PLAYING HOUSE...& GARDEN

I finally took the time to clean my house from top to bottom. I mean scrubbing the floors, washing the walls and every single curtain, dusting, polishing, ironing....you know...but, as the saying goes "a picture is worth a thousand words." In this case several thousands................

About 3 motnhs ago, I found 4 cane chairs at a yard sale ($5 each!) perfect conditon but wrong color. I painted them on Friday morning. They are now in my DR.

 

 

Moved a few things around. That little round table used to be in the corner, near the fireplace, where the old wood chair is now...........change is good .............

   

The kitties LOVE a clean floor (I bet they can't wait to get their little flur all over it, again...)

 

When everything is clean you get really inspired to create lovely vignettes.......

   

The roses above are from my garden, the ones on the right are from the grocery store..

 

Above, ginger and rose from the garden and tulips from the grocery store......................

Above: left, on the little white table. Right: on the coffee table

Miss Lucy sunggles between books and magazines.....pretty hard to find a spot without either!

Every time I clean I fall in love with my house all over again...it looks so inviting and it smells so good!................After working day after day on the computer I don't see what's around me and when I get a chance to refresh and reorganize I see it with new eyes and realize how lucky I am!.............................................................

I love this basket (got it in Virginia) and the heart- shaped "blackboard" my sister brought me from France. She also gave me the heart mirror/candle sconce from which it's hanging.....

I got this beautiful pillow from LESLIE. It's on the guest bed......................also moved the gorgeous Chez Fifi sign from Heather & Denise into the guest room..................... and the

"OUI" & "NON" pillows my sister Sylvie made are on my bed....where they belong...........

My neighbor, Blair- she is the one who looks after my kitties when I go on shoots- mentioned she had seen some colorful umbrellas at Big Lot. I got a pink and a green because the colors are perfect for my garden...............................

the pink one is in the front garden, the green one on the back deck off the kitchen............they are cute but pretty flimsy........one little hurricane and...bye bye....

                        

                           Above: cabana bed before

Today I   had to clean up the cabana. I used to have a day bed in it but the raccoons "nested" in it and also took all my pillows apart.....go figure! I threw the bed away, actually I put in at the curb and somebody picked it up within 10 minutes....matress, box spring and frame! Yikes!

After I removed the bed, I picked all the day leaves that had collected underneath. Then I bleach the wood to get rid of the mildew. Then the fun began..........fixing up the place that is......The idea was to use what I have instead of buying new stuff...........

That little sideboard was in the guest house but it's pretty beat up so it won't matter if gets worse..........in the meantime it's great for storing garden things....................

The lanterns were already there...............I brought the heart back from France last year...the Adirondak was part of a set I bought 9 years ago but the table and bench rotted away...in fact, the chair is on its last leg....so to speak......will have to replace it soon but I got my money's worth..................

So, here it is. Now you can see how the cabana relates to the entrance of the kitchen and the back deck.......

                     

Well, that's it. I have stayed away from the computer long enough but I neede that. After doing all this cleaning and "makeover" I feel in control of my life again. All this paid off. Now my mind is clear and I am ready to tackle the work at hand without being obsessed with having to clean. Better yet, I can step out any time and breathe in the fragrance of the jasmine and the roses. it doesn't get any better! LOVE IT! Hope you do to!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoFifi

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Comments

[Nan]

I feel totally refreshed after that lovely tour....I love that you rearrange your things so you can see and use them differently - and you put a new spin on cleaning! You have such a charming and beautiful home - thanks so much for the visit - I'll be back!

[Daisy Cottage]

Gorgeous!
Every inch - inside AND out!
I love it when you get to play with your house AND we are so lucky that you share the fruits of your "labor" with us! Love the changes and all of the "Fifi-touches"!

((hugs))
Kim

[Sue]

Hey Fifi...Will you let me know the next time you're going to put ANYTHING at your curb?? Even though I might not be in town, I'll send a friend over to pick it up for me!! Even your 'cast-offs' are amazing. :)
Sue

[Cindy Dockins]

Everything looks wonderful...what a darling little cabana!!! I totally agree to use what you have, it challenges us to be more creative!!! P.S. I am so jealous of your flowers and beautiful roses from you garden.

[Erin]

Sigh... Can I come live with you?

Your beautiful home is the kind of place I dream of living in! Thank you for sharing - your beautiful photos brighten my day!

