Living Beauty Full in the Burbs
Living Beauty Full in the Burbs
Tips, tricks, ideas, and projects
In 1994 I located a small Goodwill store just outside my usual haunts. I wandered around a bit and had given up on finding anything I wanted when I spied an oak table top in a corner. Instantly I knew I wanted it. It didn’t have a base but that was OK, in fact it was fine. I had a treadle sewing machine base without the cabinet. The table top was about 48″ so I knew it would fit the treadle base. Visions of a perfect marriage danced through my head! It didn’t have a price so I grabbed the first Goodwill guy I could find and asked, how much? I bought it for the insane sum of $20.00. Over priced for 1994 but I’m pretty sure I gave away how badly I wanted it, what with the all the sighing and moaning I was doing. He loaded it up and I drove back to the house where I wrestled that thing out of the car. (That’s a lie. I had help.)
My soon-to-be husband looked at it and very wisely said, “It doesn’t have a base.” Uh, keen sense of the obvious, that man. I just smiled and said, “I have a plan. I’m going to bolt it to the treadle base.” He looked dubious. He looks like that a lot. Usually when I say, “I have a plan.” But this time I knew it was a GOOD plan, if not a great one. We I needed a bigger breakfast table. The current one sat two people. Not large enough when all the kids and their friends were home or guests stopped by. So we dragged the old treadle base out of the trash treasure pile in the back of the garage and got to work. Easiest project ever. (I didn’t do any part of it.) Mr B added two lengths of scrap pine to the bottom of the table round, did a dry fit, marked where the holes for the screws would go, removed the top, pre-drilled the holes, put the top back on and screwed it all together. We stood back and looked at it for a moment. It was a beautiful marriage. A match made in Goodwill.
That table has been in the breakfast nook in both our homes. It’s hosted many birthday parties, dinners, late night conversations, crafting projects and game nights. It’s a great table. A perfect size for our small nook. It does have a tiny big flaw. It’s a knee banger. You must sit very carefully or else run the risk of banging your knees on the ends of the treadle. MY side is perfect, I got the side where you’d sit if you were sewing. So plenty of room for both my knees. Ditto for anyone sitting across from me. Anyone sitting at the ends does so at their own risk. The odd band-aid on one or both knees is proof that the table does not discriminate. All knees are fair game. Sometimes one must pay a price for a really great table, right?
The color of that golden oak was fine. In the early years. I loved classic country then and wood was still king. I lovingly sanded it and used tung oil to protect it. A few years later I sanded it again and applied a fresh coat of tung oil to renew it. It’s been that way forever. I’ve not been a fan of the golden oak color since we had our floors installed about 12 years ago. Too matchy matchy. It’s outdated. My style has changed. But it was low on the priority list of things I wanted to do. Life was busy. It could wait. It’s a fine table. It’s sturdy. We can eat on it. But this past year, just before Christmas, a few days before guests were arriving I said to Mr B, while looking at the table, “I have a plan.” He didn’t really have the dubious look this time, it was more the, “are you nuts?” look. Whatever. He took it apart, carefully maneuvered it through the house, out to the garage and set up the workmate. Then he looked at me, “You sure?” “Yep.” I got my tools and supplies and went to work. Some sanding and a coat of stripper, a final sand and it was ready for paint.
I used one of my favorite shades of white, Valspar’s Hotel Churchill Vanilla. It’s a creamy white, almost ivory, and works well with the other shades of white and cream in the house. One coat and I started getting excited, the table looked happy. All was well. I left it to dry and started doing a happy dance. It was so pretty in white! Next day it got another coat of paint and then I let it dry again. Mr B reversed his maneuvers and put the table back together in the house. Success! And I loved it. Except I no longer loved the golden oak church pew that sits behind it. That’s my place and it didn’t look right anymore. But I have a plan. (Another post for another day.) Back to the table……I put my pot of winter greens in the center along with my mismatched salt and pepper shakers and basked in the glow of a job well done. Except it wasn’t.
Not well done at all as it turns out. The paint didn’t cure. Things stuck to it. When I picked up the salt shaker it made a slight sucking noise. Not good. No paint pulled up, but this wasn’t a good sign. OK, just let it dry for a few days and all will be well, I thought. But I had guests coming over!!! No worries. The party isn’t for a couple of days, I’ll just leave the table bare until shortly before they arrive. The party was a success and there was no apparent damage to the table. It held up well. But for the next few weeks we dealt with things sticking. Placemats, cups, the mismatched salt and pepper shakers. Anything and everything stuck to the table. But I had a plan.
I’ve painted furniture for years. Years! The only time I’ve had paint fail to cure is, A. When the paint was very old and thick. B. If I put paint on too thickly. C. If I didn’t wait for the coats to dry in between. None of these were true in this case. I’m confident I did everything right. Sigh. Back under the table went Mr B, unscrewed it and maneuvered it out to the garage. Again. To his credit, he said nothing. I got no “looks,” not even a comment under his breath. He just set it up and let me do my thing. Some sanding and a coat of stripper. A little lot more sanding. Soon I saw beautiful oak grain again, in its natural pale color. There were a few stubborn spots and streaks of white paint. At least those spots cured, they didn’t want to come off. I started to get my paint out and thought, WAIT. WHAT IF……..?? The table is back in the house, joined to its mate once more. I’ve decided to get a glass top for it. I’ve decided to lime wax it. I’ve decided to paint it again. I have a great no plan. But that church pew? Oh yeah, I have a plan.
Chances are you’ve seen lots of lichen and not realized it. Or maybe you know what it is but haven’t thought about using it as decor in your home. I love lichen. I’m fascinated by it. I love the myriad forms and delicate colors, the textures, and the way lichen lives on its own without a whole lot of help other than something to anchor it. “Lichen is a composite organism that arises from fungi and alga (algae) in a symbiotic relationship”. (sources: Wiki and US Forestry) That just means it’s a life form of its own comprised of two other forms, in this case, fungus and algae. It’s harmless and lives quite happily for years, quietly growing without commanding much notice. Unless you happen to be a reindeer. They notice. And then they eat it.
Lichens are found all over the world, from rain forests and temperate woodlands to the high elevations in alpine areas. It grows on bark, rocks, headstones, brick and stone walls, it hangs from power lines and branches. (Epiphytes, or air plants.) They are long lived and some are considered the oldest living things in today’s world. Sensitive to environmental changes, lichen has been used to assess air pollution, ozone depletion and even metal contamination.
This year I used some of my glass containers with nothing but lichen. I tucked an epiphyte in one and added some lichen at the bottom. I may keep this out all year, but it isn’t a sure thing. I move things all the time. A display I LOVE today might inspire an “eh” tomorrow. That’s the fun of decorating. Nothing is permanent. At least not in my home.
I love lichen for the texture it brings to potted succulents, or just in a glass container where I enjoy the fantastic form. In the winter I like to add reindeer moss to my displays of pine cones, and in the last couple of years I started adding bits and pieces of lichen I found in my yard. I think it elevates the display to a new level and adds interest. I add moss and lichen to my pots of succulents as well. A few pieces added to a chicken feeder full of succulents hides the soil and adds another layer of beauty.
For a winter display you can’t beat lichen. So next time you’re walking in a wooded area, or even around your yard take the time to look closer at the tiny world around you, chances are you’ll start to see lichen and maybe you too, will take a liking to lichen. Um, I don’t recommend eating it. Just look at it. Enjoy it that way.
One of the questions that is frequently asked in Facebook decorating groups is; “How do I transition from the holidays to winter decór?” or… “My house looks naked! Help!” For farmhouse or country styled homes, it’s easy to keep out a few things to give your home a winter feel without it looking like you’re one of those who leaves Christmas out year ’round. (You know who you are. Not that there is anything wrong with you, you just love Christmas, right?) I find that I love the look of simple winter displays after the holidays. I love Christmas, I truly do, I love the lights and all the decorations, the feel of Christmas. But honestly, after Christmas I long for simplicity.
Aim for simple. A small vintage wood box filled with pine cones. Or use an old silver tray. A jug of greens from the yard on your table. Small groupings of candles. Some comfy pillows and throws. Perhaps a collection of old bottles, some filled with greenery, some not. I love using succulents this time of year. They can be tucked into the smallest of containers to bring life and green into your home. Ivy is another good winter transition plant for a sunny spot in your home, or heart leaf philodendron, it thrives in reduced light. That’s all you really need.
I use a few simple things to evoke winter. White candles. A few pine cones, a couple buckets of greenery with pheasant feathers tucked in. A pot of sedum on my breakfast table which will get transplanted at some point. A few wool throws and of course my year ’round grain sack pillows. Grain sacks are for every season, right?? A nubby throw on the bed and a chenille pillow. This year I left one of my holiday swags over my old cabinet door in the entry. To me, that’s simple winter.
I want winter to whisper in my home, not shout. Winter is my time to snuggle up with Mr B and watch movies or binge watch Netflix, go to hockey games, play with the furbabies and enjoy a slower pace that includes a moratorium on shopping. Um, what is this “no shopping?” Well, I don’t need anything…… I want some things but those things can wait. Right now I just want to enjoy what I have and be thankful to begin another year. I don’t want elaborate displays, I want a look that is warm and inviting but not cluttered. I get a feeling of peace this time of year. And isn’t that what a sanctuary is supposed to feel like? Here’s wishing you a simple, warm and peaceful transition into winter. Take a break. Sip some hot chocolate or coffee, read a book, watch some movies. Let life slow down a bit.
Oh my goodness. Time flies. I already packed up Christmas. My house looks naked. I always hate to begin to pack everything up, mostly because I have way too much holiday crap treasures. I purged last year and pared down in anticipation of a scaled back farmhouse Christmas. Didn’t happen. I started out fine, my mantel was simple. I didn’t even remove anything to add Christmas. Just some greens, a few pine cones, a couple of ornies and I was good to go. Then I added fairy lights. OK, still simple. I added 3 little naked pines to the top of the entertainment center. Yay! Simple Farmhouse Christmas. Oh yes, simple. We Mr B brought down the boxes from the attic with the plan to use just a few things. I opened my first box. Big mistake. I went from simple to “OH, LOOOK, ORNIES!!” in the blink of an eye. Within an hour 3 trees were up and 10 or 12 boxes were in the tiny living room, waiting to be opened and the adorning of the main tree to begin. My plan was thwarted by boxes. Boxes of years of ornament collecting. And my inability to look away from those wondrous shiny orbs. My simple farmhouse Christmas goose was cooked. It was an explosion of holiday at my house.
Within a week every room in the house had its share of Christmas joy. I love it. I love Christmas decorations and lights. Yes, I go overboard. But if you can’t go overboard at Christmas when can you?? I basked in the glow of lights every night. I adored each twinkle. I savored the oohs and ahhs of our guests. It was magical. Until it wasn’t. Which was two days ago when I decided Christmas had.to.go. This was the week I’d planned to relax and enjoy some down time by the glow of the Christmas lights. That week between Christmas and New Years when I usually curl up with a good book, listen to music and just chill. These plans went the same way my simple farmhouse plan went. Buh bye. I woke up and said, “I’m done with Christmas.” So the boxes came in the house and I began putting things away. Let me just say, putting Christmas up is a lot more fun than taking it down. A LOT more fun.
Besides trying to remember which mercury glass ornament went into what box, I wrapped each individual ornie in tissue. Every stinkin one that didn’t have the original box. Annd there were dozens, maybe hundreds. I may have more ornaments than I need.
So after purging 4 more boxes of crapola goodies to gift to a friend, I still ended up with 22 boxes of Christmas. TWENTY TWO. (This may have something to do with Mr B’s crankiness each year he heads into the attic.) Did I say I may have more ornaments than I need??? To be fair, some of the boxes contain nothing but greenery, which.I.must.have. I can’t have Christmas without sticking greens in every conceivable place. It’s not normal, I know. But I do it. And I do it with a great amount of joy. And that’s the key. It brings me joy. So I’ll make plans to cut back again next year. Maybe I’ll pull it off. There are Christmas miracles, right?
Who says empty nester’s have to settle for humdrum decor at Christmas? Just because Christmas is “all done up” for the kids while they’re growing up is no reason to stop decorating for holidays once they are out on their own. Your decor may get a bit more sophisticated (a lot more unless you are still using plastic sippy cups, which I hope you’ve outgrown by now), but don’t stop adding special touches because there are no kiddos. Even if you are single, treat yourself to dinner on a table decorated for the season. Make the effort, you are worth it.
Our Christmas table this year is set on the breakfast table. It’s just the two of us and I wanted the more intimate feel of that small table. It overlooks the pool and gets incredible light throughout the day so I can enjoy the setting. There’s a sill of sorts at the mitred glass window and I use this space for a bazillion candles. OK, not a bazillion, that would clearly be too many candles and we would sweat, not particularly romantic to sweat yourself through dinner, plus it’s 85° here, we do not need the extra warmth. So maybe a dozen candles would suffice. I used our fancy schmancy china and some Target snowflake plates I picked up on clearance a few years ago to add a festive holiday layer. Mix discount with expensive, it’s allowed. A mix of vintage glassware from Salvation Army and Mr. B’s wine glasses provides ample opportunity for liquid refreshment. I raided the dining room for elements to create a small centerpiece.
My Grandmother’s silverware adds to the fanciness. It’s a bit tarnished but always cherished. I don’t mind the tarnish. It’s old, it doesn’t have to look all new and shiny. I’m old and trust me, I definitely don’t look all new and shiny. So having old things around makes me feel less old. Weird? Maybe. I don’t care. Whatever works, right?
Whatever your season in life, surround yourself with things that are sentimental, things that you love, things that make you feel special. Your home is your sanctuary. Make it shine. Merry Christmas from our sanctuary to yours. Blessings to you and may your day be Merry and Bright.
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