9.09.2009

The West Room......

PART II....
this room now accommodates our love for music....

piano, my husband's congas, flutes from all over the world, all different types of maracas, my guitar, and my son's guitar, and lots of sheet music.....

there were only 2 things that survived the barn fire:
on top of the piano resides this.....
a copper pressing of my patron saint...Saint Anne.....(maybe sometime, I'll show you the other item that survived the fire)


but this picture symbolizes so much for me in both strength, faith and the peace that will always reside within me.....

yeah......yeah......get on with it right?
When you first walk into the room, there's a small sitting area, nothing special, just somewhere to sit with the guitar, flute or a steaming cup of tea and a magazine.....
this oil on canvas is from my husband's mother, and the frame I found for $5 at a garden sale of all places.....now one of my favorites....

we added that blue here and there....

and when you look outside, the view is of the Potager and at night, the sunset......hence, the name: West Room.....
once the room was cleaned out, I brought a twin bed frame down from the attic and the appropriate sized box spring and mattress, and created something similar to "my room"......

fresh lavender was added to her pillow....
WAIT! I didn't tell you that I was alone for over a week while husband went to Canada did I?

yes, well, that is why I had this special guest....the woman on the left is my husband's mother.....my dear friend really...... that's why I was able to do all of this see? because if left alone, Anne Marie will do things like this......

at the foot of the bed, I hung shelves, and placed all the kids cowboy/cowgirl boots, with my hydrangeas in a few........these are my husband's when he was a child.....sooo cute!....
he's my cowboy....he is from Kansas you know.....and framed the kids photo shoot I took last autumn.......
looking up, you can see the "blue sky".............
this is the only thing I purchased for the room......
an antique crocheted bolero.....

(it came with the crocheted hanger for $3)
.......I was so excited to finally put out some of my French linens for her (and me :)

like what you see draped over this chair, then added a hemp-blend blue striped tea towel, one of the pillows I have made from some old French red/white kitchen towels, and rested a very unique Irish drawstring bag next to the chair....
......sure........I wanted to buy things for the room, but only that crocheted top and a nice bar of soap was purchased.....
everything else I gathered from outside, to anywhere inside......


working with what I had.........



in the evening, the light was turned on, to read bedside.........
and funny thing, I asked the first night: "what time should I get the coffee going in the morning?"

"oh...7am is good"

okay, 7 am is fine..........did that for my guest...........
I sprang out of bed the next morning due to a noise downstairs (which was just my son arising from sleep) so as not to leave my guest alone, I grabbed a cup of coffee, went over to the West Room, and lo' and behold, my guest was still sleeping!

until 9:30 mind you

so hilariously I asked: "soooo....should I set the coffee for 10 tomorrow?"

~I guess she liked the room~

and she even gave her hostess this:
her brother made it and I love it!

~thanks for your patience~
I am sure you all feel more virtuous now........don't you

anything to help ;)

and to think I had a party with over 200 people who attended just a week after this room redo.....well, Anne Marie is a wee bit exhausted now........
also a funny thing: my first post just a year ago!

21 comments:

  1. Absolutely stunning...no wonder your Mother-in-law slept in.
    I'm booking the first two weeks in October and would like coffee served abour 10.30.a.m !!!!!!!
    Seriously though, this room has been made so welcoming because of all the love that you have put into it and there are many family memories too. You could have spent a small fortune on this room but it would never have had the wonderful memories in it. Love it XXXX

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  2. What a wonderful home! Had a very dear friend called Sarah who would have adored your home had she lived. I was very much reminded of her looking at your shots.

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  3. when mrs opportunity knocks, Anne Marrie answers.
    I love it when the ideas coming like a roaring river, almost out of control. We are a wee bit alike with that same "out of the box, no cookie cutter design in this old house."

    I may come now for an overnight, forget the day trip thing.

    I wanna snuggle on that bed, turn my head to the west and dream.

    wish I'd met mominlaw last Sunday.

    p.s. maybe you should curl up on that bed.

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  4. Anne Marie, loved touring your west room. It's very lovely and so you. I know what you mean about using what you have. I have an attic full and love to go shopping there. With a little imagination, you can almost always find the perfect piece. :)

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  5. What a welcoming retreat for your special guest. You did a splendid job gathering loved and cherished items you already had. How lovely.
    On another note, I understand the fire thing. My folks summer house burned down along with lots of memories and treasures. Sad But no one was hurt and in the end that's what really matters.
    Blessings,
    Molly

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  6. Wowza!!!

    You mentioned in a previous post to "Leave your pride at the barn door" Well who wouldn't be proud to have been a guest at your home! Whether it be a fabulous barn party or in the West Room!!!!!

    I love it and it couldn't be decorated any better than it is this way!! You can't by the sentimental beauty of your family's old cowboy boots in any store!!!!!!

    Let me know when I can come!!

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  7. What a beautiful room and so very welcoming and warm! You did a wonderful job and I'm sure your mother-in-law felt very loved in it.

    Blessings,
    Kathleen

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  8. HEAVEN ON EARTH!!!! Anne Marie...this is soooooo pretty,I have no words,I enlarged almost every photos,think I will set one as my backgroun!! You can just see how much love went into that room and all the decor in the world can't give you that look!!! LOVE IT!!! I don't think you could get me out of there! talk soon,x0x0x0Chrissy

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  9. Im packing my bags...I should be at your house around supper...hope thats ok. No worries..I will leave the kids at home this time...smiles~

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  10. Susie~
    We'll be tail-gating tonight at the football game......bring your pom poms!!
    lol

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  11. I want to make my reservations right now..it is beautiful..;)

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  12. I want to book that room, too!

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  13. That room is beautiful and looks so cozy and comfortable! I wouldn't want to leave it! The necklace is gorgeous too!

    I really love your photography! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! It's nice to meet you too!

    Manuela

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  14. Your room turned out beautifully! I'm sure "your company" was just delighted to relax in that room... Love your little bit of blue here and there. It adds a wonderful touch.

    Blessings
    Kitty

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  15. Anne Marie...I LOVE how you make do with what you have, and turn the simplest spot into a beautiful vignette! What a blessing for your dear mother in law!

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  16. Anne Marie,

    It's so beautiful! There is such a peace about it. I could stay in there for days!!! Well, except if you would entice me out with some fresh farm eggs and hot coffee and then maybe...

    Adrienne

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  17. NICE TO MEET YOU FINALLY. WHAT A WONDERFUL SPACE. I WILL BE DOING A BUNCH OF GUTTING AND REBUILDING SOON. WISH ME LUCK. WHEN THE HOUSE IS DONE I WILL HAVE A GARDEN, CAN MY VEGIES AND FRUIT. I WILL CREATE AND USE MY GIFTS TO HELP OTHERS. I HOPE WE WILL BE DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I LONG TO FEEL RELAXED IN A SPACE LIKE THE ROOM YOU CREATED. GREAT JOB. KAREN

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  18. How gorgeous this room turned out and it only cost you 3 dollars? Did I read that right? I'm so glad your guest felt so at home... must say something about the hostess :)

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  19. Absolutely Beautiful!!!!
    love those colours,textures,instruments...harmony in this room...ohhh, beautiful like I said before.
    Hugs
    Magdalena/Color Sepia

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  20. Dear,
    I do not know how but I'm here, reading this post....ok, I am shocked, Daniel is pretty identical to you father in low! Do you see it???
    And my Giovanni is identical to my dad!!
    How funny life is!

    Fra

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