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Mother’s Day in Brimfield

5/13/2018

If your heart flutters like mine does when you see something rustic, chippy, or vintage then this place is THE place you go to find anything and all things with a history (or things intentionally aged to look like they had a story). Either version of “old” is fine by me!

Brimfield Flea Market has been on my wish list forever and having lived in Massachusetts my whole life I’m ashamed to say I have never been! Since today was the last day of the May open dates, I knew it would be the perfect way to spend a Mother’s Day. And who better to enjoy all the vintage glory with me was my mom! Mom and dad came along for the trek as well as my two boys and hubby. About 2 hours from Boston, it’s a bit of a drive but worth every minute when you get there and see all those white tents protecting millions of special treasures (You’ll see some of my treasures at the very end)!

Our first tent stop was because of my 5 year old who decided he wanted to rummage through the broken, old, worn, sticky...kidding...I mean vintage goodies for kids. Hehe! Dragging my little buddy out from under that tent was quite a feat but after finally convincing him to “settle” on a vintage Spider-Man, well that did the trick. Onto the good stuff!

From little chippy accent pieces to hutches with vintage charm, there was so much to take in. Vendors come from all over the east coast to show off their goods at Brimfield. Some have their own brick and mortar stores or rent out space from another vendor’s store back home. The treasures we found! We could have definitely filled the truck. How about this gorgeously casual and rustic table setting by one of the vendors below? I’ll take a glass of wine, please!

Speaking of wine, there’s also a wine garden behind this gorgeous red barn where they do wine tastings and offer beer as well. We enjoyed a local cider today and it was delish. Live music and food rounded out the fun with plenty of spaces to sit and enjoy on this busy Brimfield day. I could have just sat and enjoyed this view of the barn all day. Blissful!

None of us were in the market for any furniture today so we were more interested in some new decorative accessories. Under a tent, we found a little shop called Hazel Mae’s based in New Hampshire. They had rusted metal signs, olive buckets, and chippy wall decor galore. This is the kind of place where farmhouse dreams come true! Of course, some of these sweet little items had to come home with me. See below for those photos. My porch is so happy now with it’s new white olive buckets with some lovely flowers picked up at the garden center on the way home. You’ll see that adorable hanging basket too is filled with greenery bought today from another vendor and works so nicely with my welcome sign I painted last summer.

Next go around, I’m heading back to Brimfield and bringing the truck and mom again - maybe we’ll leave all the guys at home next time...

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you had a beautiful day with your loved ones, whether you’re a mom, like a mom, a caretaker, or you’re missing your mom, I’m wishing you had a memory-filled day with those who mean so much to you.

Liz :)

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Designing for Two

5/4/2018

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My hunny John and I are high school sweethearts and married for almost 9 years.

“How can we merge our styles? We are so opposite?”

“How can I convince him we need to get white cabinets?”

Sounds all too familiar, right?
I’ve been an elementary teacher for eleven years and having worked with young children for so many years you learn much about the “art of negotiating”. Like in any relationship, whether it be teacher-student, parent-child, or a life partnership, making decisions together can require a bit of negotiating in order to come to a compromise. This is also true when deciding on the look you want to achieve in your home. After all, you and your spouse/partner ultimately have to live with each other and within the space so it’s important everyone involved has a say!

The first step in making decisions for your home is determining yours and your partner’s personal styles. What styles do both you love? What styles do you both dislike? Start there and you never know...you both may find you have something in common! Begin a collection of photos together on Pinterest or Houzz. You’ll likely start to see a common thread among your own photos you’ve pinned and you may even notice specific design elements you and your partner often gravitate towards.

When merging two differing styles within a living room or bedroom, start with the largest furniture pieces and choose timeless furniture designs and finishes. He likes modern prints and she likes white and bright? Choose light, neutral colored linens and bedding and add subtle pops of color and a mix of prints using decorative pillows and a fun throw. Throws and accent pillows are an easy way to personalize a look without spending a fortune.

