White Flower Farmhouse Interview and a $200 White Flower Farmhouse Gift Card Giveaway

A picture of Lori's Shop, White Flower Farmhouse

Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a great week.

I have a special interview with Lori, from White Flower Farmhouse.... and a giveaway....

I asked Lori, if I could purchase a gift card to her beautiful shop to go along with her interview,

I love Lori's Shop... and I think you will too...

Lori was so generous to go in on the gift card with me.

Thank you Lori!

The winner of the giveaway will get a $200.00 gift card to White Flower Farmhouse......

Giveaway information will be at the bottom of this post...

I wanted to feature Lori today, not only because I love her designs, but also because Lori

is the person responsible for introducing me to the world of blogging.

I remember the day I discovered Lori's site.

I spent the evening going through her blogs, Frugal Farmhouse Design and White Flower Farmhouse Blog....

I was immediately drawn to her style. 

Lori can turn any house on a very tight budget into a beautiful farmhouse....

I hope you enjoy my interview with Lori, and get a chance to visit her website....

I will let Lori take it from here....

First off I want to congratulate you on the first year anniversary of your blog.   I cannot believe that it was just one year ago that we were having the conversation about you possibly starting a blog, and look at what you have achieved in only one year.  You have a true passion for what you do and it shows through you words and the camera lens.

You have done an incredible job with your blog and have achieved so much in this short of time.

Most of all you have become and inspiration to your readers.  Keep up the great work inspiring us.

I am looking forward to all the exciting moments the future will bring.

Happy one year blogging anniversary!

Maria asked me to say a little about myself and shop, even though this post really should be about her.

I will share a few things that she asked me to.

A picture of Lori's kitchen

What inspired you to start a blog (Frugal Farmhouse Design)?

I have always had a passion for creativity and design- especially on a budget.  Megan encouraged me to share it through a blog.   At the time I did not even know what a blog was!  I had no idea it would turn into what it has become today and I am forever grateful.
Lori's blog is called Frugal Farmhouse Design

Lori's kitchen was featured in Country Living 

How do you hope to inspire others with your blog, Frugal Farmhouse Design?

I want to get the message out that it does not take tons or even money to have a beautiful and classic home with great style.  I think that there is a lot of pressure out there in the design world to spend, spend, spend!  The trends are constantly changing, which keeps the consumer spending money.  My personal thoughts are that consumerism is at an all time high.  Some of these design trends are ridiculous, expensive, and wasteful.  Do you really think that a chair that looks like an airplane cockpit, or that bright orange graphic sofa is a good investment?   Will it still be in style 10 years from now?  Just something to ponder.

A Beach Cottage Porch Makeover...
I love how Lori paints so many of the floors in her makeovers gray....

How did you get started as an interior designer?

I left my career as a graphic designer 16 years ago to stay at home with my babies.   We had to live on my  husbands salary alonge, which is not easy to do on Long Island ( a wonderful but very expensive place to live unfortunately) I furnished almost my entire home with yard sale finds and thrift shop caste offs that I re-furbished or painted.  To make a long story short, friends and family saw what I was doing.  They would not believe what I could do with some old piece of "junk"  I started to get requests for certain items for other people and it just escalated from there.

A picture of a cupboard in Lori's house

How would you describe your design style?

My personal style is simple, calming, comfortable, clutter free, creamy whites and soft beige paint colors, lots of natural materials and textures.  I like to mix in vintage and a few unusual accessories too.

A picture of White Flower Farmhouse

Where do you look for inspiration?

I can find inspiration in many different ways.  It might be an object or a color that sets the tone for a new room design.  If I had to choose a designer it would be Tricia Foley.   I love everything about her classic and simple style.

A picture of Lori and Tricia Foley

What is your favorite room to design in a home and why?

I love kitchens, to me they are the heart of the home.  I know that this is where I spend most of my time with my family.

I loved this kitchen reveal Lori shared on her blog.... She gave this kitchen a beautiful farmhouse makeover on a very tight budget

click on the link above if you would like to read more about this makeover

What has been your biggest design challenge?

