Ireland's Rustic Lodges, Oregon

The 'luck of the Irish' was with us on our Oregon Road trip this past summer as we cruised along the Oregon coast with no reservations - we found a gem in Ireland's Rustic Lodges!

As Mike drove, I looked up hotels on the internet, looking for good or great ratings on Yelp. The Ireland's Rustic Lodges had great reviews* and as we pulled up to the hotel, we sighed in relief at the 'vacancy' sign.

The grounds were well kept and lush green, much like what you would expect of  'the Emerald isle' but with redwoods you knew you were not in Ireland!  The Ireland's Rustic Lodges have various rooms and suites with lovely names like "The Sequoia" and "The Monterey".  

 
We picked "The Pacific Breeze" since it sounded relaxing, got the key, drove through the meticulously kept grounds, parked and unlocked the door to our suite.

Warm wood paneling throughout the interior, we felt immediately relaxed.  After setting our suitcases down, we walked over to the window and opened the curtains to a gorgeous view of the sea!

It was warm or we would have lit the logs in our fireplace - a welcomed ammenity in the cold winters along the coast I am sure!

Those bottles of wine we had picked out in St. Helena were opened quickly as we settled in on our own private balcony listening to the surf in the distance, smelling the pine in the air.

 The gorgeous sunset view from our room was something we cherished!

A buffet breakfast awaited us in the morning after which,we took a stroll along the beach.

 The Ireland's Rustic Lodges are located along Oregon's Gold Beach, given the name for being the sunniest beach in all of Oregon!

 Beautiful views from all 360 degrees can be seen from the private lighthouse on the property!

 A tradition of those staying at the Ireland's Rustic Lodges is to find a rock on the beach and paint it with your name, and leave it at the base of the lighthouse for all eternity.

Looking down at the foot of the lighthouse we saw brightly painted rocks - lots of them!

 
The painted rocks chronicle honeymoons, anniversaries, engagements, summer trips, and romantic get-aways to name a few!  The rocks dot the verdant landscaping all around the Lodges' grounds.  Generations of visitors left their mark, no doubt venturing back to find their 'family rock' on subsequent trips!

*While we were packing to leave I was reading the hotel's check out procedure and I noticed another framed message on the wall.  Evidently, a hotel competitor was trying to bring havoc to the Ireland's Rustic Lodges and shut them down.  As we looked for hotels, we saw great reviews and then some horrible reviews and we couldn't understand how a place could be so different so we thought we'd check it out! Now we knew why!  The competitor is posting rude and untrue remarks on Yelp and Yahoo and other internet sites about the cleanliness of the hotel and telling potential visitors that is is in poor condition, trying to get the Lodges to close down so they can buy the property and put up a mega hotel, which would completely ruin the charm of Ireland's Rustic Lodges!  The message was from the third generation owners who explained their dilemma and asked that visitors spread their story in support. 

So this post is to let you all know all the negative reviews of this hotel are completely false and do not believe them!! The Ireland's Rustic Lodges are indeed excellent accommodations as we experienced, beautifully maintained. clean, friendly and absolutely an escape! The Ireland's Rustic Lodges are a premier destination as written about in Frommer's Books as well! If you ever need a place to stay along the Oregon coast we recommend it with five stars and hope and pray it will be there the next time we return, so we can leave our painted rock!

Before and After: Vintage Vanity and Mirror - Together at Last!

 An incredible stroke of luck brought me to this piece that I had been searching for since last March! My husband and I were on a summer road trip through Oregon and he was kind enough to let me go pickin' along the way! 

Our trip started in St. Helena and we then traveled north to hit the Oregon Coast. With absolutely no reservations or plans we were free spirits - we both love 'winging it'! We've been pretty successful thus far with this modus operandi, finding hotel gems such as Ireland's Rustic Lodges (next blog post!)

After stopping at numerous thrifts and antique stores, I received a recommendation from a shop employee to visit another Antique store just up the road - but I had to hurry since they closed at 5!  We arrived at 4:45pm and the owner was kind enough to let me take a 'quick look'.

It is REALLY hard to take a 'quick look' at a beautiful antique store full of treasures and this one even had an upstairs! I was going to have to go fast!  I whisked along, my eyes darting to and fro, taking in as much as possible without causing sensory overload!

That turquoise blue always catches my eye and this beautiful milk glass piece jumped out and stopped me in my tracks!  I set it on the counter and then I almost took the stairs by two. When I got to the top I turned left - and then I saw it! The bottom half I needed to complete my vanity!

You see, I bought this mirror (shown here without the glass!) at a consignment store in 
St. Helena nearly two years ago.  I thought for certain I'd be able to match it up with a bottom half fairly quickly and then refinish it for resale.  But it wasn't as easy as I thought, since the mirror was huge and had a part that dropped down with no frame - I was going to need a special cabinet to complete the set.

  

 My husband said, "How do you know its going to match up with the mirror?"  I told him it was karma and I had been looking for a long time so I just knew it would match up! I quickly paid the lady and loaded it into our car.  I had no idea how well it would fit until I got home and took the mirror out of storage - it was the exact same width! The cabinet had two piers, which accommodated the mirror, since the mirror extended below it's frame.

I took the mirror out of its frame and sanded it down. 
Then I did a quick sanding of the bottom cabinet part of the vanity as well.

After a few coats of Annie Sloans' Old White, the pieces looked refreshed!

 I then distressed each piece to bring out the beautiful carvings and details . . 
.

 (Monet likes to give me advice!)

 . . . and added a coat of clear wax for protection. 
After almost two years, it was time to finally see the finished pieces together!

I carefully replaced the massive mirror and secured it with the holds. . .


and replaced the glass knobs on the drawers. Now for the  big marriage,
I heaved the mirror up to place on top of the vanity cabinet.

I absolutely love it!  My long lost vanity is now complete 
and I can't even think about selling it!

This is one piece I will hold on to - a piece to cherish 
and hand down to the next generation.

I guess it's true - good things come to those that wait!

 

I've joined these link parties! 

 Wow Us Wednesdays!

Chic on a Shoe String's Flaunt It Friday!

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday

My Cow, Rhoda

We locked eyes from about twenty feet across a floor at an antique mall.  

The beauty of her ebony and cream pattern beckoned me to come closer.

I could almost hear the little bell suspended around her neck ringing, calling me to her!

One look at the perfect conformation of her Holstein hind quarters said "Grand Champion"!

And so talented! She could move her head up and down, her horns could rotate and her tail could lift - where had she come from?

Her underside provided a clue - the cog under her belly and the holes in her hooves told me she may have been the star of a point of purchase display, with perhaps a motor driving her animation from a stand she freed herself from many years ago.

It was love at first sight and I

 brought her home. 

 Her name is Rhoda and she's very glad to meet you!

Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage

 

Just 7 miles off Interstate 5 and south of Salem, Oregon, is the quaint little town of Aurora, with a giant barn full of treasures!

Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage is a Picker's Paradise! 

I happened upon this jewel about 12 years ago by accident. A friend and I were on a road trip and were looking for fresh marion berries, when we spotted a roadside sign and pulled off the road to find the berry stand. The road twisted around, we bought our berries and then we had to try to figure out how to get back to the Interstate and ran right into the town of Aurora and a neat barn that looked intriguing.

I thought it was wonderful back then, with its piles of salvaged windows and doors, and I've been dying to make a return trip!

Owner Mike Byrnes, has in the ten years since my first visit, taken the barn from picker's piles to a beautiful, well organized showroom, without losing the original character and intrigue of searching among the barn's contents for incredible finds. 

I was in search of vintage knobs and the multiple cases lined with the knobs looked like precious gems under the glass.

Inside this vast structure, some rooms look like a Hollywood prop shop!

Anyone trying to restore an old house can find everything they need here! 

Gates and Fencing

 
Corbels

Stained glass windows

 

Pressed tin ceiling panels and accent pieces

Porcelain tubs, sinks, and other bathroom fixtures,                                                                           

including towel bars in green glass, crystal, porcelain, you name it!

 Mantels, spandrels, bannisters and more, oh my!

There are found numbers and letters galore!

Mike carries all sorts of vintage lighting fixtures and has the vintage bulbs as well.

  Interior designers specializing in the urban farm feel would have a hey day here!

Or how about Industrial Chic?!

There is one huge industrial shelving unit filled with vintage locker baskets of  hardware; hinges, latches, knobs, etc.  I found some wonderful knobs here that I needed - more about that on another post!

 Set your GPS to 14971 1st Street NE, Aurora, Oregon now, and plan to stop by Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage if you find yourself on Interstate 5 in Oregon.  

 The town of Aurora also boasts a large concentration of little antique stores, which are homes to cafes, and one even has a gelato counter, so there is plenty of grub to sustain your pickin'!  I could easily spend a whole day in the "Mill" and another searching for antiques so this would be a great weekend destination depending on where you live. 

When you get to the Woodburn Factory Stores just off I-5, travel the short 7 miles east to the real treasures in Aurora!  If travel is not in your plans, then visit the "Mills" website here and start dreaming as you surf through the images of stock on hand. 
 I wish Mike continued success and look forward to my next visit to Aurora Mills - 
a place to cherish!