Five Faves :: Favorite Fire Pits

I am on a mission to refine my vision for our huge backyard project. Hence this post, and Monday’s post on Favorite Outdoor retreats. This is a long time dream of ours that we are saving for, and have been saving for – to create an outdoor retreat that encourages relaxing and togetherness and laughter. It is at the top of our home project list because it will add to our family bonding time. In an old home like ours, the to-do list is lengthy to say the least. But because of the joy this will bring to our family, it has been moved up on the list. Officially Stamped: Super High Priority.

Today’s post is an actual study of the composition of the fire pit itself, not necessarily its surroundings. Plus, what I would “ditto” about each fire pit below.

 My Latest, Most Favorit-est Fire Pits:

{Fire pit set into the ground. Stone patio surrounding pit. Shallow pit. Chairs, benches and walls surrounding. Set near home. via }

{A long time fave of mine. Built-in matching bench surround. With spaces under bench for wood!! Natural setting. via }

{Fire pit with a view. Plenty of seating. HUGE stone fire pit surround. Love the actual stone look of this fire pit – very organic and natural in form.  via }

{Surrounded by comfortable seating. An extension of the home – very inviting. Classic form, simple.  via }

{A literal pit. Natural surroundings. Adirondack chairs and outdoor lighting. Relaxed feel. via }

and. I added this one simply for the form:

{This sunken, stone-surrounded design could be used among any of the settings above. DIY-able. via }

These are actual inspiration pictures that are MAJOR faves of mine. The fire pit is just a tiny piece of the puzzle in my hopeful hardscaping makeover… but a very important one. Because….. S’mores.

Hop on over to my Inspiration Outdoors Pinterest Board, and Inspiration Garden and Flowers Pinterest Board to see more gorgeous outdoor retreats and gardens.

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As I look at all five of these favorite pics together, it helps me to determine what is truly important for me in Fire Pit features. Gathering several of your MOST fave pics is an excellent exercise in helping you to define your personal style.

Which one is your fave? Do tell!!

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Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

I am into natural choices for my family, and this is the main way I avoided taking any medicines during pregnancy, and now our family is hooked. My Young Living essential oils are also my business, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends! Here is May’s freebie for trying the oils with a wholesale Premium Kit.

 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much  for reading and supporting FHD! }

Five Faves :: Outdoor Retreats

 My Latest, Most Favorit-est:

{Huge shade trees. Pachysandra. White Hydrangea. Stone hardscaping. Nooks for seating. via }

{Brick garden path. Secret garden door. White hydrangeas. Masse plantings. All against whitewash. via }

{Brick herringbone. Classic blue and white. Outdoor living room. Tucked in privacy. White climbing flowers look good at night.  via }

{Huge shade plantings. Masse white hydrangeas. Layered privacy. Pool with small rim and surrounding grass. Huge planter.  via }

{Manicured. Angular. Makes use of every inch by dividing into destinations.  Plenty of shade and places to sit. via }

and. I couldn’t stop at just five… so….

{Natural expanse of lawn. Green “wall” with doorway to everywhere. A seat with a view. Simple, yet manicured. via }

These are actual inspiration pictures that are MAJOR faves of mine. I imagine sitting with a landscape designer one day and showing them these images for inspiration. There are so many more I adore, truth be told. Hop on over to my Inspiration Outdoors Pinterest Board, and Inspiration Garden and Flowers Pinterest Board to see more gorgeous outdoor retreats and gardens.

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I am a lover of shade, masse plantings, plenty of green, places to sit and soak it all in, and apparently white hydrangeas … these are a few of my favorite things in an outdoor retreat.

Which one is your fave? Do tell!!

Such gorgeousness. So hard to pick. . .

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Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

I am into natural choices for my family, and this is the main way I avoided taking any medicines during pregnancy, and now our family is hooked. My Young Living essential oils are also my business, and the oils are so well loved that they sponsor my blog!!! Thank you, friends! Here is May’s freebie for trying the oils with a wholesale Premium Kit.

