY cool.) 🙂 Secondly, invite them to be a part of making the choices with the colors and accessories they would like to have in their most treasured place on earth. They are the king and queen of their Magical kingdom.

Here is what a few wise people have to say about the “toddler stage.” 🙂

DISTINGUISHED QUOTE CORNER:

“Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.” ~ Ed Asner

“There are only two things a child will share willingly…communicable diseases and his mothers age.” ~ Benjamen Spock

“While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~ Angela Schwindt

“The world is as many times new as there are children in our lives.” ~ Robert Brault

“A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer.” ~ Author Unknown

” A rose can say “I love you,” orchids can enthrall, but a weed bouquet in a chubby fist, yes, that says it all.” ~ Author Unknown…. (I love that quote.)

“Kids: They dance before they learn there is anything that is not music.” ~William Stafford

Lets go and explore your toddlers “Magical Kingdom.”

“Here comes Peter Cotton tail, hopping down the bunny trail.” This technicolor room would certainly put a song in any child’s heart. 🙂 It’s multicolored bed quilts amidst the cozy wallpaper, create a mood and ambiance of feeling welcomed and ‘at home.’ (I love those two big bunnies!) 🙂

A quaint and cozy corner for your toddler to have their special ‘reading time.’ Over sized chairs have always been one of my husbands and my favorite styles of furniture, and now they have them for the tiny ones. How adorable.

If ever a bedroom whispered, “happy springtime” it’s this stunning and lovely little girls room with it’s soft pastel checkered and striped fabrics amongst the heavenly light blue canopy. It’s so fresh and crisp looking as well as “dainty and whimsical.”

This Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit themed room is fabulously alluring. Filled with an English charm and floral design that celebrates life, beauty and good old fashioned FUN!

A toddlers room fit for a prince… I am in awe at this glorious and breathtaking mural painted on the wall behind the fairytale like bed… The soft wooden armoire is picture-book perfect as well as captivating! Any little boy would be especially blessed to call this room his home, his magical Kingdom! 🙂

This bedroom illustrates a blissful arrangement of beauty that fills every corner of the room. It is ethereal, wispy and a bit romantic for your little girls safe haven. I love it! The soft, pastel blanket looks so cute next to the “antique duo” of dolls as well as delicate and whimsical stenciling upon the faux painted walls.

A little boys dream come true… This maritime children’s bedroom is adventuresome, patriotic and fun loving…Every night would be filled with dreams of being a sailor out at sea… seeing the great and mighty wonders of the deep blue ocean. Very imaginative!

This little one could be dreaming (day and night,) that he, (like the Swiss family Robinson,) is stranded on a deserted island and his task at hand is to ‘build himself a home, up in a towering, tall tree,’ to keep safe from all the wild animals of the islet. This bed is not only colorful but very creative!

This room, as well as the one above, is perfect for your twin boys, unless they prefer individual bedrooms. It’s nautical and bethnic theme is very “boyish” and gallant. I love all the beautiful wood amongst the creamy whites.

Mary Engelbreit is at it again…Wherever you see an abundance of bright color, you know she was there! 🙂 This sunny yellow room is delightful and would motivate every little girls imagination to begin blooming… It’s bright, distinctive and down right adorable! 🙂

Another M.E. bedroom…I adore these bright reds and the charming table set up for your toddlers tea party. Little girls adore tea parties, whether they invite you and your husband, their brother or sister, a best friend or their fair-haired, faithful stuffed animals, they can spend hours talking away as they entertain in their imaginary world.

What a darling, feminine and charismatic “pink” room. There is nothing quite like the color of pink for little girls… The soft greens and rich reds added in with this ever-so-popular color is warm, cozy and exceedingly graceful!

Another little Prince’s dream come true. I can’t see a single thing lacking in this regal, adventuresome and amusingly handsome bedroom. I think most little boys who had this room as their safe haven, would be a little mischievous just to be “sent to their room.” ) 🙂 What a darling little set of table and chairs…It almost looks antique!

A stunning and eloquent room for a little queen…I adore the artful wood work, the brilliant layers of a myriad of whites as well as the style of this enchanting room with the era of the furniture and the elegant canopy festooned above the head board. What a gorgeous room.

I’ve never seen a bedroom quite like this one…First off, I love the color palette of the butter cream whites, pastel greens and the soft shades of rose…The ballooned curtain toppers as well as the magical ‘tucked away’ bed is a wondrous idea and I adore the little table setup in the room for all types of imaginative playtime. This room gets Five stars! 🙂

For every little boy who dreams of being a famous race car driver like Dale Earnhardt JR., ( the prestigious driver in the NASCAR Grand Prix,) this bedroom would be a dream come true. PS, Don’t worry if you are constantly hearing the sounds of a make believe race car, (revving it’s engine as he’s speedily driving on the tracks…day and night.) I can just hear him now… 🙂

Wow! A little girls room that looks like it is right out of the popular movie, The Princess diaries. This room exudes, glamor, royalty and says “pampered” all over it! It’s a bedroom fit for a princess or a queen… I love this regal and enchanting bed canopy!

Simplicity is a really nice change… I love the colors and lines of this room, the dove grey walls and antiquated head board is stunning. Any little boy or girl, would be blessed to have this room as their own.

These two diverse rooms are definitely for your animated and imaginative little boy. Whether an over sized tree house bed or a room filled with all of his favorite sports memorabilia, both rooms are esthetically unique and would tell the story of their heart’s passions to everyone who enters their doors. !

Wow! What stunning bedroom furniture for little girls. Two more distinct and absolutely beautiful ‘little girls’ rooms. Whether for two lovely and blessed princesses, with the regal headboards and romantic, fanciful white canopies, or the magical Cinderella carriage bed, both of these rooms would be a wonderland and place of imaginations and dreams coming true for your little girl.

What a lovely, soft, dainty and romantic wall ensemble above this angelic little girls place of slumber. I adore the inspiring colors of hushed yellows, pastel blues and lively greens…all hues of the picturesque beauty of nature. This bedroom exudes an ambiance of serenity and calmness as well as the essence of a Victorian era. Absolutely breathtaking!

This ethereal and delightful, ballooned curtained window design that matches the chair rail wallpaper border, is absolutely stunning for this little girls bedroom. Very romantic , enchanting and gracefully inviting!

Lastly, this little boy’s room is handsomely baronial and august! I adore the hunter green color and these original and unique bunk beds. This is perfect for your twin boys who are as different as night and day…they each have a ‘space of their own’ to create their decor style…all the things that they love and that reveal their darling personalities. What a great and heartwarming idea!

With every child’s room, there are always an abundance of accessories that they will ask for …on every birthday, Christmas and trips to Wal*Mart or Toys R us! 🙂 Here are a few ideas… 🙂

This adorable wall shelf with a place to hang clothes is perfect for a little girls or boys room. The top shelf is an ideal place for your little ones to display the things they love…whether dolls, books, stuffed animals or Disney DVD’s, baseball caps, race cars or footballs. Children also love decorative pillows as they add so much color to their quaint ‘domain.’ 🙂

For many boys, their first real collection is sports memorabilia… these select sport items are colorful and very ‘ boyish.’ Your little tots can never have to many blankets or “wobbies” as they called them….(Is that what they are calling them today? ) I am ‘so out of touch!’ 🙂

Another special room accessory for your toddlers, is a never ending supply of great, healthy and fun DVD’s. Just like we, as adults, love a great movie every now and then, so do your little ones…Yes, some of your kids will watch the same movie over and over a thousand times, where as others will always be asking for the latest and newest movie that’s just been released. 🙂

Another thing you can never have to many of is BOOKS! Children, (of all ages,) absolutely love to read, and be read to! A great way to collect them inexpensively is to go to your local library for their sale day of the month… They have great children’s books for pennies!

Having your own chair is very comforting… I know my husband has his ‘favored chair’ in our home and so do I….Our little ones would be blessed to have one of their own as well… Perfect for their reading hour! 🙂 Oh, and don’t forget the foot stool…(I use mine every night!) 🙂

A little girls room would just not be the same without a doll baby or a Barbie collection. I had a cherished doll until I was…(OK, I won’t say my age,) 🙂 but, baby dolls are a ‘big part’ of our childhoods. For your little girls who would rather build trains, or for your boys who adore creating and playing with miniature cars, they have great track sets out on the market now. You have seen the ‘tea party’ tables for your little girls room, well this table is perfect for your little boys room..a place to color, paint, read, draw…and be creative!

A tiny TV with a DVD player is a wonderful addition for your child’s room… With you or your mate’s help, until they have learned how to operate it, it’s a fun accessory for each little “kingdom”… Your in charge of what they watch and it’s a great avenue to allow their imaginations to grow and blossom in a new way! Some of my most memorable childhood memories took place, watching and enjoying the Disney classics…I still sneak one in every now and then, (usually when my husband is not here! 🙂

You’ve heard of “Pretty in Pink?” 🙂 What an exquisite tea party table for your little girls room. They will have every chair filled in no time at all and spend hours entertaining!

