An Inspiration Weekend House…

This past weekend Mike and I went upstate New York to meet our real estate agent and see a couple of houses that are for sale… How exciting! Well, the houses we went to look at weren’t that exciting…
 :-( But it’s OK. It was just the first day of our search! We got there at 10:30am. We had a homemade quick breakfast at Jack & Luna {a modern country style breakfast place}; and then we headed to meet our agent, Tecia Poulas {who I recommend already}. Next, we started driving everywhere in the area. It was a pleasant time driving between the trees, hills and meadows of Ulster County. We saw cows, red barns, creeks, rivers, deer, summer wild flowers… and picturesque roads and country houses! Ah… and the stone houses! Ah… they are so charming… By coincidence, the last edition of Elle Décor had an entire article about a historical stone house built in 1680 in the same area. I loved the property and the interior decoration of the magazine article. I want to keep it as an inspiration… I know we can’t afford such a house like that now… but maybe one day! Until that happens, I am going to keep the photos and article just to nourish my day dream moments…

Source: Elle Décor – Edition May 2010 - #166
Photography by William Waldron
Styled by Carlos Mota

CSN Stores Giveaway!

I recently was contacted by CSN Stores asking if I would be interested in doing a giveaway for my readers! They said in their contact email that they were looking for high quality websites and blogs… Can imagine how surprised and honored I felt?! They not only said that, but offered a $40 gift certificate for the winner!

So, you haven't heard of CSN Stores?  You have to check them out!!!  There are over 200+ stores all in one convenient website, with everything from modern to traditional, to school supplies to whatever…! I didn't know where to start looking, so I thought that I would focus in on style… As you know, if you have been following my blog, I have been “obsessed” with everything related to “country style”! Here in this post I selected a lot of furniture pieces that I liked from CSN Stores… {I got I a little bit crazy… I got a lot!!!}.  I just could not stop selecting them! You have to check out their stores yourself to understand why I am saying that... I started searching for entertainment centers; then beds, chairs, benches, chests, more and more items… Everything for a bedroom in the country house!  Just below enjoy my favorites!

  

ETC… ETC… ETC… CSN Stores have everything you could want....the only problem is trying to decide what you want! As soon as I found one thing, I also found 3 more!!!

But you don't have to take my word for it:

WIN IT:

As I said earlier, I have been permitted to offer one lucky RG Art & Design Inspiration reader a $40 gift certificate to CSN Stores! Head on over to CSN STORES and tell me what your favorite item is!

Giveaway ends Friday May 21 at 11:30am EST. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. Contest open to just residents over 18 in USA or CANADA.


I did not receive any compensation in order to host this giveaway. I contacted CSN stores, they did not solicit me. All opinions on merchandise listed were my own opinions and I was not asked to write about any item specifically.

Country Houses for Sale in Upstate NY in the US$300s

Well… maybe the $400s are still too much for you to own your “dream house in the country”… {For me, it is}. So I decided to continue dreaming, but this time in the $300s! {It’s probably still too much for me…}. Well… slowly, I will drop the “dream expectations” without being so drastic! You know what?! I did find some “beauties” in this range. Check it out, and then let me know what do you think?

House 1: 1797 Stone & Cedar farm house offers spacious, bright rooms, beamed ceilings, original woodwork and details, stone fireplace and beautiful front porch. All the updates have been recently done: new roof, electrical, heating system and baseboards, finished floors, freshly stained barn and much more! Relax by the in ground pool with cabana, overlooking views of pastures for your horses. Large specimen trees and bountiful gardens make this truly a special property.
MLS #: 20101768
Price$: 375,000
Area: LLOYD
City: New Paltz
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1
Half Baths: 1
Property Type: Single Family
Garage: 3
Style: Farm House
Lot Size: 7.58
Sq. Feet: 2310
School Dist.: Newpaltz
Year Built: 1797
Virtual Tour: Click here

House 2: Builders own rustic cedar Cape with wrap around porch and beautiful wood work over looking a shared 15' deep stocked pond. Trees from this lot were used to make the wide board floors, chair rail and exposed beams thru out the house. Located on a 3 acre lot and sharing half of the pond with it's flag sister lot of 11.4 acres. Kitchen has new Hickory cabinets, gas stove, new fridge, dish washer and counter tops.
MLS #: 20100587
Price: $309,000
Area: MARBLETOWN
City: Accord
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3
Half Baths: 1
Property Type: Single Family
Garage: 0
Style: Cape
Lot Size: 3.04
Sq. Feet: 2352
School Dist.: Rondout
Year Built: 1999

House 3: Just the most adorable love nest, this cottage-like saltbox was lovingly built with native woods dried and aged on the site, with wide board floors and beamed ceilings. This special property offers real privacy on one of Stone Ridge's most desirable roads. Come for the weekend, the week, or a lifetime and you won't want to leave. Newly painted a wonderful slate blue and featuring a new bluestone patio, as well as an open deck. Rest and relaxation is mandatory in this sweet spot.
MLS #: 20101943
Price: $368,000
Area: MARBLETOWN
City: Stone Ridge
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1
Half Baths: 1
Property Type: Single Family
Garage: 0
Style: Other
Lot Size: 2.00
Sq. Feet: 1344
School Dist.: Rondout
Year Built: 1978

House 4: Fantastic Cedar Sided Contemporary at a Fantastic Price on a Wooded Marlboro Hillside with Valley Views. Hardwood Floors including the Black Walnut in the Dining Room. Double Sided Fireplace Servicing Family Room and Dining Room. Master Bedroom with a Fireplace and a Balcony Overlooking the Stunning Two Floor Solarium.
MLS #: 20102181
Price: $350,000
Area: MARLBORO
City: Marlboro
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Half Baths: 0
Property Type: Single Family
Garage: 2
Style: Contempo
Lot Size: 2.30
Sq. Feet: 1719
School Dist.: Marlboro
Year Built: 1990

House 5: The wall of windows framing your own spectacular view of Lyonsville pond is the the main highlight of this home, yet there is more. The gourmet kit will not disappoint & the great room living area will remind you to share this beauty with your friends & family. Large deck awaits you for relaxation & grilling, & sunroom for year round enjoyment of the view. Master BR features both Jacuzzi tub & walk in shower. The 2nd balcony seating area is to enjoy the view. Basement offers 800+feet of addtnl space as yet unfinished.
MLS #: 20101814
Price: $329,000
Area: MARBLETOWN
City: Accord
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Half Baths: 0
Property Type: Single Family
Garage: 0
Style: Contempo
Lot Size: 3.40
Sq. Feet: 1820
School Dist.: Rondout
Year Built: 1997

House 6: Private beautifully maintained home on 6 private acres with extensive frontage on the Mettacohonts creek. Sq. footage does not reflect finished basement with family room, guest bedroom full bath & office. Large screened room & kitchen overlook nicely landscaped yard to creek, including as historic lime kiln! Only 3 houses on entire private road just .08 miles from Rte 209 ensures privacy. The 2nd garage one under, one freestanding (could make one a studio). Enjoy yr around creek & abutting pond activity.
MLS #: 20101171
Price: $347,900
Area: ROCHESTER
City: Accord
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Half Baths: 0
Property Type: Single Family
Garage: 2
Style: Other
Lot Size: 6.00
Sq. Feet: 1472
School Dist.: Rondout
Year Built: 1969

If you would like to get more info about the houses {or buy one : )} visit the website: http://www.nutshellrealty.com/

Flores de Todo o Lugar do Mundo

Gostaria de oferecer a voce, minha querida mae, Neide:
um "Jardim de Flores"!

Gostaria de desejar um FELIZ DIA DAS MAES para todas as maes do mundo!
I would like to wish a HAPPY MOTHERS DAY for all the moms in the world!

{Fotos tiradas por mim. Flores de todo o lugar do mundo!}
{Photos that I took.  Flowers from all over the world!}

NEUTRAL PALETTE FOR COUNTRY HOUSES

DREAM… DREAM… DREAM… I can’t stop daydreaming… since we talked about this idea of buying a country house!

Why not a neutral or white palette for my future country house? It’s fresh, it’s clean, it’s more like a “modern-country” style!

I would like to share with you some images from my “Inspiration Library” that expresses the neutral palette I am so in love with... Check it out, and tell me what do you think?

QUICK TIPS: QUITE WHITE

Written by Jane Dagmi
Roger Turnbow, VP of design for the Mitchell Gold Co., offers advice on maintaining white upholstery: Accessorize with other textiles, apply "fabric protection" treatments, and in the event of stains, spot clean with cornstarch, salt, or commercial stain removers. A professional upholstery cleaner can always assess the situation.

Written by Jill Kirchner Simpson
Machine-wash linens on "warm." For white linen, use an oxygen-based bleach rather than chlorine, which can cause yellowing.

Remove linen items from the dryer while they are still damp, then finish drying on clothesline; overdrying can cause linen to become brittle.

Iron linen while it's still damp. Or, store damp items in a plastic bag in the refrigerator to prevent mildew and make pressing easier.

AHhhhhhh....................................!