Basement Progress Photos (Preview)

These three photos are of the sitting/eating area of my walk-out lower level after days of rearranging. I think I have it the way I want it and after I get rid of all the stuff in the photo below. I will start a deep cleaning soon. I probably should have done that first but I didn't do anything but vacuum. Everything down there came from garage sales, thrift shops, roadside finds, and gifts from friends. The table with the tablecloth was a roadside find and it turned out to be perfect with 4 of my bentwood chairs that used to be in my upstairs kitchen. It had been stored in my furnace room and now it has a new life. I recently completed my ongoing search for all black lampshades and I am thrilled with the look. The one on the lamp with the staircase behind is dark gray.

It's so much cooler today (72° at 8:30am) and very breezy. I will try and tackle this stuff and clear the area to the back door and then I will be able to clean. The kitchen counters are piled high too😱but I will persevere until everything is spick and span and I will be so very happy. I made great progress in the bedroom too and those photos will be published soon. Have a great weekend. xo

Huntboard Nook in My Kitchen

This is a corner of my kitchen, snapped this morning, that backs up to my attic staircase. My refrigerator is to the right and above that is a lookout window from my attic into the kitchen below. There are interior shutters if I want to close it off for any reason but I usually leave them open. It helps with the airflow when the central air is running and in the winter, the rising heat helps keep it warmer up there. Last night's rain from Henri wasn't too bad and for that I am so very grateful. Be safe if you are in the eye of the storm today. xo

Before There Were Patios, We Sat On The Grass

I took this photo at a realtor open house near my cottage.

The dwelling was a caretaker's cottage and the grounds were fabulous. Who needs a patio when you have vintage wicker furniture and a beautiful lawn? The cottage was delightful with no central air and was really untouched since it was built. It had always been maintained and lived in and was being offered for rent. The outdoor furnishings were included and there was garage/barn for storage. There were custom waterproof covers for the chairs to protect them from the rain. The open house was years ago as are my pics. Due to Covid, there are very few (if any) open houses these days. Just virtual tours and private showings by appointment.

First Cool Day Today (Friday)

After running my central AC for three straight days, I an happy to report it has now been turned OFF. I am thrilled to be enjoying an overcast day after an overnight rain. My windows are now wide open and the birds are singing. I always turn off the AC at night and run this vintage oscillating fan that sounds like a freight train but doesn't keep me awake. The lowest setting should be labeled hurricane, so it does a great job😂 Don't worry, it's safe because I had it professionally rewired.

I got an email from a friend this morning. She was unable to sign up for the new emails on her iPad so I did it for her. If you are having trouble too, let me know in the comments and I will sign you up from this end. You will get a confirmation email to finish the process. All I need is the first three or four letters/digits of your email address. If you were an old subscriber, I should be able to find you on the email list I downloaded from Feedburner. If you are a new subscriber/follower, I will need your complete email address. 

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Bunny Melon Designed Guesthouse for Jackie O.

This Gem of a Home in Virginia Was Originally a Guesthouse for Jackie O. Designed by Bunny Mellon, it's full of inventive compartments and time-worn finishes By Etta Meyer. Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg July 11, 2018 

Read the article and see many more photographs of the interior in Architectural Digest

Home Page with Updates & Additions

New Acquisition with 16 Drawers

There are no words that can express the turmoil of the last two days buying and arranging pick up and delivery of this 7'4" wide oak piece with 16 drawers and wonderful original brass pulls. But I did it thanks to two good friends; one with  with big truck and a trailer and both with strong arms. I had the perfect wall down on my lower level where my mother lived until 2012. I have just been using that entire lower level where she lived as storage but buying this piece is giving new life to that area. I have enjoyed being down there because I can walk out of this particular room and be on ground the level with my nesting bluebirds. 

It's cooler down there too and I think I will enjoy it immensely this summer. These tired bones are ready for bed now. xo

The quality of the antique brass drawer pulls is unsurpassed. They are very thick and even the screws are beautiful. This piece was originally in a science lab in a New England girls' college.

