Dreamy Whites

Thursday, March 3, 2011

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

Monday, February 28, 2011

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....

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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Thursday, February 24, 2011

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

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Introducing Lilies and Dandelions Blog

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to take the time to introduce to you a new blog that I think you will all enjoy....

Lilies and Dandelions

I asked Brianna, the author of Lilies and Dandelions, if she could tell us a little bit about herself....

I am a 25 year old wife and mother of two boys. We live in the suburbs of San Diego... I must stress suburbs because we are definitely more country than near the ocean :-). I have been interested in interior design and home decor even as a little girl. I would often rearrange my bedroom furniture and persuade my sweet Dad to repaint my walls -- yet again! Both sets of my Grandparents were born and raised in Europe. I started a few years ago framing their old sheet music, or using an old piano bench as furniture, etc. I wanted to look around my home and feel my family around me, instead of purchasing something that has been recently mass produced and sold everywhere. It thrilled me to take an object that would be completely valueless to someone else and re-purpose it, because I could remember sweet moments with that person (or imagine the stories that it may have). I cannot tell you how much I've enjoyed reading all of these blogs. For so long now, I haven't been able to pin down a name for my design style (and I probably still can't) but I see so many people that have the same idea that I do. It has only been a few months, but I already have been inspired to begin so many more projects around my house, and incorporate all of my "treasures" in them! I wanted to create this blog to share some ideas that I may have and meet new friends that have the same common interest as me... to create more than just a living space, but a home that invites our family and friends and makes us all feels so comfortable, airy and bright.

I already love Brianna's blog...

I think you will too.

Brianna is also having a giveaway on her blog.