New Thrifted Artwork for My Bedroom

I purchased this framed poster several weeks ago on the third day of an estate sale. I couldn't believe my luck. I have always admired this artist and I have been living with a blank wall in my bedroom since 2004. It was very heavy (20 pounds) and I didn't get up the nerve to hang it until yesterday. I am beyond thrilled.

Here's a horizontal view showing how it lines up with my window. I got the placement right on the first try. Actual hanging it was a little tricky because the wire kept getting stuck on the hanger instead of the hook. After some tricky maneuvers I finally got it on the hook. I used to do custom framing and had a space in an antiques center where I hung my antique prints so I know how to measure the placement of hanging hooks.

Mine is, of course, a reproduction and that's fine with me. An original sold in 2007 at Christie's in London for 12,500 British pounds. Alphonse Mucha is the Czech artist, painter, illustrator and graphic artist living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period. This delightful  artwork was used as the cover for a promotional copy of a British literary magazine THE WEST END REVIEW in 1898. 

Thank you to those of you who have emailed me to see where I've been. It's nice to be missed. There are some things I'm supposed to be doing to my blog that I cannot figure out. I decided today to just keep doing what I know how and hope for the best. xo, Rosemary

Great Powder Room w/ Zebra Wallpaper

I love this small powder room so much, don't you? Everything about it is just perfect. The bold red/orange wallpaper with large zebras is daring but it works perfectly with the black and white tile floor, white fixtures and trim paint, and black door knobs. I have had this photo saved on my phone for ages and I really cannot remember the source. 

I have spent untold hours in the past week adulting. The hardest thing was changing my mobile phone plan and it's still not exactly right but I am close. It's so hard to speak to real people these days, isn't it? I have lots of patience and won't give up until it's exactly what I want and was promised. Wish me luck.  xo

This is a copy of a comment by Guestie: I also have seen this wonderful powder room. I remember now: it is included in an online portfolio of stylishly tiny powder rooms. 

If you Google " Scalamandre + Zebra Wallpaper + powder room " you will see a number of charming examples of this darling composition.

Happy Saturday

I took down a small framed item and replaced it with a blue and white platter.

I like it because it carried out the blue and white theme of my lamp. I found a platter hanger while I was organizing in my attic. Wish I had found it sooner.

I found this on Instagram and it's perfect for my #illustratedquotes hashtag, isn't it? Posted by @susan.steadman here.

I am dressed in my outwork clothes and there is still so much to do before the cold weather sets in. Have a GREAT weekend, everyone. xo

Wonderful Framed Print for Sitting Room Downstairs

I got this wonderful framed print just a few days ago but haven't had time to post anything. I've been doing household chores like putting in screens on a 90° day so I could open the windows. It has cooled down to 66° and we have a much needed light rain this Saturday afternoon.

I will hang it on the wall soon.

I tried to find this print online but couldn't. I even uploaded a photo to Google Images with no luck. There is a verse that goes all around the edges.

BIRDS NEST IN HEDGEROW

RABBITS BRAMBLES AND BEES

WILD BERRIES GROW IN HEDGEROWS

HEDGEROWS ARE A QUIET SANCTUARY

(ENLARGE THE FIRST PHOTO TO SEE ALL SIDES)

Each corner has a nest with a bird in it.

Rabbits are jumping on either side of the basket.

Wild berries fill the basket.

Isn't it charming?

The background has a crackled finish so this is definitely a reproduction of a painting. Don't you love it? I think it's perfect for this sitting room off the bedroom in my downstairs quarters where my mother lived. My laundry room is on this level and I park my car on this level so I'm up and down the stairs constantly. I was doing my exercises down there but the DVD stopped working on the small flatscreen TV. It even ate one of the DVDs! I have moved to the attic. Luckily my desktop computer has a DVD player. I am doing the "Essentrics Workouts" Seasons 13 and 14. She has daily workouts on PBS but they are on way too early for me. The sessions I'm doing are only 22 minutes long and I'm feeling stronger every day. See you soon. xo

I was able to identify the artist -- Carol Endres 

aka Carol J. Endres

Carol Endres has been painting in the American Primitive style, to great acclaim, for the last nine years. A native of Albany, New York, Carol and her family now reside in nearby Guilderland. By the age of 6, Carol knew she wanted to be an artist. She was already copying things and drawing her own pictures. She continues to pursue her primitive art with the same enthusiasm of her youth.

Carol's compositions are inspired by her faith in God, people, and a keen observance of things in life that make us all feel warm, happy and whole. Her work reflects her love for her children, her cat and memories from the past. She is an avid antique collector, and all these things can be found hidden in her paintings which she executes on wood panels. Carol's folk art company The Heart of America has had enormous success, producing a wide selection of products for the home and gift market. Her background as owner of an antique and gift shop helped her develop The Heart of America.

Now a household name in the folk art world, Carol Endres' work is found in museums, frame shops, gift shops, galleries, catalogues, and furniture and department stores. Her originals are sold nationally and internationally. She finds her work tremendously satisfying and loves to hear from the people who appreciate her art.

The print I have was offered on eBay but is no longer available. I shall keep looking. She wrote 2 books ANGELS WATCHING OVER YOU & COMFORT FOR YOUR SOUL.

Potted Bulbs on Dining Table with Marble Top

So pretty. The shaped marble top looks like it sits on aa piano.

But it doesn't. It's actually a top for a dining table.

See it on a House & Garden UK magazine cover here.

See Emma Grant, London Interior Designer's Instagram HERE.

Another view of her table HERE.

xo

Wonderful Restored Estate in Wales

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House & Garden UK has a great article about Penny Morrison's country house in Wales and a house tour. 

The designer Penny Morrison's magical Welsh home 

She is a London-based interior designer and you will love all of the rooms featured in this article. I found the bathroom photo above elsewhere and love the draperies. The scalloped cornice and the beautiful draperies have tiny ball fringe trim if you look carefully. Love them.

Enjoy the house tour.

xo

Wonderful Vintage Bathroom

 The Sleeper-McCann House

Gloucester, Massachusetts

Instagram Photo @torimellott

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House (1907)

A designer’s dream 

GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 

BEAUPORT

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, a National Historic Landmark, was the summer home of one of America’s first professional interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper. Perched on a rock ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor, Beauport was Sleeper’s retreat, backdrop for entertaining, and professional showcase, and an inspiration to all who visited. 

After Sleeper’s death, Beauport was purchased by the McCanns, who left it largely intact. Visit Beauport and see Sleeper’s lifetime collection of curiosities, colored glass, folk art, china, and silhouettes in every nook and alcove. Each of the forty rooms is distinguished by a historical or literary figure, theme, color, shape, or object. No two rooms are the same, and each is more visually dazzling than the last. Get to know Sleeper, a gay man living in the early twentieth century; his housekeeper, Mary Wonson; his fascinating neighbors; and the house’s many colorful guests.

How has this eluded me all these years? 

Now it's on my bucket list.

xo

New Curtain Rods at Firehouse Flea Market

My favorite day was Saturday. The annual Firehouse Auction and flea market was back after a two-year absence due to Covid. I have been looking and looking and looking for new curtain rods for my dressing room and found them just before I was leaving for the day. I spent most of the day on Sunday looking for screws to hang them with the wooden brackets I already had. I looked through all of my screws and found nothing so I was forced to go to Ace Hardware nearby and one of the men there helped me find the perfect ones. 

I dashed home, got out my trusty new ladder, and hung the first one. The one on the right is the before photo. I have been unhappy with the old rods for a long time but have been making do until I found just the right new ones. Saturday was the day for scoring them. Now I can close them in the winter quite easily to prevent heat loss at night. My old rods were tension rods within the window frame and the curtains fell out when I tried to close them. I think moving them up to the top of my woodwork has transformed the whole room. I am in the process of putting away summer and getting out winter clothes and bedding. I put the cover on my air conditioning unit outside yesterday too. I had a great weekend, hope you did too.

xo

UPDATE: See an older blog post with the old look of these draperies HERE.