New Pitcher for My Collection with Hound Handle

I added a new pitcher to my collection, the one on the right. I took this photo with the overhead light on and it's not the best but I wanted to share. I bought from a delightful couple who live in an 18th century house and they used it for lemonade. So meet my new (old) lemonade pitcher.

See this old post for the other pitchers in my collection and another older post for the story of my copper pots on the top shelf.

Home Page with Latest Post and Updates.

Great Books Recently Purchased

I was out and about one day last week and I found the three red leather bound books with wonderful decoration on the spines to go with with set I already had in black. I love the sporting themes. They were in a very unlikely place in a resale shop that sells mostly clothes and accessories. I am thrilled with these antiquarian books to add to my collection.

I have been working furiously outside while the weather is still cool and enjoying everything about the hard work except for the ticks. I will soon be down to nothing but mowing with much less danger. I put up another bluebird box far away from the one near my house to hopefully attract another family with no competition from the nesting couple already in residence. 

See you later. xo

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Watering the Plants: Carl Larsson

A delightful painting by Carl Larsson found on Instagram @carllarssongarden Don't you love this large window garden lined with plants in clay pots?

Link for Latest Posts

Open Porch w/ Brick Floor, More Views

I found another view of the brick-floored in yesterday's post. It goes on forever in this house overlooking the Navesink River in Rumson, NJ ~ See link below.

Sitting room with a river view. This new house is simply stunning, designed by Gil Schafer Architect. You will enjoy seeing the entire house, inside and out.

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Vintage Kitchenware Collection

This is the way I like to see a kitchen decorated.

Interesting article from House & Garden UK here.

Library off Living Room

I adore the wide board floors with the beautiful patina. The library off the living room looks as if it has bookshelves on all the walls and that's a good thing because you can't have too many (books or shelves). via

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"

Does this one count as an illustrated quote? I have four of these books with various dogs on them and a lamp as well and I always wondered how anyone could part with them. Have a great rest of the weekend and prepare for some snow if its coming your way. xo

An Architect's Bathroom with Antiques

How much do I love this? Architect Jim Joseph’s Hudson Valley home, NY. Architectural Digest. via

Cozy Corner for Reading

COZY READING CORNER

Isn't this delightful? I am mentally picturing a matching ottoman that is opposite the easy chair upholstered in stripped ticking. That would make this cozy corner perfect.❤

Robin's Egg Blue Paint

Old Wide-Board Floor in Blue Paint

Wouldn't you love to wake up in this bedroom? I certainly would. I wish I could see more of the upholstered headboard to study the fabric. The room has the look of "just moved in but haven't unpacked yet" but it's probably finished and owned by a minimalist. Sigh!

Words to live by. via

Tall Case Clock in My Kitchen

New Jersey Tall Case Clock circa 1820

I found this old photo with the sundial that is now in my garden next to the tall case clock in my kitchen. There was an area of my attic over the kitchen that was too low for me to stand upright so I incorporated it into my kitchen during the renovation. That was fortunate because the kitchen ended up being the only room where my clock could stand after I moved in. My former house had eight-foot ceilings and I never measured the room heights in my cottage but they are only seven feet, eight inches.  My clock needs a minimum of eight feet to stand up with the finials in place, so in the kitchen it went and I have absolutely loved it there ever since. It fits perfectly between my cabinetry and the pantry even though this space wasn't designed to house the clock. It couldn't be any better if I had planned it this way! xo

Breathtakingly Beautiful

I tried to find more information on this grand interior but couldn't. The walls are beautiful as are the pair of chairs flanking the tree mural. via

COOKBOOKS ON MY COUNTER

This is the only way I can figure out to share my thoughts using my favorite font. My friend @staceysnacks, the food blogger/antique collector, gave me a wonderful new vegetable cookbook and an antique French wooden bookmark with beautiful calligraphy in addition to a few other things for Christmas. xo

Delightful Bedroom with Bookshelves

I love a bedroom with bookshelves and I have them in mine too. This room has a lot of personality, doesn't it? I love the bedside tables, matching lamps twin windows, the wallpaper, the bed and linens, actually all of it!!! via