FLASHBACK: Morton Grove Basement/Family room 2008

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here I go again, bringing you another flashback of our home before. Well, as of this writing, I am busy preparing for Aidan's 7th birthday Party, and you know me, it will take me weeks to fix everything up, so I thought of doing another flashback on our 1st home again. This time, it's our old basement/family room. Just to remind you, here is what it looked like before in 2009...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd66WydMlbaLWcSnSPTf4cjKYAGMw8VFDQEaQHgL-m1nIq0eV8wrg22N8JWOa2PzTmwYv79u4wqGiLXKHfmBX9D51SQ8qoxQr-GLfT3yjy35Ie6lho2OPvW6zH5kXN3mvR2v_vg04zJPd/s1600/housemel+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd66WydMlbaLWcSnSPTf4cjKYAGMw8VFDQEaQHgL-m1nIq0eV8wrg22N8JWOa2PzTmwYv79u4wqGiLXKHfmBX9D51SQ8qoxQr-GLfT3yjy35Ie6lho2OPvW6zH5kXN3mvR2v_vg04zJPd/s400/housemel+016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Panelling - "love" it! Aidan and Nio were so small then...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ-a-aRsfaWp2bWFTlYhkblRMNbFzZTGqpG17BlM4QPU70b8MxOc-dD_vjabfyuDfp-wnjEOJPpLlrQdv2requBQmPZar2lcY0Fo2b2R_83k0ITkRAbTVRIQbtTbqh6wO8ANMlXZ1BmOU/s1600/housemel+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZ-a-aRsfaWp2bWFTlYhkblRMNbFzZTGqpG17BlM4QPU70b8MxOc-dD_vjabfyuDfp-wnjEOJPpLlrQdv2requBQmPZar2lcY0Fo2b2R_83k0ITkRAbTVRIQbtTbqh6wO8ANMlXZ1BmOU/s400/housemel+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on our slip-covered hand-me-down sofa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZMW4VF5VU_mE14t2rKVxJ6bUJfYTXC5Z7gqfctChsZSeTy27FYhZJTSfJrrvrGv_gtlyFyUeooYoA3XqPB8btvxkrsMQmSrgX8ozjehOYw_G65geXtpAXfo3yoG7udVjItVHokBF1Vat/s1600/housemel+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZMW4VF5VU_mE14t2rKVxJ6bUJfYTXC5Z7gqfctChsZSeTy27FYhZJTSfJrrvrGv_gtlyFyUeooYoA3XqPB8btvxkrsMQmSrgX8ozjehOYw_G65geXtpAXfo3yoG7udVjItVHokBF1Vat/s640/housemel+018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The play Area</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is what it looked like before we left in 2010....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTjAzJF_VhWNWxLTXHHBhOzc4fQN-Vsq1KfEYUQqi-SWbWE-tfcvUW5j-OSGp3Kccy8FS_p01cZ2A8W7uLR3VfZo-ijjVUvLyNuJkO9dP67KAV9S_imgD-CO2Bnd4TLDAhRtAmialr92j/s1600/house+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTjAzJF_VhWNWxLTXHHBhOzc4fQN-Vsq1KfEYUQqi-SWbWE-tfcvUW5j-OSGp3Kccy8FS_p01cZ2A8W7uLR3VfZo-ijjVUvLyNuJkO9dP67KAV9S_imgD-CO2Bnd4TLDAhRtAmialr92j/s640/house+013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the playground set on the back?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My sister and nephew and my kids helped me paint this whole basement! I forgot the color already, but it's satin cream. I think it really brightened up this out-dated and usually dark space!<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0BifSEsKneBa8r6Y3poxzs-uQTlVbpdSI5LPmKUiKwDebvPW3WzVHbIlO00RBG07_J5DjgB8zV8KUQc__aI_WRtRIDqIrHC5wvBckx7kdCoMvem-iP56AE3zecsSZ5OZfFanhy3OfV8m/s1600/house+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0BifSEsKneBa8r6Y3poxzs-uQTlVbpdSI5LPmKUiKwDebvPW3WzVHbIlO00RBG07_J5DjgB8zV8KUQc__aI_WRtRIDqIrHC5wvBckx7kdCoMvem-iP56AE3zecsSZ5OZfFanhy3OfV8m/s640/house+014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfy is the one word I can really describe this room to be</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The sectional is from "Jennifer Convertibles". It's a sofa bed whenever we have guests over, we have this room and the guest room upstairs. The fireplace is electric, from Home Depot, this was a gift from my mom. Pillows are from Target, Marshalls and Pottery Barn. The caning light is from Home goods - super cute for $29.