Color my world

April 2, 2010
Author: susan ingram

Color can make a difference and reflects your personality, in turn shaping your mood.

Festive place settings on your wrought iron garden furniture will perk up a garden party by contrasting against the outdoor color pallet of blue sky and summer greens. 

Carry this thought in your home by adding a zip of color with new accent pillows or recover your ottoman with patterned fabric. 

I like muted colors for my country decorating but add touches of bright red here and there to bring my space to life. Embrace life with color and watch your mood change.

Country Living Comes Natural

March 28, 2010
Author: susan ingram

Half a century has pasted and I still live 10 miles from a town on my family’s farm. I really love living here in my grandparent’s 162 year old home. 

I have been very fortunate to live where the sounds and smells feel comfortable. Birds sing and frogs jump into my fish ponds each time I wander by. 

The old smoke house is needing paint so maybe this year we will get on that project. I have never seen an automobile in the building my family calls “the car shed”. Really we need to clean out all that junk stored in there. Probably some good primitives in there that I can sell on arusticgarden.com.  One persons junk is another persons rustic garden decor. The old red barn roof is really beginning to sag. No need to worry about that. Doubt if there is a fix for that stately structure. 

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my Country Living and the good really out weighs any negatives. Maybe I will make it through the next half century.

My Favorite Things

March 21, 2010
Author: susan ingram

Antique Furniture, Primitive Antiques and Country Decor are without a doubt some of my favorite things.

I have this early 1800′s cherry step back cupboard in it’s original red wash that I have had for years yet it still speaks to me. When I drive up to my home and the kitchen light is on it just glows. For me it is big and beautiful. Termites must have found the wood yummy years ago and  ate one of it’s back leg but that does not lessen the WoW factor for me.

Most people have a favorite car, boat, dress or other things that they love but for me it is this 3 legged country antique cupboard that warms my heart.

Lake House Kitchen Makeover

March 13, 2010
Author: susan ingram

Just revamped our kitchen and did not spend much so that is a big plus. Used  repro tin ceiling tiles as the back splash. The cabinets were varnished oak so the colors blended too much so I got busy with the paint brush. Using a off white paint I covered the cabinets heavily then sanded the edges and scuffed them here and there. The next day I brushed on a dark Minwax stain then wiped it off. After it cured I brushed a semigloss  poly to protect them.

The results was awsome! The cabinets looks vintage and is a great contrast to the other surfaces and walls in the room. The final step was adding new rustic hardware. 

The result complements our lake house’s country home decor 

Rustic Home Decor

March 12, 2010
Author: susan ingram

Rustic Home Decor  is accomplished using color and texture. A braided rug can bring your homes interior colors together and ad that primitive rustic feel.

To country decorate your walls use wood, metal and fabic. A hand crafted wooden shelf might be a great accent with a vintage quilt draped over its hook.

The right Lighting is also important and mellows out the scene. A candle chandelier is a great choice. One stop shopping is A Rustic Garden.

Decorating Your Family Cabin

March 11, 2010
Author: Wrought-Iron-Decorator

Having a summer cabin is one of the best investments that any family can make. After all, property is always sure to rise in value. Even if the market is terrible, things are only going to plateau or dip slightly, but there will certainly be an upswing again. This ensures that the value of your property rises over time, but it will also prove cost effective in the short run. After all, having a place to stay for a week or two on vacations will save you the money you would have had to spend on a hotel or condo. This can really add up over the years.

And while not many people think they have the extra income to purchase a separate cabin, consider buying it with multiple people in your family or circle of friends. This way, the asking price will be cut in half, quarters, or even more. This might still be a strain for many, but if possible, it would make a great source of retirement income. Or, you could pass it along to your children as part of their inheritance. If it does become more a family fixture than an investment, don’t forget to go all out with the decorating; it’s the perfect opportunity to add rustic décor, which may not go in your everyday home.