Thursday, July 7, 2011

New Valances and an Old Chandelier

Last year, we had a kitchen makeover…new cabinet doors were made and the walls got a fresh coat of paint.  This is what the area above my sink looked like after we finished painting.

What I wouldn’t give to be able to get rid of the air conditioner in the window…unfortunately, I live in an older home and we don’t have central heating and cooling.  One good thing about it though…when the hot flashes hit, it sure is wonderful to walk in front of the air conditioner and feel all that cold air!

kitchen sink1

After the painting was finished, the hunt began for new window treatments!

My countertop is pink and it’s about 20 years old.  I love it just as much today as I did when I picked it out many years ago.  My husband tried to talk me into a new countertop last year when we painted, but nope…I told him no new countertop until I could find one the same color pink!  I admit it, I’m obsessed with the color pink and believe you can never have too much of it! 

I wanted to find valances that would work with the countertop and finally found the perfect ones last week on eBay.  Of course, they’re pink too!

valances

This vintage chandelier was also an eBay find many years ago and hung in my living room until we replaced it with a ceiling fan.  I know many people don’t like ceiling fans, but here in the South, they sure do help when it’s so hot!  It’s been packed in my closet for months and I finally pulled it out and decided to give it a facelift too.

SANY8209 

After removing all the prisms, I spray painted it with primer.  Then it got two coats of Rustoleum paint in Satin White.  Imagine my sweet husband’s face when he came in that afternoon and saw the chandelier hanging from a tree branch in the front yard so I could paint it!

When it was dry, I brought it in the house and mixed pink and cream paints together for a very soft pink color.  This was handpainted on the flower rosettes.  I hung it from a coat hanger to completely dry overnight.

SANY8218

You can see the pink rosettes here.

SANY8220

Now imagine the look on my husband’s face when I asked him to hang the chandelier over my kitchen sink!  He gave me this look like I had lost my mind!  He kept trying to tell me that it was too big and I would constantly bang my head on it when I’m working at the sink.

Well, he finally agreed to hang it for me…he’s such a sweetie!  So the area over my sink received a little mini makeover this past weekend…new valances and a new (old) chandelier.

after sink

I love all the extra light in my kitchen now!

after sink2

In fact, I’m just “tickled pink” with my new valances and the chandelier!

after sink3

Oh, and so far…I haven’t hit it once when I’ve been standing at the sink!  Told you I wouldn’t honey!

after sink1

I’m joining up with these parties:

Rhonda at Blue Creek Home for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday

Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope you’ll come back soon.

DG

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Patriotic Tablescape

I hope all of my blogging friends had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday! 

Our day was filled with way too much food!  We got together with my husband’s family for lunch.  Instead of grilling, we decided to have fried catfish for lunch.  To go with the fish, we had cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans, cheese grits, hush puppies, Cajun cake, banana pudding, cherry cheesecake, and pound cake.  After lunch, we were fit for nothing but lazing around the house! 

This is a simple tablesetting that I did for our Fourth of July dinner tonight.  After that very heavy lunch, it was chicken salad sandwiches and salad for dinner…not that any of us was really very hungry. 

SANY8222

I started with a white tablecloth and red beaded placemats.  Next I added white dinner plates and blue glass salad plates.

SANY8228

Red, white and blue star napkins were gathered with white napkin rings topped with a flag.

SANY8229

Cobalt blue iced tea glasses and red acrylic handled flatware completed the place settings.

SANY8231

For the centerpiece, I started with a glass cake plate.  I filled the top of it with white candles, red roses, white carnations, curling ribbon and star garland.

SANY8223

SANY8224

Two small red, white and blue candles and two flag candles, all in glass votive holders, were placed around the cake plate.

SANY8227

I love this Blue Hour shot!  Almost time for dinner.

SANY8247

Time to light the candles…another shot showing the Blue Hour.

SANY8248

SANY8255

Thanks so much for visiting me today…gotta run for now, it’s almost time for fireworks!

I’m joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday.  I’m also joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

DG

 

Friday, July 1, 2011

Thrift Store Treasures

For several weeks now, I’ve enjoyed visiting all the blogs who participate in Treasure Hunt Thursday at Blue Creek Home.  So for the first time, I’m joining in with a couple of goodies I found.

While browsing my favorite thrift store last week, I came across these silver pretties.  The bottom of them is open, so I’m sure they originally had some kind of insert. 

SANY8198

I wish I could have found a set of four, but there were only two.  I couldn’t find any markings on either of them, so I don’t know who made them.  They’re probably silverplated.

SANY8199

I love the scalloped edges at the top.

SANY8201

Designs are embossed all around the holders.

SANY8203

Pyramids and palm trees can be seen in the design on the front.

pyramids

Even the handle is decorated.

SANY8204

After leaving that thrift store, I decided to stop in at my favorite antique shop where I found these two glasses.

SANY8207

The top of the glasses are a smokey black color with a pretty silver scrolling design all around the glasses.

SANY8206

They are a perfect fit for the silver holders!

SANY8205

I can’t wait to plan a dinner for two using these!  I’ve been wanting to make a black and silver tablesetting, so this is a perfect excuse!

I’m so glad you stopped by!  Hope to see you again soon!

DG