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW95nhv76KEtdoVDRTgPCI359oa1nOC5NEiiA5OnuCVlxW-cpe-LhZcAIPILJAsEQLt2mes_ZOl77GblDucD4VdX75LdoGZ2Vt4R0xtJDmfsepzI5lVcm17bHqHtGADoFuq98UoR8AukT/s1600/house+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW95nhv76KEtdoVDRTgPCI359oa1nOC5NEiiA5OnuCVlxW-cpe-LhZcAIPILJAsEQLt2mes_ZOl77GblDucD4VdX75LdoGZ2Vt4R0xtJDmfsepzI5lVcm17bHqHtGADoFuq98UoR8AukT/s640/house+015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini-office area</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had to place a mini office here aside from the one upstairs since we wanted to see what the kids would be looking at every time they used the computer ( your never too sure becuase they may accidentally wander into "bad" sites".  The desk was $15 from a thrift store - I love this desk, it has 2 file cabinets, heavy as hell, and has a contemporary modern appeal with its clean lines, it was really a steal for the price! The office chair was a garage sale find, used to be lime green and color, we just painted it brown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gn2khlq5gFKRLa9c3SXbZVr19Hfnm5RvntrT2e8orHukJW2pelF98d58NxF5lYEs8L3pQnJJgoNlnHl9y-TemT-RDR2iG7jRMN1ideH9iuaPQsG691fqpZm50bcRLHYwIHurhKbh6sVB/s1600/house+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gn2khlq5gFKRLa9c3SXbZVr19Hfnm5RvntrT2e8orHukJW2pelF98d58NxF5lYEs8L3pQnJJgoNlnHl9y-TemT-RDR2iG7jRMN1ideH9iuaPQsG691fqpZm50bcRLHYwIHurhKbh6sVB/s640/house+019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Botanical Wall art</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Wall art were pictures from a book I bought at Barnes and Noble for $12. I still have hundreds left, and I can easily change these come christmas time. The background paper as well as the acrylic frames were from "Michael's". I bought this one by one everytime I had a 40% coupon so it really did not cost a lot of money, just a lot of patience, hehehe!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7ioHnxbIN94mYVs3t-6iSmegplGtlgSQJZn6zmKT-YKXvtWHvLUXshr7y5iMphxn2QceQ338gE_uRtI33-b4gp5_XFQ4_2XrkEj2LdSUXGGpfN4Bvk74BKSTbbpD_PvIwPd-e8iJ1mn1/s1600/house+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7ioHnxbIN94mYVs3t-6iSmegplGtlgSQJZn6zmKT-YKXvtWHvLUXshr7y5iMphxn2QceQ338gE_uRtI33-b4gp5_XFQ4_2XrkEj2LdSUXGGpfN4Bvk74BKSTbbpD_PvIwPd-e8iJ1mn1/s640/house+020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view</td></tr></tbody></table>The ottoman was from Walmart ($99). The wall vase were from CB2. The "Teddy Bears" art was from a thrift store ($5), so cute!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVuMzPcJ4Lk8_95fSysbWcH9Y1ZbiJqeEMfIoH2nN50KPGLvZDI0RNshvSBWTaQlYY1W22w6iVL424Ri2BeJbUKryatYJudg5Ca1GNLgV9eyhq8OOeATqMQ2mhtceRQkpkJMSh6sIVD6J/s1600/house+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVuMzPcJ4Lk8_95fSysbWcH9Y1ZbiJqeEMfIoH2nN50KPGLvZDI0RNshvSBWTaQlYY1W22w6iVL424Ri2BeJbUKryatYJudg5Ca1GNLgV9eyhq8OOeATqMQ2mhtceRQkpkJMSh6sIVD6J/s640/house+021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for watching and cuddling!