LoveFeast Shop

I love LoveFeast shop. I love their velvet pumpkins, and have three sets, which I used in the barn ... but what I wanted to share with you these:

Yes, I can hear you oohing and ahhing right now! When I saw these on their website, I knew they were the perfect accessory for the barn because of their juxtaposition of rough and refined. Made from lucite, the antlers come as a pair, one mule deer antler and one white tail antler.

Perfect on a coffee table, a dresser, anything near a window ... separated or together like these (or mine), these antlers are the perfect accessory and would fit seamlessly into any home. So, if you're looking for something gorgeous ... something unique ... something shiny ... something absolutely amazing ... take a good long look at the LoveFeast shop, the antlers, their pumpkins, and everything else they offer! You won't be disappointed! 

6 Wilson

Do you know Carol over at 6 Wilson? She and her blog are amazing, and when she took her interior decorating experience and love for fabric and started an etsy store, she naturally saw great success. Everything in Carol's etsy store is handmade by her, sewn with absolute precision and the quality of the fabric is top notch ... including the new metallic linen she sews into custom pillows after they take on a personalized monogram.

In the barn, I chose the gold metallic linen and the red monogram. Carol offers multiple linen colors and monogram colors on her etsy store.

It was perfect in the barn! And I can tell you first hand, this pillow is even more gorgeous in person than it photographs. (Although it does that pretty well, too!!)

So, if you're looking for pillows, and want something beautifully tailored, unique, and perfectly you - look no further than Carol's etsy store. There you'll find all sorts of beautiful things that are sure to fit into your decor, including these metallic linen monogrammed beauties!

York Wallpaper

Working with the barn this year at the Lewiston Tour of Homes was interesting, and although I had the great pleasure of working with a space from the ground up - almost quite literally - I was bound to the very rustic nature of the 100-year old barn wood walls. No, it wasn't a tragic thing to be bound by, but I knew that I need something with a little more sophistication to help tie together the whole space. 

The furnishings and rugs were a mix of casual and formal ... so I knew that I needed something with the same vibe when it came to bringing in a different "Wall". I thought for a long time on what to do - and then it hit me. WALLPAPER!! But where? I mean, I sure wasn't about to ask the homeowner if I could wallpaper over the barn wood. So, instead, I created a folding screen out of bi-folding closet doors, and had the wallpaper applied to them!

Voila! Perfection, right? Thanks to the gorgeous Chinoiserie wallpaper from York Wall, I was able to get that simple but sophisticated, casual but elegantly refined look I needed to wrap the whole room together. The wallpaper comes unpasted on a double roll, and is a breeze to work with (so I'm told!) I had a hard time thinking that I could successfully do a DIY wallpaper job with the tight timeline - so, I hired someone to do it. 

York was a real joy to work with, too! There was a slight issue with the first wallpaper that I picked (I highly recommend getting a sample before you order to make sure that the color on your screen is the color that will work in the space), and they quickly sent out the new choice - which was PERFECTION!

And I just have to mention that this is a fantastic idea for you renters and apartment dwellers! Just grab some old doors from your local re-use center and use the York Wallpaper of your choice to have a movable, and slightly temporary statement to your decor! And for those of you who can wallpaper your space - make sure to check out the large (and stunning) inventory at York before you look anywhere else! They are, in my opinion, the best wallpaper source online - and my experience with them is one that I would gladly recommend to anyone looking for wallpaper on projects big or small!

Safavieh

The barn was really one large space, that I had to separate into multiple uses. There was the sitting room:

which was immediately adjacent to the foyer. Then there was the living space:

complete with a fireplace and multiple seating. Then there was the desk area:

And the bar:

But probably one of my most favorite spaces was the library:

One long antique table, atop an antique rug ... framed by gorgeous Safavieh chairs in a beautiful greige linen.

The Faxon chair from Safavieh's Mercer collection is a gorgeous dining room chair, made of oak, and upholstered in 100% linen in a taupe-gray color, is the perfect chair for this application. In fact, the chair would fit well into any room, making a great dining room chair, or library chair, a desk chair, even an armless occasional chair in a living room.

Safavieh has chairs, tables, ottomans, desks, storage pieces, you name it - and in every budget from the uber high-end to the very reasonably priced chairs that I used at the barn project.

The chairs are beautifully constructed, superbly comfortable, and come with fitted covers for protection. The nailhead trim gives the frame a masculine touch, while the softly turned legs and antique french wash on the gray oak legs are decidedly feminine. Not only would the size and color of the chair allow it to fit well into any space, it would appeal to both men and women.

Safavieh sells these chairs in a pair, making it easy order in multiples ... plus, they are incredibly well priced! So, if you're looking for furniture for your home or clients, look no further. Safavieh has everything you need, at great prices, fast shipping, and excellent customer service.

