Ocean Breezes in the Living & Dining Room

Hi -

Sounds crazy I know, but I must have had a flu or some bug because I feel so much better now! Last week I popped a few pills, took some rests and faked it - and it must have worked.  

The last couple of days you could really feel Fall in the air, grey sky in the am with some fog and mist - and a wonderful breeze crosses through the house.  I love it.  

Love a fireplace - this is one that opens to the Family Room in the background too - surprisingly there's nobody laying on the couch right now.  My Grandma's crystal lamps are up there on the mantel with some things that I change out for the seasons. Hmmm the fireplace trim - I gotta do something about that - that trim has got to go.  Maybe it could be painted?  Why not?

The club chairs in the Living Room below are distressed brown leather - they're great but I Summer them up with some white throws just to change it up a bit. My favorite bit of advice I got from my favorite designer was to move something out the minute you walk by it saying "this has to go."  Sometimes I walk past something for 6 months before I finally move it out.  Do you do that?  I need to work on it.

Above is the Front Door into the Living Room - & you can see the Dining Room from the front door too - I'm standing in it.   

Dining Room is a good size with great natural light from the big windows.   Now I'm standing where there is a swing door to the kitchen so it's really easy to serve.  The french doors open to an outdoor kitchen/BBQ area.  It's all original cement and used brick with a bar serving area with a couple of stools and a cool old bench. Great for crowds and parties - another place to go for food which is great because thekitchenissotight.

This is probably my favorite Chandelier - Mr Beachy's design - it's mother of pearl squares to the ceiling, and the bottom is iron with metal flowers.  It's over the top naturally weathered and aged - it was sitting outside on a deck in Paradise Cove for years when I scored it from a very nice guy who GAVE it to me.  It's white and rusty and scruffy and probably the most commented on Chandelier in our house.  Is it a compliment when people say "only you" - it is to me.

I change the bottom crystal whenever I find something interesting that goes with my centerpiece which is always seasonal flowers and stuff.  The old farm table and chairs were a Salvation Army find years ago, I covered the seats with white denim - now I'm thinking of recovering with a faded stripe - 

My favorite flower right now is white carnations - they're always at the market and they're just a few bucks.  


The display stand in the corner is holding some old beaded lamps and hurricanes that I use for centerpieces with candles. There's glass shelves, it's got some tole roses vining through it and I think it's days are numbered around here.  


Partying with asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com