Faith * Family * Farmstead* {Farmhouse Style} T-Shirts!

Hi Friends ~ I'm excited to announce that these super soft heather, vintage-style tees are now available here for a limited time! I've partnered with Joys of Threads who hand prints each shirt from silkscreen. The tees are stretched on a wooden frame and custom made to order. They run true to size with no shrinking.

It's time...

 It's time.

Time to give thanks for the blessings of 2018. Time to let go of the disappointments.

Time to look forward to the year ahead...

Time to declutter and simplify, allowing more space for what's important.

Even wardrobe choices can be streamlined. When it comes to accessories, I'm a minimalist. Preferring a few beautiful, quality pieces over quantity, JORD wood watches are my daily go-to.

Our Home Away From Home In Sweden...

Hi Friends ~ I've missed you! It's been quiet here on the blog because our family had a last-minute opportunity to go to Europe for a couple of weeks, and just returned yesterday. Our three sons and I accompanied my husband on a business trip to beautiful Stockholm, Sweden for a week, and then spent the following week on vacation in England. It was a really special time exploring more of the world together and making lots of memories.

I wanted to share "our" apartment in Stockholm with you. We found it through Airbnb and couldn't have been more happy with it! The apartment building was built in the 1800's and has loads of historic charm... tall ceilings, windows and doors, beautiful hardwood floors and lots of wide molding...

A Farmhouse Blog Post Round-Up: Part One

I can't be the only one who feels like 2018 just started? And here we are in June! 

I want to take a moment to thank you for reading my blog. It's been five years since we moved here to our little farmstead, and four years since I started blogging. Sharing with you here has made this journey even sweeter. I've been blessed to connect with many of you over a shared love of farmhouse style decorating, mini farm living, animals and gardening. I always love hearing what you're up to, so please feel free to comment and I'll do my best to get back to you.

Today I thought I'd begin a round-up of posts this year to date, in case you missed them the first time around. Just click on the image or the link beneath to read the full post...

Our New Farmhouse-Style Shop Space {A Peek Inside}

 Hi Friends. Thank you so much for all that support you have shown me as I recently opened up a retail space inside one of my favorite (like all-time favorite) local antique shops, M&M Antiques in Monroe, WA. It has been a lot of fun filling our booth, and we are learning a lot in the process. 

Although this is a busy time of year with back-to-school, I also think it is a really great time to begin a shop space as we head into the cozy, holiday seasons of fall and winter. 

 I hope you don't mind if I occasionally share some shop posts here on the blog... It is another  canvas to try out decorating and display options that I may not be able to pull off in our own home. ;) 

Please come in and have a look around...

Wood Berry Basket Favors {Farmhouse Style Entertaining}

Hi Friends! This past weekend, I hosted a small Mother's Day lunch for my mom, sister, aunts and cousin. I thought I'd share the simple farmhouse-style favor I used that is especially fitting as as we head into the summer months...

Farmhouse Style Entertaining...

Farmhouse style and entertaining are a natural fit... 

Relaxed and welcoming, a farmhouse gathering is about enjoying time with family and friends, and putting guests at ease. I picture long farmhouse tables with mismatched chairs and weathered benches. String lights, and fresh herbs and flowers in simple pitchers and jars. Plenty of food to go around, laughter and conversation between friends... 

In Case You Missed It! (Farmhouse Style Decorating and Tour)

Happy new week! 

I don't know about you, but by the time Monday morning hits, our house looks like we live in Tornado Alley instead of the Pacific Northwest. Laundry wrinkling as it waits patiently to be folded, a science project "work area" taking over our dining room table, basketballs and legos lying around, proving some fun happened over the weekend. 

(Even though they insist there was no time yet for fun - and why oh why does Monday show up so quickly?!)

So, at the start of the week, once I get our three boys off to school, I try to catch up, and tame this chaos we call home. That's the purpose of this post. To catch up! Below you will find some of the most-read posts of the past month, including our farmhouse kitchen in the making, fun farmhouse finds, a farmhouse-style herb garden, and part two of one of my favorite farmhouse stories ever...

Think of it this way - If your weekend wasn't as relaxing as you might've hoped, now's your chance! 

Grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy a few minutes to yourself as you get "caught up." 

And hey, maybe that laundry really will fold itself... ;)

Xo 

A Farmhouse Kitchen {In the Making...}

Farmhouse Style: Is Now the Time for Brown and Blue?

Do you ever lack inspiration for your home?

You know, when the decor has grown a bit... well, dull. 

And then the Seattle gray skies seem like they're going to suffocate you. 

(Oh wait, that last part may just be me and my Seattle homegirls!)

Sometimes the best medicine is to pull the car over and clip some flowering branches. 

(Don't worry, they weren't in anyone's yard.)

Top 10 Posts of the Year (2015)

2015 was my first full calendar year blogging and you made it worth the ride! Thank you for reading. I always love hearing from you - learning more about your stories and hearing what interests you. 

After seeing which posts made it to the top 10 this year, I've learned a few things. You like farmhouse style (hooray! me too!). You may be leaning towards lighter, brighter, less-is-more kind of spaces (as reflected in several of these posts). You love fall and Christmas, since five of the top posts were from these seasons. (I pledge not to let you down this spring and summer.)

And now I'm wondering, what would you like there to be more of (or less of) on this blog? Please let me know in the comments. Speak now or forever... feel free to write.

I'm definitely excited for the coming year, and hope you are too!

And now, here are the top 10 posts from 2015...


1. What I Love About Farmhouse Style

Enhancing Our Entryway {Farmhouse Style}

Have you ever noticed that changing just a couple of things in a room can give it a very different feel? This happened recently in our entryway.

Refresh with Pillows {And An Easy Candle DIY}

Hi Friends! I hope you had a great weekend...

The other day, while my Mom and I were shopping for a vintage chandelier, I spotted two pillows that made me smile. You see, these pillows reminded me of the three young boys who have captured my heart and are growing way too fast! 

Farmhouse Flower Arrangements (Both Inside and Outside of the Box!)

I hope your weekend is going well!

I had offered to bring some centerpieces to an event we're attending this weekend. I really didn't have anything specific in mind. Thankfully, my parents have bushes and bushes of the most beautiful hydrangeas and were willing to share!

I used two extra large white wood flower boxes we had on-hand (one of them is shown below). I lined the bottom with foam and began sticking stems into the foam until it was nice and full... and until I liked the shape.

~ A Late Summer Mantel ~

Some people paint.

Some people garden.

Some people sing.

Some people write poetry.

Some people (like us) re-style their mantels.

And we know this nesting is part of our art. As we add old books for "lift", layer textures and consider colors, we soon find we are in our zone. That place where creativity comes alive. We see beauty and try to capture a "feeling." 

Plaster statues remind me of rural France. Silver trays provide a touch of elegance. Old books give a cozy library feel. The white pitchers and mason jar stemware represent the simple joys of country living. 

Hydrangeas and hops vines from the garden fence give their nod to nature, 

which is still so alive this time of year.

I walk away with one last glance, satisfied. 

And ready to face the dinner dishes...

Xo

Sharing with:
The Scoop
Cozy Little House
Savvy Southern Style
Share Your Style
French Country Cottage

How to Bring Farmhouse Style Outdoors {10 Ways}

Comfortable. Casual. Welcoming. Rustic. 

These are some feelings that come to mind when I think of farmhouse style outdoors... Where a hurried life seems to slow down and the quiet beauty of nature is all around.

A place for family and friends to gather.

Whether you have an actual farmhouse with acreage, a suburban home in a neighborhood, or an apartment with a small entryway and balcony, there are ways to incorporate farmhouse style right where you live.

1. {Wood crates} A vintage bulb crate next to our front door serves as a rustic shelf for a pitcher of flowers. Fresh cut flowers are a quick & easy way to freshen up a porch.

Wood crates are also good catch-alls for toys and balls.

2. {Ticking fabric, grain sack and burlap} for cushions and pillows add that classic farmhouse feel. 

3. {Old tin buckets} as planters for a simple "just grabbed these out of the barn" ambience. ;)

A repurposed chicken waterer is right at home on the front porch. I found this one at a yard sale for just a few dollars  (I loved the rust for decorating, though it wouldn't work well for chickens ;). You can also find them at antique stores. New, you can expect to pay $20 - $25 for this size (2 gallon). 

4. {Chippy, weathered furniture} brings a comfortable feel to a covered porch. Use an old dresser for a plant stand, gardening tool storage, or simply a focal point.

5. {Vines} I'm so grateful to our home's previous owners for planting beautiful vines around the property. Here they are, growing up the side of our laundry/mud room.

And along a fence, vines, grapes and hops add old fashioned texture and greenery.



6. {Gates} are functional, but can also add farmhouse appeal. 

For an easy way to incorporate a gate or two, prop them up on a porch or entryway. The picture below is from our fall porch last year. I used an old gate and section of fencing on the porch to add more of that "pumpkin patch" feel. ;) I found the gate and fence at a yard sale, but similar pieces can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot. 

7. {Arbors} add architectural interest year-round. They can support beautiful vines and wisteria during the growing months. In winter, string lights up on arbors for a "happy" dose of light, when darkness comes early. 

This arbor, set off of our gravel driveway, marks the entrance to our front yard.

8. {Outdoor seating} invites you to slow down and take in the scenery. I recently moved this bench out near the chicken yard so that we could sit and watch the chickens (may sound weird, but it's peaceful :). Is there a special place on your property - maybe in the garden - where a bench might encourage you to enjoy the view awhile longer?

9. {Outbuildings} like a chicken coop or garden shed open up lots of possibilities, as well as provide you with another charming backdrop. 

10. {Farm fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers} evoke simple country living perhaps more than anything. If you don't have space to plant fruit trees or build raised garden beds, consider a container garden where strawberries, tomatoes and herbs can be tended and enjoyed.

Find ideas on decorating with farmhouse style inside here!

And now I'm wondering, where is your favorite spot at home to enjoy some time outdoors? Or, is there a view you most love, looking out your window? I'd love to hear!

So glad you stopped by...

Xo

Sharing with:
French Country Cottage
From My Front Porch

Share Your Style
Savvy Southern Style
Cozy Little House

Fourth of July Farmhouse Style...

Happy 4th of July weekend! 

Today, I thought I'd round up some recent flag-related posts and projects as well as share a couple of new pictures from our little farmstead.

We recently put an old, beautifully aged flag up our barn. 

It felt a bit ceremonial! :)

I shared the pallet flag my sister made us here.

And how to make your own shabby, DIY flag here.

I wrote about our garden and the flag on our side porch here.

Thank you for stopping by today.

I hope you have a happy and safe weekend!

May God bless and keep America, land that we love...

Xo

Farmhouse Dining Room ~ Buffet Makeover (Before & After)

Painting formica. It's possible! 

Our dining room is one of my favorite rooms in our house. We've shared a lot of good memories gathered around the farmhouse table. The room has many windows, so it gets a lot of natural light. 

This past week, I painted the buffet countertop, which was a dark green laminate. The effect was dramatic! Instead of your eye stopping on the green countertop, the painted white buffet now blends into the room well. It looks more like the painted piece of furniture you'd expect to see in a farmhouse.

Here's the before...

And the after... 

Here are the steps to take in painting formica countertop:

1. Clean the surface well.

2. Sand the surface to help paint adhere (I used a medium grit sanding block).

3. Clean the surface again.

4. Paint several coats if you are covering up a dark laminate with white. I used Home Depot's Behr Ultra (paint with primer). The color I chose was Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117)

5. Seal the paint with a few coats of Peel Stop Clear Binding Sealer by Zinsser (found on Amazon).

Notes: I first tried to use polyurethane as a sealant but it yellowed the white paint. Peel Stop did not yellow the paint and provides a fairly matte finish for a sealant... which I liked, since I was trying to achieve the look of an older piece of furniture. Since I just completed this project, I can't speak to the durability of the sealant yet. 

One more before...

And after...

Ahhh, the power of budget-friendly paint! :)

If you'd like to see what our dining room looked like when we were first shown the house, you can see it here.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

xo

Sharing with:

Cozy Little House

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Style

French Country Cottage