Nine Photos on Last Day of November 2023

I took this photo maybe three years ago and it's a favorite of one of my mourning doves sitting in the snow on my balcony.

This juvenile cardinal on my balcony railing is a summer photo.

My favorite of Missy, now departed🐾♡🐾

One of my peonies.

I copied the photo from a book and added the text myself.

A nook in my kitchen. This recessed space is under my attic stairs.

A wall in my downstairs sitting room near the sliding glass doors with the red and white draperies I put up recently to keep the room warmer.

The draperies look wonderful in person. Much better than in this photo. I have pots of geraniums lined up behind them right now to overwinter.

A night photo of my cottage. I had my back door light on by accident and got a great shot of my red barn garage too.

Most of you will be reading this November 30th post on December 1st so WELCOME DECEMBER. xo

Wild Violets + My Living Room

I need to do a third mowing but I don't have the heart to decapitate my wild violets. They are considered to be a broad leaf weed by some, but not me!!!!

I love both varieties. These are solid purple.

These are white with purple pansy-like faces.

Grape hyacinths, crowded out by long grass, but still gorgeous.

A view of my living room as seen from my kitchen. French doors on either side of the sofa lead to my balcony that was power washed on Saturday. I cannot believe how controlling I am when I hire outside help. The workers did a fabulous job at the house I am getting ready to list but they didn't bring those skills to my cottage. WHY? But in the end, my balcony floor looks much better and my red barn garage looks brand new. So all is well I suppose. I am actually so much happier doing things myself. I am a hard taskmaster when I hire things out and I can usually work circles around almost any worker. 

Now if I only had a chain saw and a power washer of my very own. 😂

Double Decker Sliding Barn Doors

I still like this sliding barn door trend, especially on this converted barn/home. via

I woke up early after a half day of mowing yesterday and I'm almost finished with my fall cleanup. I was shocked into getting it finished after I saw photos of an early dusting of snow in Connecticut and upstate New York this week. It is unusually warm today and that's good for the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween. xo

Transoms in a Bathroom

Two showers, side by side with overhead transoms for venting. Both have sliding barn doors. Love, love, love. via

Today was great. It was 72° and sunny after a rainy start this morning. The guys cleaned my gutters at 9:30 when the rain had just stopped. They used leaf blowers and it was somewhat messy because of the water, leaves, and the fine black sand from the roof shingles in the gutters. I have copper half rounds and it wouldn't have been so bad if the leaves were dry and crispy. I ended up hosing down my whole house after they left if you can imagine. It was actually fun. I have long hoses and good water pressure and it didn't take that long. Plus the outside of the house was still wet from the morning rain. I just couldn't stand dirty water stains on my pretty new white paint. It was a perfect day for being outside. I hosed down the balcony too and put away the furniture. I pulled the remaining thistles from a flower bed and raked leaves too. I might cut some grass tomorrow before it gets cold again on Wednesday. You have the seize the good weather days when they present themselves, don't you? I already have on my pjs and I'm ready to jump into bed. I actually had windows open all day long too. Webster is exhausted and so am I. See you tomorrow. xo

My New Listing

This circa 1780 home was moved to its current location in the village of New Vernon NJ 07976 in the mid 1800s. It is several doors away from my office and it is desperate for a new owner since it's been vacant since 2002. Cross your fingers for it and for me. I put the listing in the MLS yesterday and I'm waiting for my phone to ring but it hasn't. The dwelling is gutted inside so it's a real project for an old house lover or a commercial enterprise. I hope someone with a wonderful vision steps up to save this beautiful survivor with such great bones. It is zoned for business and residential and would be a wonderful place to live and work. It has a great feel inside with high ceilings, many new windows, and new framing installed by Amish post and beam barn builders. The tin roof was removed and replaced with hand-split cedar shakes. The old siding was removed to expose the original clapboards. The fully-floored walk-up attic is an amazing space. I'll keep you posted on the activity. See you later. Maybe this historic home called The Academy has been holding out for someone to love it again.

Sliding Barn Doors in A House Nearby

I am still fascinated by sliding barn doors inside a home.

The door with the handle slides open to reveal stairs up to the attic and a large storage area for suitcases. So nice!

Cheerful Kitchen Behind Pocket Doors

It's nice to see pocket doors again instead of sliding barn doors, isn't it? I love this cheerful small pantry kitchen with open shelves and checkerboard floor. via

My exterior painting hasn't started yet but I've been busy with trades people working inside. All of my electrical problems have been solved inside and out. Plumber is coming on Friday. Progress is being made. 

White Kitchens

White Kitchens for Design Inspiration from the archives of Architectural Digest: Click on link for a 23-photo slideshow. See preview below showing three kitchens I liked. All photos from AD magazine.

Decorator Karin Blake brought New England style to a home in Malibu, California. The large cabinet doors, featuring strap hinges and rat-tail pulls, are copies of ones Blake salvaged from a barn owned by the late actor George Montgomery. A circa 1890 cast-iron windmill weight, one of many pieces of Americana in the house, sits on the counter. (January 2008)

Decorator Darryl Carter is celebrated for his adept use of white (he even has his own line of predominantly neutral paints for Benjamin Moore), so it’s no surprise that he created a handsome ivory kitchen in a Washington, D.C., home he designed with architect Donald Lococo. Traditional cabinetry is enhanced by Calacatta gold marble counters and alabaster pendant lights, while reclaimed-oak beams add a rustic accent. (September 2012)

“White sets such a beautiful tone,” says decorator Suzanne Kasler of the color scheme she used in her refined Atlanta home, which she renovated with residential designer William T. Baker. The tile is by Waterworks, and the barstools are from Kasler’s line for Hickory Chair. Glass-front cabinets display tableware, while an adjacent wall of storage keeps other items out of sight. (April 2012)

More Sliding Barn Doors

I love the lemon yellow sliding barn doors on this pavilion/breezeway. This area is perfect in any kind of weather. It's fun to be inside and outside at the same time, isn't it? via

Budget DIY Sliding Barn Doors

Do you love inside sliding barn doors but hate the cost of the hardware? This clever young lady in North Carolina substituted plumbing pipes overhead and put rolling casters on the bottoms of this pair of recycled doors. Total cost including the doors was $78.00. Genius. Slideshow from Country Living.

Wonderful House Tour - Tricia Foley

You will enjoy this ranch house in Long Island designed by Tricia Foley. I love the open floor plan and the use of sliding barn-style doors that are extensions of the paneled walls. Here's the house tour - view the photos horizontally. Isn't it great?

Best Sliding Barn Doors Ever!

These doors are spectacular, aren't they?

Read more about the interior and exterior designer Barbara Colvin here.

More Interior Sliding Doors Hung Barn Style

His-and-hers desks in the living room are hidden behind louvered doors on tracks. I love this idea of really using the living room as an office/family room. Nice. Image is from an old article in Cottage Living magazine, a nice publication that bit the dust in 2008.

Sliding Barn Door for Bathroom

Here is yet another lovely interior sliding barn door to delight and inspire you. 
My other blog posts on interior sliding barn doors.

More Interior Barn Doors to Love

Sliding barn doors used inside the house are a design element I love and frequently blog about. Here are two more examples you will love that use two different types of hanging hardware. 

DIY Sliding Barn Door Made from Recycled Fencing

We just can't get enough of these interior sliding barn doors, can we? I know I can't. Dana and Handy Hubby from House*Tweaking made one themselves from old fence boards. They show you how step by step in two blog posts starting with the old wood being transported home in the back of the car. The second part has line drawings with measurements. The photo above shows the end result. Very nice. Let me know if you make one. Part I and Part II and With Door Handles

My other blog posts about these sliding doors inside and outside.

Boathouse with Unique Exterior Sliding Doors

You know how much I love to blog about sliding barn doors so I was really blown away by the genius design of this Hood Canal Boat House. The building is only two doors wide and the tracks extend beyond the building like wings so doors open completely allowing full access to the inside. What a great idea! Click here to see all of the wonderful full-size photos of this 2008 project by the Pacific Northwest Architectural Firm Bosworth Hoedemaker. I'm giving this project two thumbs up.

Another Interior Sliding Door | Just Wonderful

You know I have a thing for interior sliding barn doors. I especially like this one, don't you. I think this is a fad that's here to stay.

Sliding Barn Door To Cover TV

I just can't get enough of these interior sliding doors mounted on hardware originally designed for barns. I especially like the idea of hiding the television set and other electronics behind a small one. Found here. Now someone will have to design a garage-door-opener remote for the lazy viewer.

My other posts about interior sliding doors are here.



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Interior Sliding Door Hides Closet Office

A sliding barn door conceals a small but efficient hideaway office in a project by Greene Partners, via Sunset Magazine.

Barn Door Hardware Click on the different types of tracks to get more ideas and see additional photos. I wish I had one of these doors somewhere in my cottage.

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