Beekeeper's Cottage

2012-01-27T10:51:00.008-05:00

Beekeeper's Cottage is proud to introduce our newest collection of furniture!

THE REVENGE COLLECTION

We decided to launch this collection with our version of Victoria Grayson's French Script linen Throne chair! It is the same exact fabric! We have 20 x 20 decorator pillows in this fabric as well

Anne and Nancy the owners have become addicted to ABC's new hit TV show Revenge. We are so addicted that we got our whole staff watching every Wednesday night at 10pm! Our conversations every morning revolve around what was Victoria Grayson wearing? Did you see the set design for Emily Thorne's cottage? We ooooh and ahhh over everything! Then we started talking about all the the items that we carry at Beekeeper's Cottage that look like they have come right out of Grayson Manor or Emily Thorne's Cottage! We have put together a collection so you too can have all of all those great decorating ideas in one spot!

Just about every piece of our vintage furniture looks like it could be right at home in this fantastic Revenge TV show filming set! We will posting more Revenge decorating and Revenge fashion ideas shortly! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

2011-12-28T13:56:00.008-05:00

Oh-la-la!!! It's so important to have a bedroom that you LOVE!! What is that for you? Here's mine......A bedroom that offers restful luxury and old-world charm is a wonderful place to retreat, rest and reflect as the holidays draw to a close. Drifting to sleep amid the rich textures of Bella Notte linens layered on the bed. Rescued porch posts that create a one-of-a-kind headboard. And a room dotted with cottage treasures simply make me smile......Now for a nap:-)

2011-11-16T14:35:00.014-05:00

Top Holiday Gift Picks

Fabulous hats and gloves! Keep a fashionista warm this winter! Cute gloves, chic hats, and cozy knit headbands.

Luxurious soaps! Delicious holiday scents including snow berry, jack frost, hot toddy, and scrumptious.

The coziest, softest scarves! Give a gift you know they'll love. These super soft scarves are undeniably warm and cozy!

Bath Cup Cakes! The bottom goes in the tub, fizzing and releasing relaxing scents (gardenia, lavender, and green tea). Use the top as a sugar scrub. Awesome stocking stuffers or hostess gifts!

French inspired tea or dish towels...love these! Fabulous prints such as a vintage French chocolate advertisement, a Tiffany's receipt, and many more.

Oh la la! Vintage Inspired Jewelry. Dazzling Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. You'll be in awe over the sparkle! Come on a treasure hunt and find something that sparkles for someone special...and something for yourself, too!

2011-02-11T10:28:00.003-05:00

Ooh-la-la! Just in time for Valentine's Day! Sit down for a romantic dinner! Vintage chairs upholstered in Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic fabric, antique candleabra lighting dripping with crystals shimmers against Venetian plaster walls. The farm table constructed from rescued vintage pine flooring is adorned with old and new treasures.....grandmother's china and silverware, a set of stemware purchased at a local flee market, and a gorgeous vintage throw that is the perfect table cloth! Now what's for dinner? ??
Special thanks to my friend Sonya Melescu who took this beautiful photograph!!!!

2011-02-05T13:32:00.008-05:00

LOVE Bella Notte Collete in Petal Pink!!!!!! It is absolutely amazing as a duvet cover, but is also great for an accent boudoir pillow. We have a Queen Size one in blush in stock.....it soooo pretty in pink!

A Crib fit for a princess in Bella Notte Silk Embroidered Blush Baby Bedding. So soft and comfy........

Isn't this Bella Notte Linens Picture so Dreamy?!!!! Beekeeper's Cottage Carries the Full line of Bella Notte Linens and we have a ton in stock! Love the Whisper Linen Petal Curtain Panel!

2011-01-11T19:25:00.003-05:00

Victoria is Pretty In Pink on a Cold Winter Morning!

Love The Pink Nose and Cheeks!

Santa Brought the Cute Mittens!

Outfit Complete With Pink Snow Boots and Fur Trim!

2011-01-05T09:19:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone! Wow....where did 2010 go? I am enjoying a relaxing morning testing out new candle scents for Spring..........Honeysuckle, Sweet Pea, Rain, Tropical Fruit, Peach Mango for our French Candle Collection.......