 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much  for reading and supporting FHD! }

The Big Nursery Reveal

This is so overdue, my patient, design savvy friends. Today, I am finally sharing images of Georgia Luisa’s nursery!

This girl has been such a blessing in our lives, and I wanted to design a very special and unique space that was girly, sophisticated, sweet and fuchsia – of course!

I knew I wanted fuchsia and red for my colors. Then, with these colors in mind, I found my inspiration for the nursery while away on a girl’s weekend in Asheville, and I scored this stunning focal piece, a Peruvian matrimonial tapestry. This amazing piece definitely directed my path with this design.

From then on, the room took on a global flair and I dreamed up this space … a space that I truly love. It is a celebration of my sweet Georgia Lu. And interestingly, this is the only room in my home that I designed from beginning to end using a FHD design board {historically, hubby and I had never chosen to use our limited funds to decorate a room from beginning to end}. It was such a joy to create in this way. I feel like her room is my Masterpiece. What can I say? I am dramatic like that.

But, just to torture you, I must show you this room’s humble beginnings. Oh, and since I will probably get nothing done today – or anytime soon – on my home decorating list… it is really nice to take a look back and see how far we have come {read: this took 8 years, people}.

Befores:

The nursery-to-be, when we first purchased Fieldstone Hill in 2005 {take special note of the floors and the wallpaper}:

We revamped this space into our firstborn’s nursery. It was a very special space to us, as we brought our first child home to this room {wallpaper gone, floors refinished}:

Then, as our firstborn grew, this became his “big boy” room:

And then when my two boys moved in to a room together, we revamped this into a space that was very special to us yet again, our homeschool room. I will never forget the sweet memories that we made in this space:

And then, when we knew that Georgia was on the way, we decided to bring this room back to its original roots as a nursery. I set to work creating a design board that captured my dreams for sweet Georgia’s room. You can read more about that here:

Well, that is enough for the torturous Befores.

I am so excited to share this room with you. A VERY SPECIAL thank you to my friend Kayce Shoffner who took these amazing photos. Her photography work is A.MAZ.ING.

May I present,

Georgia Luisa’s nursery

interior design by Darlene Weir of Fieldstone Hill Design

And now, for the complete source list for our baby girl’s nursery:

{some links below are affiliate links. True story. Thanks, lovelies.}

Sources:

Peruvian print: a one of a kind from an antique shop in Asheville, NC

Curtains – Indian block printed, front layer

Eames Reproduction lounge chair from InStyle Modern {I LOVE this chair. Everyone who sits here tells me they are never going to leave.}

Tote Bag

Pillow, similar one can be found here.

Side Table

Table Lamp

Crib

Sheets

Moses Basket and sheet

Doll

Dresser, a family piece {thanks Mom and Cheryl!}

Rug, an antique I found at eSaleRugs, but there are some beauties here.

Rocking Lamb, given to us from my sister for our firstborn {almost 9 yrs. ago!}; I love this amazing one.

Peruvian costume

Gold Mobiles, handmade by our beloved babysitter out of straws and string and spray paint! I adore Sarah… she even got married here at Fieldstone Hill! Spy a few of the pics here – hers are the ones with fieldstone in the background, of course. If you want more info about how to make this mobile, harass Sarah in the comments!! wink!

Dresser knobs

Cat needlepoint, made by my mom and hung in her babies’ nurseries.

Storage Baskets

Crown Moulding, and picture frame moulding on the walls

Russian bowl, from our trip to Russia, find one here

Matryoshka art, a lovely gift from a precious client, similar one here

Woven baskets, TJ Maxx

Pink vase with flower, given to me by my lovely and uber-talented friend Shannon. Her how-to post is here.

Brass peanut, given to my little peanut, from my amazing bestie Angela.

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Well, that is quite enough from me. I would love to write a post on how I created this designer room with lots of money-saving tips and creative decisions, but for now, this post will have to do.

I cannot wait to hear what you think of little Georgia’s room!!!!! I hope it was worth the wait.

Off to celebrate my birthday {wink. wink.}. Love you friends like crazy!

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This post is sponsored by InStyle Modern

Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. You are supporting this blog and the info I share with your clicking love! Thank you SO very much for reading and supporting FHD! }

Stuff I love. // #livewithbeauty

Welcome to my fourth edition of “Stuff I love,” Weekend Links. Sharing some of my faves with you today:

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this lovely lady//

Not exactly a link, but I could not go without giving a special Happy Birthday to my mom – also known as Namma. She is having a milestone birthday, and today our family is gathering to honor her. I love you, mom.

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this grand, long-time-coming reveal//

Set your watches – or iPhones – or whatever!!

This coming Wednesday, May 14, I will be FINALLY be revealing Georgia Luisa’s nursery! This space is so special to me, and I waited until I had professional pics before sharing the space with you darling things! So head back here on Wednesday, May 14th to see this very special, very global, very wonderful nursery… for my favorite girl!

{to see previous posts on Georgia Lu’s nursery, click here. To see my obsessive photos of my baby girl, head here.}

The Design Board:

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this diet-saving drink //

I have a new favorite, zero calorie, no crap-ola added beverage: MetroMint chocolate mint flavor. The ingredients? Water, mint and chocolate essence. It is both yum and refreshing. Metromint has been serving as my late evening treat, as I am a serious chocoholic who is currently eating NO SUGAR. Lord, help me.

PS I am doing quite well with my “I Quit Sugar” program. I have had zero fructose for a week and a half. That’s a record for me. I have very little food cravings anymore, and can feel my system getting re-balanced. I have increased energy in the afternoons and less mood swings. I am not losing any weight, but I have a very hard time losing weight when I am nursing… so a little bummed about that. But I am just into my second week, and I am not giving up!!

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this parenting app//

Wise Words for Moms is a new app I have been using – and loving. I highly recommend it for those of you who desire to raise your children up in the training of the Lord and His Word, but you sometimes struggle with how to direct your little ones with the right words. This app has helped me tremendously.

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this amazing book that I already treasure//

If you have kiddos or grandkids who are about 5 yrs old or above, you just need to take my word for it, and get this book. I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing “Q & A a Day for Kids” with my boys. It is such a simple, do-able, – and easy, did I mention EASY?? – way to document a slice of your child’s lives and imagination. This book asks simple questions every day for a year, and then you start all over again the next year and the next. The questions are not hard at all – just fun. And out of the mouth of the babes; we have already had some good laughs over their answers. My favorite part? Getting to know the thoughts of my sweet boys a little bit better everyday.

PS, the book is designed for one child, but I just put their initials beside their answers, and there is plenty of room to write what they have to say.

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this recipe//

This is currently my favorite I Quit Sugar recipe: Zucchini Ricotta Cheesecake. I like eating the leftovers, cold. Yum.

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this DIY-worth-doing //

This project is lighthearted awesomeness!!! And. it is a fun solution for the designer-to-be who has a nonexistent budget. Because, really. Is there ANYTHING that duct tape can’t fix?? LOVE this.

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this concoction//

I want to share a quick “recipe” with you for a pain cream that I whipped up with my essential oils. I have been using this for all kinds of things, from sore back muscles on me and hubby, to upset tummy cramps, to lady-friend cramps, to a sore foot for my son, and growing pains for my other son. A friend of mine clued me into this mix, and I have been playing around with the ratio to get my desired relief from aches and pains.

Affectionately named:

The “Quit Yer Bellyachin'” Cream

So much buzz about Essential Oils these days. I am here to tell you, it is with just cause. Young Living EO’s have made a huge change in our family. We LOVE having natural alternatives to turn to first for our health concerns, cleaning supplies, and first aid. We trust Young Living, and Y’all. These oils work. They help. I am SO glad to turn to God’s creation to help my aches and pains … instead of Ben Gay. So getcha some oils, make this concoction, and thank me later.

And lookie there. I got a special for you lovely folks.

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Have a great weekend, friends! Happy Weekend Browsing!

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Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. You are supporting this blog and the info I share with your clicking love! Thank you SO very much for reading and supporting FHD! }