Does Black Say Welcome?

It has been so warmish and sunny here in Maine that I can't help but think of spring and my front porch.  I want to make a big change this year and paint the front door black.  The house is Provence Creme and the shutters are Essex Green, black will do. 

 Oh my gosh it looks terrible, good thing no one uses it and it is less offensive from the street and the storm door go will go far away. Could this turn into...

This?

I guess it is more than paint, a little bit of hardware is also in order, doable.


I already have the urn, I'm way ahead of the game.

Isn't this fantastic, from a shop called Ever Blooming Original on Etsy. I hope I can come up with something half as nice. Oh, I can't wait for a black front door!        

I have already started researching the paint options, I didn't realize that there are almost as many blacks out there as whites, here we go again.


I need help!  Anyone have a black front door?  What did you use for paint?








P.S.  Well, I'm happy to hear from a  number of people, that they cannot leave comments, and I thought no one cared.  I think I have fixed the problem, I hope so.  So new at this and so much to learn! Thanks for your patience and support!

Isn't Target's Color Red?

Since I have decided to mirror the pillows on two totally different sofas sitting across from each other, I needed two more Red Medallion pillows from Target and two more Oceana Ikatish pillows from Overstock.  Overstock was easy, they came in two days, with a 10 % discount, to boot!

On to the Target website ( I had bought the only two Red Medallion pillows in Augusta.)  Here it is, my pillow problems are solved.

Not so fast, Melinda.  You see the pillow is pictured online, but only available "in store."  One quick call to Target, yes, they have restocked and, lo and behold, have two Red Medallion pillows, but that's it, two.


I run right up to Target, they won't hold anything, and there they are, two CORAL Medallion pillows.  I express my color concerns to a red vested Target employee who immediately scans the pillow's tag with his nifty electronic gizmo and declares, with complete certainty, that these are indeed Red Medallion pillows.  


Why, I don't know, but I tried to explain the difference between red and coral to him, like he cared.  "Madam," he says "look at the screen, they are Red Medallion pillows."  Well, I didn't like the "Madam" and I couldn't see his stupid, little screen.  It was me against his annoying electronic gizmo, and I lost.  I don't take defeat well, I was not happy. 


I thanked him for his help, as I was brought up to do, and had to add, which I know I shouldn't have..."you really don't think those pillows are red, do you?" 


So, If anyone out there finds two Red Medallion pillows, that are really red, at a Target near you, scoop them up for me, pleeeze.  I really want those pillows, I mean it!

Salvatore and Bruno

I have always liked nice shoes.  I can remember the smell of my brand new Weejuns from the Darien Bootery and the gleaming white Keds that, in those days were $5.00 at Jimmys, down the street. I also remember a pair of Easter shoes, red Maryjanes that would get little wear, coming from Tots and Teens Thrift Shop also in Darien.  And who can forget the Papagallos and Capezios we just had to have in high school. I still fancy shoes and it doesn't bother me one iota if someone else fancied them before me.


A bit tired from painting the living room, I decided to take a break today and go shopping.  I was thrilled to run in to Signore Ferragamo at Goodwill.

I bought my first Ferragamos at a Hadassah thrift shop, that became a lunch hour haunt, when I was working in New York City over thirty years ago.  These may not be stylish enough for some, but to me they are classic and I'll wear them for years with my straight legged jeans and navy blue blazer.


Amy came from Ireland to spend Christmas with us in Florida.  That girl just can't stop studying.

While she was in Florida, look what she found her dear mother.

Yes, a lovely pair of Bruno Maglis.  Won't they just dress my blazer and jeans right up?

I paid $3.00 for the Ferragamos and, as Amy would say, the Bruno's cost her a fiver.  I'd say I've raised a pretty darn good little shopper wouldn't you?

The Right White

I have read more about white than I care to admit, oh those undertones.  I wanted a white white, not greenish, bluish or pinkish, just WHITE!

After much research and deliberation, I finally decided on Benjamin Moore's Dove White, and I am glad I did.  The pros tell me it has some gray and some yellow in it, and many, in the know, call it their "go to" white.  That's good enough for me!

See, it really is white, and does look just like that in the living room.  The trim is the same color in semi-gloss, can't see that very well.


I'm done painting, but my sofa is still awaiting it's new cushions, so I don't want to reveal my complete, salvage store, target, overstock, creation just yet.  Here is an itty, bitty preview.

I use the off white sheer panels no matter what color the walls are, they work with everything, and they were only two dollars a panel years ago.  I must say in real life, the corner is just as white as the one above.  It does not take on the color of the panels at all, thank you Dove White.


So, all in all, I'm a happy camper, as I sit basking in the glow of my gorgeous white walls!

Two Dollars and a Target Lampshade

Two dollars and just about two minutes later, my Target lampshades are custom, and more importantly, continue the pop of red around the room.  Can you believe it?  

One dollar a yard for the perfect woven trim, it was like it was meant to be.

How simple is this, glue gun anyone?

This is actually just pinned, two little straight pins, you'd never know.

I am thrilled with my new, twenty-two dollar, custom, lampshades, aren't you?


Now, I am off to do something I have never done before, paint a room WHITE!


I'm taking a gamble on this one, hope my winning streak holds, thanks GIANTS!!!

Wear Red Day!

You are probably seeing red today!  That's a good thing, it's Wear Red Day, part of Go Red for Women, in recognition of the fact that heart disease is the number one killer of women.  Check out, The American Heart Association, for the facts.  While you are there you might want to do a little shopping!

I've got my red polar fleece on and can assure you, I'll do my part, by having a glass of heart healthy red tonight.