Fireplace for My Dream Library! Welcome to the 93rd Metamorphosis Monday!

A Mantel Dilemma for this Met Monday...



The Tassel House Give-a-Way:

The Tassel House giveaway is still going on...but it ends tomorrow!
Here's a little sampling of the Fall and Holiday tassels that were recently available at The Tassel House.





How to Enter:

Angela is giving away a $25 certificate for you to use toward any tassel you find at The Tassel House. Putting your name in the hat for this giveaway is super easy...here's how:

1. Visit The Tassel House and choose the tassel you would love to use your gift certificate toward if you should win.

2. Leave a comment on the Giveaway post naming your favorite tassel. That's it!

Remember, you don't have to be a Blogger to participate in Give-a-Ways. Best of luck to everyone!


Metamorphosis Monday:


I need your help today...tell me what cha think! On a previous Met Monday, I took you into my living room that I am hoping to turn into a "library" some day. (You can read that post HERE .) I have plans to put floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookshelves all down the wall on the right side of the room.



A few months ago, I found one of the main components for this metamorphosis, these 85 year old cabinet/niches you see below, I called up my contractor and he came by to take a look.



He had concerns about having enough space to build a wall in which to sink the two cabinets since space is limited due to how close the window is to the cabinet on the right side. Also, he was concerned about it being deep enough for a fireplace between the cabinets. (Ignore the mantel you see there now...it's too wide and too big, so I won't be using that one.) I suggested having the fireplace jutting out a bit into the room with the niches set back a bit. He wasn't sure that was such a great idea.



Fast forward to a few months ago when I attended the monthly board meeting of my garden club. We meet each month in this wonderful historic home pictured below.



We always have our meetings in the dining room of this beautiful home. Each month I like to treat myself to a peek into the adjacent rooms. I love to just soak up the beautiful furnishings and architecture. I had forgotten how the library looked...it's just what I had tried to describe to my contractor. Note how the fireplace sticks out a bit into the room.



And notice how tight the space is between the cabinet over by the window. Yep, this is just what I needed to show my contractor. :-)




Yesterday, I may have found another component to building my library. I was shopping in A Classy Flea and came across this old fireplace mantel. I measured it and I think it's just the width I need to fit between the cabinet niches and to allow for shelving on the right side of the room. Also, it is pretty much the exact same height as the cabinet niches...how cool is that?!

Those two columns you see leaning against the wall to the left of it go on the front, on either side. Since it's pine, I wouldn't feel too bad painting it to work with the cabinet niches and the built in bookshelves. I plan to strip the paint from the cabinet niches that will be on either side and repaint them before they are installed, too. The mirror is really old...very chippy and looks terrible...which is one of the things I think I like. (LOL) I asked how old it was and they didn't know. Anyone have any idea? It's pretty plain, but it does have the columns up top and on the bottom. The price tag said it was antique with its original mirror and columns.



So what do you think? It's priced at $395 but they would most likely take 10% off, maybe a little more if I'm lucky. :) I've been looking for one similar to this with a mirror built in...and I think this one is the right size. Should I go for it? Or, should I just have my contractor build a fireplace mantel to fit the space and hang my own mirror above...don't think it would cost much more...might even be less than trying to build this one in. What do ya think?


Don't forget to leave a comment on the Giveaway post naming your favorite tassel from The Tassel House. Looking forward to viewing your wonderful Before and Afters!


Metamorphosis Monday:
If you are participating in Metamorphosis Monday: Please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then just copy and paste the address that shows up in the address bar at the top, into the "url" box for the picture linky. You'll also need to put your e-mail address in, but don't worry, it will not be visible to anyone.

I'd love it if you would include the MM button in your post, to make it easy for others to find you MM post. To do that, just copy and paste the Met Monday button to your computer or grab the html code from underneath the MM logo on my sidebar.

Please include a link in your MM post back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. Why is this important? When you include a link back to BNOTP, it ensures your regular readers/visitors will find the other awesome "Before and Afters" linked for this Metamorphosis Monday. If everyone links back, this maximizes the visits for all participants.
Please do not add your link below, until your MM post is actually published to your blog. Please DO NOT type in all caps...it spreads the links waaaay out. Thanks! :-)

Let's try something fun today! Please visit the person who linked before you and after you...that way everyone will get some visits. Hope you'll visit more, of course.



Thanks for joining in for Metamorphosis Monday! Please don't forget to link back to this post in your Met Monday post so the regular readers of your blog will find all the participants linked here for Metamorphosis Monday.

A Garden Setting: Welcome to the 42nd Tablescape Thursday!

The Faerie Ball...by Susan Settje

I dream a dream of faerie queens and kings...



In forest glade where I know faeries dwell.



The full moon dancing as the zephyr sings...



...through cedar boughs and round the wishing well.



Oh romance sweet, a brave and noble knight...



...to princess fair was married on this day.



A royal banquet, such a festive sight.



Great merriment, we’ll dance the night away.



Sir Owl, from high atop a lofty pine, acts sentinel.



All's well;



...his distant call.



In shadowed woods the new born fawns recline...



...too young to be at this year’s faerie ball.



No, don’t wake me just yet,



it’s almost dawn,



Come sunrise, all the faeries will be gone.



Enchanting tablescapes await your visit this evening...enjoy!



