The Second Annual City Farmhouse Pop-up Show is only eight weeks away--and it can't come soon enough for us! Just imagine: crisp air, changing leaves, Hites famous Heirloom Pumpkins.... and scores of handpicked selections spanning all eras and styles (farmhouse, French, architectural, garden, lighting, industrial, Americana and much more). All sprawled across the grounds of the stunning "lost-in-time" gardens and mansion of the late music publisher Buddy Killen, located on Old Hillsboro Road, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the magical village of Leiper's Fork.

To leave you with a little excitement, we wanted to share some of our favorite scenes from the 2013 show and continue to scroll on down for a little sampling of what we're working on to WOW you in October.

City Farmhouse Pop-up Show, 2014 ......

Just past the rusting iron gates enveloped with nature’s growth lies a path that leads over a stone bridge to a mansion--one that has sat quietly since its caretaker left it in 2002. Years before that, it had welcomed some of country music’s most famous people: Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, and George Jones just to name a few. Past it doors was the sound of music with a padded music room that held the baby grand, and at its helm sat one of country music’s most famous publishers, Buddy Killen.

Its only neighbors were the occasional deer that roamed across the 200-acre lawn, and the bullfrogs which sang in unison along the slopping banks of the land along the secluded lake. In the rear, a formal garden unveiled the centerpiece, a monumental fountain of cast iron towering with cascading waters to the earth below. The path along the guest entrance to the garden is magical; covered with a canopy of nature’s landscaping so lush that it allows only a peek of the sun.

Now, it's waiting for City Farmhouse to transform it. See what we're working with below:

For more information, including a complete list of dealers, events, show times, and ticket prices for the 2014 show, happening Oct. 17-18, go here. Or call City Farmhouse at 615-268-0216.

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"Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." 

- Albert Einstein

Monday's are usually go, go, go. Instead, take the time today to relax, breathe and look for the simplicity, harmony and opportunity in your hectic week. 

On our picking trips, we're often forced to look past the clutter for the best finds. Here are some recent finds in our shop right now:

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Painting furniture seems to be the craze these days--but before you grab a brush, do you know when it's not okay to paint?

1. Never paint furniture that is handcrafted, no matter what the age. To retain its value, your furniture should always be kept in the original finish of the craftsman.

2. Many antique pieces (ones 100+ years old) are manufactured. It's perfectly acceptable to paint those pieces unless they were painted at the time they were made or were painted shortly after they were manufactured. Original old paint is highly prized. If the color is beautiful and the paint is aged appropriately, I would never paint it.

These tips apply to smaller pieces, accessories and architectural fragments as well.

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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." 

- Leonardo da Vinci

Below are several simple yet creative ways to arrange your finds, put together from items we have in the shop right now.

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.