Wednesday, August 27, 2014

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 92

Good morning everyone !

I thought maybe this week we'd go back in time - back to simpler lifestyles - back to when a little sanity ruled the world

Back to a time when families sat together to watch good quality t.v. together - eating jiffy pop !

I LOVED the t.v. show My Three Sons - I still see the opening theme in my mind as I type this up............


So when I came across this article in HOUZZ - I was immediately intrigued.

Here's a house tour of the home Fred MacMurray lived in with his family in Healdsburg, California
The below excerpts come directly from the article itself - to read it in it entirety you can click HERE
Gallo Wines have since purchased the land.
I love the commentary as much as the house !!!

     Farmhouse Landscape

Article reads:

He bought the Sonoma County spread, now called MacMurray Estate Vineyards, in 1941 and remodeled the existing farmhouse in a charming period style that has endured for more than 70 years. Today the property is owned by the Gallo family and produces lush pinot noir, pinot gris and chardonnay wines, but the house remains much as it did when MacMurray rode the 1,500 acres on horseback and raised prize-winning black Angus cattle. 

Today this barn holds photographs of the familieswho have touched the land — the Porters, the MacMurrays and the Gallos — but when Kate was growing up, it was used to store farm equipment and supplies. A good deal of the structure is dedicated to her father and mother.

MacMurray was no absentee landowner; he bought the farm with the intention of practicing diversified farming: He raised cattle, sheep and chickens, and had fruit orchards and gardens. 


     Farmhouse Exterior

    CHECK OUT THE FAUCET !!!  AND I'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT STOVE TODAY !!!  IN FACT
    I'D BE THRILLED TO HAVE THIS KITCHEN AND WOULD MAKE VERY FEW CHANGES!
    AUTHENTICITY NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE

Farmhouse Kitchen

HIS DAUGHTER EXPLAINS :
Inside, the house looks much the same as it did when the MacMurrays lived here. “My parents were children of the Depression,” says Kate. “They bought things with the intention that they would last. There was no thought of redecorating for style reasons. In fact, we had many pieces that had belonged to the Porter family. They liked them; the pieces worked; and so they hung on to them. They simply did not have a throwaway mentality.”

Farmhouse Dining Room

Across from the kitchen is a breakfast nook, where Kate, her twin sister and their parents ate before starting the day’s chores. “I’m pretty sure we were the only children in Hollywood who shoveled manure and gathered eggs,” says Kate. “Now it’s popular to expose kids to fresh food and gardens, but our parents had the idea a long time ago. They wanted us to be close to nature and to know where our food came from.”

To the side of the table sits a cupboard that displays a portion of a family collection of dishes. The cupboard, like many things throughout the home, sports a crisp red hue. “Dad bought the ranch during the war, and there weren’t a lot of color choices,” says Kate. “However, Dad loved bright colors, and he really liked red — although the only red items he had in his wardrobe were a pair of socks and a sweater he wore on Christmas Day.”

                         Farmhouse Dining Room

The living room shows more of the simple country style the family favored. A rag rug covers the floor, and a red plaid sofa and chairs with wide wooden arms make for an unfussy place in which to relax. “The sofa — we called it a davenport when I was growing up — was made in the 1930s, but my parents had it re-covered,” says Kate. “My father was 6-foot-4, and he liked it because it was long. He would sack out on it sometimes.”






The MacMurray family added a grill and a table on a back porch off the kitchen. “Before the houses were built, the Porter family constructed a platform and a roof. They used the canvas from their covered wagon to drape the structure and make a tent,” says Kate. “That platform became this porch after the house was finished.”


     Farmhouse Spaces

“It’s my understanding that in the olden days, the women of the house would dry herbs here,” Kate says. “Today it’s another place for entertaining Gallo clients and guests.” Kate says her father considered it a perfect spot for gathering, because the landscape serves as a beautiful backdrop.




         Other

Do I WANNA live there?  Yes - I most definitely do - but more importantly - I WANNA live THEN  !!!

Again you can read the whole article from HOUZZ HERE
and did any of you notice he has a pipe in his hand - when I think of My Three Sons - I always picture him in a chair smoking a pipe - offering out words of wisdom - the role probably came very easy to him.............

Have a wonderful day everyone
( I really did attempt to sit down and reply to all your comments - but I have comment moderator on so they were coming in to my inbox twice after I hit publish - and then I got all confused and couldn't remember which ones I replied to - and didn't want to look like an idiot giving to different replies to one comment )
I'm so computer illiterate it's embarrassing - don't know how I even have the nerve to classify myself as a blogger at this point  )
So................I read them all - every single one of them - and they bring me more joy than you can imagine.
Thanks so much - you are all the best.

Now take a look at this - and try to keep the smile off your face !!!



Much love,

Join me at these fabulous parties !
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson                                       From my Front Porch to Yours
Ivy & Elephants                                                         The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage                                                    Redoux Interiors
My Turn For Us                                                               One More Time Events
Life on Lakeshore Drive                                                   Redhead can Decorate
Between Naps on the Porch                                             Sand & Sisal
Stone Gable                                                                     A Stroll Thru Life
Kathe with an E                                                               Cupcakes & Crinoline
Savvy Southern Style                                                       Knick of Time


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

FRAMED !!!


Good morning everyone !!!

While I was going through my stash of mirrors to put over the mantel - I found this frame I had forgotten about 

and thought with a little work it would be perfect for the guest room 

I gave it a quick coat of silver " wash " about half paint - half water  ( I wanted to keep some of this color so that it would look aged ) 


After hanging it up - it looked a little boring so I placed a narrow mirror I had in the center of it





And that's what I did last night when insomnia hit !

Have a wonderful day everyone - I intend to spend much of mine floating in the pool - it's hot hot hot here and I'm loving every second of it ( I am NOT ready for Fall in the least ! ) 

Much love,

Sharing at these fabulous parties!
Carolyn's Homework                           Savvy Southern Style                      Beyond the Picket Fence
French Country Cottage                       Redoux Interiors                             My Turn For Us
CraftOManiac                                      Be Different Act Normal                Redhead can Decorate
That's what Che said                            Between Naps on the Porch           Sand & Sisal
A Stroll Thru Life                                 Stone Gable                                   Cupcakes & Crinoline
Kathe with an E                                   Homestories A to Z                        The DIY Dreamer