Anybody home under there?

Some of you might have seen these already.  Next time you want to complain about too much snow...
think about these photos!!!
Check out the snow mobile on the roof!
These pictures were taken in Lead, South Dakota , on January 5,2011. That's just off I-90 close to Rapid City near the Wyoming border.

Beautiful!  I just can't imagine!
Knock, Knock....
Talk about getting depressed!
This snow is almost taller than him!
Crazy!
Oh, the work!!!!
Is anyone home?  How do they get inside?
Just a swinging!!  Good sports in their summer attire.
I can't imagine shoveling just to get out of my house!  I'm spoiled rotten because I don't have to do this.
How do you find these homes for a design consultation?  No address anywhere?
Get the champagne out, it's time to hot tub!

I think my husband and I would kill each other if we couldn't get out, ha!
I enjoyed these photos and thought you would too!
Happy "almost spring" to you!  What a beautiful day we had here in Texas!  Hope we don't get any more snow and if you are still getting snow, hope you don't get snow like this!

Love is in the air

My Valentines Day Inspiration!

I lost my grandmother 15 years ago.  She was a remarkable woman  and was filled with so much joy and compassion for others.  She loved to entertain and always did it with tremendous style.  My youngest daughter has her middle name "Alice" and I LOVE that.

The above picture is a typical English Tea displayed just like my grandma would do it.  Beautifully pressed linens, fresh flowers from her garden, silver, crystal, china and of course everything freshly baked with LOVE.  Not only was it freshly baked but it was always incredibly delicious!

When she died, my grandpa couldn't let go of any of her china. He loved it because it brought him such great joy when he used it to have his tea each day.  It reminded him of the way she use to show love and compassion to others by entertaining in their home.

Seriously, this was a daily setting for her!  Their home was constantly filled with people and she always treated them like royalty.

He died about 2 1/2 years ago and passed on some of her china pieces to our family.  My mom and I flew to Africa for his funeral and my mom and her sisters packed up all of their special things. Such an incredibly hard thing to do when you lose someone you love.
During the pack up, there were a few cups and saucers that were put aside in the "chipped and cracked" box. It's not that the pieces weren't beautiful any longer, they just couldn't be used.   Of course, I saw this pile and just couldn't hear of them throwing these precious pieces away.  Potential for a "Renewed Treasure" and a new way for them to be admired and LOVED.
Their Golden 50th Anniversary plate....so touching, they really were in LOVE.
 I carried them home carefully in my suitcase and have had them stashed away in my "treasure armoire" since then.  I figured there would be something beautiful I could make out of all these pieces and have just been waiting for that special inspirational piece that would inspire me.
I found this beautiful handmade piece of art on Etsy about a year ago and knew right away that this would be an amazing piece to create with all those little treasures I was given.  I LOVE how they placed the tea cup handle on the side.  Mine may be a little different but it has given me a great idea.  I really LOVE the pops of orange that they incorporated into this design.
My goal is to finish my new project here in the next few months in their honor.
I'll post pictures when I'm done. 
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL OF YOU.  THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING MY BLOG AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND  ENCOURAGEMENT.  I LOVE YOU!
Have a cup of tea and think of those you love today!
 
Click here to go to my website.  I can help you create a home that you will LOVE!



Lolipops and gumballs anyone?

I found this picture in House Beautiful this month and showed it to my oldest daughter as an idea for her upcoming birthday party.  I'm in love with this cake and wonder how hard it would be to create?  It looks achievable.
She got really excited and is now all inspired to have a "candy" themed party for her 14th birthday. 
Sometimes all it takes is a vision like this photo to get your creative juices flowing.  I've set her loose now and she is having a blast figuring out what she will do for this theme!  That's the beauty of girls getting older, they can start planning their own parties and it is so much fun for them!
This would be a lovely theme for Valentines Day too.  Red and pink candy displayed all over the table (I've always loved red and pink together).  I think I may have to plan a party just so I can create something fun too.  I've always LOVED a good party!  The whole idea of a candy theme is so colorful and yummy all at the same time.
Strawberry Cheesecake Jelly Beans - Oh my goodness, YUM!!!
Wouldn't these Carmel apples be fun to make? 
Or these....who doesn't like a few sprinkles?
Last year I got all inspired with gumballs around Valentines day too.  Go here to read my post.
Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Centerpiece
Design by DecRenew Interiors, Ruthie Staalsen
Look what one blogger did!  Brilliant!!  Way to go Deana!  This is adorable.  Paper lanterns wrapped in shrink wrap making the cutest candies ever!

Thank you House Beautiful for inspiring us!
 Let's just hope none of our teeth fall out!
For more information about my design services, click here to go to my website.

Spanish Doors and Artwork!

I have a client that I've been working with that has been through so much over the last 6 months.  They had a flood in their home and have had to redo their entire home.  The whole culdesac they live on had to endure this painful process. She hired me to be the shoulder to lean on during this whole process of decision making from paint colors to floor selections. 
Today we did something fun.  We hung some beautiful works of art for her. 
I chose these Spanish Doors for their dining room.  We hung them on the wall as artwork and I'm in LOVE!!!   Don't you just love the bulky, chunky hardware on them? They have a very formal dining room and we wanted to relax it a bit.  I felt that these doors would add character, texture, conversation, loads of history and interest.  They are the first thing you lay eyes on when you enter their home.
They were imported from Spain and have SO much personality.  I knew they were the ones when I found them and sent a photo to my client right away for her approval!  YES, YES, YES was the answer.
This was the painting that WAS hung in their dining room originally.  It screams formality and it is dated.  They spent a fortune on the frame, however, my client disliked the painting because she had a few people comment that it looked like it belonged in their grandma's home.    My suggestion to her was to have a local artist create a new painting for us with loads of color with more of a modern feel.  I thought that marrying these two styles would bring it up to date and save my client lots of money. 
It definitely did!
Artist - Mary Howe with Divine Inspirations
We made sure it could be hung landscaped this time and I think it's perfect on the wall in their den.
Hope you are having a great week.  Mine got off to a great start!

$25 Garage Sale Gem

My friend Mary found this cabinet at a garage sale for $25.00 the other day.  She had been looking for a china cabinet for her dining room and knew she could find a steal somewhere.  Mary is an amazing artist and with her talent can transform anything into a treasure.  She said when she saw this at the garage sale she knew it had potential, she was absolutely right.  
I just received her before and after pictures and she gave me permission to share them with you. 
BEFORE

It's a heavy duty piece made out of solid wood but just doesn't go with her decor.
BEFORE
Great decorative detail too.
AFTER

She took the doors off, added some trim pieces here and there, painted the whole thing onyx black and gave it some chic distressing. The detail work on the cabinet shows up now more than before.  She had shelves made out of mirrored glass and that made the whole cabinet come ALIVE!!!  She also added mirrors to the back of the cabinet.
 Don't you love the crystal knobs she added?
The best part is now she can finally showcase all of her wedding crystal and she is elated!  Great Job Mary! 
Do any of you have anything that you have "RENEWED" (big or small) that you would like to share with me.  I might just post it on my blog!  I'm all about a Renewed Treasure and love to see what you've done with yours. 
Email your pictures to ruth@decrenew.com by February 14th and I'll let you know if I post them.  I will also have a prize for my favorite redone treasure.