Change Accomplished and Dessert Setting for Mother 93rd Birthday

In my September 4 post I indicated that a great Craigslist find yielded and in-progress change. Well this past week I was able to complete that change.

The Drawer Chest was moved from the living room and is now in the dining room and is stocked with flatware and linens. I at last have a server in the dining room, plus easy access to table setting items. The two small top drawers hold sets of napkin rings:



The next drawer holds three sets of flatware:

Next is napkin storage.

And finally, the bottom drawer holds placemats. I still need to arrange these drawers so they are much neater!


The display on top of the drawer chest complements the dessert table setting for my mother’s 93rd birthday held at my house on Sunday. We ate at her favorite restaurant, then returned to my home for cake and ice cream. The Royal Albert “Lady Carlyle” teapot, sugar and creamer take center stage, while the teacups and saucers are displayed on a wire teacup stand.

The flowers are Rose of Sharon and Sedum Autumn Joy from my garden.

As you may recall, this tablesetting incorporates the china and linens from my pink tea setting on the living room coffee table shown here. My mother loves to wear pink on her birthday as well as Mother’s Day and she had on a lovely outfit in shades of pink. The setting turned out very dainty, as I used silver plate chargers and candlesticks with deep pink candles, gilt-edged flatware, Lenox "Autumn" goblets, and pinkish green hydrangeas from the garden.



The cake (which got smushed while transported in the car) was placed on a ruffled-edge Princess House Crystal cake stand. It was nice to have the drawer chest nearby so I did not have to keep it on the table once it was sliced.

Visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Metamorphosis Monday posts and for Tablescape Thursday. I am also linking to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home with hostess Cindy.

Fabulous Craigslist Find Yields In-Progress Change

"This is a great buy…five people called about it!" So said the delivery man as he and a younger man brought in my new piece of furniture last Friday. On Monday I was looking through the furniture section of Craigslist.com and saw this listing (with this spelling):

"$60.00 Moheganoy 5 drawer desk. Very nice and clean. Has glass top and pull out writing shelf. Will deliver for small fee."

I emailed right away asking for the dimensions and for cost of delivery to my town. Tuesday came and went and no reply. On Wednesday I wrote again asking if it was still available and got the reply, yes, and shipping would be $40. I wrote again asking for the dimensions. You see, I was looking for a piece to serve as a small buffet in my dining room; I’m tired of serving from the nearby kitchen counter and or stove.
On Thursday I got the measurements, and I quote:

"42 inches wide,19 deep,34 high.like new condition,not a scratch.come take a look."

I called, said I wanted it, and set up delivery for the next day at 3 pm.
Meanwhile I had measured the space but it was just too small. [My dining room is just 11’ x 12’ and I have a large-scaled Drexel table and eight chairs, plus a large breakfront cabinet.] Now, when I spoke to him on the phone he had reiterated that it was is great condition, and worth at least $300. I could not let it go at such a great price -- $60 plus $40 was just $100 for a fine piece of mahagony furniture (even though I had only seen the following not too clear photos in the Craigslist ad.

Anyway, I cleared a space in the Living Room between two chairs in front of the windows. Previously, I had had this 22" round skirted table between the two chairs (Not having planned all this, I didn’t think to take pictures while the table was still in place in the living room.):

The doorbell rang about 1:20 pm (he had called to move up the delivery time) and there was a small truck with two men who brought in the "desk," all wrapped in quilted padding. Unwrapped, it looked brand new. The seller showed me the Century Furniture tag in the left top drawer.

I was amazed at the beauty and quality and newness of the piece. Also, that it would work perfectly as a serving piece in the dining room – if only I could make room somehow. Indeed it was not a desk at all, despite the slide out shelf! What exactly was the piece – a console, a chest of drawers….??? Here are some pics I took of the details, including the glass top shaped to the curves:

Here it is in place between the chairs:

Well, as someone who loves researching things, I soon got online to determine what the piece is designated as by the manufacturer. After some futile searching of the Century Furniture industries website, I finally found a store that listed and pictured my piece. Now I knew just what it is:

Century Furniture Living Room Drawer Chest 679-704, from their Traditional Classics collection. This is the catalog photo I found on a furniture store website: The Product Description read:
"Features chamfered corners with decorative fret overlays. The serpentine drawer fronts are trimmed in beaded molding and accented with brass drop-bail pulls. Pull-out tray at top provides additional display space."

Yes, this excellent piece would be perfect for my dining room.… As soon as my brother, nephew, or brother-in-law comes by here, I’ll try to squeeze it in. In the meantime, it looks nice in the living room --

As the seller indicated, the piece fits in and looks great with the other mahagony and cherry furniture in my living and dining rooms. Here is a mosaic I've made of the furniture in the two rooms.

