Some things you can't improve...

Hello all!  Okay, if you are covered in snow and not liking it, then divert your eyes for a few lines.... the weather in Tennessee is GORGEOUS!!!  I am a pretty positive person, but I am still a little worried that there may be an icky cold snap... so I am waiting on those ferns for the front porch.  Seriously, though, it is so nice and I have been feeling more alive!  Now, when it is 100+ with humidity here and you snowy ones have lovely warm, breezy weather, you can gently rub my face in your good fortune!

So, last week I showed the little changeroo that I did to my kitchen.  And here is why... we found a piece that I loved as is... so much, that I was determined to find a place (any place!) for it.

Some things you can't improve on... like that color!  And the aged patina of the paint.  Now, if you really look at this piece, it is obvious that a drunk (or impatient) man painted it (Yes, I said MAN!)   There are drips and runs and the rogue thumbprint.  But, that just adds to its character!  And I love it with all of those things!

I really like how the painter sort of covered the little decorative pieces... like he couldn't decide to leave them gold or paint over them.  Who cares though?  

Now, I think most of you know that I have a little *problem* with ironstone.  But, you may not know that I go ga-ga over mercury glass.  I used to have it all sitting out on a long table and I loved the look.  I had to move it quick when the boy starting walking (and running and ramming...) It was in the industrial cabinet and it looked crammed in there, and I was never thrilled with it.  So, after doing the switch, I was so glad that it all fit on here.  I have a few new pieces and some silver mixed in, but a lot of it is old.  I am still looking for a mirror or something above the mercury glass.  A mirror I bought last week didn't work, so it will go to the shoppe... and it is a beauty!

Now, I know I said I couldn't improve on the piece, but I couldn't resist lining the drawers with some vintage botanicals! So spring-y and happy!  This piece stores all of our downstairs linens and stuff like batteries and odds and ends that we don't have another place for (no junk drawer in the kitchen.)

All this changing has made me move on to the living room as well.  I have some plans for that room and a can of paint that is *begging* me to put it to good use.  That room is going to get a small makeover.  Soon.  Very Soon!

bye for now!

Boudoir Photos

Well, it is official.  The hyena is sick, which means I am soon to follow.  He is actually so sick that I am home with him (rough night) I asked him if he wanted me to go to work and he shook his head "no" so who am I to argue? It is hard enough for Mr. Hughes to work with a well baby hughes, let alone a sick one. 

We are slowly destroying our brain cells with multiple Thomas videos (we are taking a break from Thomas as I type with Finding Nemo, a personal favorite.)  I did manage to sneak away during na ptime to take some photos... no, not THOSE kind of boudoir photos... silly, dirty minds *wink*

But, our finished (for now) boudoir.

It has been awhile since I posted any photos of this space, but with a recent sale of a piece that I really, really adored, I was forced to redo some things.

This piece (named Gillian) replaced the piece I really, really loved (named Erin)

But, by replacing that piece, I convinced Mr. Hughes that the armoire that is "his" (let's face it... all the furniture is mine... we all know that right?)

It works so much better and opens up the room

Here is a close up of one of my favorite details... if I was giving a snooty home tour I would put on the perfect voice and tell you that this is a pair of antique mercury glass tiebacks... excellent condition with no desilvering... probably dating back to the late 1800s....

and I scored the pair on ebay for like $20!

and here is another detail that I love (no snooty voice here.)

This is my Pine Cone Hill that I bought at Rebecca's

Mommy loves some rumply white ruffles

Oh yeah... there is a double ruffle on the box shams...

and a few grain sack pillows and some linen shams make it a very hard bed to stay out of (get your minds out of the gutter.... this is where we read Owl Babies and The Lorax every afternoon when I get home.)

Mr. Hughes hates, loathes, abhores these two little dolls (reproductions) 

I am not sure how I truly feel about them.  I like them no doubt, but because he is so against them... well, that makes them irreplaceable treasures *double wink*

Oh, and I got that sparkly, dangly lamp at Pottery Barn years ago when I was getting 40% off and after I fell in love with an original at a flea market.  

These sconces... well, I love them.  And while I would love to have $18 Edison type bulbs in them, I like them as they are now... I rewired them with vintage type sockets and  twisted brown fabric covered cords with a repro plugs (which are sadly hidden behind the bed.)

This chest has been with us from almost the beginning of our marriage

It used to be blah boring oak

It looks so much better next to our blah boring carpet (hey, if I can't afford $25 Edison bulbs, I can't afford new carpet.)

Here is one of my quick projects that I completed during last Saturday's nap time

I just stapled a grain sack (that used to be on the bed as a makeshift body pillow)

into a vintage frame (that I painted, distressed and added a smidget of silverleaf)

and some pinchy hooks to hold and display my favorite necklaces

I stole the aqua table from downstairs and the little smoke stand from the library... small works since we don't have traditional lamps.

And, the photos over the bed?  Well, I told Mr. Hughes that I wanted to wake up under beautiful live oaks dripping with Spanish moss in Savannah.  

These were taken on our trip there.... so in a way, I do get to wake up under them.

These vintage suitcases hold many memories.... diplomas, notes from friends, coke bottle thick pink glasses from elementary school.... all those silly things us humans collect and can't part with.... well, I shoved them all in here.

Well, there it is... and in true Michelle fashion, I found a way to change it all when I found this today.

Love it, adore it, want to make it mine!

This room was a long time coming... I shouldn't have put off a space that we spend so much time in... I mean, I finished the laundry room before I "finished" this room. And who ever wants to spend time there?!?

Well, Nemo has been found, so I am sure we are up for more Thomas next....

Bye for now!

A Whole Bunch of Stuff Smooshed in One Post

Some days you just need to do something pretty.  Saturday, my house was driving me crazy.  Nothing was clean, clutter was everywhere.  So, instead of cleaning like crazy like  I should have, I took a break and cleaned off the dining room table and added a little bit of pretty...

I stepped outside the door  and snipped three gardenias from the topiary and floated them in a bowl of water.  I love this bowl... we got it on our anniversary trip to Savannah.  And, speaking of anniversary, thanks so much for all the wishes.... you want to know what I got?  Well, I got a cupcake cookbook.... I have been wanting one with pretty photos.  And, some other cake decorating books... I am thinking about taking a class soon.  And, just so you guys realize how spoiled I am, here is my big present....

yep... it is a vintage baby bathtub.... and he also got me some dirt and some flowers and here is what it looks like put together...

never mind that spilled dirt... I am a messy gardener

Next year it might be a drink trough, but for now, it is full of flowers.

We went out that day for a couples massage... heavenly... if I was rich, that is something I would have on a regular basis... 

A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Hughes brought home this little file organizer from Goodwill thinking I could use it for display in the booth.

Well, I decided it would be better use here.  My Great White Pottery Barn plates don't fit in our cabinets... the salad size do, but the dinner size don't.  They are ridiculously big... we eat off the salad size.  But, I registered for the set and maybe one day we will just have a giant over for dinner.  I had the plates stacked on a shelf above a table.  And, the top of our fridge wasn't just right, so I redid it.

Not bad for 2.99?  I didn't even paint it like I had planned.

I am working on a piece of furniture for the booth that I hope to show you soon... it caused a little bit of craziness at the Hughes Casa tonight, more on that later... I am going to finish my margarita and snuggle my monster!  bye for now...