Hey hey hey! Remember the Lifestyle of Love hop I do with some friends who also adore all things vintage, repurposed and farmhousy?! Well, today it’s all about farm animals and I’m sharing 3 reasons I love using farm animals in my eclectic style home. Make sure you stop by each blog below. You won’t be disappointed. If you’ve hopped over from Our Southern Home, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.
3 Reasons I Love Using Farm Animals in My Eclectic Style Home
I have the best of two worlds. We live in the suburbs of Dallas, TX in a (sort of) French Country style brick and stone house where everything we need is within 5 miles and also have an honest to goodness (almost 100 yr.) old farmhouse that we frequent most months for a weekend or two so I’m able to live both lives – convenience and country!
Good ol’ Ms. Stovall in the farmhouse with her better-check-your-attitude look
Because I love the country living lifestyle, farmhouse decor and vintage goodies but also like mixing different styles together, I pretty much do what I want no matter what anyone says, what’s trending or how they make me feel.
Ms. Stovall again at our everyday suburban house
However, I’ve very recently decided because many of my readers get confused with which house they see on here, I’m sticking with a Pottery Barnish/Eclectic/Casual Rustic/sometimes transitional style in the suburb home and using the more farmhousy, authentic vintage type stuff in the country house. But these photos are older so you’re going to be confused anyway. And I’ve not gotten around to the full transition just yet. 😉 I’m a work in progress.
Cow print (haven’t given her a name) in farmhouse and pig pillow on bed
Really, it’s more about me being tired of taking care of two houses and trying to remember what is where and planning a 3.5 hour trip down south just to get what I’d like to use up here at our everyday house. It’s exhausting and makes me feel like I’m losing my mind because I can’t find what I thought was inside the decor closet. So if you see something in two different rooms, you’re not crazy, the animals have been in both houses. Okay, enough explaining!
3 Reasons I Love Using Farm Animals in My Eclectic Style Home
Let’s chat about why I love farm animals. First, of all I can’t resist the appeal of farm animals and their cute fat bodies and adorable faces! If you’re like me, there’s no reason whatsoever to limit yourself with animal anything if you don’t live in the country or in an actual farmhouse.
Cow print in the suburban home with faux cow mold used as a bookend
Can you imagine if the style was limited to country homes? Joanna Gaines wouldn’t be famous, shiplap wouldn’t sell out at Lowe’s and retail stores wouldn’t keep stocking artwork of animals on their shelves!
Faux baby chick mold used in an Easter tablescape
Reason #2 – I love using farm animals in decor because in my dreams I have a self-cleaning chicken coop.
To me, chicken coops are nasty and sad. Nasty because if they aren’t free range or trained to a litter box (is that even possible?), poop is everywhere. Sad because besides humans, they have predators that don’t mind plucking the feathers off before eating them! Somehow no matter how confident you are that you shut the coop door, something gets inside. And I don’t think I could stomach knowing Bertha got eaten last night while I slept comfortably in my bed.
I think every farmhouse loving person has a cow creamer. If not, get yourself one! They are so handy. Of course they are great for coffee creamer or gravy but with the right amount of moss, you can stick flags inside for a patriotic look.
Cow creamer as a flag holder
Last reason is because farm animals give character to our home. Whether or not they come in molds, art work, pillows, tablecloths, wood cutting boards, on canisters, as salt and pepper shakers, statues – they are all adorable. Plus, they evoke a warm welcoming environment. And we all want that, right?
These little characters below are my favorites. They live full time at the farmhouse. I’ve tried asking the HOA if I could bring them up to our everyday house but I’m told they’d be loud and the neighbors would complain. Humph. Some people can be so closed minded. 😉
If you love farm animals as much as I do, don’t be intimidated to use them if you live smack dab in the middle of the city or in the suburbs surrounded by bike trails and neighbors. If they make you happy, then get happy! But if you still aren’t convinced and need to visit a farm or ranch, I bet you could knock on the front door and they’d be happy to let you in. Country folk are nice like that.
Next in our Lifestyle of Love hop is Debra at Common Ground. She will have some of the cutest ways to use farm animals that you’ve ever seen! Thanks for stopping by today and let me know what you like most about farm animals in the comments below. Happy Decorating Friends!
Cindy,
I feel you going between 2 houses. I wish we could visit our beach cottage more. Perhaps when we are truly empty nesters come September. It’s over a 5-hour drive. I absolutely love both of your homes. Those vintage animal molds are precious. I also love all of your artwork!
Author
That’s what we keep telling ourselves – once we are truly empty nesters. Fingers crossed it happens soon. Thank you Christy! Happy Summer.
Cindy,
These are all such cute ideas. I’m sharing a link tomorrow.