Another race track and play set as well as a monumental and genteel rocking horse…. Both great for exercise, hand eye coordination and for just having FUN!

Every child loves to have sleep overs… These festive tents are perfect for your little ones to have a friend over to enjoy an adventuresome and delightful “camping trip” within their own bedroom! (Just give them some books, a flashlight, snacks and lots of pillows and blankets! They will be in 7th heaven.) 🙂

What tiny tikes room does not have at least one stuffed bunny rabbit or fair-haired bear? A lot of children will begin an early collection and choosing their stuffed animals for them for Christmas time or their birthday is so much fun as you get to add some great , creative new ‘family members’ to the group! Boyd’s bears and bunnies are spectacular.

These vintage, hand painted bedroom accents are elfin and magical. I love the coat rack with the wooden bunny on top as well as the adorable cabinet, festooned with bright colored diamond shapes. What little girl, (or boy) would not love to have a children’s armoire? It can be filled with quilts, blankets, games, sheets, books, DVD’s, beach towels, etc… It’s not only decorative but very convenient!

I absolutely adore this stenciled, vintage armoire for a children’s room! ( I would even like in our bedroom! 🙂 ) It is stunning!

Another baronial Rocking Horse…Not only fairytale like but a wondrous room decoration as well as fun way for your little guy to get some exercise!

Lastly, every toddlers room needs some “choice artwork.” 🙂 This is a beautiful rendition of an artistic production from the renowned Uncle Remus’ folklore character, Brer Rabbit! Any of the classical childhood bunny rabbits from our childhood, matted and framed, would be welcoming and quite magical for your little tots room. (Peter Rabbit, ‘White Rabbit’ from Alice in Wonderland, Thumper, Peter Cottontail, ‘Rabbit’ from the well known Winnie the pooh collection, Harvey and the crazy and goofy, Bugs Bunny! )

Decorating our homes is not only an abundance of fun, but it brings forth so much beauty, color and joy to our lives, our children’s lives, husbands and guests! Just as they say; “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” it’s the same truth in “creating” every room in your beautiful haven. It’s all about what makes YOU and YOUR FAMILY happy! Decorating your toddlers room may be the last room you have a lot of “say” in with them, as when they get to be older…well, YOU KNOW!!! 🙂 (My ‘decor of choice’ when I was in the 4th or 5th grade was pages of Jermaine Jackson, (of the Jackson five,) carefully cut out of an Entertainment magazine, taped all over my walls. 🙂 I thought it looked so cool! (I had such a crush on him…) My mom just kept my door shut! 🙂 Have fun and ENJOY!

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Winsome living in a Vintage Home.

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Susan

The Glorious , classy vintage years…. A time of expression, fashion and ” History in the making.”

When you stop and reflect upon what the word “Vintage” really means, the knowledge will present you with an abundance of understanding as well as guidance to create ‘what could be,’ the dream home that is just waiting to be discovered within your heart… “A Winsome Vintage Home..” You are the creator, designer and decorator ….ENJOY learning and displaying your own signature style …take that vision you have deep inside and bring it forth into reality….whether it is just one room, two rooms or your entire house. HAVE FUN…and venturesomely begin creating!

According to the experts on the English language, the word vintage has several meanings…In regarding to a fine red wine, the harvested grapes are placed in a fermentation vat, then the ‘patient and long wait’ begins.When the winemaker knows it is time, the wine is then placed, (in my favorite,) an oak barrel, then goes through a filtering time and is finally bottled. It is the ‘long wait’ that creates such a five star, stellar, much awaited bottle of wine. Excellent wine, that is high quality, will have a specific year, vineyard and district of origin upon it’s label. It’s new to me, but I am sure all of you, who are collectors of fine wine, understand this completely. A vintage red wine, (a 1951 Bordeaux,) can in no way, be compared to an updated bottle of Toasted Head or Turning Leaf Merlot. (Though they are both great wines.) The Older wine is definitely worth the long wait. That is the same truth with anything Vintage.

The vintage ambiance brings forth a surge of Nostalgia to romance us back to a time where everything seemed so lovely, magical and novel. Through our decor and ageless collectables, we have something that is palpable and touchable, to intensify that ‘created mood’ and atmosphere in abundance. The Vintage style brings us a delightfully wrapped present…a touch of our history. 🙂

To learn more about this distinguished word, lets look at Vintage movies, books, artist’s, movie stars, television shows, homes, automobiles and fashion. These are all the REAL THING…not made over to look vintage. ( Which we will get to that area of vintage decor later on in this vignette.)

Old and cherished, exceedingly notable and delightfully made films are the ‘old movies’… They just don’t make them any better than “A street car named desire,” with Marlon Brando. (Who can forget the classic line; “Hey Sella.” ) Alfred Hitch-cock’s renowned Rebbecca. The story of a shy, young woman, unaware of her own inner beauty, falls crazy in love with a handsome and wealthy socialite. He marries her and brings her home to his mysterious mansion upon the cliffs of the ocean at the Old Manderly estate. Little does Rebbecca know that the house is ‘supposedly’ haunted by his first wife’s presence, (with the help of the vindictive head maid.) The movie is spell-bounding as they try to live out their newly married life amongst his rich friends, the dark mansion, hidden secrets and her doubts of his true love for her. Lastly, one of all of our childhood favorites, The Wizard of OZ…We adore every minute of the adventurous journey Dorothy is on to get back to her home in Kansas…(except the flying monkeys…they were a little scary as a child…still are!) 🙂 All of these are vintage, refined and excellent films.

Antiquated books that you can’t find everyday in Barnes and Noble’s on their new and best seller shelf, are such tales as Moby Dick, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Moll Flanders and the prestigious C.S Lewis’ notable novellas, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screw tape letters and The Magicians nephew. (All Keepers!)

What was your favorite TV show as you grew up…(be careful as these answers really date your age. 🙂 Mine was “Father knows best.” Robert Young could do no wrong in my eyes. 🙂 Other ageless and priceless shows are ‘The Three stooges,’ ‘Tarzan,’ our beloved, “I love Lucy,” ‘Please don’t eat the daisies,’ ‘Laugh In’ and The Ed Sullivan show. Everything on television when I was a youngster seemed so clean…

Some of the greatest and most noted musicians were Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley. I have yet to hear a match today of any of their stellar voices …They were ‘one in a million,’ classy, unique and remarkable. Museums today, host vintage paintings and photographs that cost a fortune, but bring back so many nostalgic memories of the ‘older days.’ Marilyn Monroe’s “Vintage Christmas in Hollywood,”) Monets’ “Impression Sunrise,” and all of the light-some and clever artwork of Norman Rockwell. Old world artwork is not only magnificent and ageless but it sets an exceedingly high standard for artwork today. It is a difficult pursuit to find the same quality… Often times the ‘old’ is used as a muse for the ‘new.’ Vintage movie stars? There are so many, they are hard to count. 🙂 Judy Garland, Gene Tierney, Jane Russell,Robert Mitchum, Rita Hayworth, James Dean and Dorothy Lamour. How could you ever forget or find even a close match for Leslie Howard, Vivian Leigh and Olivia De Haviland in the wondrous classic film, Gone with the wind?

Vintage automobiles. These are the cars that owners pamper and coddle as they keep them stored in garages, visiting them on occasion while they dote upon them…These motor cars get washed,waxed, vacuumed, taken out for a spin drive, (so the owner can hear the ‘special hum of the engine,’ 🙂 and then, they masterfully get parked just right in their ‘protected place.’ (Until the next reunion with their proud owners) 🙂 You can tell that the Vintage automobiles are their ‘babies.’:)

Lastly, Vintage clothing…Now a days, you see this fashion all the time in Hollywood and all over the country… It is vintage because it is ‘out of style’ in our 21st century, yet it is the ‘in craze,’ and is more popular than ever. Go figure!

So, what we have learned is that “Whatever is old, priceless, desirable, treasured, antiquated, old world, obsolete, ageless, timeless, quaint and exceedingly valuable is Anything VINTAGE!

