Fifty Shades of White

When we bought out home three years ago the paint was in fairly good condition and neutral enough to live with for the time being. The only room I painted was a bedroom, done in fluorescent lavender,  that evidently had belonged to a young girl. The master bedroom and bath paint was a beige tinged green that I never could learn to love. I began to notice all the bedrooms I really liked on Pinterest and in magazines were painted white.

AFTER

 

White? I love color.

 When my painter arrived she was shocked at my paint choice.

She had been in my former home with the "honeysuckle" bath.

My son's friends referred to our last home as "Rainbow House".

 

BEFORE

Though the change seems subtle in the photographs above, the room is much lighter and brighter now.

The woodwork throughout the house is Water Chestnut.

I had to find a "white" that would work with the woodwork and ceilings.

I eliminated the whites with tones of pink, blue, grey, etc.

Finally, Benjamin Moore's Linen White was just what I was looking for.

It allowed the woodwork and ceiling to stand out. 

All the different shades of white working together.

 

 

The master bath is so much fresher now.

 

 

 

Love Benjamin Moore's Linen White!

 

♥andPeace,Myra

Spring Bulbs - Plan B

A couple of weeks ago, on a warm sunny Saturday, I bought several pots of spring bulbs. My plan was to plant them in the large pots on my patio to enjoy until time to plant my usual annuals.

The weather took a turn with freezing temperatures and even a bit of sleet and snow.

The little pots were brought inside to wait out the weather.
As it turned out, the weather stayed cold, windy and unpleasant. The tulips and daffodils are now blooming happily in my home.

I have really enjoyed the pretty little pots!
Sometimes Plan B is a winner.

I love the pretty creamy colors of these miniature tulips.

They sing of Spring.

 

I have moved them from room to room.
 

Here they are in the dining room.
 

Happy Easter!

♥andPeace,Myra

 

Spring Thrifting

Recently I spent the day shopping my favorite discount stores.

Paula Deen cereal bowls, salad plates and mugs from Tuesday Morning.  They will probably be used for soup and sandwiches.
The white rabbit is from Tuesday Morning.
 

Place mats - TJ Maxx.
The grasshopper napkin rings were a gift from my sister-in-law.
 

The Waverly bedspread I found at Tuesday Morning.
It was already marked down for clearance and then had an extra 30% off tag!
Into the shopping cart.
 

I added the white lampshade from TJ Maxx.
I think white adds a nice fresh look for spring.
 

I always make a stop at Pottery Barn.
The displays are inspiring and sometimes bargains can be found.
I left with lots of decorating ideas and the Tuscan urn and cachepot.
They were not bargains but I had to have them.
I am considering going back for the large urn!
Wouldn't it be wonderful with huge sunflowers for summer?

The greenery came from Tuesday Morning.
It was similar to the  green "balls" at Pottery Barn but much cheaper. I have had this little bunny for years. I gave him a spray of gold paint followed by the crackle white finish years ago.


Happy thrifting!

♥andPeace,Myra

 

Christmas at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion

Last week I attended a holiday reception at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion.

Fun, fellowship and tasty nibbles!

 

My escorts for the evening - two of my favorite men.

 

 

Merry Christmas from the Lukers

 

 

The annual Governor's Mansion gingerbread house.

 

 

The Formal Dining Room

 

 

Entry and Staircase

 

 

Season's Greetings from the Great State of Arkansas!

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 

 

Christmas Past

Frankly I am suffering from a bit of Christmas blog overload. I know there are other things going on in the lives of my favorite bloggers besides Christmas decorating. That said I was prompted to peruse my computer albums for Christmas travel photographs. Here are a few I enjoyed seeing again and I hope you enjoy them too. They were taken while visiting Wilmington, DE in 2005.

The two photographs above were taken at Longwood Gardens Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

 Longwood was the private estate of Pierre S. Du Pont.
 

I visited the Brandywine River Museum.

 The museum is in Chadd's Ford, PA in an old gristmill building.
The museum houses a wonderful collection of art by the Wyeth family artists.
 

I took a day trip from Wilmington to a historic old town in Pennsylvania for the Christmas city tour. I cannot remember the name of the town but it was like stepping back in time. I loved this sweet little out-building adorned with simple natural decoration.
 

The homes were decked out in period style.

 

Another day I visited Winterthur.
Winterthur was the home of  the Henry Francis du Pont family.

 

 

A less formal table setting at Winterthur

I would love to be a guest at this fanciful table!

 

This tree was decorated entirely with flowers

There was a Christmas tree in nearly every room in the home.

 

Winterthur 2005

 

♥andPeace,Myra

 



Welcome to My Guest Room

I love pinning ideas on my Pinterest boards. Recently I showed Jim the design for a headboard that I thought he would enjoy building. He hardly acknowledged the photo and went back to his football game. Well lo and behold, last Saturday he called asking me to text the materials list to him at the lumbar yard.  By nightfall it was all cut out and partially constructed. Jim made a few adjustments to the original plans. For example he opted for tongue-in-groove planks. Here is the link for the plans for the headboard. http://www.hgtv.com/bedrooms/rustic-yet-chic-wood-headboard/index.html.

I think the sawing is his favorite part.

 

 

Sunday afternoon he finished putting it together.

At this point I had to question him about the measurements.

He whipped out his tape measure and sure enough it seemed to be correct.

 

 

Now it was time for me to work my magic with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Versailles.

I really like Versailles. It has a greenish tint but is still neutral.

 

 

Saturday Jim attached the headboard to the bed frame and I applied two coats of chalk paint. It dries quickly so I didn't have to wait long between coats. Sunday afternoon I applied the wax. First I used clear wax and then just a touch of dark wax.

 

 





I have been looking for a headboard for the guest room for a long time.

I never could find just what a wanted. I think this will work perfectly in this room.

 

 

Several weeks ago I used the Versailles Chalk Paint on a quilt rack my mother-in-law hired a woodworker to make for me out of some old walnut wood that Jim's father had collected.

 

 

 I decided to try my new chalk paint color on the quilt rack with the dark wax.

 

 

I really like the texture accentuated by the dark wax.

 

 

 

Mission accomplished.

Welcome to my guest room.

 

♥andPeace,Myra