2 More Days Until the Open House!

2 more days until the open house starts on Thurs!

Also Friday and Saturday

1:00 - 8:00

45 College NE

GR, MI

3 More Days Until The Open House

Tease number 3!

3 more days until the open house

Thurs, Friday and Sat

Nov 18,19 20th

1:00-8:00

Just 4 More Days Until the Open House

Another sneak peak!

Just 4 more days until the open house

Thurs, Friday & Sat

Nov 18,19 & 20th

1:00- 8:00

Just 5 Days Until The Start of The Open House!

I little sneak peak.

Our Open House

Thursday

Friday

& Saturday

Nov. 18,19,20

1:00 - 8:00

Please join us and shop for unique gifts and holiday decorations.

Keep Calm and Carry On

I had to laugh when I read this old sign we found on the graphics fairy. It is a good reminder these days when we are so very busy. We are busy getting ready for an open house next week at our home address on College st. .  We have been trying to kept enough product in the local malls we are in. We also made a trip in the last week up to Then and Now in Petosky because in the few weeks we have been there we have sold almost all of  our repurposed furniture. We are so busy that I haven't be find time to blog like I have wanted to. The end of this summer I also purchased a camera hoping to document more of our mnay finds but I haven't been very good at keeping up with that either. I seem to run out of hours every day. So I guess I just need to stay calm and carry on.

When up in Petoskey I also have the privilage of meeting Linda Longworth the owner of Lavender Hill Farms. The beautiful above picture is of the barn and lavender fields in mid summer. I had the privilage of creating a counter for her store out of old doors and pine flooring. We had an inspired conversation. One of the many perks of doing the business we do and meeting the many people we find on our journeys.

One of my most exciting find this past week was the acquisition of a number of large tin gothic arches that came off the steeple of a local church. I have always had a love of vintage architecural items. So I was very excited to find about eight of nine of these aches that vary in height. I am thinking about how to display and use these pieces.

In the mean time, tonight is friday date night with my wife. So we both get a break from our day and night work schedule. Tomorrow it is back to work. We just need to keep calm and carry on that is how we get it all done.

Being Published

I had had the good fortune to have had my homes published by Meredith Books which is Better Homes and Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa several times. Once the photos have been taken by them they own then, so the images could appear at any time in any of their publications. So imagine my delight a couple of weeks ago on a trip to Joann Fabrics I discovered this book with a photo from my previous home on the cover. In the industry getting the cover is "a good thing"! This book is BH&G 300 Cottage Style Decorating Ideas. Photos from what has affectionately been called "the pink house" ( because it was pink! ) appear as idea #19, 39 & 74. I love so many other ideas in this book. I feel like I am in good company.

This is another fascinating book that my "pink house" was in. There is a chapter in the book starting on page 48 titled "Cottage Style" that is about me with images of the interior of the house. This was so fun to do, the editor of the book, a field editor and 2 photographers spent 3 days with me, we started early on Sunday morning going to the Allegan Antiques Market together and then 2 days of shooting the photos in the house. There also are several random photos throughout the book of me shopping the market and of items that either they or I purchased that day. It was so fun and a little embarrassing having all these people (with cameras) following me around.

These 2 other BH&G books have images from a previous home. "The New Decorating Book" has a chapter starting on page 237 titled "House Tour House Dressing" that features the Interior Design of my own apartment again and the "Cottage Style" book features the breakfast room on page 196.

All of these books are full of all kinds of other great ideas for decorating using vintage, re-purposed items and antiques as well as new furnishings.

I am always on the look out for inspiration, maybe you are too.



Counting Down the Days Untill the Open House

Dan & I are counting down the days to the Open House event that we will be having here at the house. We are treating this like the most awesome "show" we will do all year! This is something that I have been doing for many years now in my Interior Design business. It is historically the weekend before Thanksgiving and always features hand made and vintage items. This year it will also include repurposed and up cycled items for holiday decorating and gifts.
So please plan to attend, we would love to see you.
Nov. 18, 19 & 20th 1:00- 8:00
Our new address is 45 College NE, Grand Rapids

13 days and counting! Can't wait to show you all of our creations and our new home!