Can’t agree on a kitchen design because you want white cabinets and your spouse wants wood tones? Many are afraid of going with bright white cabinets because of the expectations of high maintenance. Choosing a cabinet color that will hide fingerprints and scuffs like a light gray-beige is a good compromise. If you’re painting cabinets, Benjamin Moore colors such as Moonshine and Balboa Mist offer the light and bright benefits of a white kitchen while providing a practical advantage (hiding those fingerprints). Opt for a light colored quartz countertop that will help reflect light and help give the room a fresh look. Bring in wood tones in stools or countertop accessories to add texture to the space to help please you’re partner’s love of wood tones.

Ultimately, merging styles isn’t about making him or her come to your side. Though, in reality, don’t we all just want everything to go our way? Or is that just me? Ha! It really is about compromising on the major decisions and adding personality to your home in the smaller purchases and accents. Happy decorating, friends!

Liz

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How to Feel Young Again

3/8/2018

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Visit the city...any city near you or in my case, Boston. How stunning is this view in Southie even on a cold New England day? "Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind" and this city totally inspires me to follow this motto.

Carson Beach, South Boston

I spent a cold morning in Southie last weekend with my parents to check out the progress on the luxury condo rentals I'm assisting with. The wind was whipping and eyes were watering because it's particularly cold on the waterfront! I live about 45 minutes out from the city so usually my family and I will pop into Boston for the day in the warmer months and take the kids to the science museum or lunch in the North End or Faneuil Hall. I don't get into town all that often except for when visiting this job site so I was reminded how the vibes in South Boston are very unique. Though there are families who have lived there for many generations, my husband's family included, it feels youthful and fresh with all the young professionals who basically took over this waterfront location. I felt pretty cool hanging out there remembering the days I would visit friends with city apartments and hit the local pubs or watch the South Boston St. Patrick's Day parade. Ahh, my twenties...

Lunch at L Street Diner & Pizzeria. They have proper Italian Calzones and Mimosas. Which is exactly what we ordered. What more could you want?

That beautiful slate blue building is the property I'm assisting with and is adjacent to a cemetery. A nice feature in the city because you get a little green space view.

Incoming flight to Logan Airport. The view from the master bedroom "porch" / aka rooftop.

My dad, Frank, is the general contractor, property manager, and project manager (jack-of-all-trades) for a local property management & development firm, Foxcroft Inc. based in Quincy, MA. The firm sought out this residential flip in Southie with full force last year. Dad led the construction team as they dug underground to lower the basement floor to create two bi-level condo units. The units are pretty impressive and will be STUNNING when finished. Kitchen cabinets are just about fully installed and ready for counters and backsplash. I recommended the units be painted in Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore (except the top unit master in Cumulous Cloud BM) and I'm glad we went with those choices because it's fresh and bright. Lighting is going up and flooring and tile have been ordered and will be installed soon. In my assisting with design decisions, my goal has been to bring back some of the historical integrity of the building at the same time adding some modern touches to appeal to today's potential renter. We've also had to keep in mind the durability of the flooring, tile, and countertops to limit the effects of long-term wear and tear. I'm learning so much as I always do when working with my dad. As I've worked with him over the years, he has given me much knowledge about the actuality of construction projects. Though it's nice to dream about the potential of a space, it's important to know the reality of what can be done and how much it will cost.

Often times I hear from friends about how long a demo and install took or how frustrated they were with a remodel. Whether it's a DIY project or you're working with a contractor, if you've been through this same frustration, I encourage you to take a deep breath, be patient, and focus on the end product you know you'll have for years to come. This short term pain “too shall pass”– like childbirth– haha! Am-I-right, ladies? Yikes.

I know many of my Massachusetts friends do not have electricity after the storm last night so everyone in New England: wishing you all safety and warmth and a quick return of power!

<3 Liz

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Mother’s Day in Brimfield

Designing for Two

How to Feel Young Again

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