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The gigantic lamp in the corner was from a thrift store, for $12. Its very heavy and used to be brass with a very ugly shade. I switched the shade ( which I got for $2) to this and spray-painted the body white! I was still able to repurpose the old shade though, which you'll see in a bit.<br /><br />The woven ottoman was from "Marshalls" on clearance at $12. It holds a lot of the kids small toys. The white chest on the bottom right corner was a garage sale find. Again, more toys inside.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FAf4n1lTITNiBOQdsbuvpWLM1OX-C_e3uSGLVtFgZDc0xMZSlBu6VOptt1z2g5kZUEpAWPu0d0J6eUBfz_CiQ_R8G79RmnudBuRkq7rNdSK_PLnMadB3undJdEFzTN_zrWbjjcPnr5dy/s1600/house+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FAf4n1lTITNiBOQdsbuvpWLM1OX-C_e3uSGLVtFgZDc0xMZSlBu6VOptt1z2g5kZUEpAWPu0d0J6eUBfz_CiQ_R8G79RmnudBuRkq7rNdSK_PLnMadB3undJdEFzTN_zrWbjjcPnr5dy/s640/house+016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids Play area or Toy room all covered-up</td></tr></tbody></table>Like most families with kids, I am sure parents DON'T want to see all the "Mess" all the time, so we came up with curtains to hide this. These curtains are from "Baclaran", and coming from there, you know, their crazy cheap!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwFo5-icKbQ0dHE_TRBgV-hJK-Ipg3Vi9lUQClJnNAsAKrohR6vA30aT9bPsKRSyyw7MtZlenEwRE766tLNgAU7l1kc7aOOIQNDcb5-LIS0Zs6iG8HyFqUZbaUM2vWt_7ff-JaVhjcXxk/s1600/house+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwFo5-icKbQ0dHE_TRBgV-hJK-Ipg3Vi9lUQClJnNAsAKrohR6vA30aT9bPsKRSyyw7MtZlenEwRE766tLNgAU7l1kc7aOOIQNDcb5-LIS0Zs6iG8HyFqUZbaUM2vWt_7ff-JaVhjcXxk/s640/house+017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What we're trying to hide</td></tr></tbody></table>Tada. this is the "mess" We placed a small old tv so they can play their video games anytime. Books everywhere, and the "ugly" shade I told you about, there it is hanging in the corner! I just used a light kit you can buy at any home improvement store. Great Reading nook for the kids!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAv6c03ElMBFSCRuCOYpU2bRex8AzRK_FSasoYh8ZMpir7nqvATteXmzXSRloFUgoavINuedjkV1njlOpqEqUZEqeXU8fizTKqlejzQvdgmRlJQ5cDnwXXYU5kQIfqixbjhiZMYrCfmHWg/s1600/house+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAv6c03ElMBFSCRuCOYpU2bRex8AzRK_FSasoYh8ZMpir7nqvATteXmzXSRloFUgoavINuedjkV1njlOpqEqUZEqeXU8fizTKqlejzQvdgmRlJQ5cDnwXXYU5kQIfqixbjhiZMYrCfmHWg/s640/house+018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabinet hides more mess</td></tr></tbody></table>I painted the cabinet door with green Chalkboard paint and placed a lot of the toys inside. The small console on the side, which also holds books and games was from Target on clearance for $12!  Lamp was from a garage sale for $2 and the shade was from the "Land of Nod" Outlet store for $5! You can see it better in the 7th picture.<br /><br /><br />My, how time really does fly, in just barely 3 years the children seems so grown and with 3 different houses, I feel that my tastes have matured and evolved so quickly. I love everybit of our home before and now, and I'm just glad for the memories and pictures of the life we once had and are living now. We are blessed!<br /><br /><br />Anyway, enough of my sentimental humdrum,  I hope this gave you some idea on how to deal with your family room too!<br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><strong><em> HAPPY DECORATING!!!</em></strong></span>