2011-01-04T08:43:00.001-05:00

Some Highlights from the store!

2010-09-26T19:53:00.003-04:00

Bling! Bling! Beekeeper's Cottage is proud to announce the arrival of "The Crown Jewels"! Rich, wonderful costume jewelry that offers fabulous style at affordable prices! POW!!!

2010-04-10T00:29:00.000-04:00

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

2010-03-06T17:53:00.002-05:00

Don't we all need a day like this?

Nancy was treated like a princess this morning at Cynthia's Salon in Ashburn! I had the best pedicure and manicure a girl could want! Cynthia served fresh coffee and had plenty of freshly baked (by her!) brownies, cakes and more! It was the perfect Birthday treat! She even gave me a new haircut! It was fabulous! Go see her if you need some TLC! She is running a pedicure and manicure special for $39!!!!! It was awesome! Mine was a gift from my fabulous business partner Anne!

Cynthia's Salon
20020 Ashbrook Commons Plaza
Suite 108
Ashburn, VA 20147
571-223-2323

2010-02-26T11:23:00.003-05:00

Lazy Girl Lasagna!

This is my mom's one pan lasagna recipe! Absolutely yummy for those chilly winter nights! Wonderful to layer together, toss in the oven and forget while you enjoy the laughter of friends over for dinner!

Ingredients:
2 jars of your favorite pasta sauce (You need a little more than 1 jar usually.)
1 box lasagna regular noodles (not the precooked ones)
1 container cottage cheese
1 container ricotta cheese
1 bag baby spinach (or substitute your favorite.... like ground beef.)
1 bag part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
1 small bag shredded Parmesan cheese
1 squirt of Pam or a dash of olive oil
1 glass rectangular oven pan
Preheat oven 350

What to do:
Mix the cottage cheese and ricotta together and set aside. Lightly grease the pan with a squirt of Pam or olive oil. Now you're ready to build the layers! Put a little bit of pasta sauce at bottom of the pan and then start layering! Lasagna noodles, spoonfuls of cottage/ricotta mixture (I smooth them out a bit once I drop them in.) baby spinach leaves, shredded mozzarella to cover. Now depending on your preferences, you can add a layer of sauce or simply start layering again beginning with the noodles. You want to layer until you reach the top of the pan. I usually get 3 or 4 layers in before I reach the top. Once all the layers are completed, pour the remainder of the sauce all over. Bake one to one-and-half hours. After 30 minutes or so, loosely drape a piece of tin foil over the top. It keeps the top from getting too brown. After an hour, poke the noodles with a fork. If tender, remove from oven, cover with Parmesan cheese and allow it to cool about 5 minutes. Then serve! Prepare yourself for RAVE reviews! Anne

2010-02-21T17:05:00.004-05:00

Glorious Day!
Breathe deep! The sounds of nature and falling water all about. There's nothing like a romp through Great Falls park on a day like today! A brief respite from the tapping of keys, whirling washer and spinning dryer! This picture taken by Brendan Reals captures the subtle beauty of the day!

2010-02-18T10:23:00.002-05:00

Time to Force Some Branches!!!!

I don't know about you but my gardens are a mess from all the snow storms this winter! Have you lost branches off of your flowering trees or bushes? Here is a great idea if you can get through the snow drifts to them! Every late winter (Feb - March) I prune a couple of branches off of my flowering trees and do this project with my children. It is so much fun and is a great way to get into the spring mood!

Simply prune some branches, bring them inside and give them a fresh cut, put them in a vase of water and change the water every couple of days, and voila! Spring is Sprung! Alot of other people will tell you to smash the stems with a hammer, soak the branches over night in a bathtub, ect. I have never had the time or energy to take those extra steps and my branches do just fine! They also do not require direct sunlight so indirect light is great! Perfect project for an entrance hall table or any other little nook that could use a touch of spring!

The kids love to add little birds, bird houses and nests....get creative!

Note: If you have a freshly fallen branch and when you cut the stem you see green...you are good to go!

2010-02-14T14:08:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Nancy and I wish to extend a heart-felt THANK YOU to all of the friends, family, clients and customers who have inspired, encouraged and supported our dream of a successful business!

2010-02-14T13:55:00.002-05:00

Hello Everybody! Let me brush the snow out of my eyes! Yes, it's up to our beautiful eyeballs here in Virginia! Our whimsical shop adorned with glistening chards, weathered the storm like the sturdy cottage it is. Warm and welcoming inside, it delights the visitor with the promise of spring. Stop by and say hello if you're in the neighborhood!

2010-02-03T15:14:00.005-05:00

Snow Day!!!!

Just a quick note to share my snowy garden with you today......The groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter brrrrrrr!

A Sweet Garden Angel

The Gossip Bench!

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This nest is waiting for it's new family!

2010-01-28T07:53:00.008-05:00

Off to New York!

Anne and I are off to New York City for the weekend! We are going on a buying trip for the store! We are so excited to find new beautiful things! We keep hearing that we are going to be getting a snow storm this weekend. I found this great photo of New York City during one of it's great storms from the 20's.....Yikes!

Well, for today....we are going to finish getting the store ready for our annual sale that is running now thru Febrary 7th! We have some great in-store specials........

Our Annual Linen Sale...20% off all In stock Linens and 15% off special orders and free shipping...

We've been busy displaying our New Arrivals.....

Romantic Paris Candles......Love them!

Handmade amazing petite journals!

and yards and yards of hand dyed and printed french ribbons....oooh...la...la!

2010-01-06T21:43:00.008-05:00

Well I had every intention to post some great decorating blogs during the Christmas Season....things got busy and the time flew by! I am going to be taking down my decorations this week so I thought I would share of few with you and some of the highlights!

I Dressed up one of my Mirrors

Loved these snowflakes!

One of my Chandeliers decorated for the Holidays

The Christmas Picture....They loved the matching PJ's!

We spent alot of time Having Fun!

Charlie got a new Santa Outfit for Christmas!

Victoria got a new Doll Baby and Bottle from her Great Grandmother.....sooooo cute!

Another Beautiful Christmas season has come and gone....and a new year has begun.... I look forward to all this year has to offer and wish you all a Happy New Year!

Till Next time....
Nancy

2009-11-19T08:21:00.003-05:00

Beekeeper's Cottage is all decked out for the holidays!!!!

We have just put all the finishing touches in the store for the Holidays. We have had so much fun! We have some amazing garlands and ornaments and the store has never looked better! We even repainted the upstairs to get ready for all of our guests! We are keeping the store overflowing with wonderful holiday gift ideas and are working on loading Santa's Sleigh! I will post more pictures as soon as we catch our breath and show you many wonderful decorating ideas throughout the store and in our own homes.

2009-08-31T21:54:00.019-04:00

True Friendship!

Nancy and I wish to extend heartfelt thanks to Jennifer Carter-Wharton whose artistic photographs of our shop were used in the October 2009 issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. She's simply a life-saver! Here's what happened.....

Nancy and I found out in April that our shop would be featured in an upcoming issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. Need I say we shouted for joy? We did that and more! We excitedly began staging the Cottage. Pictures were the next logical step.... and yet Nancy and I knew we lacked the expertise to capture the beauty and uniqueness of our shop. We needed help!! My friend Jennifer volunteered. With her quiet confidence and creative flare she calmly snapped fabulous photographs of our Cottage and taught me a thing or two about picture-taking!! Many of those pictures can be seen in the October issue of Romantic Homes Magazine. We are thankful for her time, guidance and talent. A special thanks to Sarah Elkalban who assisted with staging as we prepared each shot:)

Jennifer Carter-Wharton makes her home in the greater metropolitan area of Washington DC. She is an artist and writer who embraces the whimsical things in life. Whether with the lens of a camera or the tip of a pen, she searches for the beauty in all that she sees and feels. Jennifer is currently looking for a literary agent to represent her children's book, "What the Wind Whispered".

2009-08-20T08:39:00.002-04:00

Beekeeper's Cottage is featured in the October issue of "Romantic Homes" magazine! It is available on newstands nationwide and of course we have copies in the store!

2009-05-18T10:07:00.002-04:00

New Camera!

Oooh-la-la! Nancy and I are so excited! We recently purchased a Nikon d60! It's taking fabulous pictures:) Our website and blog is going to be chock-full of the most incredible snaps ever! Be on the look out for these crisp pics!

