Flea Market Finds, Fall, Projects and Sneak Peeks!

Well howdy there, folks! Since we are working on all of our rooms at once, I have a jam packed post for you. None of the rooms are quite finished yet, but I thought I'd give you a sneak peek! Since my parents are coming to visit in a few weeks, we are more focused on getting the place ready for company than decorating for Fall... I am hoping to get around to some Fall decor projects soon.

The whole house is now painted (except for two of the bathrooms).The colors of the barn before I got my hands on it consisted of yellow, purple, and neon orange. It is hard to see in the picture above (left) but the color was actually VERY yellow and the color on the wall to the right was a dusty purple. We painted the walls a bright creamy greige and the same dark charcoal greige I used in my kitchen. The chandelier was a flea market find from Belgium and was such a steal!! Only 100 Euros (way cheap, even for a flea market)! We saw the same antique one several other times at the flea market for almost 300 Euro, so we REALLY lucked out and my negotiating skills are majestic. I added a zillion extra crystals to make it larger, so that it would fill the massive, empty space in our dining room. 

Isn't it amazing what a little paint and a 100 Euro light fixture can do to a space!??

 The cowhide was dirt cheap from Ikea. The table was a $20 find from the Goodwill about 15 years ago that my mom passed down to me, and the ladder was found in the barn.  I splurged on the chairs (they were totally on sale) from European Country Living. Once again, I keep all the colors in my rooms pretty neutral so that I can add different colorful accents throughout all the different seasons...Also, it's kind of ethereal feeling in here.

I adore the old stones in the corner. 

We have also been working on brightening up our cozy kitchen. 

The existing lights were really awkward and didn't compliment the space at all. One was long, contemporary and crystal-y (beautiful, but not for a barn). The other was all 90's contemporary looking... I just love the draping chords too (ahem). 

 The ceiling felt like it was caving in and the beautiful hand-burned beams didn't stand out at all!

Below is the large bronze and crystal chandelier we also purchased from the Belgian flea market. It was also a bargain!

 Not only did we paint the walls a soothing linen and charcoal-greige color but, we also painted the ceiling a bright white. It really showcases the beams beautifully now and opens the room up a ton! To update the candlesticks on the chandelier I spray painted them cream.

 The cow-head is from a Polish Pottery shop and the ladder was discovered in the barn. The head is a great apron holder and the ladder sure makes a fabulous towel rack. The antique bottle dryer was purchased in Metz, France at a Flea Market and we will be restoring it to its silvery metal state soon. Besides the bottle dryer and some antique aqua colored bottles, everything at the Metz Fea Market  is WAY over priced. The city of Metz is gorgeous and totally worth the short trip!

Oh, Metz, how I love you and your Frenchie ways!

Another Belgian score was this antique bar-buffet! We got it for only 100 Euro!!! Also way, way cheap even for a flea market...It was already painted a kind of  purply grey color that just didn't sit right with me so, I decided to paint and distress it even more.

I am delighted with the outcome. Tutorial coming soon!

Since I have no autumn decor of my own to show you, I wanted to share with you what my friendly neighbor created. By collecting items from her backyard and our village she dreamed up this pumpkin arrangement and natural wreath. The pumpkin is filled with green beans, carrots, chunks of bark (which hide glasses filled with water), berries, flowers, wheat and some kind of cotton-y plant I don't recognize. How creative and unique is this!? I have to say, Germans know how to create one of a kind floral arrangements that never cease to amaze me. Sorry for the poor picture quality. I shot these with my phone in one hand while sipping a homemade honey liqueur (made by my other neighbor) with my other hand. She also picks Elder-flowers from the fields and makes simple syrup for soda water...OH, MY GOSH. it's incredible... the flavor dances on your tongue like people around a Maypole.

Here is another little peek at my relaxing living room. Ahhhh, even my weepy branches are relaxing with Penny...

To see a tutorial on how we made this pallet coffee table, click here.

I am off to cook Julia Child's (well, actually my grandmother's even better version of) Beef Bourguignon and homemade bread by the fireplace in our kitchen. My grandmother adds a can of cranberries and a few other goodies. It is the perfect meal for a chilly evening! 

I am off to have an enchanting autumn night, you should do the same...