Color for Spring

 March it is, and the weather outside is bordering on frightful.

It's about nine degrees, no hint of spring, no buds or any shade of green to be found,

except in the sod, where little brown mouse trails cut random rivers 

through the dull grass.

Weather notwithstanding, I'm welcoming you to my Spring Tour!

You're probably here from This Rustic Cottage's beautiful blog tour.

Welcome to our house in the country.

Our house is usually white, gray and cream, with green plants as the main accent color.

But last week I decided to make new pillows, and of course couldn't find exactly what I wanted (robin's egg blue linen), and this floral jumped into my cart.

Fabric: Jo-Ann, HGTV Garden Odyssey Fog

It feels like bark cloth, a nubby cottony texture.

Suddenly, these were the brightest things in the house.
Now I had my Spring palette - coral, yellow and a bit of blue.

So I hunted about, and found my daughter's vintage yellow planter, and filled it with new Baby's Tears, which have to be the cutest little greenery ever.

I stuck a candle in a tiny pot that our oldest son made, way back in grade school.

From there, it was easy to add pops of color, especially yellow.

Here's the view from a corner of the dining room, with the living room reflected in the round.

(Tree basket chandelier made by my husband, using copper tubing and painted pvc pipe).

Mirror: Ikea

 Fireplace brick: Nob Hill

And on to the dining room. Our main level is kind of a four-square, with the entry and living room at the front of the house, and the kitchen and dining room at the back.

(The laundry/mudroom/back hallway/powder room are along the left side of the house).

 I kept things simple for spring. I made the pillows, and I painted a few things.

The inside of this old card catalog was too dark, it was looking yellowish.

I painted the catalog, the dining room table, and a little piano bench that sits below the round mirror.

Everything got a coat of Origami White by SW. Honestly, painting is not my most favorite thing.

The table especially gave me fits.

I finally thought to add some Floetrol to the paint, and from there on the task went smoothly.

The fresh white, non-yellow paint made the room brighter and more cohesive.

I love styling this catalog.

The drawers are useful, they're full of candles, playing cards, 

movie dvd's and jewelry making supplies.

In a few months, I can fill this French Market basket with flowering branches.

Not now, my friends.

You get sticks.

Sticks is all I've got.

Honestly, the table still isn't perfect. But it's an old table and I'm okay with that.

I've always liked these little glass beakers in their springs.

The grain sack was found on Etsy.

Curtain panels: drop cloths from Home Depot

Curtain hardware: Ikea

Chandelier: Solento from Bellacor

Wall paint: Light Pewter, BM

Slip-covered sofa and chairs: Ikea

Now onto the kitchen!

Just a few pics here, since I didn't do much new decorating.

The range hood is made from wood and new copper, distressed with salt and vinegar spray till it achieved a verdigris finish. My husband (a master carpenter, he built our house) dreamed it up and made it. It's funny, for how picky I am about design, how many things he decided.

Faucet: Wayfair

Sink: Kohler

Range: Verona

Butcher Block: Boos Block

 

The bar stools badly needed another coat of light blue paint.

The planked kitchen ceiling is the same color, BM #715. 

Cabinets: Samuelson Cabinetry, Anoka, Minnesota

Cabinet paint: Chantilly Lace, BM

Walls: Light Pewter, BM

Island: Vintage Drafting table

Bar stools: Husky, from Home Depot

Now on to our master bedroom, which is upstairs near the two kids' bedrooms.

I love this room.

It's not fancy or frilly, it's just cozy and simple and comfortable and fresh. 

Walls: Chantilly Lace, BM

Ceiling: Ephemera, Ralph Lauren

Bed frame: West Elm

My husband made the shiplap wall behind the bed. I don't care what they say about shiplap and trends, I love it, especially in moderation. This wall is more comfortable than a wood headboard, it's easier to clean around, it draws the eye up, it adds subtle color (Chelsea Gray, mixed with water).

Bedding is Ikea

Euro pillow shams are Ralph Lauren

Lamps are Target

I pulled this old pillow out of our closet, I had forgotten 

how even fabric flowers cheer up a space so much!  

(Save your vintage buttons, that's what these are. And keep your eyes open for cool buttons at thrift stores, they're easy to put on a boring sweater to make it wonderful. I look for vintage, and Anthro.)

This gray dresser is usually packed with fotos of our five children.

It never, ever looks like this.

I thought you should know that.

Books and flowers and a cleared-off surface.

So calm.

And when you can't find a pillow for the little green chair,

 you just toss some birch bark on it and call it good.

Chair: Maine Cottage

Bench: found at an antique store in Elk River, Minnesota

Thanks so much for stopping by..

Now to continue with this Spring Blog Hop, head over to Little Glass Jar!

You'll love what you see.

"You can cut

all the flowers

but you cannot

keep spring

from coming."

(Pablo Neruda)

Don't Disturb This Groove Blog
 Creekwoodhill
 Hood Creek Log Cabin
 A House and a Dog
 Love Your Abode
 Farmhouse For Five
 Bees N Burlap
 Honey N Hydrangea
 Nina and Cecilia

Almafied
This Rustic Cottage
Meadow Farmhouse
Little Glass Jar
Noting Grace
Seeking Lavender Lane 
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Carli