My Shabby Little Powder Room Opinions Wanted

Howdy y'all!

Sorry I missed a week.....Blond that I am I didn't realize my posting day would land on Thanksgiving so I skipped one and had myself a mini blog vaca *winks* I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.....And doesn't it feel like Christmas is only 10 minutes from now? Did any of you hit the black friday sales?

Anyhoo my blog post today is about my postage stamp sized powder room. I'd love to hear opinions from all of you (my fabulous bloggy friends) on what you think I can do to improve it? *winks* As mentioned it's very small, has no window, so no natural light...hence my less then stellar pictures (sorry!)

This room is right off the garage and across from my laundry room so it's very utilitarian.

Awhile back I found this large over mantel mirror at a local antique store for $100 and wasn't quite sure what to do with it? I got a a sudden brainstorm and ended up putting it in here to replace a very blah maple framed oval mirror, and I'm wondering, do you think I should paint it white?

I'm also thinking about adding some wainscoting? The room already has moulding rail, so should it be kept to that height? Or maybe a little higher? So many questions for such a tiny room *winks*

This is what the mirror looked like before.

My new (old) mirror nearly goes from one wall to the other in this small space.

The old wood medicine cabinet below was a $10 find at a garage sale. The vintage game table is one of a set of two purchased on craigslist for $25.

Here you can really see its size.

This lovely clock case was a $12.99 find at a thrift store. The clock parts are almost all gone but I don't care *winks* The floral prints are also from a garage sale.

Isn't it sweet?

I LOVE the romantic maidens! I think the attached antique tassels must've come off  an old sofa? I paid $5 for the two of them

This sweet statue of a girl was a $10 craigslist find.

I found this frame at our town garage sale for $3. And the plaque of lovers was a find on my shopping trip with my friend Joyce for $41.

Close up.

This Moreau spelter couple picking apples was a find at a local antique mall for $100.

And this set of cherub candleholders were a Christmas gift from a friend.

I think this small chandelier was one of my best finds from awhile back. It was $28.......

but it came to me originally looking like this *winks*

So what do you think? What should I change? Too busy? Please give me your opinions. I'd LOVE to hear from you!

And please come back for next week when I have some special flea market finds to share with you!

Vanna

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:

My sweet friends Patti and Paula of Ivy and Elephants for:

Sherry at No Minimalist  Here for:

Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva for:

Honey at 2805 for:

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

Flea Market Finds Pour La Semaine Trente Six

It was meant to be a  $5 day....It really was......

Last week I went out shopping (again) with my new bloggy girlfriend Joyce of Calamity Jane's Life and Style and Monticello Antique Marketplace.

It was my intention (Really) to spend nothing and instead to learn from my friend because she has fabulous taste and a very successful antiques business *winks*

All was going well with my plan until we stopped in at a friends shop who was having a "going out of business" sale and had everything marked half off! Well heck with that $5 thing! Both of us were in a frenzy and finding treasures left and right!

Soooo I didn't spend $5...I'm undisciplined like that *winks* What the hoohoo I'm already eating beans and mac. So caution thrown to the wind, here are a few of the things I found.....Starting with my favorites, which again was a two way tie, so I'm sharing what I think is the prettiest picture first *winks*

This lovely art deco egyptian maiden garden statue was only $62 and 3' tall.

I've displayed her for now in my living room where previously I had this cherub statue (I call him my Les Misérables child *winks*)

So please tell me my design savy friends, which do you prefer? The cherub has great patina from spending years in a garden, but the egyptian lady is much taller and the scale is probably better? I'd love to hear your opinion.

OK moving on to favorite find #2, this wonderful marble and bronze lamp with angel figures $130.

Isn't it a beauty!? I took one look and HAD to have it! I have a weakness for beautiful lamps......Well I have a weakness for LOTS of stuff as many of you already know. *winks*

I'm trying it out with my shabby shade from a couple weeks ago. What do you think? Too shabby?

Close up on one of the bronze figures.

I couldn't believe my luck in finding this fabulous large spelter lady titled L'hiver for $45! (French for winter.)

I got her home and realized I already had another one of the seasons! L'automne (Fall) Only two more to go *winks*

Actually I must really love this figure because I also already had her in a smaller size and didn't even realize it.....Go figure.

This large beautiful bohemian glass lustre was only $75. If you collect these you know how expensive they can get....So how could I say no? Lol!

I added this little victorian silk flower dome to my collection via ebay for $61.

Grouped together in my living room.

I found this hand painted rose fan, large plate and victorian silk fan case at my friends store.

Isn't this pink silk case lovely? It's available for sale with the silk fan for $35 if anyone is interested.

The fan is very tatty but still so beautiful! The sticks and guards are leather. It would make a perfect back drop for some pretty collection *winks*

The rose plate is German.

And lastly this velvet pillow case was a Goodwill find for $2.99. I didn't like the frame so I removed it only to find that there had been some fading to the velvet exposed to the light. I believe it's victorian era? Maybe one of my fabric experts could verify that for me (aka Debra at Acquired Objects Textile Queen Supreme! *winks*)

Before: In frame.

