Hidden Magnolias

Anyone who knows me, knows I am no minimalist. I love stuff – pretty stuff. Lots of pretty stuff --furniture, dishes, paintings, books, do-dads, knick-knacks, you name it. Nancy's Daily Dish Pinterest But recently, I have been intrigued by the minimalist movement. Mainly because so many of my friends say their children don’t want grandma’s china or silver or an old dresser set or any family heirloom. They are so disheartened – they gently saved and protected these heirlooms for years to pass along to children who now want no part of them.  Pinterest So, I had to investigate. What is a minimalist? The website The Minimalists gives their definition:        "Minimalism has helped us…   ...

In this Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram world, more and more people are using what they see on these vehicles to mold and shape not only their opinions about decorating but about lifestyle. However, this post is about decorating. A trend in today’s decorating that I have grown to dislike. A lot. Chevron  (all pics from Pinterest) Chevron has found its way into everything. A little chevron goes a long way. This is a tasteful and appropriate use of chevron. And then there is this....really? I haven’t seen one in person but someone told me about it. You can find it at Target. Hum.... Seeing it commercialized on something like a bathroom product means that the trend is popular enough and has been around long enough to declare it dead.

My husband and I like to take the old fashioned "Sunday drive." With a sense of adventure and no set plans, we explore places around Atlanta, visit little off-the-beaten-path places, small towns and attractions. Today we found, thanks to a dear friend, Classic on Noble , in Anniston, AL. The Sunday Brunch is worth the drive. The restaurant is in historic downtown Anniston in an old building that used to house the Kress 5 &10. (However, there are rumors that the building once served as a house of ill repute, but we won't discuss that.) Now if are like me, you may be thinking.... a nice restaurant in Anniston? Alabama?  I am here to tell you, oh yeah . The place is elegant but not stuffy. The tables are beautifully set. The waiters are abundant and attentive. The food stations are located in various areas around the room, so people aren't all packed into one huge line. I just hate that with a buffet, don't you?  Beautiful salad bar....

One of my favorite rooms is my office. It is bright with lots of natural sunlight. It is upstairs and tucked away from the main part of the house, so it is quiet. This what is looked like when we first moved in. As you can see, it has some strange angles. Once we moved in, it became a typical "junk" room with boxes of books, genealogy files and information. I am almost embarrassed to show you what is has become. Since one the main items stored in this room are books--boxes of books crammed into the window area. By the closet is a wall that really served no useful purpose. The perfect place for a built-in bookcase. So I searched the net and came up with some inspiration. I just love this full wall built in. I even like the simple desk and a small sofa in the room. So after many months of nagging reminding, my super talented husband got to work. Deciding on the trim was not really too hard. We have t...

Like most Southerners, I have a real love/hate relationship with Magnolias. I love the way they look. I love the way they smell. I love the pods. I hate the leaves. They are everywhere.  They never seem to disintegrate. But.....they do make pretty wreaths. http://www.bhg.com http://westonfarms.com http://www.prettypinktulips.com Pinterest Don't you think? Enjoy the beginnings of fall!