We finally started school in our neck of the woods, which is both cause for celebration and mourning. I am excited for the rhythm that comes with the routine school days force us into. I find I am more focused and productive within that framework. I also enjoy having the house to myself so I can flit around, play my music as loud as I want, and work wherever it suits me on that particular day. With all of the good that comes from it, I know I will miss the slower mornings and loose schedule. But, I am starting to feel the energy and excitement that comes from the change of season and I’m buzzing with ideas for sewing and painting projects. There’s lots to do and lots to share, but between shopping for school supplies, having people over to enjoy the pool, squeezing in appointments, and shipping out the last batch of paintings, I’ve been a bit all over the place. I can feel that settling into a routine will help me greatly.
So, today, I am just sharing a little bit of tweaking I did on the antique pine shelf in the kitchen. It’s easy to celebrate the big projects, the new purchases, and the things that feel flashy and exciting, but it really is the little details, the small additions, and the tweaks that make a space come to life. I decided to add a bit of texture and greenery to the area and was pleasantly surprised how adding two things in about ten minutes of creative play made a noticeable difference.
I added the antique laundry line basket filled with an artificial ferm and the woven tray behind the ironstone pitchers on the top shelf. Everything else stayed pretty much the same.
You might’ve noticed a little peek of a light fixture hanging over the kitchen table in the first photo. Yep, we added a light fixture and it’s great having one there! I am going to be sharing that soon but I wanted to customize it a bit more and I’ll share how I do that. Adding a hanging light, though, has helped to better define the space.
I know that not everyone likes having as much stuff sitting out as I do, but I love displaying my collections. There is always a push and pull between a feeling of fullness and completion and being overly cluttered. I think everyone’s line is in a different place, though! This is about as full as I would want a shelf, but I could live with it quieted down a bit, too. I think it’s the sort of thing that will continue to evolve and change with the seasons and with my particular mood.
Believe it or not, we do still have a couple of small building projects for the kitchen that keep getting put off. I think the combination of the start of school, the cooler weather coming in soon, and the closing of the pool, will spur us on to get some more things checked off the list.
I’ve heard September referred to as the new January and I’m definitely feeling that this year…
22 Responses
I love the way you style your shelves. I imagine you using the precious treasures, washing them and returning them to the space where you can enjoy them everyday. I would love my shelves to look just like yours.
I just turned a chair in my sun room around to face my kitchen, added a small footstool and a cute little side table. All of a sudden I have a place for a guest or family member to chat with me as I cook. It took about 3 minutes, but I feel like it enhanced my home. You inspire me all the time!
I agree with Phyllis R — “You inspire me all the time!” I have followed you for approximately 10 years, which is much longer than any other blogger I have followed.
i would like the links for your artificial plants, especially big ones for my pots at the front door outside. also the link for those big glass canisters in your kitchen, i can’t seem to find the same clean style as yours. always appreciate the research you do to find the nicest things!
The containers are Anchor Hocking Heritage Hill. They are on walmart.com and I think they are in store as well.
I noticed your Kitchenaid stand mixer on the bottom shelf. I thought you had an appliance “garage” on your counter next to ‘your range. Why would you not put the mixer there ?
I’ve heard September called the Sunday of summer.
To me September always felt like the “new” year…probably because of all the years in school when September started off another new year. With a little nip in the air and amazing light I was never sad to see summer go away. Autumn!
I too, would love to know where you got that beautiful faux fern. It looks so real!
I noticed your Kitchenaid stand mixer on the bottom shelf. I thought you had an appliance “garage” on your counter next to ‘your range. Why would you not put the mixer there ?
I keep smaller appliances in those garages. The mixer was too tall, which I knew when we were looking at cabinet size options. I also like the way the mixer looks, so I don’t mind having it sitting out.
The styling of your antique cupboard looks great. Looking forward to seeing your light above the table. I have been looking for a light for above our dining room table for several months.
Marian, your wicker basket with the fern in it is “perfect” for your shelf! I love the look of the basket nestled in with all your antiques!
Do you dust all of you displays yourself?
Yep! 😅
How?
Moo, glad you mentioned dust, becuz that is exactly what I wanted to inquire about. I, too, love to have many of my collections on display and not all of them behind glass (or have enough hutches/cupboards with glass doors.) But I hate how dusty my house is!! We have a smallish house, (1645 sq.ft), no pets, just 3 adults.
We clean and have 2 Air Doctor air purifiers going all the time, but STILL, even in the summer, it gets so dusty! Our humidity is just right. Also special allergy/cleanable filters on our forced-air HVAC which we clean often.
I have better things to tend to rather than cleaning all the time! It drives us crazy!
What is everyone’s secret to this dilemma?
So many things come into play regarding dust. Do you live in a dry climate like Arizona? Do you live in an area with heavy traffic? Are your windows open a lot? Dust particles are everywhere. Carpeted homes and those with lots of upholstered furniture will have more dust, Draperies catch and collect dust. Running a vacuum sweerper will stir up dust particles into the air, no matter what filter you use. In short, dust will always find its way into your home. In my humble opinion, whatever one loves to live with, it should be loved enough to be taken care of. I remember an old quote… “Clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy” Now that I think about it, dusting our treasured things is often pleasurable, as it brings back memories. 🙂
Well said, Anita!
Love how this post has become a discussion on dust! It was the first thing I thought of, too. 🙂
I live in Arizona and dust is a way of life. I don’t even try to fight it, LOL.
I hand wash some delicate items and put others in the dishwasher. I do have to hand dust pictures and picture frames. That’s how I dust my “memories” as I call them. I do it every several months. I live in the south with lots of humidity and on my husband’s family farm. When the crops are planted and harvested there’s lots of dust, so time to wash and dust “memories”.
Well said, Anita!