Toile, Plaids and Checks for Fall

    Toiles, plaids and checks in neutral tones are really appealing to me this season.


    I sewed a new pillow using some toile rose fabric leftover from a friend and some strips of drop cloth (free fabric and pillow insert I had on hand, so the cost is $0.) I used the strips to surround the squares of toile and it reverses to the same pattern on the back. This pillow may appear in another room at some point because the colour and style would work in most rooms in our home, but for now it is on the rattan chair I slipcovered for in our living room.


    The flannel throw is one I made two years ago (for around $25) and occasionally use as a table topper. I love the tans, greys and beiges in the plaids and checks and it is incredibly soft. Just perfect for snuggling on this cool and wet Autumn day.

    I'm linking up to some of my favourite parties this weekend...
    Air Your Laundry Friday at Freckled Laundry
    Under $100 Linky Party at Beyond The Picket Fence
    Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
    White Wednesday at Faded Charm
    Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Post Title

Toile, Plaids and Checks for Fall


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/toile-plaids-and-checks-for-fall.html


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Our Laundry Room

    We are fortunate to have a laundry room on the second floor near our bedrooms.


    Our laundry room is quite small, with no windows, six white overhead cupboards, white 8" ceramic tile floors and a laundry sink. It is decorated with a favourite cross-stitch series that I stitched many years ago.


    Cross-stitch may not be a popular choice for decor but these are special to me. I think it is important to surround yourself with things you love. 


    My washboard collection (is 3 considered a collection?) adds some of my favourite elements ~wood, metal and vintage glass~ to this room.


    The vintage Canadian graphics on the boards really appeal to me. Worn and weathered.


    Two still have their original glass (the smaller one is well used and I found the larger one in new condition at an old hardware store.)


    The third washboard has a metal face. {Blurry photo alert: I have trouble sometimes with my glasses/vision and my viewfinder.)


    We added a large rod for hanging shirts right out of the dryer, and as a place to hang wet items (there is actually more clearance between the wall/washboards and hanging clothes than it appears.)


    I would love to have a small shelf between the cabinets and the mess of electrical and vent. We have more than enough storage, so the shelf would simply be for display. I would also love to change out the plastic laundry tub for a stainless sink and new faucet at some point too. Our laundry room is simple and on the small side, but certainly functional. Laundry is very much a shared chore between hubby and I and our favourite part is only having to take a few steps to put clean laundry away in the bedrooms. Do you think a shelf would work in that tricky spot?

    I'm linking with...
    Farmhouse Friday at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home
    Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
    Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Post Title

Our Laundry Room


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/our-laundry-room.html


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Shingle Style Inspiration

    In trying to find inspiration to work on some unfinished trim projects here at home, I came across these photos I had in my inspiration file.

    I am a fan of Shingle Style homes and this Canadian lakeside vacation home above, from BHG, is a favourite of mine.


    Our home's exterior has a hint of Shingle Style (crisp and simple, restrained ornamentation, multi-gabled roof, white wave board and arched window.) The trim and attention to detail in this home is awesome. Our builder basic home is much simpler than this home (and totally lacking shingles) but it shows that by adding architectural interest to ours, on a much smaller scale, we can get some of the same feeling. 


    Our home has carpeted stairs with oak rails that I would love to rip up, repair, paint and stain. Yeah, huge project but it would look so good. Not as great or as large as this entry with the gorgeous hardwood, but certainly fresher.


    Layers of trim and tongue-and-groove ceiling boards in fresh white make me swoon. On a smaller scale I can add recessed panel trim to the two posts in our dining room where the drywall is chipping away from our kids playing hockey in the house.


    The mix of materials in this room is really appealing. Love the planks, barnwood, granite stone, shingles and the light bouncing off the white ceiling. The cathedral ceiling in our family room/kitchen (think horrible popcorn ceiling with lovely skylights) would really look great with a beadboard or tongue-and-groove plank treatment. Actually, just about anything would look better than the popcorn ceiling ;)


    Another shot of the same room. Great windows and lovely transoms. We have the wall of windows/patio door but not the transoms. I have been working on our board and batten wall, but have stopped at the fireplace because I'm still not sure what to do there.


    This stone really appeals to me but is probably way out of my price range and skill level. I do have black curtain rods and simple white curtains though : ) More great ceiling treatments including this coffered one.
      

    A farmhouse sink {SIGH}. We had one growing up and I was so excited when my parents put in new cabinets and a 'modern' stainless sink. How I would love to have that old beauty now! Also on our list of wishes (not needs) is a subway tile backsplash. This home has a great mix of subway tile and herringbone tile.
      

    Another great detail in the home is oil-rubbed bronze door hardware. I may just have to look into changing out some of our builder shiny-brass doorknobs to match our front door hardware. Have any of you had luck with spray painting interior door knobs? I'm also wondering if you ever get inspiration to continue a project (or the opposite~totally distracted) by great home tours or photos from your inspiration file?

    ALL PHOTOS EXCEPT THE SECOND ONE ARE VIA BHG

Post Title

Shingle Style Inspiration


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/shingle-style-inspiration.html


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Apple Pie...Geese Flying By...

    We had a great and busy Fall weekend.


    I was at the outdoor Milton Farm Museum craft show when it opened early Saturday morning so I could take a quick trip through and still be at our son's beef show in a local town by 10 am. It was a whirlwind tour but I was mostly going for one particular vendor selling wooden Christmas ornaments. Sunday was a dairy show for the same son at the same fall fair as Saturday. Another great day, great people and sunny but cool fall weather. Since it is really starting to feel like fall (I wore my down vests several days this week) I was inspired to hang my Autumn cross stitched piece in the front entry. I hope you enjoy your week ahead!

    I'm linking to....
    Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
    Fall in Love link party at Modern Country Style

Post Title

Apple Pie...Geese Flying By...


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/apple-piegeese-flying-by.html


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Early Fall Tablescape

    I used part of my vintage cow tag centerpiece for an early Fall tablescape in our dining room.

    It is just beginning to feel like Autumn here so I hinted at Fall with the pinecones, wood berry wreath, and rustic candle. Pumpkins and leaves will be saved for later in the season. This tablescape incorporates one of my favourite looks~ a bit rustic and a bit pretty.

    I love the scratches and dings on our pine farmhouse dining table. They remind me of so many dinners and activities with family, but I decided to add a bit of softness and texture with a crocheted ecru tablecloth and white linen napkins. The tablecloth is actually an oval pattern but works just fine.
    We often serve buffet style because our extended family is so large, but I do enjoy setting the table nicely for a smaller group.

    White dinnerware, stainless flatware and Longchamps crystal stemware add some sparkle to this neutral colour scheme.

    The centerpiece was first shared here. I love that the pillar candle, a gift, has a little leather and brass tag detail. The square white platter was a clearance find at Home Sense and I like that it brings some of the white of the dinnerware into the centre of the table.

    I just can't get enough of the vintage brass cow tags.
    I would love to find some inexpensive wood or woven placemats and do a really rustic tablescape one day.


    I also wanted to say thanks to Traci at Beneath My Heart for hightlighting my faux grain sack No. 8 pillow as a best DIY project of August. Such a pleasant surprise.

    I'm joining...
    WOW us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
    Fall Festival at Nest of Posies
    White Wednesday at Faded Charm
    Farmhouse Friday at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home
    Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
    Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors
    Tuesday's Treasures Fall Party at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Post Title

Early Fall Tablescape


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/early-fall-tablescape.html


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Vintage Cow Tags and Early Fall Centerpiece

    Cows and Fall just seem to go together around here so I decided to make a quick centrepiece to incorporate my newest etsy find and celebrate early fall.

    We are full into Fall Fair time with both of our boys in 4-H clubs (Dairy, Beef, Rabbit and Tractor.) Our family loves cows and farm related items and when I found these vintage brass numbered cow tags on Etsy I had to buy them. I think I have found a new collection!

    I tried to find 97 and 99 for the birth years of our boys, but settled on 77 and 99.

    The cow tags are surprisingly heavy and so different from the plastic versions used now. I especially like that the numbers are engraved.

    The cow tags are displayed on a square white platter with a simple wood berry wreath in Autumn colours, a pillar candle and some pine cones.

    Two large pinecones I bought last year add a natural element and more Fall colour. I love the wavy glass and bronze finish on the pair of lanterns.

    I removed the white table runner and if I can find some burlap I would love to make a more rustic runner for Fall.

    I will be sharing a tablescape using parts of this centerpiece later in the week. Have you started to add any fall vignettes to your home?

    I'm linking with...
    Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
    Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
    Fall Nesting Party at The Inspired Room
    Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
    Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors
    Fall in Love link party at Modern Country Style

Post Title

Vintage Cow Tags and Early Fall Centerpiece


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/vintage-cow-tags-and-early-fall.html


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Authentic Style~WhisperWood Cottage ~Sarah of A Beach Cottage

    I'm joining Amy at WhisperWood Cottage again for her Authentic Style series~this month featuring Sarah from A Beach Cottage.

    I shared my Authentic Style in this post. Amy asked if we "share similarities with Sarah's style?" A Beach Cottage is one of the first blogs I started following and I have been influenced by Sarah's beach cottage style to add some lakeside elements to our home. We are not anywhere near an ocean, but have numerous beautiful inland lakes and beaches here in Ontario so I decided to use accents with more of a rustic lakeside cottage feel.  

    I love blue as an accent colour and collect aqua mason jars. The wavy glass and colour reminds me of water. Using white in linens and draperies adds a bit of the beach cottage style to our home, that Sarah is so well known for.

    More shades of blue and white in classic miniature Muskoka chairs add a bit of lakeside colour and motif to a mostly white vignette in our kitchen.

    I recently added white walls to our living room and while Sarah has white slips, I am staying true to my authentic style in this room with a dark brown leather sofa but using white slipcovers on chairs.

    In our family room I went with the white slipcovers. I love the airy feel they add to our room (and the fact they cover outdated patterns), but I don't know how much longer I can live with them. Think teen boys and a chocolate lab! Not a good combination with white slipcovers, no matter how frequently they are washed. The canoe paddle is another hint to our love of the Canadian outdoors and beautiful lakes.

    Our ensuite bathroom has a beachy feel with light aqua walls, lots of white, beach stones and shells, and a pair of vintage seaside children figurines (a gift from my sil.) So although our home has a rustic farmhouse feel we certainly have a few lakeside beach accents, many inspired by A Beach Cottage.



    I am really enjoying the Authentic Style series at Whisper Wood Cottage featuring Sarah from A Beach Cottage and hope you get a chance to stop by to see all the other links. Thanks, Amy for hosting the link party and helping me to discover my own Authentic Style.

Post Title

Authentic Style~WhisperWood Cottage ~Sarah of A Beach Cottage


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https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/authentic-stylewhisperwood-cottage.html


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September 11th


    May we never forget...
     


Post Title

September 11th


Post URL

https://learningwithimpact.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-11th.html


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