Friday, April 4, 2014

Adding ART to unexpected places.................

Now I'm using the term ART very loosely here - in my world anything you hang on a wall becomes ART lol - it could be slipper with a nail hung through it for all I care - it's ART.............

So when my Son found these last year and gave them to me as part of my Christmas stocking things
they instantly became Rembrandts.
I wouldn't have bought them for myself - really not my style but you know how it is - when one of your kids gives you something it becomes more precious then gold :)


There's 2 of them - he got them from a Dollar store for 2.00 each I believe ( our Christmas stocking rules - items cannot cost more than that ! )

The other one says


I've been wondering where to put these for awhile now - I thought of making elaborate frames for them, but really?  I just don't have the time..............

I thought they'd work best in the kitchen - but the way it's configured I have very little space for anything on the walls..................

And then it dawned on me - art can go anywhere, right?

So how about between the open shelving I have on either side of the stove !


The other side will have the HOME one on it - Home Love ....................and all of a sudden I love it - and it IS my style - who knew? Thanks Gordie - they're perfect !
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need :)

Except it took me far too long to hang this thing
I HATE THIS TYPE OF HANGING HARDWARE - HATE IT - especially since this is not a large piece one of those brackets in the center would have sufficed !


Because it doesn't matter how many times I measure - I never get it right the first time - EVER !!!

WHO invented that?  I curse them a thousand times LOL

I think it took me in excess of a half hour to get it up


I also added a frame to a little space I had - my girlfriend gave me this years ago - I added a Parisian Metro Map I took from our last trip ( they're free everywhere - I should have grabbed hundreds lol - what a perfect drawer liner these would make )

The frame is meant to sit on a surface - so I plopped it onto a clipboard and hung it on the wall


And then I discovered a little room over the micowave - oh oh - can't have that can we?
This is where I drive John over the edge by the way................


I have a beloved wood tray that I bought once in Paris ( on a trip with a girlfriend who thought I was insane - before I started blogging and met people who would actually GET buying it )
I was thisclose to putting a screw right through it so I could hang it on the wall LOL

Instead it sits on the top part of one of the plate racks.................doesn't it look like art ?


John says - what that's thing you added to it?
Suzan says - a chandelier
John says - CAN'T YOU LEAVE ANYTHING ALONE AT ALL?
John says - I'm sick of seeing that stencil everywhere
( I'm obsessed with it truthfully )
I won't tell him that I had BON MATIN stencilled on it - but sanded it off for the chandelier lol

and then to balance it out I put a wicker break basket on the other one


John says - Where did the wicker one come from?
Suzan says - We've had it at least 10 years - don't you notice anything?
Suzan says - It's been on the table even for dinners .............
John says - Oh yeah - I forgot about it.

I bought it last month - shhhh...............

Ok - I'm off to find some more nooks and crannies to fill lol
May your weekend be filled with lots of -



and sunshine - ( which we may not be getting too much of - they're calling for rain for most of it )
but that's OK if it's going to wash away the snow

I'm trying my best to

Accentuate the positive 
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
( don't mess with Mr. Inbetween ) ♪♫

Much love,

Partying here - click on the links to see some great inspiration!

Be Different - Act Normal                         It's Overflowing                      Between Naps on the Porch
Coastal Charm                                         A Stroll through Life                Stone Gable
Not just a housewife                                 Homework                             Savvy Southern Style
From my front porch to yours                  Bloom Design                          Common Ground
The Charm of Home                                French Country Cottage           My Turn ( for us )
My Romantic Home                                 The Shabby Nest                    Remodelaholic
Tatertots and Jello                                   Three Mango Seeds


Thursday, April 3, 2014

Adding height to a table

Good morning everyone !




Let's see how many ways we can change a table lol

Most of you have seen the photo of my little farmhouse table - for those that haven't here's a pic
( you can see more photos of it here )


It's the perfect little farmhouse table for this reason


it " flips " open to double it's size easily accommodating 6 people !

last winter I had John put a little shelf on the bottom - because I'm always about storage ( I've never lived in a big enough house where that wasn't an issue - NEVER ) you can see that post here


Then I added a  rack to it to hang my cutting board - towel - oven mitts - whatever ( dangling basket perhaps? )


Now as a table it's perfect -
But it's centered in the middle of the kitchen in this house - and it should be counter height because of that little fact.

John says- I'm on my way to Home Depot -
Suzan says - Oh!  If you're going there can you pick me up some casters?
John says - for what?
Suzan says - the kitchen table - it's too low for the kitchen - I want to give it some height and casters would be perfect
John says- Oh my God - what else can you add to that table?
John says - It's an ANTIQUE - you're taking away any value by constantly adding to it...........


Suzan says - Well there's value - and then there's personal taste - and sometimes the 2 clash
John says - WE'RE NEVER BUYING ANOTHER ANTIQUE - NEVER !!!!!!!!
Suzan says - that's ok - we overpaid for this anyway
Suzan says - I was thinking of adding an umbrella to it - one of those outdoor ones - what do you................

too late - he stormed out -

BUT HE CAME BACK WITH THEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I drilled holes in the bottom of the legs - and placed inserts ( where the stem of the wheel slides into)




and voila - it's now counter height - which is exactly what I needed - the great thing is the wheels can slide in and out if I change my mind!

A huge thank you to Chania from RAZMATAZ for being the first to suggest it - a lot of you did but she was the first :)


" islands in the stream - that is what we are ♪♫♫  ( oh come on - most of you were waiting for that :)


I'm on the look out for 2 old rustic stools - ( I have a friend that has 2 that I'd give anything to have - hmmm wonder if she needs a dresser - since I have an abundance of them lol - a little switcheroo )

I'll be working on the kitchen ceiling today - isn't that just about as exciting as life can get?

Have a great Thursday all !
Much love,


Party Time !!! ( click on links to see some inspiration !!! )

Common Ground                              Miss Mustard Seed                     Remodelaholic
Between Naps on the Porch               Coastal Charm                           Knick of Time
Savvy Southern Style                        My Romantic Home                   The Shabby Nest
Tatertots and Jello                            Funky Junk Interiors
Be Different - Act Normal