I love the light, bright cottage look, but I'll always have a soft spot for primitive decor, which is how I used to decorate. Just today, I came across some old pictures from the 90's...
The photos below show the furniture before my 'makeovers,' when it was still stained dark brown, and before the blue chandelier was painted white. The jelly cupboard still sits in that same corner, but back then the hutch was turned to make a dividing wall between the dining area and living room, and the trestle table was positioned differently. Also absent are the old windows we eventually hung above the half wall ...
(click on this picture to enlarge all 3 photos)
The first photo was mid-90's with stenciling on the upper walls; the next two were from the late 90's, after we'd purchased new chairs (the old ones were falling apart), put up a Warren Kimble wallpaper border, and painted the lower walls... But I sure don't miss our old wall to wall carpeting! With kids, cats, and dogs, it always needed to be steam cleaned!!
It was fun coming across these as I hadn't seen them in quite a while. I really like the prim look but the older I get, the more I prefer a lighter color palette (maybe it has something to do with wanting the house be bright and cheerful during the long, dark New England winters!)...
Donna
18 comments:
I just loved your "before" and "after" shots, Donna. I agree with you, I like the lighter look these days (I was a "knee-deep in country kinda gal"). I still love my favorite antiques, but I LOVE black painted furniture against my greenish, tanish, goldish wall color (which is really light). The words "black furniture" don't really sound light, but it is a great mix. A little more traditional I think than anything. I love the shabby white look, too!
Your "squirrel gulch" photos were the best! Are your little chippers hanging out on the ladder, too? There is nothing worse than a hot squirrel--ya just better not mess with him! :-)
I even like the decor "then". It's apparent you have an "eye", that's for sure.
I too have been moving toward a lighter/brighter palette and the reason I gave my hubby was because in the fall/winter I need some brightness on those days that are gray.
We often look back at pictures of our house and wonder why we liked it! It's great to see what you've done through the years. I love your dining room.
~Adrienne~
Wow! If you didn't say it yourself, I wouldn't beleive that room belonged to you! I used to love, that old primitive style myself! Though, I think it will always have a place in my heart... and getting A Country House Catalog in the mail always sets me back to loving it. :o)
Hi Donna!
Love your magazine covers and the price is the BEST I've seen!!
Hugs, Sherry
I loved seeing your before and after pics! As much as I adore primitive, and have that in my own home, I think your home looks so much nicer in the cottage style. Not sure why, except that maybe the lighter colors and textures seem to open it up. I guess your house was asking for that change and is glowing now! :)
I love your furniture painted white, Donna. All my furniture looks like your "before" photo but I can't take the next step as yet. I guess someday I might get the courage to try.
I love it much more now, sweetpea. Some of the dark chairs are EXACTLY what's underneath my chair covers now! I'd paint them white except the covers take care of that chore for me. :-)
Smoochies,
Connie
Oh wow Donna...I just realized we have the exact same chairs in our dining rooms! LOL! I posted my dining room pics last week..go check them out! So, of course, ya know I am gonna like it!
~Angie
Donna it is hard to believe that it is the same dinning room. I love the before and after photos. Such a difference,I must say that I love the redo so much light and bright. It looks great on the magazine cover. You did a wonderful job on redoing it.Love all the pretties in the room. Just gorgeous.
Hugs;
Alaura
Hi Donna, I just LOVE your opening photograph!!!...especially the your chair covered in a charming fabric!!! At first glance I thought you may be living in a little cottage in the English countryside! All the white looks so fresh, light & lovely!...But I have to say I like the more primitive style too!...I have combined the white walls & open spaces with adding blue & brown primitive pieces & the combination works well for me!...Your styles & home are out of the pages of Romantic Home magazine!....I'll be back to visit again!...Heidi XO
Donna, you makeover is beautiful. That chandelier is to die for!
However, I do understand your love of the more primitive dark furniture. I think it gives us a feeling of belonging to our past...a feeling of where we come from.
xoxoxo,
Deborah
Wow, what a transformation! I love your pretty, pale color palette! And that flowered tablecloth is beautiful!
xoxo,
Mary
Hi Donna :)
This makes me want to find pictures of my old house, but then again maybe not LOL
Beautiful before and after :)
hugs,
rue
I love the dining room photo! With Shabby, your Prim is just wearing a white coat is all. :) Ok, and maybe a rose or two scattered about and some shells. My Country decor went White and it ain't goin' back. There's something very sooooothing about white and I intend to keep it that way. Especially with it teetering on 100* since mid July and the blinds drawn, white makes it cool and inviting.
LOVE your place!!
Melissa
While I am a "shabby chic" kind of girl, I also like some prim. Our downstairs family room is done in country prim and darker colors. It is such a warm look; especially at holiday time!
Thanks for sharing!!
:)
You're dining room from the 90s is something I would have adored in the 90s, but I really, really love what you've done with it now! I adore all the white furniture and your pretty accents! You have a talent with transforming furniture!
Kady
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