Then there is always making the New, look like the old for the charm and pizazz of the vintage era. 🙂

With all the modern day architecture, expensive, well made couches, love seats, over sized chairs, fine wood dining tables with hutches and chairs to match, as well as kitchen appliances that can do almost anything but sing…(maybe they to do that by now too,) 🙂 it’s truly amazing to see the high demand for the old world style. Even if the brand new is purchased, it is remodeled and made to look old and antique again. 🙂 Being the magazine and decor connoisseur that I am, one of the most popular and ‘in style’ looks within homes, Vila’s, estates, cottages, mansions and ranch houses, is a home filled with classic, antiquated and old word decor style. Yes, again, the VINTAGE look is “in”…even in our bathrooms and upon our porches ! We give our old furniture a makeover, ( and perhaps embellish it with decorative stenciling,) or we bedeck our new King Louis XV bed to look exactly like it did in that exciting, opulent time where people socialized at Fancy Balls and feasted upon fine dining in the 17th century, over 500 years ago. We adore the old kitchen appliances and decor that speaks of our memories when we were young, or the memorabilia of our parents from their childhood. (The Campbell soup kid mugs, the Little Rascals on decorative plates, old antique coffee grinders and china that is painted in a myriad of greens and pinks that aren’t even on the market today.) Our beds have a fair-haired, teddy bear siting peacefully upon the comforter… He can’t be bought with any price,yet he is at least 60 years old and looks like he just came out of the washing machine, (and the Tide detergent didn’t work.) 🙂 My little guy is named Cornelius and he is 36 years old...he has been through everything with me…he has known me longer than my husband. 🙂 If our house were ever to catch on fire, Cornelius would be one of the treasures I would grab and ‘save’ as I was rushing out of the home. 🙂 Of course, my husband and dog Grantham would be first! ) 🙂

It is the same thing with people…Those in our lives that have many years behind them, a bounty of wisdom, enchanting stories from their youth and grey hair, (even though most of them color it,) (hey, we all do what we need to do, to look our very best) 🙂 are fabulously exciting and beautiful people to be around. They have such a refinement and regal nature about them, likened to a priceless, cherished bottle of vintage wine. These are the people you adore and love to have over for dinner, ask important questions to and make sure there is plenty of fresh coffee in the pot and an abundance of lemon pound cake at hand, so that they have ample time (and refreshments) to share their many tales of yesterday. I adore the famous saying in the classic movie, ‘Calendar Girls.’ In Napely, England, there is a close knit group of ladies, as well as dear friends that belong to a notable and entertaining book club. When one of the women’s husbands, John, becomes ill and they need money for his medical care, she decides to put on a fundraiser amongst all the residents of the quaint English village. The object of the fundraiser is ‘Calendars.’ They are not just any calendars…They are photos of each woman, (Over 55,) posing with only fresh fruits,vegetables,loaves of bread or decorative pastries, etc… and no clothes. 🙂 Believe me, it is a wondrous movie, well made and they don’t show anything that is not tastefully done…John has a saying that I enjoy so much; (and yes, it is planted in my notebook of expressive words and extraordinary phrases.) 🙂 “The flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire, in that, their last stage of growth is the most glorious.” 🙂 I hope my husband feels that way about me when I am in my autumn years. 🙂

These are noteworthy people in our society that are becoming vintage… Perhaps already are as they are older, priceless, desirable, treasured, ageless, timeless and valuable. (I am not going to say they are antiquated.) 🙂 I think most men and women would love to be as healthy, full of vigor, with meaningful lives and an abundance of loved ones at the ages of these renowned people…72, 94, 78 and 77. The name ‘vintage’ would just be an HONOR.

WE have a tendency to see growing old as a negative thing when in fact, there is so much beauty and wisdom within people who are older. They have learned all of life’s challenging lessons, are at a place of PEACE and acceptance of who they are, (no pretenses) and are enjoying their retirements and doing the things they absolutely love. Their lives thus far, have earned them notoriety and the prestigious biographies that they posses.

Even cheese gets better with age! 🙂 The list could go on and on…Let’s take a look and see what some wonderful people have to say about the subject of VINTAGE! 🙂

DISTINGUISHED QUOTE CORNER

“I don’t do alcohol anymore, I get the same effect just standing up fast.” 🙂 ~Author unknown! 🙂

“Old age is fifteen years older than I am.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old but of the natural.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Grow old with me, the best is yet to come.” ~ Robert Browning. (That is my new ‘numero uno’ MOTTO! 🙂

“Priceless things matter not for their value but because they offer us an enduring reminder of stability and permanence.” ~ Barbara Taylor Bradford.

“Age is opportunity no less, than youth itself, though in a different dress, and as the evening twilight fades away, the sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.” ~ Author Unknown

“I think living to be 100 would be great but living to 50 twice, would be better.” ~ Barbara Johnson (I adore Barbara Jonson and her fabulously, cheerful and happy perspective of living life.) 🙂

“The scary thing about middle age is the knowledge that you’ll soon grow out of it.” ~ Barbara Johnson

“Youth is not a time of life but a state of mind.” ~ Barbara Johnson

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to winnie2 be a hundred minus one day so I would never have to live without you.” ~ Winnie The Pooh

I will always remember a priceless gift my mom bestowed upon me about aging. When she was in her 50’s, (still a very beautiful woman who had 8 children who simply adored her, 🙂 a few of my brothers went to her one day and said, “Mom, you have got some wrinkles ‘going on’ in your face…you need to go and get a facelift.” (If you know any of my five brothers, they will deny they ever said those words…) 🙂 Anyhow, she calmly smiled and said; “To be honest with you boys, I kind of like these wrinkles as they remind me of each one of you, my children.” As she kept smiling, she would point to one of her wrinkles and say; “This one is Donnie, and this one is you Jim, etc…) My mom was very naturally beautiful and aged without any concern of getting any extra help. 🙂 I am trying! 🙂

Lets face it, growing old is inevitable… No matter how many pounds we loose, (or gain,) the abundance of ‘night-firming cream’ and Revive-a-lift we buy, face lifts, new hair styles to hide our wrinkles, wearing ‘spanks’ and the color black to appear thin, and finally breaking down and buying the ‘next size up’ jeans….Accept it, don’t fight it and keep a grateful heart.(Easy words, I know, but It’s worth trying!) 🙂 I admire the people who in tuning 50, give thanks to God for giving them those 50 years and would be honored to have 50 more…

The one thing no one has to adjust to or accept is a winsome home, bedecked in Vintage decor. 🙂 This style of decor is not only high in demand, but it is stunning, inviting and brings and ‘oomph’ to our lives. Its a unique, one of a kind theme and brings comfort, gladsome hearts and coziness to us as well as each one of our guests.

Welcome to “your Vintage Home.” Are you ready to get a cup of coffee, some sweet tea, a bite to eat and get comfy? 🙂 Lets take a look at the architecture of the Vintage home first.

My heart has always been charmed when my husband and I go for a drive in the country and see old, established, historical homes on acres of land. I find my mind beginning to ponder, “what memories fill the corridors and rooms of that house?” What do they remissness about there?” ” Do they get together for a jubilant family Sunday dinner every week?” (Like we did as a family.) “Do they hear old creaks in the wooden floors and unexplainable sounds at night, being tempted to think it’s haunted by the ghosts of the original owners? “You have heard; “Every picture tells a story?” I also believe “Every home tells a story.” Vintage Homes make for wondrous and fascinating tales. 🙂

OK, hold your hats, this is not a haunted mansion…It is an abandoned Vintage home and is known as a “Fixer upper”…. Truly it is a beautiful architectural home…it just needs some TLC! 🙂 Some fresh paint, a good landscape team, a gardener and lots of kaleidoscopic flowers to add some life and color. 🙂 A loving family would be nice too!

Lastly, my mom’s childhood, vintage home in South Carolina. It no longer stands, but wow, was it awesome! (On boy, the stories I have heard about that house, could be a bestseller for sure!) 🙂 (I still have not decided what genre the novella would be written in, yet.) 🙂

Here are some gorgeous Vintage Porches. Even if your home’s architecture is not Vintage, if you have a porch, you can bring a little “old world” decor onto your veranda, thus enhancing the charm and potpourri of color, texture and the personality of your home.

This piazza is beautifully feminine… I adore all of the pastel colors amidst the soft whites.

Upon entering the home, the first room we see is the Living room. Remember, just as you have witnessed with these diverse porches, there are all different extremes of bedecking your home with the vintage style. Any decor that has antiques, old school furniture, home decor that is obsolete and carries that ageless, timeless ambiance, is a vintage style home. Many people mix their themes and styles, perhaps combining vintage with country cottage or shabby chic decor. The most important thing to keep in mind as you create your signature style home, is the rule I share on every decorating blog… Pick your style, decor theme and color pallet, then fill your home with the things you love, that reflect who you are. Be comfortable and enjoy creating each room the way you desire it to look.

Your Vintage look can be made up of all sorts of old world, timeless and classy decorative items. Pick up your theme through aged colorful fabrics, antique furniture, throw pillows, pictures or paintings, oriental rugs, antiquated china, bowls and vintage books. Anything that you can think of to bring forth that desired look, dauntlessly place it out in your room and see if its a fit for you. 🙂

This living room is old word, a little shabby chic with a hint of maritime life, which all blends in so well together…Not only is it charming, inviting and cozy, but it’s light and ethereal.

