The City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair is almost here and we can't wait to introduce y'all to our friend Cari Cucksey, host of HGTV's Cash and Cari! When it comes to repurposing this chick has a knack for reinventing, so we caught up with her to help y'all get to know her a little better before the weekend...

1. How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?

Very eclectic but tasteful (of course). I love a variety of periods -- my own home is a mix from the 1700s all the way to the 1950s! Obviously it doesn’t look like some crazy flea market but it’s all about melding together color and texture.

2. Where does your love of antiques & vintage stem from?

Well, I grew up in a 1908 Sears Roebuck and was surrounded by both sides of the family. My mother was a teacher and had a huge love for antiques, so when she was off in the summers she’d drag me around to go shopping with her, always wanting to teach me everything she knew about antiques. On the other side of the family was my grandfather -- the first American picker (way before Mike and Frank!). He taught me all about repurposing… after going through The Great Depression, he had so much gratitude and was just astonished at what people were willing to throw away. He would go shopping every day alongside the road and pick up what other people considered trash, then turn those items into things that were useful and beautiful. He really instilled in me a love for repurposing.

3. How do you know when you've found the perfect piece to refurbish?

I guess it’s just a gut feeling… sometimes I find pieces and I have no idea what I’m going to do with them. It’s all about your gut in this business though, and taking a chance and being willing to put in the sweat and equity to make something come to life!

4. What's the coolest piece you've reinvented?

It’s so hard to pick just one since I’ve repurposed so many fun things out there… I guess my favorite project though was for our wedding. We created 20 vintage vignettes and one of them was a cast iron tub that I cut the front off of and turned into a little vintage couch!

5. If you could only choose three tools to use for the rest of your life, what would they be?

A paint brush, my staple gun and mascara -- definitely can’t live without that one!

6. What's your favorite part about what you do?

I absolutely love the fact that I’m able to inspire people across the globe. Cash and Cari on HGTV airs in 40 countries and it’s so neat to me that so many different people are looking at objects in a different light. We’re bringing back the stories of these pieces and their owners -- if we don’t keep telling that history and educating people about what those items were and can be recreated into, they’ll get lost.

Catch Cari at the demonstration tent this weekend where she'll be teaching fair-goers the art of repurposing with Matthew Mead and Wagner spray tools! For more on Cari and show details, go here.

All photos by Alyssa Rosenheck

One of the biggest challenges when designing a small space is combining comfort with style and making it all fit – especially when it comes to seating. Most of the really comfy sofas are oversized, or at the very least large. But when that won’t do, don't forget about the ever-popular, and often pretty, love seat - these days available in many comfortable styles.

Did you know that the first loveseat showed up in homes back in the 17th century - surprisingly for the comfort of a woman’s attire, rather than relaxing? Back in the day, this smaller impression of the sofa was invented so that women could sit while comfortably arranging the massive amount of hoops and fabric that made up their gowns.

While the loveseat has waned in popularity throughout passing trends, it's (thankfully) never completely gone out of style. Today, there's an even more demand for it as baby boomers are downsizing and young couples are buying smaller first homes or apartments. And, this furniture form really does blend beautifully with any decorating style, from farmhouse to fancy.

Recently, I chose to use an elegant period French loveseat in a farmhouse space tucked in the countryside of Tennessee (complete with a big white porch!).... and was so inspired, I had to share. I asked my friend Alyssa Rosenheck to run out and take photos -- doesn't she do a beautiful job?

Not only was this particular floor plan small, but there were also several features that posed problems.... such as doorways and window placements that limited how I could arrange the room for relaxing.

Though the main purpose of the loveseat in the room was to accommodate seating, one way I styled it allowed it to also serve as a divider between the combination kitchen and living room. In both vignettes you'll see below, the size was perfect for allowing plenty of walking room around the other furnishings--and by utilizing the fireplace as a focal point, I was able to create a cozy area that provided both style and functionality in a tiny 100-square-foot living room.

If you don't have the perseverance to uncover the perfect piece at antique stores near you, there are plenty of online resources these days that can help you capture our City Farmhouse style (though you know our pickers have the best eye!). A few of my favorites are here, here, here and here. Those are vintage - so if they're sold out by the time you read this, go to the One King's Lane site here.

I love old books... it feels appropriate to include vintage literature given this piece's history! 

A period French love seat works well when combining styles in a farmhouse setting.

How amazing are those 19th-century period banners? It's a cool story I'll tell you someday. They helped create a focal point with the mantel while creating the look.

Do you have a love seat in your home? If so, is it a style statement or functional for small space seating? 

What's a event without a red carpet soirée? My favorite part of the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair, is meeting new people from around the country + talkin' "antiques with new friends. That's precisely why we're rollin' out a burlap carpet (yep, burlap) on Friday morning for our early buyers. You can think of it like a red carpet pre-show event--you'll get the latest news about the Fair, hot shopping tips, predictions, PLUS we'll be serving complimentary mimosas from 8-10 a.m.

Early shoppers will have the chance to take a picture in front of our "wall of fame" and "walk the burlap carpet!" And you better start getting those voices warmed up, ya'll! We are hosting a friendly competition where one lucky shopper will win the chance to participate in early buying, meaning they'll get to skip the line and enter the show 15 minutes before anyone else--this fortunate individual will have access to the most sought after items, minus the crowd!

How do you enter? You must sing Tennessee's favorite tune "Rocky Top" as loud as you can in front of the entire audience. The participant with the most enthusiasm and gumption will win this coveted pass.

There's nothing we love more than a fearless personality who's willing to lay it all on the line and embarrass themselves for the sake of priority pickin'! Am I right?

For those over achievers, we've posted the lyrics to Rocky Top below so you can start brushing up. We'll also have copies of the lyrics at the show, for those that need it.

Rocky Top
Wish that I was on ole rocky top,
Down in the Tennessee hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on rocky top,
Ain't no telephone bills.

Once there was a girl on rocky top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.

Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.

Once two strangers climbed on rocky top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from rocky top,
Guess they never will.

Corn won't grow at all on rocky top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on rocky top
Get their corn from a jar.

Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.

Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.

Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.

Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.
Yeah rocky top Tennessee eee eee eee.

The Country Living Fair is underway in Lebanon, Tennessee, and as you can see.... everyone is here!! Even Country Living Magazine editor-in-chief Rachel Hardage Barrett and our friend, Mike Wolfe.

This is a great, big beautiful show where the pages of the CL magazine come to life -- you'll see lots of antiques, vintage, up-cycled crafts, art, handcrafted jewelry and more! With more than 200 vendors, it's a must-go event, especially if you're within driving distance.

The show continues through this weekend, opening Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. Check out some of my snapshots and picks so far (be sure to follow me on Instagram for more!):

My favorite pick so far!! This early lace cupboard is from a mercantile store. It's super rare -- and still has some old lace inside!

This Eskimo refrigerator is such a great size. Perfect for a side table too!

Lots of up-cycling ideas here!

These fairs are great inspiration sources, too. 

Yep, that's a duck barn.

These two took their newly picked duck barn to Bardstown, Kentucky!

Told ya everyone was here.....

For more fair info, go here. If you weren't planning on it before, I bet y'all wanna come now! If you do, look us up -- we're in Building A, Booth 20. Now, get to gettin' and happy pickin'!

xx

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 

Week-ends are always outrageous at City Farmhouse! I love it that way. This past week-end was a blend of flowers, fluff and furniture. By that I mean ... I designed a flower arrangement for the McConnell House at 3 in the morning, then met with 2 appointments for flowers early the next morning (or technically later that same morning), then unloaded the trailer, then helped dealers unload, and then redesigned the shop. So while I take a much needed nap, check out the fabulous new pieces that arrived at City Farmhouse!! Love, Love, Love!!

What you see here (not in order): a vintage Depression chest of drawers. vintage French Settee (2), large vintage 1970s shell mirror, vintage 1800s Gothic sideboard, a really early fab bird cage, a very unusual vintage chain installation (chain is from a sugar mill and comes apart into pieces - reminds me of Lego's), an 1800s Old Paris Maine cottage chest, vintage chocolate soldier case (oh the memories), vintage library table, awesome vintage French side chair, vintage industrial lighting.

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO FOR LARGER VIEW

While you are waiting for the crazy, screaming, running around like a chicken with our heads cut off review of what happened, what came in and what went out at City Farmhouse this week-end, take a look at amazing Nashville photographer, Ariel's eye for capturing the open house at the McConnell House (that's a serious run on sentence). I loved doing the flowers, which included, of course, vintage props for this event. I'm working on something for the McConnell House now. You'll see it this week-end. Tomorrow - week-end antique review at City Farmhouse. Follow this blog so you won't miss it.

http://www.arielrenaephotography.com/blog/page/2/