FLASHBACK: Morton Grove Basement/Family room 2008

Here I go again, bringing you another flashback of our home before. Well, as of this writing, I am busy preparing for Aidan's 7th birthd...

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House in Blauzac

Thank you dears for welcoming me so warmly ♥. Ha! Just learnt how to make that little heart. Yes, I'm aware most of you (all of you?) have known how to make one for a long time now but well, maybe I can share it with one or two of you. Just press Alt and 3. Voilá ♥! Bridge players surely know to press Alt 4, 5, and 6.<br /><br />This house is in the French village of Blauzac. According to the article it used to be the town's ugliest building and was known as the cement lump. After four years, owners Linda and Claes Leyon transformed it into their home mixing old and new styles with lots of flea market finds.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/scaled/460x0/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/fransk-cementklump.jpg?h=1a59b9ebd77833f32d060535aa1ff6dc" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_portrait02.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_livingroom02.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_entrance02.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_bedroom02.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_guestroom04.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_livingroom01.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_dining02-2.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_dining01.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_dining2_07.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_balcony03.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_balcony02.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.skonahem.com/Global/Skonahem/inspirerande-hem/hemreportage/den-franka-cementklumpen-b/claes_linda_view01.jpg" /><br /><br />See you tomorrow my friends ♥. Ok, I'll stop doing that. For now...<br /><br />Photography by Clive Tompsett<br />All images from <a href="http://www.skonahem.com/">here</a>.

House in Blauzac

Thank you dears for welcoming me so warmly ♥. Ha! Just learnt how to make that little heart. Yes, I'm aware most of you (all of you?) ha...

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So Nice to See You Again! And a Guesthouse in France

Hello once again, dear readers! Thanks so much for all your comments while I was away. I promise I will shortly be visiting you! I had a superb, lengthy, awesome holiday at home, Argentina, together with my eight kids. Thanks for asking!<br /><br />And a very warm welcome to my new followers. Hope to see you around every day!<br /><br />Back to our home tours, then! Maison-Travaux takes us to visit La Bergerie de Fontbonne, a guesthouse in France built against a hill, at the bottom of a valley. The period of construction is difficult to date as traditional building techniques have remained unchanged through the decades and even centuries. <span>None of these buildings have foundations, but all are based on a double wall buried 25 cm deep. </span>Architect Emmanuelle Stevenoot was in charge of renovating these four ancient barns which cover a floor area of 265 square metres. As the buildings stand on different heights, steps were used to connect one with another.<br /><br />If you'd like to visit La Bergerie de Fontbonne's website just click <a href="www.bergeriedefontbonne.com">here</a>.<br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/bergerie-de-fontbonne/433621-1-fre-FR/Bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/escalier-en-beton-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433605-1-fre-FR/escalier-en-beton-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/vue-plongeante-sur-l-escalier-en-beton-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433565-1-fre-FR/Vue-plongeante-sur-l-escalier-en-beton-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/escalier-de-pierre-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433593-1-fre-FR/Escalier-de-pierre-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.980147;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/ouverture-cintree-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433553-1-fre-FR/ouverture-cintree-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.9888;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/salon-de-la-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433617-1-fre-FR/Salon-de-la-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/arcades-de-peirre-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433581-1-fre-FR/Arcades-de-peirre-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/evier-en-marbre-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433577-1-fre-FR/Evier-en-marbre-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.997781;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/cloison-vitree-entre-cuisine-et-salle-a-manger-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433613-1-fre-FR/Cloison-vitree-entre-cuisine-et-salle-a-manger-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.999445;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/mobilier-sobre-de-la-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433573-1-fre-FR/Mobilier-sobre-de-la-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/ferme-intermediaire-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433601-1-fre-FR/Ferme-intermediaire-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/salle-de-bains-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433561-1-fre-FR/Salle-de-bains-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.967722;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/chambre-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433569-1-fre-FR/Chambre-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/douche-a-l-italienne-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433589-1-fre-FR/Douche-a-l-italienne-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.958877;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/baignoire-retro-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433557-1-fre-FR/Baignoire-retro-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/cloison-entre-la-chambre-et-la-salle-de-bains-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433609-1-fre-FR/Cloison-entre-la-chambre-et-la-salle-de-bains-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.992555;" /><br /><br /><img id="lightbox-image" src="http://cdn-dekio.ladmedia.fr/var/deco/storage/images/maison_travaux/reportage/charme/une-bergerie-entre-vignes-et-garrigues/chambre-de-la-bergerie-de-fontbonne/433597-1-fre-FR/Chambre-de-la-bergerie-de-Fontbonne.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br /><br />Photography by Antonio Duarte<br />All images from <a href="http://maison-travaux.dekio.fr/">Maison-Travaux</a>

So Nice to See You Again! And a Guesthouse in France

Hello once again, dear readers! Thanks so much for all your comments while I was away. I promise I will shortly be visiting you! I had a sup...