- Erin (first-time commenter, long-time reader)

[Faahei]

J'aime beaucoup votre maison!C'est toujours un grand plaisir de visiter votre blog. Caresses à vos chats!

[Alison Gibbs]

Thanks for sharing your Spring Cleaning with us. It actually inspires me to do the same and maybe see my home with fresh eyes!
Alison

[theredvelvetshoe]

Dear Fifi, you are such an inspiring woman! Your home is so charming and immaculate!!!! I too love the feeling of knowing everything is fresh & sparkling clean~~although it isn't as often as I'd like! Your cabana is my favorite part of your lovely home~~you should add an old claw foot tub for cooling off on hot summer evenings! Thank you for the tour!
Michelle

[Victoria]

Such a lovely home you have!

Victoria x

[Louloupi]

Coucou Fifi,

Et bien quel travail!!!!
Mais ton petit coin de paradis en vaut la peine ;-)

Au fait il va falloir surveiller ta boîte aux lettres......Un nichoir printanier va venir s'y poser ;-)

Plein de bisous et encore merci de nous montrer un si bel endroit .....ça nous permet de rêver un peu ....

Bisous

Louloupi ;-)

[Joy]

Fifi, you home is *magical* - just like you! :)

p.s. I just love a good 'clean' too - it really can inspire. And creating new vignettes are so much fun!... :)

Joy

[kathy]

It's perfect and so you! You'll never walk into another home and say "Hey, this looks just like my house." People in the neighborhood must take walks just so they can stop and admire your quaint yard. Thanks so much for sharing. As you can see we really enjoy your post...such a happy place to stop by.
Best,
Kathy

[Rue]

Fifi,
We can always count on you for some of the most beautiful pictures in blogland. Your home looks absolutely charming. If only we could smell those roses ;)

Have a beautiful day in your fresh, clean home.

rue :)

[Mim]

FIFI,
Do you sleep? I doubt it by the looks of things.. all that fluffing and cleaning!
I am stillt thinking about your snake... does it come into that cabana area? If so you are braver than me to go outside.
Love your roses. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Mim

[judith]

The area looks very refreshed, this is something so cleansing for the mind when we take care of those little things.

[Janet (Shabbyfufu)]

GORGEOUS.....maybe the rattler will leave now that you have been "rattling" around outside! Those $5 chairs were an amazing find....what a score! ~XOXO~ Janet

[gail]

What a beautiful home! And you have such a talent for creating a comfy, cozy look! What is that glimpse of a curtained ceiling in the dining room? More pictures please! I'm intrigued!

[Cheryl in California]

Fifi, The beauty of your house brings a sigh of content from my soul!

[Candace]

Your home is just amazing. Beautiful! I feel like I am looking at the pages of a magazine when I see your photos. I like to rethink things as well as I clean. It just makes a chore not seem so chore-like! I am new to blogging and have you listed in my links as one of the sites inspiring me! Thank you, and I'll keep looking. Hope you will some and see me as well. C--

[Brenda Kula]

I so totally agree! Everytime I rearrange things, it's like they're new again. Like I am seeing them in a whole new light. That's why I love decorating both the indoors and the outdoors. I shift things around, gain a new perspective, and feel rejuvenated. I love your photos, by the way.
Brenda

[Tracie]

Hi Fifi,
You so inspire me! I love it all - especially that old chair in the corner, that's one of my favorites and that blackboard heart is darling.

Now, I want to move my whole house around, it is amazing how it gives you a lift. Lucy looks like she approves, the cats only need a small amount of room to feel cozy - at least that's my experience - they'll find the tiniest area and make it theirs, so sweet.
Looks amazing and I'm not surprised, just very inspired sweets!
xoxo~Tracie

[Ele at A bit of Pink Heaven]

It was amazing getting to look at your lovely home. So gorgeous. Did you use white paint, or an off white color on your chairs? Also, did you have to prime them first?

[karen benson]

OOOhhh Can I come live with you??? Your little cottage is lovely, so comfy and pretty! I live with 2 teenagers, hopefully I will be able to foof up my place when they go...(My son is rough on furniture!)
Enjoy your darling home! karen....

[LeAnn Huntington]

Hi Fifi,

WOW! Those cane chairs are fabulous!! $5 a piece, unbelievable. Your cottage looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
LeAnn :)

[Erin]

Fifi, thanks for the little tour today and the inspiration to clean and freshen up the house. We have a little front porch construction going on and I can't wait to foof it up when it's finished!