Patiently Biding My Time -- Seriously?

Hey everyone!  Sorry I haven't been posting much lately, but we've got some big projects going on around here that have been keeping me very busy.  With none of those projects being ready for a "reveal," I decided to share some "tweaks" I did last week in the entry & sitting-dining rooms.  I know quite a few of you are like me & cannot wait to begin decorating for Fall, but I dare not venture there with all the current projects going on.  Sooooo......to ease me through this "transition period," I did some tweaking in some of the only areas of our home that haven't been hit by total chaos & messes, namely the entry and my sitting-dining room.  Would you like a little "look-see" tour?  Well, come on!

This entry table (aka "the old Singer which you can read about HERE) is always one of my favorite places to decorate.  The only newly purchased things here are the two little pots.  We had to make two trips to IKEA last week, so I scooped up a few things that I could used throughout our home in a number of different vignettes.  The pots are white ceramic, & I just covered them with some of the same fabric that the table cover is made of.  I think the look is fresh & inviting as you enter our front door.

Speaking of IKEA, that's where I found these two beauties.  I love lanterns & just couldn't pass these up.  They are 19" tall & 10" square & were only $14.99 a piece.  That wasn't a "sale" price!  I love the clean lines & can see lots of "dress-up" for these lovelies.  Oh, & the finish is for both indoor & outdoor use.  IKEA did have all their candles on sale, so I snagged a few vanillas & some cream-colored unscented ones as well.

I did some switching between the top of our mini-bar & the top of the china cabinet (you'll see that a bit further down in this post).  I have had the 3-section fireplace screen for years, but it used to look like.....

this.  I decided to give it a little makeover with some white spray paint & then shabbied it up a bit.

I'm really liking it & already visualizing how it will look dressed for Fall.....lol!  This lantern, which I love, used to be on top of the china cabinet.  I have a battery-operated, auto-timed candle inside -- lights up at 5pm & shuts off at 10pm -- love that kind of technology!

For the coffee table, I simply redressed it with some things I already had.  The large book is our "Travels" album.  I love having it here where anyone can browse through it.


I switched out the gold-colored candles & keys with these that I wrapped with scrapbook paper & returned the keys.

I love this cloche & always try to have it somewhere in my decor.  Here, I simply filled it with some chunky potpourri & a couple of deco spheres & topped it with a tassel.  I added a bit of Rub 'n Buff to an old silver charger & then draped some burlap around it for the cloche to sit on.  Can you see that I'm already pulling in some Fall colors?  I'm hopeless.....lol!

I reorganized these bookshelves, too, & tweaked a few things here & there.

The large glass piece was previously located on top of the china cabinet, but I like it much better here.  We bought it in Sedona several years ago & have enjoyed it in many different locations around our homes.

I've had this corner shelving unit since shortly after moving into this home, but have never been quite satisfied with the different vignettes I've tried.  That is, until now.  I decided to fill it with framed photos, mainly of our "Grands."  It's located in the corner of the hallway going to our master bedroom, so it is the last thing I see at night & the first thing I see in the morning.  Those sweet faces make me smile every single time!


The main thing I changed here in the dining room is the top of the china cabinet.  Oh, if you look close, you can see Abby sitting in the archway -- she was supervising!


Sorry, she just always feels the need to be "spying" on me.....lol!  Okay, enough distractions,
back to the tour!

This is a nighttime view of how the china cabinet looked before.  There were too many things on top & they were almost all the same height.  I do know better than that, but it just took awhile to figure out the right solution.  Do ya'll ever have that problem?

I like it much better now.  I would like to add something on the wall up there but haven't found the perfect thing yet.  I added a few book bundles in with my deco spheres & like how that looks.


One last look at my "peace & tranquility" room.  I truly love this area of our home!  Wish I had time to
sit in my comfy chair & read my book :(  Who am I kidding, I would find some other project
to work on!

Just one last vignette to share.  This is just to the right of the doorway going into my kitchen-keeping room.  Sometimes I display seasonal quilted wall hangings here under the shelf, but for now I'm displaying some art pieces.  I love creating vignettes on the shelf.  For some fun & color, I framed a really pretty piece of scrapbook paper.  Easy-peasy!

Just a peek at what's going on in the kitchen, but you will just have to wait on this one.  And.......

because we just love having several "balls in the air" at one time & truly enjoy working outside during the AZ summer heat, we have more chaos going on outside, too!  We are actually about two-thirds of the way finished on this project, but it has been put "on hold" until after our extreme heat lets up a bit.  Now we are concentrating on finishing the kitchen & laundry room -- oh, I forgot to mention there was yet another project going on, silly me!

Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour & the glimpse into "project chaos," & have enough courage to come again.  Maybe next time I can offer you some refreshments.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

~CAS~

I'm happily linking to the following parties:

Cheri at  It's So Very Cheri for Party Time

Cindy at Skip to My Lou for Made by You Monday

Susan  at Between Naps On The Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday

Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons for One Project at a Time

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Table Top Tuesdays

Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Jenny at The NY Melrose Family for Whimsy Wednesdays

Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays

Katie at Katherine's Corner for Thursday Favorite Things

 Kristen at Kristen's Creations for Share Your Creations on Thursday

Heather & Vanessa  At The Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Karen at Sew Many Ways for Find a Friend Friday

Traci at Beneath My Heart for Best DIY Projects of May