MA – Country Design Home

Oct 20, 2015

The Marketplace at Adams Farm

For those of you who have followed my blog since its inception, you’ll remember that I got my start in the “junkin'” business at the Vintage Thymes Monthly Market in Norwood. I had some great times staging my monthly-themed space in the old mill with all kinds of reclaimed and reloved vintage wares.

Since then, I’ve moved north and staked my claim at the Barn at Todd Farm, while Nancy Murphy and Robin Hanlon,

the original founders of Vintage Thymes,

have temporarily closed the monthly market while they search for some new digs. In the meantime, in order to keep their huge following of vintage-lovers happy, they have focused their attentions on an exciting new endeavor, The Marketplace at Adams Farm in Walpole, MA!

Now partnered with Carol Bentley from Fleurish Home & Garden

and Marybeth Grey from Vintage Shade of Grey,

these four ladies are hosting a 2-day event at the Marketplace at Adams Farm on this coming Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25th from 10-4. The Marketplace will be much like the weekend markets at the mill: amazingly talented vendors offering their hand-made, re-refurbished and re-loved wares. You’ll be strolling the grounds of this bucolic “field of vintage dreams”

while enjoying live local music, furniture painting demonstrations, food trucks, raffles and of course, shopping-lots of shopping!! Admission is only $5, but a word to the wise: arrive early-on both days!

Why? Well, if you ever had the opportunity to visit the Vintage Thymes Monthly Market on the opening day, you’re aware of the immensely passionate following these ladies have garnered over the years. I suspect there’ll be lots of folks waiting at the entrance for their chance to have first dibs on the vintage wares being offered at the Marketplace. If you love vintage (and, I mean, who doesn’t!?), it’s going to be an event that you do NOT want to miss (and it looks like we may have a nice, sunny weekend as well : ). So, I’ll be seeing you at the The Marketplace at Adams Farm… and if you happen to run into Robin, Nancy, Mary Beth or Carol, tell them Sue from CountryDesignHome sent you! Have a terrific Tuesday everyone! Susan

Filed Under: Auctions, Fleas & Fabulous Finds, Inspiration, The 3 R's Recycle, Re-Furbish, Re-Love, Views From My Back Porch · Tagged: Adams Farm in Walpole, fall fairs in Massachusetts, Farm, Farm Fair in Walpole MA, Fleurish Home and Garden, MA, Marketplace at Adams Farm, south shore vintage fair in Massachiusetts, Vintage Thymes Monthly Market

Jul 18, 2014

Thrifty Kitchen Transformation-Granite Day!

By countrydesignhome · 2 Comments

Yesterday was such an exciting day in the thrifty kitchen transformation process-granite installation day! Thanks to Alpha-Granite in Wakefield, Ma, we secured this gorgeous hunk of granite called Steel Gray at a great price, with great service.

Ten days from choosing the granite to the install, they arrived on time, worked quickly and efficiently and cleaned up before they left. As promised, the truck rolled up at 8am and the process of removing the old formica countertops commenced.

Now, as an avid DIY’er, I like to think that I can pretty much do most everything myself. That is, after all, what DIY means: Do It Yourself. However, I do know my limits, and fabricating and hauling around giant slabs of very heavy granite just was not in my job description for this particular project.

So, here is the before: yucky yellow 1970’s Formica with the over-counter-installed stainless sink which they quickly removed and junked.

And here is the after: shiny black with flecks of grays and browns, which really complements the painted white cabinets and the awesome hardware!

As we’ve continued the work on the kitchen, the one thing mom and I keep noticing is how much lighter and brighter it appears now.

Of course, painting out the dark oak cabinets really helped, but the new, shiny dark gray granite reflects the light as well. LOVE. More importantly, mom is so happy to have gorgeous granite countertops in her kitchen! Next up, the backsplash. You’re not gonna want to miss this one! But that won’t be for another week or so, because I am taking a quick blogging hiatus to upgrade my computer server (this ought to go well) and prepare for our newest junking adventure! So, until August 1, I’ll be seeing you on Facebook and Pinterest and Instagram-so come on over and say hi! Hope you are all having a great summer! Susan

Filed Under: Color Class, The Barn Workshop-DIY Series, Views From My Back Porch · Tagged: Alpha Granite Wakefield, Granite companies Boston, Granite companies Wakefield, granite countertops kitchen, Gray Steel granite Countertops, MA, MA granite installation

Nov 15, 2012

Settling the Estate

By countrydesignhome · Leave a Comment

Cleaning out my blog files and came across these pics taken this past summer at The Kaminski Estate Auction in Nahant, MA. The Devereaux Family Estate was once a stately white colonial surrounded by lush landscapes with views of the ocean.

Now reduced to a shadow of its former self,

with torn and moldy wallpapers,

crumbling ceilings

and ancient, broken-down kitchens and baths.

But oh, if you could only imagine what this place must have been in it’s prime-a real show stopper worthy of any decorator’s showhouse! This fabulous dining room with its wainscotted walls, crown moldings and glorious wood floors would have been the setting for many a fancy dinner party.

And the mahogany railings that spiraled up three floors were magnificent- just needing a little TLC (I guess they never heard of Glidden Gripper)

Inside the home was the tag sale with the entire contents being sold for a song. There were buyers swarming throughout the home, like red ants on a hill, scooping up boxes of vintage fabrics, mahogany furniture, antique dolls

and period lighting fixtures.

While outside, a large auction tent had been erected and was filled with Americana antiques,

unusual items like this bronze elephant

and this fortune tellers booth. Do you think one of the family members was in a traveling circus!? Also on display was an impressive collection of nautical works by important artists such as William Pierce Stubbs and Antonio Nicolo Gasparo, and a spectacular reproduction Jaguar!! A check of the website in the weeks following the auction revealed that this collection had garnered in excess of 100k!

These kinds of sales always make me wonder about the family who inhabited this space, and why it was allowed to crumble around them. We’ll never know. But my hope is that the new owners do not tear down what was once a treasured New England Home, but instead restore it to its’ former glory and pass it on to the next generation. Moving forward… Susan

Filed Under: Views From My Back Porch · Tagged: antique auction, Devereaux Family Estate, estate auction, estate sale, Kaminski Auctions, MA, Nahant

Jun 7, 2012

Taking a Break

By countrydesignhome · Leave a Comment

Sometimes you just need a break. In the middle of yet another quilt project with the deadline looming, I just kept gazing out the windows of my dining room “workshop”. Glimpes of the first sunshine we have seen in over a week kept distracting me (something sparkly?!). Such a warm evening… time to go walk the lake.

Around these parts, “walking the lake” refers to Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield. Essentially 3 miles around, the lake is the perfect place to stroll, jog, push a baby carriage and just clear your mind. In 45 minutes, I managed to work up a sweat, create some new blog titles, burn off a few calories and take some pics with my trusty Iphone.