China: Gibson Big Lots
Chargers: Horchow, online, 2 years ago
Stemware: Williams-Sonoma
Sterling flatware: Towle, King Richard
Napkins: Neiman-Marcus
Lantern: Provided by Colonial Candle
Pitcher: HomeGoods
Tablecloth: Local antique store



If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. If you aren't sure how to obtain your permalink or have any questions about using Mr. Linky for this post, just click HERE for detailed instructions.

Please copy and paste the Tablescape Thursday logo button to your computer. Then you can upload it to your side bar and use it in your tablescape post so your visitors will know you are participating.

Please do not add your link below, until your tablescape post is actually published to your blog.

The following blogs have lovely tablescapes awaiting your visit:

Tablescaping With Lenox, Butler's Pantry Gourmet... Welcome to the 40th Tablescape Thursday!

Wow, can you believe it...this is our 40th week for Tablescaping! THANK-YOU, dear friends, for participating during these past 40 weeks and making Tablescape Thursday such a fun event! I'm looking forward to many, many more!

This has been an exciting day for Between Naps on the Porch. Julia at Hooked on Houses is featuring the porch of BNOTP on her blog today! If you aren't familiar with Julia's fabulous blog, you are in for a treat. Julia goes behind the scenes for all of us and frequently posts large, beautiful pics of all those amazing movies houses we all drool over. She also hosts "Hooked on Fridays," a great blog party each Friday where bloggers can link a post showing what they are hooked on that week. Thank you, Julia...it's is an honor to be a part of your wonderful blog today!

You may recognize the pic below...it's of the tablescape I put together for last week's Tablescape Thursday.




Do you remember the floral centerpiece? It was comprised of purple Spiderwort and some white blossoms from a scraggly little shrub tree that grows wild under the trees in my back yard.




Right after I dissembled that tablescape, I decided to create another one using the same flowers, but in a different way.




I divided the flowers up into seven different little vases. The vases were arranged around two, tall, shabby-chic style candle holders. (Candle holders came from A Classy Flea several years ago.)





Found the little vases at the Dollar Tree.




Flowers from the yard and vases for $7...you really don't have to spend a lot to create a centerpiece.








The inspiration for this week's tablescape came from this little guy.











By now, you know I love lots of layers in my place setting.




A glass beaded napkin ring...




Salad plate is from Home Goods...didn't have a pattern name on back.




Liked how the Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage plates worked with the pitcher.  I fell in love with these when I spotted four of them in Ross. The search began for two more...eventually found one in Home Goods and one on e-Bay.




I'm using the large dinner plates from my set of Lenox, Butler's Pantry, as chargers in this tablescape. For added interest I placed a woven serving piece underneath. The texture worked well with this "jungle" of a tablescape.

















Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been monkeyin' around with this week. Awesome tablescapes await at the links below!





If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. If you aren't sure how to obtain your permalink or have any questions about using Mr. Linky for this post, just click HERE for detailed instructions.

Please copy and paste the Tablescape Thursday logo button to your computer. Then you can upload it to your side bar and use it in your tablescape post so your visitors will know you are participating.

Please link back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful tablescapes posted for this Tablescape Thursday.

Please do not add your link below, until your tablescape post is actually published to your blog.

The following blogs have lovely tablescapes awaiting your visit:

Easter Tablescape! Welcome to the 33rd Tablescape Thursday!

A little Easter tablescape...hope you enjoy! :-)




Closed the shutters a bit...so we could enjoy the candlelight.






Happy Easter! :-)




China is Ma Maison, designed by Dario Farrucci for Tabletops...bought it last summer at Home Goods...love that store!




A view of the dinner plate... Chargers are from Neiman Marcus or Horchow...forgot which. I saw them again recently on one of those sites, so they may still be available.




Napolean Bee Flatware is from Horchow or NM...bought it last year but it is still available, too.




The bees have landed on the glassware, too. The wine and tea glasses are made in France by La Rochere. In the past, I've only seen them available online or on eBay...and they were always a bit too pricey for me. A couple of weeks ago I found the wine glasses at Marshalls, for half of what I'd seen online on eBay. They also had the small water/tea glasses but they were a bit small. I looked again on eBay and found these 13.5 oz glasses at a price almost as good as Marshalls. Do you see the little bees that encircle the glass?




Close-up of one of the little bees...hope you can see him...glassware is a little tricky to photograph. La Rochere is known for making glassware that is especially clear...has to do with the "ingredients" they use to make the glass. I love the way all the colors of the tablescape created a rainbow effect. :-)




The wine glasses are filled with colorful excelsior and candy-covered, almond eggs, as well as these swirly lollipops. Each lollipop has a little candy critter :-) attached under the bow...this one is an egg.




A little bear...




A chick...




And a little lamb...




Every Easter tablescape needs a bunny! :-)




I found this little egg tree a couple of years back at Marshalls. Replaced all the eggs this year...the old ones were beginning to crack. The top looked bare, so I made the bow with some ribbon I found at Big Lots last year...then I just intertwined the ends of the ribbon down through the tree.













Thanks so much for stopping by!




Please don't forget to visit all the wonderful tablescapes you'll find waiting at the links shown below.





If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. If you aren't sure how to obtain your permalink or have any questions about using Mr. Linky for this post, just click on the pink TT logo in my sidebar for detailed instructions.

Please copy and paste the Tablescape Thursday logo button to your computer. Then you can upload it to your side bar and use it in your tablescape post so your visitors will know you are participating.

Please link back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful tablescapes posted on this Tablescape Thursday.

Please do not add your link below, until your tablescape post is actually published to your blog.

The following blogs have lovely tablescapes awaiting your visit: