Fall Tabletop

The other day while walking up and down the hills of Hallowell, I noticed a make shift stand in front of one of the homes I pass daily.  Japanese Lanterns, 25 cents a stem, read the sign next to a large vase of those intriguing bright orange flowers.  What made it even more Hallowellian was the coffee tin with a slit cut in the plastic top sitting on the table, on the sidewalk, unattended...the honor system.

 You can be sure the next time I walked by I had a dollar bill and more than a few quarters to stick in that slot.

Once home, those Japanese Lanterns started it all.

Out came the antique brass birdcage with the sort of creepy bird, at least he's orange, and a pale green rooster.

Then a walk downtown for the little pumpkins and gourds.

 My mother-in-law's reddish roosters and my thrift store candle toppers, came out of the cupboard, and so did the Dollar Store ceramic pumpkins from last year.

They all add up to Fallapalooza on my sideboard!

Oh, that's what one might call a gourd candle sitting by the roosters.  I found it and that basket at my salvage store, $7.00 for the two.

I know some would put the lanterns in the rooster, put the rooster on the table and call it a day, I've just never been that way!

Fall Decor

There's a nip in the air up here in Maine and it's time for my porch to welcome fall. I have had these mums  for three weeks or so, I knew it was early but couldn't resist. Don't you just plain get tired of your summer flowers about now?

A small rug, rag or whatever, and the porch is beginning to come together.

A few sticks add some height to the mums.

And a rooster plunks itself down in a planter!

The same old wreath gets pulled out every year,
and looks just fine against my fairly newly painted black front door.

My porch, smack dab in the center of town, changes with the seasons.  How'd I do this fall?

I often turn inside items into outside items and vice versa.  Two mums and a pumpkin were all I needed to add to what I already had! Under $25.00 and it's a wrap!

Ikat, White, and Zebra

My little room has long been neglected and I wanted to turn it into a place for me and my ideas.  

Two old chairs, some white spray paint, and an ikat remnant, voila!

An old farm table turned into a desk with lots of space.

A few new accessories, the blue green shell platter, only $3.00 at T.J.'s and the Moroccan trellis frame, $7.00 at T.J's.  

Painted my Target lampshades gold, added a few baskets, found an old column for $8.00, borrowed a garden stool from the porch, and am good to go!

Oh yes the rug.  It had been in the living room waiting for me to take down the wallpaper and paint this room WHITE.

Here's how it all came together, please tell me what you think.

Less Than A Bottle of Wine!

Rather than be featured on The Hoarders, a friend and I decided to throw all our junk on our front lawn and have what we like to call a Tag Sale!


It was quite pathetic, not worthy of being photographed, but we did manage to practically give away a slew of our worldly belongings.


I get the point, get rid of stuff, well maybe not.  You see a neighbor was having a sale too.  I probably should not have wandered over just to take a look. My bargain hunting, decorating, mind kicked right in and before I knew it I was carrying one chair across the street and then another.  I couldn't buy a decent bottle of wine for the $7.50 I paid for each.


They were heavy and nicely carved so I was sure they were pretty nice chairs. My chairs are side chairs but do look exactly, and I mean exactly,  like this arm chair from Mallery Hall, price $918.00.

This barstool also from Mallery Hall shows the carving even better.

It is over $400.00.


Now look at the carving, the legs, and the ladderback on mine.....hmmmmmm, they seem to match.

I think I got a deal.  


They now flank the pantry at the end of my kitchen.  I'm so glad a wandered across the street.

Have you found any great bargains lately?  I'd love to hear about them!

I Hope You "LIKE" My Page!

It is so interesting to see the pageviews of my blog by country.

Last week people from the U.S., Ireland, Canada, Japan, Lithuania, Russia, Pakiston, Australia, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, and Spain took a look.

It would be great to meet you on my facebook page, Melinda Jennings Interiors, etc., an offspring of my blog.

                        Hope you "LIKE" it!
                  I'd be tickled PINK, if you did!    


So easy, just click the 

on the right side of my blog!


                       Hope to see you,
                                                  Melinda

Bargain Hunting in Brussels

It doesn't matter where you are, a bargain is a bargain!


Amy and I found our way to the Place du Jeu de Balle Flea Market in Brussels, hoping to find a little something I could tuck in my suitcase to make the journey home.

     Too big.

Too new.

Not one to give up, the hunt continues.

By gosh, I think she found it.

One Euro and I am the proud owner of a  Veuve Clicquot ashtray in their signature yellow.  Perfecto!

Thanks Amy, I treasure my treasure almost as much as I do the time I spent with you!


                                MWAH!!!!!