Simple decorations to compliment antique Tibetan buffet with rich carvings.

The rich patina of this old wood just stand out with these simple farmhouse accessories. Rich textures work together without overshadowing one another.

The oversized bark wreath is just resting against the wall. Simple to do because of its size. I don’t have to hammer a nail or put up a hook.

The layering begins.

I love the worn wood on this piece. The stories it could tell. We are adding new ones.

The galvanized tray with pots isn’t old. It’s from Amazon. It was meant to be for herbs but instead holds plastic ware. One of the best buffet accessories ever!

Meg brought this home one day.

It took my breath away!

Natural woods have stunning grains and richness. Walnut, maple, oak to name a few are in this cutting board. But I never cut on it!

Where can you get this?

Meg handcrafted it!

My daughter who takes woodworking with a bunch of guys as one of her electives made this beauty!

It’s only one of several projects she has completed.

Meg went with me to Haven 2 years ago and loved the Ryobi classes. I have no skill or aptitude to work with power tools or wood. I do not hammer; multiple holes with sprays of plaster are not good for walls.

In the Ryobi workshops she used a variety of power tools and loved it! With the help of her savvy “Aunt” Rosemary, our cousin, friend and fellow blogger she came home with 5 tools and other fun giveaways.

This was an unanticipated bonus for her coming with me…learning to use power tools and enjoying it so much she took classes in her high school. Plus buying a house that needed renovation was not scary for her. She is 21.

Rosemary blogs at notjustpaperandpaint. Drop by for a visit.

Rosemary is good with power tools. So was my mom. So is one of my other daughters. So are my sons. Guess I just didn’t get that gene.

It was a great introduction for her.

After Haven she decided to take advantage of the great program our high school offers in woodworking. That semester she made a bench with a shoe bin underneath.

She learned to use and worked with the large stationary tools and machines in an amazing outfitted workshop in her high school. Our high school is fortunate to have many electives with well equipped classrooms.

Now she works with table saws and nail guns as she is renovating her house!

Meg house renovation in process

She’s using those skills learned as she renovates the house she bought in the spring. What she doesn’t know, her boyfirend who works in constrcution does or her brother in law who is renovating his own home basement. showed her how. She is using some of his equipment.

If she and her boyfriend didn’t have to go to work or at least have time with friends and family, she might have finished it by now! Actually, the floor is in. She is sleeping there and since the bathroom needs work, she showers at our house and does her laundry too. It’s a process.

I love a lamp in my kitchen. It stays on nearly all winter and serves as a night-light year round.

I tried the chairs next to it but the chewed up slates from a teething granddaughter and the need to pull them up to the table every time we ate nixed that idea. I really like for our home to be both beautiful and functional

Someday I’ll fix that chewed up spot but for now I kind of like the story it tells of Emma who chewed on her great-grandma’s chair in her grandma’s kitchen.