The pages are falling out...

I bought my first copy of Better Homes and Gardens New Decorating Book when it came out in 1997. I still remember the day I purchased it at Sam's Club in Chesapeake, Virignia.

I have turned to it time and time again as a source of inspiration over the years. It's been so loved that the pages are falling out.

I had a huge basket of dried hydrangeas (from the Old House yard) in my home for years. I got the idea from this photo.

The flowers became so brittle over time that I had to throw them out. I still have the basket but my cats sleep in it now.

I think the blue and white scheme is so pretty. I adore the vintage tablecloth, the painted furniture and the checkerboard floor. I will always have cobalt-blue glass in my kitchen window.

This black door makes this entry so elegant and the floor is so unique.

I don't have a daughter, but if I did, her room would look just like this. The walls are divine. The whole room is just so dreamy!

I have a quilt just like the one on the trundle. It was my grandmother's.

I also have a quilt just like the one at the foot of this bed... also my grandmother's.

This is one of my favorite photos in the book. I love the colors, the furniture, the flowers, the chandelier and the swan. (I'm not a fan of the little skirts on the chairs, however.)

This photo is very "Old House." I have a small collection of antique mixing bowls that resemble these and also a couple of Ironstone pitchers. The little milking stools have been on my wishlist for years.

A new version of the New Decorating Book came out in 2007. I will give you a glimpse inside next week.


Linked to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home