And out of frame.

Close up.

 At any rate at that price I think it was a pretty good deal *winks*

That's all I have for ya this week. I hope you'll come back next week for a very small tour of my problem powder room...Once again opinions needed! What would I do without y'all's help? *winks*

Please leave me a comment and I'll do the same.

I LOVE hearing from you!

Vanna

I'm joining my friend Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for:

Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

Honey at 2805 for:

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for:

And Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva for:

My French Country Family Room

I thought I'd take a little break this week from the flea market finds to share another room in my house, my family room (On a tight budget *winks*) And I'm hoping that you my ever so wonderful friends will help me make a decision about something.....

But first follow me this way and I'll show you around *winks*

This room is loaded almost entirely with bargain, thrift and craigslist finds. The armoire in the corner holds the TV and was a $250 score on craigslist (And the seller even delivered it!) It was being used in a garage to hold fishing tackle! I think it's much better off at my house don't you? *winks*

This gold french wing chair was $125 at a local antique mall.

I love this little victorian fairy frame with a painting of a vase of flowers.

And this coffee table was a $135 also at a local antique store. Do you see the art nouveau planter of the lady with her daughter?

It's one of my favorite things....Yes I do say that a lot! *winks*

Aren't they lovely together?!

Moving clockwise we come to the gas fireplace that my hubby added for me. I'm getting lots and lots of use from it this year!

Here's a close up on one of the lithographs that surround the fireplace.They represent the 12 months of the year and were a whopping $10 for the lot. This one is September.

A favorite slag glass lamp with one of my beloved spelter figures. The leather wing chair was $75 at the Goodwill.

The sofa was a $300 find at a local consignment store. I love that it has a curved back and it's really comfy!.

This 1840's flame mahogany secretary is another one of my favorite things. Found at an auction for a song.

And another favorite (yes again) *winks* this wooden carved portrait. There's a silly story to go with this one. One day My sister and I were discussing which piece of art in each of our homes was our favorite? I told her this carved portrait of a young girl was probably mine. And she replied "Oh honey I hate to break this to you but......that's a boy! He has an adams apple"

And danged if she wasn't right! (OK so I'm not the most observant person on the planet lol!....But WHATEVER!! I still love it!.......Miss know it all!

This is the view from the back side of the sofa featuring another of my beloved spelter statues. This one is titled " Fleurs de Printemps" (Flowers of Spring) and a bouillotte style lamp from the local Goodwill ($7.99 sans shade)

My hubby said "the last thing you need is another lamp!"

Silly man! As if I could ever get too many charming lamps! *winks*

And While I really do appreciate my DH's opinion I've found that if I love it? Or even like something strongly?....Well better safe than sorry right?! I'm really glad I took it home. *winks*

On the other side of the sofa is this french Louis Philippe armoire that I use to store lots of little favorite bits. Usually gifts from friends and family.

Lots of stories in this armoire.

This lovely spelter bust is L'Automne"

And this handsome spelter gent is "Virgile"

I've been trying for years to figure out what this bronze box was used for? Cigars? Mens pretties? *winks* It has a hunting theme. Maybe you could help me? If any of you have any idea would you please share it with me?

I'm always amazed by all the collective wisdom out there in the land of blog!

On the opposite side of the room is my hubbys billard table (He HAD to have it!) And two of my 4 furbabies. Shelby (large) and Jewel (pom)

I like these silk striped drapes for their pop of color but they're going away because they just aren't "lush" enough. So stay tuned for some new draperies....I got 8 of them for $40! The chairs are 19th century french.

In the far corner sits a working telephone booth that I gave to my hubby for our anniversary.

A little settee and an eastlake victorian table are on this side. The throw is antique paisley.

And on the opposite side sits this behemoth of a bookcase. A turn of the century find from craigslist. It's really too large for the room and we scraped the ceiling just trying to get it in, but it was LOVE at first sight! And it's another one of my absolute favorites! *winks* Hopefully in my next house (when I win the lottery lol!) I'll have enough room for it.

Looking back across the room.

I hope you enjoyed this not so little tour of my family room? *winks*

And what I really want to ask you my oh so intelligent and design savy friends is: What color hardwood should I use on the floors? It's time for the carpet to go after wayyy too many years of this ugly. And I'm absolutely stuck in indecision!

I'd like to go with the dark hand scraped hardwood floors but my hubby made the point that it's dark here in the Pacific Northwest most of the year, and do we really want it to be darker? My answer was a quick "you bettcha!" But now in retrospect he might have a good point? So what do you think I should do? I'm counting on your expertise so I hope you'll leave me a comment and I'll do the same. You've seen all the different woods in this room so please help!

I LOVE to hear from you!

And please join me next week for more Flea Market Finds. I think I've found a few good things to share with ya *winks*

Vanna

I'm joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:

Courtney at French Country Cottage for:

And Cindy at My Romantic Home for: