MacGregor's Cottage Sunroom: a work in progress



the coffee table is an English farmtable that was cut down purchased in Franklin, TN antique store



the trunk belonged to my husband's grandmother

the wood dough bowl is a Helena, Montana estate sale find

I have been searching Craigslist for a loveseat. This is the perfect size for my

cozy sunroom. Ok it is small like 14 x 17 but it suits me just fine. Last month I

lucked out and found this little beauty. Actually there were two pieces the sofa

and this loveseat. Got a friend to take the sofa and I made off with the loveseat.

     It took me four 9x12 dropcloths. I washed each one 3 times to and dried them with

 6 or 7 sheets of fabric softener. I am in love. Sometimes you just have to wait for

  right piece. And I must admit I have to thank Shannon Bowers for the inspiration.

So hey Shannon "thanks".

The Yellow Guest Room Part 2 The Photos

The Yellow Guest Room

At the same time I was working on the Green Guest Room at Nancy's place I was
also tossing ideas around to rework the Yellow Guest Room. She still had the
furniture in there from when she was child. Two darling Jenni Lin twin beds
with a nightstand and chest of drawers to match. There was a built in desk in
a medium wood tone and the Queen Ann chair that used sit at her Father's desk.
I so should have taken before shots.

Now there is a custom upholstered bed with matching box pleated bedskirt. The built
in desk has been painted as has the Queen Ann chair. We replaced the childhood dresser with a traditional chest of drawers by Hammary. All the lamps were her Mother's except on the new Hammary chest. The nightside tables were distressed and painted a soft blue the same shade used on the chair and the back of the bookcase.

She has been blessed with wonderful inherited accessories Hummels, art and all kind of porcelain. Still cannot figure out how to get the photos below instead of above the post so they will be on the next post.

Nancy's Place

Nancys place

Every designer has their own method of creating a space. Many designers/decorators have what is referred to as their "signature style". I try to leave a home looking like a designer has not been there. Instead I prefer it to look like the client has a gifted eye and it has all come together quite naturally as they have collected items, selected fabrics and furnishings that appeal to them. I am into warm and cozy spaces that say "Nancy lives here". (insert client's name)To start I like to find out how they want the space to feel.

When last I posted I was waiting for the delivery of a couple of custom pieces: a green velvet end of the bed bench and a linen wing chair with antique brass nail heads. When I was asked to begin this project the client requested I use the custom draperies she already had in place. She also loved the wall color so I worked within these parameters. The previous post shows the fabrics and furniture that were selected.

We went on a couple of accessories buying trips and we were lucky enough to find the perfect group of botanicals for this room. They actually looked as if they were waiting for us to take them home. The bench and the chair have now arrived and are in place. We are currently looking for a couple more pieces of blue and white for the chests other than that we are officially done in this room. And I hope the words that come to mind when you view it are tasteful and serene.

For whatever reason tonight I am unable to upload the photos as I wish. They will
follow in the next post.

Talk Greenville Magazine

I was trying to do a post today and realized we have about ten posts in draft form.
Yeah I am not what you call real computer literate. Understatement.Anyway my dear husband did this lovely faux stonework in a kitchen it is the part where the art is hanging.This is from fall 2010.It was also published in the local Talk magazine. It was for a designer in the Symphony Tour here in Greenville,SC. I think it is too good not to share. What do you think?

Mother's Day Gift

Ralph Lauren photo Delores Arabian- Vignette Designs

When I saw Delores' photos of her visit to the Ralph Lauren store in New York in April I knew I had to have these chargers. I found  some similar to those on the table in the photo at Pottery Barn. Since Mother's Day was approaching and I have four children all on their own now I knew this would be the perfect gift  so I sent out an email with a request for one from child.  And here they are.

