I have a great big confession to make. I am not an organized blogger. Right now I can almost hear you saying, “I KNOW!”, . . . in big letters, . . . just like that! I’ve read and pinned articles on how to organize your blogging time and how to plan your posts. I’ve even seen free printable blog organizers that plan out your entire year! But have I taken advantage of those freebies? Of course not!
SIGH . . . I love the creative part of blogging and I’ll make any excuse to move onto another project rather than taking the time to sit down and plan things out in an organized manner. But that can leave questions unanswered and leave you, my readers, befuddled.
For example, in October I asked for your opinion on what to do with the window in my kitchen in the post, To Curtain or Not to Curtain. Then I went on to other things, November was filled with Fall decor, December was Christmas and now I’ve started working on my dining room decor. As a result, I never filled you in on what I chose to do with my kitchen window!
The truth is, when I couldn’t come to a decision I left it alone for awhile and moved on to something else. So today I’ll tie up that loose end and reveal to you the answer to my window dilemma.
In that previous post I showed this picture of the curtains that were in our new home when we bought it. Pretty enough but not my style.
I also showed this picture of the window uncurtained, letting in more light, opening up the view to the outdoors, and exposing the pretty window panes. I received so many different responses about what I should do with this window, the majority of which said NOT to curtain it. I was still torn though because it felt a bit bare and I do like the finished look of a curtained window.
The opinion that swayed me the most came from a comment on my Facebook page. A local Greenville friend suggested the possibility of using branches over the top of the window. This idea really appealed to me! I thought about using beautiful birch branches in wintery white. I also thought about going out into my backyard and collecting smaller branches and bundling them together for a twisted look, sort of like I did on my front porch for Christmas.
However, both of these ideas seemed a little more rustic than the look I have going on in my kitchen, and I didn’t think that either would carry over into the Spring and Summer months too well. Still, I really liked the idea of branches of some sort. So I left things as they were for awhile, until my sister and her husband came from California for Thanksgiving week. I mentioned to her how much I like the beautiful magnolia trees of the south and the idea of using some magnolia boughs across the top of my sink. She agreed it would be a great idea and then blessed me by buying two beautiful magnolia boughs as a housewarming gift for our new home.
They were pretty just as they were with shiny green leaves and knarly brown branches but she also bought some gorgeous magnolia flowers to add to the swags.
The flowers can be removed any time if I want only the greenery and I can customize the swag for the seasons . . .
. . . like I’ve done here, by adding fresh greens and silver pinecones for Christmas and on into winter.
I like the almost black branches against my creamy white cabinetry.
The boughs also add great texture to the area above my sink and keep it from looking so bare.
Even though these boughs aren’t live magnolia branches I like the idea of bringing “the look” of nature inside.
Magnolia trees weren’t native to my home state of Washington.
but they are prolific here in South Carolina.
I am smitten!
I am really enjoying the more open feeling of this window as I work in my kitchen.
So, what do you think?
I think that the paper towel holder looks bad in my picture and I need to move it to a different location (Haha!)
I’m so happy with the addition of this swag across the top of my window and it makes me think of my big sis’ every time I look at it!
Now, will I become more organized with this blog? I think I might need a blog planning retreat to some exotic location. That would surely put me in organizing mode! Wanna come?
Thank you so much for all your input. I appreciate you.
Blessings to you,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
Jane says
January 12, 2015 at 11:04 amI love the Carolinas, magnolias ,hospitality and your decorating sensibilities!
Carol Cook says
January 12, 2015 at 11:52 amFirst, I love your solution – just enough to finish the window off, but no distraction from the view outdoors.
Second, I am less organized than you. I write about what’s happening and that can’t be planned months ahead. I get up in the morning, decide to do a project and then decide to blog about it. My posts are rarely planned more than a day ahead.
Make it a great day!
shelly says
January 12, 2015 at 12:06 pmI love it, Patti! I missed that blog back in October. But you know me, i would have had no input anyways. I sure would never have thought of this amazing idea! What a great way to creatively seasonalize it, plus be a reminder of your sister.
Cheryl Ann says
January 12, 2015 at 8:25 pmThat is the perfect solution! I just love it…and the fact that it was your sister who helped makes it ever more special.
Jenny says
January 12, 2015 at 9:42 pmWhat a pretty kitchen, and the magnolia bough is perfect! Very lovely!
Stacey says
January 13, 2015 at 2:26 pmWhat you did is just perfect! To me that view and that adorable chalkboard are the crowning touches to the kitchen. 🙂
JoAnne says
January 14, 2015 at 7:17 amIt’s beautiful, Patti ~ wonderful solution!
Heather Grow says
January 15, 2015 at 1:49 amWe are a no curtain family. I do make a bunting to swag across my kitchen window for every month/holiday. The magnolia branches look great.
AnnMarie says
January 15, 2015 at 7:49 amThe swag is just right, not too much, not too little. I love that you can add embellishments for the seasons. Perfect!
Pondside says
January 16, 2015 at 10:00 amI like this a lot! Your kitchen looks a lot like our new kitchen, right down to the window. I haven’t put anything up yet, so I’ll have to consider a version of this.
I wouldn’t worry about being an organised blogger. Organisation is over rated!
Gigi Harlan says
January 16, 2015 at 10:10 amI love it! I was a “no curtain” person and I couldn’t love your solution more! The light coming in looks so warm and pretty and the natural window treatment of the vines and flowers is so gorgeous! I know you have to be so happy and positively glowing in your charming kitchen. Don’t change a thing!
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
January 17, 2015 at 8:00 amI love this! What an inspired idea. The branch deco added a simple yet lovely elegance and opened up that window for the gorgeous view…perfect. 🙂 Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/01/15/home-matters-linky-party-20/ 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Patti says
January 17, 2015 at 10:44 amIt looks gorgeous, Patti! Can you believe I grew up in a town called Magnolia?!
There were trees everywhere and the town smelled heavenly!
Hugs,
Patti
Jann olson says
January 17, 2015 at 9:25 pmOrganized blogging, what’s that? I just have fun and post about what ever happens to pop into my head most of the time. I try not to take it too seriously. Love the Magnolia branch! I think it’s much nicer than branches. Branches look nice, but they grab the dust and are hard to clean. You can take you spray down and wash it off when it gets dirty. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Sue Silva says
January 19, 2015 at 10:16 amThis is a beautiful idea!
Christine says
January 19, 2015 at 11:03 amIt looks great, love the spring look it gives….:-)
Peggy says
January 19, 2015 at 1:44 pmMagnolias and Mercury glass pinecones! What could be more charming? And I am having the same quandary about windows over the kitchen sink. Love yours with the swag or without the curtains.
Kathy says
January 21, 2015 at 4:32 pmI love curtains – yet love what you’ve done – the Magnolias look amazing – I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathty
Cindy says
January 22, 2015 at 4:25 amCan never go wrong with magnolia! Looks beautiful.
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY.
Blessings,
Cindy
Pat says
January 23, 2015 at 3:43 pmPatti,
I LOVE your Magnolia Swag instead of curtains, dear friend!!!
I do like fabric to soften hard edges,
but I have NO kitchen window here on the Prairie in my Galley Style Kitchen!!!
The fact that these branches came as a gift from your Sister. . .priceless!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Deborah says
January 28, 2015 at 8:47 amThe Magnolia branches are perfect! And I’m glad you left the chalkboard there too. I love the open view of your window onto such a pretty backyard. Thank you for sharing at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great weekend!
Blessings, Deborah