Ready for fall {our house}

I think my house was made for the fall. If only pumpkins could be displayed year round. HA. I bought modern house numbers in black from Home Depot, but I have to actually get them up. I still need to paint the porch ceiling and continue to fix the porch floor. Did I mention that I pulled up two layers of carpet? It was hiding a small crack in an other wise beautiful tile floor. It is taking some work to remove the adhesive and years of dirt, but it makes me giddy. If I ever do get to have this house painted I am thinking white or something close to it and remove the shutters. I love the idea of continuing the more modern farmhouse flow that I began inside. 

My new pots done by our local Leaf and Petal are beginning to fill in and I am head over heels for them. I have never had pots done for me since I love to garden, but this time I knew I needed help. I wanted something special and that's really what they gave me. It also helped the house feel less intimidating in a way. It sits up on a hill and with all the rock and the wild yard, which I am continuing to work on, it just has a slight unwelcoming feel to it.

Here is another shot of the pot so you can see what I wonderful mix it is. They really put thought into making it pretty from every angle. The pots are also resin that looks like concrete which keeps them light so when we do move I can take them with me.

This post used to be such an eye sore. I grabbed some black and copper paint and gave it a few coats. It really did transform it. It also matches the porch lantern that I had in our old home that I have always loved. The post is gas, but currently does not work. I am hoping to have it looked at in the near future to see if we can get it up and running. Anyone have a gas fixture? Wondering how much it will up our bill. I think this is the type that once it's on it's on.

*My porch lantern is currently on sale!

Bits & Pieces {the kitchen}

The house is coming along slowly, but surely. I was so sure when starting I would have it pulled together by October but alas I am way off target. Living in the house a few months did help me decide what this house and we need for it feel "finished". Granted this house will never actually be finished since it is only a rental, but finished to the point where when I walk into a room and I feel like it's home.

After much thought I decided I missed having a chalkboard. In our old house it was painted on the wall, but I figured being a rental I probably shouldn't go there. After looking at many I went with this one from Pottery Barn. It seemed like the best quality for the price and look I was wanting. I almost made this a DIY, but with so many other projects going on I figured this was a place that I actually should just purchase and save my time. The antique table that I fell head over heels for still makes me happy. When we have over large groups it can serve as an additional seating area, but for now it serves as a lack of a pantry overflow. The basket underneath I had forever now and has seen better days, but it's perfect place to store paper towels and the like. To the right of the table is our recycling basket. I am sure I can do something prettier, but for now it works and I already had the wire basket on hand. Also you can see the new lighting up. Not sure if I shared it yet or not, but I LOVE it. They were somewhat cheap and feel that way, but hanging you can't tell. HA.

Yes, the microwave is on the counter, but I also have tile counters, chip tiled floors, and cabinets that don't shut. So you can see it may not be magazine perfect, but it functions well for us and I pretty much still love it.

The baskets came in and I think they are just what I needed. It gives me a place for laundry and the detergent bottles that won't fit in the cabinets. This also gives you a glimpse of the other tiled floor. It was not laid perfectly unfortunately, but it's still better than the big ole hole in the floor. The old tile is no longer made in size so I had to come up with a sort of  "fix". I went with a 1931 appropriate tile that acts as a rug to the back door which also serves as the main door.

sources:

chalkboard | paint color for walls and upper cabinets: Martha Stewart Talc | bottom cabinets: Martha Stewart Seal | cabinet knobs: lowes | basket under table {similar} | baskets on washer |  lighting | white serving pieces | graphic art to left on buffet | black pot with fern

Ellie's Room

When Ellie was decorating her room the only thing she had to keep was her current duvet from the old house. It was a bit of splurge for me, but it was too pretty for her not to have. Thankfully she said she would never want to change that anyway. Her bed and side table are from her old room too and were mine when I was little. The kubu chair and pouf used to be in our old living room and she was thrilled when I said they could move into her room. She is getting older and she wanted her room to reflect that. She wanted it to have pink and be a little funky, but still pretty. I think she did a good job at that. In the end I did help with a few pieces to pull it all together in order to make her vision to come to life.

sources:

duvet cover {seems to not have this colorway anymore, but it does have this one!} | blue pillows on bed | bamboo shades Home Depot | side table {no longer available, but these work too!} | kubu chair {from World Market a few years ago, similar} | multi colored pillow | cactus art in ikea frame | pouf {had mine forever now, but these seem great!} | rug | lighted sign found at Home Goods {this one is similiar, but not in price} | mint shelf ikea | elephant chain | hanging planter {not available online, but maybe in store? These may be even more beautiful!} | brass horse head hook | bunny lamp {found at a local antique store, but this one is sweet too} | white shelf baskets | tall multi colored basket from Home Goods, but this one is similar | gold door hanging made by me