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FLASHBACK: Kids room in Morton Grove 2009

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It is always nice to see how things evolve and change over the years. Like my kids rooms for example, in 3 years they have had 3 different bedrooms all because we had to move from our house in Chicago, to  a rental and finally to our new home now.<br /><br />The good thing is that, looking back, I realized that my tastes in design and decorating has been consistent. For the kids rooms, I always wanted a room that they can grow into, with fun and whimsy on one end, and practicality on the other.<br /><br />I also realized that I do try to recycle as much stuff as I can and try not to throw or discard any stuff away. And I've also proven to myself that if <i>I REALLY LIKE</i> something, it is always very easy to find a space for it!<br /><br />So here was the boys room before we moved out...<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxqQ6-AmbwlSKShBPWcrQGjkqhv8OWSoW7ZmWKp9dfBK1k9iUQVcjqJVJQywMgfU9s9drZZaoOjgj9jLs1zouVIWRjZp_OKEjETN_oIqczqOuBLXKNF9Rxh6n2LijU2_MC_yMBo3Vij_Z/s1600/SL275876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxqQ6-AmbwlSKShBPWcrQGjkqhv8OWSoW7ZmWKp9dfBK1k9iUQVcjqJVJQywMgfU9s9drZZaoOjgj9jLs1zouVIWRjZp_OKEjETN_oIqczqOuBLXKNF9Rxh6n2LijU2_MC_yMBo3Vij_Z/s640/SL275876.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan's study area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zBNoeOfzWeZIStlMHNYUxcGxUmO7C7V7_j13XzXOruJcxt-8DkdWb9NRTbUEf0eAdWJV82cw74aGB-Ax69lz6gqmQMaFMgdd0nNkWZVcpHO2m2bGy0reY06xc-iU6w1RZRUlgUN664LY/s1600/room+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zBNoeOfzWeZIStlMHNYUxcGxUmO7C7V7_j13XzXOruJcxt-8DkdWb9NRTbUEf0eAdWJV82cw74aGB-Ax69lz6gqmQMaFMgdd0nNkWZVcpHO2m2bGy0reY06xc-iU6w1RZRUlgUN664LY/s640/room+013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nio's study area</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><br /><div>I love stripes. And I, with the help of my brother painted these brown stripes ourselves. The curtains, lights, rug, shelves as well the magazine/book rack are from Ikea . The table and chairs are from there too, although I recently sold it at a Kids expo to make way for a bigger set for Aidan. Nio's desk is from Target and this is now the computer desk in Hubby's office. The folding chair has been upgraded already.<br /><br />The Wall art are acrylic sign boards (that you can buy at any office supply stores) that you can rotate what's on display easily! Here I placed "Land of Nod" catalog covers I've collected - FREE! You can also display your kids art work this way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_zXkM6zLCHMPdqRxvnvML5aPR5WGJMvYnO__0uhEHzGkzE_AnubMb_IWe2VeqsF_BClCpsPE6iKTPs541DS6XkhcX-HZOMAmtNCmmCnuZK3eyhFOzhYoYBsrj_UUFgv2xQrOwm5M_BLx/s1600/room+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_zXkM6zLCHMPdqRxvnvML5aPR5WGJMvYnO__0uhEHzGkzE_AnubMb_IWe2VeqsF_BClCpsPE6iKTPs541DS6XkhcX-HZOMAmtNCmmCnuZK3eyhFOzhYoYBsrj_UUFgv2xQrOwm5M_BLx/s640/room+012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Corner</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the area behind the door, I used it to display art and some of their school pictures using cork boards. I painted the border of the other one white to make it match. The book holder is from "Land of Nod" Outlet store. I placed pillows on the floor for a nice reading nook.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DE-gL_9I3g0cgxg6ugfC6nFeZzjwE_t_MyhyphenhyphenUxk5TUqmd64MngAImUQNjVBvQtiO63zIadymPq4WRq-2x8rLFdnmd1WzBjjZAZKh9nQp5m9uQgmtx7O8oa_7UMleDw_Ru2H9bIaAH3Q_/s1600/SL275879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DE-gL_9I3g0cgxg6ugfC6nFeZzjwE_t_MyhyphenhyphenUxk5TUqmd64MngAImUQNjVBvQtiO63zIadymPq4WRq-2x8rLFdnmd1WzBjjZAZKh9nQp5m9uQgmtx7O8oa_7UMleDw_Ru2H9bIaAH3Q_/s400/SL275879.