Summer Garden Party

This Instagram photo is from a book by a Southern Author and interior designer that is coming out in a few days called Celebrating Home, A Time for Every Season by James T. Farmer III. It looks like a "must have" coffee table book, doesn't it? Click on the Instagram link to see more photos and follow him if you don't already. See a long list of his other books HERE. Enjoy your Sunday. I'm doing another Open House today. xo

Such an Elegant Bathroom

I have been saving this image on my desktop and now I don't know the source. I shall post it when I find it. Isn't this elegant bathroom amazing? Every detail is perfect. Simply stunning. Hope you have a great Sunday. I certainly did. We had a very light rain overnight that gave my parched grass a good soaking. I was able to leave the windows open and listen to the pitter patter of the raindrops and it was wonderful. Today I played around with repotting things, weeding, transplanting and just a few other lazy day things.

Found the source.

Meredith Ellis Design 

Kipps Bay Decorator Show House

Dallas, Texas

https://www.meredithellisdesign.com/interior/kips-bay

Walk-in Closet off bathroom.

More built-ins inside closet. So wonderful.

xo

New Sofa in My Living Room

I bought a new sofa at an estate sale this weekend and my friend with a truck and another friend helped. I know it looks identical to my old sofa because the style is so similar. It is upholstered in corduroy and I love it. It's much more supportive for my back and doesn't need to be adjusted every time I get up. The back is tight and the two seat cushions are quite firm but very comfortable. I bought it on Saturday and had a realtor Open House on Sunday. This morning I bounded out of bed to start moving furniture around so there would be a clear path for the guys at 3:15. The weather was rainy but we stuck with our original plan and the heavens cooperated, thankfully. The lady who was conducting the sale said this is the way everybody buys furniture these days and I agree. I have been scouring the internet recently looking at sofas so I knew a good deal when I saw it. I can hardly believe June is almost over and the fourth of July is only a week away. Time flies in the summer, doesn't it? 

Another view.

xo

Adding Architectural Elements to a Doorway

Don't you love the decorative corbels that were added to this opening? The floors were just sanded and were stained gray. It's amazing how effective architectural elements are to completely change the character of a room!

https://www.homeandinteriorsbyagnes.com/refinishing-projects

Two Easy Chairs Beside Fireplace

I like this chair arrangement a lot. You will enjoy seeing the rest of this Washington townhouse decorated for Christmas here. Sorry it's out of season but I couldn't wait.🎄

Beautiful Sun Porch

I love the scalloped skirt on the sofa.

Design by beata heuman interiors

Photo by simon brown photography

I'm glad to have more than one view of this room.

xo

Porch Swing😍 Fireplace🔥TV Wall♡ on A Wonderful Porch

Have you ever seen a better outdoor room?

The entire house is on tour in the link below.

The Beau Vue Residence in Arkansas 

You will have to keep scrolling to see the porch.

♡Enjoy♡ 

xo

Ticking Sofa + Gallery Wall

This sofa is wonderful with its ticking upholstery as is the gallery wall behind. Love it all. xo 

found on Google Images

Best House Tour Ever: Robert Kime's London Flat

Sit down, get comfy, and get ready for a treat.

Robert Kime's intricately-layered flat is the distillation of 50 years of expertise. The London flat owned by antique dealer and decorator Robert Kime is a journey of discovery through decades of collecting art, textiles, and curiosities. There is a fabulous 8-minute video with Robert Kime and 9 more photos. WOW. Wonderful article too from House & Garden UK. 

Begin tour here. 

Enjoy! xo

Wonderful Kitchen Corner

This image has the feel of an old master painting.

Don't you love the composition and the light?

Photo found here. xo

House Tour: A Martha's Vineyard Guest House

If you love this bedroom and everything in it as much as I do, you will love the rest of this guest house featured in New England Home magazine.

https://www.nehomemag.com/a-marthas-vineyard-guest-house

Enjoy! xo

Home Design with GUSTO

I saw this photo in an article here. I saw several of the decorated chests in the article in person at an elegant estate I toured a while ago and immediately fell in love with the designs and wonderful craftsmanship. The shop is in West Palm Beach Florida. More photos from their website below. Quote from the owners, a mother and her two sons -- “We joke that Casa Gusto is our excuse to justify and continue our hoarding.”

A woven wheelbarrow? Swoon.

https://getthegusto.com/casa-gusto/