Summer Home Tour at Top This Top That

As they say in the South....Howdy!
Living in a fairly rural area in the country along with my family, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 fish, pony, donkey and horses on the property, we don't get many visitors stopping by, so it's always a real treat when I can have friends over and show them around my home and property. So....welcome to the Summer Home Tour at The Duke Manor.

My family just loves the long days of summer. We are set for hours out here with a pitcher of sweet tea, some bug spray, great conversation with friends and family and the sounds of Sweet Home Alabama playing in the background.

A fair amount of our time is spent outdoors, and our house was designed with that in mind. All of our porches and patios serve as an extension of our home. From family time to entertaining friends, it is not uncommon to have meals, parties or even an occasional date night on one of our outdoor spaces a few times a week.

 summer southern porch

 

 backyard patio

backyard fire pit

Once you come into the house it's fairly certain that you will see at least one unfinished project....okay maybe two.  In fact I have two going on right now...well, really three.

Like my master bedroom. It recently underwent a paint change and I am still working on the final details of the space, but here's a sneak peek of what I have done so far.

Master Bedroom Before

The other space that recently got transformed and not completely finished is our Family room. This room was actually designed and built as a screen porch and we turned it into a family room instead. It still remains the hub of the house.

Family Room Teaser

So, when the family isn't sleeping or watching tv you will find us in the kitchen , where sadly I don't cook very much....my husband has that coveted duty. In which I do not complain.

Breakfast area

Kitchen tour

One of two areas that I get the most enjoyment inside the house are My Keeping Room which I call the "Mom Zone". It's a place I claim my own to read, think about the day and just to sit and chill.

My Favorite Room 

 The other is my home office, where the bills and blogging get done.  The truth of the matter is that blogging is more fun than paying the bills!

Home Office

Dresser turned Credenza Project

An area that the kids probably get the most enjoyment from, is our Game Room and Media Room.  Two areas that I know will be enjoyed by them and friends for many years to come.

Media Room

Game room

You know, 10 years ago I never would have imagined breaking ground to build a home in the middle of "Nowhere", Georgia with a population of 500. Today, there's no where in the world I would rather be than here. (think of the Greenacres theme song)
I sure do hope that you enjoyed the visit today and as we say in the South....
Ya'll come back now , you hear!

PS- To see more of my home click here

Sharing at~

The Shabby Creek Cottage
Between Naps on The Porch
My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
It's Overflowing
Cozy Little House

Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?

It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

My Summer 'Southern' Front Porch

I know what they say.......that the kitchen is the heart of the home. The place where family and friends congregate, laugh and celebrate. But for me and my family it's right here on our front porch. 

A front porch surrounded by beautiful color with it's big white columns, stone floors, ceiling fans and enough seating and conversation for my entire town's population.

A front porch where I can sit and drink my hot tea in the morning or a cold sweet tea in the afternoon.
A porch where the only music you hear are the sounds of nature.
A front porch that occasionally serves as date night with my husband.

A front porch where we can sit back and watch our kids playing and laughing in the front yard. 
A front porch where memories are created...... and memories are talked about. 

 A front porch that symbolizes who we are and how welcomed we want others to feel when they are here.

  A front porch that once you are here, you may not want to leave. But that's okay.....

 The chairs are pretty comfy.......and I make the best sweet tea!
What room is the heart of your home?

PS- Stay awhile and check out my Summer Home Tour here

Grateful for~

A place that I really love- My Front Porch!

Sharing at~
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
Atta Girl Says
The 36th Avenue

Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?

It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:

Family Room Teaser

Do you ever get ahead of yourself....

and fall behind at the same time? 

 Chomping at the bit to start a new project, only to look around at all the unfinished one's? 

So that be me...and my family room. 

The hangout. 

The hub.

The place where the family congregates.

The place where I have no chance at the TV remote, and just lovingly smile through another episode of How's It Made with my husband.

But see this is where I get ahead of myself, wanting to show you the latest changes to the space without sharing the history and the "few" transformations of the room.

Oh and before I forget...did I tell you that this space that we all cuddle up on the couch on, was not even intended to be a family room and rather a screened in porch?

See after a "favorable" builder blunder, meaning we were actually glad that he screwed up, we were able to create a fully functional room by putting in windows and some solid flooring.

And just as fast as that remote changed the TV, so did the colors and styles of the space. We installed a wood burning stove and  years later an air conditioning unit, so until then, the room was primarily used in the fall and winter months....

Thus my fall like color pallet.

