We built a new home back in 1985 and I decorated it in the country style that was so popular back then. That decorating choice is what actually lead me to start my small home-based craft business 24 years ago. I started making items for my neighbors home, then started doing craft shows and opened a country shop. But 14 years ago, we decided to move back to the town where we grew up as our families were all still there. I thought when I moved back home that I wanted my house to have a different look and started decorating in the lighter colors of the country cottage style. Then about 4 years ago, I was starting to be drawn to all the primitive folk-art items that were showing up at craft shows and country shops. I realized that I truly missed my old country look and was falling in love with the feel of primitive country. And when I purchased my first issue of Mercantile Gatherings Magazine, I was hooked! If you are a prim lover, you need to check out this magazine. I have every issue and love to look at them to get ideas for decorating my home.
Because I had gotten rid of a lot of my country items (which I could kick myself for now), I had to find a way to fill my home with prim goodies and not break the bank. So I started by painting lots of things black and distressing them with alittle sanding for that aged look. I feel that the color black just makes things look old and can make a piece feel country even if it was not a country piece to start with. I also purchased some cheap baskets from Goodwill and a local craft supply store. I painted some of them a mustard gold and then rubbed antiquing gel on. Others I painted dark brown and let some the the original color show through. I went to garage sales (got some old wooden rolling pins at a neighbor’s garage sale for $1.00 each) and thrift stores to look for primitive wares such as crocks, jars, old water pitchers, and wooden pieces. I’ve also purchased some primitive patterns and made alot of things myself.
The decorating is still a work in progress but the house is looking more primitive style everyday. I don’t think I’ll ever be totally finished decorating as the hunt for those perfect primitive treasures has become addictive, plus the hunt is half the fun. I found some old wood pieces for the kitchen today at Goodwill.(I believe they are old small dough or cheese boards.) I’ve always loved to decorate and I believe that the country primitive style is so appealing to me because it adds history, charm and such warmth to my home. This is a picture that was taken when I first started to switch over to primitive decorating and needed to have the 2 styles look good together so that I didn’t have a empty looking house while collecting all my prim goodies. I will post some more recent pictures soon.
Prim Blessings for now.
