Things That Should Never Have Been Made?

We love antique stores, consignment shops, and flea markets. Do you? We just never know what we might find. Sometimes we're a little sorry we found it. Sometimes we wish later that we'd bought it. Here are some of those things. We'll let you guess which one(s) we regret not buying.

Selma Antique Store © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

Apparently this was the Fry Guy from McDonald's. Somehow I never knew about him, despite how ubiquitous Mickey D's is.

The note wasn't necessary © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

A friend told us this was made out of the butt end of a deer. Okay. But where did the jaw and teeth come from? Those were definitely of genuine animal origin and I've seen enough deer to know that's NOT how they're made.

Shriner Raleigh Flea Market © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

Zombie Shriner, anyone? Anyone? At least we prefer him to the symbol of racism standing behind him...

Face Jug © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

These face jugs actually have a long and interesting history in the South. Some say they were made to scare children away (from the moonshine). If this was in your house, do you think your soul might be sucked into the neck of this jug? Yep, that's what I thought too.

Ram © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

Sorry for the poor quality of this photo, there were at least six dogs and four cats milling around in this antique store and they were quite distracting (see photos below). But, we didn't want you to miss seeing this ram-thingy with droopy crocheted horns.

Cat © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

Dog & Camo Guy © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

Pretty snazzy camo overalls, eh? Bet you wish you had a pair.

And then there was this...

Bucking Goat © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

The item above had a hefty price tag ($950) and a story to go with it. According to the sign, the only other such Bucking Goat is in a museum in the Midwest and they were used in a Masonic initiation ritual. Don't believe us? Feast your eyes...

I know, I know, you can't unsee that. Sorry. (Not sorry).

And here's a cookie jar we spied recently at a Raleigh antique store. I actually don't think it's even close to being an antique, but dang, it sure would keep the kids (and most adults) away from the cookies, don't you think?

Clown Cookie Jar © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

I will say the clown led to a pretty hilarious thread on my personal Facebook page...

Thank you for stopping by Quince Cottage. 
Did you guess which item we were sorry we didn't buy? 
Leave a comment and we'll tell you if you're right.

Make a Great First Impression!

Whatever you call it--entry, foyer, front hall--it makes an impact, for better or worse. We're not just talking about guests. If you enter your home through the front door, the foyer has an effect on you too.
In this post we'll discuss the interior space, because "curb appeal" (the front of your house, including your front door) deserves its own post.

With the help of Pinterest, we've analyzed the features we believe can help anyone's foyer set the right tone for the rest of their home. What do we mean by "right tone"?

An entry should be welcoming and give visitors a sneak peek of your personal decorating style.

1. Neatness - yes, entries always attract clutter, especially if they're the family entrance too. But the last thing you want is a guest tripping over a jumble of shoes and backpacks. Utilize hall trees, peg boards, closets, baskets, etc. to corral the mess. An umbrella stand isn't a bad idea either.

2. Mirror - it's not absolutely necessary, but certainly handy for last minute checks before leaving the house.

3. Greenery - connect outside and inside with real or "faux" plants. Color, shape, and container can all reflect your overall decorating theme while adding the fresh appeal of Nature.

4. Surface space - preferably with at least a small container or storage element. Despite good intentions, mail and keys frequently end up "somewhere" in the entry. If your foyer is large enough for a dresser or case-piece with drawers, GREAT. Use them wisely. If not, a basket, bowl, or tray will do. (We have a small blue bowl on the foyer console).

5. Lighting - Overhead pendant, sconce(s), lamp(s) - choose fixtures to match your style and ensure ample illumination. What's more depressing than a dark hallway? Not much. Guests shouldn't feel as though they're at risk for meeting a bear or something... We don't have much natural light in our foyer, and we're considering replacing the front door at some point with one that has a larger window.

© Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

6. Color -  Here's a wonderful opportunity to foreshadow the décor in the rest of the house. You have a teal sofa in the family room? Why not choose wallpaper or a rug containing that color? Or create a vignette using a teal vase or candlesticks? Changing the ratio of your primary color scheme will make everything more interesting.

7. Art - Not only is art cool in and of itself, and reflective of your interests, it can spark initial conversation. Prints, photos, maps, ceramics, they're all good...

8. Softness - Foyers tend to be full of hard surfaces, which actually aren't warm and welcoming. Rugs, or a small upholstered piece, or a pillow on a bench--any of these can add a cozy touch.

Here are a few photos of our front entry at Quince Cottage. Below is the "before" (the only interesting thing is the hanging fixture we chose).

Foyer © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet

And here's the foyer "after" we had our way with it!

The nest prints were $8 each at an antique store and we framed them with inexpensive ready-made frames.

The shadow box came from HomeGoods, and what's inside reflects our love of Nature, milk glass, and travel.

Here's the other side of the hall, and if you're curious about that rolling door, check out our earlier posts on choosing, refinishing, and installing it.

Here's a photo of the front entry in our former home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

For photos of other peoples' entries, head to our First Impressions Pinterest board.

Tell us what you think. What's the one thing your foyer can't be without?

Quince Cottage Design Mantra: Create a beautiful, comfortable home that reflects your unique style and personality. 
In our own place, patina is valued, rustic rubs shoulders with opulent (we call this "agrarian chic"), and you're sure to get a terrier-style welcome!

Here's Buster waiting for you to come back © Rhiann Wynn-Nolet