Balsam Hill

All of the trees that I used in the barn this year were from Balsam Hill. Once I found this company just three years ago, I haven't looked anywhere else for my artificial Christmas trees, wreaths and garlands. They are, and this is my own unpaid, unbiased opinion, the BEST source for all things Christmas.

I had so many trees and garlands in the barn. That's what a showhouse at Christmas deserves, right? And Balsam Hill did not let me down with their amazing trees of supreme quality!

Balsam Hill trees are extremely realistic looking. I can't even begin to tell you how many people asked me if the garlands and trees were live! Built with their patented true needle technology, the trees have more tips and lights than any other trees available online or in stores.

I used their Tannenbaum Tree trio, their 9' Sonoma Slim pencil tree, their 7.5' Vermont White Spruce tree, multiple Vermont White Spruce garlands, and some ornament trees (so cool!).

Each of the trees were remarkably beautiful - and not just AFTER they were decorated. They came out of the box with very little fluffing necessary. But once I was done getting them perfectly fluffed, (using their awesome, super soft gloves), and decorated - they were THE most beautiful trees of the whole tour. Plus, after the tour was over - they were SUPER easy to store. Balsam Hill provides you with durable tree storage bags with every purchase, so no more fighting to get those trees back in a box! 

I went a little crazy with my trees this year, using large tree branches in the trees to give a real "forest" look. The trees ended up being incredibly architectural and sculptural, and honestly, I think that if I had gone with any other tree but the amazing quality of the Balsam Hill trees, they would have toppled over and been a huge mess! 

So, all in all - if you're looking for an artificial tree, garland, or wreath - don't look any further than Balsam Hill. Free Shipping, and a current promotion of more than 50% off, you aren't going to find a better deal either! 

Sunland Home Decor

Who hasn't seen cowhides making a huge resurgence in interior design? From bedrooms to bathrooms, simple to heavily layered, cowhides seem to fit perfectly in just about any decor. So, in keeping with my series on great places to find things that I used in the barn, I had to share with you how beautifully my rug from Sunland Home Decor's Cowhide Store fit into the finished space.

The barn room was obviously rustic, but I wanted to juxtapose all those rustic bones with the richness and luxury of fine furnishings and rugs. So, when I went looking for cowhides, not just any cowhide would do. So when I found these gold metallic cowhide rugs from Sunland Home, I knew I had found the perfect piece for the barn.

What I loved about shopping the Sunland Home site was firstly the ease of finding what I was looking for. You can shop by color, style, size, even all the available hides; secondly the fact that many of the rugs, in particular the Gold Metallic hide I used in the barn, are one-of-a-kind, and you receive the exact hide pictured on the site! 

Lots of people loved the rug in the barn, asking if they could walk on it - and how they ever got the gold metallic fleck under the hide? And that my friends, is not an answer I have. Sunland Home calls it a "unique process", and being a lover of most things one-of-a-kind and unique, I will leave it at this: 

I LOVE this rug from the Sunland Home Decor Cowhide Store. It was shipped quickly and the folds from shipping were smoothed out very easily, and completely gone after just a couple of days. The gold flecks in the hide were not overpowering, and it looked exactly as pictured on the website. There was no awkward processing smell that you get from some hides, but rather, just the wonderful scent of leather. The rug was easy to clean, and the gold was completely secured to the hide - with no mess, plus it looked amazing in the barn. 

So, if you're in the market for a cowhide, for your floor, your wall, or to use as upholstery - look no further than Sunland Home Decor Cowhide Store. They're friendly, helpful, and have great prices on over 250 different hides from lime green zebra stamped hides to the chic and magazine trending all white hides. 

I hope you're enjoying these photos of the barn, and of course, these great online stores that I hope can save you time and money when you're shopping for your own projects! 

Niagara Holiday Market - Niagara Soapworks

The Niagara Holiday Market, which debuted with great success on Black Friday, is the largest European-style holiday market and festival in the United States! Local vendors offering everything from baked goods and wine, to jewelry, knitted hats, scarves, photography, paintings, and artisan soaps give local and area shoppers an opportunity to purchase one of a kind gifts for their loved ones this year, and score some great deals for themselves. The Niagara Market also features, live entertainment, community events, ice-skating and other winter activities with an international flavor until New Years Day.

One local vendor at the Niagara Holday Market and friend of mine is Niagara Soapworks, owned by artists Tina and Andrea Galyn.

Their booth, which has a very Urban Outfitters / Terrain vibe, smells delicious from the moment you walk through the barn door - a grand floral bouquet with a hint of spice, mixed with familiar vanilla and a dash of spring lilac - their all natural soaps are a huge hit at the Niagara Holiday Market, and one of my absolute favorite local products!

