Decorating a Sideboard.

Hello dear friends! I am so glad that you stopped by to visit me in my little corner of the world Down Under! I hope that you are well.

All over blogland at the moment people are decorating their mantels for the holidays and I feel like I'm missing out because we don't have one. So, even though I don't have a mantel I am going to pretend I do a decorate a sideboard instead!

So here is a before shot of the sideboard decorated for Christmas:

(I do believe that I was watching a Jamie Oliver Christmas special that night!)

And here is the finished sideboard...Attempt 1!

I used a few ideas from my inspiration images (from the previous post) including the use of the drinks tray.

Our drinks are on the antique silver platter that my husband got me last year for my birthday. I love the details around the border and on the handles.

 

 

Uh oh, you caught me watching TV again....I was watching the Barefoot Contessa this time!

 The centerpiece is a Waterford crystal bowl, a beautiful wedding gift. 

I really liked the idea of incorporating my sea-shell collection so I have filled a hurricane lantern with sea shells for the sideboard and I put my big bowl of shells on the dining table.

Yes, that is a tea towel on that dining chair....that is where my son sits!

Here is a view from the other side.

I am quite happy with the finished look but knowing me I will probably make some little changes over the next few days.

 One last shot of some flowers I picked the other day in a vintage Bohemia crystal vase.

Thank you  for dropping by today. Please say G'Day if you have a minute to spare-I love hearing from my bloggy friends!

Best wishes and have a safe and happy weekend,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!

You can also visit me at PINTEREST, TWITTER, GOOGLE+

INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Decorating the Sideboard

Well, the kids went back to school today and they had a great start to the school year. They both came home with lots of stories and they love their new teachers. I am so happy that the year has started so positively- phew!

I really missed the kids today though, and it was so strange to be at home by myself. All the same, I had a good day as I was able to tidy the house, re-arrange some furniture and I caught up on some of my favorite TV shows and blogs:

 I heard all about Martha's move to the Hallmark channel

I watched Relocation Relocation

and I watched an old episode of Mad about You.

I hope to visit many more blogs over the next few days so I can catch up with all of your news. I have loved hearing from many of you over the last couple of days and I really appreciate your lovely comments-THANK YOU!!!!

Now, to my poor old sideboard....

Tonight, as I am writing this, I am fairly happy with the way the house is looking following our recent tidy-up effort but I just don't know how to decorate the sideboard in our dining area.

This is how it looked over Christmas:

Hmmm...I think it's time for some decorating inspiration from some of my favorite magazines like....

 and

Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort. ~ Jane Austen

I really like this traditional sideboard with the gorgeous silver tea and coffee serving pieces and candelabra.

Southern Accents

I also like the drinks tray on this sideboard....

 

Country Living

This is very simple and elegant....

 

Country Living

My sideboard isn't white but I love this one all the same!

BHG

How cute is that over-sized post card!

 

Southern Living

I really love the beautiful dishes that have been displayed in this image.

 

Southern Living

This display has such great symmetry.

  

Southern Living

Southern Accents

"The sideboard and any other serving surface in the dining room should be an extension of the table decoration but not a duplication." Phoebe Howard

This is so elegant in its simplicity...divine! Maybe just a bit too formal for us though.

 

Traditional Home

Another white piece....Even though we don't have white furniture I do love the coastal look that has been created here and I do have a rather large collection of shells...I wonder....

Coastal Living

Well, now that I have found some great ideas I know what I will be doing tomorrow...sideboard decorating!

If I don't make a complete mess of everything hopefully I can share some pictures with you next time I see you-wish me luck!  

Thanks for stopping by and for visiting Natasha In Oz! Please pop back again real soon.

Best wishes always,

Natasha In Oz 

Please join me each weekend for the Say G'day Saturday Linky Party!

You can also visit me at PINTEREST, TWITTER, GOOGLE+,

INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Chocolate, flowers and the PERFECT Italian Bolognese Sauce.

Today I feel like a house-wife from the '50's....I have been spending lots of time trying to get our house back in shape after several weeks of neglect!

Image from here

Image from here

 Image from here

 Image from here

So much washing, cleaning, ironing and vacuuming!

Happy!

Happy Day dear friends! I have been tagged and I am so happy!!!

The delightful blogger Headbands and Handbags has tagged me with the Happy 101 Award!! Thank you so so much! 

There are some rules that I have to follow and they are that I have to

1. List 10 things that make me happy

2. Tag 10 Bloggers who brighten my day

So 1st, here are 10 Things that Make Me Happy:

Holiday in Hawaii at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach!

Hello my dear blogging friends- I have missed you!

We have just returned from our family vacation to Hawaii and LA so I apologize for the lack of posts over the last couple of weeks. The summer holidays have flown by; I can't believe that the kids will be going back to school soon! It was so nice to be able to get away for a couple of weeks with my hubby and kids.  I absolutely loved spending quality time with the family; it was so nice to just relax, sleep-in and dine at some great restaurants.

We started our trip in Auckland (we flew Air New Zealand-what a fantastic airline!) and we really loved it there. Look at this great display in the city centre: