HOLIDAY BAR CARTS

What do you decorate for the holidays besides your tree and mantel?  Did you ever consider that you can outfit your bar cart for the holidays too?  If you missed my post about my holiday bar cart, go here.

Here are some of my favorites.  

Love the choice of the not-your-usual holiday jewel tone colors.

Source

Not an alcoholic drink in sight but perfect holiday use.

Source

You already know how I feel about plaid and layered rugs.  Love it.

Source

All this bar cart added was a wreath and some pomegranates.   It's such an easy change.

Source

I'm always ready to wrap a garland around a deer head----or across a bar cart.

Source

I love that the bar cart is next to and part of the holiday tree decor.

Source

Simply add a  fabulous garland.

Source

Anything with fur works for me.

Source

This is my bar cart that I styled for the holidays last year.  If you missed that post, go here, or click on the image.

MY STYLED BAR CART

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas.
Happy New Year.

If you want to go to the original source, click on the image and you'll be directed there.

GOBBLE GOBBLE

For many years I've been collecting turkey planters, turkey salt and pepper shakers, and turkey covered dishes.  Normally I use them as centerpieces on our Thanksgiving table.  This year I decided that I had way too many turkeys.  I shared some with my daughter and my sisters.  After they had first dibs, I put some for sale on my new Instagram account, @shopmycollectedhome.  I just started this account so I don't have many followers or many sales yet but I'm hopeful I can make it work.   I need to thin out more than just turkeys.

I did keep some from the collection.  Instead of using them as centerpieces, I let them roost among the plates on my corner cupboard.  I've had this cupboard for years and it's always been in same corner of my dining room.  It's survived many furniture purges.  I think it's safe for now.

VINTAGE CORNER CABINET IN MY DINING ROOM

Can you find the turkeys?

VINTAGE TURKEYS IN MY CUPBOARD

I tucked a turkey covered dish under the curve of the bottom shelf.  I think he's intended to hold some cranberry sauce.  He even came with a small ladle.

TURKEY COVERED DISH

One shelf up I have a salt and pepper set.   

TURKEY SALT AND PEPPER

Turkey salt and pepper in this dark brown color is unusual.

DARK BROWN SALT AND PEPPER

The next shelf up has another covered dish.  It's a perfect match for my cabbage plates.

WHITE COVERED DISH TURKEY

Last is the top shelf and another covered dish in a soft blue gray.

TOP SHELF

BLUE GRAY TURKEY COVERED DISH

This brass sphere has moved around the house a lot.  Right now it's layered in front of my vintage ironstone platter.  

BRASS SPHERE

I've had these brass stag goblets for many years.  They can be turned up side down and used as a vase.  I've never used them as a goblet.  Their antlers form a perfect base when they're reversed.  Love them.

STAG GOBLETS

What do you do for Thanksgiving decor?

I want to wish all my readers and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.

Also, a big thank you to everyone for following along with me.

YEA OR NAY? BRASS SHELVES IN THE KITCHEN

 When my kitchen was in the planning stages, one of the features I was considering was open brass shelving.  I wanted to add them to either side of my hood.  There just wasn't enough space to do it and I had to give up on them.  Even though I didn't get a chance to add them to my kitchen, I still think they're pretty wonderful and thought you'd enjoy looking at my Pinterest inspirations.

I like the fact that there are a pair of open shelves and they match the height of the upper cabinets.

SOURCE

How wonderful are the open shelves with that marble peeking out from behind.

SOURCE

These shelves are resting on the counter and mounted to the wall.  Love the pendant light above.

SOURCE

Placing the shelves on either side of the hood is my favorite location for the shelves.  This was what I wanted for my dream kitchen.  Ohhhh those pendant lights floating in front of them.

SOURCE

I like using the shelves for a bar too.   Hmm.  Maybe I could add them in the pantry.

SOURCE

These look very modern.  The way they're suspended is really unique.

SOURCE

These shelves are suspended over an expanse of windows.  I'm not sure if I like it or not.                   What do you think?

SOURCE

I like that the brass bar stools repeat the design of the shelves.  What do you think about the marble and subway tile backsplash combination?

SOURCE

This next image is from a restaurant.  I love the size.

SOURCE

I still haven't given up on brass shelves.  

Do you like the look?  Have you added open shelves to your home?

For more ideas, visit my Pinterest page, My Kitchen Open Shelving.

A FALL WARDROBE CHANGE FOR MY LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA

I so enjoy my limelight hydrangea and always look forward to its late summer blooms.  Unfortunately, as the weather cools, the blooms fade.   As I was cutting it back I realized that the faded blooms had transformed into the perfect warm sepia tones of Autumn.  I stopped pruning and brought out a seeded glass container.   I put some of the blooms in the recycle bucket and the others in to the vase.  I brought the oversized Fall floral arrangement inside and placed it on one of the islands in my kitchen.

OVERSIZED FALL ARRANGEMENT ON MY KITCHEN ISLAND

MY LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA IN SEPIA TONES

I have two islands in my kitchen.  I use antique bread boards on both the islands.  I love the look of the bread boards, but they do serve a practical purpose too.  They protect the surface and act as large trivets.

MY KITCHEN ISLAND WITH THE LARGE FLORAL

If you look closely you'll see that I used some of the leaves from the hydrangea to line the vase and conceal the stems.

HYDRANGEA LEAVES IN BASE OF VASE

In addition to the bread board, I have a dough bowl on that island.  I know it takes up a lot of space, but I like it there. 

DOUGH BOWL AND BREAD BOARD ON MY ISLAND

ANTIQUE DOUGH BOWL

I arranged some branches, a found turtle shell, some glass beads and an animal horn inside.

INSIDE MY DOUGH BOWL

What do you do for Fall floral arrangements?

This is what my hydrangea looked like this summer.  To see the full post, click on the highlighted word  here or click on the image to be directed there.

MY SUMMER LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA