White Wednesday at Hearst Castle

Once the home of William Randolph Hearst, California State Parks strives to keep the estate looking like a private residence. The tours take the visitor back into time through the interpretation of a combination of many aspects regarding the estate, including William Randolph Hearst and his family, and the collection, architecture, gardens and lifestyle at the Castle. Formal guide training is an integral aspect of Hearst Castle. Castle tour guides are initially trained a total of 168 hours with additional in-service training and ongoing independent study between tours, resulting in a high quality interpretive experience for all who visit "The Enchanted Hill."
I took some photos while on tour, we were on the garden and pools tour.
Such spectacular views, although the bus ride up the hill, was extremely frightening! There are about 5 different tours I believe, but if you ever have a chance to go, definately worth it!

The long drive home, down the coast........ I didn't mind!

Happy White Wednesday.

White Wednesday Living Room...

So the camera is on the blink, time for a new one.... I took some photos with the iphone, the quality is not nearly the same as a digital so please forgive me, for these terrible photos.
I want to thank you all for your wonderful comments, and to the new followers, I owe many thanks to Sue @ Country Roads for always helping me, and Kathleen at Faded Charm  for hosting these White Wednesdays
Many of you asked to see more photos of our home, so here is the living room
As you walk through the front door, this is what you see, you immediately enter into the family room

Here is my HUGE white linen slip covered sectional, I love it... It is filled with down, so soft and squishy, there is enough room for all 5 of us to relax and have movie night!

Yes I have a big TV in the living room, I tried to have hidden before, but it tends to get to fussy or complicated when you have to open armoire doors, and children are opening and closing it all day.
My mantle is one of my favorite pieces in the family room. It took me 4 years to find it! After searching high and low, from Northern CA. to the East Coast, I found it at Country Roads.
Because  of the way the bricks popped out on the front, I didn't think I would be able to find anything that would fit, and I was ready to give up!

Here is my dining room. I wanted to step back to take a good pictures of these fantastic corbels I have hanging in the room. They are massive, over 4 feet tall, and about 30"deep. Very heavy!! We had to hang them using 20" lag bolts, I don't think they are ever coming down!

You couldn't see the mirror in the last photo of the dining room, this is one of my favorite pieces in my home too!!

Here are some pictures from the store this week.

Rearranged the store, it made such a difference! Time to restock with new inventory!

Thank you for stopping by this week, hope to see you back soon!

An Architectural White Wednesday.....

I love architectural salvage... Who doesn't? It makes you wonder where these pieces came from, what did the room look like?  What did the house look like? Who made these hand carved beauties? How long did it take? The craftmanship, the beauty, these days you would pay thousands of dollars to have something recreated. I found the starting point for my new room. These columns are flat, fluted and will be attached to a wall. The original gray paint has chipped off here and there, and just the raw unfinished wood is remaining.

They stand at about 7.5 feet tall

Just to show you the size, I placed a quarter in the swag. The roses are like mini baseball size.

I was very lucky to come across these....

Another favorite piece of architectural salvage was this pediment.

It is also very large, over 4 feet wide

Solid carved ribbon, and roses.

This once was a door pediment

I wonder what was in the center of this oval? And why someone sanded

or took off what was there?

Never the less.... I love it just the way it is.

I still don't know what to do with it, I haven't found quite the right place to put it.

I love these old 1920 cement statues. I try to buy them whenever I can.

Once a part of a fountain or planter, they make wonderful architectural elements for the home.

This is mine I have in my dining room. I love the old crackle painted concrete.

My new column, I added the capitol. I used to have a very plain column, and I loved it, but out with the old and in with the new. I mean old. I mean new old. You know what I mean.

Now seriously my dining room is complete. I know I keep saying my rooms are finished, but as you all know, there is always something better out there.

When will it ever be finished?

I have 1 more capitol exactly like this, I don't know what I am going to do with it just yet.

I hope you all enjoyed my architectural white wednesday.

A Sunny White Wednesday

As I gather up my photos for this White Wednesday Post, I was getting the itch to start redecorating my bedroom. I want something less fluffy, but still pretty. I have an image in my head of how I want my room to look.  For now I will say goodbye to one of my most favorite chandeliers

Goodbye to my armoire...

Goodbye to the ribbon cane bench...

A goodbye to the prettiest rose swag carved vanity....

My first room, about 5 years ago...

My second room about 3 years ago....

My third room about 1 year ago....

I am in the process of redecorating my hopefully FINAL room. I don't know about you, but isn't there always something better out there? 

As you can see even Mello, is exhausted from all the activity that goes on around here!

Garden Bug??

I don't know about you, but this weather in So Cal is so gloomy, and chilly! Where is our California sun? My garden is progressing slowly, and I still have to plant 120 boxwoods in the side garden (not looking foward to that). But before I do that, we decided to finally start a backyard remodel, so I have been looking on the web for inspiration.
I found these english looking gardens....

I really like the look of a formal garden separated by boxwood hedges

And I also like the look of paths that lead to somewhere, and although there is no formal hedge along the pathway, the country style of all the plants in no order at all is very appealing.

we will need a stone wall, but I want something that looks like old cobble, or stacked stone.

where do I find that?

Love the large stone steps.

By no means is my backyard very large, but if planned right I will try to create an old world feel, with secret garden qualities.

Off to work I go...............

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Where does the time go???

This week has been passing me by, how did it already get to Thursday? I missed my White Wednesday post, but this next week, I have a good one for you! I promise, lots of eye candy!
Speaking of candy, I am taking most of the day off today to celebrate by oldest sons birthday. Now entering the TEENage years, it seems like time keeps passing me by, and in a blink of an eye he went from that adorable two year old, with little hands and little toes, to a wonderful young man, that is taller than me, and his feet are bigger than mine. 
 

Make a wish......this is your special day!

Happy Birthday!