Spring flips

I was very very busy last week- hence the lack of blog posts (sorry!). But have no fear- I was working on interior design, and I have two big new changes to show you. You may have noticed in the last blog- my floors are different! Not just different but improved. When we bought our house, one of the first things we did was tear up the carpet. The 3in wide pine floors were intact underneath, but had the most bizarre surface I'd ever seen. Someone at some point had been inspired by some world class laziness, and stained the floors a deep messy red shellac- but only around the area rugs that must have been on the floor at the time. So only the outer three  feet of our dining room and family room were stained, everything else was the raw pine- except where there were big smudges and streaks of stain, where that lazy person hadn't bothered to wipe up the excess stain---Anyway, FINALLY that problem has been solved. I rented a sander from Home Depot, sanded the floors in both rooms, stained them dark walnut, and 3 coats of polyurethane later- they're complete! Check out the befores and afters- and some pictures of my new spring decor!

So you can see how some of the floor was stained, some wasn't- And there's that monster of a sander looming in the corner.

Pretty right??? I'm so proud! It was a lot of work- but I think it turned out pretty smashing!

That's right, you can see the reflection of the radiator in the floors, that's how shiny they are!

New display on the white shelves- I just need one more antique pitcher now.

The enchanted consignments sign was a Christmas present from my parents that my dad found up at their flea market in Maine.

So the new addition here is- well the shiny redone floors, but also the tv stand. I got it for free off craigslist and painted it white. I was sitting in the family room a couple nights ago admiring the mirror and had to chuckle- other than the couch and tv- the mirror, at $50, was the most expensive thing in the room. The leather chair, tv stand, side table, and log holder were all free. Everything else was under $10. 

On the front porch. After a lot of thought- I decided this is where the ladder should reside.

See that cool painting under the piano teacher sign? I got that over the summer at the flea market for $15 (a lot for me). On my way out of the flea market I had two offers on it - one for $25, and one for $40. I declined both. I think it's a pretty special piece of folk art. I've been waiting for spring to put it up.

So as much as I liked the pumpkin colored chest in September, I've decided the color only works about 2 months out of the year- which is not enough. I'm going to paint it again tomorrow evening- I'm thinking a springy green- or maybe a pale watery blue- icy gray? I don't know.

That wrought iron armilary is a real antique- probably from 1900-1920. My parents got it for me for Christmas. It's currently my favorite antique I own ever. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile.

Looking into the dining room. I had this great large arched mirror I was going to put between the two doors. I painted it green (and it's not easy to paint a mirror), was all set to hang it, put in the nail and everything-- yeaaaa the mirror's too wide. In defeat, I put back the mirror that's been hanging there for a while. I'll have to save the green mirror for the upstairs once its finished.

Over the mantel

As I planned the spring decor, I began to realize that our over the mantel mirror, though handsome and sleek, was a bit heavy for the new light, airy look I was working towards. I love having something to hunt for, and so began a full scale search for something new to put over the mantel. I was pretty sure I wanted it to be a mirror as well, but funkier, and more interesting. Sometimes lightening strikes, and such was the case in the mirror situation. I looked for a grand total of two days, and then found the most beyond perfect mirror EVER for the unreasonably reasonable price of $50. Love LOVE it. Luckily, it was still available. And so, I drove about 40 minutes down to the shore on New Years day to pick up this most perfect piece of architectural art. I think it dates to c. 1880-1900. It was the most wonderful way to start the New Year, standing right next to the beach, cool air blowing on shore, amazing mirror safely loaded into the yellow truck. I had started writing this post before I found the new mirror- so here are some other pictures of over mantel mirrors I like, and my old mirror, and the new one. Happy New Year!

A little dark and somber- handsome yes, but all I want to see now is light and bright and springy!

So this big guy weighs about 75 pounds, and it was an epic battle trying to mount it over the mantel.  But look at the lovely swirling of the carved wood and gesso. So elegant!

And with the whole fireplace- boy that brick really needs to be paint- but don't let that distract you- look at the gorgeous mirror!

Simple and white- this mirror adds a sense of peace to the room. 

I love this- the large mirror with the wreath of twigs. The whole room is perfect. The scale is so impressive, but the decor keeps the space warm and inviting. 

Well, I know it's a little christmas flash back, but I imagine this mirror is a stunner year round.

So organic feeling with that luminescent mother of pearl frame!

SO PRETTY- and the pair of mirrors is quirky and unexpected. What a great space.

A step up

The primary problem that I face with Christmas shopping is self control. I frequently see things that I want to buy for myself. Sometimes I fold and buy them, sometimes I don't, but let's just say there is a healthy pile of presents under our tree this year marked "To: Kate, From: Kate". Self control is overrated anyway...
And on that vein- look at the fabulous gift that I got myself yesterday while out Christmas Shopping for my father! (I managed to find the perfect gift for him too).
I have been admiring vintage step ladders at all the flea markets and tagsales for at least two years now. I love them all, but I just hadn't found the perfect one (at the prefect price). And then, from across the room of the antique shop yesterday, I spotted this gem. Look at the color! The construction! Who on earth decided to paint it that color? And it's old, and the paint's old- so I think it was actually that color to start it's life. That paint was certainly not artificially aged. I want to put it in the corner of our family room for our spring flip. It might be too avant garde for the husband though, in which case I'll have to put it in our enclosed front porch. Someday, when we finally finish our upstairs, it's going in the master bedroom.
Here are pics of mine, and some other great step ladders too!

In person the buttery yellow is bright and warm, and is so amusingly contrasted with the bright kelly green.

I don't know much about ladders, so I wouldn't want to venture a guess at age. The construction elements and the wear on the paint make me think it's quite old though.

So charming. So sweet. So prefect. Merry Christmas to me!

Everything about this little vignette screams spring.  

I adore this room. The milky white and cherry red colors give it an airy Swedish feel. The step ladder not only allows access to the highest books on the shelf, it gives an architectural dimension to the space.

As a nightstand, of course.

Beauty and function. The ladder makes a great bookshelf.

With a wedding display. It looks like the ladder is the sweetest shade of spring green.

\

I love the restraint and simplicity of this ladder- it really allows the piece to sculptural.

Antique and Vintage butterfly prints

Somewhere in my early spring decor I want to work in butterfly prints. I've had antique bat prints for halloween, oodles of antique floral prints for summer, and I think butterflies would be just perfect for early spring. Bold, colorful, fresh.
 Potterybarn has done a bird theme for their early spring the last two years running, and I'm wondering if they're also going to want a change of pace and will be featuring butterfly prints and motifs in their spring catalog (it usually comes out in Mid January and its my VERY FAVORITE one of the whole year. I can't wait till the new one arrives in stores!). Here are some butterfly prints I like. What will you be doing to freshen up your home after the holiday season?

Along with a feather, some delicate frames, and artwork, these butterfly prints help create a fresh,  airy display here

Gorgeous saturated colors and the juxtaposition of a peacock and a butterfly remind us that mother nature knows how to color coordinate like a pro 

A punch of bold colored is given an upgraded sophistication with these antique animal and butterfly prints here

Just the right colors for spring, this is exactly the palette I'm looking for. Think how beautiful it would match my collection of antique blue green bottles! here

Soft and sweet- a graceful bit of art for a french country home.

I love the way there coordinate with the lamp and rug. 

It would be terrific to find a real vintage example of a butterfly chart. This one is a reproduction, but is certainly lovely!

Outside the box

There are many colors I don't care to see in my house- and maybe that's not such a good thing... Really I only like greens, yellows, and neutrals. This early spring I'm going to be trying to go slightly outside my comfort zone with aquas, turquoises, and some light blue/greens. But that's about as far as I usually dare to travel. For whatever reason, I really don't care for pastels, or reds, or oranges, or blues, or purples in interior decor. But then again, trying something new is healthy, and a great way to reset the board. I remembered this when I saw my friend Jorene's decor. She is a brilliant, inspired interior decorator, and her interior decor is so cool and funky, and I LOVE it. It's not something I would ever try in my house- which makes me think it's time to push the envelope a bit. Here are some pictures of Jorene's amazing decor- and then some other pictures of colors I don't like being used to create gorgeous spaces.

raise your hand if you love the mantel!

A veritable forest of gorgeous glass trees!

Beautiful blue creates a serene bathroom here

masculine and nautical, but also playful. A great guest room here

intense saturated cobalt is mellowed by the bleached wood and neutral furnishings here

a deep rich shade of burnt orange makes the classic interior all the more elegant here

Pink grows up to create a welcoming sophisticated space here

There is no compromise with this purple. It is a NOTICE ME color- but with the retro velvet couch and the collection of original artwork, the room seems almost demure here

A very subtle dash of red gives a room dimension here

A red inspired living space, both rustic and engaging here