Here she is….my latest project . This will promise to be one of the best clients I have ever had the pleasure of working with. This family of 5 have been real troopers about having their entire and I do mean entire home gutted beyond recognition! Their current residence is a very large (although if I asked them they may not agree) motorhome. It is on the property which if you have ever been through a remodel it’s the only way to go. Being on site and having a GREAT contractor keeps things moving!

I can’t wait to start showing you all the selections we’ve made. Yesterday I secured the most beautiful Italian French Vanilla marble for the Master Bathroom vanity and tub deck. We are going with polished nickel fixtures and this chandelier above the tub.

How would you survive this?

I had every intention of writing all about the magazine shoot! Really I did! Unfortunately it happened 2 days before Patrick’s last day of school. If you have kids I can imagine you know why it just simply got pushed into the great abyss. Every day I thought TODAY and it just never materialized. A quick recap.

The talented duo Sunday & Mark arrived at 9:00 am. sharp and worked all day..in fact up until 7:00pm. I am impressed with there stamina as they had shoots lined up all week. It was more fun than I can even describe! They shot my Living Room,Dining Room,Kitchen,Master Bedroom, Master Bathroom and my Studio. I will be sure to let you know which issue we will arrive in.

Here are a couple from my camera…

Me trying to look not NERVOUS!!

The team styling and getting it all ready..notice the martini glasses…don’t you have cocktails in bed? Remember the magazine is Romantic Country

BTW… Yes..Patrick did indeed change into his special outfit I mentioned at the end of the shoot! Thankfully he waited until they knew him a little. I can’t squelch such divine creativity.

Stacey~

I’m back and refreshed freaking out! Well kinda sorta refreshed. My husband and I have come to realize that we are doing a good job. Parenting is hard! You try to do your best and in the end you hope and pray it is enough. Patrick is happy and for the most part thriving. Life at the homestead is about to get CRAZY!!!

Romantic Country is coming to my house YES!! my house on Tuesday!!! The team is going to photograph most of the whole interior including my studio. Freaking out is an understatement. I’m sleep deprived and creatively wiped out. Don’t get me me wrong I’m over the moon excited but having a magazine want to come and shoot my home for THEIR magazine….well it’s definitely right up there with best things to happen in my life. I have known for a few months and I have felt bad not letting some of my close friends know ( you know who you are ) but I guess up until just a few days ago I just couldn’t believe it was really going to happen. So I apologize!

Patrick is being allowed to stay home from school so as not to miss the action. He is probably more excited than me ( well maybe not more) but still he’s been primping in his room too! He has a smoking jacket and ascot that he’s planning to wear! Yikes!! We’ll see about that one. He is not shy at all and loves the camera. Not a trait he picked up from moi!!

Please stay close I will post some pictures soon!!

Thank you all who come and read and encourage me!! I truly appreciate your kindness.

xo~

Stacey

   I had planned to post quite a bit this last month and here it is the last day of May and I’ve barely said a word all month. Truth be told it has been a hard month and I need to stop and catch my breath. The husband and I are heading up to one of my very favorite spots..Napa for some rest and relaxation. Wasn’t really in the plan but with hotels struggling I was able to score a pretty good deal. I love the fact that blogs for the most part are a way of telling our stories of happy times, good recipes and tips or suggestions on places to see or go. We seem to control ourselves in keeping the messy part of our lives private and out of blogland. I would like to keep that promise but, I’m struggling right now with a school who just doesn’t get it! Patrick would rather just stay home with me now than try to navigate the socials clicks he in general just doesn’t seem to understand. I can say it’s because of Autism but..really who remembers Middle School with affection? Home schooling was never something I thought about much. As we struggle with attorneys and districts who seem to just see a dollar sign instead of a child who needs help…I will take this break and try to sort out what I need to do.

I have some other news that has rocked my world Literally!!! Patrick and I can’t wait to share our exciting day with you soon~!

Find peace today with whatever you do…and give your kiddos a hug!

xo~Stacey

I told you in my last post that I was working on another DIY project. This was quite a big one since the first go around ended in a disaster design faux paw. I originally wanted to get away from all the creamy colors I had used on some other pieces I showed you here on this blog…

Not a good idea with this beast from Ethan Allen. I purchased it on Craig’s List (love that site) about a year ago for something pretty reasonable. It had a distressed pecan wood finish

Here is before:

It worked well for my son’s extensive book collection as well as some other treasures he has collected. Sorry Patrick..I stole it away since I am taking over his old room. Don’t worry he has a bigger bookcase in his new room.

Dark chocolate paint was mixed wrong so I ended up with a shiny finish that looked awful with the distressed wood! Luckily I learned from my paint genius friend that "you can never make a mistake with paint" just re-paint.

So here is the result.

I am really happy with the way it turned out and love the inside color I chose.

It’s an old stand by that works well in many rooms or furniture.

Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments if you would like to try it.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I am planning to bask in the sun with Patrick at the pool. ( I know…We will use sunscreen and wear hats!)

Next up.. My new very old zinc top patio table ( new to me) I’m picking up tomorrow. Can’t wait to show you!

Sometimes being an interior designer has it’s challenges. It seems I am always looking for ways to change something that doesn’t always need a change! I ordered this stool a while back from Wisteria

Your thinking it’s nice.. basic no need to change it up right? Wrong…I just had to mess with it. I love nailhead anything and thought it would look so much better with the awning stripe fabric I have had for a long time.

Plus I had it re-wrapped with a little Dacron for added softness and it is much more comfy to sit on. I use it in my office to sit on while typing on my computer. Still working on the other project I mentioned..so I will hopefully get that posted by the end of the week.

Now what else can I re-work, re-paint or re-cover?

Keeping it simple is a good motto! I need to work on that!!

Just got back from the local nursery with 3 new rose plants that are so darn pretty I had to share them with you!

Cherries Jubilee

Snowflake Surprise

Blue Midnight

They are all newer roses and the Blue Midnight is the most deep purple with a breathtaking smell to go along with the gorgeous color. You should know that I LOVE roses but up until about 2 years ago have been VERY unlucky with growing them! I decided a few years back when I happened into Home Depot for just my usual spring flowers. They had white floribundas in 5 gallon containers for 11.99 each. I got 5 of them and planted them right in front of my porch. The first year they did really well and continually bloomed well into November. This year I have so many buds it’s crazy! So I thought I’d give it a try again and buy a few more to put into pots. Although I’ve heard they don’t like pots much…Any suggestions out there?

Here are the white ones from 2 years ago

Poor Patrick…. Here’s how you farm when you have no backyard!!

He’s very proud of his strawberries!

Have another DIY project in the works…Stay tuned I hope to finish by early next week!

xo Stacey

One of my very favorite plants that bloom in the spring are "snowballs". I know that isn’t the proper plant name but most everyone knows them as these. They are a beautiful light cream color and make a stunning arrangement. The plant itself is also pretty cool with large branches that spread out and up within only a few years. I’ve tried 3 times to grow one in my own yard to no avail. Just the wrong light and very poor soil. As Patrick and I were nearing home last weekend we spied an Estate Sale…..Well of course we had to check it out! After rummaging through years of treasures we I decided the only thing I really wanted was to pick some blooms off the owners snowball tree. I offered to pay for them since they are worth money to me. She declined and was happy to just let me pick what I wanted. AND did I have fun!!

Don’t they look divine in my simple clear glass pitcher.

I gave her a big smile and a heartfelt thank you and we were off. She sure brightened my day!

Did you notice my Neiman Marcus catalog….A girl can dream right??

Hope you have a wonderful week.

xo

Stacey

I am hosting Easter this year and wanted a flower of some kind for a side table…I just got back from Trader Joe’s with this! It was only 12.99. It actually has 2 stems with blooms. What a score!

I also wanted to show off my new mirror with a less than great photo..Sorry! It was also a great deal! It came from Wisteria and was 40% off the list price of 279.00. I am not keeping though..It is headed to a good friend up north. I will lug it there myself as I didn’t want it to to delivered without me. She is celebrating her 40th birthday next week. Since she looks about 25..maybe with this beautiful mirror she will finally believe me!

And finally a few of the new designs I created this week in the studio….I love making these hair combs! I used all vintage millinery and I think I will add them to my Etsy shop soon. Happy Easter!! xo Stacey~

I am working on a few new designs for Wedding jewelry for your hair.

Stay tuned.. I hope to post them this week.