I used to want to move to our own farm. I’ve since come to the realization (as I’ve gotten older) that I don’t really want a rural farm, I want a suburban/urban farm. I’d like a farm style life I suppose. Which for me means enough room to have a few animals, gardens, my idea of a farmhouse and a good distance between me and my neighbors. But I also want to be able to go to a museum, or theater, hospital, or store without it being a long trek. Today I want to talk about how to achieve farmhouse style on a budget in the homes that we currently live in.
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I’ve always been a big believer in not waiting for the “perfect house or yard”. I think you should make the most of what you have now, whatever that might be. I’ve not always taken my own advice! I’ve often felt that there’s so much more that I could do with my time & with my space to live the life I really want – now.
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So now that I’m doing a little makeover of my kitchen….well that gives me a chance to do a little kitchen decorating to get more of the farmhouse style look that I love! Since I don’t have a ton of money to spend changing what I have into the farmhouse kitchen of my dreams (no apron front farmhouse kitchen sinks for me)…
I can come close to a farmhouse style and feel that I want mainly though using accessories.
Which is a much more affordable method!
Which brings me to my new kitchen clock! $14.99 at Garden Ridge (which I hadn’t been to in almost 2 years and wow has it ever changed). It’s made of tin but looks like distressed barn wood and of course has my favorite farm image – a rooster!
Here are a few other farmhouse style clocks that I found at a really cute site -(the photos are linked).
I’ll be sharing more of the farmhouse style accessories I’ll be adding as I go along. Some I’ll be making and some I’ll be buying.
Is farm living something you yearn for? Or are you like Eva Gabor in Green Acres and “adore a penthouse view” or are you a little bit of both like me?
wooden spool with tree on top
That’s such a pretty kitchen in your first picture, Manuela! You are right. I find it can be a continual work in progress to get what you want your home to be. I agree, accessories {and paint} are probably the least expensive ways to do this. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress, too!
Audley & I were just talking over the weekend about how much we missed out little farmette in Alabama. Subdivision living in the city is a whole different life indeed. Looking forward to seeing your kitchen update! Paint is such a gift!
Like your clock!! I have not been to GR in some time, The one here changed also – tables piled high with scrubs, t shirts and such. Someone told me it was not quiet as bad now as it was, but I have not been back to see. I am not a country girl, but there is a lot I don’t care for when it comes to city life, so guess I like the suburbs. 😀
Have a great week.
It’s full of furniture and rugs now. At least mine is. The craft area is totally gone and they used to have a large floral section which is teeny now. Oh they have mattresses!! Very strange. I wonder what happened to them?
Well, like you I want a beautiful view and space. I want trees and quiet. I also want Super Target and Ann Taylor Loft. Hmm, your method will have to work for me too. 🙂
We do have land out in the country to visit. From time to time we’ve talked of ever living out there…it makes me kind of hyperventilate to think about being out there all alone. No girlfriends to call on doesn’t sound good to me.
Your clock is adorable. Can’t wait to see what you do. I told my husband all about your rope lights and we are scheming on doing the same thing this week. Thanks for the great idea!
LOL! I like the idea of being sort of away from my neighbors but not too away. 1-2 acres in the burbs or in town would be ideal for me.
Can’t wait to see how you use those rope lights!
I’d like to live in the country on a farm without having to farm. I’d love the views, the space, the look, and not the work.
Oh sweet clock, by the way. I’ve never heard of that store.
I am so like you… since I was a child and even more in the past 20 years I’ve
wanted a farm but not a big one,, a simple one… This city girl loves
your ideas..
Tell me, the Chicken site, will they take US Dollars? I did send
an email to them…
thanks for sharing
sandy
I don’t know. I was wondering that too. Don’t they have the cutest things!! I’m always finding the neatest things on sites from the U.K or France!
I spent some of my holidays at my uncles farm, I remember my aunts kitchen as always warm from a wood stove that never went out, a large table where all sorts of thing happened we played games,sat and drew pictures and the food, they lived 17 miles from the nearest shops so most things were home made it always had lovely smells in the air.
Merle….
Love that clock:) I don’t have a Garden Ridge close enough to visit frequently! Darn it! Anyway, I will enjoy your tips on decorating farmhouse style! Have a blessed evening, HUGS!
I have always wanted to live on a farmette – exactly as you described. Lots of land, no close neighbors, and a few farm animals (chickens, goats, couple of donkeys) – but yet be close to enough to civilization! I love the picture of the kitchen you posted. My favorite thing about it is not only the cabinets, but the different style and color of the chairs.
That’s one of my favorite kitchen photos. I love those chairs too. I did that with some chairs I had on my porch years ago. I also love that big milk clock!
I want chickens, goats and a couple of those little pigs (they are sooooo cute) and room for several dogs.
Hi Manuela!
