Treasures on Tuesday

On Tuesday of last week, I shared some 'timely tips' with you, but this week I wanted to show you some of my treasures and a bit of our home.  Today we are visiting the breakfast room, which is one one of my very favorite rooms in the house!  I love this little nook because of all the treasures I have in such a small space, and because of the large double window that looks out onto our back deck and the yard and woods beyond.

Let me first begin by saying . . . we are not 'fancy' people. We LIVE in this house, and it is NOT a museum or a showroom for how things should be done. This is our HOME, and we love it! When we moved here a bit over 7 years ago, my fondest dream was to make our home a place where family and friends were able to feel welcomed and comfortable. And I don't believe that a place where everything is pristine and showroom ready - for me - is that place!



Syracuse China - Old Ivory 'Lady Louise'



The last four pieces of my grandmother's china.  I have always loved this pattern - it is simple and yet 'fancy' all at the same time.  Best I can find out through my research is that it was made some time in the mid to late 1930's and was discontinued in 1949.

When we first moved here, the breakfast room was going to be my office. I put a couple of tables there, my computer, and some of my craft things. Before long I moved all of that into the third bedroom which is now 'my' studio and office. At that time my vision for the breakfast room was a 'tea room'. I found and bought a second hand round white table and 4 chairs, and from the moment I brought it into the house, I hated it! The table was too big, round didn't work in the space, and it was just awful, but I was stuck with it - for a while.



A few of my aprons.  I usually only have one per hook, but I'm having a get together at my house this weekend, and I thought we might want to wear an apron, so I've added more so there will be more choices.


A few years later, after much obsessing over what 'style' I wanted for the space, it hit me! I wanted a farmhouse kitchen. That was where my heart was (and still is!) but my pocketbook dictated for the present at least, the awful white table remained. Then, in late March about 4 years ago, my aunt and I were at the monthly antique market in our town, and I saw this table and chairs, and just KNEW that this was the one for me!!!




Looking into our breakfast room from the kitchen.

 It was an old dining set - table with an extra leaf, and 4 chairs with pressed wood backs. I'm thinking it was probably from the 1930's to 50's, but am not sure. The thing that stood out about this set - it was antiqued in bright red! I loved it! So I called my hubby, asked him if I could buy it for my birthday and he said yes. Oh, and the price? Only $125 for the set. I gave the man a deposit, told him we would come and pick it up later that afternoon, and went merrily on my way, looking for inexpensive accessories for my new farmhouse kitchen. (Note: After we got the furniture home and in place, I took pictures and printed them, and the next day I took them to the vendor who sold me the furniture. He was so excited to see where they had gone, and asked if he could keep the pictures. I told him they were for him, and he thanked me several times over.)




The 'tab top' toppers are from J. C. Penney and by Waverley.  I added the vintage ric-rack and the red buttons to each tab.  They've been in here for several years, and I still love them!

 Anyway, the new red table and chairs went great with the mustard cabinet that had belonged to my paternal grandparents. Eventually I found an old blue bench that fit right in, and now, several years later, this is still one of my favorite rooms in the house.
 

For as long as I can remember, this was antiqued avocado green.  When I brought it home (our previous house) I had yellow, blue and white, so I made a poor attempt at re-antiquing it to this yellow. 

During the refinishing process, I found these three patches.  They are simply very old duct tape that had been painted over.  When I opened the door and looked at the back side I found what looked very much like . . .



bullet holes!  Of course by the time I acquired the cabinet it was too late to ask my grandmother about them, and my dad and his sisters didn't know why they were there.  So I just decided to honor the cabinet's history and leave them as they were!  I will say this cabinet is VERY old, and obviously hand made.  I believe the upper shelves also had doors at one time.  It fits perfectly into my little nook, and holds my most used cookbooks. 



I purchased this little plant stand at an estate sale last year (2010) and had planned on selling it, but it fits here so perfectly, I think it will stay for the time being.  The hen on nest was a gift from my cousin, I made the doll years ago from a fabric panel.  The bee hive pitcher was purchased at an old, now defunct antique market, I bought the fiestaware cobalt pitcher at a yard sale for $1, and can't remember exactly where I got the house teapot, but I think it was on the same trip north when I bought the little birdhouse.

The sign on top says "Beware, dog can't contol it's licker!"  I bought this at a shop near Cleveland, GA called Bessie Maes, because 1)I loved it, 2) it so perfectly describes our Doxie girl, Bessie Mae, and 3)seriously, it's from a shop called Bessie Mae's and perfectly describes our dog named Bessie Mae?  Had to have it!

Pictures I took on a trip to Wisconsin and Michigan in 2002.  Can you tell I am addicted to barns!

 


A close up of the 'dinette'.  I will put the tablecloth on the table on Saturday morning for our gathering.  If I put it on there now, it will be FILTHY before Saturday.  Is your husband/significant other a messy eater like mine?



Our every day dishes.  I purchased them as a gift to myself when I had surgery in 2003.  I still love them, and think they fit in my farmhouse kitchen beautifully!  I purchased them from QVC, and I believe they still carry them, but the pieces in the set have been changed.

I purchased this old bench at Lakewood Antiques Market in Atlanta.  It was originally from an old textile mill in NC, and is painted in a bright blue enamel paint.  I love it, and would never change the color!  And yes, it's messy under there, but we have a small home, and this is a perfect place to store drinks and dog food.  The papers at the far end are kept handy so if I have to leave the house for a long while, I can leave some down for the girls in case they need to, well, you know!

 

I have the bench covered with a folded quilt.  I purchased the quilt at an estate auction several years ago, and love it there!  Two things:  1)see that Romantic Country Homes magazine?  My sweet friend, Tara (Blondie'n'SC) was featured in that edition!  and 2)see the long apron on the right?  It is vintage, probably 1930's or so, hand embroidered, and I love how it is made!  When you put it on and tie it, it has a very fitted yoke, but wide, kind of flowing skirt.

My most used cookbooks, plus some local Georgia cookbooks.  The old ragged out orange one (2nd from right) is the very first cookbook I ever purchased, a Betty Crocker one from the early 70's.  The rosebud teacup was the 'vessel' for a bouquet of pink sweetheart roses that hubby sent me for our 6 months of dating anniversary.  Those were the very last flowers he ever sent me!  He'll buy me all the plants or seeds I want, but cut flowers only die - or at least that's his story!

More cookbooks!

 
The old iron stove has a funny story behind it. Hubby and I were at an auction one night, and I liked it, but said I would only pay up to $15 for it. But, I got into a bidding war over it because hubby got in on the act with the auctioneer and kept telling me to bid. I really didn't want it THAT bad, but I thought hubby DID, so I kept bidding (only at his insistance). I ended up winning with a bid of $35~! I would never have paid that much for it on my own! I'm not sure if it's a toy, or a salesman's sample, and would love to know! If you have any ideas, please let me know. Also, I would love for it to find a new home, and will take $60 for it including free shipping!

Is it a toy, or a salesman's sample?  Can YOU tell me???

It has a tea kettle, pot, skillet, spatula, cover for the stovepipe, 'lifter' that you use to lift the hot burners, and a muffin tin.

Muffin Tin in the oven.

Thank you so very much for taking this tour with me!  I hope you have enjoyed visiting, and look forward to seeing you back again soon.

Be joyful always!  Becky