Author
Thank you so much Rachel. I love your weekend posts.
I love the awning above the bed! So cute!
Author
Thank you Karen. It took me years to find just the right one. Got it at the antique fair in Round Top, TX. Now I’m trying to find the right small chandelier to hang underneath. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your ideas! I especially love the idea of a cow creamer holding flags!
Author
Thank you Vicki. You can never go wrong with patriotic decor around here. Hope you enjoy the weekend.
I adore your posts, Cindy! Each of your homes are so different but can both be decorated with farm animals and I just love that. My dream is live in the country someday with some miniature horses, maybe a donkey or an alpaca 🙂 This was a really fun theme for this hop!
Author
I’d love some mini’s and maybe a couple of tiny goats but we can’t do that until we are down there full time. One day I’ll be ready for that. Just not this year. Thanks so much for the sweet compliment Rachel. I really appreciate it.
You have such great style. I love seeing your posts. Hugs to you.
Author
Aww, thank you so much Renae. I don’t feel that way most days so you made my month! XO
” I pretty much do what I want no matter what anyone says, what’s trending or how they make me feel.” And this is why I love ya, friend!! So glad you included your REAL furry friends; always love seeing them! Thanks for always picking amazing themes for us; you rock!
Author
My hubs doesn’t see my independence as a very good trait. I tell him if I wasn’t like that and cared what everyone else thought we’d be extra poor because I’d always have to have the newest thing. He has no words for that statement. For some reason his rolling eye affliction acts up but I can’t figure out why. 😉
I love that you have 2 places to decorate with vintage goodies. I love them both. It’s okay if peeps get confused. Great fun wherever you are. That sheep mold is wonderful, and oh those faces on your cow prints! I think the first animal related pieces I had was a pig cutting board and a cow creamer. Then I was hooked. Your critters are so adorable, but I wouldn’t enjoy the chicken coop responsibilities, either. Thanks for putting the Hop together. I really appreciate joining in!
Author
Can you believe I don’t have a single wooden cutting board?! Not even one to use on a regular basis. They are on my list of wishes though. Thank you so much Debra!
For years as a child I lived on a farm, we had cows, pigs, and a horse and as I grew up spent years there for Holidays. My parents had a big old house and my brother and sisters would all go to spend time there, together we were 20+ so many memories. I love your homes and you are so right farm life is a style to me and warm and cozy. Thanks for those two cuties at the end love seeing their cute faces.
Author
Aww, such great memories Marlene. I think that sounds like the perfect childhood and can see why y’all would want to go back and spend time there. I’m hoping our kids want to do the same when we move full time to the country. I’m very nervous about it but the hubs says – if we build it, they will come. Crossing my fingers.
“Petunia” for the cow print! Love the molds and absolutely adore your sense of yourself and your sense of humor!
Author
I love Petunia! 🙂 Thank you for the sweet and encouraging comment Penny. It made my day!
So much fun seeing all the different ways you use farmhouse style in your homes, Cindy! I love all your big pieces of art and of course your ironstone and creamware collection too. It’s so pretty! I can’t wait to follow along on all your decorating adventures as you transition your city space. Big hugs and thanks so much for putting this fabulous hop together, CoCo
Author
It will be quite the transition as well as long and I hope I don’t fall into the same trap of saying poo to people and do what I want which is go back to the same vintage loving style. LOL!
HOA’s are so narrow minded! I bet most people would be thrilled to have a word or two with those beauties. There are a lot of fields near our area with horses, cows and sheep. The entry road to our neighborhood has horses who will sometimes chat with you while you get your mail. I know what you mean by trying to keep two houses sorted. We had a winter home in the Palm Springs, Ca. area for many years, but finally sold it as it became too much to deal with from Colorado. We loved our years there, though and have so many lovely memories. That is a very cute idea for the cow creamer.
Author
So glad you understand what I mean with having 2 houses. It’s quite the chore and each time we go down it’s more maintaining and fixing then we leave with very little relaxing and enjoyment. One day the mister wants to move there full time. I’m still on the fence about it. I’m not sure I want to leave the conveniences of here. Thanks for stopping by and I can imagine your entry now and probably wouldn’t be able to stand not having carrots in my pockets while checking the mail. 😉
where did you get the large painting of the sheep and lamb? I love all the sheep items!
Author
I’m sorry I rarely ever think to link or mention where I got something. I need to get better at that. That print either came from Hobby Lobby or Kirkland’s. Most likely Hobby Lobby. Glad you stopped by today Joan. Thank you!
I love decorating with cows, sheep, bunnies, horses… To me some things never go out of style. 😊
Author
I couldn’t agree more Michelle and they just make things happy! 🙂