mon préféré place (my favorite places)

The sun is out today, something we have not seen a whole lot of here in the typically Sunny California. My home, like a many of my reader friends, is a reflecttion of who I am and how I see the world. It is constantly evoloving, and being reworked. Much like myself, I am always striving to improve, change and inspire others with my surroundings. When I enter my home, I want to feel comforted. 

Here are some of my favorite places in my home and why:

 This is a little collection of favorites.  My favorite bird cage lamp, one of the first things I bought for this home.  A picture of my family on a very special day, and a beautiful little dish I purchased when visiting one of my dear friends from college.

This is the "Fun" center.  The dresser was made from a cast off dresser that was a "free to me", I did a several step paint makeover.  The chairs were originally orange, also a free to me see here to see more on the goods.  My kids keep their craft stuff in the drawers, the games are nearby, and the photos waiting to be put in albums are in the basket (trying to be disguised)

If you know me, you know I have an obsession with good Chocolate.  My dear friend Suzanne gave me this as a special present before she moved.  I look at it each day and think of her.

This is a the game center.  We love to play games, unless someone cries, which happens occassionally during Monopoly.  We are quite competitive, (or maybe that is just me)

This is a collection of beach glass taken from Glass Beach in Mendocino, CA. This was a bittersweet trip for my husband and I. About the time we lost a baby very late in pregnancy, so the glass remind us of her. It is a sweet rememberance of the how much God loves us and shows us in so many ways.

I love to cook, and I am fortunate to have a sunny kitchen.  I don't polish my beloved Mauviel pots as often as they deserve to be, but hey, they are well used.  Each piece on the windowsill represents a treasure given to me by a special friend.

This is my "ahhh" corner.  Another little gift from the beautiful Suzanne. A Chocolate Meneir bowl, a yummy smelling candle, and a little tile with one of my favorite quotes, made lovingly by my friend Holly.

Is this not the coolest mirror you have seen?  It was made for me by a very creative furniture maker.  He took old table legs and split them in half to create the molding, then added some very old beading he had in his workshop.  The French words just add to my style.  It is one my favorite pieces.

A cake stand a cute pitcher hold some of my favorite treasures.  Both given to me by good friends on my 40th birthday.  The chest is one of my favorites where I experienced with a lot of different finishes, and it just "came together"

I have two talented piano players in our home.  I am not one of them, but I do love to sit in this nook and enjoy the music.  Plus, the fabric just makes me happy, quirky and non matchy. (like me)

This is a found space.  You now the space by the door where your husband dumps his shoes and briefcase when he comes in?  Well, I constructed a little bench, there is a basket there (that sometimes the shoes make it into) and nice place to sit while you organize your things.  The adorable pillows come from my Washington Friend Nia, you can read about this amazingly creatively lady here

This is my favorite bathroom in my home.  It is more like a water closet, but I wanted to achieve an old French "smokey walls" look.  I used vintage pictures from an old French Calendar I had and some thrift store finds. Then I plastered the walls in Sherwin Williams Antique White and added Black dry brush to create a smoke effect. 

 Doesn't the door look nice and dingy? 

I have a perverse sense of humor.  Instead of where the toilet paper roll should go, there is a strange picture of an outdoor Paris Cafe with a very large Elephant.  The TP is in a basket by the door.  I thought I may as well give someone something intersting to contemplate why they do their business......No, I have no idea why the Elephant is at the restaurant.  Does anyone know?

I would love to see what some of the favorite places in your homes are.  I will be posting some of the really good ones, please include an explanation and any links you would like to go with it.

Happy Friday! -Good Time Charlie