A Rustic Garden Blog

Antiques are always a great investment and make unique home decor. I have been collecting early  antique cupboards for 30 years. Every few months I find  pieces of furniture that is extra special and wish I could keep them but know that to do so would mean that I have to take something out of my home to make the space.

This Fall I found 4 cupboards made of cherry and walnut and they were constructed during the middle 1800′s. Each piece was made by hand by an expert cabinet maker with style that will be loved by many more generations. I guess I will have to sell them….

It is time to add interest to that space where the Christmas Tree stood. Create an area using items that you love for a fresh decorative look. I used this wooden ladder and arranged different antiques to warm up the space and most importantly add color.

Ladders are so versatile whether you lean them vertically as shown or hang them horizontally above a kitchen island or flat against a wall above a sofa.

November is synonymous with two great traditions, at least here in the United States. There’s Thanksgiving, of course, a time when family and relatives reconnect over a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. But before those festivities begin, rifle hunting season arrives. I like to head out to camp on opening weekend with a few close buddies.

In years past, we’ve been sure to bring all the usual provisions – pickled bologna, crackers, peppermint schnapps and several decks of cards for euchre. We wake up early to head out to the deer blinds and we don’t retire until long after the sun sets. This year I purchased a special new item for the old camp – a resin antler lamp that should serve as inspiration to haul in prized buck of our own.

Over the past several years A Rustic Garden has had success selling antique wooden ladders to Pottery Barn, Levi Strauss, Ralph Lauren and many others to use to display their products. This year is no exception with the recent order from Bloomingdale’s for 33 seven rung ladders to ship all over the United States.

Rustic ladders are such a versatile item that are being used in every room of the house. Our customers use them for towels, pots, magizines, quilts and the latest use is to store high heel shoes. Check us out to see a vintage ladder that will help organize your clutter.

We are making rustic bucket benches from decorative wooden ladders that make great primitive display for your antiques. Country decorating is easy using these vintage boards and a couple ladders.

They vary in height from 24″ to 31″ tall. Their widths are approximately 36″ wide. We can paint them in county colors to fit your decor.

Use a decorative wall hanging on you garage or patio outside or over your sofa inside your home. Wrought iron home decor is light weight so it is easy to hang and adds a wonderful focal point to any room or wall.

Keep your living space interesting by picking unique architectural items that last and hold up well in all climates.

The country lodge look is popular decor in cabins and mountain homes. Add special lighting with a deer resin antler lamp. These electric lamps cosy up any room with just the right amount of light.  

Here in middle Illinois the deer population is large and hunters come in the fall and winter from all over the United States to get a chance to bag a large Buck Deer.

These economical deer antler lights are made of resin to imitate deer antler sheds. The term “sheds” is used because each winter male deer loose their antlers. Collectors search the woods to find these pieces and are quite pricey if you can find some for sale.  Those not found by a hunter will get eaten by field mice and other woodsy creators.

A wine rack will hold a few bottles of wine and make an interesting display for your bar area indoors or outside. Keep your wine on the wall for easy access while entertaining.

Rustic wrought iron wine racks will fit any decor plus insure a sturdy holder for you valuble selections.

Consider a Wine Bottle tree for the colorful empties to accent your gardens.

As the weather gets warmer, it can be downright unbearable in the house when you get home from work. With all the windows and doors closed all day, the hot air only builds and accumulates in the house, and that can make sitting in the house very unpleasant. For that reason, you want to make sure that you’ve invested in a proper air conditioning system. This can either be a fully automated system or something as rudimentary as a stationary fan.

If that doesn’t work to cool down the house, though, make sure that you throw open a door or window in your home once you get home. Even if the air outside is still hot, having the door or window open will encourage air circulation. This can do wonders to drastically reduce the interior temperature of the house. If you find, however, that the door keeps slamming shut with the wind, use a cast iron door stop. It will be a decorative and easy way to ensure you can keep cool from the comfort of your home even in the most severe summer weather.

Vintage garden decor is my flavor. Being an antique dealer for 25 years makes my taste lean to the rustic look. I am lucky to have lots of antique items that I can use with my new but old looking garden items. My favorite thing is to add an antique piece of marble as the top surface. The look is wonderful.

The Wrought Iron Table is always useful indoors or out in the patio. The garden bench is complete when accompanied with a side table for that fresh lemonade.