Friday, October 31, 2014

Time For A Coffee/Hot Cocoa Station and a Fire in the Fireplace

I don't know about you, one of my favorite parts about the weather turning cooler is getting to drink hot cocoa! After two years of enjoying a little hot cocoa station in our last house, we took a year off from doing one last year because we didn't have a good spot for one here in our new house. We actually really missed it so we were quite happy that this year we now have a sideboard in our kitchen that makes for the perfect spot to set it up. At this point it's pretty basic, but I think it will be fun to add in some holiday touches once we get a little closer to Christmas. For now though, with the cooler weather arriving it's nice having it all set up. This is actually my first winter of being a coffee drinker (I know, I know - that's pretty shocking!) but I have been making myself a mocha every single morning (and maybe another one each afternoon...)! In fact, I am a little embarrassed just how many cups of cocoa or mocha by the four of us that have been made in just the week or so that we've had it set up...

One of the questions we get asked quite a bit is what do we fill the jars with. One of the jars on the top of the sideboard has chocolate chips and one has chocolate chunks. We generally sprinkle those onto the whipped cream. Then we keep rolled wafers and a sugar bowl (that's for the coffee, not the cocoa). In the jars below there are mini chocolate chips, marshmallows (we only had large ones leftover from the last time we made s'mores when we first set this up last week, however we have since switched them out for mini marshmallows that work better) and then of course the cocoa mix!


And on this side we have decaf coffee pods in the smaller chalkboard canister, regular coffee pods in the larger one and then hazelnut ones in the owl canister (which was the girls pick!) Then we keep straws which make for good stirrers and spoons in the little gold vase. Our fridge is pretty much within arms reach of the sideboard and we have coffee creamer and whipped cream in there. When we have people over we put those out too, but for our day to day we obviously just keep those in the refrigerator.

 


Top of Sideboard (left to right):
The pitcher with leaves (leaves are from yard) - Target
Antlers - World Market
Crackled Planter - Birch Lane, spheres in planter - can't remember, have had them for forever
Mason Jars with Metal Lids - White Home Collection several years ago (Wilton, NH)
Sugar Bowl - World Market
Hot Chocolate Cups and Saucers - L.A. Burdick (anniversary gift years ago) 
Chalkboard Canisters with Copper Tops - Target
Metallic Cup (was a candle but now that it's done we use it as sort of a vase) - Target
Straws - Michael's
Owl Canister - Target

Middle Row (left to right):
Bowls - Mikasa
Three little jars - World Market
Saucers - Pottery Barn
Microwave - Target
Cup Holder - World Market
Cups - Mikasa

Bottom Row (left to right):
Wood Box - HomeGoods
Plates - Mikasa
Bowls - Pottery Barn, Emma Collection
White Dinner Plates - Pottery Barn, Emma Collection
Gray Salad Plates -  IKEA









Along with hot cocoa one of my other favorite things about the cooler weather arriving is getting to use the fireplace! 








Full Source List for Family Room: 

Mantel Color- Winter's Gate in Semi-Gloss by Benjamin Moore
Wall Color- Horizon in Eggshell by Benjamin Moore
Trim Color - Simply White in Semi-Gloss by Benjamin Moore
Door Color - Mopboard Black in Semi-Gloss by Benjamin Moore
Counter Height Stools - Target
Menu Chalkboard - Dear Lillie (for sale in our shop coming very soon!)
Flush Mount - Lowe's
Pendants - These were a hand-me-down from my mom and they worked perfectly in here (originally from Bellacor)
Circular Mirror - gift from my sister, Dana (from Antique Farmhouse)
Three-Tiered Display Piece with buckets - gift from my mom (from Mothology)
Table - Pier 1 years ago and has since been painted in French Linen from Lady Butterbug
X Back Dining Chairs - IKEA
Slipcovered Dining Chairs - IKEA
Oversized Chalkboard - made by me, you can read more about it here
X Sideboard - made by me, you can read more about it here
Wreath - Birch Lane
Antlers - World Market
Sectional - IKEA
Rug - HomeGoods
Lamp - Joss and Main
Pillows - Birch Lane, Joss and Main
Plaid Throw - HomeGoods
Slipcovered Wingback Chairs - Savvy Home and Garden
Script Chairs - TJMaxx
Painted French Cabinet - makeover here
TV Console - Antique shop in Camden, SC about 8 years ago
Frames above chairs - tutorial here
Striped Roman Shade in Window above Sink - made by me, you can read more about it here.
Drapery Panels - IKEA Ritva Panels
Drapery Rods - Lowe's
Sconces - RH Baby and Child
Mirror - gift from my mom (Restoration Hardware)
Rocking Horse - gift from my mom (from RH Baby and Child)
Urns on Fireplace - Seasons in Williamsburg (years ago on clearance)

 Have a Happy Halloween and a FABULOUS weekend!


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Chair Switcharoo



When we painted the kitchen and family room a few weeks ago I took the slipcovered wingback chairs that were in this room (you can see photos of this room with those chairs here) I decided to try switching the sets of chairs because I really liked how the slipcovered ones looked against the new darker gray mantel in the family room. So, I ended up moving these ones in here.  I think it looks a little bit dull right now with the autumn decor in there but I think I will really like it once we add some greenery in there for Christmas! And then I have some other greenery we usually have out the rest of the year. So, all in all, I am happy with the switch and I can't wait to show you this room again in a few weeks when we get it ready for Christmas!










Source List: 

Wall Color - Soft Chamois by Benjamin Moore
Sofa - by Lee Industries (was purchased for 1/3 the retail price 7 years ago)
Tufted Chairs - TJMaxx
Trunk - Found at an antique shop in Ashville, NC about 9 years ago
Small Gold Mirror - house warming gift from years ago
Mirror above Fireplace - family antique
Rug - Remnant from Lowe's
Side Table - also a gift from about 7 years ago, was from an antique shop in Camden, SC
Drapery Panels - Ritva Panels from IKEA
Curtain Rods - Lowe's
Zebra Pillow - I made them from fabric that was given to me about 7 years ago
Faux Cowhide Pillows - World Market
Antlers on the mantel - World Market
Wheat on mantel - I bundled it together from some wheat stalks I found at Hobby Lobby about 7 or 8 years ago
White Pumpkins - Savvy
Cable Knit Pillows - Birch Lane
Plaid Pillows - Target
In Everything Give Thanks Chalkboard Print - Dear Lillie


I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday! I'll be back later this week with our hot cocoa station.


Monday, October 27, 2014

In Everything Give Thanks


We are excited to be introducing our new "In everything give thanks" sign! It's in stock now. Here it is in our dining room. I started setting things up in here a little bit for Thanksgiving but I haven't finished with the tabletop yet.  
 





We have done a "thankful tree" in years past but this year switched out the leaf cutouts for these little tags we found at Michael's.






SOURCE LIST:

Wall Color - Gray Owl at 75% in Matte Finish
Trim Color - Simply White in Semi-gloss Finish
Beadboard Wallpaper - Allen and Roth from Lowe's
Chandelier - Savvy in Williamsburg, VA
Farmhouse Table - I made it using this plan from Ana White's site. Stained with Rustoleum's Weathered Gray and Minwax's Provincial
End Chairs and Side Chairs - World Market
Tufted Bench - Home Goods
Side Chairs next to Sideboard - Joss and Main
Clock - Joss and Main
Mirror - Restoration Hardware (six or seven years ago but I think they still sell it)
Drapery Panels - IKEA Aina Panels in white
Drapery Rods - Lowe's
Sideboard - The Velvet Shoestring (consignment shop - then painted with Annie Sloan's French Linen chalk paint from Lady Butterbug)
Table Runner - Target last year
Dinnerware - Pottery Barn, Emma Collection (wedding gift)
Cake Stand - Pottery Barn, (wedding gift)
Chargers - Pottery Barn (wedding gift - 8 years ago)
Urn on Sideboard - from a shop I worked at years ago
Thankful Tags - Michael's
In Everything Give Thanks Sign - Dear Lillie (can be purchased here)
Rolling Cart - I made it. You can find our tutorial here. And we stained it with: Rustoleum's Weathered Gray and Minwax's Provincial

 I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!








Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Our Fall Porch


Well, it's finally starting to feel like fall around here! YAY! With the cool, crisp weather arriving we had a little bit of fun finishing up some fall touches out on our porch. Although I have to admit all four of us are pretty picky eaters, we surprisingly all LOVE pretty much anything pumpkin flavored and devoured these pumpkin donuts we got at the grocery store. Can't wait to get some more! Besides adding a few autumn touches out here we also moved our "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" sign out here. I like how it looks better out here than above our bed. And we just listed another batch of them in our shop.
















I also tried putting this new sign out here (we will have them available in our shop next week!)  but I think I am going to use it in our dining room and move one of our chalkboards back out here. 



Source List:

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow Wood Sign - Dear Lillie (can be purchased here)
In Everything Give Thanks Sign - Dear Lillie (available next week)
Farmhouse Table - we built it, (you can read more about it here)
Dishes - Pottery Bar, The Emma Collection (wedding gifts 8 years ago and still love them just as much)
Glass Dome - Pottery Barn (wedding gift)
Runner - World Market
Plaid Fabric - Joann's
Pumpkins - Trader Joe's
Pumpkin Donuts - Harris Teeter
Pitcher with Leaves - Ikea
Leaves and branches - mostly from yard and a few faux berry branches from years ago
Lights - Target
Dining Chairs - Antique Mall in South Carolina 8 years ago
Rattan Chairs - IKEA
Knit Pillows - Had for years - maybe Hobby Lobby
Stag Pillows - Birch Lane
Wire Basket - Joss and Main
Wire Tiered Stand and Buckets - Collection at Laurel and Grove in Peterborogh, NH  a couple years ago
Sideboard/Cart - Makeover here

I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday!