Flowers flowers everywhere!!!    This year we have had some success with our window boxes but we are not anywhere near perfect yet- The water side boxes did much better than the front of the house. I think that's all about the sun. So much sun in the front the swedish ivy just went crazy and really crowded out all the other colorful plants.

You can see how much more colorful the window box is under the awning versus the monotone color of the upper boxes.  

 Here is that Swedish Ivy that crowded out everything else- it certainly grew like crazy and does hang beautifully.

 This mandevilla plant is a true success in the urns on either side of the front entry. It grows like a weed and is colorful and boom heavy. This will be repeated next year!

 Here is a close up of the boxes on the water side - that coleus is positively huge and does a great job- I think next year I want the coleus to be of the pink variety - more color is our goal.  The biggest problem with our window boxes is that they are so high up! You really can't see them from the street - they look great as you look down on them from the window but we are always judging them from their street view.

A subdued color palette is NOT what we want - this is how the front boxes looked at the end of the summer! Goal for next year is bright colors!  We'll try harder! 

Redecorating with your own things!!!

My dear friends Kip and Nan paid their yearly visit to Maine and you know what that means- redecorating!!!! I think they need to start a business that uses your own things to spruce up your spaces! They did a beautiful job and as usual I draped myself over the couch and watched!!  :)


New wooden whale we found in a Camden antique shop has found his perch about the front door and the many books on the round table have been reorganized.

The moving of books and plates from the living room take on a whole new dimension when arranged in the foyer!

 We went on a great antiquing expedition to pick up some of these buoys! They look great in the Chinese bucket but I am looking for a mussel basket and that would really display them nicely!

 The dining room mantle got a new look- but the USN sword remains in place!

 Yes, I should be polishing silver but the new arrangement looks great!

 

I asked Nan to "beach up" the living room mantle and she did a great job! Now I have to add a few Fall accessories since the weather is getting colder!!!

 I love the desk with the doors open and moving the John Derian whale plate to a stand shows it off beautifully!

We had so much fun and all this work got done too!!! Love it when they come to visit!

Finally an update...

I thought since the summer was just about over we might give you an update on the butler's pantry- When last we spoke we had discovered the sink underneath all that yucky countertop. See last blog entry!!!

 We are still working on the pantry- we have to get the black and white marble floor installed and that is why the dishwasher is temporarily in place. We have used a Fisher-Paykel drawer model since the original height of the counters is too low to install a regular dishwasher.  When we start on the main kitchen I'm planning on 2 Bosch regular size dishwashers.

 Can you believe the difference in the counters and cabinets - it's amazing!!!  I probably will have a new wall color when I finally do the main kitchen over but until then we are sticking with our old butternut shade.

 The opening is still a white and I don't mind it - the cutting of the middle cabinet (done before we owned the house) doesn't allow us to make the side panels stained as the wood is not the original. I was planning on laying a veneer of the original wood over the white but that might have to wait.

 

On a very sad note all this work was done by our painter/woodworker and over all house manager, Michael Barrett who tragically passed away this summer.  Michael died in his sleep in August. He was only 58 years old. We are so sad and only now realize all he did for us. Many of our projects will be put on hold until we come up with a plan. As you can see Michael was an artist and did beautiful work - He will be missed by many up here in Maine.