Thursday, January 30, 2014

A Simple Farmhouse Bath


Do you Wabi Sabi? . . .The art of finding beauty in imperfection. . . simple. . .uncluttered. . .natural. . .less is more. . . .

I was introduced to the concept several years ago. . . .My first thought was that I'd been doing the imperfection thing for years. . . .What I needed to work on was the simple, uncluttered aspect of the art. . . .This was almost three years ago (has it been that long?) . . .I've referred to it over and over at The Country Farm Home as desiring to 'simplify'.

I continue to work on it to this day. . . .Change doesn't come easy for me, especially when I love thrifting and junking so much!


I do take heart, though, that Wabi Sabi isn't a one time deal. . . .It's a continuous process. . . . Clean out. . . .and clean out again. . . .I can do that. . . .for I rarely feel I've reached the true state of simplicity that I desire. . . .There seems to be more clean out to be done each time I try. . . .No matter how much I scaled down, I've felt it's not quite that place of peace--that place that feels right.
 

One day recently I found myself cleaning the bath, pushing around all the accumulated 'stuff' that we seem to acquire during the winter. . . .It's so much easier to stack things up and forget about storing them until spring. . . .Can you relate? . . .Normally, I can ignore it--but that day I had 'had it!' . . .I was tired of winter--I was tired of 'stuff' all around us. . . .I threw open the shutters, let the sun shine in, and rolled up my sleeves. . . .Anything that wasn't bolted down came out of there. . . .a clean slate.



Then I made the mistake (?) of opening the closet doors, where the washer and dryer are hidden. . . .and where there are lots of shelves. . . .To my dismay, it was a mess, too. . . .Couldn't find the simplest thing. . . ."Okay. . . . If I'm gonna do this right, the closet has to be Wabi Sabi-ed, too!". . . .I'd officially opened a can of worms.


Took me two and a half days to clean out shelves and organize and put the bath back together. . . .What a mess it was! . . .At one point I only had a clear path to the 'necessary'. . . .


Several times I almost gave up--wanted to cram all that 'stuff' back in the closet and shut the doors quickly. . . .but. . . .remember. . . . I don't give up easily on anything. . . .I wanted to fulfill my mission to simplify more than ever. . . .I admit I slapped my hand several times when I'd find myself adding clutter back. . . .as I said, Wabi Sabi doesn't come easy for me. . . .but I'm learning.




Once completed, I loved it. . . .I loved the 'unclutter' . . . .I loved the shutters open and the sun shining in. . . .I loved the geraniums in the window leading the eye to the outdoors. . . .I loved the blue mason jars for storage. . . .I loved the imperfection and simplicity of it all. . . .I was so glad I stuck with the Wabi Sabi goal.






 At the end of the third day, I stood back and said out loud. . . .
 
'Now, THAT'S a Simple Farmhouse Bath!'
 
 
 
By the way, The Country Farm Home was featured last Saturday at:
another wonderful blog by Brenda Kula of Cozy Little House.
Hop on over there and check it out!
Lots of beautiful and inspiring homes and fellow bloggers to meet.

 
. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .
 
 
 


Monday, January 27, 2014

Clouds and Chandeliers


Where's the fun in decorating if you stick to the rules all the time? . . . .None. . . .I'm so very glad the rules have relaxed since the days when Mom and her lady friends kept house. . . .They never would have placed a chandelier in a plain farmhouse bathroom.

Nor would they have painted the ceiling sky blue with clouds floating by. . . .


Eight years ago when we renovated the manager's home--our farmhouse--I wish you could have seen the look on the contractor's face when I brought in a chandelier for the bath. . . .We had installed a 1927 tub, a sink in a vintage dresser, a 1930s cabinet for toiletries--all elements that he was able to accept for a vintage farmhouse bath. . . .but, 'a chandelier?' . . . .I could hear his mind questioning my decision.

I had to giggle. . . .


 I waited a few days before I broke the news to him that I wanted the ceiling painted light blue. . . .figured I'd let him get comfortable with the chandelier idea first. . . .


My purpose was selfish. . . .I wanted a touch of elegance and whimsy as I relaxed in the tub. . . .I wanted to lean back and pretend I was out under the clear blue skies. . . .without the bugs. . . .living in luxury. . . .




I shocked a few more people along the way, too. . . .Clouds and chandeliers were not what they expected in this plain and simple farmhouse at all. . . .Across the country Shabby Chic was popular. . . .Not so much here in the Delta. . . .not eight years ago.

I loved watching people's faces when I'd show off our new home. . . .priceless.


You might think I went out and bought a vintage chandelier specifically for the bath. . . .I didn't. . . .It was the result of my Pack Rat tendencies. . . .I had purchased it years and years ago at a yard sale. . . .had no place to hang it in the house I lived in then. . . .but, couldn't resist a bargain. . . .I knew somewhere along the way, I'd use it. . . .So, the chandelier began to travel with me, making every move--from Texas to Arkansas to Virginia and back to Arkansas--boxed and waiting.

It was an ugly antique brass. . . .That had to go. . . .I dry brushed it an off-white. . . .There were a few crystal prisms that came with the fixture. . . .not as many as you see here. . . .I only recently added lots of extras. . . .and will probably add more as I find them at a reasonable price. . . .This past year or so, I left off the crystal, thinking it really might be too much for a Delta farmhouse. . . .I missed them--the sparkle, the warm glow they cast on the ceiling. . . .When I found the extra prisms at a local flea market, I knew I was ready for a little elegance again--as a contrast to the simple bath.


With Shabby Chic and French Country influence accepted these days, I don't think anyone is as shocked about the chandelier. . . .What they smile about now are the clouds. . . .Don't you feel as if you're looking up at the sky?

Painting the clouds on the ceiling was a piece of cake. . . .I did them myself because the contractor was having such a hard time wrapping his head around it. . . .All I did was grab a sponge and some white paint. . . .easy on the paint. . . .making a dabbing and swirling motion. . . .so easy. . . .

Doesn't it make you smile? , , , ,Maybe just a little?


Life can get a bit boring if I don't spice up my days with the unexpected. . . .I've found through blogging that it's true for many of you, too. . . .Isn't it wonderful that we no longer have to abide by the rules. . . .except for Rule #1. . . .

'There are no rules' . . . .(grin)



. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .


Thursday, January 23, 2014

A Butler's Pantry and A Kitchen Pantry at Bassett Hall


Hello Everyone!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the tour of Bassett Hall's 1930s Kitchen. . . .As you know, I'm an old-fashioned gal and feel right at home in such a setting. . . .I so hoped you would appreciate it, too. . . .and you DID! . . .Thank you for all your dear comments. . . .I have a couple more rooms to show you. . . .Hope you enjoy them, too.
 
Bassett Hall has two wonderful pantries. . . .each with it's own purpose. . . .
If you watch Downtown Abbey (and who doesn't?), you'll be familiar with a pantry such as this. . . .a room--off the dining room--where the prepared food is brought to be served by the butler or service person. . . .The cabinets are filled with china, crystal, silver serving pieces, tableware--anything that might be needed to present a beautiful table.
 
At Bassett Hall, there are several sets of china--formal and informal. . . .My particular favorite is the one above. . . .I'm drawn to anything with roses every time. . . .and I do love the soft green. . . .
 
 
I particularly wanted to share this pantry with you for two reasons. . . .The contrast between the 1930s work kitchen and the traditional butler's pantry is striking, isn't it? . . .It's almost a shock going from the formality of this room to the informality of the kitchen. . . .both equally beautiful. . . .but very different in décor. . . .
 
I also loved the sink addition. . . .Not all butler's pantries have them. . . .There are so many ideas that could be incorporated in a traditional kitchen of today. . . .the stainless steel sink and top, the plain and simple cabinets, the wood countertop. . . .Add a stove and refrigerator, and it would make a perfectly lovely farmhouse kitchen.
 
 
Sorry the green color looks so different in this photo. . . .I wanted you to see a little more detail of the cabinets. . . .and love the little wooden steps for the taller upper cabinets. . . .The actual cabinet color is the soft green you saw above in the previous photos.
 
Now, to the second pantry on today's tour. . . .
The kitchen pantry has a very different function. . . .It's a fairly large room. . . .stocked with canned goods, pots and pans, mixers, bowls, measuring cups, scales. . . .anything that might be needed for food preparation. . . .and handy to the work areas. . . .
 

 
I would absolutely LOVE to have a room such as this in my farmhouse. . . .wouldn't you?
I envy you who do have a walk-in pantry. . . .Seems I'm constantly shuffling the contents of my kitchen shelves in order to add one more pot or bowl. . . .
 
 
Can you better understand why I wasn't ready to leave Bassett Hall? . . . .So much to soak in and so little time. . . .My mind was darting here and there, thinking how I could do this or that to my own home. . . .and I've only shown you two rooms of Bassett Hall! . . .Two rooms are all you get for now. . . .Maybe a few more later in the year. . . .I have other goodies to share with you from Colonial Williamsburg--as I have the time. . . .With Windows 8.1, I can't upload photos from my Sony camera. . . .I'm not the only one who's complaining. . . .They are aware of the problem and say they are working on it. . . .In the meantime, I have to upload my pics to someone else's computer and transfer them to mine. . . .It's a hassle. . . .and takes a lot more time. . . .but, I won't let it stop me! . . . .I don't give up that easily! . . .In fact, I have some new photos of our farmhouse bath I want to share. . . .it's a lot more plain and simple. . . .but elegant, too. . . .I added 'new' vintage crystal prisms to the chandelier. . . .and does the bath glow from them! . . .I think you'll like it.
 
Til then. . . .Hugs. . . . and Blessings. . .
 
. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .
 



Monday, January 20, 2014

The Vintage Kitchen at Bassett Hall

 


Vintage now. . . .
but in 1936 when renovations were made to this 1760 home known as Bassett Hall,
everything was new and modern. . . .
 
 
As many times as I've been on Colonial Williamsburg grounds, I had never visited Bassett Hall. . . .so, I was more than elated when I found the home open for tours. . . .
 


 
 

Because our own farm buildings date back to the 1930s, I was very interested to see and take notes of the décor once inside. . . .As with anything CW does, I knew it would be authentic to the time period. . . .I wasn't disappointed.


I totally enjoyed the entire house, but when I walked into the 'modern' 1936 kitchen, John said I gasped. . . .Did I? . . .or was it a SIGH? . . . I don't remember making any sound, but I do remember what I was thinking. . . .
 
"Okay. . . .I'm HOME". . . .



I can't tell you how many farmhouses I visited as a child (in the 1950s. . . .not the 1930s) that were so like this one. . . .In fact. . . .in many ways. . . .the huge room reminded me of my Grandmother Magers' kitchen. . . .The Frigidare stove, the double door refrigerator, the work areas. . . .I could envision my Grandmother. . . .or my Aunts. . . .or my Mom. . . .or all four women working away. . . .preparing their delectable dinners. . . . the family's favorite sweets in the workings, too. . . . .utilizing those same green bowls, the same ingredients, the same pans and tins and cookie cutters. . . .


 

As wonderful as those memories were for me, there was something else on my mind at that moment in time. . . .I could picture myself in this kitchen. . . . today. . . .in 2014. . . .with an apron to protect my clothes and humming away as I cooked and baked and enjoyed the pleasures of  'home'. . . .Heck-tor! . . . .I could have whipped up a few cookies for the other visitors that day with no trouble at all. . . .if I'd been allowed behind the ropes. . . .


To tell you the truth, I was the first to step foot in the Bassett Hall kitchen and the last. . . .I did NOT want to leave. . . .Figured I must, though. . . .after the tour guide looked at her watch several times and let out a few sighs. . . .and walked to the door and stood there holding it open. . . .Ah, well. . . .There will be other days. . . .In the meantime, I do have some wonderful photos to remind me of two hours very well spent. . . .and a bundle of ideas for my own kitchen here at the farm.

Hmmmmm. . . .I should see if I can find Grandmother's vintage green bowls. . . .now that I think about it. . . .

 
. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .
 
 
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