Beauty of a vintage frame

Morning Darlins,

Discarded pieces of art.

Olde & chippy frames with the silver or gold leafing missing, pieces of the gesso gone forever.

I'm referring to the beauty of a vintage frame.

"Let it be as you found it, let the story be still." Gail Smith-Peterson

They don't necessarily need to have a piece of art mounted in them.

The first four photos are from my personal collection,  

here is how I've integrated these vintage frames in my home.

I love to hang hydrangeas in mine from the summers harvest.

This vintage frame is very large, The scale is perfect for my dining room.

I'm in love with it!

I recently found this chuncky black frame in the midwest last month,

 & I love it propped up on a vintage architectural corbel.

 Slipped in a vintage B&W family photo.

These are two gold frames I snuggled inside of each other, 

{the sides aren't showing in this pic,  

see the second frame at the top?}

This frame, I found at a barn sale at NaDa farm. The burlap, GB is just the right size. 

I hung it inside this vintage pine armoir. 

Each of these frames has an elegance of it's own...

Some inspiring ideas others did with theirs!

from Pinterest

I hope you will dust off the vintage frames you have, or at least the next time your Auntie says... 

Do you want this old frame? Quickly respond YES! 

If you've walked by vintage frames before or saw them here at SSO, 

now I hope you won't pass them by.

 Let's begin to see the beauty 

& 

 use them in fresh new ways.

My Design tip: Simply hang or set the frame where you desire, something will be inspiring to hang inside.

Hop over today at "SECOND SHOUT OUT"BLOG and do some shopping!

A beautiful day to you!

xo,

me

A vintage trough decorated in herbs

Morning Darlins,

I loved this vintage zink trough the moment I saw it...

I believe it to be some kind of a old work sink.

I have visons of someday using as a sink again,

 but till then,

 i love seeing it planted & happily spilling over with herbs...

I have planted in here

Basil

Dill

Scallions

Thyme

&

Chocolate mint!

I love just snipping fresh herbs from here for my recipes.

Here is what it looked like when I first planted it...

If you have a small space, terrace or balcony you can plant a herb garden in a cool container and enjoy fresh herbs anytime!

A beautiful day to you hope you take THYME to enjoy it!!!

xo,

me

First day of SUMMER

Morning Darlins,

HAPPY SUMMER!

Today is officially the first day of SUMMER...

Let's have fun here... 

& 

begin the day with waking up in a light filled room, layered in vintage linens. 

Fresh off the line, nicely crisp from the summer breeze.

I think we should hang a vintage summer flag announcing the first day of SUMMER!

Later we can go back in  & relax in the charming white cottage.

LOVE * LOVE * LOVE *

these vintage white shutters on the cottage...

Ahh... a perfectly weathered vintage chair.

Let's make some flavored waters & get them on ice in the vintage baby bath.

Love vintage oars,

 something fun to collect.

 SOOO cool.

I would love everyone to sign them before they leave... so there will be a record of all who held them!

After dinner let's meet at the dock, 

the vintage boat has some chilled wine & desert ready for our sunset cruise around the lake.

What a perfect ending to the beautiful first day of Summer...

This so reminds me of growing up on the lake and the First day of SUMMER! 

My Granparents had a boat like this!

My Design tip: Summer decor should be inside & out. Bring the inside out, The outside in! HAve fun with it & use your collection to make your home a warm & welcoming gathering place.

Hop over to SECOND SHOUT OUT BLOG for my Saturday's "Designing with Vintage" series.

I'm running a  20% off on all products in my store at Second Shout Out. 

Visit

 CASUAL LOVES ELEGANCE use Promo-Code CLE20 at checkout! Thank you.

I hope your day is filled with moments just for you & with all you love.

xo,

me

All photos Pinterest

A summer morning in the grove

Yesterday morning at our country house...

School is out for summer but I jump out of bed early, 

I love the mornings here.

The birds are singing the light is gorgeous!

In the baby grove we have apples...

I forgot that I found this vintage tin with the ABC's around the edge in WI.

This glass cloche fits perfects inside the rim!

The baby grove is a grouping of trees that were here on the property when we purchased it. 

I don't know the variety of apple this is but their delicious!

I'm rarely alone in the grove....

I have a little entourage...

I harvest our Lemons three times a week 

Our Saint, "Mr. Lincon" is usually at my side or near the ranger....

See him by the wheel in the dirt!

"Miss Chloe" our Tibetian, is lounging under one of he Oak trees we planted.

 She likes her space!!!

I look forward to spending time in the grove each week.

it's so peaceful,

 beautiful 

& 

the fragrance should be bottled!

A beautiful Friday to you!

xo,

me

Favorite stops in Chicago

Morning Darlins,

Hope your Father's day weekend was relaxing & special...

Had a wonderful time at the Lobster bake...I think I'm good on seafood till next year! 

The families had an awesome time and the games the DAD's had to play were hilarious!

On FD Sunday we took our boat out on the bay for the first ride of summer. 

A beautiful day in San Diego just hanging out on the water!

As promised here are my new fav's I discovered on my trip to Chicago last month.

Might want to put them in your file to check them out!

First

"ALL SAINTS"

When you walk in you see this feature wall.

Filled to the top with vintage sewing machines...

A closer look, I think there had to be about 500 sewing machine in this store.

My dad was in the sewing machine business for abut 25 years, 

I grew up with sewing! Later I designed my own line of Children's wear and created my own brand.

 I loved seeing this store,

it has the coolest clothes for men & women.

From jeans to jackets and in between.

 The decor is spectacular.

 I couldn't help thinking of my family in here, especially my DAD!

Kinda... in a teeny way made me want to start a new brand! Ha ha!

Next 

P.O.S.H.

I read about this store & had it on my list of places to visit...

So happy we did!

Towards the back of the store was this glassed in english style garden house.

P.O.S.H. has a nice mix of curated vintage paired with new items.

. 

A beautiful little shop in a historic building with charming merchandising 

&

 the sweetest sales gal chatted with us as she was wrapping up some pretty little earings I bought 

&

 gave us a little drawn map to see 

more beauty & shops.

So glad we found this one...

As we walked along the beautiful streets we came upon this...

The front of "CLASSIC REMIX" was so pretty we had to check it out!

My cousin & I love garden elements so this was like a magnet...

"CLASSIC REMIX"

It's a gorgeous home furnishing store accented with garden elements.

I felt it had a urban yet casually gorgeous vibe. 

For us SoCal girls it had a NewPort Beach...ish lux beach house feel.

Loved it!

 & 

the sales gal was really helpful & sweet to us. 

Next

As we walked we saw...

Spring in downtown Chicago is gorgeous...

OLDE archectecture... 

If you look to the upper right of this photo you can see the terrace with the boxwood & topiaries!

Mmmm. LOVE the natural gas lanterns...

LOVE the iron window box!

A Vintage coup parked out in front...

So this ends the trip of Chicago, we had a fabulous day and so happy we spent this day together.

Hope you get to Chicago 

& 

if you do, I think you'll find it's amazing!

A beautiful day to you!

xo,

me

Porch living day to night

Morning Darlins,

Something about a porch just says welcome.

Vintage homes seem to have at least one.

My childhood home on the lake had a big wrap around porch. My parents used to sip their coffee and read the Sunday paper almost every weekend during those nice weather months. 

Those moments on the porch were special.

From day to night we can enjoy vintage style living on the porch.

Day beds for lounging...

A sweet way to start the weekend sipping coffee on the porch.

I recall my 5th birthday party...it was on our porch. 

One just like this, 

my little guests were seated at a long farm table and I was on the end! 

We had sash windows like this too! 

Love the simplicity...

A beautiful screened in space for entertaining.

Rustic & relaxing isn't it?

So inviting & cozy!

Sleep over!!!

Summer Romance...

 My idea of the perfect summer evening...

My Design Tip: Vintage porch living is using your space as an extension of your home. Everyday moments can be a little more special when you take them on the porch.

Happy Father's Day weekend DAD's!

Off to an annual Father's Day Lobster Bake...

Hop over to SECOND SHOUT OUT BLOG & Vintage shopping!

xo,

me

{Photos from Pinterest}