I plan to store some flatware in the two smaller drawers, and place mats, napkinsas well. However, I have not put anything in it in case I do move it to the dining room. So this change is still very much in progress!

Visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Metamorphosis Monday posts.
Also, visit Mary at Little Red House to see the mosaics prepared by other participants, and Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for more Thrifty Treasures.

Metamorphosis Monday – White Dish Display

A few days ago I decided to make room to display more of my white dishes. I have them already on a plate stand to the left of the sink, but wanted to display more.

A few white items were seen in the photo below, set atop the bookcase I use as a partial panty.


Taking a three-shelf wall unit from a local thrift shop, I doubled the space for my white dishes.

First I cleared the top of the bookcase:

The three shelves provided for four Wedgwood “Patrician” plates and matching cups and saucers; two square Canonsburg “American Traditional" dessert plates, a white teapot, a napkin holder, two sets of salt and peppers, a candlestick and a black and white teapot.


Under the lowest shelf I placed several tea books. Ceramic cottage boxes add to the mix:

Alongside on the right, are a framed print, and ceramic tea-house containers.


This post is linked to Metamorphosis Monday. Please visit Susan Susan at Between Naps on the Porchfor links to many more captivating changes, and to join in this weekly blog event.
I am also linking to Tabletop Tuesday, hosted by Marty at A Stroll Thru Life.

Also linking to Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.



Have a great week, and do visit again soon!

Metamorphosis Monday – New Foyer Light

I have been waiting for a long time to change out the ceiling light in the foyer. The fixture was a large smoke glass globe, put in when the house was built in 1988. Here it is before the walls were painted a soft green.

The new one is from Lamps Plus.com and is a pendant glass fixture suspended with a three-prong holder.

It has a soft pattern etched on the glass.

A stained glass nativity set on the ledge (with its soft blues and other pastels) looks good against the light green paint of the walls.

This post is linked to Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. Go there for a listing of more transformations.

It is also linked to Blue Monday, sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.. Visit her for lovely blues.

Metamorphosis Monday and Blue Monday – Color On the Walls! Part II

Metamorphosis Monday, is hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to go there for a listing of more transformations this week.

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally. Her listing will take you to others who love the color blue.

As promised, this week I will continue to describe how newly painted walls have transformed my living spaces. Ihad gone along with the idea of off-white walls being versatile, and even making the place seem more spacious. But the addition of soft colors to my walls has really enhanced the appearance of my home. Family and friends expressed that the soft hues have pulled the décor together. Here's hoping that the true colors will show up in my photos.!

All woodwork was painted in Benjamin Moore Satin Finish trim OC13 "Soft Chamois."
The living room and front hall stairway were painted in Benjamin Moore 1494 "Vale Mist". That is three walls were. The wall that continues from the center hall to the west wall in the living room is in Benjamin Moore 1562 "Quiet Moments," as was the dining room.

Here is the couch and paintings above with the soft blue on the west wall.

This shows the junction of the blue and the green behind the living room desk on the north wall. (Sorry about the reflection):

The dark wood furniture such as the desk and curio cabinet on either side of the fireplace are set off with the soft green second color in the room.



The dark blue draperies with its green leaves, and the pictures on the green walls is pleasing.

The dark furniture is also enhanced by the green of the walls:

The sofa and love seat have tiny squares of green thread, which is picked up by the green wall behind the love seat.


The bedroom wall color is Benjamin Moore HC-5 Weston Flax, a soft yellow. I like how it sets off the accessories in the room:

Note how the Wedgwood blue draperies look against the pale color.

The draperies pick up the Wedgwood jasperware pieces on top of the book shelf. and the blue flowers in the print.

The dark furniture also looks well with the yellow walls:

In the bathroom the walls were painted in Benjamin Moore kitchen and bath paint in 922 Antique Lace. This continues the yellow hue of the bedroom, but is more of a cream color.

To continue the blue from the draperies from the bedroom I plan to use this Waverly toile fabric for the window and shower curtains:


The previous curtains were a white and peach stripe for the window and a solid peach for the shower stall. As the painting was going on, I found these neutral color curtains at the thrift shop for $1.50 and a similar color shower curtain for $1.25. They have been standing in quite well until I get the toile sewed.

In the meantime, the cream color works well the wall accessories, as they are now; there will be more changes:

The painting of the walls came about because I had ceiling damage in the kitchen, living room and my bedroom. Outside I had the roof completely replaced to avoid any more rain seeping in. Well, while it was quite a lot of work to clear the rooms for the ceiling and wall painting, the end result is very pleasing an I have been really enjoying having color on the walls!.

I am also linking to Cielo’s "Show Off Your Cottage Monday." Visit her to enjoy more lovely homes.

Thank you for your lovely comments on Part I of "Color On My Walls" and for visiting today. Do come back again soon!