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nio sleeps in the upper bunk</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>We mounted a small fan on top for Nio because it can get really hot in the summer and we didn't want any ceiling fan for safety reasons. I placed one bedside table for knick knacks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5of2uHO37WWNSqBr7VtP25FZZF3kpw3mT8VVKF0SKTRRE-mcpSs1QBVLs64yHLOrhzxk3986qqzuHrOOeAn0GcPP3KeqWLnoaLYE7q1SQxaAyBqKbk9x-BavoJ8yyJOGE-bXFcKWslI-P/s1600/SL275880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5of2uHO37WWNSqBr7VtP25FZZF3kpw3mT8VVKF0SKTRRE-mcpSs1QBVLs64yHLOrhzxk3986qqzuHrOOeAn0GcPP3KeqWLnoaLYE7q1SQxaAyBqKbk9x-BavoJ8yyJOGE-bXFcKWslI-P/s640/SL275880.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the mess</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>The wall art on the side is also from Ikea ( now it's still in Aidan's room). The Lava lamp was from a thrift store for $6. The bunk bed is now separated with the full bed places in Nio's room and the Single bed on top, now in Aidan's new room. I also placed storage under the bed for seasonal clothing (also from Ikea). The side table now holds our electronics in the master bedroom, it's from the Victoria Hagaan line from Target.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd0ril8rvd20cCckVAe3DOX63xsSix96a3sKU4_hyphenhyphen5jUXJnzJ6kQ_NXco1mS53U6Hq46-INFpQOb4Ke45aNj3xfnWlM_BmvTczbs51S05al_if5p0gNiFZffVH1HrzQjm6geNPrqE7P_8/s1600/SL275878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzd0ril8rvd20cCckVAe3DOX63xsSix96a3sKU4_hyphenhyphen5jUXJnzJ6kQ_NXco1mS53U6Hq46-INFpQOb4Ke45aNj3xfnWlM_BmvTczbs51S05al_if5p0gNiFZffVH1HrzQjm6geNPrqE7P_8/s400/SL275878.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More views</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnjsb8Ll-Yq63nsZsShOBliI2GzpQixNdURfKg55R_HtWXgzEPREOwgDG3t0Yrl2y9uLPmDc6FhMvDL_yQ0jEzS4sUsEUHM3jIVWPtdhwc8IX3NU4UaqEJ4shKcrryEYeda_NBkIOz81c/s1600/room+016_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnjsb8Ll-Yq63nsZsShOBliI2GzpQixNdURfKg55R_HtWXgzEPREOwgDG3t0Yrl2y9uLPmDc6FhMvDL_yQ0jEzS4sUsEUHM3jIVWPtdhwc8IX3NU4UaqEJ4shKcrryEYeda_NBkIOz81c/s400/room+016_2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabinet doors</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I placed foam letters bought on clearance from "Michaels" for 25 cents each! I was planning to put animal safari decal at the bottom of the cabinet doors for added display and this was the decal...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnvDDElzQ-MPLmuAKhwvt2y37qMZ45u7cmKAKwSNqHMknFVS1VTcGvBOzF8XtxcwZtmIvcLeVvfVZ5gFnnMaqWsySDIM-N2k6Ww7N8cFBV-ftjYO-My1d2CuczG_KM0pofT_mvvlgBim3/s1600/E35E5840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnvDDElzQ-MPLmuAKhwvt2y37qMZ45u7cmKAKwSNqHMknFVS1VTcGvBOzF8XtxcwZtmIvcLeVvfVZ5gFnnMaqWsySDIM-N2k6Ww7N8cFBV-ftjYO-My1d2CuczG_KM0pofT_mvvlgBim3/s320/E35E5840.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Elly Nelly in etsy.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also planned to paint a huge stripe of chalkboard paint in the middle, but then, we were on the verge of moving, so it remained this way until we left. Their names now adorn their bedroom doors in our new home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope you enjoyed our old kids rooms! I will post the kids bedrooms soon after I'm sort of done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><i>HAPPY DECORATING!!!!</i></span></div></div></div>

FLASHBACK: Kids room in Morton Grove 2009

It is always nice to see how things evolve and change over the years. Like my kids rooms for example, in 3 years they have had 3 different b...

Read more »