Hardware Clean Up

So, I never realized that the free piece we got off craigslist several months ago could take me as long as it did to get cleaned up/painted.  First, I tackled the hardware.  It was brass hardware that had basically turned almost black over time.

The piece before I started taking it apart...

Before:

Just like I did with the red desk, I used a mixture of vinegar and table salt to clean the brass up.  I don't know how much of each I used, but I basically filled a 9x13 glass pan with enough vinegar to cover the hardware and then I put a decent amount of salt in....maybe 1/8 cup?   I let it soak for a while, but it still wasn't looking as bright and shiny as I wanted it to.  I decided, since this piece was free and not 'precious' to me, I would use an SOS pad to help me get some of the grime/tarnish off of the hardware.

After - sorry for the bad night time shot...it really is amazing how normal household products can have such amazing results!

Basement Curtains

I feel like basement curtains aren't really a wise investment right now, but I am trying every which way to justify them.  The concrete walls just need to be softened up...and I think I would spend more time down there if I liked how it looked a bit more.

I have been obsessed with trying to locate a fabric that brings in lots of different colors so that I could hopefully reuse these curtains elsewhere once we move. For the basement, I would love a fabric with a colored background to bring as much color as possible, but looking forward, that may not be the most re-usable option.

Here are some of my current favorites...

Waverly Wonderama Toucan

Robert Allen Les Fauves Grasslands

Richloom Cornwall

Living Room - back in progress?

I had posted a while ago about the new rug I bought for the living room.  I do like the rug, but I'm thinking a couple of things...
1.  Why didn't I just pick all neutral colors for my house?  :)  I love pops of color, but I am feeling like this might be a bit too much.  I recently visited a new friend's house, and it was done in all neutrals and was so calming and lovely.  It made me want to come home and start from scratch!
 2.  I think my coffee table and end tables are a bit too heavy for the style of the rug.    I keep searching craigslist, but no great finds...yet!  I might lose my mind from running the same searches over and over and over again!!

Before:

Testing out the rug...

With all the furniture back in place...

Destination: Blooming Hill Farm

We have joined a CSA for the summer through Blooming Hill Farm.  I had never been out to the farm itself, but heard that it is very fun.  We decided to check it out one recent Saturday morning.  It was dreamy.  I didn't have very high expectations....but wow, this place is just precious.  I want to live in a place like this.  I found serious inspiration everywhere that I looked while we were there.  Our quick stop turned into a nice long visit with playtime in the stream and a yummy brunch.

Check out the attention to detail....

beautiful herbs...

loved the drink presentation!

quaint inside seating area...notice the flower box separating the shopping area from the eating area...cute!

YUM.

love.

notice the mountain rising in the background beyond the tables...

love the rustic charm that abounds...

I want that sign!

Stormville Flea

Stormville Flea is definitely worth the trip.  (CAUTION:  You may need a lot of patience - it took Paddy and I about an hour and ten minutes to drive the last two miles into the flea market - just stopped traffic all trying to get to the same place).   There were two sections of the flea market - the 'old' stuff and the 'new' stuff.  I was glad that they split the vendors up that way as I was really only interested in motoring through the old stuff.  If you are looking to eat, Paddy and I loved the grilled pretzels they have!

I went last month and came home with some fun finds.  I found a chair/ottoman, a fun 70's hanging light, some tulip bowls and a milk glass vase.

It is going on this weekend - I am contemplating trying to jet out there again - however, I would want to go super early to see if I could beat the traffic we got caught in last time!

My finds from May:
retro hanging lamp...

chair & ottoman from the 40s or 50s, for the nursery...

Change of a Dresser

Our master bedroom has been so ignored.  A few months ago, I finally painted my shabby chic dresser that I bought after graduating college.  What color?  Yellow.  Seems to be a completely unintentional theme in this house.  I just used some left over wall paint from the downstairs half bath.

Before:

Keeping it real...the piled up dog beds that Glory never slept on...and the rug that didn't match the Gray Owl walls...

After:

Dog beds are gone...split leaf philodendron has been added...

Spring never disappoints...

Neither do free blooms from outside....

The lily of the valley and lilacs are so fragrant, they stop me in my tracks.  Thank you, Mother Nature!

I am really digging hosta and fiddle leaf fig leaves as greenery these days...

Happy Spring!  Now...if we could just get some sunshine here this week :)

Destination: Glenmere Mansion

During my parents recent visit, we took my mom to the most fabulous place, Glenmere Mansion, to celebrate her 60th birthday. 

via Hudson Valley Magazine

Sean had read about this place, I did some online research, and we had some friends that highly recommended it.  I knew it was an old historic mansion that has been revived and turned into a boutique hotel.  I thought it would be a place that my mom would enjoy.  Let me tell you, it is eye candy overload.  No pictures do this place justice (and I didn't have my own camera, so I had to borrow my mom's)

One of the owners, Alan, was nice enough to take some time to give us a tour, and it was fun to get some additional background information on some of the pieces, the history of the place, etc.  The designer is Scott Snyder.  I absolutely love his style.

Library...the designer found this chandelier at an estate sale.  He wanted it because it was all black, well, after cleaning it, there was all this crystal and brass...it came from a tobacco estate, so it was just covered in tobacco residue!  Isn't it a beauty?

Isn't this so quaint...what an inviting room that someone can just go in the corner and work on a puzzle!

The GORGEOUS living room.  

There was so much natural light and the mixture of old and new furnishings was perfection.

oh my, I'll take two...

the orchids, the doors, the windows, oh my.

The supper room - with custom painted silk screens with scenes from the Hudson Valley...

Outdoor Area - boxwood heaven.  Off to the left (not pictured), they have a 'reading area' - how wonderfully decadent.

the birthday girl!

Okay, and I think my favorite may have been the bathroom.  I couldn't resist snapping a bunch of pics with my iPhone. It looked like there were little diamonds covering the walls...so glam.  Love.

We ate in their Frog's End tavern - my veggie sandwich was excellent!

And check out the meringue on Sean's cake...so over the top...gorgeous!

They even have a China room, where you can host private parties, and they have over 35 sets of China that the owners have collected over the years, and you can pick and mix and match what China you would like the meal served on.  So fun!

We were there a little to early to get the full effect of all the amazing outdoor spaces that they have...check out this image of the courtyard during good weather...

via Hudson Valley Magazine

I can't wait to go back....ahhhh.  I could share so much more...their attention to detail is superb.   Their spa is supposed to open later this year...hmmm...worth saving for?  Probably!  If you can spend $500 - $3500 per night for a room, you should go stay here! 

Light Change

My dad helped hang a chandelier that I bought last summer in Highland Falls (of all places!) while he was here.  At first, when he got it connected, the new-to-me chandelier was not working.  He ended up taking it down, checking out all the wiring...which all looked great.  He then tried again...to no avail.  But...low and behold!  Somehow we had blown a fuse...so after flipping the circuit breaker a couple of times, we were in business.  The chandelier should be a little larger for the space...but I can't tell you how happy it makes me, regardless.

Next time, I hope to not have such a fear of this and tackle it myself!  Thanks, Dad :)

Before:

After - again, wish I was a good photographer...