Again, this quaint, old school living room has a nautical hint to it, but is also undeniably vintage and rustic. (Pleasingly patriotic as well!) 🙂

This sublime and stunning book case filled with vintage books is a conversation piece as well as a strikingly picturesque addition to any room. Old books bring ” an aged caliber.” Maybe add a few photographs of your grandparents or a vintage family home, placed within a few choice and ornate, ‘old world’ picture frames to embellish your collection of ageless writings.

There is one word for this Vintage look...STELLAR! It’s my favorite look of all…romantic, yet augustly antique. (They do not make mirrors like they used to anymore, or fireplaces for that matter! 🙂

The aged and antiquated bedroom is not only eccentric, unique and romantic but it is magical, creating a fairy-tale like ambiance where you can sneak off and rest, read your novel, write an overdue letter or just listen to your favorite classical CD. This is your special room to be pampered and coddled in…Light a candle, enjoy and revel in all the beauty that surrounds you!

Wrought iron, brass and old, weathered wood are perfect for a bed with the Vintage appeal. This bed room has an antiquated tin ceiling rescued from a New York City Movie theater, that no longer is in business. How eye-catching, clever and creative!

The designer of this vintage room, excelled in their artful display of multicolored greys, greens and golds with creating a weathered look, amongst fauz painted walls,diverse fabrics and linens that blend together perfectly for an old world, nostalgic and prolific ambiance. This bed room is very impressive.

In creating your vintage style home, you may chose to make every room this delightful style or just a few of the rooms. One of my most cherished rooms in the house is my kitchen. Here are some charming vintage kitchens…This antiquated and memorable decor style will surely be a “topic of discussion” with friends and family, when your room or rooms are completed. 🙂

I adore the brick in this kitchen…This kitchen looks liven in, cozy, welcoming and FUN!

A perfect kitchen for the connoisseur of fine wine and you already know how much I adore “chefs,” (In any shape, size or color.) 🙂 Aren’t they so classy?

This antique kitchen has a combination of Shabby Chic and vintage throughout the room. These two decor styles are refreshingly alluring when mixed together… It is a room filled with charm, a fairy- tale like ambiance and is creative and inviting as well.

For my tastes, there is nothing more charming, nostalgic and inviting, than a combination of old brick and antiquated china. The dark, rich woods amidst the brightly colored flowers add a fabulously warm and cozy touch to this Kitchen.

This kitchen is so felicitous and amiable, I would love to spend a day here just cooking and baking the hours away…over a pot of fresh coffee of course. 🙂

These next photos of the Vintage bathroom are very warm and creative. There is absolutely nothing like a real claw-foot bath tub. Once you experience this luxurious experience, it will be hard to go back to the regular tub that most of our homes are equipped with. (I have got to remember to write this ‘claw-foot tub’ as a ‘must have’ in my Dream Home – Wish book.) 🙂

How about the one place that you can relax, (right about the time the sun is gloriously setting through your windows and glass doors?) Yes,your Dining Room. It’s time to sit down with a delicious dinner, accompanied by a glass of chardonnay, perhaps a roaring fire, soft candle light and good friends, sharing superb cuisine and wondrous fellowship. These antiquated dining rooms are ‘bonny.’ (As the British would say.) 🙂

Here are some photos of beautiful Vintage china and tables settings to inspire you!

I am going to share this ambrosial corn casserole recipe (below) with you in my “Unforgettable Recipes” category. 🙂

Decorative accessories are a ‘must’ in creating your new look. In the following photos , I hope you find some great ideas and inspiration. 🙂

This is a vintage set of the “Winnie the Pooh” collection. Don’t you just love it? Piglet is just to cute. 🙂

I adore these ornate, old candle stick holders. They are very rich as well as festive.

This august, winning book vintage bookcase brings not only a wealth of ‘history to your haven,’ but an abundance of charm, color and beauty!

This Garden planter is absolutely breathtaking. I would love to have two of them on my front porch! The Vintage shed below, would be such a wondrous addition to your ‘Old world’ style garden. I think that it is about as “Vintage” as a piece of furniture could be. 🙂

I love this antique mirror…It’s not only ornate, but classy and refined. I have many friends who display antique purses as a decorative addition to their room…hung on a petite hutch door, placed inside a glass dining room cabinet, or set out on their comfy bed, (next to their ‘antiquated teddy bear,’) to add color and style to their decor theme. Great idea!

In closing, I want to leave you with a few magical ideas for a “Vintage Christmas.”

“The perfect Christmas tree? ALL Christmas trees are PERFECT.” ~ Charles N. Barnard

I love the creativity this woman has used in decorating her dining room table. The apples placed within the crystal goblets, mason jars filled with miniature Christmas scenes and the animated , winter white napkins adorned with red berries are already motivating me for the Christmas season. 🙂

For Christmas, it is hard to beat a fresh , winter white celebration!

I have never seen a Vintage train set like this one before. This would make any little boy, (or big boy) 🙂 happy on Christmas morning.

A very merry, colorful and traditional, Vintage Tree. It is Perfect! 🙂 (Like Charles’ quote expressed above!)

A fancy and formal Christmas table fit for a king! I adore all the gorgeous , old silver and glistening candle light amidst all the soothing butter cream whites. (The confections don’t look to bad either ) 🙂

What is more ageless and timeless than a nativity scene displayed on a hutch or side board? It’s is one of my very favorite Christmas decorations. I love my original Nativity set as it was a gift from a very special lady. I was so sad when I unpacked it one year and baby Jesus’ hand had broken off. For the life of me, I could not find that hand anywhere… so after going on my “creative – treasure – hunt” around my home, I discovered a miniature, decorative red heart and placed it where baby Jesus’ hand would be. It fit perfectly. This little red heart has the word LOVE written upon it. ) Now my nativity is not only “really original,” 🙂 but a great reminder of what this joyous season is all about.” 🙂

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know the Vintage home as much as I have. It has more meaning to me now that I understand why they call it Vintage decor. I hope you feel inspired and have obtained some great ideas. If you don’t want to go out and buy a new piece of vintage furniture, don’t forget, they have vintage slipcovers for old couches and chairs that have tares or frayed areas upon them. Stores as well as online shopping, also have a bounty of specialty paints to ‘make your modern day furniture look old.’ Have a wonderful time planning, going to thrift stores, boutiques and garage sales looking for some extra items you may need to make your decor changes. Enjoy CREATING and adding more BEAUTY to your life as well as the lives of your family.

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where the picture originated from.

“All Aboard” the maritime home.

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Susan

“The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can’t.” ~ Christopher Paolini

“Hark, now hear the sailors cry, Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic…” ~ Van Morrison

“Waves are the voices of the tides. Tides are life. They bring new food for shore creatures and take ships out to sea. They are the oceans pulse and your own heartbeat.” ~ Tamora Pierce

What is it about “life on the sea” that captivates and thrills our hearts? Is it the sound of the waves crashing upon the rocky shores? The nostalgic fragrance of the damp, briny air? Hearing the halcyon and untroubled seagulls, coasting above the crystal blue waters, cooing, squawking, creating serene, melodic melodies for our ears and souls? Perhaps, the romance of the sea is made up of all the seafaring tales that have been passed down by sailors, fishermen and sea captions. The legends of the mermaids, stories of “old ghost ships,” abandoned by their crew and fables of the dangerous pirates, rum runners, frighting Leviathans of the deep and buried treasures? Perchance it is the myths and tales of the ominous, colossal storms they weathered at sea and lived to tell about. How about the legends like old Alias, a sailor lost at sea, who comes back to haunt his maritime home on the water. It is a Folklore told in the renowned movie Mystic Pizza…

(The imagined ghost of Alias visits his home on stormy nights, causing the floorboards to creak as he paces back and forth upon the back balcony, overlooking the sea.) There are so many mystifying fables that allure our hearts and create within us an abounding love and desire for the arcane sea , filled with all of it’s Brobdingnagian and countless enigma.

Two irrefutable stories that are uncanny and a bit haunting, are the two schooner ships that truly were abandoned by their crews mysteriously. One ship, The Carroll A. Deering was found run aground in 1921 off of Cape Haterus, North Carolina. Investigators propose that the cause was possibly rum runners or ship pirates. In 1969, The Teignmouth Electron was also found adrift, deserted and forgotten in the Atlantic Ocean. These two stories are not folklore and they are not of old. 🙂 (Spooky!) The sea embodies an abundance of intrigue, mystery and impeccable beauty… It is fabulously romantic, inspirational and is popular as ‘the perfect muse’ for many prestigious novels such as, The Old man and The Sea, The Phantom Island and The Mermaid. It is also the galvanizing influence of countless, famous paintings such as, Monet’s La Terrace de’ Sainte Adresse and Niebenkorn’s Ocean Harbor, as well as the classic and memorable films, The Titanic, Life of Pi and Lifeboat. (And, for many, a MUSE to inspire the decorating and creating of their lovely homes.)

