Old and yet so now

What seems already so long ago - our winter break was spent in Woodstock, VT.
There is a wonderful place nearby: Billings Farm. It is a working museum farm, with livestock, gardens and a wonderful farmhouse museum, built for the farm manager and his family around the 1890's.
What was so interesting about the place is the fact that it was designed very forward thinking for the time, with central heating, with running warm and cold water, a airy basement and many of the luxuries of the time.

Walking through the rooms I felt they would easily satisfy residents today, give or take a few things. I was delighted to find beautiful wallpapers.

Just look at this place! It's wallpapers are absolutely now!

The bathroom, with a hand painted sink, very fancy!

Build-in china closet in the dining room.

 I love the pantry! Why don't they build houses today like this anymore?

Look at the incredible coffee storage and grinder!

I loved these rooms, the light and the thoughtful layout.
This is the dairy, they had the first mechanical butter maker in the country!

And transportation....

Enough land to go on a sleigh ride!

More then 120 years ago doesn't seem so old-fashioned at all! I was reminded of images I have seen only recently...

A happy weekend to you my friends!
xx
Victoria



Images above by V.Zlotkowski, Country Home magazine, Zoffany wallpaper and Tribal Home.

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Rooms now

A modern, fresh environment is what I crave now! Light is of essence. Unfussy spaces with charm and character!

Lots of white with great strong color accents. The white of the table stands in lovely contrast to the floor and the hot pink bench, sideboard and purple chairs. The book shelves pull it all together! You get a little glimpse of the silver leaf wall treatment around the fire place. Beautiful!

Pops of color give these rooms character, Looking into a lime green sitting room, accented with a black and white border. In the foreground the wall mounted lamps add a playful touch to the shelves. I love rattan indoors. A garden feel year round!

I absolutely love the color combinations here. White and mint green, purple, teal and acid yellow. Light rules!

The great outdoors welcomed inside. And imagine it in winter!

Gray hot mix! And look at the gorgeous paneling! Although this is a show room it has all the makings of a spectacularly relaxed living room. With a painterly palette.


It is not necessary to paint everything white, I know it's one trend right now, but the secret to fresh rooms lies in contrast and the use of some strong accent colors. Classic color combinations like blue and white fit in there as much as pink and orange, gray and yellow or greens and purple.


And if you love your beige/greige monochrome setting and want to freshen it up without overhauling your place, just add some hot pink and purple pillows, fresh yellow flowers and open the curtains and let in the light! Rooms can be traditional, contemporary or country, to make it now and fresh follow the few rules above.
And it always helps to un-clutter. Every room needs a good editing here and there. (Read: Clean up and sort out the stuff just collecting dust!) And the coming spring time is the perfect opportunity to do just this!

Happy weekend, my friends!
xx
Victoria




Picture sources: Zoffany website, Designer Guild website, Bilhuber design, Bunny Williams show house room and some unknown source.

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