• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Partner
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Southern Hospitality

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking, Fashion & Gardening

  • My Home
  • Categories
    • A+ Blogs
    • My Blog Story
    • Decorating
    • DIY/How-To
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • In the Kitchen
    • My Home Tours
    • Thrifting
    • Travel
  • DIY Gallery
  • Fashion
  • Feature Friday
  • Shop My Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Feature Friday: Peeking Thru the Sunflowers

January 4, 2013 By Rhoda 36 Comments

702 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Today’s Feature Friday is a really fun one.  This gal, Deserae, who blogs at Peeking Thru the Sunflowers, and I go way back to early 2000, when we were both involved in an online decorating board which grew to about 1000+ members during its lifespan and the décor board, Great Impressions, was one of the earliest forms of sharing pics online.  We all had photo albums and would load pics of our homes, so those years were the early ones for me of browsing all those homes for inspiration.  And we all shared and had so much fun peeking into the homes of all these other women who loved nesting as much as we did.

And that’s really what kick started blogging for me.  It was the next natural progression and here I am now.

So, welcome Des, the fabulous decorator of a wonderful old schoolhouse in Kansas that dates back to 1870 and is on the Kansas Historic Register.  She and her hubby of 22 years have painstakingly restored this old schoolhouse, which was originally a building hosting school and community events, then later turned into a private residence for a family with 10 children.  In 1985, it was converted into a bed and breakfast and then back to a private residence and Des and her hubby bought it and really gave it some love.

You’re gonna love it!  Des’s style has really transformed in the last 10 years that I’ve known her online and she has a wonderful French cottage chic style that she has honed and made her own.  This schoolhouse never looked so good!

Des front door

The exterior front door is charming and all decked out for Christmas.

snow-white-flocked-tree-bhg

Speaking of Christmas, you may remember seeing Des’s house in last years Better Homes and Gardens Christmas edition.  I was so excited when I flipped open the magazine and saw my friend’s beautiful home all splashed across the pages.  So happy for her!  The above pic is from the magazine.  Isn’t that just lovely?

Des living room

Back to Des’s living room, it’s a picture of netural grays and whites with minimal accessories, but beautiful.

living room 9

She is an antiquing girl and has spent years collecting her treasures and this house is great for showing them off.

living room 16

She has dogs in her home, but didn’t hesitate to use white slipcovers and wow, is it all gorgeous.

living room8

A picture perfect way of putting things together, Des is very talented.

den1

The den is cozy and casual.

dining room

And the dining room looks like a French masterpiece with the slipcovered chairs and pretty sideboard.

dining room2

Beautiful from all angles.

kitchen 2

Des and her hubby completely remodeled the kitchen when they moved in and it is charming in white.

kitchen1

A beautiful space to cook.

kitchen3

Well thought out and dreamy space.

guest bedroom3

The guest room is fit for royalty with her beautiful antiques and treasured accessories.

guest bedroom4

Who wouldn’t want to stay in this room?

guest bedroom5

Gorgeous and elegant.

master bedroom

The master bedroom is equally stunning and lush.

master bedroom2

I love her bedding and how plush it all looks.  With her darker furniture and light walls, that really draws me in, I love that combo.

master bathroom

The master bath doesn’t disappoint either, with that vintage tile and white beadboard, not to mention the beauty of a chandelier.

master bathroom2

I just adore every bit of this space, especially this unique sink and that gorgeous mirror.

powder room2

The powder room has equal charm.

Powder room

And this house is about as charming as it gets.  Des has been working on her home for years (do they ever get finished?) and I really love what she has accomplished.  It’s truly magazine worthy and I can see why they wanted to feature her home for Christmas.

Hope you got some inspiration and please stop over to Peeking Thru the Sunflowers and look around, Des would love to meet you!

Today, I’m sharing a post all about moving in my new house at Wayfair’s blog, My Way Home, so would love for you to take a peek. 

And, sweet blogger Jennifer Carroll, featured me at her blog too, so wanted to give her a big shout-out and say thank you.  It’s a very nice article about me and my blog.

Related


Don't Miss a Post, join my list!

Filed Under: Decorating Ideas, Feature Fri. 36 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kris {Driven by Décor} says

    January 4, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Such a charming space – thanks for sharing! I’m hopping over to her blog now!

    Reply
  2. Jane says

    January 4, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Des’ home is magazine worthy and she is one of the nicest bloggers I have ever met! Thanks for the feature, Rhoda!

    XO,
    Jane

    Reply
  3. Jill Flory says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Here home is so lovely and I recognized that photo from the magazine instantly! I was so in love with it last year! Wonderful feature!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer @ Celebrating Everyday Life says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Des’s home is totally gorgeous! Can’t wait to see more of it on her site. I’m trying to move towards more white in my home but it’s a slow transition, especially with an almost two-year old. Something to aspire to, though. Thank you so much for the shout-out too! So kind!!! Hugs, Jennifer

    Reply
  5. [email protected] Designs says

    January 4, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    Des’ home is filled with beauty and wonderful history…such a combination of perfection….I so loved the tour!!

    Reply
  6. QM1999 says

    January 4, 2013 at 6:35 pm

    I was on Great Impressions! Lots of inspiration there. Sometimes unnecessary drama. 🙂 But I always enjoyed checking in. I miss seeing some of my favorite homes, esp at Christmas time. I remember Des. Beautiful home.

    Reply
  7. littleoakcreations says

    January 4, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    What a beautiful house… love all of the crisp white, especially that kitchen!!

    Reply
  8. Martina says

    January 4, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    I love Des’s style and beautiful home!!

    Reply
  9. Tammie says

    January 4, 2013 at 9:30 pm

    The blue table by the gallery wall in Jennifer’s post; was that previously a dark Bombay?

    Reply
  10. Giovanna says

    January 5, 2013 at 4:29 am

    thank you thank you thank you!! I also remember Des’ house back then on GI and missed being able to study her style all these years. Glad to know she has a blog, which I have now bookmarked. Me too, I remember her red dining room (but didn’t we all have a red dining room back then? ; ) )

    Reply
  11. Mary Anna says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    Hi Rhoda…Just recommended your blog to a friend. First let me say ” Happy New Year ” and thank you so much for your hard work and sharing your home and ideas with us. I so liked that unique sink that you commented on here. First time to ever see one like this. Just wonder where there might be others? Have a good day!

    Reply
  12. Maureen says

    January 5, 2013 at 5:43 pm

    One of my favorite decorators ever! I have followed and enjoyed Des’ style for many years, and was thrilled when she sent me a copy of another magazine her beautiful home was featured in. No matter the season, or evolution of style, her home is always beautiful! And her adorable pups are the perfect accessories- so cute! Great post!

    Reply
  13. Dicksi says

    January 5, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    Thanks for sharing her beautiful home! The dining room chairs look like little ballerinas!

    Reply
  14. [email protected] says

    January 10, 2013 at 6:05 pm

    Wow! Such a beautiful, serene home. I love everything about it. Des is truly talented. I’m looking forward to checking out her blog and seeing more loveliness!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

Click Here

Click Here

Email Series
How to Decorate in
Classic Timeless Style
.....without breaking the bank!

House Renovation Journey!

Our Paint Colors

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header2

Featured here:

Better Homes and Gardens
Atlanta Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Partner

Copyright © 2023 · Southern Hospitality · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy

Get my FREE Email Series How to Decorate in Classic Timeless Style....without breaking the bank!
After years of decorating my own homes, I've learned a few tricks on how to create a classic home on a budget. Hope you'll join me!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.