I Heart Antiques

I love antiques. They don't even have to be valuable antiques...I just love that an item I can hold in my own hands is a real, tangible piece of history. Take this bottle for instance:


It was manufactured in the late 1800's and it was an antique when my Grandma owned it. I don't know about you, but that just boggles my mind. Seriously! I can just picture a little Gibson Girl in a corset placing this very bottle in her medicine cabinet (any chance you're still reading? Or have I already bored you to death...).

(Uh hum...for those of you still reading) In my opinion, antiques are even better when they're family heirlooms. This china cabinet belonged to my great-grandmother. She saved up her money and bought it as a newlywed (in 1923). I feel honored to have it in my home (and as a bonus, I love the simple design).

I keep my mother's wedding china in the cabinet. Growing up, I always thought her pattern was so fancy and elegant. I was delighted when she passed it down to me, and I use it every Thanksgiving.




For more talk about heirlooms, head on over to the party today at "Emma Calls Me Mama".

Have a great weekend!

What's Your Fave ORB Spray Paint?

Read about another great option for ORB spray paint here.

I did a post a while back telling you about my favorite oil rubbed bronze spray paint (Rustoleum American Accents Metallic spray paint). Well, as many of you have already discovered, Rustoleum (in an act of shear madness) decided to discontinue this paint...what's up with that Rustoleum people?! I've actually half considered starting a petition...that's how much I liked that darn paint.



So, short of a political uprising, I've decided to ask you what your favorite oil rubbed bronze spray paint is so that we can all move on with our lives with a new paint...and hold hands, and drink a Coke. I'll post the results Monday (to give you all time to respond). I look forward to reading your comments!

I Love Me Some Ikea

I promise this will be my last post about Utah, but you know I can't possibly go to Ikea without sharing some of my favorite finds with you!

Like this great bench (love the pillows too):

These great (and inexpensive) enamel pitchers :

This fab white dining room furniture:

Don't you love the combination of the dark walls with the white vanities and mirror?:

Mmm, I'm loving this soothing bedroom:

I especially love the upholstered headboard:

Lovin' the curves on this little nightstand:

Have a great week!

P.S. I said "love" 6 times in this post. I think maybe I need a thesaurus :-).

Home Tour - Daybreak, Utah

There's a master planned community named Daybreak that was recently built on the western end of the Salt Lake valley. I love this development. Not only is the community well designed with a man made lake, lots of parks, and community centers, but the homes are beautiful. Rather than the typical suburban track home, the homes are designed to look like the charming cottages that you'd see in older, more established neighborhoods.

Take a look...

One of My Favorite Places on Earth

I'm on vacation this week in one of my favorite places on earth, Park City, Utah. You may have heard me mention (like 5 billion times) that I'm originally from Utah...and really, Dorothy knew what she was talking about when she said "There's no place like home."

So I hope you'll bear with me a little this week while I show you inside some local homes, and maybe throw in a little scenery. Like this from yesterday...

Forget about it....(that's pronounced in a New York accent..like "forgeddaboudit"in case you were wondering)

They had a Sunday street festival going on yesterday, and we know that I'm never one to miss a street festival...

Especially one with live music, good food, and...

Lots of shopping...

And don't adjust your monitors. That's not Enrique Iglesias...that's my son...I like to call him "Coolio" :-).
So, stay tuned for a glimpse inside some great local homes this week.

XO ~ AnNicole