Lady MacGregor's Office

I dropped in to visit Carol Spinski's Raised in Cotton blog a few days ago. She mentioned her favorite morning spot where she has a cup of coffee and greets her day. I thought what a great idea for a post. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I am copying Carol by showing where I greet the day. It is a former bedroom turned design office/meditation space for moi.  As I explained in my comment on Carol's blog I filled with consignment store pieces for the most part. It is a work in progress....window treatments not yet,artwork not yet. I am not in a rush things have to speak to me for me to bring them home but I have dreams of how I want it to look and feel for now here are the beginnings.

before

 I know I know lousy photo but it is the only before I have. The consignment store took with it with their phone and emailed it to me I printed it out and failed to save the photo so hey it is what it is. What you cannot see is the deep scratch in the top of the console where the bookcase was set down and pushed into place.  I got this baby for $200. It is cherry and very heavy. It has two deep file drawers and plenty of storage.

After

 It has been painted and somewhat styled for now. I purchased some very heavy crown/dental moulding for the top. I like the way Habersham Plantation paints their hardware on their furniture my husband's observation so he copied that feature. I love it. I have a reproduction french dining table with a parquet top as a desk and a reproduction bergere chair as my chair, both primed and ready for a distressed finish.  They are awaiting his touch when he can squeeze me into his schedule. Currently I am behind a sleigh bed, a dresser, an armoire and fabulous eastlake chest, and a sheraton sideboard. Hmmmm which is the same reason said credenza is painted but not glazed. I hope to share the rest of the furniture on my next post.

Oh the horns on top are a graduation present for nephew at the Citadel just resting for now.

MacGregor's Salute to National Tartan Day

Did you know this interesting tartan fact?

The world’s first colour photograph, made by the Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell in 1861, was of a tartan ribbon.

click to enlarge

The weather has cooled considerably since the weekend. It was 36 last night the perfect temperature to sit by the fire and wrap up in this vintage tartan Pendleton blanket which resides on the back of Mr. MacGregor's leather wing chair in his office. This blanket was handed down to him from his late Grandfather whom he reveres.

Mr. MacGregor's tartan office

Samuel Berry Godbold

For some serious eye candy visit Scott @ http://tartanscot.blogspot.com/

and Delores @ http://vignettedesign.blogspot.com/.

Peter Rabbit comes to Mr. MacGregors

Peter dropped by this morning

MacGregor Cottage

He just wanted to visit Mr. MacGregor

What a handsome fellow

The commentary to this post disappeared somehow and it took me 3 days to realize it.  Peter Rabbit came for a visit because he had a slight mishap, while it remains a mystery, we think he must have tripped running in the garden.  He broke his ear and he needed mending. Mr. MacGregor fixed him up quite properly and now most unfortunately for MacGregor Cottage he has returned to his own home with the lovely  Betty Farr. He will be missed.

Boxwood hedge

after

after

after

after

before: boxwoods  after 4 years never grew into hedge

another before

another before 4 years of growth

still before the fig on the steps however is doing well

4 years old

after just love the results

just a peak of the lady banks rose blooming in the lower right corner

another shot

after from a different angle lady banks gone wild

We took a weekend a couple of weeks ago and transplanted 52 dwarf boxwoods. Initially we had lined a couple of beds and spaced them according to the directions from the growers tag. To my dismay after 5 years they  never got anywhere near forming a hedge. I was going for an English cottage look. I finally convinced my husband to helped me out and move  them to line our walk to the front door instead. This was no small feat as after 5 years there was a considerable root system. He did most of the labor due to the strength required. It probably took 14 man hours to accomplish, which he did in two consecutive days. He dug up each one up and then dug two trenches one either side of the walk to situate them in and insure they were now close enough to form said hedge. He did a great job. I am delirious I love it so. He paid a price for all this manual labor. The arch of his foot was bruised in the process. He will survive but he is off duty in the transplanting department for 2011. A well deserved reward for a job well done. I then put pine straw mulch around all of the beds another two hours.  Almost forgot to mention he also divided four lavender plants and we are trying our hand at propagating.  Will share the results if we are successful. He likes to tell anyone who will listen that when I say "we"need to do thus and so in the yard "we" indicated him and his shovel rather than he and I.  I think he's got me there.