I Love Decorating

Tonight at dinner I said, "can we start decorating for Christmas yet?" Yes I did!

I love decorating and have a little notebook on my desk where I jot ideas and thoughts and how I want it all to look.

Usually I get an idea for the next year right in the middle of that season, so there is no way I can remember a whole year. 

I usually write down what I'm thinking for an overall look and then I jot little pieces I want to remember to use (or pieces I want to NOT use anymore)

This Valentine's Day I stuck with decorating our kitchen and our dining room only. Since Christmas I've felt the family room with a 'blank slate' kind of a look and the same in our living room. After I took down all of the Christmas I wanted it clear, open, uncluttered. (which is the opposite of our Valentine dining room, ha!)

I took everything out of this room, cleaned it from top to bottom and started from scratch. 

I love most of all the top of our Hitchcock antique hutch. Antique baskets and that oil painting (also antique - not from Hobby Lobby or Home Goods - so not my taste anymore) 

In the cabinets I have a lot of milk glass which I pull all of the time for candy jars, vases, anything... they are so versatile! And those blue plates on the wall are a family heirloom - someday I will tell their story - it is quite a unique story. 

Throughout all of the milk glass are pink books and a few hearts. Also my grandmothers silver tea set. I love the silver with all that white. 

My newest (but not new, antique) is that darling vase... and that basket. The round plates in the back were my other grandmothers and are a beautiful set from Wedgewood. She gave them to me when we got engaged. 

Silver dessert forks peeking out from our wedding silver we picked out all those years ago. 

A vintage book about songbirds that belonged to my grandpa

And I put in a few little pitcher (I collect tiny pitchers because they are delightful for warming syrup even on a weekday morning) This one is perfect with the little pink flower. 

Then, found these for only $2 each at a consignment shop. Made in England such pretty china bowls. And they had just four of each - perfect. 

Been collecting crotched placemats for a while - I love that they don't match I have a few of this and a few of that. Whenever I see one or two I love I pick them up and save them for a holiday. 

And these napkin rings I love so much. That candy bowl belonged to my grandmother and when I was little I could get it off, take out a spearmint candy and put it back on without making a sound (most of the time) 

I piled a bunch of my milk glass long stem vases in the center and filled them with pink roses. Just the touch this room needed. 

And that is the dining room. I had so much fun "playing house" and setting it all up for Valentine's Day.

Next to show you is our kitchen. I always start decorating in our kitchen. There really isn't much to change around. This is basically how our kitchen looks the whole year (well, not at Christmastime). I love a vintage look with those old fruit plates on the creamy blue walls. I love the creamy white cabinets and the warm wood floor. 

About a year ago we took off the cabinet doors in front of the sink to give the whole room a more soft look and I don't plan on ever putting those doors back on. I can simply change the sink skirt any time of year for a quick refresh. This is the 'normal' look with a French ticking skirt (Vermont Country Store) and matching curtains that I've pinned on a rod. So easy and simple.  

Saturday morning sunshine... this room gets such pretty light. 

Teacups 💞

Last Mother's Day Scott added on this front to the cabinet. I love the look because it is a lot less modern than "new" cabinets, and that vintage peg board. Perfect for decorating for the seasons. Love it so much! 

I love changing out this mug rack each month. Emma Bridgewater, Cath Kidston, Susan Branch, but my favorite ones are ones that I find a second hand or antique shops. 

Oh simple Valentine's Day are red hot candies in a crystal glass bowl and a framed card. Love that picture so much! 

This February - this was my favorite mug for morning tea for sure! 

The baking center is such a joy to me. That little pie peaking out of the vintage child's toy stove. And those pink vintage (found them at an antique store) canisters for flour and sugar. You know I did squeal when I saw them. 

Another toy stove I love so much 

A collection of pastel table cloths sit on top of the baking center. And oh that basket was at an antique store in Vermont - I want to go back! 

Love my Gooseberry Patch calendar hanging right through the pie cooling window. 

Well now it's time to enjoy the rest of a quiet February (with a whole lotta teaching in there). I will enjoy the touches of romance in these rooms until the beginning of March when I will change things up for spring!