Our New Kitchen!

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings, friends!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here we are in the kitchen right before we moved in ... beautiful wood floors, pretty birch cabinets and tile backsplash.  </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UD1ZoH32p7iCIbFornXY-TGCLPwjaNybTbmzSmwLdHYuJCkcylJhW9oZbulcRGcIhjLQbVexpYLQ7l3NinfwaxaPCKShLX5XJr-BuUdhHMHD7oye7hy0rLrTbE4RQfIbA9tbK5Mzt8/s1600/newkitchenb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UD1ZoH32p7iCIbFornXY-TGCLPwjaNybTbmzSmwLdHYuJCkcylJhW9oZbulcRGcIhjLQbVexpYLQ7l3NinfwaxaPCKShLX5XJr-BuUdhHMHD7oye7hy0rLrTbE4RQfIbA9tbK5Mzt8/s1600/newkitchenb4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, then THIS happened.  Oops.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CspIOU2mnwwimJoN4jmz4qYJObV4QFqwrD65fCYzTV_iNhZ7KbDzT_zeXUfCGZzK-Hr5oOpp4UG1GIt2HnvreXJB_4856Z_moRU_NWhiP-kBdqE2lXaNtfMLkzG4vzjkYNEp7VUAXCg/s1600/newkitchenafterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CspIOU2mnwwimJoN4jmz4qYJObV4QFqwrD65fCYzTV_iNhZ7KbDzT_zeXUfCGZzK-Hr5oOpp4UG1GIt2HnvreXJB_4856Z_moRU_NWhiP-kBdqE2lXaNtfMLkzG4vzjkYNEp7VUAXCg/s1600/newkitchenafterfall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know some of you may be gasping that I took a paint brush to brand new cabinets and tile backsplash.  Trust me, for a moment, I did, too.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQZwrorlgd3n5O3xMn_HjZGlf6HSaKKou8nGognp1zRYq27ygAV70DjBqz4KvLWzfRFx0E_hVf8SwCLKpWFC4y8MndBN7jdBPrsiwBgtn_BwtuQ3Siv7QK9-WU5CpegVGqvq5atN55n8/s1600/newkitchensunb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQZwrorlgd3n5O3xMn_HjZGlf6HSaKKou8nGognp1zRYq27ygAV70DjBqz4KvLWzfRFx0E_hVf8SwCLKpWFC4y8MndBN7jdBPrsiwBgtn_BwtuQ3Siv7QK9-WU5CpegVGqvq5atN55n8/s1600/newkitchensunb4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But ... then I reminded myself that, while I love the dark floors, cabinets and backsplash separately, I didn't care for them all together.  To me, they blended into each other, not allowing one or the other to stand out.  Plus, knowing how much I loved the kitchen in our old home ... to have this one resemble it would make this house feel more like *home.*  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I continued to get busy! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sanded/primed the cabinets and then added three coats of Ben Moore's "White Dove" to each one.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To break up the white a bit, I painted the pantry, garage and storage doors Rustoleum's Semi-Gloss Black.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpWhbOBghWcsfZbD9AC3qgMtNg6qfqXWjl_rbohJArcwYpOn6TQepIze_w2vaFwDbm1yVtLVL9oygI8QkSWxb-6ds-jhcl9Ar-vo1cL2NoN17-DwpMPD4BPoMf3aEcThKKjBajazEBBQ/s1600/newkitchenfallsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpWhbOBghWcsfZbD9AC3qgMtNg6qfqXWjl_rbohJArcwYpOn6TQepIze_w2vaFwDbm1yVtLVL9oygI8QkSWxb-6ds-jhcl9Ar-vo1cL2NoN17-DwpMPD4BPoMf3aEcThKKjBajazEBBQ/s1600/newkitchenfallsun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also dug out a can of Chateaux Grey and painted our island, adding the same farmhouse legs that I did to the island in our home in SC.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhy1yA-g_SaEzaG3UbcffW7YlGma9xadIvFny71p_tNKlN7V98dXR2w029Y1ywvUEdhZaVRMxq252krFkucnG-_febOdr6nTdnjO3e4a68OQyZp4RWBv7sSxUch4vIlPMBwBPDZlzPWY/s1600/newkitchenfallislandleg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhy1yA-g_SaEzaG3UbcffW7YlGma9xadIvFny71p_tNKlN7V98dXR2w029Y1ywvUEdhZaVRMxq252krFkucnG-_febOdr6nTdnjO3e4a68OQyZp4RWBv7sSxUch4vIlPMBwBPDZlzPWY/s1600/newkitchenfallislandleg.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SOMEday, we'll replace its granite countertop with butcher block.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAj3nU-OOzmM85aoYuP_FTsusxUPK1t2Vn9p7S89EIHutepbnIrHBzH4uyLEJJfN1yaqk-drBEkpv4xoUbP9wL8NGj6jGWst0P03ILaaaqFDQZvamU4IRG7q5rX2AyQ1CQ4QxmgfS7OU/s1600/newkitchenfallapples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAj3nU-OOzmM85aoYuP_FTsusxUPK1t2Vn9p7S89EIHutepbnIrHBzH4uyLEJJfN1yaqk-drBEkpv4xoUbP9wL8NGj6jGWst0P03ILaaaqFDQZvamU4IRG7q5rX2AyQ1CQ4QxmgfS7OU/s1600/newkitchenfallapples.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With ample storage in here, I didn't feel *too* guilty when I asked my husband if he'd consider taking down one of the cabinets so that I could put up a few open shelves like we had in our old home.  With the help of our neighbor (and his crow bar) down it came,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztgrdO5LW6xRMhKfXtEnst6-qdAu9uph3HPAFEYAahHhcn2c4SOZb90z-TVlCIeiwgM8dw-Q1zyOmWPj_aE84FiPHe-EVSgcFlmJsgFBJ_OgjZSab0royuThg7HMmHrtdKCwPkGdHbzY/s1600/newfallkitchenb42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztgrdO5LW6xRMhKfXtEnst6-qdAu9uph3HPAFEYAahHhcn2c4SOZb90z-TVlCIeiwgM8dw-Q1zyOmWPj_aE84FiPHe-EVSgcFlmJsgFBJ_OgjZSab0royuThg7HMmHrtdKCwPkGdHbzY/s1600/newfallkitchenb42.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and up went the shelves!  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FkZZAgW0ntEMlLGw1DEXbqd3gVmu5iEPvJ75f1KuXnXNWl0EV7YHIWcquw7WpPKg653a0tw5yaqHTd2y33nXVP2oHs26QT7NK_GvUYLX7Y96RedF0EcTTOle-T7YkNnIMLG47vPB3lA/s1600/newkitchenfallshelves1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FkZZAgW0ntEMlLGw1DEXbqd3gVmu5iEPvJ75f1KuXnXNWl0EV7YHIWcquw7WpPKg653a0tw5yaqHTd2y33nXVP2oHs26QT7NK_GvUYLX7Y96RedF0EcTTOle-T7YkNnIMLG47vPB3lA/s1600/newkitchenfallshelves1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An inexpensive project (shelves and corbels from Home Depot), which makes for a great display area!</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGFg8x4e2VNxNlFf-ONZOutkLcUraqaH4RtaEUTilIP2wCoYDq7D97m1sXUHqvbfA-9LNC1TVBLDqkGLayOv_4WhsXgaH-s2H5owl6EY4sJuSoJ5QinlTnQ5dI-pIHUSzScbVggH8yiA/s1600/newkitchenfallshelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGFg8x4e2VNxNlFf-ONZOutkLcUraqaH4RtaEUTilIP2wCoYDq7D97m1sXUHqvbfA-9LNC1TVBLDqkGLayOv_4WhsXgaH-s2H5owl6EY4sJuSoJ5QinlTnQ5dI-pIHUSzScbVggH8yiA/s1600/newkitchenfallshelves.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our Wal-Mart canisters made a return appearance, too ... an easy way to display seasonal or day-to-day items:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNG9a2NXck8Rg8qLiaClzC-hW1JM1ST4iM4he6lBd7fNNewKvPXvxIrUZSRS8IXSQbamh0DqXBXTu6TXh5lP8aOluB4o5JLPzd5h_MQ_YYWFYMLDJXspCQajKIxa4Xuq-K_PRNwGY__Y/s1600/newfallkitchencanisters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNG9a2NXck8Rg8qLiaClzC-hW1JM1ST4iM4he6lBd7fNNewKvPXvxIrUZSRS8IXSQbamh0DqXBXTu6TXh5lP8aOluB4o5JLPzd5h_MQ_YYWFYMLDJXspCQajKIxa4Xuq-K_PRNwGY__Y/s1600/newfallkitchencanisters1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I "give thanks" alright ... every time I use the gas stove without causing a fire.  I admit it, gas scares me!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFSKlGNnOsHprJRugNIrUllbOSKYefUAgsx8leZk5kcjXa8n4xkaU7ykPZgJYB4pvMKv6tdCTunGF9hMNIizkGTvUH4RhUMZO30gcdmyLm_1eGk2dk_dRvP_jblSsrUFxQLzd-tqWRRs/s1600/newfallkitchengive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFSKlGNnOsHprJRugNIrUllbOSKYefUAgsx8leZk5kcjXa8n4xkaU7ykPZgJYB4pvMKv6tdCTunGF9hMNIizkGTvUH4RhUMZO30gcdmyLm_1eGk2dk_dRvP_jblSsrUFxQLzd-tqWRRs/s1600/newfallkitchengive.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTqgShGsFOqv_2SEomocgM31i3afmS8Y1BMoU1R-Vx95AlKA6Vmd1tUFayEDSZXJvr7CLK0Dogsdkevfi_hSpRcXxQsvGIHqXS0BRJfdqTwkcx0PfH6PwRAmK2XP_tGbcvPg84wPacrc/s1600/newfallkitchenvignette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTqgShGsFOqv_2SEomocgM31i3afmS8Y1BMoU1R-Vx95AlKA6Vmd1tUFayEDSZXJvr7CLK0Dogsdkevfi_hSpRcXxQsvGIHqXS0BRJfdqTwkcx0PfH6PwRAmK2XP_tGbcvPg84wPacrc/s1600/newfallkitchenvignette.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other side of the kitchen is our "walk in from the garage dropping zone."</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT_hwG8Df1AfjEZ4TY6RCnp2XK3YtQn0mqC5Z8q0W88upKtJRCTw94OZqXsgsWM4yAvz_oSWOS40jHxqfremHNjBR9BySu6iOIWGKWTsY-G4mfCRrjPvwiFbmiMh5iDKrtDQqfwBA9Jg/s1600/newkitchenfallwet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT_hwG8Df1AfjEZ4TY6RCnp2XK3YtQn0mqC5Z8q0W88upKtJRCTw94OZqXsgsWM4yAvz_oSWOS40jHxqfremHNjBR9BySu6iOIWGKWTsY-G4mfCRrjPvwiFbmiMh5iDKrtDQqfwBA9Jg/s1600/newkitchenfallwet.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, keys, phones, mail and book bags are plopped here, especially while a scoop of a Fall mix is inhaled.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl2Fu5xQqXNDx-rMhMhl0f1B4Bgnj9bZCdP2iIjh3ENu9XoGBLPdd8pNGarzkbd4YNzfTKsyyCtlyqErcUFQFdDzEq59kgZEGWrY4bgfrDAr0mWpZO_dq0xtoQsRBaEgnWVG2vR1ynaU/s1600/newkitchenfallcanisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl2Fu5xQqXNDx-rMhMhl0f1B4Bgnj9bZCdP2iIjh3ENu9XoGBLPdd8pNGarzkbd4YNzfTKsyyCtlyqErcUFQFdDzEq59kgZEGWrY4bgfrDAr0mWpZO_dq0xtoQsRBaEgnWVG2vR1ynaU/s1600/newkitchenfallcanisters.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought this cute mug tree would be a nice addition to the coffee/tea "station," so, I clicked "add to cart" when I saw it on Amazon.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhlkFgAttqxZkpac0a9blTnmDZMkV4EB2ktseKWUzVL0APZqsc1HXOz82390WtP53b-vgqYsrVs27OY11z9maBGqdmTIjok_H6Uhcs7uWzAzs_22g_R2us5fGtzIVxm7J-DYXq0bcipo/s1600/newkitchenfallmugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhlkFgAttqxZkpac0a9blTnmDZMkV4EB2ktseKWUzVL0APZqsc1HXOz82390WtP53b-vgqYsrVs27OY11z9maBGqdmTIjok_H6Uhcs7uWzAzs_22g_R2us5fGtzIVxm7J-DYXq0bcipo/s1600/newkitchenfallmugs.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along with spray painting all of the knobs pewter, a couple of little embellishments were also added, such as these drawer pulls (Lowe's),</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrZ2EGmDeGLmA6lWcwtadUWhRQUTsFl6vZSP5DET-hViCF7q3S_OKLC-wMv4hlcudYmTF3S24PTraEZ0kBw12c9WqX5lKR23UKF8m84TkkyagxSDT20BHtldOKiYJjnGAxAMx3niGyOU/s1600/newkitchenfallknob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrZ2EGmDeGLmA6lWcwtadUWhRQUTsFl6vZSP5DET-hViCF7q3S_OKLC-wMv4hlcudYmTF3S24PTraEZ0kBw12c9WqX5lKR23UKF8m84TkkyagxSDT20BHtldOKiYJjnGAxAMx3niGyOU/s1600/newkitchenfallknob.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">along with wooden scrolls to two faux drawer fronts.  </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaha9GXYtASmwxdjG7kH8lZqREVrCg7FLByBhiaxZAVfPrTyv3TJghOxaXheCsHk_MKurV7aEQUESRHeqnjcyyBuEEOSrSW9HbI2JdHgzXfAlGqETlFjuUnmfIsiuy2UVHwj3cxIx69g/s1600/newkitchenfallscroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaha9GXYtASmwxdjG7kH8lZqREVrCg7FLByBhiaxZAVfPrTyv3TJghOxaXheCsHk_MKurV7aEQUESRHeqnjcyyBuEEOSrSW9HbI2JdHgzXfAlGqETlFjuUnmfIsiuy2UVHwj3cxIx69g/s1600/newkitchenfallscroll.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my favorite additions to the kitchen is the bling (Home Depot)!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5j754jr3iH1MAr4-3KjyKO1e4ckn015lsJP5xGQuDpJ2M9y9XosbBvMmptMtn7HXcAgMJi8zJk4rhs1_r18Pzbx2v3hIq02nJWPeF_TocHPp6bK8dTjJEpR9IpkEQEagN-WfaXP4K-Q/s1600/newkitchenfallchandieshe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5j754jr3iH1MAr4-3KjyKO1e4ckn015lsJP5xGQuDpJ2M9y9XosbBvMmptMtn7HXcAgMJi8zJk4rhs1_r18Pzbx2v3hIq02nJWPeF_TocHPp6bK8dTjJEpR9IpkEQEagN-WfaXP4K-Q/s1600/newkitchenfallchandieshe.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's like the crowing touch to the room!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k6vJW3jgxGHG-IRMc4IN5x9nfk_FykzBln7p2dfQjY8Sb_E3gVUKZQI-CRwL1H3tvOcd6qoITFNFUu_fmX2Dk41Aw5KIlSyoSd2qwSEkwwXpph1T79O5diLr7D4vCIhEY37EW0m-j5M/s1600/newkitchenfallislandgar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k6vJW3jgxGHG-IRMc4IN5x9nfk_FykzBln7p2dfQjY8Sb_E3gVUKZQI-CRwL1H3tvOcd6qoITFNFUu_fmX2Dk41Aw5KIlSyoSd2qwSEkwwXpph1T79O5diLr7D4vCIhEY37EW0m-j5M/s1600/newkitchenfallislandgar.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, I had to add her twin over the table, too!  </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">(With these chandeliers being a mere $99/each, it was an affordable and justifiable "splurge.")</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnnd, I had to bring back our "E A T" letters, too.  I thought it only fitting to place them right beside the pantry.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBpKYNnTspz7zVckFxcKLYj4jWvWo4zhSGuomLjBpykKXJ-SuAmbeDZXsgHoQMjK1Ga0uNgZ3nq2ftePNs-tlDoUjc4kMbuPFxwRP_fq6GB43wMfVpuog_k8M20dsRdZRomVCvgsoMNk/s1600/newkitchenbfasteat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBpKYNnTspz7zVckFxcKLYj4jWvWo4zhSGuomLjBpykKXJ-SuAmbeDZXsgHoQMjK1Ga0uNgZ3nq2ftePNs-tlDoUjc4kMbuPFxwRP_fq6GB43wMfVpuog_k8M20dsRdZRomVCvgsoMNk/s1600/newkitchenbfasteat.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's that saying?  One is good, two is better?!  </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HAh_kqkezH8rILOHIpMDxm8U8DiYk8E9ts4mBQOmPaoQsSM3DqZDUYm9ZiLM7P4kF7Lmt2XjtZ1H7emXZYPQPqE4UHR9NpHk8OMSFrn39PQVyWcEJkZ0IifZBzuk3-UVREPftVDciYo/s1600/newkitchenoverallgreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HAh_kqkezH8rILOHIpMDxm8U8DiYk8E9ts4mBQOmPaoQsSM3DqZDUYm9ZiLM7P4kF7Lmt2XjtZ1H7emXZYPQPqE4UHR9NpHk8OMSFrn39PQVyWcEJkZ0IifZBzuk3-UVREPftVDciYo/s1600/newkitchenoverallgreat.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From this angle, you can see our Fall Family Tree (a yearly tradition in our home):</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYW1whVNwOQA6heKcvmMDPwFk4HdTG6Sa0aOipoBUxZZyYK1AYT3hjaTw9eA_c-tn2QdXC89XyKPA_rNKPI82MBgqIZHlTkULMyt9dhUf0Y10uR_l7VPjFHr_z16d94aOsR9R84FOAoA/s1600/newkitchenfalltree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYW1whVNwOQA6heKcvmMDPwFk4HdTG6Sa0aOipoBUxZZyYK1AYT3hjaTw9eA_c-tn2QdXC89XyKPA_rNKPI82MBgqIZHlTkULMyt9dhUf0Y10uR_l7VPjFHr_z16d94aOsR9R84FOAoA/s1600/newkitchenfalltree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tucked in a little corner.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPPym2-lw6xw2yoknX1N30I5WlOIJF71wOkAqim45lUI-J8FEkOl9hM3ynTrarDQWxV7hMfnzdrTFlqGcvWlkSkwVRTCgKaB5QgEX2T9O5-w0wYY2AiFccD2iKqOjFBSyFN-7wsobgP4/s1600/newfallkitchentree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPPym2-lw6xw2yoknX1N30I5WlOIJF71wOkAqim45lUI-J8FEkOl9hM3ynTrarDQWxV7hMfnzdrTFlqGcvWlkSkwVRTCgKaB5QgEX2T9O5-w0wYY2AiFccD2iKqOjFBSyFN-7wsobgP4/s1600/newfallkitchentree.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always add "familial" sayings ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHefltAWiZWsQ3eVlyQpx5c3yc8zk70Mr-VZRazmZUDFNM-bc89rxK1e-1SXjrMRz6aF5-69k75vwQX9oDiFK5CU6BtrcJWtyOXsqPrn7ZMm9c_Izbufi4-UM-8Nhn41VyzaaevibqLos/s1600/newkitchenfallowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHefltAWiZWsQ3eVlyQpx5c3yc8zk70Mr-VZRazmZUDFNM-bc89rxK1e-1SXjrMRz6aF5-69k75vwQX9oDiFK5CU6BtrcJWtyOXsqPrn7ZMm9c_Izbufi4-UM-8Nhn41VyzaaevibqLos/s1600/newkitchenfallowl.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and pictures of our family that mean so much!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_194GRLHUOZHAZGJqLXGM4-GDfqhgiKz57cHlKnrdcSjyIdvdStHzVoKeiGOptGOoiTJ9YWL3Y0KYPXiXGdj4IJ0HaRcgcPbUhYaK-DsusLDrvBEXwUJ-25MtdlJTOPC-EpkMsfrHYg/s1600/newkitchenfalltreeclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_194GRLHUOZHAZGJqLXGM4-GDfqhgiKz57cHlKnrdcSjyIdvdStHzVoKeiGOptGOoiTJ9YWL3Y0KYPXiXGdj4IJ0HaRcgcPbUhYaK-DsusLDrvBEXwUJ-25MtdlJTOPC-EpkMsfrHYg/s1600/newkitchenfalltreeclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One more time ...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UD1ZoH32p7iCIbFornXY-TGCLPwjaNybTbmzSmwLdHYuJCkcylJhW9oZbulcRGcIhjLQbVexpYLQ7l3NinfwaxaPCKShLX5XJr-BuUdhHMHD7oye7hy0rLrTbE4RQfIbA9tbK5Mzt8/s1600/newkitchenb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UD1ZoH32p7iCIbFornXY-TGCLPwjaNybTbmzSmwLdHYuJCkcylJhW9oZbulcRGcIhjLQbVexpYLQ7l3NinfwaxaPCKShLX5XJr-BuUdhHMHD7oye7hy0rLrTbE4RQfIbA9tbK5Mzt8/s1600/newkitchenb4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnnd, AFTER!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CspIOU2mnwwimJoN4jmz4qYJObV4QFqwrD65fCYzTV_iNhZ7KbDzT_zeXUfCGZzK-Hr5oOpp4UG1GIt2HnvreXJB_4856Z_moRU_NWhiP-kBdqE2lXaNtfMLkzG4vzjkYNEp7VUAXCg/s1600/newkitchenafterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CspIOU2mnwwimJoN4jmz4qYJObV4QFqwrD65fCYzTV_iNhZ7KbDzT_zeXUfCGZzK-Hr5oOpp4UG1GIt2HnvreXJB_4856Z_moRU_NWhiP-kBdqE2lXaNtfMLkzG4vzjkYNEp7VUAXCg/s1600/newkitchenafterfall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're not done in here yet ... as our budget allows, we'd love to add crown molding, a board and batten backsplash, a butcher block top to the island, and a wooden beam or two.  For now, we're enjoying our new space!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by,</span></div><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" style="width: NaN%;" />

Our New Kitchen!

Greetings, friends! So, here we are in the kitchen right before we moved in ... beautiful wood floors, pretty birch cabinets and tile backsp...

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Our New Great Room ...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings, friends!  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we are ... in an empty great room ... just as it looked right before we moved in:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcoyH_ZwztbsCs6xApl2O0E9PSN-1DEZS2svAHhu1wBdvhr9ACnM1TU2Mx2BcCPrjQ7MZuhmqUigQkh7N4FWZYVxYTNB65XaB5ig17XsK1MnQTbWafDGCBh9SROeHPjhvMPk_b55yyU/s1600/newfallgreatb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcoyH_ZwztbsCs6xApl2O0E9PSN-1DEZS2svAHhu1wBdvhr9ACnM1TU2Mx2BcCPrjQ7MZuhmqUigQkh7N4FWZYVxYTNB65XaB5ig17XsK1MnQTbWafDGCBh9SROeHPjhvMPk_b55yyU/s1600/newfallgreatb4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, here we are AFTER!  Welcome to our new great room ... all ready for Fall!  One of the first things we did was to have the hardwood continued in here.  It's all throughout the rest of the first floor, so, we decided to bite the bullet and had it done right after we moved in (by the same company who installed the hardwood on the rest of the entire first floor) ... this way, we knew we were getting the same "dye lot" as the rest of the rooms.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZA7XIB_XsFE-Jn-6-JiSzEyTecCSbgxAPLFoN6VaHKM1rmQQpARfEJVs1UbwZQrEmOLITLnN3Rlwei1aQBv8FxUsrFr06eKGOL9BrW7whTclmj2Gya9e7uWS9QW_ijeStxYBLrTYIMHI/s1600/newfallgreatoverallside1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZA7XIB_XsFE-Jn-6-JiSzEyTecCSbgxAPLFoN6VaHKM1rmQQpARfEJVs1UbwZQrEmOLITLnN3Rlwei1aQBv8FxUsrFr06eKGOL9BrW7whTclmj2Gya9e7uWS9QW_ijeStxYBLrTYIMHI/s1600/newfallgreatoverallside1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you ever let your rooms "speak to you" to let you know how they want to be decorated?  Well, I do ... annnnnd, apparently, this space told me that it wanted for me to trade out our wheat colored sofa for a white EKTORP sofa from IKEA ... to add white/beige buffalo check curtains (also from IKEA), along with bamboo roman shades ... and to throw in black accents!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxoyqDQUEzn1R_9w6YsEoUkCVP9oVwX3Owe2raFbQstSw0F1ZmgZVLyst6IS09W01P9qqjRE-Tx3-I4t7GW6-aSC_zESGhU-grSXT1M3XF5AO0pLU_gvvGFsK8rmtA8owp_apzzSn3EI/s1600/fbfallgreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxoyqDQUEzn1R_9w6YsEoUkCVP9oVwX3Owe2raFbQstSw0F1ZmgZVLyst6IS09W01P9qqjRE-Tx3-I4t7GW6-aSC_zESGhU-grSXT1M3XF5AO0pLU_gvvGFsK8rmtA8owp_apzzSn3EI/s1600/fbfallgreat.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Colorful "Fall" pillows from Kirkland's (mixed with white/burlap trim pillows and a single burlap pillow from Pottery Barn) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">warm up the sofa</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.  An inexpensive throw (from IKEA) adds just a little bit of texture (and warmth on our now chilly mornings).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExVWWcOzd6ToXxtfzQr5ExZrUuxPjUnonLNyHDZcPrevycql_8tO47sXwLc66VVY7Rb6NBptlBd9Yty1yQ0ZvMb3HOX0wGP-SQrWQd9iMwjxYDQp_7zk7J2lS1oSFYLhisosUYwb1hY4/s1600/newfallgreatpillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExVWWcOzd6ToXxtfzQr5ExZrUuxPjUnonLNyHDZcPrevycql_8tO47sXwLc66VVY7Rb6NBptlBd9Yty1yQ0ZvMb3HOX0wGP-SQrWQd9iMwjxYDQp_7zk7J2lS1oSFYLhisosUYwb1hY4/s1600/newfallgreatpillows.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple Fall stems in a glass demijohn stand loud and proud on the sofa table.  And, I couldn't help but flank it with two chunky matching wooden corbels from Home Goods.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrnErvn-y_b9sdtcPslovmHIZUhXwBGhGVfV4g7U50du_TM77dqcx_b_3VLcVX64aI7bRMDemSbECbjIFfVX845ObFNTWxGCM5WkAOQ9fc7nfWIzorgvr4EESbv48NXvaV6jKlNBnMwA/s1600/newfallgreatsofatable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrnErvn-y_b9sdtcPslovmHIZUhXwBGhGVfV4g7U50du_TM77dqcx_b_3VLcVX64aI7bRMDemSbECbjIFfVX845ObFNTWxGCM5WkAOQ9fc7nfWIzorgvr4EESbv48NXvaV6jKlNBnMwA/s1600/newfallgreatsofatable.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcI8Zh71zjr99pg8dCYtmeY70WTRcEa04tag-sUSwhCTSsxzVvNZJ2YKeJueHOMseREl-BQeReIYqogS35wV76mC_yPFRqhFsyHGCRZRfLzfcG0ScWGw_vLePKNtCaGY2R1D1oA0XQso/s1600/newfallgreatcorbel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcI8Zh71zjr99pg8dCYtmeY70WTRcEa04tag-sUSwhCTSsxzVvNZJ2YKeJueHOMseREl-BQeReIYqogS35wV76mC_yPFRqhFsyHGCRZRfLzfcG0ScWGw_vLePKNtCaGY2R1D1oA0XQso/s1600/newfallgreatcorbel.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I traded out our gold and glass coffee table for our wooden one (from Pottery Barn) to help with the warm and cozy feeling I was going for in here.  (Again, the room "told" me to do this)!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeBY8FqhYUAXwrkCs2InB1PMcqOHPIvxgAJeLmi70DJ-XMI7vpVTvWWvGWfrdORKMR6FrkSeVldgI_SE2uR5qJ1WChJ1d0J3uP57KRYfSteRJplY0XAAWuv8zGyufRjB6M_J3eHPpEhY/s1600/newfallgreattable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeBY8FqhYUAXwrkCs2InB1PMcqOHPIvxgAJeLmi70DJ-XMI7vpVTvWWvGWfrdORKMR6FrkSeVldgI_SE2uR5qJ1WChJ1d0J3uP57KRYfSteRJplY0XAAWuv8zGyufRjB6M_J3eHPpEhY/s1600/newfallgreattable.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, here's our "revamped" Fall mantel (yes, I changed it again)!  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMT1Uw8Ja5_xEhfePRbTWGIeZeBayx90V1ZWk6-VUlp3SGzG01oztxsNB-wb4uqHEGhpF8eXDvLts1q-zsK2xNYa7uGRJcyA7GK8MZo5LaYr138rpVjYEId8PPG-JkpLUuvD9v1TQAyw/s1600/newfallgreatmanteloverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMT1Uw8Ja5_xEhfePRbTWGIeZeBayx90V1ZWk6-VUlp3SGzG01oztxsNB-wb4uqHEGhpF8eXDvLts1q-zsK2xNYa7uGRJcyA7GK8MZo5LaYr138rpVjYEId8PPG-JkpLUuvD9v1TQAyw/s1600/newfallgreatmanteloverall.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love how crisp the black and white are together, paired with the beautiful colors of Fall.  And, because of this new color palette, I have a feeling I'll simply have to try my hand at a Halloween mantel this year, too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7uGhldhBG86fN5xzm_-BQ-Jb2u0Tx8YJh4fc_lm0_LUX9eHGXxZX7vwEJggXKhX4v6XMuy6qIAjsXf61HPICUaSR2H8DTH_px_ZhqOjaxcRUI4i8IX_v0aFuWKcsMMAjFntNSkzS2bU/s1600/newfallgreatmantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7uGhldhBG86fN5xzm_-BQ-Jb2u0Tx8YJh4fc_lm0_LUX9eHGXxZX7vwEJggXKhX4v6XMuy6qIAjsXf61HPICUaSR2H8DTH_px_ZhqOjaxcRUI4i8IX_v0aFuWKcsMMAjFntNSkzS2bU/s1600/newfallgreatmantelclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFb7oNUjLiI5xPcoztR4ubAQWwJaeT1VfkQ4MMrGau0m4TAfxeBX6jPaQc-J08oulbXt2FMHdm-yHCPScpUATazIGZE8n4SK-cF8V25iT8XAdJHN-H-Us7iF7k2VZ1CPsfCuiOGyAGBI/s1600/newfallgreatbasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFb7oNUjLiI5xPcoztR4ubAQWwJaeT1VfkQ4MMrGau0m4TAfxeBX6jPaQc-J08oulbXt2FMHdm-yHCPScpUATazIGZE8n4SK-cF8V25iT8XAdJHN-H-Us7iF7k2VZ1CPsfCuiOGyAGBI/s1600/newfallgreatbasket.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moving on around the room, you'll spy our TV ... the builder added an outlet and cable box above the fireplace, BUT, I'm just not a fan of having the TV over the fireplace if I can help it ... you guys know that I "need" that space above the mantel to be able to decorate!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhPvkeY3RMn2Tm4Pb8XLUsc2RTnyoHQuysJ1d2NqU-5u1ozSflm2f7duXeR2DuoARFBTA4Nb4eLPSlBmAPDxNF1z6cDbMzH3FmxBQ9-3gtGgP1z1lFpUuy3bwqvX5GVNEMsZejziqU10/s1600/newgreatoverallside1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhPvkeY3RMn2Tm4Pb8XLUsc2RTnyoHQuysJ1d2NqU-5u1ozSflm2f7duXeR2DuoARFBTA4Nb4eLPSlBmAPDxNF1z6cDbMzH3FmxBQ9-3gtGgP1z1lFpUuy3bwqvX5GVNEMsZejziqU10/s1600/newgreatoverallside1.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I covered our torn up ottoman top with burlap and threw another comfy throw from IKEA on there ... it's all about the layers during the upcoming months, isn't it?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnBv9OMSpIGosoTK1G1rjKeMDMtELhDbJUUpsQE2bCAZiKIDgNFwoghXnboguhTot3OeBl76gYJT2rmdqwOP1XBHvYY9IbNKySGezX9Pb0jWGW7r2Xw3SUsN5lWJr9ct_gqVTlIcHWVU/s1600/newfallgreatchairott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnBv9OMSpIGosoTK1G1rjKeMDMtELhDbJUUpsQE2bCAZiKIDgNFwoghXnboguhTot3OeBl76gYJT2rmdqwOP1XBHvYY9IbNKySGezX9Pb0jWGW7r2Xw3SUsN5lWJr9ct_gqVTlIcHWVU/s1600/newfallgreatchairott.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After looking and looking and LOOKING for nice black and white photos to frame, I turned to one of our "coffee table" books, which had pictures that I love!  Yes, I removed certain pages I wanted to frame (shame), BUT, I look at it as though now I'm showcasing the beautiful pictures instead of hiding them.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqtGsBQHyZqr_d6KD3uu6CQJDOU76LLLqaXI5EEXExQzDd3s187v9q-k4zg3KzAdbWi2-wOeszTyMEbMkCIZQ2hBQVTZJjCf2NDYdlAlXrdxqhor0TKrXU_MXTcWkHkEQ32U0MqFjY3I/s1600/newfallgreatpics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqtGsBQHyZqr_d6KD3uu6CQJDOU76LLLqaXI5EEXExQzDd3s187v9q-k4zg3KzAdbWi2-wOeszTyMEbMkCIZQ2hBQVTZJjCf2NDYdlAlXrdxqhor0TKrXU_MXTcWkHkEQ32U0MqFjY3I/s1600/newfallgreatpics.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I carried the buffalo check pattern to the other side of the room by folding extra fabric over the back of one of the wing chairs ... of course, I had to add an orange faux pumpkin and black book to balance the colors around the room! </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8ZcxWvmB62-nPTcsUzE43dLydCq-4aPwZvqsCIeKaHTAlpAEXpBB95htHJMYd-aiRkkhXsgkS5C_TIKrCqzgzLPSnTXthUCga2khIxbBEt7VzsKu2IQW8OKYU0k3qXqN087OwnUmZmA/s1600/newfallgreattv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8ZcxWvmB62-nPTcsUzE43dLydCq-4aPwZvqsCIeKaHTAlpAEXpBB95htHJMYd-aiRkkhXsgkS5C_TIKrCqzgzLPSnTXthUCga2khIxbBEt7VzsKu2IQW8OKYU0k3qXqN087OwnUmZmA/s1600/newfallgreattv.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, when you're sitting in that wing chair, this is your little ol' view ...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRG9nMNxK6wwR5GBOiJcamC5unDC6LRFe64rH1XX5LJTER415rGAfVLCs8YrmkcVQyEVi3n1bhk_u1hnsO1DU7DNJwl0_-osxe0eE-oIUdoaloYImoe7cw8UqFtIFC1iBl6dwPKVgwxo/s1600/newfallgreatsofawindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRG9nMNxK6wwR5GBOiJcamC5unDC6LRFe64rH1XX5LJTER415rGAfVLCs8YrmkcVQyEVi3n1bhk_u1hnsO1DU7DNJwl0_-osxe0eE-oIUdoaloYImoe7cw8UqFtIFC1iBl6dwPKVgwxo/s1600/newfallgreatsofawindow.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, I had to mirror the photos that I did on the other side of the room on each side of our window.  It's all about "OCD balance" folks.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUvwE1wjyHA0NDeG_XogsH9Hh8yRHVy6KnHhCIy55JwWCQ5P2lBNieCgqTr6_vN-ie0OqA6QasT1a-Ed1VqnT8C74iF4sowdkUtr48PJKlcq-ngEcqGecq8Xp1DO5Xgk5d9khGm9gYQ8/s1600/newfallgreatbeachpics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUvwE1wjyHA0NDeG_XogsH9Hh8yRHVy6KnHhCIy55JwWCQ5P2lBNieCgqTr6_vN-ie0OqA6QasT1a-Ed1VqnT8C74iF4sowdkUtr48PJKlcq-ngEcqGecq8Xp1DO5Xgk5d9khGm9gYQ8/s1600/newfallgreatbeachpics.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just for grins, let's look again: </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcoyH_ZwztbsCs6xApl2O0E9PSN-1DEZS2svAHhu1wBdvhr9ACnM1TU2Mx2BcCPrjQ7MZuhmqUigQkh7N4FWZYVxYTNB65XaB5ig17XsK1MnQTbWafDGCBh9SROeHPjhvMPk_b55yyU/s1600/newfallgreatb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcoyH_ZwztbsCs6xApl2O0E9PSN-1DEZS2svAHhu1wBdvhr9ACnM1TU2Mx2BcCPrjQ7MZuhmqUigQkh7N4FWZYVxYTNB65XaB5ig17XsK1MnQTbWafDGCBh9SROeHPjhvMPk_b55yyU/s1600/newfallgreatb4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AFTER!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59WuJwqfcofGLcK-EIXuGFWHtItHWBA8jI4FHLlIV1pZIq1BFYR0pfZMg6LXNIbitjW8EQI821Wbo9WkYoZtSZ3I2NQhozhD2ubyhyphenhyphen5DZkELXkbDysQ0u6lZvH41L9rRTLmggw7HhCCQ/s1600/newfallgreatoverallafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59WuJwqfcofGLcK-EIXuGFWHtItHWBA8jI4FHLlIV1pZIq1BFYR0pfZMg6LXNIbitjW8EQI821Wbo9WkYoZtSZ3I2NQhozhD2ubyhyphenhyphen5DZkELXkbDysQ0u6lZvH41L9rRTLmggw7HhCCQ/s1600/newfallgreatoverallafter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" style="width: NaN%;" />

Our New Great Room ...

Greetings, friends!   Here we are ... in an empty great room ... just as it looked right before we moved in: And, here we are AFTER!  Welcom...

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Our New Sunroom

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy "almost" First Day of Fall!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I watched our home "virtually" being built, one of the things I loved about it was the sunroom right off of the kitchen.  I remember thinking that if this house were ever to become "ours," I could see myself spending lots of time in this cozy space.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast forward a few months, now that the home "is" ours, and, I can honestly say that I do, in fact, spend lots of time in here ... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">either curled up with a great magazine ... chatting with family/friends ... or, even dozing off for an unexpected snooze (oops)!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is what it looked like while the house was being built:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp6KdJ8XZiRpHlmbnSBQUnhMeE2cjkvNhohSDW_uLfDvhGIUYM4M_idoe4kvabCwODJX3hb-VSnxcuWC-dM2C80LnQ2LFCWhdRBEwGz5_Zp-Etsm5KtrXrnnAJUaJFbdAfVo53T8dOZ4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-06+at+3.18.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp6KdJ8XZiRpHlmbnSBQUnhMeE2cjkvNhohSDW_uLfDvhGIUYM4M_idoe4kvabCwODJX3hb-VSnxcuWC-dM2C80LnQ2LFCWhdRBEwGz5_Zp-Etsm5KtrXrnnAJUaJFbdAfVo53T8dOZ4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-06+at+3.18.57+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnnd, here it is NOW, with a few familiar pieces and all ready for Fall!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQgyjXM_IjPOy4Zy_RZiNA8MTy9g7c44oMYd5Kna_cF9sC8tYgBUN0W1u6cVV6tsqIySgq7ZfUoxPDtJ8M_XVnABWiArci5K8WGn8Bwjm12NpscqK8ox0IM5nybD82MibwJYGPKhkufU/s1600/newsunroomoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQgyjXM_IjPOy4Zy_RZiNA8MTy9g7c44oMYd5Kna_cF9sC8tYgBUN0W1u6cVV6tsqIySgq7ZfUoxPDtJ8M_XVnABWiArci5K8WGn8Bwjm12NpscqK8ox0IM5nybD82MibwJYGPKhkufU/s1600/newsunroomoverall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of you may recognize my favorite fabric from our old home.  The chairs on the other hand, are new!  Well, new to us, anyway ... thanks to Craigslist, these practically unused and comfy IKEA  Ektorp chairs now serve as a place to just "plop!"  They're covered in light sage green slipcovers with cream piping ... and, they happen to match the green in the rug perfectly!  Yay!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYXNDuulM2uoW9xj_3Qd1s7iNiZH4FapfuO6-_azxB5sNGym5HPQgIonoFGkCuaSgdnYYOKit5T5gYH-chMyjeQmhqKQPBSuH3yTREC-uxS6MNq-gFQoZUsblfy03su-mmbxiLx3hqew/s1600/newsunsofaside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYXNDuulM2uoW9xj_3Qd1s7iNiZH4FapfuO6-_azxB5sNGym5HPQgIonoFGkCuaSgdnYYOKit5T5gYH-chMyjeQmhqKQPBSuH3yTREC-uxS6MNq-gFQoZUsblfy03su-mmbxiLx3hqew/s1600/newsunsofaside.