I am currently working on a project for New York Newsday, where I have to re-do a room with NO MONEY.

I can use what ever I can that is already in the home- Nothing else.  I am finding this one to be the biggest challenge.  I am loving it at the same time.

A Beach Cottage Porch Makeover

Click on the link above if you would like to read more about Lori's Beach Cottage Makeover

Do you have a favorite color of white paint that you like to use?  

It is a creamy white called, Ballet White by Benjamin Moore.

A picture of Lori's Shop White Flower Farmhouse

How does one go about achieving a farmhouse look in their own home?

Farmhouse style has been around for such a long time, it really has stood the test of time.  It amazes me that there are photos of old farmhouses in America taken almost 100 years ago and there are many things that not changed.  Classic pieces are always old pine tables, simple (often painted) furniture, wood floors, homespun linen, simple window treatments or shutters, ticking fabric, utilitarian collections.  Farmhouse style to me exudes an overall feeling of warmth and comfort.  A cozy and safe haven from the sometimes harsh world outside.

A Stack of Beautiful Homespun Linen Sheets in Lori's Shop

I love the name of your shop, White Flower Farmhouse, is there a story behind the name?

I love the color white, so I wanted to incorporate that into the name.  Farmhouse is the basic style of the shop.   I wanted to make sure that the shop would be an affordable place to buy from.  I made a rule when I first opened the doors that I would have the merchandise that would range from $1 and go no higher then $500.00  That is what has kept me going strong for over eight years.

Where is your shop located?   

In a very cool and popular tourist destination.  The North Fork of eastern Long Island in a town called Peconic.  Want to know a secret....this fork has much of what that south fork offers on the Hampton side only for MUCH LESS MONEY!!!

A picture of Lori's Shop

Thank you Maria, for giving me the opportunity to answer these questions for you.

To me the most important and fantastic thing about blogging is the friendships that build and become part of your life.  I am happy and grateful for the opportunity to get to know you this past year.  Congratulations on your first year of this wonderful adventure. 
  Love Lori


Thank you so much Lori!
I can't thank you enough for what you did for me....
Really your act of kindness changed my life!
I will forever be grateful!


Giveaway Information......


What is in the giveaway.....


One $200.00 Gift Card to White Flower Farmhouse!
The winner will be chosen by using random number.

To enter the giveaway all you have to do is visit White Flower Farmhouse, and come back and let me know what you 
would like to use the gift card on if you won....


If you would like additional entries...
You can post the giveaway to any of your social networking sites.... 

Twitter

Blog

Facebook....

If you post the giveaway to any of your social networking sites, you must leave a separate comment stating which social networking site you posted the giveaway to, in order for your additional entries to be counted.


Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry.
GIVEAWAY ENDS MARCH 10th
Thank you Lori!


Lori's Shop~ White Flower Farmhouse
Lori's Blog~ Frugal Farmhouse Design
The Shop Blog~ White Flower Farmhouse Blog

Questions and Answers About My home and shop

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great week.

I have been getting a lot of questions about my home and shop this month, so I thought it would be a good idea to do a question and answers post today.

What color did you paint your living room and bedroom?

I painted our living room and bedroom a warm white called country dairy,

it is a Ralph Lauren color.

Home Depot still has the Ralph Lauren colors in their system.

I used the eggshell finish.

How did you secure the doors in your bedroom to the wall?
We actually didn't secure the doors to the wall.
We just leaned them up against the wall.
The doors are secured in place with our bed.

What color did you paint your living room?

I painted this room a warm gray, called pearl gray.

It is a Martha Stewart color from Lowe's.

How do you keep your whites white?

I really only use Mrs. Meyers detergent, along with oxiclean.

I also use vintage french linen sheets to cover my couches....

You can read more about how I keep my whites white by clicking here.....

What color did you paint your daughters' beds?

I used two different shades of whites when painting their beds.

I first painted a layer of Decorator's White on their beds, and then lightly brushed on a coat 

of White Dove.  Both colors are Benjamin Moore colors.