So after installing the air conditioner and feeling cooler, we quickly realized that we wanted to make better use of the space,  but not until I decided to lighten it up and change out the furniture for a  more "sun room" feel.

 

I think it's when we found a solution to move our TV into the room, that we began to use the term "family room" more freely to describe the space. So walls were painted, furniture cycled  it's way throughout the house and all was good and cozy, until.......

  I found this $10.00 coffee table.

  More on that, my stone floors and the latest room changes coming soon. After all..... I don't want to get ahead of myself, now do I.
So tell me , do you ever get ahead of yourself too?

Grateful for~

A loving husband of 14 years.... that I wish I knew my whole life

Sharing at~
Finding Home Online
Between Naps on The Porch
Savvy Southern Style
The Everyday Home Blog

Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?

It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

My Next Kitchen Assistant?

You know, I am still not sure I have what it takes to transform my

kitchen from this.....

to my inspiration kitchen...something like this

image credit

So it just so happens in my town of 500, there's not only a Piggly Wiggly around the corner but a Home Depot within driving distance.  And not only does Home Depot sell replacement cabinets but they also do cabinet refacing and refinshing. The three R's.

Be sure to check out the video below and see why Home Depot may just be my next kitchen assistant!

  

PS- You can see all of my kitchen ideas on my inspiration board here

Grateful for~

The chance to be apart of my kids end of school year activites.

Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?

It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Office Evolution

They say good things happen to "offices" who wait.  Really they do.  

See, it only took my office a few color schemes over the course of several years, and several gallons of paint to get to this point.

     From Meadow Green a few years ago, to which I blame that color choice entirely on my pregnancy hormones, with twins.........

 so it was slightly elevated

 

To a much more soothing beige that had me unfortunately uninspired and always wanting more.....

To my now peaceful, calm and serene workplace.

Months of colors thrown on a wall

while contemplating the right decision 

 All to get to this point.

And every time I hear that old cliche that good things come to offices that wait , I have to smile...... 

and so does my office.

Are you working on any room evolutions right now? 

PS- To see my about my office journey click here

Grateful for~

The comfort of prayers and love from friends of Top This Top That

Sharing with:

Between naps on the Porch

DIY Showoff

Savvy Southern Style

DIY By Design

So Much Better With Age

Tatertots and Jello

Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?

It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

My Home Office and Some Marriage Advice

Do you realize that this office took me longer to complete then a handful of celebrity marriages?

Kim Kardashian to Kris Humphries .....72 days

Pam Anderson to Kid Rock....122 days

Renee Zellweger to Kenny Chesney....225 days

Carmen Electra to Dennis Rodman...9 days

and Brittany Spears to Jason Alexander...55 hours

Time to complete this office 365 days, 20 hours and 11 seconds.

To see where the marriage of the office started click here

 I am truly sorry that these "harmonious and "loving" relationships didn't stand the test of time like we all thought they would, but perhaps a bit more planning and thought like I put into this office makeover would have created more lasting and beautiful results for them.....I am just sayin!

And just by chance that any of them are reading my blog today,
 I would offer this advice to them.

 Maybe next time before you rush into anything as big as marriage, you will sit down on this chair that I got at World Market, in front of my lap top and Google "The Five Love Languages" or "Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus" and read 
them on my reader ....
in it's entirety.

 I believe it may offer you some help for the next round.

And if it gets late and turns dark before you are done you can turn this neat hanging pendant on that I got at Lowe's to light things up for you. Please feel free to close the curtains that I made behind the desk with a fabric by Waverly called Silver Lining,  particularly if the sun puts a glare on the computer screen. 

I'm sure some of my own books on love and relationships on the shelf or pictures on the wall of my own happy, loving union just may inspire you as well, particular my wedding picture right behind the desk.

In fact if you happen to see my husband while you are in my office, he will tell you that I am the best thing that has every happened to him...and him to me! 

Because really, and I truly mean this from the bottom of
 my heart.........

 I want your next union to last for a lifetime or at least a lot longer then the 365 days that it took to finish this office.

All my best to the above mentioned celebrities and to you!

PS- Someone should tell Kim that she needs to get a divorce from Kris before she marries Kanye.
PPS- You can see my office  journey here.

Grateful for~

A loving, lasting marriage .


Sharing over at~
French Country Cottage
Between Naps On The Porch 

Emily A Clark The 36th Avenue

Want Top This Top That delivered directly to your inbox?

It’s easy!  Just enter your e-mail address.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner