We all have different ideas of fun.
Some people cook.
Some people read (awesome fun).
Some people run (maybe not so much fun).
Some people walk outside on a sunny day and listen to cows and watch birds in the sky and feel spring in the air (sounds like a movie kind of fun).
Me?
I take pictures of my house.
Just between us, I would rather take pictures of my house than meet Brad Pitt. And that’s saying a lot.
Yesterday I had just gotten some fresh flowers for the house, so I pulled out my new lens and started snapping away. Then I snapped and smiled and snapped and smiled and snapped some more. Here’s some pictures of the room with a different perspective and a few farmhouse decorating tips along the way.
1. Fresh flowers
I cannot overstate this enough.
I can’t even explain how $4.97 from the Wal-Mart produce aisle makes the day a little brighter.
And a little milk glass makes a flower even prettier.
I find all my milk glass at yard sales and thrift stores and normally don’t pay over $2.00/piece. The key to making it look farmhouse is a milk glass collection. One piece of milk glass is fun, but encourage it to visit milkglassland and bring some relatives home.
2. Painted furniture
Adding a piece of painted furniture makes the whole space yours.
Especially if you are the one who painted it.
This is just a pine armoire painted SW Mindful Gray with a damask stencil in white on the front two panels.
I just painted the upper two panels and then started watching the housewives and got all distracted and stopped and then I decided I liked it better because a little stenciling can go a long way.
3. Natural fiber rugs
This is a 12′ x 15′ seagrass rug that we’ve had in the bedroom for about five years now.
I love it and it still looks like new.
Even though it has had dogs throw up on it and people spill coffee on it and grapes smashed into it.
The wide weave just allows everything to be blotted up and cleaned.
And it’s an inexpensive option when you are looking at the cost of a standard area rug.
4. Neutral colored curtains
When you are going for the farmhouse look, don’t overthink your curtains.
The farmers didn’t.
These are dropcloth curtains that I pinned into place one day. Yes, you read that correctly. Pinned.
{hangs head in shame}
One day I was going to have a party and I was in a rush, so I added the curtain rods but I ran out of time to sew pockets in the top. So I simply pinned these over the top and forgot that I pinned them. The bottom hems came with the dropcloth already.
In my defense, even farmers like a little no-sew.
5. Architectural details
This mantel came with the house, but it was a little small for the space.
So we simply added 1′ x 6′ around the surround and added crown molding.
Then we painted it all white because the woods didn’t match.
Now the mantel and surround are the focal point of the room without breaking the bank.
I love the farmhouse style.
I can’t help it.
I love chippy old pieces and vintage finds and fresh flowers and things that need rescuing and shopping the side of the road.
I love adding pieces and finds that make it my own and creating a home that wraps its arms around my family.
Because they are my favorite decoration of all. 🙂
And now for a few tips and ideas from some of my favorite friends:
CEDAR HILL FARMHOUSE
I love Farmhouse Style too and in my humble opinion, you've got it down pat. I adore the neutrals in your bedroom and I especially agree about neutral curtains. Thanks for sharing your lovely room and your photography. You mentioned a new lens. What did you get?
There is no shame in your drop cloth game. I took mine directly out of the package and hung them with curtain clips. Everybody keeps talking about sewing them and I am just smiling at them. :) Lisa
I always look forward to posts which give a tour of your lovely home - I get so many great ideas! I was just agonizing over the cost of curtains for my family room - need 118" length - and totally forgot about dropcloth. They will be perfect for my space and I actually happen to have two which I purchased ages ago but never used. Thank you so much for this post - another decor dilemma solved!
Miz karianne, I love the farmhouse look too.....and am so inspired by everything you have done to yours. I'm slowly getting started on mine....but it's dragging too slowly to suit me! Thanks for all the tips today. They're really good and gave me some ideas!
Not only do you make yourself happy by taking pictures of your home, but you make us all happy! I always love seeing your lovely decor and hearing your tips and comments. That seagrass rug has really held up beautifully! And yes, fresh flowers are a must for spring! Shelley
What a respite you have created in this bedroom. One question - what color did you use on the walls? Mine need a redo and I want to go lighter. Whatever I use must go with my woodwork that is cream (a BIG MISTAKE that I cannot correct at the moment). Our home is relatively new and the builder, decorator (don't ever listen to one who decorates for what they love and not you) and my husband pushed for cream even though in my heart I knew I loved white. Lesson learned - stand your ground!
Farmhouse style never looked so good!! : )
I just love your farmhouse style and you know I'm all about the milk glass. And with fresh flowers in them? Instant cheer!!
I love it too! Farmhouse and farmhouse chic is my favorite. I try to always have fresh flowers in the house. My bouquet from a few weeks ago is dead and sitting in the vase...what can I say, I've been traveling for work and have had no time! But, new flowers are on the list for the weekend. Have a great day!
So inviting:) You are the best!
Your photography is so beautiful! Your pictures inspire my heart.
KariAnne - Love all your Truths behind the Photos...and Love that Rug! Thanks for the Laugh Out Loud Laugh!
Lovely, lovely photos. I don't know whether your seagrass is up to this, but every summer I take our oriental carpets outside and hose them down. You can vacuum all you want, there's nothing like washing to get something clean. They take a while to dry, which is why I wait for a really HOT day. They weigh a ton, too, even when dry, so I need help. But it's so worth it afterwards.
I love your farmhouse style, too!! Thanks for sharing the great tips and pictures. Happy Day!
Love the serene look you have achieved. I had to laugh at the pinned drapes. I made some for my living room windows years ago. After painstakingly making coordinating roman shades for each individual window, when I finally got to the draperies that united all three windows, I just wanted it DONE, so I pinned the hems, thinking I would stitch them at a later date. LOL. That turned out fortuitous as I easily unpinned and repinned to make them fit the windows in my new home several years later. Nice to know I'm in such good company.
Such fabulous pictures! Perfect timing because I'm out home decor shopping at my favorite haunts today. The morning was filled with DDS visits and my after will be filled with PB and Ballards visits!
Love it all!
KariAnne - can you tell us what your flooring is underneath that sawgrass rug? Perhaps there's a place on your blog that your featured it, but I haven't been following you very long, and cannot find it. Thanks!
I found it! For others who want to know about the painted sub-floor, here's a link: https://thistlewoodfarms.com/painted-plywood-subfloor-state-of-the-floor-address/
Love your chairs in the bedroom. Can you tell me where you got them?
I love your photos and drool over your house! I grew up in a real farm house and visited many relatives in their farm houses, as well. I have to say, by far the most common farmhouse curtain was white, white eyelet or white lace. Guess white is a neutral so that counts. Love, love, love your humor!
Farmhouse all the way!!!!! Just perfect........ lovin' the way you soooo freely confess your sins... lolololol.... would have never guessed that the panels are pinned!! I have always admired that rug as well ... glad you told us how well it holds up!! ( BUT.... you might need some counsel concerning the whole Brad Pitt thing!!!) Just sayin..... :) Have a blessed day Karianne
Love your room and all of your beautiful touches. I like the simple appeal of the farmhouse look. I'm doing a bit of that at the lakehouse. You once wrote about your seagrass rug and how durable it was. So I did get one over a year ago for our den and wow, it holds up good to a lot of traffic and 2 dogs. I hope I never tire of it because it's going to be around forever! :) Jane
Kari, You are an inspiration! If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be replacing my furniture and decor with older looking items, and looking forward to creating, and refinishing furniture, I'd have told them they were nuts! We work in the California wine industry, and loved the Tuscan style. Like you, I love, love Joanna Gaines, and her farmhouse style. I'd almost move to Texas for a Magnolia Farms home. But, once I found your wonderful blog, I began refining my style, which as it turns out by some of my prior furniture choices, and pinning, is your more elegant farmhouse style. I love your neutral colors, they are beautiful, and more relaxing. I just replaced my dining room chairs with French country chairs, which go with my old table. I have farmhouse old looking white corner shelves that I am happily filling with white ironstone when I can find it in thrift stores. I am loving the transformation, and so happy and excited! I adore you and your style, and am sure we would be friends in person. Please contact me if you would like to taste and tour California's wine country. Cheers!
KariAnne, great photography and pointers for Farmhouse style. I wish Jo and Chip would consider working up north in Dallas. The lens that you love ~ it is considered a wide-angled lens? Thanks for the help.
Details on these drapes, please. Some us need directions! How to measure, press, wash. Choices of ways to hang them TUITORIAL
I could camp in your bedroom! It is just stunning and my style. You forgot one of my very favorite aspects of your room.. painted floors. Oh, Swoon!!!!! I am trying to convince Bobby to paint the floors in our bedroom and not put down the 27 boxes of hardwood that are waiting in the foyer. I love your style like I love you! LOTS!
You know I love your home, but mostly I am chuckling g about "Some people run (maybe not so much)." My sentiments exactly!!!
What a serene and lovely bedroom you've create Kari Anne! The colors and the white in contrast with your flowers are just so perfect. A definite inspiration for any bedroom! Thanks so much for sharing this with us on #SHINEbloghop this week!
Love all the pictures! I often have farmhouse envy. My sis lives in a farmhouse and spending the afternoon with her yesterday was divine. Your home is absolutely beautiful!
I love the farmhouse look! I'm slowly but surely updating everything in my boyfriend's house; it was an old schoolhouse that they turned into a house. Baby steps, but I love the idea of the dropcloth curtains; his need updating....bad!
Love it!!! Great ideas, just wow!!
"...don't overthink your curtains. The farmers didn't." Best. Tip. Ever. : )
No need to hang your head in shame because I think it's a great idea to pin instead of sew!!! Thank you for sharing that!!!
Everything looks great and wonderful tips. So, next step: lure Brad Pitt to your house. It will make for the perfect day! It's important to have goals.
I loved this post. Not just for the pretty pictures, but because I think we are kindred spirits when it comes to taking pretty pictures of our house ;-) It's like playing house as a girl, but for grown ups!
beautiful bright and welcoming. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things link party my friend. xo
So smart and so beautiful all rolled into one. :)
Thank you for the awesome post!! Your home always looks so effortlessly beautiful. Now I need to hunt for some more milk glass ❤️
This is such a gorgeous post! The pictures evoke such a light and bright vibe that makes me happy. I have chosen this as one of my featured favs from last week's Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. I will be featuring you on my site this week. Shellie www.thefabjourney.com
We’re buying a new house this summer and I’ve been busy planning how I’m going to transform it into a “proper” farmhouse. My husband told me the other day he doesn’t like white painted furniture. I don’t even know what to think about that. Because well… because what’s not to love? I have a few months to work on him and make him see the wonderfulness of my vision, and of white. I hope.
I'm just n the process of redoing my master. Drapes are so expensive! I'm going to take a look at the drop cloths and see if they will fit my decor - not country but traditional. Thank you for all the great ideas.
I have to say, since starting this blogging adventure, I feel just like you...I love to take the pictures. It has become such a fun challenge for me! As always your décor, tips and humor made me smile!! Love it friend!
Your bedroom looks gorgeous - with the neutral tones, it looks airy and clean. I want it to be my bedroom! I also found your post on the seaglass rugs - I think I'm going to have to get one. With kids and a white haired dog, it sounds like the way to go.