Treasure Hunt Thursday #112 & Highlights

Welcome to Treasure Hunt Thursday #112! I hope that everybody is having a great week. We are in week number 3 of summer vacation and minus a few days of driving mom completely insane it has been great. They have been wanting to spend every minute in the backyard which is exactly what we wanted! Now if I can just figure out how to blog from out there!;)

Here are my top picks from last weeks party.

1. Stone Gable- New Dining Room Bench

2. Fern Creek Cottage- Beachy Living Room

3. Cottage Magpie- DIY Grain Sack Table

4. Life With The Crust Cut Off- Enchiladas

Thank you to all who come and party every week and to those who just stop by to say Hi!

Common Courtesies

1. Please only link up new links that you have not shared before. 

 

2. Please link up only 3 times. If you have more you would like to share save the share till the next THT so it will be just as awesome.

 

3. Please do not link up items you are trying to sell or other linky parties.

 

4. Please be sure to link back to THT. Hint hint I will only feature those who have the link back. 

 

5. Disable Word Verification to encourage more comments from your visitors!:)

 

I would love to have you follow along with me if you do not already!

 

Can't wait to see what you have to share this week.

Most Viewed Links from Treasure Hunt Thursday #111

 Here are the top 3 Most Viewed Links from last weeks Treasure Hunt Thursday. 

1. The Creative Me and My McG

2. Housepitality Designs

3. Little Brags

See y'all back here tomorrow for THT #112!

Backyard Oasis Part 4- Just Add Water

I last left off at the tiling being installed on our pool. 

While they were working on the tile we had the big decision of deciding which Pebble Sheen color we wanted for our pool surface. I spent hours on line trying to find just the right color. We ended up choosing French Grey because as you know I am a sucker for anything french!;) Just joking. French Grey is the second color in from the top row and from all the pics I had seen on line and after visiting several of the neighbors pools I decided it was what would look best with all of our pool selections thus far.

The process of watching the techs apply the sheen was fascinating.

We all watched it being applied from upstairs to include our Savannah who wanted to make sure it was all going well. She was a great supervisor!;)

After the Pebble Sheen was sprayed on the techs smoothed it all out to ensure an even finish.

This is what the pool looked like after the Pebble Sheen was applied and before they came back the next day to acid wash it. The acid wash is what brings out all the little pebbles.

As soon as they were done washing it it was time to start filling the pool up and of course we were not short helpers for this part.

In about a day and half the pool was completely filled and there was no keeping the boys out of it.

This is a pic of how the water looked before any chemicals were added to it. I am showing you this because we were totally amazed at the change we were in store for.

After the boys swam that day The Hubster added the first round of the DE powder. After much research The Hubster insisted we install a DE Filter instead of the standard pool filter and you are about to see one of the reasons why.

This is the color of the water the very next morning. We were beyond amazed! I promise this pic is exactly as I took it. I did not edit it what so ever. Even our Pool Contractor could not believe how clear and blue the water was especially since we had not added anything else to the system yet. The water was just beautiful!

How I Found My Style Sundays- The Comforts Of Home

Hi Everyone!  I am Penny and I blog from The Comforts of Home.  

I am honored that Pamela asked me to be a part of her series, "How I Found My Style".   I have enjoyed her series since the beginning.  It is fun to see so many design styles and hear how they came about.  Throughout this post, I will sprinkle some pictures of my home, so you can see my style.

I have flirted with several different decorating styles over the years.  I tried Shabby Chic, Farmhouse, Country, Coastal...you name it.  But none of them felt like me.  Then several years ago I picked up a couple of yearly magazines.  One was Country French and the other was Tuscan Style.  They come out once a year.  There was something about those two styles that just pulled me in.

Over the last 6-7 years, if you go back through my blog, you will see how my style evolved.  Since starting blogging, I have moved into 3 different homes.  Each time I moved, I tweaked my style a little more.  I like to call my style Old World Meets American Traditional.  A little Tuscan, a little Country French and a little American traditional all rolled into one.

Mixing old pieces with new.  Mixing fabric patterns.  No instant rooms....never buying complete rooms of furniture, but building layer upon layer of warmth as time goes by.  That is my style.

It is not just a decorating style either, but a total lifestyle.  I was fortunate to be able to visit both Italy and France over the last few years.  I love the way Europeans live.  They shop for their food at local markets, cooking in season.  The enjoy living outside, as well as inside.  That is how we live too.  At my last home we created a wonderful outdoor living space in our back yard, that reminded us of Italy and France.  This is what it looked like.


We are in the process of creating similar outside area, on a much smaller scale at our current home.  Here is the progress so far.
  
I know, it doesn't look like much yet, but if you follow my blog through Bloglovin, you will be able to watch the whole thing come together over the next few months.

One of my most treasured finds is an old mustard color, French confit pot.  I found it last year, at an antique mall in Blowing Rock, NC, while visiting there on my anniversary.  I had wanted one of these for a long time.  I already had the other two pots.  The taller one is an olive jar and the smaller green one is a confit pot too.

Another couple other treasured finds are this oil painting and the bust in the picture below.  We bought these while in France a few years ago.

And I have to also add the water color below.  We bought it in Tuscany.  Every time I look at these wonderful treasures, it brings me back to Tuscany and Provence.

Pamela asked me to pass along any tips I have for creating a beautiful home.  Here is my tip.

Buy what you love.  Even if it is not in "style".   Who gets to say what style is in and what it out, anyway?  Trends come and go, and I don't know anyone who can afford to change their entire house full of furniture and decorations every year or so.  If you love it, it will work in your home.

My favorite decorating quote is by William Morris...
   "If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

Thank you again Pamela for inviting me to be part of this wonderful series.  And thank all of Pamela's viewers for letting me come into their homes.  I would love it if you would stop by and said Hi!

Penny has always been on of my favorite bloggers. I have loved watching her and her husband transform their houses into beautiful homes. Thank you Penny for stopping by today and spending time with us!