Recent Activity
That line was so funny. Here’s one in a similar vein.
I still remember, from a Mork and Mindy show of all things, Robin Williams' character filling out a job application. Under graduation date, he filled in "Betty Lou Sontag."
I was going to say anything that includes grilled lobster and a lemon drop martini.
Thanks for posting that house! I can see the four phases of development in the photos.
The setting is just beautiful, but I am no longer seduced by such as having lived in a country property know how much maintenance is involved!
I would commit a crime for that mud room / utility wing. Not kidding!
Not sure what school district is the good one vs weak one, but you can look up the school district for any address in the state of PA here: https://munstats.pa.gov/Public/FindMunicipality.aspx
It is showing that this address is in the UNIONVILLE-CHADDS FORD School District.
Thanks for sharing - that's a beautiful property. I love all of it - the setting, the field stone combined with the red doors and window trim, the mud room tile, the wood beams and floors, the unadorned windows. Even the bedrooms have a charming simplicity.
Random replies to comments above:
I don’t want to be taller but I wish my arms and legs were longer. I’m long of waist and short of limb, I haven’t found an advantage to that, yet. My sisters are all very similar in height but they have longer limbs. Life is unfair.
I think it was a trip to London in 2000 when they weighed carry-ons. They told me mine was too heavy by a pound or two. I had tossed a folded tote bag into my carry on, so I removed that and put a few items in that. That was an acceptable solution to the airline. We walked away from the check-in counter, and I put all those items back into my carry-on. 🤷🏼♀️
The same trip, there was a couple checking in with so much luggage I assumed they were moving to London. Now I know it was Mtn and her husband on a weekend jaunt. 😆
I've never owned any Athleta pants. The price was always a deterrent for me. Same with Spanx but I am thinking about getting a pair of those. I don't dress for work anymore, but not a bad idea to have one nice pair of black pants in my closet.
I was always about 5'5.5". I think last time doc measured my height it was more like 5'4" :-(
My mom was tall - about five foot, 9 or 10 inches. By the time she passed in her 90s, she was shorter than me. So I fully expect to shrink more and I'm not real happy about that.
salon - yes, my mom was basically a giant for her generation! Her 2 brothers were also very tall. Each about 6'2" if I remember correctly.
I was shorter than my mom, and my daughter shorter than me - 5'3" ish. And her 2 kids are both small. Especially her 4 year old son.
My son, on the other hand, is 6 foot. Genetics are weird!
I found two cute J McLaughlin dresses on Poshmark in the Catalina cloth (nylon and spandex) I love so much. Both have horizontal stripes and fit perfectly! This is the more casual blue and white
The taupe and black one is in the wash and is more fitted and detailed but fits the same way. Jewel neckline, just above the knee, three quarter sleeves… the golden trifecta! Together just under $100, and both in perfect condition. And did you notice I have blue and white striped flats to go with this one?? Yippeee!
Thank you! I am reslly impressed with the shopping prowess demonstrated on this thread, Nicole. Collectively we have saved THOUSANDS!
And you’re in good company!
I agree, Dedtired, one must have discernment both by whom one allows themselves to be influenced and whether or not that particular color, product, or idea makes sense one’s own life and aesthetic. It’s a responsibility to be an influencee…. I am really working at it 🤓 (See how good I am at justifying stuff?)
Mtn you nailed all those choices, your room is 100x nicer than any of the inspiration sources. You have aquitted your influencee duties well!
I just find it funny. My DH says we are all amoebas, with the illusion of choice. We met a couple at a neighborhood thing recently and we were so alike in so many ways it almost became funny. We "think" we are making choices, but we are such products of our environment!
I would replace one piece....then stand back....replace another...stand back.
Decide if your changing the green paint? Does it stay? Then proceed....
1st...new light fixture.
2nd....new art.
3rd....Patterened curtains.
.........now....take a break to re-evaluate.
It looks beautiful!
For the sconces you could try a higher lumens output bulb.
I see that Feit sells a 75 watt equivalent that might work in your fixture. (800 lumens)
Nicely done! I love the vanity.
I think your home is so charming, and could be refreshed without getting rid of your furniture.
I recently reupholstered a 30-year old club chair in a fantastic Schumacher stripe, which would have cost me many, many thousands if I had tried to buy it new. So I'm a fan of reupholstering quality pieces, as long as you have a good workroom.
Your case goods look like very high quality and the whole room can be elevated by new textiles--curtains, rugs, upholstery, pillows. Traditional doesn't need to look formal and fuddy-duddy.
Just check out the work of James Farmer: http://www.jamesfarmer.com/portfolio
Mark D. Sikes: https://markdsikes.com/portfolio/
Schafer Buccellati: https://schaferbuccellato.com/portfolio/rooms-and-details/living-rooms
All of these talented designers work in a classic style, but with beautiful colors, patterns and textures.
I agree with Jan that you need to really connect with your designer and communicate what you are wanting for your rooms. Ask to see her portfolio to make sure her aesthetic works with yours.
Interesting, she owns the design shop- although the biggest part of her business seems to be upholstery (not sure how much she actually does herself)- and she spefically told me that she was an interior designer, but maybe that was a stretch. You are probably right there.