It has always been one of my husband’s and my lifelong dreams to one day live by the sea and host a Bed and Breakfast for people who are in need of a retreat away from their everyday lives… a convivial respite. 🙂 We adore the foggy mists that come in over the water in the early mornings… the diverse sea birds gliding above the glistening water as the sunshine breaks through mid-morning, the breathtaking sunsets that gloriously arrive at dusk, (the enchanting ‘gloaming hour,’) and listening to the waves, softly flowing into shore as the day ends and the stars have announced their brilliant presence.

In creating your maritime home, remember, you may not live on a rocky cliff, over looking the ocean or upon a sandy marsh where you watch the tides roll in and out, BUT, You can create the inside of your berth to look as if you do! 🙂 Capture a part of the romance of the sea, it’s legends and fables, it’s mystery and beauty by bringing forth the decor of a seafaring home.

Most of the maritime homes that I have visited are dressed in soothing blues and whites and embellished with an abundance of maritime ornamental decor. It is not surprising as the colors of blue and white represent serenity, peace, clarity of mind, fresh beginnings and relaxation. All these qualities make for an exceedingly inviting and cozy homestead.

Our first stop will be the main room of your home, which is the Living room…It is the room that sets the mood and theme for the rest of your resplendent abode. As with any decor that you choose, there is always the ‘formal rendition’ as well as the relaxing, laid back. I have chosen both of these looks for inspiration to begin creating the Nautical home of your dreams. Lets start off with the living rooms that are a tad bit more “dressy.”

The living rooms in the next few photographs, are still a beauteous and striking maritime look, but are a bit more on the masculine side. I think all of these living rooms are inviting, galvanic and cozy…It truly depends on your taste and the colors you choose to create with. These rooms are less formal and more on the “comfy” side. 🙂

I simply adore this antique fireplace festooned in a maritime theme… It is breathtaking and exceedingly CREATIVE! It would certainly be the “conversation piece” in any home. 🙂

One of my favorite nautical decor displays thus far! The whimsical grapevine wreath amidst the two enchanting topiary trees is prizewinning. I adore this decorators bethnic extravaganza of the life-like and animated ‘sea bird’ amongst all the starfish, sand dollar and weathered beach wood. Her tableaux upon the green wooden chest, creates not only a magical ambiance but exudes charm and class. I love it! 🙂

Our next stopover will be another renowned and important room in your home …The Dining room. The room where you gather with friends and family over ambrosial cuisine, fine wines, laughter, sharing and story telling in a convivial and warm ambiance. I think it is fun to mix up your rooms a little bit, still carrying the nautical theme throughout the house, but perhaps in different styles.

The advantage you have with a seagoing look, is that you can create any room in your home, using a variety of shades of white…(eggshell, opalescent pearl, butter cream, off white, even tones of light greys or brown for your keystone.) Once your furniture and color pallet is established, you can begin adding the blue decor along with alluring benthic ornaments such as lighthouses, old ship compasses, sublime fresco’s or photographs of sea captains, nautically shaped stars, seagulls, pelicans, sea shells or whatever treasured collectables you desire to display. You can do the same thing with establishing your primary color pallet in a shade of blue that you love… Then highlight your room with a variety of hues and textures of white. ENJOY the creativity within you and remember, don’t hesitate to bring forth the dream inside your heart and make it reality! 🙂

Here are some decorative ideas to ‘add to your rooms’ for that nautical, cozy look, along with some beautiful blues…I absolutely dote on the color combination of blue and white… Whether in a bedroom, my wardrobe, a fresh flower arrangement, decorative throws or the paint colors on our walls. There is nothing quite as soothing, eye catching and picturesque! (Adding creamy, soft yellows to this famous color combination is an enlivening warm touch as well.)

A ‘nautically themed tree’ is a welcomed sight all year round. It adds a rustic seafaring ambiance to any room… It’s twinkling white lights create charm and appeal as well as ‘romance’ within your room and brings forth added texture and dimension to your colorful haven.

I love this painting… It would go perfectly in a living room filled with blues and accented with a hint of the grandeur color of red…This little girl looks identical to my brother’s daughter when she was about 3 years old, with her bright, gorgeous auburn hair, running into the waves of the ocean. Now she is a beautiful young woman, (still loving the sea,) but gosh, does this bring back happy memories of my younger days as she brought so much joy, laughter and smiles to our lives…(And still does.) 🙂

Bring the natural things of the sea, to the inside your home…sea shells, star fish, sea horses, anchors, old ship compasses, and a diversity of mason jars filled with fresh sand from the shore, topped with a tea light candle. Tie a blue and white decorative ribbon around the jar and display it upon your hutch. (If you make a half dozen of these homemade candles, and light them all in the evening, it will add charm and pizzazz to your room.) 🙂

The next ‘layover’ is the most certain and sure place for rest and relaxation that I know of...Our bedrooms. There are so many beautiful blue and white linens, duvets, Eiderdown comforters, decorative pillows and blue and white collectables, that this room should be an easy room to make over or to newly create. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, place of retreat, hide-a-way and wondrous place of slumber. Embellish this room with serene, blissful and soothing decor…soft candle light and subtle, yet enlivening scented fragrances. When I wash our linens and make up our bed, I love to spray our sheets with an ambrosial, redolent scent. (For some reason, I think it helps us to sleep better.) 🙂 They even have ocean scented sprays, decorative candles and scented oils with reed diffusers available in the stores now a days… What a perfect idea to enhance your oceangoing decor style. (Wow, with the nostalgic fragrances of the beach filling your room, all you would need is a sound machine that has the inviting calls of the sea birds, along with the roaring waves…you could close your eyes and be right on oceans shore.) 🙂

This bedroom is a little different with its shades of pale, light green amidst the soft, pristine whites, yet It still brings forth a feeling that ‘the soothing ocean breeze and sound of the crashing waves could come through the window at anytime.’ 🙂 A few ideas of some winsome additives are a lighthouse tapestry for the wall, an engaging Thomas Kincaid nautical throw, a seahorse pillow and a sea shell frame, displaying one of your most cherished ‘beach memories.’

This is my dear friend Ellie’s guest bedroom in her lovely nautical home in Delaware. She just finished painting her contrast wall in a fetching, wispy, gossamer, pastel blue. It adds an exceedingly stunning and visual ambiance amongst her white walls. She made her own creative and bethnic lampshade. Isn’t it adorable? Yes, Ellie, you have “quite the creative touch.” 🙂 This room is not only soothing, but filled with warmth and charm.

With the warm and inviting, navy blue stripes upon the comforters, the ocean blue carpet and the freshly painted pastel blue wall, she highlighted this maritime room with a mixture of vintage and country-cottage, captivating white wooden dressers, adorned with a potpourri of her sail boats and merchant ship collection. Great job Ellie! 🙂 This room beckons our hearts to go and spend a day amongst the ocean shores. 🙂

Now, we enter the room that is the most popular…You have heard the saying, “No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best.” 🙂 Kitchens are the place we “CREATE.” Whether it’s a fanciful confection for a loved ones birthday, a savory and spicy pasta dish with sweet Italian sausage and fresh herbs from our gardens, or we are baking Christmas cookies with our kids…there are so many wonderful conversations that take place within our kitchens…(Along with delicious cuisine and some great aromas that fill our home…) This truly is one of my most cherished rooms of all!

These first few kitchens are all bedecked in blissful blues and whites… all they would need to awaken the pelagic feeling throughout the room would be a few pieces of nautical decor; a framed photograph of a famous lighthouse, an ornate helm from a schooner ship, decorative anchors as well as accent towels evoking the emotions of life by the water.

In these next photos, I got a little inventive and imaginative. 🙂 These kitchens are not the standard, maritime colors of blue and white, but with dressing these rooms up, adding the right decor, they would bring forth the nautical look in a charming, elfin kind of way. Below each photo are some ideas that I hope will inspire you and get your ‘creative juices flowing.’

For this kitchen, I thought the perfect accent colors would be red, white and blue… all the eye-catching, maritime decor items would fill up the mantle above this fabulous, eccentric stove, except the accent towels. 🙂 (The rooster is adorable, but for now, he has to find a new home! ) 🙂

This Kitchen already has an ideal foundation with it’s rustic, warm Faux painted walls accompanied by the rich navy blue…By adding a maritime picture on the far wall, some Lighthouse plates, blue and white dish towels and a lighthouse canister set, your kitchen would come alive with the romance and mystique of the ocean..

These two kitchens would look great with a few starfish, a lighthouse spice rack, blue and white accent towels as well as a diverse collection of seashells. I would leave the warm hues of the yellow…It’s very cozy and inviting.

