Cold Weather, Warm Touches

Oh, the weather outside was frightful... "Frightful," in this instance, is defined as "having over a foot-and-a half-of-snow coating everything like a casualty in a Marshmallow Fluff plant explosion"...
In all the years I've lived here, I've never seen snow just sit straight up and pay attention like the snow is on my backyard fence...

So, since there really was no place to go this weekend, I decided to get some good old-fashioned cleaning and decorating done around the mini-manse. And for one accomplishment in the last two days, I have you good folks to thank!...

Yes, all of your input on Wednesday was not wasted regarding the desk I'd thrifted from St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. I listened to the Pro-Paint, and the Con-Paint sides of the Desk Improvement Dilemma we'd discussed.

And I decided that the outcome of a good cleaning and some scratch oil would determine which course I should take...

Well, as you can see, the desk cleaned up a treat. And the dark polish was just enough to minimize the dings and scratches to where they were no longer a focal point. So now the desk is residing happily in my blue sitting room...Along with, ironically, the pink needlepoint chair I'd thrifted at the Salvation Army years ago.

Where the pink chair had been, I moved in a brown tapestry chair that's a bit worse for wear, but I still like it a lot...
It's quite comfortable to sit in, and even though its seat is rubbed away in places, I think it's faded fabric has charm.

A small craft store investment in silk flowers that look dried have topped off this bowl that once held pinecones for Christmas...
And some becrystalled candlesticks-- also from the craft store-- now sit on the mantle mirror, along with some delicate rose garland...
Some serious pre-spring cleaning led me to swap some drug store painted bottles with some quirky hobnail glass pieces I've picked up over time...

And I decided the picture window might be the right place to display some Westmoreland glass vases I'd been storing. I love how the light hits the glass and lights them up.

Lastly, many long hours of cabinet purging has left my kitchen more organized than it's been in years. Anything surplus to requirement is being donated to the thrift stores-- meaning some of it technically will be coming full-circle.

The treat of the day, then, was finally getting this window display over the stove to feel cheerful and cohesive. You wouldn't believe the number of trial-and-error botched attempts, trying different items here.


Finally, when I saw this combo, I felt a lot happier and more relaxed about it. You just can't beat the clean sweeping lines of art deco pottery... And the Fiesta will be able to handle any spatters it encounters with a simple wipe of a sponge.

Well, that's all for me today. Between the heavy-duty snow shoveling and the cleaning, I'd say I'm about ready for a heating pad and a nice cup of tea right now!

Here's hoping tonight finds you all safe, with your heads above the snowline and power in your homes.

10 comments:

Lola LaFayette said...

Your house looks great!

And the snow looks beautiful, but that's coming from someone who's never actually seen snow...

june in florida said...

Just discovered you,not sure how, you know one link to another and you can't remember where you started.Anyhow l love your blog and l am so glad you didn't paint the desk, its absolutely beautiful as is.

Jenn Thorson said...

Lola- The snow definitely is beautiful. But I was having less of an appreciation for its aesthetics after I spent time trying to move many feet of it. :)

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Jenn,
I love the way the desk looks esp. with that beautiful chair in front of it. Also love the pink vases in the window. I live in Wilkes Barre , Pa. and had NO snow!! It seemed to go all around us but none here! Love all of your treasures and I love the deep rich colors on your walls. I love color!!!
Debbie@debbie-dabble

Melanie said...

That desk ended up being just beautiful! It and the pink chair look like they were made for one another.

I really like the fiesta platters behind the stove too. You have such a wonderful knack for displaying things.

chuffle said...

I was hoping to hear the outcome of the "to paint vs. not to paint" conundrum. The desk turned out to be beautiful, and it sure does glow.

It always makes me feel good inside, when I pick up a treasure at a thrift, knowing that I am rescuing a piece and giving it a chance at a new life.

Finally, I want to thank you for identifying a vase that I have that belonged to my mother...an amber version of your tall pink vase (beside the green shoe). I have always wondered about my vase, and it is good to know that it is Westmoreland.

Joe

Andrea said...

Jenn, I think that you took a picture of my yard by mistake! Ha ha...we are having the same thing here and tonight, it's windy and snowing like it's Christmas.
Unfortunately, they called the first discussion night of my new library book reading club. No official title yet for the club. We read Pride and Prejudice and tonight was to be two hours of discussion. Instead, I downloaded some flower pix from my yard onto my blog.
Your house looks fabulous! The desk looks wonderful and maybe I can take the scratches out of my buffet and won't have to paint it either. I'll give it a try anyway.
THANKS!
hugs
ANDREA

Cynthia L. said...

I, for one, am glad you didn't paint the desk. It is just beautiful the way it is. I love your house! I used to own a Victorian house and just loved it. We had to move (job promotion) and just couldn't find another old home that called to me in the new city we live in. I now live in a 20 yr. old house and am trying to figure out what to do with it. I have Victorian furnishing (some anyway) and I am still struggling with making them fit in a newer house. Your site is an inspiration to me. Also, I collect Fiesta - don't you just love the new color green?

Jenn Thorson said...

Debbie- It's amazing how the snow missed you and totally crushed us!

Melanie- Well, the idea for the platters was about my tenth attempt at getting that area to work-- so I'm just glad it finally got sorted out.

Joe/Chuffle- I'll have to check and see if that one has a mark-- I know I looked these up a long time ago, and found the glass (except for the green shoe, which is Fenton) was all from my general area-- Jeanette and other Westmoreland glass folks. Glad if it helped solve a mystery.

Andrea- And to think we all didn't even get hit with snow like Maryland and DC have! Regarding the scratches, I used Old English dark polish, but I believe Old English makes it in a few shades of wood. Just wipe it down really good afterwards, because sometimes the polish smears. Good luck with it!

Cynthia- Thank you-- I'm happy with it myself. Regarding trying to find a good balance with your Victoriana and a newer home, in magazines like Romantic Country and Romantic Victorian, I've seen folks either try to balance the Victorian with more eclectic vintage items... go cottage... or just not worry about the age of the home and decorate to their taste, even adding in Victorian features like hanging stained glass windows from chains, etc.

And yes, I absolutely do love that new bright Fiesta green. It goes so well with Depression Glass, too!

chyna said...

How funny, I have that same stove. Wish mine looked as charming as your does though. ;) I didn't chime in on the desk but glad to see that you did what I would have voted for. I'm going to try to come in here more often, been rather busy at the Briar Rose Cottage lately.