Showing posts with label home decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home decor. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

A quiet week in February ~ Walks, snow, books, and home decor finds.

 


Creamy white Ribes 
with a smattering of chartreuse
Blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

It has been pretty quiet this past week here in The Humble Bungalow.
Lots of walks, reading, mindful eating ~ counting my WW points.


I read this gripping crime drama book by Jane Harper.
She is an accomplished author and wow can she weave a murder mystery!


The snow has melted in our neighbourhood...


Blue skies, crisp cold temperatures and a lonely snowman on the beach.

We walked at Butchart Gardens on Sunday.


I cannot remember ever visiting the gardens in the snow.
I know that there was an icy Christmas when we visited to see the Festive lights.



Yes those ponds are frozen!
BRRRR


A wee snowman in The Japanese Garden.


I posted a picture of this vintage bureau on Instagram.
I purchased it from Karin at Kay's Korner in The Cook Street Village.

It fits well in our laundry area and is so much neater than the open shelf unit.

I have stored my knitting "stash"
needles and patterns 
in the two lower drawers
 my garden apron, secateurs and gloves in the top drawer.

A wonderful purchase that has given me a lift!


Speaking of changes
while tidying and de-cluttering in The Humble Bungalow...

I have repurposed two silver champagne buckets.
Feeling restless, and as a result, the need to refresh and fluff our surroundings.
Spending so much time at home has definitely made me look closely at what we have and what is lacking.

New bedding linen, a hall runner and the bureau are examples of change.





Laura Ashley coverlet and pillow shams.
Pepper our older cat approves!

I had a strange dream last night...
(my dreams are frequently weird)

I was in the make up department and was trying on dozens and dozens of lipsticks.
The clerk running to all the cosmetic counters in search of the perfect shade.

When it came time to choose I told the clerk to wrap them all up!

Think I know what might have fueled the dream...
Yesterday when I removed the mask that I wore at the grocery store 
I discovered that it was smeared with red lipstick.

Thank goodness that they are washable.

What is new with you?



Just finished...
Lisa Jewell has done it again...
a thrilling page turner.

Now I need to find a new book.
What do you recommend?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Monday, December 9, 2019

Using what is on hand...


The garden is very dormant this month.
I don't have an opportunity to pick fresh flowers
to bring inside...

There are oodles of these dried limelight hydrangeas outside 
in a lovely faded sepia shade
just right for the arts and crafts hammered copper vase in the dining room.


The fairy lights stay up all year.
I've added some silver stars that I purchased about 10 years ago.


The wreath is from my husband's family.
It was made by a friend of his mom's around 1960
using rhinestone brooches
and 
Christmas tree decorations.


It's dim in the dining room 
so it might be difficult to see the wee Noel sign on the cabinet.


A flock of Ojibwa tamarack duck decoys 
sitting perched upon an arts and crafts copper tray.
The wee battery operated copper lights were purchased several years ago.

I've been toying with the idea of putting up a small tree in the kitchen 
but I think the cats would rip it to shreds !

As you may have gathered we don't over decorate.
It's mostly because of the mischievous felines that reside here with us!

I've still got some baking and shopping to get done for Christmas...
 I am pacing myself to avoid unnecessary stress.

Keeping things simple just feels right.

We received a call from a long time family friend tonight that there has been a death in our circle...
it's been an emotional evening to say the least.

We have spent the past few hours recalling all the memories...
life is to be cherished.

How are your holidays preparations coming along?
Try not to get stressed...

Take Care 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Travel and home keeping...


Tick Tock...

Our departure for Italy is coming up quite quickly.

  I have been collecting travel sizes of toiletries and make up.

Deciding on which clothes I will pack 
as
 the temperature looks much warmer than I expected.

To distract myself from thinking only about the trip
I've been keeping purposely busy in The Humble Bungalow.


We purchased new graphite grey IKEA Ectorp slipcovers 
to replace the "not so white" ones 
They had stains and have been washed so many times 
that they were looking very shabby...
definitely not "shabby chic." 

We found a plush grey carpet and the room looks so much better.
Chester looks quite at home with the change.

It's odd how we can live with things for a long time 
almost not noticing 
as they fall into decline 
 then one day we just stop and say this is just appalling!
Then we act immediately to remedy the situation in a weekend.

Does this happen to you too?


One of the BEST books I have read all year.
I highly recommend it.

Haunting and beautiful.

The story line is different from anything I have read recently.
It reminded me of story "The Island Of the Blue Dolphins" 
which I read as a child and remember quite vividly.

The ending had a twist which was unexpected...
I won't spoil it for you if you have not yet read the book.


Last month I did a big purge of our knick knacks...
trying to create more "space" by reducing the clutter.

Less to dust, easier to clean and it feels so good.
Our home is very dusty...
Dark wood shows every speck too which makes it difficult to ignore.

Micro fibre cloths and mops get used regularly.
It is a daily job to stay on top of it BUT sometimes I just turn a blind eye...


When I was a young mom at home with two children I was so busy being engaged with the children
that I didn't always have time to do a proper job of house keeping...

So when friends would come by for coffee or a meal 
I made sure that the bathroom was clean and that we had fresh flowers in the house.

I need to remind myself that people who pop by for a visit 
are not here to judge me on my cleaning skills...
I try to keep things tidy and organized but I am not always on top of the dust.


I love this Method cleaner...


This one too!


Autumn leaves and cooler weather...
Fall has arrived!


Green turning to Gold...


Soup weather.



Time for a little Autumnal Porch decor...


Hanging up my gloves for the time being...
going out to the garden centre for some fall decor inspiration.

I may not have time to post again.
I leave for the 3 weeks in Italy and France next week.
You can follow me on Instagram.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~


Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Love the "little things" ~ a recipe for contentment.


Reading home decor books, Instagram and magazines inspire me.
I often get frustrated and wonder how I can make our little bungalow look better.

  I actioned a quick and inexpensive DIY fix.

I purchased 3 black metal hooks 
(Mr. HB installed them for me)

I hung up my French Market basket
 gardening hat 
and
  watering can. 

As conscientious stewards 
of a Heritage home
we are required to honour the historic significance 
we do not stray too far from their original architectural design.

With one exception...
The laundry area is painted white 
the basement is dark with very little light 
with only a few small windows.

The bright white walls 
make it much more enjoyable to work in and it feels far less oppressive!


I like to do my ironing while gazing out to the garden.



Looking out and beyond at the foliage and flowers 
while ironing 
feels like a form of meditation.


A handy rolling cart in the space is used for towels.


I fold the laundry on the top of the counter
and
I have a small ironing board that I use for small jobs 
like our linen tea towels and napkins.

Domestic jobs are a necessity.
To make them a wee bit more enjoyable
I have "fluffed" my downstairs "workplace" adding a few accent pieces.
Vintage enamel tins, ceramics, bird sculptures, and trophies...

Work and chores need not be looked upon as "drudgery."

Attitude is key to making these everyday tasks pleasant.
Taking joy in the results of one's labour and effort is so important.

The feeling of accomplishment is felt...
as I stand back
admiring a stack of freshly laundered 
(scented with lavender soap)
neat and tidy crisply ironed tea towels.

It's the "little things" that make our days richer.

How do you add Joy in your daily duties?
Do you have a secret to share that you use to make your daily round feel richer?

On that note, 
I will close this post...

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

October in The Humble Bungalow...



BOO!

Snippets from The Humble Bungalow.

October has flown by...it has been a bit of a blur.
Where does the time go?


Copper tray on the buffet...
Ojibwa duck decoys
white mini pumpkins
a dome with a dried allium inside


Vintage
First Nations woven baskets on the shelf above the built in buffet.


Fortnum and Mason baskets
with a
pudding bowl


I love baskets and have quite a few in The Humble Bungalow.
They are handy for storing things and I leave them out on display as I like the rustic natural effect they give to the decor.


Antique basket
First Nations tray on ledge
tarnished vintage silver 


dried hydrangeas in a copper vase


A peek inside the drop front arts and crafts desk


Surprise!
a headless "scarecrow" in our spare lot
someone is into the "Halloween spirit!"


Happy Halloween!

How is your week going?


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Fluffing the nest...and a Spring de-cluttering project


Looking like a barbarian/warrior slightly disheveled...

Can you tell that I am growing out my hair?
It is a slow process but now that my frozen shoulder is in the thaw stage 
I can get back to using the blow dryer.

Casual Beach combing OOTD
(last month)

Gowland Point on Pender Island 
Saint James raincoat
Calvin Klein puffy down vest 
(under coat, not visible but needed to fend off the cold)
long sleeved Esprit Tee
Tribal jeans
colourful scarf ~ no name brand from the local pharmacy
Merrell walking shoes
Coach handbag


Hunting for Beach glass is a favourite pass time of mine.

Speaking of glass...
I emptied out the cupboard in the Humble Bungalow dining room and wiped down all the shelves and packed up many of the pieces of crystal 
(which were purchased at $1.49 day at Woodward's back in the early 1970's)
popped them in the dishwasher for a quick clean up 
before wrapping them up and whisking them off to the WIN thrift shop.


What possessed me you may wonder?


My husband knew that I wanted to pare down and have a simple set of stylish
 classic glassware that will never "date"
Here is the Tapio Wirrkkala Ultima Thule style of glasses I am now collecting.
My sweet husband brought home 4 of these goblets as a surprise which really kick started the whole de-cluttering exercise...
Thank you Honey!


Here's how the shelves are looking so far...
the vintage ones to the right of the new goblets are from thrift shops.

I have kept a few other wine glasses 
(on the shelves below, not in the photo)
until we purchase more Ultima Thule.

They are quite pricey...
I hope to find more at consignment or thrift shops 
or watch out for sales...


Spring cleaning...
The laundry room got a quick lick and a polish this week too.


The vintage enamel ware seems to go well in the black and white themed area downstairs.


Upstairs beside the farmhouse sink 
is my "work area."


I found an Antique transfer ware platter at a local shop to hold all my supplies.
Peach Blow circa 1886

Marseilles Soap Cube




Spring Parrot tulips 
full blown 
almost at the end of their prime
but still beautiful.

I have a bunch of cookbooks by Julia Child 
waiting for me at the local library
I am going to try and make her fish buerre blanc.

Until next time...
Enjoy your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~