Oh…Just look at those chickens. You and I are drawn to the same farmhouse touches. I have chickens sprinkled throughout my kitchen and I love each one.
Thank you for sharing ones that are so inexpensive. Just love finding a good price!
Have a great day, my sweet friend!
Blessings,
Carolynn xxx
Well the Garden Ridge one is inexpensive. I don’t know about the UK ones 🙂
I’m with you! I want a suburban/urban location. And a barn. A big old barn. Sigh … make my heart go pitter pat!
Yes, I’d like a real barn too. I’d have events in mine. I’d invite vendors and have a big flea market/antiques fair or weddings in the barn – that would be fun!
I love your kitchen, and all the chickens! I live outside a tiny town, on three acres, with only one semi-close neighbor. 35 miles to the nearest Walmart, an hour each way to a city with more than that. I love it, but it does have inconveniences. We have a local grocery, but a couple of years ago, it burned to the ground, so for a year, during rebuilding, the only choices were drive a distance to another store, or pick up the few things available at Dollar General. I have four dogs,( three of them very large, one small), and two cats. In younger years, I would have loved a farm. I still would, minus the work!!! I love your idea of making your home work for you.
Several YEARS ago, you did a post about loving the home we are in. You might not remember it, but I do. It inspired me to stop waiting for the house in the country that I wanted in my heart, and make the house I have more like the house I wanted. I’ve been trying to do that ever since. You CONTINUE to inspire me. Thanks.
I love the farmhouse look! I’m just now learning to make the best of what I have instead of longing for what I don’t have. Really looking forward to your kitchen makeover pics. Thanks for the inspiration!
I forgot to mention that we live in a condo on the corner of a busy 4-lane road in town. My view is of a shopping center and a line of offices, with some apple orchards and vineyards in the distance. I really want to move farther out of town, have a little house with a little yard so we can have a dog. It’s been snowing all weekend, but all I can see is black slush – ugh! So . . . I’m trying to make the inside be like my little house in the country that I hope to have one day!
That sounds like a good idea! You never know what the future holds so I think you have to be happy where you are right now and do whatever it takes to make that happen. It doesn’t mean you can’t dream about the future or have goals, it just means to appreciate where you are in this phase of your life.
Maybe you could put something in the window that would block your view but still let in the light – like a stained glass window you could hang from the frame or sheers in between your regular drapes.
I feel just like you do…would like a a few acres of land with a few animals, but have all the stores and all close by. I have told that to my hubby many times, but he is not interested in moving. I absolutely love your clock and the farmhouse look you are going for. So excited to see what all you do!
This is going to be fun!
In the New Year, I want to freshen things up around her – especially the kitchen!
We live on 4 acres in the suburbs…with neighbors but not in a development. We like it very much. We have 3 horses, a dog, a cat and two chickens…we want more chickens though!
I like your attitude about not waiting for the :perfect” house. We have to live for today and work with what we have. I really like your clock and also the ones you showed.
I know, I used to think I’d love a farm but (especially the older I get) this small house in the country is hard enough to keep up with. Especially the property!
But I LOVE the farmhouse look.
I love this subject.Can’t wait to here more. I drifted away, like everyone else from the “country” decor, but I like the idea of the “farmhouse” look. Somehow it seems fresher. I always love the colors you use. Loved the pear green you got rid of, so waiting to see what the finished kitchen looks like. I’m sure it will be wonderful, you have great taste.
I love your Farmhouse kitchen! It is so fresh looking too, not drab like the old time decorating.
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Love the clock!! A Garden Ridge just opened in our area. I’ll have to check it out!
I grew up in a very rural area. Although there are aspects of country/farm life that I still love, I don’t think I could go back to having to drive 30 minutes just to get into town and not having grocery stores and Targets on every corner!
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
What a cute clock! I’ve thought a few times about living in the country, but the thought doesn’t last long. My husband says he couldn’t afford the gas as many runs as I make to all the fabric and craft stores several times a day.
Judy
Sweet dreams. I’d love a place big enough for all my animals and an orchard and summer veggies. With a basement where I could create during the cold winter months. Meanwhile, my little cottage suffices whilst I daydream.
I’m in love with those mis-matched, variously colored chairs. Completely totally. And not a hope while my husband lives with me, lol!
Loving the clock – where on earth did you find it?!
We are in the same place that you guys are, wanting to be on more of a farm property, but realizing that it’s not realistic right now. I have been slowly transforming our home to feel more “farmish” too, and trying to make the best of what we have. I haven’t been to Garden Ridge in a long time either, but I think I’ll go soon after seeing your clock! It’s adorable!
I did get a reply from the Chicken site and yes they do
take US Dollars but do not ship to the US.. boohoo!
I so want that cute clock
Sandy
Oh, so what’s the point of taking US $?? Is it the egg one? I know there are plenty of rooster/chicken clocks around so if it’s that one I bet you could find a similar clock.