Spring Refresh using Architectural Salvage

Spring means it is thyme for a refresh using architectural salvage pieces! Here is how I like to use these pieces in my decorating!

It is Finally Spring!

Spring! What are some of your favorite things to do when the season changes to Spring?  One of my favorite things to do is to give my home a quick refresh using architectural salvage pieces!

Spring has Sprung….at least according to the calendar!  I don’t think anyone informed Mother Nature in Central Illinois, though!  It has been cold and blustery and rainy most of the time I have been back in Illinois! (this post first appeared 3/19/2021.  I have updated it and added more pictures!)

Today the sun is shining!  I am hoping it will dry up some of the mud so I can work outside tomorrow.  I traveled back to Illinois last week in order to finish clearing out the houses and getting things wrapped up with my parents’ estate.  It has been a long process and if you are just starting to follow along with my journey, the downsizing/moving/settling process is outlined in a series of blog posts entitled “Thyme to Let Go: How I Downsized the Family Homestead”.  It starts here:

and ends here: 

While I Like to “Blame” my Mother for Saving Everything….

In all honesty, I am probably almost as bad as she was about saving things.  You just never know when you might need something!  These stacks of boxes contain my flower shop treasures.  I packed them up all nice and neat last summer and had planned to sell them to another florist.  But now that I have started the blog, I feel compelled to open every single box and sort thru them to make sure there isn’t something I need in there!  I might find the perfect spool of ribbon!  I know the pine pics that I needed last Christmas are in there! 

I did do a fairly good job of marking the boxes, so I don’t need to open the ones that say “Flower Buckets”.  I won’t need buckets for fresh flowers…. or will I?

Early Spring Farmhouse Mantel

It is finally thyme for a Springthyme farmhouse refresh using architectural salvage pieces!

This is probably the last time I will be staying in the farmhouse I grew up in.  In between sorting and packing, I am trying to get as many pictures as possible. update : As it turned out, I did make another trip in April 2021 and spent a whole day staging and restaging the fireplace!

Just got a big lump in my throat and almost started crying writing that…  Make that, the tears are falling….

The Mantel Before:

The Mantel After

Close Up

The spheres covered with pussy willow buds add a touch of green to the mantel.  The corbels were originally part of the piece of gingerbread in the front in the next picture.  When I was back last fall, I had my handyman cut the long piece apart.  I love how the corbels look flanking the herb picture!

The pieces of gingerbread were one of the most exciting finds during the downsizing process. I had no idea they were even in the barn.  My discovery (ok my helpers’ discovery) is outlined here:

Here is another way I have displayed the gingerbread pieces:

In the Pizza Kitchen with Kim

Save This Pin For Later

On The Hearth

I used a stack of old garden encyclopedias as a pedestal for a silk arrangement.  I added an old hook and a couple of rusty garden implements to the vignette. Pictured below is another way I decorated the mantel and hearth area using old garden tools.

Keys to my Heart

Being back home at the farmhouse this week has been an overall good experience.  This home always holds the keys to my heart.  It is thyme for a new family to live here.  The search is still on for the perfect family to make this their forever home.  

The good news is that I did find the perfect family to make this their new home.  Their journey began on May 27, 2021.

Bringing the Farmhouse To Florida

Even though the last pod from Illinois arrived in Florida in Mid May last year, I am still trying to get everything unpacked and put away.  I have a list of things that are still “missing” from the move. Has that ever happened to you?  I know I packed these things and brought them down here and now I can’t find them!

Regardless, now that I am mostly settled, I am trying to figure out where I can put a fireplace surround or at least a mantel in the Florida house.

The easiest place to put it would be in the lanai in this area behind these chairs, basically where the Antique Market sign is leaning.  It would be somewhat protected from the wind and rain but would still be subjected to heat and humidity.

But lately, I am leaning towards redoing the entire front living room set up and putting it inside.  I think this might be better idea.  We don’t really use the front living room to relax in at this point.  I think centering it along this wall where the buffet is would work.  Then I could paint the buffet, move the batik to another spot in the house and add some chairs in front of the fireplace.  What do you think?

I think I really like that idea.  I will keep you posted!!

I can’t wait to put these candle sticks on the mantel when I get it done!

See All My Mood Boards for my Rustic Inspired Living Room Refresh here:

Rustic Inspired Living Room ORC Week 1

Rustic Inspired Living Room ORC Week 2

Rustic Inspired Living Room ORC Week 3

Rustic Inspired Living Room ORC Week 4

Rustic Inspired Living Room ORC Week 5