A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Echoes of Designing for Your Life

Well golly gee, I told Kari and Kijsa that there was no way that I could play with the big gals by participating in their Designing for Your Life post. I mean, really, play with the grown-ups who know how to pull a room together with style and class? But today, I want to play. I soooooo want to play and I'm going to play and that's all there is to it! (See the levels of humiliation that I am willing to go through for visitors?)

Okay, some time ago now, I concluded that my style is "New England" through and through. Plus I live on the edge of a small forest as you have by now seen and heard and I mean "on the edge." Plus the new space has some peculiar angles that were necessary for the correct pitch of the roof and to accomodate the request for higher ceilings. We were tired of that closed in feeling that, while cozy enough, can make one feel claustrophobic.

My daughter told me that I needed trees for that high awkward spot so I requested trees.



They arrived with all their foliage, which sent me into a flurry of leaf plucking making my backyard look as if Hurricane Ike had been through. I learned a lot about maple leaves and beech leaves while plucking them last night, but I'll save that for another time.



And here the trees are in their new home. (ETA: This is really a work in progress. My hope is to hang photos of family members there. Then, perhaps, it won't look quite so much as if the chair is wearing antlers. :D)



Ruthann of Warm Pie, Happy Home had a great tip about using coffee grounds (new) in candles, which I have used and like, but I also had need of covering up the wire stem of these fake posies so I used her idea there, too.



Hmmm, how about up close?



(Yup, all you discerning readers, I changed the photo for a better look.)

Then, after the window washing of yesterday, I placed my tired Rosemary there on an inverted bowl for height and just placed a fall garland around it.



Sometimes the simplest things make me happy. This little screen door decoration for a few dollars from the Christmas Tree Shop makes me happy. I grin every time that I get to take it out and display it. People seem to enjoy it and I get a lot of comments on it including one from my father who rarely notices such things.



Visit Kari and Kijsa and perhaps, after seeing my humble efforts, you'll feel like playing, too. I hope so!

32 comments:

  1. Thank you for commenting on my blog. Your house is gorgeous! I particularly love the walls.

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  2. I'd love to play...but I just posted our local water fall this morning. Hmmm...is tomorrow too late?

    Your style suits you just fine...I like it!

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  3. Vee,
    I can't wait to see your photo tree! What a great idea! I like the coffee grounds idea too. I have used coffee beans but not grounds, I like that they would look more like dirt in a clear container. Thanks for giving me some inspiration to get out the autumn decor!

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  4. I LIKE THE NEW ENGLAND STYLE!
    ALTHOUGH ITS NOT A STYLE THAT IS WEIDLY MENTIONED IN THE ENGLISH BLOGLAND!
    I SUPPOSE I HAVE TO COME AND VISIT YOUR BLOG MORE OFTEN TO TAKE INSPIRATION!
    KISSES
    DEBBIE MOSS

    (FROM BEAUTIFUL BUT, RAINY ENGLAND)

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  5. Hi sweetie! I love seeing all the pictures of your home! So warm and inviting! Can I come over? LOL!
    Just catching up as much as I can! I'll be so happy when things finally slow down for a bit! Until then...I'm off!
    Hugs to you!

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  6. We are out collecting tree branches today for our fall open house. We were looking for ones without leaves - but your an inspiration!! Now we'll hunt for ones with leaves! The idea with the pictures hanging from them is cool - you'll have to show us the final project!
    Karla & Karrie

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  7. Your house looks so cozy and comforting. I love the blue chair - a great chair for reading!!

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  8. I love your home! So warm and inviting. I love decorating with branches also and have some willow ones in a tall vase in the corner next to a love seat, they really are great for adding height. Great job! ~Becky~

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  9. you could hang little baubles on the twigs at Christmas....

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  10. Vee I LOVE the tree in your room!!!! So very wonderful! and the fall touches all around, looks so inviting and cozy to me. What a great idea to hang photos from the tree branches ~ hope you're having a great week!! xxoo, Dawn

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  11. Love the coffee ground idea. Never would have thought of that. I use coffee BEANS but just wouldn't have thought of using GROUND coffee ever. Way cool.

    I've done some fall decorating around here the past day or so. And just as soon as I get over my computer stupidness, I plan on posting pictures of it all. It's not like I haven't downloaded pictures on this laptop before, but I seem to have forgotten how I did it. I'm just having a huge DUH! day and that's all there is to it.

    Oh, and I don't think your chair looks like it has antlers, although reading that did make me laugh out loud. LOL

    Kari

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  12. What a COOL tree room you have created. I love how you put your ideas into motion Vee!

    Blessings - Debbie

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  13. I can't wait to see the photo tree. What a wonderful idea. Your home is so cozy. Just beautiful.
    Debra

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  14. Can I make coffee out of the grounds before I use them in a vase? It would be such a waste otherwise, lol...I'm addicted...your house looks so lovely...I'd be very proud!
    hugs
    Sandi

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  15. The branches are awesome for adding dimension to the corner! I love the coffee ground idea, but that would be just too tempting for my 2 year olds to find a way into and play with!

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  16. Vee, you play very well with the big girls!! I love the tree idea.
    Penny

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  17. Vee, what a great post. . loved your little changes and your openess to share your home. .

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  18. We love, love, love you deisgn for life! Your style is beautiful...the walls are so warm and welcoming, love is spoken in this home!

    blessings,
    kari & kijsa

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  19. It is lovely and very warm looking! You under estimate yourself! Rachaelxo

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  20. Pffff, you're no amateur!! I have always admired how cozy you have made your home. I suspect your own, personal warmth might also contribute to the inviting feeling...

    Don't sell yourself short, Vee!

    Linda

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  21. such good ideas! The tree! The coffee! House Looks great!

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  22. Your place looks so neat. I think it seems very cozy and warm. That little screen door is cute. I can see why your dad likes it. Thanks for sharing. I love that room.

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  23. your place is very warm and inviting. Can't wait for the finished tree project.
    M.L.

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  24. Your house is so cute and homey!!! Love the walls.

    We had a cool morning here today too which is RARE.....but I guess we should be very happy about that. It's normally SO HOT...even at this time of year. It actually felt a bit "Fallish" to me and it was exciting.....except I couldn't go to my swim class....too chilly. HA!

    I saw that you mentioned to Alice about her not being able to see your photos on your site. I wanted to let you know that I too couldn't see them....."Red X's" in the spots instead.....which means that Blogger might have ate them. He does that sometimes. I've had it happen to me and I have to RE-do them. Blah!
    I could see photos from the blue car on down.....
    Talk to you later!
    Joyce

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  25. Would never have thought of having a pot of Rosemary in the house but I have had lots of other herbs so maybe I will think about this next year. I do have 2 shrubs in the garden. Would give a wonderful aroma in the house.

    My, John is a b rave man!!

    The window coverings are blinds by the way to keep out the light to preserve ancient things.

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  26. You made me laugh... when you said that I moved our stove for more room... :) Actually, that picture was made while we were tiling the backsplash, and had the stove moved over... :)

    I love the warmth of your walls that are lined with the wood. My grandparent's home (which Grandaddy built) has heartpine covering most of the rooms. It is beautiful!

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  27. I would love to plop down in that oh so inviting chair and sip on a cup of freshly ground coffee!
    I really like the style of your room - makes me wanna come visit!

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  28. I love the idea of a Photo tree.
    I enjoyed my visit to your lovely
    home. I will come back!
    Becky

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  29. Love the little door! And the coffee bean idea. I tend to use acorns and uncracked pecans as "fillers." I'll have to take a picture for my blog.

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  30. What a wonderful home you have. Very warm & inviting. You play well with the big girls!

    I've got a little screen door very similar to yours in my kitchen, toO!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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