The booth has more than just soap, though - with antiques and vintage products for sale right off the wall,  crochet and bejeweled scarves and winter caps, and hand-made jewelry.

Tina and Andrea can whip up great gift boxes or baskets, too, with a vast selection of all natural loofah, sea sponge, or organic washcloths and mitts.

Aren't the vignettes beautiful? I think this Ball Ideal Mason Jar is a hint ... anything from Niagara Soapworks will make an IDEAL gift!

Bejeweled scarves for just $5?! WOW!

Again with the vignettes. Stunning, right? So - let's get right to it though ... I feel like I have to tell you about these all-natural artisan soaps. Made with secret recipes perfected through the thousands of batches they've made, I can tell you that they have organic olive-oil and shea nut butter, making them all organic, vegan, and moisturizing.

Scents are vast ... but include New York Apple, made with real New York State apples, shea nut butter, and vitamin E oil. Andrea tells me that apple pectin is a natural way to help heal damaged skin, and as you know shea nut butter is the best all natural moisturizer!

Gorge Trail, a wonderful woodsy scent with a fresh overtone has real ground almonds and cedar bark to act as a natural exfoliant. This soap is a great option for those of you who love to garden, or know a gardener. Afterall, when you've gotten your hands dirty in the garden - what's better than cleaning up with an all-natural soap?

Mary Magdelene's Soap for Very Dirty Girls is a humorous flavor, a hint of pear with a warm redwood finish, making it the perfect gift. A soft soap to help wash away those dirty sins!

One of my favorites, is Pear and Berry, a beautifully clean smelling soap with a real soothing quality. But my all time favorite, and one that I have several bars of ...

Frasier Fir Soap is made from the natural oils from fir tree needles. I mean - really? Do you know how much work goes into these soaps! Tons, and you can tell from the moment you open the box. Each time I use the soap my hands are fragrant for hours, and the soap acts as a masculine sort of natural air-freshener!

It also comes in liquid soap, along with another one of their best sellers, lavender! And, now - for something that Andrea and Tina have never done before, they are offering 5 bars of their premier and artisan soap to my readers for $30, shipping included! That's $6/bar for soap that others sell for $10.

Here's how my loyal and wonderful readers who aren't anywhere near the Niagara Holiday Market can order the soap:

Simply pick 5 of your favorite scents from the list below, and email me at artie.vanderpool@gmail.com. I will then send you a paypal invoice, and deliver your paid order to Tina and Andrea who will package up your in-stock choices right away! Simple right?

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SCENTS FOR YOUR CHOOSING:

New York Apple - A warm apple fragrance, with natural skin heeling pectin and moisturizing shea nut butter.

Mary Magdalenes Soap for Very Dirty Girls - A pear flavor and hint of redwood, a great "fun" gift for those bad girls on your Christmas list!

Gaia Soap - A wonderful masculine scent, with a sandlewood undertone. Perfect for that boyfriend or husband that needs softer hands!

Clover Soap - A spring fragrance of clover, another option for that man in your life!

Fresh Scent - A clean linen fragrance making it a crowd favorite!

Frankincense & Mihrr - A musky, but familiar scent.

Cucumber Melon - A clean and fresh sweet smelling soap that's sure to please!

Spice Cake - A smell that brings back fond memories of the holidays with a hint of clove and nutmeg.

Gorge Trail - A wonderful exfoliating soap perfect for the gardener in your life!

Fir Tree Soap - My favorite, the smell of Christmas in the palm of your hands!

Indian Champak - A relaxing and meditative scent of Hindu incense.

Lavender Fields - Like a French field of lilac, and a hint of honey.

Dragons Blood -  An Earth-Centered scent from healing Asian tree sap.

Creme Brulee - A hint of sugar cookie in this warm scented, soothing flavor.

Dark Vanilla - A fan favorite, and best seller! The familiar scent of vanilla.

Pear & Berry - A delightful and fresh scent of pear and berry - a nice feminine scent.

Lilac & Lilies - Like getting lost in a field of lilac, this soap is extremely fragrant, and absolutely intoxicating!

Coconut Milk - The softness of coconut, with a hint of floral. Another fan favorite!

So, if you're looking for stocking stuffers, gifts for the girls at the office, that certain something for the friend who has it all, or maybe a little something to treat yourself after gift shopping for everyone else on your list - send me an email with your five favorites and I'll pass the order along.

LOVE ... Novica

I love giving unique Christmas gifts to friends and family, and if you do too - look no further than Novica. I've gotten several things from them, and love them! They've made excellent gifts, too! Whether you're looking for accessories for the home, or great wool scarves (always a hit in our house) give them a look before you go anywhere else. I think you'll be glad you did!