Have you guys picked up the new September issue of Country Living magazine?

It’s the HOW-TO ISSUE -- secrets to doing everything better, from picking paint colors to kitchen cabinet upgrades to nine different ways to arrange my favorite -- subway tile!

A few months ago, one of the editors contacted me about contributing to the 2015 Country Living Almanac, to which I ecstatically replied "YES!" We just happened to be in Florida at the time, so I had a beautiful ocean view for inspiration. The center section of the magazine is where you’ll find the scoop.

I think you’ll love the "Yardage Forecaster." How many times have you wondered just how much fabric to buy for that upholstery job? This section explains it all with photos of various styles of sofas, chairs, pillows, table clothes, ottomans, table skirts -- even odd pieces like covered headboards, porch swings, sink curtains, hammocks, and lamp shades. You can even get the yardage for building a play tepee (in case you can’t wait to get the magazine to find out, it’s 6-8 yards!).

Country Living was kind enough to credit us on the editor's page, too (see, there's my name right along with some of the best designers in the biz!). 

I hope many of you are going to the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio, September 18-20. City Farmhouse will be there and we would love to meet you. And if we’ve already met, please stop by and see us to say “hello." We’ll have some cool stuff with us.

Till next time, try to enjoy the last days of summer. It already feels like fall is in the air to me...... happy pickin'! xx

Decorating for the holidays shouldn’t be stressful—it should to be fun! In fact, you probably have everything you need to create a unique display strewn around your home and garden.  Creating interesting decorations from found and collected objects makes for great conversation starters and shows off your talents—here’s 6 tips to get started:

1. Make use of the beauty in nature's bounty. This time of year yields the perfect opportunity to collect dried naturals from the garden, fencerows and yard. Gather branches (those dripping in lichen are particularly appealing), dried blooms and vines. To add a touch of green, clip a few laurel branches. This popular bush stays green all year and clippings last for weeks in water, as opposed to fir.

2. Gather a collection of vintage, colorful Christmas ornaments in a rusty basket or container. Their shiny mercury glass surfaces stand out against the contrast of the rust.

3. Draw together a collection using unexpected objects, like this gathering of sliced tree branches paired with miniature trees (a great find at yard and estate sales earlier in the year), and sparkly vintage garland.

4. Shop for inexpensive decorations. Garland can be costly but finding a resourceful shopkeeper with a creative eye can be magic—I love these unique cotton boll garlands at the Tin Cottage in downtown Franklin for only $36.00.

Pinecones are another holiday design staple that can be gathered from the yard... but if you want to step it up a bit, these giant cones from Michigan make for a beautiful display in a bowl. Just $10.00 at the Tin Cottage!

5. Use everyday objects around the home in your holiday design. An antique dough bowl filled with deer antlers is a quick and simple way to display with interesting impact. Using garden containers for your trees—think buckets and cast iron or cement urns—creates the feel of bringing the classic green foliage back into their natural environment.

6. The holidays just wouldn't be magical without the twinkle of miniature lights. Traditional long sparkly strands are great but look for something outside the box like these LED-lit twig chandeliers. Just $85.00 at City Farmhouse.

xx,

The City Farmhouse Pop-Up Show is almost here (insert silent scream!). I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off, but that doesn’t mean you should be stressed on Oct. 17 & 18.  Come prepared and ready to take on the world…I mean show…

I took a few minutes to jot down some advice I’d want to know before heading to a pop-up show. Whether you’re a pickin’ pro or a first-timer, I think my list of tips + tricks will serve you well.

And whaddya know? The Williamson Herald not only shared details about this year’s show location, why we chose it and what to expect, but they also picked up our list of tips + tricks too! Read the full article here, then grab a pen and make note of my list below: 

Kim’s Tips + Tricks for Pop-up Show Shopping

1.     Whether you’re shopping at our Pop-up Show or visiting City Farmhouse on Bridge Street in Franklin, David and I suggest photographing spots you’re looking to fill.

2.     Bring a camera to photograph displays that are appealing or inspiring—they can be recreated easier from a photo.

3.     Be fair to yourself and the vendor when bargaining.

4.     Ask questions if you’re unsure of the age and condition of a piece. There’s nothing worse than discovering something is wrong with your purchase or that it’s not as old as you thought!

5.     Look for items that will make a big impact like vintage maps, old metal signs and/or large objects like gears that can be used as art. In decorating, I’ve found these types of items usually produce more bang for your buck!

6.     If you’re looking for a piece to fit in a particular spot, come prepared with dimensions and a tape measure. That way you don’t have to run home and do it in the middle of the show—pieces could be gone by the time you return. In my experience, the good stuff tends to sell pretty fast!

Learn more about our upcoming show including vendors and celebrity guests on our website: www.cityfarmhousefranklin.com/pop-up-barn-show.html

Here are a few pictures that Williamson Herald's Carole Robinson took of our store:

Each season, thousands clamor for the Country Living Fairs hosted across the nation—after all, it’s the ultimate hunting grounds for vintage and new finds!

The next Country Living Fair will be held in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 12-14, with more than 150 vendors showing off scads of antique scores, plus an array of jewelry, art and made-in-America goods. I’m so excited to announce that City Farmhouse will be a vendor too! We are looking forward to meeting many of you there!

AND, in addition to being an exhibitor - I will be a guest at the Fair! On Friday, September 12 at 3.p.m. and again on Sunday, September 14, at 11 a.m., I will act as your personal shopping tour guide as we weave through all the amazing booths filled with beautiful home furnishings, accessories, and unique curiosities. It’s your chance to learn first-hand how to create Country Living Style in your own home. We’ll meet up at the Pumpkin Tower on the Village Green where you can register for $100.00 in shopping bucks, a one year subscription to Country Living Magazine, and a cool City Farmhouse tee.

The Country Living Fair will take place on Friday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets for early buying—8:30 a.m. entry on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday — are $40 per person.  Regular admission is $13 per person in advance, and $16 the day of. Weekend passes are $15 per person in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets include entrance to the show as well as the how to’s and presentations. 

Tickets may be purchased at the gate, or in advance by calling 1-866-500-FAIR.

It's been a while since we put on our blogging hats, but that's changing from here on out! With all that's going on around here, David and I thought blogging would be a great way for you to always have a "go to place" to find previous stories on our "picking trips," updates on the City Farmhouse Pop-up Show, and a way to look back on our home decorating projects + everything City Farmhouse. We hope that you will follow along so that you don't miss a thing!! We have lots of new things in the works - all of which you will be very excited to be a part of!

Be on the lookout for our next blog post on July 10--until then we'll leave you with one of our favorite pinned images this week.

Happy picking! xx