20 December 2008

Where Did This Week Go?

I have not checked my emails this week or visited any blogs...now I feel a bit guilty. I will set aside some time this evening...very late this evening to pop in and visit Blog Land.
And the Winner of my Christmas Give Away....is....

Sandi @ http://sandimcbride.blogspot.com/ who I have known since I started this Blog and is always such a lovely lady to pop and share some time with.

Sandi if you could email your address to me, I will send off your little Surprise Christmas Give Away as soon as I can. xxx
With the Family Room now 'almost' finished, I thought you may like to see a few pictures.



This is where we are most of the time, together.


Shabby Chic. A relaxed room where the boys can play while I cook or do a bit of crafting, I must confess...I mosty just sit! when the boy's are around.

I am pleased with this room, it is cluttered, homely and cosy.


This mirror had a paint treatment.


This mirror is very old and was dark oak.
I thought is was a little too dark for this already dark corner.
I did think long and hard before painting it.
I decided in the end to just go for it and went for a very distressed finish which highlights the wonderful carvings. It is painted in Farrow & Ball Strong white.


I have spent a day in hospital this week, I am becoming a regular!
A little investigation and a biopsy.

Thankfully it went well, not too much pain.
Just waiting for the results, which I will not be asking for until after Christmas!
Moving on....
Little finishing touches to the Christmas Decorations.

And....
Back to the decorating.
With three dogs in the house I decided that it may be an idea to paint the skirting boards and door frames in Farrow & Ball Light Grey. We also painted the radiator cover in this colour, the doors, picture rails, fire surround and walls in F&B Strong White, which is a very light grey shade.
I have a dark brown leather sofa in this room - which I have covered with two throws, preferring warm colours and soft furnishings now. I had this reading chair covered with a very loose cover in Cabbages & Roses Natural Hately.
I want it to look 'shabby' I told the upholsterer....he had not heard of anything like it before!

And....More Christmas decorations, I made some waxed paper cones to put sweeties in.

Lastly my bargain Stockings from last years White Company Sale, which I have been meaning to embroider our initials on!
Something else on my list of things To Do - that has not been done!

Not long to go now.
I have done everything I can in prep for the big day....just the bread and veggies to buy.
I hope that you all have a Very Merry Christmas, I will be thinking of you all Christmas Day and those of us who will be doing the cooking...probably getting a little hot under the collar must remember, we are not alone !

Carol
X

45 comments:

Simone said...

Congratulations to the winner! Your house is looking lovely Carol. I don't know how you have managed to fit in decorating, I am finding it hard to fit in the housework! I still have presents/ food to buy. I think I am going to hide under a blanket and come out when it is all over! I hope you have a super dooper Christmas with the family and hope that you have favourable results from your hospital tests. x

Anonymous said...

congrats to Sandi - your room looks gorgeous, definately warm and cosy. Hope you all have a very merry christmas and everything goes well with your results
lisa x

Mia said...

Oh carol, your family room looks just oh, so lovely. I adore the Cabbages & Roses loose cover on the chair, just as I adore all the other rosy and pretty fabrics in the room. And I think you did a wonderful job with the mirror frame, it really looks lovely with the distressed white paint.

So all that remains for me to say is "Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year" to you and your loved ones!

Ragged Roses said...

Hello Carol!! Congrats to Sandi. Your family room is delicious, so warm and inviting, well, your whole house looks just like that judging from all the photos you've shown us on your blog. I hope you have been finding time to rest after your stay in hospital. Look after yourself, take care and have the most wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family.
Lots of love
Kimx

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Oh wow it looks utterly gorgeous.
Congrats to Sandi

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Oh and fingers crossed re the hospital results.
x

LiLi M. said...

Congrats to Sandi! You even managed to paint some things on top of Christmas preparations! Chapeau!
Have a merry Christmas!

Things Hand Made said...

All looks lovely and hope all goes well with the hospiatl thing... Have a lovely christmas.

julia said...

What a gorgeous room, and sooo tidy! Love the Cabbage and Roses armchair, I'm debating about that very same fabric for our living room curtains.
Congrats to Sandi, lucky thing!
Have a fab Christmas, see you in 2009.
Julia xx

Unknown said...

Everything looks lovely Carol, and the mirror looks great!
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Rosie x

Deb said...

Your mirror re-do is wonderful Carol and your room looks so inviting and pretty. Sending you Best Wishes on your tests!
Congratulations to Sandi too.

Pondside said...

Beautiful room, Carol. I can see that it is a place that will draw everyone like a magnet - cozy and bright at the same time.
Merry Christmas to you and yours from this side of the big Pond!

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Dear Carol..
Please forgive me for missing your hospital appointment.. I have only just realised that it was last week and I knew that it was coming up soon.. I didn't realise how soon!
I do hope it all went well and you can relax now for Christmas and not worry about the results!!
I promise to catch up with you soon.. I have lost a week due to the flu but am slowly getting back on track..
Much love to you
Michele

Country Cottage Chic said...

Congrats to Sandi!
Your family room looks wonderful - so cosy & inviting. I'm glad to hear the hospital visit went smoothly - keeping fingers crossed for a good result.
Wishing you & yours a lovely Christmas!
Jayne

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

Carol it all looks gorgeous I could just imagine snuggling up in there watching "The Holiday" with Jude Law or something :-D and a glass of something sparkly!!!
hope your results come back quickly to put your mind at rest x
Lesley x

Mary Poppins said...

Ohooo please can I come to yours for Christmas :) So beautiful and very inspirational for my Home Sweet Home, hopefully we can begin decorating, only one more wall to knock down :)

Thank you for your thoughtful words, we always remember special friends and Family we would like with us at Christmas

Best wishes and all the best for a healthy and happy new year

Mary

X

Anonymous said...

hello Carol, your room looks utterly gorgeous, I just love cabbages and roses fabric and that chair looks perfect 'shabbily' covered in it! I cant believe you keep your house so clean and tidy with 3 dogs!
Best wishes for the results..the waiting is the horrid part but at least you have Christmas as a jolly good distraction!
Have heaps of fun..and a very happy Christmas xx

Miss sew n sew said...

Hi Carol
Your family room looks lovely I really like those colours my favourite bit is your reading chair I love Cabbages and Roses. I have the day off from cooking this year as were going to my sister-in laws. I hope you heve a wonderful Christmas and that your results are good news.
Sarahx

Tea said...

Congrats to the winner! What a beautiful job you have done of your room. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and the best New Year!!

tea
xo

Reginas Cottage said...

Hi Carol,
your family room looks so fantastic!
I love the cabbages&rose armchair,and
i love all the other nice fabrics in
your cosy room.I think you did a great job with the mirror frame,it
looks very nice.
I wish you and your family a loveley
Christmas and a verry Happy New Year
Hugs,Regina

Things Hand Made said...

Merry christmas

Sea Angels said...

Stunning Carol...your house looks homely and chic, so gorgeous, but you have such lovely style why wouldn't it reflect you !!
I hope you and your lovely family have the most fabulous time..please let me know how the felting is going..have you had time? I thought you may be very busy at the moment, so havn't hasseled you... I hope the New Year brings you good news.. but in the mean time , I want to send you lots of Christmas Wishes.
Love Lynn xx

This Vintage Life... said...

That's a very pretty room...so cosy; just right for this time of year. Have a lovely Christmas and hope all goes well with your results
Deb x

MelMel said...

Your house.....drool!!!

Merry christmas!xxx

Deanna said...

Carol, just stopping by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Love,
Deanna :)

Janet said...

Carol, your style is simply divine! Cheers to you for a restful and wonderful holiday season!

Anonymous said...

Hello..I'm Jasmine.What a gorgeous house and blog.
I look forward to following it in the future!Seems we have very similar taste too!
Jasmine

MelMel said...

Hello....just thought i'd pop in and say hi....hope you had a lovely Christmasxx

Garden Girl said...

thinking of you Carol, hope all is well. Take care x

Margie’s daughter Leiny said...

Carol, your home is really lovely. Congratulations on all the decorations. This is my first visit and I will visit again. Margie in Ireland.

MelMel said...

Happy new yr!xx

Sea Angels said...

Hi Carol, gosh it is so freezing I don't blame you for not venturing out, I went to see Kate at the shop today and nearly wept with the cold..I was well wrapped it was wicked!!
Re the felt I will send you the details over the next few days, in a quiet moment xx
I hope the New Year brings you good news, tons of happyness and lots of lovely dreams and wishes for you and your very lovely family.
Lots of love and hugs
Lynn xPS That is cruelty to Aga's ha ha

Summer by the sea said...

Lovely house Pictures Carol - you have great taste! - hope you have a really happy 2009 - lots of love - Natalie x

Rhondi said...

Hi Carol
I love everything that you did with your family room. It looks wonderful!
Hope everything turned out fine with your biopsy and I hope that 2009 is a great year for you, full of good health and joy.
Hugs, Rhondi

This Vintage Life... said...

Happy New Year Carol...let's all hope for a good one!
Deb xx

Country Cottage Chic said...

Just dropping in to wish you & yours a wonderful 2009!

Jayne

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

hi Carol
just dropped by to say happy new year to you and yours and hope its a good one!
Lesley x

Claire said...

Happy New Year to you Carol and your family. Now how could I have not commented on your last post! tut tut, you have such a beautiful home, it gives the feeling that if I or anyone else knocked the door, we would be made to feel welcome and feel right at home with you! Claire xx

The fabric of my life said...

The room looks beautiful Carol I bet you are pleased with it :-)

Keeping my fingers crossed for goo news for you when you get your results.

Much love

Donna x

Greedy Nan said...

Room looks lovely and so-o-o large! I could fit my whole house in here. Still, not so much cleaning for me in a tiny space [why does it take me such a long time then].
Happy New Year!

Sandi McBride said...

Carol, sweetie! Emailing my address now! Thanks so much...hugs to Guy...is it Guy???? LOL...oh well!
hugs to you
Sandi

MelMel said...

Sorry to hear your not well...its dreaful this time of yr, so many horrid colds n bugs!

Keep warm and snug....tis -2 here...bbbrrr!

xxx

LissyLou said...

What a lovely room, it's so cosy and beautiful.

Sam said...

Wow your home is Beautiful! Really lovely I am very envious! Samx

Sam said...

Your Blog that I only came across today is breath taking! You have a beautiful home and family!

Samx