Updating the old bedroom set...

Although we're completely revamping the bedroom, I couldn't bring myself to part with anything but the old king size pencil post bed.

I actually love all the pieces that went along with the bed, so we're keeping them. We purchased the entire set at an unfinished furniture store back in 1989 and then "we" (aka hubby) stained it dark brown (Jacobean Minwax). 

It has served us well over the years and the drawers are as strong and sturdy as they were when we first bought it.

Of course Baby had to check everything out before we started painting.

I got all of the pieces painted within 2 days because we had a tight deadline. The painting had to be done before the floor people arrived.

Mission accomplished! The floors went down and the newly painted furniture went back into the bedroom.

Painting everything white really gave the set a whole new look. By putting an applique above the mirror....

... and replacing the old wooden knobs with glass ones, the set took on more of a cottage/farmhouse look rather than the previous country/primitive look.

One thing that didn't change was the boudoir chair that I've had for close to ten years. I always said that when I eventually updated the bedroom, this chair would be the inspiration for my color scheme.

And is this not the cutest little vintage wicker hamper? $4 at Savers. I couldn't pass it by!

More of the bedroom to come. There's still a LOT to be done, but little by little!

Have a great week, everyone!

Donna

The bedroom is finally saying goodbye to the 80's...

It's been a long time coming, but we've finally started to update our poor neglected bedroom.

This was how it looked back in the 80's, about 26 years ago. A mauve wallpapered accent wall behind the bed, wallpaper border on the other three walls, and a quilt with matching pillows.

This was the extent of any 'updating' that was done over the years. A new comforter, shams, and pillow, some framed artwork, and a couple of small shelves on either side of the bed. The nightstands that came with the bedroom set were always at the foot of the bed because they wouldn't fit on either side of the bed.

When I say the bed was pretty much wall-to-wall, I am not kidding. For the past 26 years, due to the pencil post style, we have had to walk sideways like crabs along the side walls in order to climb into bed each night.

Not even a child's shoulders would fit through the narrow space between the posts and the walls.

So we decided it was high time for a make-over. The bed was disassembled...

... and the wallpaper was taken down.

How lucky were we that each wallpaper strip just pulled right off???

It wasn't quite so easy to remove the wallpaper border, but it's now history as well.

The bed was sold on Craigslist...

... and EVERYTHING else was moved out of the room so the old 34-year old wall-to-wall carpeting could be removed and hardwood floors put down. And the remaining pieces of bedroom furniture have now been painted a creamy white. More photos to come in my next post!

And just so I don't end this post with a DRAB photo, here's a picture from our overgrown weed garden (with a few flowers thrown in for good measure!)... I haven't been spending nearly enough time back here since we're doing so much inside the house. Hopefully I'll get out there soon!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home this week for Show & Tell Friday.

Donna

Periwinkle it is!

 It's one of my all time favorite colors, and yet I never decorate with it.

Until now!

I've had this old, beat up bird house that I've been wanting to make over. I don't actually mind the rustic siding. It was the dingy, dark green roof that really needed some sprucing up.

So I cleaned it off and gave it a quick coat of Bahama Purple by Delta Ceramcoat (which I believe has {sadly} been discontinued).

Much better! 

The perfect punch of color along the back fence.

The two birds came off of a birdbath that unfortunately did not make it through this crazy New England winter, despite having been covered under a tarp with a lot of other garden decor.

This last photo, with the bunny and the moon, reminds me of a favorite book I used to read to my girls when they were little, "Goodnight Moon."

This week I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday

and Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

I hope you all have a great week!

Donna

 At long last...

... spring has arrived in the Northeast.

Everyone, including Baby, is walking around with a look of bliss upon their faces.

Baby, being much calmer today than she has been for the past week...

... when she insisted on 'helping' me with my most recent paintings!

Hoping you are all enjoying a beautiful spring!

Donna

Baby, Blizzards, and Bluebirds...

Massachusetts has seen more than its fair share of snow these past few weeks,

with yet another 12" or so due on Monday.

Even Baby doesn't know what to make of it.

In other news, the bluebirds are daily visitors...

... with the main draw being both the meal worms...

... and the heated birdbath.

(yes, the heated birdbath really is there, mid-blizzard, with enough of a warm water oasis 

that the birds were able to drink to their hearts' content).

I love these 'in-flight' photos.

It seems like someone is always coming or going.

And I've found the bluebirds to be very curious...

...  and not the least bit fearful when they see me in the window.

As a matter of fact, when I sprinkle the meal worm on the screen feeder

and do my little clucking sound for them,

... they start landing on the feeder before I've even completely shut the window.

 Their second favorite food source is suet. You can see a bluebird perched on the

 shepherd's hook that one of our suet baskets hang from.

The cardinals, not nearly as trusting as the bluebirds, are very wary of me in the window, so capturing this handsome fellow on the feeder with one of the bluebirds was quite a treat. Until last year, I'd never even seen a bluebird, and now we are graced with flocks of them visiting the feeders of the house we've lived in for over 33 years! 

They certainly add to the view outside our dining room window!

I'll be joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday this week.

Till next time, stay safe and warm, everyone!

Donna

The storm before the calm...

The blizzard has arrived...

After Saturday's snowstorm, the whiskey barrel was still visible. Not anymore.

There truly is a table under that mountain of snow...

A brave little junco sits on the railing.

There will be much shoveling to be done, for sure.

The mailboxes are almost completely covered.

So happy I made a ton of roasted vegetables and potatoes last night.

They will taste very good tonight.

I hope you are all staying warm and safe.

Donna

NOTE: To Gina, and anyone else - here's a link to a past post on roasted vegetables. A have to say, though, that I do fiddle around with the temperature a bit, usually between 400 and 450 degrees!
http://anenchantedcottage.blogspot.com/2009/11/roasted-vegetables.html