Mantel refresher

New understated look

Lately my mantel has been trying on new looks to cover the "hole" or TV niche that I find beyond tacky and totally useless.

Mickey, you have been painted over

This painting was the first large painting I did for myself and is, admittedly,  pretty bad.

I heard things like its an elephant, Andre the giant, and Mickey Mouse. Mickey had to go.

I put this painting by Jenny at MFAMB in front of it for awhile.

To be honest all of the color was getting on my nerves. The room began to have juvenile, circus-ey feel. So out it went as soon as I needed a spot for this...

"Being There" by Kerry Steele

This painting just needs a spot until I sell it. My family loves it but it really did not work with the feel of my family room. So out IT went and I got to painting over Mickey.

The resulting look is so completely different than all of its predecessors that it makes me laugh but I am liking it for now.

 Speaking of mantels and my work, have you seen the painting I did for Jennifer of The Pink Pagoda?

She did a beautiful job of styling it in her gorgeous home.

Cocktails in the salon

It is a running joke between me and our pals from Pennsylvania to refer to rooms with a pretentious word. Years ago, I insisted on calling their apartment balcony the "veranda" so my living rooms have been referred to as the "salon" with emphasis on the first syllable.

I can't stand formal living rooms that no one ever uses but ours has been mostly untouched until this weekend.

We had cocktails in the living room and I quite enjoyed sitting in that room with old friends.

I was worried that I had failed in the comfortable department and that the room was just not inviting.

I was glad to have those fears quelled.

The dining room got a workout too, thanks to my husband's culinary skill and...

the porch was useable for late night drinks only. It was 103 degrees on Saturday. If it had been cooler we would have been visiting some of the historic sites nearby instead.

This weekend allowed me to really enjoy all of the spaces in my house and vow to use them more.
Do you use every room in your house?

on trend

Just a quick post today. My guests are on their way and we have a jam packed, 100 degree weekend ahead.

This Beni Ourain rug is super trendy right now. I normally don't apologize for my opinions but some of the most stylish people I know love these...and I don't.

In fact I hate them. Them remind me of a 1970s bachelor pad. Kinda skeevy and smelly. Sorry people but its trend I just can't get on board with.

What trend are you avoiding?

Vintage suitcases

I saw these vintage suitcases, front and center, on Etsy yesterday and got to thinking what I might do with such lovely crustiness.

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Most of the things I saw were more shabby than chic but I rather fancy that little suitcase/picnic table.

What would you do with a vintage suitcase or two?

Happy Independence Day!

Let there be...soda?

Yes or no? Discuss. Read about it HERE

I will be doing quickie posts for a bit. I am over scheduled and have my pals arriving with my teenagers, who have been away, on Thursday. Yikes, I'm not ready!!!

But seriously, what do you think of this lighting?

Let's play "Guess what this is?"

Do you know what this is? I'll tell at the end of the post.

It is among other things a birthday gift from my husband. Many of you might wonder if he is still alive after one of these as a gift...teehee. 

He is very much alive and I was thrilled to get this for my birthday.

We were antique shopping for another gift and I saw this and loved the shape and the decorative appeal of what was once a utilitarian object. He snuck back to get it and surprised me...sweet.

I am drawn to circular shapes and this guy will be a part of circle central, otherwise known as my family room.

There are circular shapes everywhere in my family room from brass ring drawer pulls to this fabulous, huge, antique coffee grinder turned lamp.

Artist made plate

Several circles appear on the mantel.

This circular bread board was the first item for housekeeping that my great, great-grandparents in England bought.

There are more but you get the idea.

Now what about that birthday present?

It is an antique/vintage well pulley. It is about 12 inches across and heavy. I will be hanging it but a few things have to move around first.

Is there a motif that you keep returning to?

New paintings

"Boxwood garden" 20 x 24 acrylic on canvas by K Steele HERE

I have completed a few new paintings. The one above is a bit of a departure in terms of abstract style but I am very happy with the result. The painting sat for several days with a gray background and two green shapes and then I kind of launched with lots of paint and little thought. It was a real "expressionist" experience.

"Running before the wind" 16 x 20 on canvas by K Steele

HERE

Lots of people want to see more of my nautical abstracts so this is the latest.

This is another figural abstract. It was a very different process for me. I used plain unstretched, unprimed canvas and sketched with pastel, painted, sketched again and scribbled with oil pastels. I have not decided whether I want to add more but it will eventually need to be mounted to a board.