European Inspiration

We are so excited we are going to Europe!  Greg's company's corporate office is located in Nuremberg, Germany, his yearly sales meeting is held there, so we have decided to extend our trip into a vacation.


This year we also celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, so this will be a very special trip for us!  I have dreamed of visiting Italy for years, and you will probably get tired of seeing post from my trip.  I will try not to bore you, but can you imagine all the design inspiration I'm going to get! I can hardly contain myself!

Our trip will start with five days in Nuremberg, Germany with Greg in meetings, and I will be sightseeing.....

Then we will be renting a car, and driving from Switzerland to Northern Italy through the Alps.....

 From there to.....Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre, are five small villages on the "Costa Ligure of Levante". The villages from north to south are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Since 1926, the Cinque Terre towns have been part of the province of La Spezia.

The best way to enjoy the Cinque Terre is on foot! Walking along the mountain side you go through the Mediterranean bush, between the sky and sea! The Cinque Terre is crossed by many pathways. The main trail goes along the coast and links all the villages.


The mountains descend abruptly to the sea; a path, called the "Sentiero Azzurro" runs along the coast high above the villages. Other walks are lower and close to the shores.


We will be spending three days in Cinque Terre hiking, exploring, sunning on the Italian coastline, drinking wine, and trying out much Italian cuisine.

 From there we will be traveling to the beautiful countryside of Tuscany region.....

Our main stay is in a B&B in Greve in Chianti a village situated in the Tuscany region.  Where we will be visiting several villages, castles, winery's all in the area for the next five days.  

On our way back to Germany we are driving to Austria, and staying in the mist of the Alps.....

I can't wait to share our trip experience with you, and I'm sure I will be glad to be home for a day, yes I said a day before boarding a plane, and heading to Mississippi to help my friend with her daughters wedding.  What a great and blessed time I get to share with such special people in my life.....
Kim

Provence Breakfast Dining Set

Breakfast dining set.....before & after

Painted & distressed in Provence by (ASCP).....

upclose

upclose/chair

before

before

The before of this piece was sturdy and had great bones, but the table top was in bad shape.  But with paint
it looks brand new!

after

I love how paint can transform this set from something someone would set out on their curb to a beautiful set in a breakfast area.  Paint never ceases to amaze me!

Kim

Tag sale finds

I've heard it said, " we spend the first half of our lives accumulating stuff, and the last half getting rid of it".

Last Saturday I set out to a neighborhood yard sale.  The neighborhood is part of our community, and is a 55 and older community.  These people are downsizing and getting rid of family heirlooms that have much sentimental value.  I loved hearing the stories behind some of the pieces they were selling.....from old galvanized watering can that was her grandmothers (She was at least 70 herself) to a huge basket that had many puppies delivered in it....to the boat wheel I bought that hung in their families beach home.  Each home and family had their unique stories with each piece.....

Here are a few of my finds.....

small side table

I'm going to paint the bottom iron black, and place  it on my front porch.

Pottery Barn olive jar and candlesticks

Large antique silver tray

old office chair

 Lg wall clock

wood boat wheel  & teal McCoy planter

The wheel is finding it's new home on the front porch also.

side table that I will paint & distress

It was so much fun hearing all their stories, and I love finding pieces and recreating new life for them.

I couldn't get pictures posted of all my finds, but there were a desk & chair, and a few more side tables.  I will be posting pictures of everything when they get painted.

Seriously, I don't know if I could have had any more fun.....it's the small things in life folks!

Have a blessed week,

Kim

Turquoise Sideboard

 This sideboard was given to us from my mother in law, and I have always thought it would be so cool to have, and paint black.   (Unfortunately I cannot find the before picture, but it was just wood and really not that pretty)  Because honestly, until recently about everything got painted black.  Yes, it would look good black, and distressed, but I decided when we moved into our town home I needed some color besides off white and brown.  So I went for it.....I went BOLD..... I went turquoise!

At first It was a little scary, I admit, but you know it's only paint.  I loved it, but it took a few days to just live with it.

Turquoise sideboard

I kept the orginal hardware, which i love, and distressed it.  We have a lot of dark wood furniture, and open living space so it does stand out!

Yes it is bold, but everyone who comes into our home always comments on it!  It is a statement piece, and for now I'm loving the turquoise!  Remember it's only paint.....it can always be changed.  If you're looking for a change or update in your home go out paint a wall, room or even a piece of furniture.

Having a design change doesn't mean we have to spend a lot money, just taking a risk!

Have a blessed week,

Kim