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sofa table perched in front of the window holds a few Fall goodies, as well as a pair of lamps that used to be on our old screened porch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJmvKAeTauWD3xMoMtI9l5xdv2kCyOMb5ZMNP1_ajyDza-IxoKDLDNnH9p5FwrfPW1m8lAu4Qvgnp8axuf9_0tDbalUCobwWYp_3cE6rcneg2zav9BF2ASB0PDCJIiYPaFevUGKo0eD0/s1600/newsunglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJmvKAeTauWD3xMoMtI9l5xdv2kCyOMb5ZMNP1_ajyDza-IxoKDLDNnH9p5FwrfPW1m8lAu4Qvgnp8axuf9_0tDbalUCobwWYp_3cE6rcneg2zav9BF2ASB0PDCJIiYPaFevUGKo0eD0/s1600/newsunglass.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0LB1LHRFp38Ug2gbnxj-YNktoPXuchObpPq9vh0rIqpGEDbrsXsbfcMrnfp7Tv34eE-8wK_NqvsVaRkMGFbKY3pDp_HCx_xzVR1-yEsn2vHTQ4PmKh3nVbC6IxvE5EPr0DSifJZuK04/s1600/newsunpumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0LB1LHRFp38Ug2gbnxj-YNktoPXuchObpPq9vh0rIqpGEDbrsXsbfcMrnfp7Tv34eE-8wK_NqvsVaRkMGFbKY3pDp_HCx_xzVR1-yEsn2vHTQ4PmKh3nVbC6IxvE5EPr0DSifJZuK04/s1600/newsunpumpkins.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I played around with adding candle sconces and mirrors on either side of the center window ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYDNeR8YqF0Li3oNnjU72PlkLkgvNglJ_WmrlPKXoGXvot2ZJGbanHqNd24Eiw2f8rikW4MC8dEQXCk9MG_RgA90GOOqxXI7BAF28AND3pkB_Al-yLaYogJO8iCj-ozHP8DD8BfLSEhw/s1600/newsunfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYDNeR8YqF0Li3oNnjU72PlkLkgvNglJ_WmrlPKXoGXvot2ZJGbanHqNd24Eiw2f8rikW4MC8dEQXCk9MG_RgA90GOOqxXI7BAF28AND3pkB_Al-yLaYogJO8iCj-ozHP8DD8BfLSEhw/s1600/newsunfront.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew when I stumbled upon these prints at HomeGood, they'd work </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">really well in here for the Fall season!  And, at only $12.99 a print, I found this seasonal purchase easy to justify!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkljKEcxXYgrYkcKnBotlEIQFGH4xQTTeOsh0ElaqYNwz0LeDj2eQG76AfS_lkXVIY7XziToxtAovdWX9k_rQOHDf8P13ameSUUOkccklxrmgs29CFWeCep635Edrnqe75lN7sFjF80oY/s1600/newsunfallart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkljKEcxXYgrYkcKnBotlEIQFGH4xQTTeOsh0ElaqYNwz0LeDj2eQG76AfS_lkXVIY7XziToxtAovdWX9k_rQOHDf8P13ameSUUOkccklxrmgs29CFWeCep635Edrnqe75lN7sFjF80oY/s1600/newsunfallart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This little coffee table once sat on the screened porch in our old home ... thankfully, because of its petite size, I was able to place it in here:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZegbILb4nApKmVGsHwv-pg_oszJiLqUdoM79Kl61ynpo2Ul8LZfXKvNVczS8Hcw3e3ASrN08s0BtMQIBBVsVOTSevapBBo2jOiJaKjFP_-eCwXMbYH3oN7FhBKRiY1Y9LWFscmO2zhg/s1600/newsunsofaclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZegbILb4nApKmVGsHwv-pg_oszJiLqUdoM79Kl61ynpo2Ul8LZfXKvNVczS8Hcw3e3ASrN08s0BtMQIBBVsVOTSevapBBo2jOiJaKjFP_-eCwXMbYH3oN7FhBKRiY1Y9LWFscmO2zhg/s1600/newsunsofaclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite wire tray from Pottery Barn sits on top of the table, filled with more Fall goodness:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbOug5T5kRmHOj2wSXMCcZ9ySIrRKaB0h-4EzR1FBGAgtbYUxmHuJTgZleJn6OTxj55gIbB3yGl2xtiY57kIlxP1FQBPpQH-w9MW_MDWWFBLv7Tst0pW7EQi7YkrSTsp2oifUMFmu9OI/s1600/newsunpumpkinclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbOug5T5kRmHOj2wSXMCcZ9ySIrRKaB0h-4EzR1FBGAgtbYUxmHuJTgZleJn6OTxj55gIbB3yGl2xtiY57kIlxP1FQBPpQH-w9MW_MDWWFBLv7Tst0pW7EQi7YkrSTsp2oifUMFmu9OI/s1600/newsunpumpkinclose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's take one more peek at the whole picture ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEFORE:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp6KdJ8XZiRpHlmbnSBQUnhMeE2cjkvNhohSDW_uLfDvhGIUYM4M_idoe4kvabCwODJX3hb-VSnxcuWC-dM2C80LnQ2LFCWhdRBEwGz5_Zp-Etsm5KtrXrnnAJUaJFbdAfVo53T8dOZ4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-06+at+3.18.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp6KdJ8XZiRpHlmbnSBQUnhMeE2cjkvNhohSDW_uLfDvhGIUYM4M_idoe4kvabCwODJX3hb-VSnxcuWC-dM2C80LnQ2LFCWhdRBEwGz5_Zp-Etsm5KtrXrnnAJUaJFbdAfVo53T8dOZ4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-06+at+3.18.57+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AFTER!  I can't wait to see how this cozy space evolves throughout the seasons!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYxRg4NKk4IG03hxVHvBLqqqU4Q1EBu8sxv6pO0jTVKOYAgYvXDK6_19mEwHIqKoXRARvpeSifVOZsziFsoWDt2Uxw52ly8XH5wI5e4YRpUBBf4r3NoF-19WxiBOey1AoabaYXvYrouE/s1600/newsunlast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYxRg4NKk4IG03hxVHvBLqqqU4Q1EBu8sxv6pO0jTVKOYAgYvXDK6_19mEwHIqKoXRARvpeSifVOZsziFsoWDt2Uxw52ly8XH5wI5e4YRpUBBf4r3NoF-19WxiBOey1AoabaYXvYrouE/s1600/newsunlast.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for stopping by!</span><br /><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" style="width: NaN%;" />

Our New Sunroom

Happy "almost" First Day of Fall! As I watched our home "virtually" being built, one of the things I loved about it was ...

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Our Simple Fall Mantel ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings!!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we could've pried our fireplace mantel/surround from the wall of our old house and nailed it to the wall here in our new house, we would've!  I truly miss it, but, we hope to "beef" up this one a bit in the near future.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until then, I can't neglect our simple mantel and had fun adding a few Fall touches to it, with things that I already had on hand ... don't you just love free decorating?!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FETTwDTgJPvAWfA1WRA-XhomuVUfb5enE3joDk8LeFyJBXNUOac_BvjYgQai-FWGbwcNv987Riw6SXELTCJxX09wSzkAW9aQKGfMOXaJA_D4O_6xyf7XfiSWpOsyNDSLR83a31UdtNQ/s1600/newgreatmanteloverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FETTwDTgJPvAWfA1WRA-XhomuVUfb5enE3joDk8LeFyJBXNUOac_BvjYgQai-FWGbwcNv987Riw6SXELTCJxX09wSzkAW9aQKGfMOXaJA_D4O_6xyf7XfiSWpOsyNDSLR83a31UdtNQ/s1600/newgreatmanteloverall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A pretty Fall print that I snagged from Tuesday Morning a couple of years ago, along with our whimsical "GIVE THANKS" blocks, take center stage:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb5p2NVFWA0dylQlse60zUG6A2kencmDCcnKtitb1KgtNfO8Ra-E2mLv_K0reEfLuPwYXvqQ6bWtQVvdzN0o8-yn5rK3Xs7sDiWIgdnvGHvuKS5eGH5Yy_vTSCjJL9EUuVM68ekK_TW0/s1600/fallnewmantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb5p2NVFWA0dylQlse60zUG6A2kencmDCcnKtitb1KgtNfO8Ra-E2mLv_K0reEfLuPwYXvqQ6bWtQVvdzN0o8-yn5rK3Xs7sDiWIgdnvGHvuKS5eGH5Yy_vTSCjJL9EUuVM68ekK_TW0/s1600/fallnewmantelclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like "easy" decorating, which is why I love filling inexpensive apothecary jars with petite pumpkins, acorns and leaves:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FrAUhANjiZ4wG_REqC0ATa4Gyolmx1cIT5kycyQt0hxOq9OVDWClXZPG9q1ih4VmZPRkPbN6y-TZUs8wXqkWmdkZARswIqFsCSeuReyJRcR2VgIfMm3zuCnFh-xLd4Ka5uUSz_G8wfo/s1600/newfallmantelpumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FrAUhANjiZ4wG_REqC0ATa4Gyolmx1cIT5kycyQt0hxOq9OVDWClXZPG9q1ih4VmZPRkPbN6y-TZUs8wXqkWmdkZARswIqFsCSeuReyJRcR2VgIfMm3zuCnFh-xLd4Ka5uUSz_G8wfo/s1600/newfallmantelpumpkins.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A simple basket becomes the perfect place to toss a few pillows and add a soft blanket, inviting "warmth!"  Annnnd, our "falling leaves" made a return, too!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVrVQDcvPW-4mKkKCAYz5ur04xG-uOFNQUQ9ARzP5eDKHu5LmCJPYbQ_istGMKoaSpvV3slqB0LQOWU6z3zhbFx33MxwHH2otlH808Sa0RqsCkTiM2kbrdVTh-MRatQvQQ4Y3vOT6PI8/s1600/newfallmantelside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVrVQDcvPW-4mKkKCAYz5ur04xG-uOFNQUQ9ARzP5eDKHu5LmCJPYbQ_istGMKoaSpvV3slqB0LQOWU6z3zhbFx33MxwHH2otlH808Sa0RqsCkTiM2kbrdVTh-MRatQvQQ4Y3vOT6PI8/s1600/newfallmantelside.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of buying a new fireplace screen, I propped a metal piece from Kirkland's we had on hand against the glass:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zx_f2Jt4T7AtGD9sLOQMroIoX1GuTDAvnxWoUVj358CNanTrN-bqwH_O5ICxniT4TXV0X2He1ryZFzgvsYVXj-rNBg7MKtgdY9psKQg3Qg4PZ3XJeyZ3IfS-TVnrcERnj0oihYKCh_M/s1600/newfallmantelbasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zx_f2Jt4T7AtGD9sLOQMroIoX1GuTDAvnxWoUVj358CNanTrN-bqwH_O5ICxniT4TXV0X2He1ryZFzgvsYVXj-rNBg7MKtgdY9psKQg3Qg4PZ3XJeyZ3IfS-TVnrcERnj0oihYKCh_M/s1600/newfallmantelbasket.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love the soft glow that the lights hidden behind our "GIVE THANKS" blocks, along with the fireplace, give off at night!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIIhbKQ-ZORFfK6WFxb1PnK95rIlnTj6xHmuIcWu7afQJwDcJqLNBrUZFGsCc41LVwr95Z2ZF16P4R2LQOhhOjHMo1aqAsxq4CIGpiThW_hbr0mWRKkJR9zxhMErFFRDhs2kLXbRW25Q/s1600/fallnewmantellast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIIhbKQ-ZORFfK6WFxb1PnK95rIlnTj6xHmuIcWu7afQJwDcJqLNBrUZFGsCc41LVwr95Z2ZF16P4R2LQOhhOjHMo1aqAsxq4CIGpiThW_hbr0mWRKkJR9zxhMErFFRDhs2kLXbRW25Q/s1600/fallnewmantellast.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, "speaking" of Fall mantels, I was very surprised (and appreciative) to see one of Fall mantels (from our old house) included in a fun Fall mantel <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/homes/decor-ideas/halloween-mantel-ideas#slide-1">article</a> from Country Living!  Thank you!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnTnKhcGVMRyloqeDIuZm4_IXu33MFNavcauGaLCqj4HY8Kg-zhCNey_jQlYfAMd18mQK3Jvos9PG8yBGQnIz7jgSbuze0VR5qzT9rOeMNgYqU7B2K-TenNoIOT4-6MTkfMMUALkRvIg/s1600/halloween-fall-mantels13-lgn-94539368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnTnKhcGVMRyloqeDIuZm4_IXu33MFNavcauGaLCqj4HY8Kg-zhCNey_jQlYfAMd18mQK3Jvos9PG8yBGQnIz7jgSbuze0VR5qzT9rOeMNgYqU7B2K-TenNoIOT4-6MTkfMMUALkRvIg/s1600/halloween-fall-mantels13-lgn-94539368.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish up our kitchen project where the cabinets are now enjoying a lighter and brighter look... yay!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw4BG9OSZcX9KRX92-G6Pm378h84KQVf8C56BhcR7WWaEkvmHQg4FoNy0nehl-C2o7cpgKxoT0MP6mjTnSuc13OaEkRP8WLo1TuvVQilLVjyYLzAZl8pqy7JJpcdbnZDq4vsXXJqWidk/s1600/FBnewkitchencabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDw4BG9OSZcX9KRX92-G6Pm378h84KQVf8C56BhcR7WWaEkvmHQg4FoNy0nehl-C2o7cpgKxoT0MP6mjTnSuc13OaEkRP8WLo1TuvVQilLVjyYLzAZl8pqy7JJpcdbnZDq4vsXXJqWidk/s1600/FBnewkitchencabs.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy "early" Fall friends and thanks for stopping by,</span><br /><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" />

Our Simple Fall Mantel ...

Greetings!! If we could've pried our fireplace mantel/surround from the wall of our old house and nailed it to the wall here in our new ...

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