This has got to be one of my all time favorite Cucinos, (as the Italians would say!) 🙂 It’s soft white structure and delicate woods, accompanied by a combination of blue and white china, maritime plates and homemade, sand filled mason jars with a potpourri of taper and tea light candles along with intricate, motley seashells, would make for a beautiful, enchanting and notable kitchen. (Maybe add a blue and white runner on the stunning wood floor to tie in the mixture of blues and whites. )

This white kitchen would look wonderful with a highlight of green and soft hues of tan to bring forth your nautical theme. A lovely ship for your counter top, tan linen accent towels with the nautical star, a topiary star and once again, the beautiful soft light of candles burning in your mason-jar, sand filled candle creations.

Lastly, one more ‘White kitchen” to bring into our theme… How about some blue flowers on the counter top, blue and white china as well as light house plates to fill the ‘show stopping’ window-paned cabinets, an enchanting lighthouse and nautical pillows to top your bar stools? A bright, beach themed painting would be a spectacular addition to bring out your vibrant colors that you’ve chosen. Add a few blue and white accent towels and your set to go!

Here is a back splash tile mural with a maritime theme for the back of your kitchen stove. I love these new ideas…. What will they think of next? 🙂

We will take a short stop at our next room…the bathroom, Ladies room, powder and Mens room as we call it! Because it is the smallest room in your home, ( and no, I do not plan on illustrating a nautical walk in closet, ) 🙂 this room is very simple and easy to create… I love our bathroom as it is the place that houses one of my favorite things in all the world… OK, two of my most cherished….A bath tub and luxurious bubble-bath… 🙂

Here are a few ideas to inspire you with the ‘soul’ colors of your room, blue and white.

These decorative ideas are all fabulously soothing and festive highlights for ‘this very important’ room! 🙂 I especially like the greyish-blue tinted walls amidst all the creamy white sea shells and shelves, (The 4th photo.) This unique color is definitely a stunning and impressive maritime color…

Here are a few SEAFARING “powder rooms” already finished! 🙂

We can’t forget the passages that take us to our beloved rooms…our foyer and hallways… Here are a few inspirations for you..Some of these are quite formal, others very cozy and inviting…again, add some of your own touches amongst the blues and whites to bring forth your personal, signature touch and theme within your own home.

There are not many foyers like this one… It’s extremely formal and regal, but it presents the idea of how wondrous and appealing mixing different shades of blue amongst the white can look.

I adore this color of blue mixed with this butter cream white, not to mention the breathtaking structure of this foyer. I can just imagine how majestic it would look with seafaring decorations.

This foyer is simple, yet elegant…again, the soft tans amidst the white is resplendent.

This hallway is immense…it’s charm reminds me of the South… I love the soft blues amongst pearly white.

This passageway to the porch speaks it’s own fabulous introduction. 🙂

Lastly, the mixture of the blues, pastel green and sunny yellow is so charming in this foyer. It is not only refreshing, but sure to make everyone who enters this home feel ‘very welcomed.’

Our second to last stop is the land that surrounds our homes. If you are blessed to live on the ocean, (and don’t have to dream that you are, 🙂 your views alone will be captivating. If you do not live by or on the ocean, these are still some great ideas to enhance the natural loveliness of your yard and bring forth an abundance of beauty, peace and serene days to your lives. Alfresco dining , creating a floral arbor in your garden, sitting on your porch watching the sunset, and adding seafaring decor to your outside piazza with decorative sea shells and fresh, crisp, white lace table runners.

I love the wildflowers, straw basket, (great for gathering your sea shells,) summer hat and maritime throw amidst the weathered wooden fence. It goes to show you that almost every place on our property can use a little touch of love and ‘fixing up’ to bring forth charm and warmth.

OKAY….our seafaring journey has just about come to an end…I feel like I have been to the beach and back! 🙂 I wanted to leave you with a few ideas for a magical, dreamy, Maritime and “Merry -Time” 🙂 Christmas! 🙂 (I just got that as I was writing.) 🙂 I am amazed at how many ideas there are for a nautical Christmas theme… Not only is it a beautiful decor style for everyday life, but it is eminently eye catching at the most wonderful time of the year. ENJOY even though Christmas is a ways away…( But…have you heard of “Christmas in July?”) (“Just saying”…) 🙂

Welcome your guests with a beautiful, fetching alfresco Christmas tree, adorned with starfish, sand dollars, as well as ocean blue, silver and white decorative balls. (Don’t forget the enchanting, twinkling white lights! ) 🙂

This certainly would change the memories of the traditional festivity of “Bringing Home The Tree,” (the day after Thanksgiving,) wouldn’t it? Yes, Christmas by the sea is very romantic, magical and sublime.

I love these very ‘unique and informal’ Christmas stockings hanging from the mantle, all homemade in alluring red, white and blue.

This mantle is much more formal, yet very refreshing, taking a turn from the norm. These photos and ideas make me want to rent a cottage at the beach for Christmas… (Or change my whole house for the holidays to create this enchanting seafaring ambiance.) 🙂

A beautiful nautical Christmas tree…I love the mixture of the light blues and whites…and the tree topper is gorgeous!

This table top tree is adorable and accents the color of the walls to a “T.” (And it would be an easy decorative addition to create.)

I love the traditional Christmas tree, but this one gives you a little magic and awe of both styles…the decorative shells yet ample decorations of the glorious reds and greens… A very festive and picturesque tree, evoking the joy inside of us as we think of Christmas’ past. (As children, we always wondered how Santa could get down that fireplace chimney…) 🙂

This nautical tree is not only striking but magically kaleidoscopic. It’s abundance of sea shells amongst the colorful ornaments, (I love the purple added in,) is very alluring. (The mermaid tree topper is so unique and definitely brings this tree to life.)

Rustic and enchanting garlands with miniature white lights to bedeck the outdoor porch for the holidays…How about adding a string of sea shells, intertwining them within the greens and berries? What a great idea for the enchanting season.

WOW, a white Christmas dream come true, right on the ocean! I still find it miraculous to see a fresh snowfall on the sandy shore of the beaches. This charming tree, the warm fire burning, and the inviting alfresco dining, is a wondrous Idea for a cozy Holiday evening. (Bundle up and make some homemade beef stew with a loaf of hot bread …That would be the perfect, wintry dinner.) 🙂

For the front porch, decorating the balustrades with this picture-book, festive cheer is breathtaking. The decor is traditional, yet against the soft yellows and whites of this regal home, it looks incredibly stunning. For a more nautical look, you could add some starfish and lighthouse ornaments amongst the lush greens. What a great way to welcome home your loved ones for the holidays!

Celebrating the season in a rustic, yet a bit formal wintry wonderland style, with the feel of the sea being close by would be heavenly. Winter whites are hard to beat in setting a festive, holiday table and the tree, adorned with shells and sand dollars combined with the pearl like strands, is very Victorian, lovely and elegant.

A cozy summer, beach house, embellished with Christmas cheer! (Though it doesn’t look like snow is in store for this Balboa Island, CA. cottage home. ) The blue and white home bedecked with the festive and cheery red is so lovely…

A very simple and beautiful Christmas wreath for your front door! (I think I will make one of these for this upcoming Christmas…) Very soothing and calming. This wreath reminds me of my childhood years … You know the days when you’d lay in the freshly mowed grass and look up at the sky, mesmerized by the wonder of the stars and bright lit moon, on the clear, balmy summer nights?

This home went all out with it’s maritime decor… I love how all the colors chosen in this festive garland go PERFECTLY with the sandy brown paint color of the home, accented by the bold whites and the rich, dark wood of the front doors . (The decor even draws in the color of the shudders! ) Very Classy!

Lastly, a tranquil, serene and festive holiday table … Again, there is nothing like the combination of the color and textures of blue and white, sea shells, accompanied by natures beloved hue of green. (I would have never thought up the idea of a bench painted blue and white….it’s so pretty!)

OK, I am now ready for a hot, freshly brewed, cup of coffee and something to eat after this home tour! 🙂 Happy house creating….Enjoy bringing forth your individual and magical nautical home as you add some new ideas to your abode. Whether you decide to just change one room or change them all, treat yourself to the house decor that fulfills YOU and surround yourself with all the things YOU LOVE!

( And no, I do not think that mermaids are real! 🙂 Well maybe in the dreams and imaginations of our children… 🙂

Charming and alluring hutches!

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Susan

If there is one piece of furniture that never goes out of style, is diverse in all it’s many purposes and can be embellished with a cornucopia of fresh, creative decor, it is the ever famous, beloved and charming HUTCH! For me, our hutches speak loudly of home, history, collections and hobbies, create the MOOD of our room, display delectable hot cuisine, celebrate the joyous wealth of our adored seasons, create great conversations, bring froth “the perfect lighting,” to add to the ambiance of our rooms, and say, WELCOME, take your shoes off, get comfy and stay awhile! 🙂

There is nothing quite as warm , inviting and cozy as a ‘Country Cottage Hutch.” 🙂

The DISTINGUISHED QUOTE CORNER:

“Home is where somebody notices when you are no longer there.” ~ Alek Sander Hemon

“Winter is the time for comfort, good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for talking beside the fire: It is the TIME FOR HOME.” ~ Edith Smith…. (Talking beside the hutch is warm and cozy too! 🙂

“Home is the nicest word there is.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

“A man travels the world over, in search of what he needs and returns HOME to find it.” ~ George Augustus Moore

” If ever I go looking for my hearts desire again, I will not look any further than my own backyard . Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” ~ L. Frank Baum, The wonderful Wizard of Oz.

“There is no place like home.” ~ L. Frank Baum

It is so true…Home is where the heart is. Whether it is your favorite hutch bedecked with all the things you love, your romantic or blue and white bedroom, the cozy kitchen, luxurious bathroom or the person or people who reside there with you that have captured your heart... they all are your HOME. I love the movie under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes. In the end of the film, Diane Lane, (playing Francis in the movie,) makes a comment I will never forget.She says, ( as she is summing up her life in her new home in Tuscany, Italy; “What are four walls anyway? They are what they contain…the house protects the dreamer, unthinkable things can happen, even if it is late in the game. It is such a surprise.” If you saw the movie you would know that yes, it was the romantic Villa that caught her eye, but it was the people who helped her renovate it along with her neighbors and new friends who became her family and made her house her home. Just seeing that movie and reading the novella makes me want to live in Tuscany…especially the way Italians celebrate such wondrous cuisine and camaraderie. ( I just do not care for all the scorpions!) 🙂

Though our homes truly are the people we love and abide with, it is also a place where our joys and memories tarry… Some of our felicity and blissfulness linger in the very things we have picked up a long the way…Each piece of furniture my husband and I have, has either come from an inheritance, (thus bringing back many cherished memories from our family and origins,) or pieces we have chosen and purchased together. Our havens are a delightful hodgepodge of collections, a mixture of the old and new…and for me, our hutches, (we have three of them,) have so much history and are so diverse within their architecture, they are some of my favorite pieces of furniture in our home.. ) And oh- so- much- fun to decorate.) 🙂 Remember I shared with you that for some, “Less is more?” Then there are those where “More is more.” OK, I am one of the More is more people. 🙂 (Just a heads up!) 🙂

Here is one of my favorite hutches within our home…This is it ” Before.” 🙂

This is the hutch “After.”

This antique Spanish hutch is nestled in our “romantic style” bedroom. It is a hutch that sets the mood for our room... I inherited it from a family member. Because so much of my decor style is Victorian and country-cottage, I took the ‘vision’ I had inside of my heart, and created the hutch the way I wanted it to look. (Spanish architecture is not my decor style.) For others, their style would be completely different, creating their inner ‘expression’ that makes them happy, revealing their personality. That is why decorating is so personal.

This next hutch brings forth the great idea of displaying beloved heirlooms... Our hutch is a showcase for all of our treasured gifts from gladsome travels. It is also the perfect place to show off our collections, whether it be antique tea sets, family silver, crystal stemware, sea shell collections or antediluvian and timeless china. Whatever makes you happy, dauntlessly take it out of your boxes and display it for every eye to behold. I guarantee you that you will find yourself smiling and remembering many happy and endearing memories everyday.

These next hutches are definitely a conversation piece and will have everyone asking you the questions, (where did you get this? How old is it? Is it European? French?) Whether you have one item displayed upon it’s stunning and elegant shelves or a myriad of countless, treasured trinkets, it will be ‘the center of attention’ in any room you place it. The regal woods, articulate designs, and appearance is anything but simple and ordinary…both hutches are exceedingly ornate and stunning! Perfect in a dining room or Living room. I would display topiary trees, dishes, photographs, or my collection of coffee table books on these exquisite hutches.

This lovely hutch is an ideal way to add cozy lighting in your room. Many hutches have lights built within them and lowering the wattage creates a softer, more romantic glow. Candle light is very cozy and heartwarming. I always place votive or tea light candles on my hutches and not only do they enhance the charm of the hutch, but our entire room. For a different look, interlace tiny, miniature white lights within grapevine or floral garlands draped upon your hutch to create a soft, amber glow and create a fairy- tale-like ambiance.

One of my favorite ways to display and embellish our hutches is to decorate them for each of the four glorious seasons. Every winter, summer, autumn and spring, I can hardly wait to get out my seasonal decor and work away, creating and bringing the season to life, enhancing the beautify of our hutches as well as our rooms. I still have not decided my favorite holiday to decorate our hutches. My decision changes every season. 🙂 It is so hard to compare the beauty and majesty of Christmas to the the time of harvest, changing leaves and kaleidoscopic colors when autumn arrives in all it’s charm with so many fabulous and creative ideas. 🙂

For summer, fresh flowers, blue and white china, ivory tea pots, topiary trees, candles and decorative items that are light and airy are ideal for dressing up our hutches. Also, seasonal fruits, a summer wreath, crystal stemware with your favorite Chardonnay tucked away in a Tera-cotta wine holder, sea shells, or great summer novellas make for great decor. Create summer and it’s buoyant and canty beauty upon your hutches lovely and intricate shelves.

The autumn season with it’s abundance of golden hues of reds, yellows, gilded golds, browns and purple, remind every guest as well as your family that fall has finally arrived. Cooler nights, natures bounty of color returning to our neighborhoods and pumpkin carving parties, trips to the Renaissance Fair, visits to the Apple festivals and Oktoberfest gala’s are right around the corner.

I decorate our hutches with pumpkins, fall garlands, autumn scented candles, warm rich china of golds and sage or hunter green, scarecrows, red apples, cranberry-red roses, fresh green garlands with shimmering lights and miniature pumpkins placed within the hanging greens. Petite gourds and dried autumn flowers are also decor that will create coziness and catch the eye of your family and guests.

In the delightful winter season, Christmas is my all out ‘celebration time’ of the year so I go absolutely crazy with my decor. These next hutches are both subtle and jubilant as they gesture to our hearts to greet the arrival of the new season of joy and glad tidings. Whether with creamy Lenox china, bright bows, fresh greens, candle lights, small topiary trees, wintry holiday themed plates, Christmas china or red berries, display all of your favorite Christmas collections upon your august and enchanting hutch.

Lastly, our beloved Spring! There is an abundance of decor for spring time. These hutches invite this awesome season in and persuades all of it’s colorful beauty to stay around for awhile. You can never go wrong with ceramic bunnies, (whether in white, pastel or earthy, rich colors,) topiary trees, fresh flowers, blue and white china, an abundance of fresh greens and the mixture of yellows and whites. Why are the colors yellow and white, when mixed together so alluring and beautiful? White is representative of purity, goodness, innocence, and considered to be the color of perfection. Yellow is cheerful, jovial, warm and represents hope…combine them together and you can feel this duo’s gracious gift of serenity to the soul.

Have you ever thought or heard of a ‘hutch for the garden?’ Yes, now there are hutches to place outside for garden tools and accessories. They really are quite charming. Of course the number one decor item for these quaint creations are natures bounty, fresh flowers… (Maybe sneak in a few bunnies, ducks or squirrels. 🙂

Another purpose for the ingenious creation of the ‘hutch’ is a place for our men to place some of their favorite things, trophies, photographs or maybe even a TV? Yes, It is going to be in their study or ‘man cave’ so leave it up to them to create and decorate in their own style…(In our home, my husbands study is off limits to my fingers 🙂 )

One of my favorite types of hutches is the kitchen nook hutch…It adds so much warmth and coziness to the kitchen. Some great decorative ideas are cookbooks, everyday china, adorable ceramic chefs, dried flowers, decorative tea towels, hot cocoa mugs, colorful candies in authentic candy jars…the list goes on and on. These hutches are not only decorative, but very useful!

The Dining room hutch is probably the most popular, as many of the dining room sets that you purchase are accompanied by a matching hutch. This hutch is another prosaic piece of furniture and is usually filled with fine china’s, leaded crystal, china tea pots, and family silver. I enhance my hutch with bunnies, winsome wreaths, a “Bistro” throw, decorative painted plates as well as votive and tea light candles.

Another popular dining room addition to the hutch or in some cases, within your hutch, is the old fashioned sideboard. This is a place to display all of your cuisine before and while you are dining.

The hutch in this photograph is in back of this gorgeous table!

All of your hutches in the dining room that have a bottom shelf that is not glassed in or closely connected with an upper-shelf, can be used as a sideboard. You have two other options.Go shopping and purchase for yourself, a new, authentic and gallant sideboard, (that would make for a ‘supper-fun’ shopping day,) 🙂 or you can also add a ‘homemade’ sideboard to your dining room. I am blessed to have a hutch that has a ample sized lower shelf that I use as a sideboard. I also use an ornate, cherry wood, antique dresser that I inherited from my parents, (the first piece of furniture they bought when they got married in 1945.) It is covered with an elegant, embroidered table runner and lends me extra space so that I may display my side-dishes, casseroles, salads, bread, coffee carafe, ice tea and desserts. These hutches above are very classy , cozy as well as convenient.

Here are just a few of the foods you can place on your hutch (or sideboard,) to help you with serving…Have fun! (And take time to enjoy your cuisine, company and newly embellished hutch.) 🙂

Whether you are out looking for that perfect hutch, have one that needs restoration out in the garage, (maybe it’s perfect for your garden hutch,) or you have several hutches that need a ‘little dressing up’, I hope that this blog has brought you inspiration and some wonderful ideas. It has for me!

Happy Hutch Creating!

PHOTOGRAPHS: In Placing your computer mouse upon any of the graphics or photos, it will display where the pictures originated from.

LINKS: will be arriving soon.

The Manly Bedroom

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Susan

“This is a mans world…but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl.” ~ James Brown

When a man shows off his personal taste in the design and decor of his bedroom, it opens up a new part of his soul’s expression of who he is inside. In my opinion, there is nothing more handsome and regal than the Ralph Lauren bedroom collection with its royal decor, linens and baronial furniture.

THE DISTINGUISHED QUOTE CORNER:

“Great men have great discipline.” ~ Habeeb Akande

“It’s not the men in your life that matters, it’s the LIFE in your men.” ~ Mae West

“Nothing is more appealing than a handsome man who is also uncertain of himself.” ~ Laurell K. Hamilton

“You can stop a raging forest fire, a herd of stampeding buffalo or even a runaway freight train, but you can’t stop a good man.” ~ John Paul Warren

“The strength of a man isn’t seen in the powers of his arms. It’s seen in the love with which he embraces you.” ~ Steve Maraboli

Create your bedroom to be a place where happy memories will amble and tarry. Remember that the complimentary accessorizes are the very things that make a room captivating and galvanic. Men observe their bedrooms dissimilar than a woman does. No two men are the same either in their style of decor as they are eminently diverse in how they express themselves through decor. To some men, it is exceedingly important to have ‘just the right look and decor,’ in the master bedroom where as others, just want a comfortable mattress, a widescreen TV, a bedside table to keep there favorite books upon as well as their remote control. They will however choose a color palette that befits them. (Most men I know don’t have bright yellow or a rosy pink as their primary color. ) 🙂 Many men prefer the style and decorating of the master bedroom to be done by their mate. (Usually because he wants to bless her to be free to decorate it her own way, knowing how blissful that makes her feel, or because they actually already have a second bedroom…their man-cave! 🙂 My husband has a study that is 100 percent HIS. It is understood in our home that I can put a small nautical tree up at Christmas time, (that is his decorative theme along with a myriad of photographs of Grantham, our Briard dog, a few of me,) 🙂 and a masculine throw on his wing back chair, but other than that, no womanly touches are allowed. (He will not say no to a decorative cup of coffee or a floral plate with hot banana bread on it though!) 🙂 He says it fits his counter top decor. 🙂 Some men have a game room where they enjoy having their buddies over to watch an adventure -action movie, share a few beers, play pool and grab a few hours of “man-cave” time, (bringing back childhood memories as pearlescent as light, just as if it were yesterday when they were so slaphappy and debonair.)

When my husband and I got married, I will never forget the day we moved all of our belongings in to our new haven together. As I struggled and bumbled with a picture he simply adored, to go atop of our mantle and fireplace, (my father just happening to be there listening,) smiled and said, “Susan, marriage is all about compromise and your husband absolutely loves that picture.” Did I really have to give in? It didn’t fit my decor at all… I wanted a picture of a cottage by the ocean or a framed tapestry picture. But, let me tell you, the joy that I received in my heart, as I saw his eyes light up at his photo on the wall, was incomparable to the picture I wanted to hang there. Compromise! 🙂 (OK, dad, you were right!)

I grew up with five brothers. When we all lived under one roof in our Brobdingnagian, suburban home, they all shared what is called a Bonus room…(kind of like an extra large dorm room for guys…) it was all their own. When I walked into that room, I could tell where each one of my brothers slept and which area of the room they dauntlessly decorated for themselves. Before I knew it, and to quick for me, they all grew up, left that Bonus room and four of them, some sooner than later, got married. When I visit their homes now as a grown woman, I have to say, I genuinely love each of their homes… They all moved on to launch their own lively traditions but have truly preserved and cherished some of the old. Each of their master bedrooms are very nicely done and even though filled with their mates touches, reflect their interests and personalities to a ‘T.’

Each brother unquestionably has a style that is all their own.

One loves simple, clear lines, not a lot of clutter and his decor of choice? Nautical.

My little brother and his spouse share the same, veracious, good taste and have decorated their home in such a manner that it looks like a photo right out of a Ralph Lauren Magazine. It is by far, my very favorite home in the world…Three stories, exquisite hardwood floors and decorative items displayed from all the enchanting places they have traveled, world wide. They truly believe that in all their travels the world has become a classroom to them and their home shows an abundance of careful thought, planning, diversity and beauty. (Especially their bedroom.) (They have a fireplace to die for!) 🙂

My oldest brother loves the way in which we grew up with very “Early American” decor. When my mom passed away and my father remarried, he inherited some beautiful pieces from our childhood home. See if you can guess the way he expresses himself through the decor and accessories he has chosen?

My brother that is ‘in the middle of the birth order,’ who also got married, loves antiques and is quite an admirer of early American decor as well. He was an awesome and sensational surfer in his younger days and am sure, takes out a few memorabilia every once in awhile to ponder those happy, carefree years and his love for the ocean.

My last brother, the one who never married and that we lost suddenly a few years ago, had what I call an “Enchanting master bedroom.” It was magical…it gave you the feeling upon entering its doors of being at Disneyland and just like his little sister, 🙂 he changed the decor of his room with each of the four wondrous seasons. His charming style was quite ecliptic, sundry and animated. His decor as a man, very alluring. He had no fear in expressing himself and he always knew exactly what he wanted in his home. He lived in Corona Del Mar with a view of Balboa Island and the Pacific ocean from his living room. The magic of life by the ocean carried over into his entire home. I miss him and that house immensely. (The ‘guest’ room he always gave to us while we visited from Arizona and Virginia, was his favorite room, the master bedroom.).

As much as I adore the romantic bedroom, I would enjoy each of these bedrooms as they are done so nicely, with great taste and all reflect the brother I grew up with and the men that they are now. They are all warm, cozy and inviting. (The bedrooms, not the brothers.) (Just kidding!! 🙂 They are all exceedingly wonderful men and brothers.

For those of you men who are lovers of a very masculine, classy, refined bedroom, here are some decorative ideas for you. A coffee table book on classic cars, antique woods and a sage green, striking throw, a years subscription to Ralph Lauren magazines to display, a four poster, antique bed with rich browns, greens, blues, reds and burgundy and the classic and famous painting , “The Hunt.” (My husband has always loved that masterpiece.) Lastly Ralph Lauren puts out a stellar catalog with an array of items to order from his august store. His collection is so regal, warm and classy. I’d trade my Romantic bedroom for his style any day. 🙂 Well maybe…there would have to be fresh flowers, our wedding photos and some chintz china in there! 🙂 (Also a candle, teddy bear and garlands around the hutch…) 🙂

These manly bedrooms are more on the decorous, dressy side… but very cozy, magnetic and all designed in superb taste!

Remember, all of us have within us a signature style that originated from our roots, adventures, travels in life, our hobbies, passions and life experiences. Everyone is different and unique. Some men love formal, others classy and refined, nautical or lay back. Fill your room with what YOU love, and what you and your spouse love. (By the way, compromising with your mate is not a honeymoon phase…it lasts until your rocking on your porch in your golden years together and even longer yet ) 🙂 Make sure you decorate your room with your favorite style and colors, along with all the things you love. You can never go wrong!

I secretly want to order this decorative dog for my husband’s study. He’ s a big Tom Selleck fan and I think they look a lot a like… (The dog and Tom 🙂 Somehow, I think it would end up in our romantic bedroom 🙂

Credits for Photographs – In placing your computer mouse over any photo or graphic, it will display where the picture originated from.

LINKS: To understand our newly added links to the Living Winsomely site, please read the blog “WE NOW HAVE LINKS” category. 🙂

Additional Links:
Victoria Magazine
Country Living magazine

Living Winsomely

A site to share home decorating ideas as well as ways to bring an abundance of beauty into your lives.

Category Archives: Decor

Your Toddlers Magical Kingdom

Winsome living in a Vintage Home.

“All Aboard” the maritime home.

Charming and alluring hutches!

The Manly Bedroom