2009-05-15T10:21:00.005-04:00

Stock Cupboard Rehab

My kitchen cupboards just don't go with the home that I've gone about creating these many years. Replacing them isn't in the budget right now. Solution? I'm painting! I admit, it's taken a few layers and time to achieve this look, but I'm thrilled with the end result! A bit of paint, sandpaper and stain created a finish that, to me, is ageless and homey. Glass knobs will add just the right finishing touch!

2009-05-13T11:24:00.012-04:00

Gardening by the Pot or by the Yard

It's that time of year again! The sunshine and spring showers bring forth a festival of color. Whether you have established flower beds or maintain a flurry of pots, what fun it is to be surrounded by things in bloom! Roses are my favorite! What are yours?

2009-05-07T08:39:00.003-04:00

A vintage Inspired Bathroom Remodel

This week I started to remodel two of my bathrooms. Were they awful to begin with? Not really. They just lacked the architectural details and Vintage feel that our store and design service is known for. They were like so many new homes (and not so new) Builder Bland. Yesterday was gut day! Out went the floor, the toilets, the vanities, sinks and faucets.....It was a very messy day. They also laid the new tile and cut the hole for the new medecine cabinet. I am doing these bathrooms on a tight budget...$3,500 for both including labor and materials. I plan on sharing my progress and giving you all some inspiration for a Vintage Inspired bathroom of your own! When the vanity tops were ripped out, I put them on craigslist for sale and sold the double vanity one with the faucets for $50, my builder bland items were someone else's treasure! I would suggest if you are remodeling to see what might be salvaged and either sell it or donate it to charity.

2009-04-17T08:40:00.002-04:00

The Obama's aren't the only ones with a new puppy! We welcomed Charlie into our home, hearts, and family a couple of weeks ago! He is such a love bug! He loves to visit the store with me. Honey our cat likes him too! Nancy

2009-04-17T08:22:00.002-04:00

Life is full of so many wonderful moments. The first Birthday is just the beginning of so many more to come! We had so much fun celebrating Victoria's First Birthday on April 10th! I can't believe it has already been a year! Nancy

2009-02-08T00:15:00.001-05:00

We have two White Four Poster Beds in our store right now! You too can get this look!
Our beds are both Queen Size!

2009-02-07T23:10:00.004-05:00

Need a sweet idea for Valentine's Day cards for the kids classmates? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the pre-made Spongebob and Barbie cards (which seem to be too babyish for my 9 year old). This year we wanted to do something different, big and fun. I found this idea in Family Fun magazine. It's called "Rock Candy". iPods for everyone! And you can customize the playlist. How cute? and best of all they are soooo easy to make.

Here is a list of what you will need:

Tape
2 (14 inch) pieces of string
2 Hershey kisses or mini peanut butter cups
1 box of conversation hearts (and we need 25 for our class!)
Aluminum foil
4x7 inch strip of pink paper (or color of your choice)
Glue stick
Go to the following link for the wheel and playlist printable!
http://a.familyfun.go.com/Resources/global/printables/templates/RockCandy_3.pdf

Directions:

Tape each end of a piece of string to a kiss or peanut butter cup. Tie on the other piece of string, then tape the loose end to the candy box.
Wrap each candy in a small circle of aluminum foil (to make the earphones)
Wrap the pink paper strip around the candy box and secure it with a glue stick (or tape)
Print and Cut out the scroll wheel and playlist and use a glue stick to attach them to the box.
Finish it off by having your little one write a valentine message on the back of the iPod. Enjoy the "music" ! ~ xo Nancy

Great Valentine's Day Chocolate Treat Idea!

2009-02-06T00:46:00.000-05:00

3 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP French Vanilla Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 baked 9-inch square brownie layer, cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 5-1/2 cups) If you don't have time to bake the brownies, the bite size ones at Costco work great!
1 pt. (2 cups) raspberries or Strawberries

BEAT milk and dry pudding mixes in large bowl with wire whisk 2 min. or until blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping.
PLACE half of the brownies in 2-qt. serving bowl; top with layers of half each of the pudding mixture, remaining whipped topping and raspberries. Repeat all layers.
REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour.

Store leftovers in refrigerator ( Ha Ha!).

Nancy

2009-02-05T09:32:00.001-05:00

Valentines Day is coming near! Where is the best place to purchase roses? Costco! Did you know that you can buy two dozen roses for $15.99 at their store and they last, and are gorgeous! Place them in a vintage pitcher or teapot and create a wonderful centerpiece! Tie a ribbon around the bottom of the bunch and tada! The person receiving them will look like a beauty queen! Need to send roses? Checkout Costco's website!

Nancy

Creating a Gracious Dining Room

2009-02-05T08:44:00.000-05:00

Does your dining room lack pizzaz? Is it basically the place that collects the mail? Do you never use it? Well.....start using it! Even on a small budget you can use some of the ideas in this picture to create a place that you will want to use all the time. More and more people are "staying in" trying to conserve those precious dollars. Create cozy, elegant settings for you and your family to come home to!

Do you have a table that's top isn't the best? Use a wonderful tablecloth! Don't have a wonderful table cloth? Ask a relative if they have any tablecloths that they don't use....ask your grandmother and invite her and a couple of friends over for tea in your new room!

Paint the walls a warm neutral color. Painting is one of the easiest things to do! Just try it! Invite some friends over for a painting party! You can even pickup some wonderful "mistake" colors at the paint store or home depot....some for as little as a dollar a gallon! I had a friend mix three gallons of neutral mistake gallons together so that she would have enough to do her large room. It is gorgeous and only cost her $15! She borrowed drop cloths and other materials from friends.

Repurpose furniture! Use wing back chairs at the head of the table.

Have an ugly brass chandelier? Spray it black or white and add some inexpensive shades.

Don't be afraid.....just start!

Nancy

Friends don't let friends pass up great finds!

2009-01-26T10:20:00.000-05:00

Do you have a "fear of decorating"?
Do you pick up, and put down, and pick up, and put down accessories at the store, measure a piece of furniture, know it is perfect, but afraid to commit because, while it looks so pretty there, it might not work in your house?

Have you ever driven all the way back to the store because when you got home, you realized that thing might just work after all?

Did you pray the whole car ride back to the store that it would still be there when you arrived?

Have you ever driven all the way back to the store, the NEXT DAY, and it was gone and you're still thinking about that thing to this day?

Even Anne and I have done this with our own homes! We've only done it a few times though and have vowed to never let each other do this again. Anne had to hear about a set of sherbet glasses for 6 years (OK! 10 years).....and I had to hear about an amazing oil painting Anne let slip through her hands over and over again! Nancy

Keep Calm and Carry On Poster

2009-01-26T09:01:00.000-05:00

This is a wonderful poster! I have one in my family room. We have them available in the store in other colors. They are also perfect in the office and I think I am going to add one in my play room!

Initially I was attracted to it because it looked great, loved the crown, and is a great reminder in my busy household of three children. It quickly became the motto with my girlfriends and has become a top seller in our store. The sentiment is one that seems to speak to most everyone at the moment.

I find more and more that it is the simple things that lift my spirits. Everyday visitors come in my store and they all say that they feel a sense of calm as they enter...almost as if they are dreaming...Is it the wonderful candle that is burning on the counter? All the gorgeous furniture, the stacks of linens? Our wonderful friendly staff? I don't know.. but this sign seems to keep me in check of what is most important....and basically reminds me to not fret about the little things! Nancy

Costa Rica Getaway!

2009-01-25T22:13:00.000-05:00

Just offering a bit of sand, sea and sky to those of us who are presently in a chilly clime! Anne

What a Mirror!

2009-01-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

If you are like me and have always loved this cover shot on Rachel Ashwell's book you will LOVE the mirror we just got in the store! It is stunning! Nancy

The Ultimate Back yard pool retreat

2009-01-24T02:50:00.000-05:00

I'll take one of these Please! I just love this lap pool! Nancy

Create a Romantic Centerpiece

2009-01-24T02:26:00.000-05:00

Here is a great idea on how to group some of your favorite items and create a Romantic centerpiece using various candles and candleholders and some silver...I hope I inspired you to dust off that silver tray you got for a wedding present! This is the perfect January centerpiece!

Nancy

Dreaming of the Spring!

2009-01-24T01:42:00.000-05:00

It was 50degrees here in Virginia today. I saw this picture and was inspired by the roses....can spring really be near? .....Nancy

Let Them Eat Cake!

2009-01-24T01:35:00.000-05:00

OK..Ok..It has been so long since we have posted to our Blog...we've been so busy! The Holidays are a blur and now we are into the 1st couple of weeks of the new year. I found this picture and thought you all would like it. I really need a day like this!....Nancy

Mummy Dogs!

2008-10-27T18:52:00.000-04:00

INGREDIENTS
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
2 1/2 slices American cheese, quartered (2.5 oz)
10 large hot dogs
Cooking spray
Mustard or ketchup, if desired

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate at perforations, creating 4 rectangles. Press perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles.
3. With knife or kitchen scissors, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough. Slice cheese slices into quarters (1/2 slice cheese, cut in half).
4. Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hot dog and 1/4 slice of cheese to look like "bandages," stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog. About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate "bandages" so hot dog shows through for "face." On ungreased large cookie sheet, place wrapped hot dogs (cheese side down); spray dough lightly with cooking spray.
5. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until dough is light golden brown and hot dogs are hot. With mustard, draw features on "face."
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 15 to 19 minutes.

Halloween Decorating Ideas

2008-10-13T00:24:00.001-04:00

Every year my home hosts our annual Pumpkin Carving Party. It is such a fun family event! I will be sharing with you some of our decorating and party ideas! 1st we sent out invitations...if everyone comes this year there will be 100 people 40 of them children. We ask each family to bring a dish and a pumpkin to carve. The party is always the Saturday before Halloween and is held outdoors. We show a movie under the stars at 7:30 (This year we have chosen Hocus Pocus) and hold a flashlight treasure hunt right before movie time. The flashlight treasure hunt is a favorite amongst the kids. Each family brings a goodie package (40 of the same item) and we wrap them in foil so that they shine when a flashlight hits them. Goodie packages consist of inexpensive items i.e. spiderrings, lollipops, ect. Today our family spent the warm sunny afternoon decorating the front of our home. I will keep you posted as we complete our party preparations! This is a great theme party for families, neighbors and friends!

A Stay Vacation in Washington DC

2008-07-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

I had a great "staycation" on the 4th of July! We took our family to see the fireworks in Washington DC. We were right at the Washington Monument! We spent the night at a great hotel...we used hotel points and stayed for free! We even had a big buffet breakfast included! I purchased souveniers for the kids before we left.... some red, white and blue glow in the dark necklaces and american flag lights on clearance at CVS(total cost$5) before we left, and gave them to the kids when we got there. The next day we went and checked out the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History (Free) and then came home. It was a short trip...only 45 minutes away...and we had alot of fun! Total cost $15 (Gas and souveniers). Wow!

Nancy

Shhhhh......I have a dirty little secret!

2008-07-10T11:43:00.000-04:00

Ok! It is my garage! It is a total mess! It is the catch all for everything! I am going to be tackling this space and will post my progress and creative storage ideas for the garage. My goal is to have this space magazine worthy by this fall. I will also post how much each garage storage solution costs. I am not planning on spending alot of money. Feel free to cheer me on and share any ideas of your own! Today I am going to pull up the dumpster and try to fill it up! I am also going to try to fill two garbage bags of items to donate....

Nancy

Just Relaxing!

2008-07-07T15:06:00.000-04:00

This is me after a day of painting furniture and arranging the shop. Neither a broken nail nor a hair out of place. NOT! The days activities had yet to begin! We all know what happens to hair & makeup when the humidity of summer has had hours to work on us:) Anne

Cute Shutters

2008-07-07T14:53:00.000-04:00

Add a touch of whimsy to your space! This one of ours. Red & white polka-dotted shutters fashioned from fencing cheer each window of our cottage. Anne

Lovely Lighting

2008-07-07T14:35:00.000-04:00

This beautiful angel sconce, dripping with crystals is one of a pair that adorns a niche in my bedroom. Anne

Fabulous Vintage Picture Frame Turned Awesome Bathroom Mirror

2008-07-07T13:50:00.000-04:00

Taking a vintage picture frame with blue-glass tiles, I popped in a mirror and presto, a new master bath looking-glass was wall ready! Love it! Anne

Add Architectural Interest to Your Deck Rails!

2008-06-16T12:31:00.000-04:00

I would love to live in a wonderful old victorian
home! But, the truth of the matter is that I live in suburbia! In Ashburn, Virginia we have new home after new home and they all basically look the same. When we had our deck built I added some architectural interest by adding these gingerbread cut outs to the rails! I love them and they add that little detail that makes my home special to me.

Nancy

Adirondack Chairs.....

2008-06-16T11:59:00.000-04:00

Ok...I have these wonderful Adirondack chairs! I was almost tempted to ditch them. I was on Costco's website and saw two adirondack chairs that were pristine white and made out of recycled materials and would never have to be painted. I was so tempted to replace the ones on my deck with them. Mine were in desperate need of a paint job and I almost took the easy way out. Instead, I went up to home depot and bought an outdoor paint that had the primer built in.....and spruced mine up. I am so glad that I did! They are comfy and after drinking a glass of lemonade and having a wonderful conversation with Lauren about her kickball tournament at school I remembered why I love these chairs so much! They are my outdoor conversation area on my deck. It is so important to create little areas throughout your home that foster good old fashion relaxation and talks! I have shared many a glass of wine, cup of coffee, ect in these chairs with my family and friends. And to think I almost ditched them!

FYI, A solid stain also works great on outdoor furniture.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Sconce!

2008-06-16T11:34:00.000-04:00

This is one of a pair of sconces that I have in my bedroom. They are vintage and oh so awesome! The shades on the bulbs are ones that we carry in the store. They are hand beaded with crystals. I also have them on my chandelier in my kitchen. They add a modern twist to vintage lighting.

Nancy's Bedroom and Her Collection of White Linens

2008-06-16T11:24:00.001-04:00

This is my bedroom. I love white linens especially in the summer. We have alot of them in the store right now. I have a wonderful collection of Vintage and new white linens. I mix them on all of my beds. I also love the Bella Notte white embroidered linen panels on my windows. They are sooo pretty with the sun coming through them.

French Shabby Chic Style Kitchen Area

2008-06-12T23:18:00.000-04:00

This is where we eat all of our meals! I love the linen slipcovers on the chairs.

Organize your laundry room!

2008-06-12T23:01:00.000-04:00

My house doesn't have a formal Laundry Room. We had a closet upstairs outside of the bedrooms that housed the washer and dryer. It was totally useless in that there was no place to fold Laundry or store anything. It always looked a mess and my bed became the folding table. So after a while I got sick of it! I ripped out the closet and made my laundry area "built in". I also traded my top loading machines for some awesome front loaders (love these!) I now have a folding area where family members can come and pick up their piles, and great storage for linens, spare socks...you name it! The only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!

Nancy

Fabulous Fireplace!

2008-06-11T09:01:00.001-04:00

Rescued from the Eastern Shore, this beautiful, vintage fireplace was installed in time for cozy, cracklin' fires! Worthy all the love and care it took to bring it back to life!

Anne

Victoria Joan Arrived on April 10th!

2008-06-09T12:48:00.000-04:00

Nancy, Kirk, Lauren, and Bryce welcomed Victoria on April 10th to their family. We can't believe that she is already two months old!

Nancy With Her Daughter Lauren

2008-06-09T08:55:00.000-04:00

Wow! It seems like just yesterday Lauren was a baby up at the store eating her cheerios at the front counter of the store. This is a picture taken a couple of weeks ago on her 9th Birthday! We had a great time. We invited the neighbors and all of their children to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks in our "Clivedon Court Outdoor Movie Theater". It was great! The kids brought blankets and pillows and relaxed for a movie under the stars!

Oooh la la! This is where Anne Sleeps!

2008-06-08T21:11:00.000-04:00

Ok, ok, ok! Everyone has asked to see pictures of our homes. This is Anne's bed, made out of vintage porch posts with the mailboxes still attached! Beautiful Bella Notte linens in Ginger & Champagne ensure a good night's sleep:)