Spring in Pennsylvania?

Can't believe that this week is the beginning of spring. 

This is what it looked like at my house.

Winter just doesn't want to let go.

It was a beautiful snow though. 

Very heavy and hung to the

tree branches.  Lovely.

But I am ready for daffodils!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Perfume Bottle Cabinet

One of Mike's latest handy works is this beautiful cabinet

 in our new master bathroom.

  We had bought an old china cabinet a while back. 

 I used the base for another project in our foyer.  So for

awhile we stored the top in the basement.  When we finished

the upstairs master bath we had this huge wall with nothing

to put on it.  I have a lot of antique perfume bottles that my

mother-in-law has given me for birthdays and Christmas's over the years

so the cabinet was just the right place for them. 

 

 

This is what it used to look like.  The color of cherry wood,

a bit scuffed up......it had seen better days.

 

 

It was too deep so Mike cut off about two thirds of the depth. 

Then he had to notch out the lower part of it so it would

 fit over the bead board part of the wall.

Next he put on some trim to hide the cut edges.

 

 

He painted the cabinet black to match the vanity cabinetry

 and added a pretty crystal knob for the door.

 

 

I put in the antique perfume bottles and added old

 family photos in silver frames. 

It is really a beautiful and unique piece in the bathroom

 

 

This is a picture of the bottom of the cabinet which is in the downstairs foyer.

 

Hope your week is going well.  We are waiting

for a big snow storm.  So I guess,

we will be spending tomorrow in the house.

 

Valerie

 

Laundry Room

The laundry room is finally finished. 

 It has been a long, stop and start project. 

 It actually is a very small

(tiny, tiny) upstairs bedroom full of angles

and a slanted ceiling.  No closet, only an under

the eaves cubby and a couple of built in drawers.

The laundry room was actually in the basement but right

after we got the house I was dragging some sheets

down the staircase and took a tumble.  So we came up with

the idea of putting the laundry upstairs. 

And it has worked out great.  This what the room used to look like.

 

 

The plumber had to come in and put in pipes and drain.

Mike painted the room blue and white then

 put in lower kitchen cabinets and a counter top.

 

 

 

 

I made the curtain,

 

 

out of this fabric.

 

 

Added some "old things."

 

 

Made a laundry bag.

 

 

Mike added overhead spot lights.

 

 

I keep all my scrapbooking supplies in the cabinets.

And use the counter to work on projects.

 

 

 

At the other end of the room is our old

Hoosier cabinet.  This picture also gives you a good idea of what

a head banger the slanted ceiling used to be.

 

 

I still have a few decorator projects left to do, such

as paint the under the counter stool and I want to put another

old shelf above the washer and drawer.  Will show you

those projects after they are completed.

Have a great week.  We are supposed to get snow.

Valerie

Valentine Wishes

 

 

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

I did a little decorating in my dining room.  I had to hunt and hunt

in my basement for the valentine box but

finally found it.

(That basement is a real adventure!!)

 

 

My mother-in-law gave me this beautiful crystal bowl.

 

 

Thank you to everyone who sent Valentine cards.

They certainly looked nice scattered around the room.

 

 

 

 

Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day.  Mike and I went

out to dinner and then to a play in Altoona, Pa. 

The play needed a little more rehearsal (actually several

people left in the middle) but it was still funny

and we enjoyed it.

 

Valerie

 

Remember Aunt Clara on the TV show " Bewitched"?

 

 

Remember the old TV show Bewitched? 

 Samantha had an aunt who stole doorknobs

 and carried them around with her in her purse.

Well, Mike and I don't pocket doorknobs but

over the years we have collected quite a

few different types of old doorknobs. 

In this old house

we have finally been able

 to use most of them. 

Mike spent the day changing out

the old ones with...... old ones. 

 

 

Here's a pretty crystal doorknob with an

old Art Deco key plate.

 

 

We had LOTS of black porcelain knobs,

so Mike ordered new silver rosettes and

key locks.

 

 

Black looks good with the old

black and white kitchen floor.

 

 

This is the bathroom knob with old

key.  You have to remember to turn

the lock or you might have

 unexpected

visitors.

 

 

A little door knob accessorizing.

 

 

We have this phone niche in the hallway.  While we

were in Seattle over Christmas we found

this old 1920's phone.  Similar to one

that probably used to inhabit the space many

years ago.

 

Keep warm!! 

 

 Valerie

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 in Seattle

(and a little decorating at the Bedford house.)

 

Had time to do a little decorating before leaving for Seattle

Just a few things :)

Church village on the dining room buffet.

 

 

And a vintage lady under glass.

 

And then on to Seattle, one week before Christmas.  Poor Kyle, he knew there

 would be lots of decorating to do with all the family coming.  Mike and I arrived first and immediately started looking for a tree and Christmas decorations (Kyle didn't have a thing!!)   After stopping at several stores, Mike and I finally found one of the last trees Home Depot had.  Next, Mike's mom arrived, then cousin Robert, cousin Rebecca

and her husband Michael and Kyle's girlfriend Deasy.

 

 

It's a group effort.

 

 

Ma Donzie showing how it's done. 

 

 

Hanging tinsel.  (Can't believe these kids never heard of tinsel!!)

 

 

Job well done.

 

 

Christmas Eve Service. 

Kyle and Deasy in front of the church's Christmas Tree.

 

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas too!!

 

........and now on to the New Year.

 

Valerie

 

 

 

 

 

No rest for the weary......

The day after getting back from Ireland, Mike was back at work on the house.  Me..... I was in bed getting over jet lag. 

 

Mike set up the tile saw in the new master bedroom and

started work on tiling the master bathroom shower.

Thankfully we haven't put in the carpet yet.

 

 

White subway tile for the shower.

 

 

White bead board for the lower walls.

 

 

A real pretty grey porcelain tile for the floor.

 

 

 

 

My job was painting the old red brick on the family

room fireplace.  I was going to paint each

brick individually and leave the grey grout  but didn't like the

 look too much so just painted the whole thing a medium camel color.

 

 

 

Below is finished job.

 

 

 

 

Back upstairs to paint the old doors white.  Lots and lots

of white paint to cover those dark doors.

 

 

Meanwhile, Mike was building a shelving

unit for the new walk-in master closet.

 

 

 

 

Friday, the new carpet will be laid in the master bedroom.

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! 

We will be spending it with

Mike's Mom and my parents.

And a very, very happy birthday to Linda. 

 Hope the party was a wonderful surprise. 

 Wish we could have spent it with you. 

 

Valerie