I like to use two different shades of whites when painting my furniture....

What color did you paint your girls room?

I painted my girls' room a Martha Stewart's color called Newsprint.

Newsprint.

I still love this color in their room.

It is a really light gray color, and really helps make the whites pop.

How did you make the pompoms?

I purchased a pompom kit at Michael's.

We used these to decorate the inside of a tent at my sister's wedding too.

You can read a tutorial on how to make these by clicking here.....

What is your favorite white paint to use on furniture?

My favorite cool white is, Decorator's White, a Benjamin Moore color.

This is the color of paint I used on my table.

My favorite warm white, is White Dove, a Benjamin Moore color.

My favorite gray to use on furniture is, Horizon.

I never distress the paint finish on my furniture......I have five kids, the furniture always becomes naturally distressed over time : )

I always use semi-gloss paint as well.... It is much easier to wipe clean, and I personally like a nice glossy white finish on my furniture that I have painted.

Do you use only lavender to fill your lavender pillows or do you also use a filler?

We use only dried organic lavender buds to fill our pillows.

Will you be selling bistro chairs?

I will be adding bistro chairs to the shop soon....

I hope this helps answer a few of your questions...


Take Care,
Maria

Dreamy Whites Shop

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Thank you Country Almanac.... and a sneak peek into Romantic Prairie Style

Photographs by Mark Lohman 

Hello Everyone...

I wanted to first say thank you to Janet Mowat, the editor of Country Almanac, for sending me copies of the Country Almanac summer 2011 issue.....

I opened the package, not knowing what was going to be inside the envelope.

I was a little surprised when I started flipping through the magazine and

 found pictures of our home...

These pictures were taken by Mark Lohman for Fifi O'Neill's book, Romantic Prairie Style.

If you have access to the Country Almanac Magazine you will see a sneak peek of Fifi's new 

book, Romantic Prairie Style.

Romantic Prairie Style will be released this April.....

Photographs by Mark Lohman

The kids were so excited to open up the magazine and see the picture of our goat, Dolly.

Dolly has been apart of our family for ten years.

I think Fifi enjoyed Dolly just as much as the kids do.

Photographs by Mark Lohman

Thank you Fifi, we are so honored to be apart of your book!

If you are interested in purchasing Romantic Prairie Style you can do so by clicking here~

I recently did an interview with Fifi, you can read it by clicking here~

Christina Strutt just posted an interview with Fifi that I thought you might enjoy reading as well....
Cabbages and Roses
Cabbages and Roses is giving away a copy of Romantic Prairie Style...
You don't want to miss it...You might see a few more pictures over there too.

On another note...
I hope you guys are having a great week....
I am hoping to get back to blogging again soon...
We are still trying to overcome this flu virus.
Take Care,
Maria

Valentine's Day Inspired Table, Artful Blogging

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all have had a great week....

I wanted to share a few pictures of a Valentine's inspired table setting.

I used a lot of roses from Whole Foods, trying to give my home a cottage feel.

I used antique french labeled jars as vases....

I used antique french yellow ware, that were once used as jam pots.

I added floral foam from Michaels to the pots.  My daughter Bethany helped me arrange the flowers in the little pots.

I love these vintage french music cards....

You could use something like this as a gift for each guest....

I scattered plastered letters around the table...

I filled a french canning jar with flowers....

I used an antique french document as a placemat....

I chose to use an assortment of flowers....

I however only used pink and white flowers for the table setting....

I set out an assortment of french linen napkins on the table.

I now wish I would have done something a little different with those napkins, after looking at these pictures....

I set out four of the blue french documents and used only two white french documents for the middle plates, to break it up a little bit.

This isn't how I would normally set our table, it is supposed to be a Valentine's Day inspired table setting.... : )

On a final note....

I wanted to say thank you to Jennifer Jackson and the Artful Blogging Magazine team for featuring my blog in the spring issue of Artful Blogging...

It is out on newsstands now.

Artful Blogging

I hope you all have a great weekend!!
Take Care,
Maria