A WEEKEND AT MACKENZIE CHILDS

For our 23rd wedding anniversary, my hubby and I looked for a weekend getaway but decided that, due to the craziness of our schedules, we didn't want to travel far. Luckily there are a plethora of gorgeous locations in the Finger Lakes region! If you should know one thing about me, it would be that I absolutely LOVE interior design. Choosing to visit Mackenzie Childs in Aurora, New York (nestled along the beautiful Cayuka Lake) was a no-brainer. 

If I could think of one word that would describe this gorgeous place it would be JOY.

The beauty of the landscape and the gorgeous setting of the Mackenzie Childs farmhouse make for the absolute perfect getaway. When we drove up to the breathtaking house, the first thing I noticed were the gorgeous gardens and stunning view. Our little family also lives in a farmhouse (which I adore) but this one was surreal!

If you aren't familiar with Mackenzie Childs - girl, you need to get on board! It is one of my favorite brands. While originally founded as a pottery business in 1983, it soon grew and branched into furniture making a design. Each piece is handmade and hand-painted, which means each piece is as unique as a fingerprint - something rare and precious in today's fast-paced, quantity-over-quality culture. 

 While we were visiting we were able to stop by the gift shop, take a guided tour of the farmhouse and tour the gardens.

 Inside the store! Isn't it magical? 

I was expecting to love the store but man, the farmhouse was just spectacular! The attention to detail and the preservation of the original house was on point. The farmhouse is stocked full of art and furniture (from current and retired collections) made right there at Mackenzie Childs.

 One of the bedrooms!

 The dining room...

The famous Courtly Check pattern was on full display throughout the farmhouse.

 Another one of the bedrooms, featuring the limited wicker furniture collection! 

 The beautiful kitchen! Featuring the retired Honeymoon Pink pattern. 

After we toured, we had to stop to snap a few pictures at the house! This porch was absolutely gorgeous. 

After our visit to Mackenzie Childs, we ventured down into the quaint town of Aurora, New York. This town is home to Wells College and the Inns of Aurora. It was like stepping back in time! We loved being able to enjoy our weekend at a much slower pace.

This gorgeous spot is a must-see and a bucket list item for sure. I would highly recommend a day trip visit if you’re local, or - if you're traveling from out-of-state - a stay at the gorgeous Inns of Aurora! 

The hubs & I outside the store! 

Have YOU been to Mackenzie Childs? Are you a fan of the brand? Which piece or collection is your favorite? Let me know what you think! 

#homedecor #famrhouse #mackenzechilds #decor #interiordesign #courtlycheck #kitchen #bedroom #roadtrip #anniversary

BRIGHTEN YOUR SUMMER WITH WORTH LIGHTING

“Where the home is, the heart is.

Our kitchen is the heart of our home. It’s a hub of noise, community, and activity, a gathering place for family and friends alike, which is why it’s so important to have a space that’s both functional and welcoming.

In the 80s, our little farmhouse kitchen underwent a makeover – it was gutted & refurbished with dark cabinets and paneling, with just one window for light. Yikes! If you have followed me for any length of time, then you KNOW the house has been a work in progress.

Some things just need a little extra TLC.

Our solution? We tackled the cabinets by sanding, painting and repairing them to bring some of the vintage country charm back to the farmhouse. No dark woodwork or closed spaces here!

One of the first (and most important) things we did was install recess lighting, which I dearly love, because it helped brighten the space. Despite this, I wanted another solution to give the kitchen that extra bit of warmth over the island we made. (Another vintage find and long DIY project – a story for another day!

I began to search for options that would best fit the aesthetic of our farmhouse...

After scouring numerous home improvement stores for lighting options, to little success, I discovered an amazing find – a company called Worth Home Products. They sold lights that converted recess lighting into pendant lighting.

Imagine my excitement!

I set to work searching for the best option to fit my farmhouse kitchen. When I had questions, I called the company and they were so kind and helpful. I even managed to speak with the wonderful owner, Lori. I was so impressed with her customer service and interest in our home and project!

She offered many options for changing the lighting, and I was glad to have had the chance to get her input on what would work best.

After ordering two of the Brushed Bronze Recessed lights, it was installation time.

When they came I was thrilled to discover I could hang them myself.

Here’s How I Did It:

Step One: Remove the current light bulb.

Step Two: Screw in the new pendant light and slide up the decorative canopy.

Step Three: Step back and enjoy!

Now our cozy little kitchen space feels even more like home. It’s so nice to gather under the lights, and to have a more functional, well-lit room for entertaining guests.

Interested in trying Worth Lighting for your space? Here are my top picks for a vintage farmhouse: (ALL instant pendant style & a breeze to install!)

Left to Right:

1: Instant Pendant Series 1-Light Brushed Bronze Recessed Light Conversion Kit

2: Instant Pendant Series 1-Light Brushed Nickel Recessed Light Conversion Kit

3: Instant Pendant Series 1-Light Brushed Bronze Recessed Light Conversion Kit

4: Instant Pendant 1-Light Brushed Bronze Recessed Light Converter

5: Instant Pendant 1-Light Rustic Recessed Light Converter

#summer #homedecor #lighting #vintage #farmhouse #DIY #easyinstall #kitchen #warm #country #pendant

NEW FARMHOUSE SINK FROM @SINKOLOGY

If you have followed me for any length of time you know that this old house is a work in progress. When something is built almost 200 (!) years ago there are a few things that may need a little fix. We have sanded, stripped and repaired almost every square inch but, believe it or not, there are still places that need work.

We live in a real-life fixer upper; unfortunately there are no crews of people coming in to save the day...we roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves!

I've wanted to update the kitchen since we moved in, but it's been a very slow process. Let's face it -we live on a budget! Our countertops would stay but we were finally going to give this farmhouse kitchen a real farmhouse sink.

So, I began to search for top-quality sinks that would best fit the aesthetic of our farmhouse...

After searching many home improvement stores for a farmhouse sink I found a brand that was very well built and pleasing to the eye from @sinkology. I was also SO excited that this brand could be found in our local Home Depot store! This made the process of viewing and touching the sinks that much easier.

I decided to go with the Brooks/Zuri All-In-One Kit. I loved the look of the sink and the elegance plus functionality of the faucet.

Since we were doing it ourselves, we needed to cut the corian countertops and install the sink. Thank heavens my husband is very handy and a jack-of-all-trades! (He's been commissioned for more than one farmhouse renovation project.😉) He did a ton of research & then started the project.

STEPS:

1. Removal of the built-in sink.

2. Next, the hubby built a bottom support for the sink to sit on.

2. Finally, we were ready to put the sink in place and hook up all the plumbing!

Installation! Getting things polished up.

I want to stress that my husband is NOT a plumber or carpenter but he was able to install the sink and reroute all the plumbing - with a little elbow grease and research, it's a cinch!

It helped that the folks over @sinkology were there with us every step of the way. Their customer service is top notch and the quality and craftsmanship of the product is supreme.

Here is the finished product! I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

#country #kitchen #farmhouse #vintage #homedecor #DIY #sink #sinkology #easyinstall #fixerupper #summer