I am going to go with optimism, and with Punxsutawney Phil’s excellent prediction {smarter than usual this year, don’t you think?}, and say that – despite the fact that it won’t stop snowing – Spring is just around the corner.

So, before none of us are in the mood for any winter pictures, I thought now would be the perfect time to share some snowy pictures from here at Fieldstone Hill.

Maybe, just maybe, these will give me enough nostalgia to savor winter until the ground defrosts.

{thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design. Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!}

Labeled: here at Fieldstone Hill | 4 Comments

They just don’t make ’em like they used to.

I would like to make a case as to why I adore older furniture, and why I think it is such a beautiful and sound choice for our homes.

1. in most cases, the quality is incomparably superior to newly made furniture. Truly; they don’t make ’em like they used to.
2. the detail! in most cases, the lines of the furniture are more detailed, varied, intricate and beautiful
3. the legs! Has anyone else noticed how stocky and dull the legs of most new furniture has become? I just don’t want my chairs to have cankles.
4. comfort. While many plush chairs and sofas touting comfort are being sold in new furnishings, I would argue that the size {particularly the width} has gotten out of control in new furnishings. Granted, many folks around the world have gotten larger… but for many of us, we are having to settle for sitting in a chair where our elbows can barely reach the armrests. I find great comfort in being snug as a bug in my chairs, therefore I love the smaller proportions of older furniture.
5. And, if you avoid the word ‘antique,’ and instead seek out locations that have large inventories of ‘good, used furniture,’ {don’t forget Craigslist, where I scored this gorgeous pair of maple beds} you will most likely walk away with a beautiful, and very, very affordable deal.

What do you think about good used furniture? What about the lines of new furniture?

We continue to make progress on our boys’ room… and I am starting to see the pieces fall into place! Click here to see the Design Board that shows the general plans for the room, and my original post with my plans.

All designers/people are free to change their minds, right??
And, of course, all good plans are flexible.  Since I have a Vision Design Board that lays out a main vision and color scheme for this room, I have been able to make choices that stay within a framework of my vision. Even when I make changes.
For example…

I found this lamp on sale at Target. Cuter and cheaper than my original choice. I am keeping my eyes open for some beautiful, wide, grosgrain ribbon to add to the lamp shade.

Or how about a change to the window covering plan? I love love love the look of drapes, so when I found these {in brown gingham} at Pottery Barn Outlet, with the prices slashed and the black-out lining built-in,  I knew I had found a new plan for the window treatments. They even sell sheets to match…. hmmmm.

And on Sunday, we scored two matching maple twin beds on Craigslist. I am so happy about this… since I have been looking since last summer to find a pair. I love the lines of these gorgeous beds, and I think they will look so classic and handsome for my guys. Don’t you??
My original plan was to paint some Craigslist-found beds in Navy… but the finish on the beds is so antique and beautiful that I don’t have the heart to mess with their beauty. Of course – I am free to change my mind. {wink}

But most things have not changed! We purchased the beautiful duvet covers from West Elm. Just in the nick of time; I believe they are sold-out now.

Original to the plan, we purchased these precious plush whales from Contemori, an Italian shop via Etsy.com.

And, I am moving right along with my wall-map project, which will be front and center in their room.

I am sure I will have a few more change-of-plans up my sleeve as the project develops. But, I love that once I nail down a general vision for my project… then, the fun can begin!

The gist? Having a great design vision is essential to shaping your space. Having flexibility and thinking outside of the box is vital to saving funds, finding beautiful finds, and picking better options.
-{darlene}


{thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design. Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!}