"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Monday, October 3, 2011

Make do and mend Mondays

Mondays are fun days when you see things happening around the home. Jobs getting done and things being spruced up...

I have mentioned how I loved watching Kirstie's Homemade Home. She advocates looking for second hand furniture instead of buying new. Her reasons are that it is cheaper, often better quality if it is old and good for the environment. Yes to all points but I think for me that most fun about buying vintage or antique items is that you have something unique.

I went to a place with a friend of mine that sells vintage and unique Belgian and French garden accessories during the summer. The woman imports the items herself and then sells them from her own garden. I bought a couple of fun items. One of them was a set of wrought iron garden wall sconces. They sat while Jos was too busy at work waiting to be hung. They are incredibly heavy. They would have been hung already but Jos did not feel his hooks were strong enough and he had to buy bigger ones. But now they are hung and I have placed two pumpkins on them to celebrate autumn.

And now I would like to hear your opinion about something I was considering. I do like the rusted look of these but I am thinking of maybe painting them black. What do you think? We moved my black wall ornament over and exchanged it for the garden mirror. Should I leave it all as is? Should I paint the sconces black? Should I move the wall ornament around the corner to the front of the house?

I added a photo that shows the true colors of the items and the brick wall. I hope you tell me what you would do? I love black items but is it too much black?

To update my challenge to finish UFOs in my quilt studio...I am now close to finishing the hand quilting on a doll's quilt that I made the patchwork top for and then left for later. I am really enjoying the quilting and glad the challenge has made me pick it back up again.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Personally I would move the black scholly piece somewhere else. I think it's too much. The other colors work well together. However if you want black than I'd start with one piece and see how it looks, maybe the table and chairs, but I think it will change how everthing else looks.

onlymehere said...

It's beautiful as is but I'm kind of partial to black on outside things. I think I'd paint the sconces black. I love how you have such unique and fun things in Holland that we'd never see here. You have such good taste to in the placement of things and what you purchase. It's always a pleasure to see your home.
Cindy
P.S. Your mom hasn't posted in awhile. I hope all is well with her and that she's feeling great now.

terricheney said...

I think I'd move the wall ornament and paint the sconces black. The little area looks so nice, just the spot for tea or coffee on a sunny day. I'd be tempted to put a topiary or large plant on that blank wall there where the wall ornament is.

Tammy said...

I like the rusty look on some things, but these are kind of "fancy", so I'd paint them black. I like the ornamental piece where it is, but like Terri suggested, another large plant to balance with the one in the corner would look great. I love your gardens!

Linda said...

I would leave the wall ornament where you have it - I really like it there. If would paint the table black (altho I like it the color it is also). And do the sconces - not in a total black - but maybe black with shades of the mirror color peeking through. Like paint the sconces the mirror color and then paint over them with black and rub some off.... Another thought, leave the table as is and paint the chairs black, or paint the table black and leave the chairs as they are....

Linda in VA

Deborah said...

I love the area that you have made. I would paint the scones black. I just love the Make Do Monday posts. So inspiring.

Littlebit said...

I guess I am in the minority! Love them as is. I think black would be too predictable...

Ginny said...

I'm a fan of black, so I say go for it!

DonnaTN said...

I like the idea of painting the sconces black then maybe distressing them just a little so that the original color peeks out a tiny bit. You have such good vision with your purchases. It is so fun to see how you "make do."

Jackie's Stitches said...

I'm partial to black so I'd paint them black. The bad thing about that is you'd never be able to get that wonderful patina back. But the black would really pop against the wall.

Trust your own instincts. You have a *wonderful* eye for what works!

Anonymous said...

I'm in favor of leaving the scones as they are, especially with the fall pumpkin colors.

Terri said...

I kind of like them as they are...

Jantine said...

I think I would love the black!!!

Susan in SC said...

After reading all the comments, I think you should do what you think is best. I can validity for both sides of the color. That would be a hard decision!

Marsha said...

If it's not too late for my miniscule opinion, I think they would look better in black. You have such a knack for decorating.