As for not getting full service from my interior designer, that’s probably on me. I find all this overwhelming and have been putting it off. But she doesn’t own a shop, or sell furniture, which has both advantages and disadvantages: on the one hand, she‘s not going to steer me towards her products but on the flip side, there are no products. But i feel like she ”gets” me. I love my rugs and the wood furniture (my husband made most of it, first from kits, and then from the raw lumber). This all started because we need two chairs (in the area with the rug barely shown in my pictures) and I thought i should figure out what we are doing with the sofas first, before buying anything else, so it would all coordinate. I thought it would be an easy question- but clearly not! (And you are so right about the size of the picture behind the sofa- love the picture, its a print of our beach- but it is too small there, so one more thing to address!)
Interesting.
Try GIMP. Free and works great. Lots of tutorials and is perfect for editing photographs.
"...the laundry queen who could walk us thru getting out every stain..."
That would be Mama Pinky, who has sadly passed on.
I started as Kathy G in MI in 2000 and that's still me!
It was That Home Site and I loved it! Paid the $15 to Spike, never went to the teacups (I'm a good girl.)
The KT intimidated me at first, so I just lurked for a few years. I was mainly on the Sewing Forum where I had a lot of fun with Budster!
Moni stopped by for a night last year!
I love making my little "click" bags and having give aways!
Kathy G in MI
You could probably play around with fabric, as an alternate to wallpaper. You could put it up with peel and stick velcro.
I like the blue birds, but think the neutral palette let the pretty blue flutes have a starring role.
I think Sueb shared this a while back. If the colors and scale worked I'd personally consider it. There are a few in my crowd who would wrinkle their noses but most would crack up.
Ta-da!
https://www.astekhome.com/products/drunk-monkeys-peel-stick-wallpaper-d-psaa106
We have used Rover several times. We never had a problem with it. Our daughter usually is able to watch our dog but we have had some times where it wouldn't work. With Rover, you read the individual summaries and decide who you would consider. We went to a few of the houses to see the setting, meet the people, and it worked out fine. Most of the people we met and used were doing it from time to time, not as a regular job. We had the chance to interview them and decide who we were comfortable with. We will do it again when the need arises.
I have used Rover a few times with good results for our high maintenance 5-cat situation (one special needs, couple need meds, one pees outside of box, one vomits regularly, etc.). To find those few good people, I read tons of reviews and interviewed a LOT. Here are some tips: I made sure to read reviews and find people who had repeat customers. Weeded out the reviews made by mothers and friends. I would never choose anyone who says in their profile that they bring their kids or significant others along. I always ask, if they have pets, who they use as a vet and how do they like that particular practice. I ask about their pets - love the ones who get their phone out and show me a thousand pics. I watch how they are with my pets - love the ones who talk baby talk (even though personally, it puts my teeth on edge) to my cats, *ask* if they can pet before just assuming, ask about the personalities, etc. I like the ones who appreciate written instructions, ask for local backup contacts if an emergency happens and they can't get to my house (though Rover supposedly has provisions for that instance), and for the phone numbers of other people who will be with me just in case they can't reach me. I like when they confirm on the day we are coming home that we are still on schedule, and ask me to let them know when we arrive home - if we were to be a no show due to an accident or something, they would go over and feed/scoop until they heard from us.
Hope that is helpful!
@Bluebell66 - Yes! Those are the exact kinds of things I look for too when I interview a pet sitter. For now I think I have two non-Rover possibilities lined up. One is a previous sitter who worked for the woman who retired/closed her business. She lives nearby and I really liked her but she's very limited in her availability to come by on weekday mornings though she could make a brief visit to feed them and then stay longer in the evening. I have two cats that barf if they eat too much too fast so I usually have someone stay longer to feed them smaller amounts over time. The other person takes care of a neighbor's dogs including staying at their house sometimes. She works nearby and loves kitties too so I'm going to meet with her and see what I think.
Update - they are sending all new yardage, free of course, 2-day Fedex, and a label to return the incorrect yardage. Whew.
I am SO glad it worked out!
I am, however, laughing, because we have been replacing the handrails on our steps. I measured to make sure DH picked up long-enough boards. DH asked, as he was cutting, what the length was. DS went and easured the side steps' rails. They cut them all, I painted them, and we went to install them yesterday afternoon. The front ones are....5 or so inches too short. LOL.
When I order fabric, even if it’s 20+ yards, I re-measure to ensure the correct yardage was delivered. While I am counting, I look for any flaws in the fabric too. Once you start cutting, you are potentially out-of-luck
That is what a home sewer should do, but I am having this sent to a fabricator. They were the ones to do that, and they did.
Oh no, Springroz, well at least it's not all of them.
Update, they sent the replacement order to the wrong address. 🤦♀️
To get more responses, please post several more pix of your entire room.
It's tough! Thank you for the recommendations. While I like good LOL books, what I am really seeking is more the uplifting ones rather than chuckle funny. Those seem so much harder to come by. I thought about adding The 100 Years of Lenni and Margot because of the subject matter , but it was rather uplifting overall.......
Diary of a Nobody, by George Grossmith. He is more famous for being the star of the D'Oyley Carte troupe. He originated the roles of the Major General, J. Wellington Wells, Jack Point, Robin Oakwood, Bunthorne, Captain Joseph and (my favorite) Ko Ko. The book is a hoot.
Also, I loved Mel Brook's memoir, All About Me. No explanation needed.