Category: Decorate

Fabric Refresh!

January 4
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Here we are in 2016!  I hope everyone has gotten off to a great start in the first few days of the New Year!   I enjoyed the holiday break visiting with family and friends, eating way too much, and remaining 95% unplugged from technology for the entirety of our Christmas vacation!  The week prior to Christmas I was having some technical difficulties with the blog photos…any of you who view with your phones may have noticed that the photos were upside down or sideways!  I was planning on trying to figure out what was up with this technological glitch but honestly decided not to fret about it during the holiday!  I’m testing something new this morning and hope it works but if not, I promise to get to the bottom of this with much needed help from my friend who knows more about computers than I do!  But until then, I will keep moving forward with some DIY fun!  I don’t know about you, but when the holidays are over and all the decorations come down…my house seems a bit barren!  But I have mixed feelings about seeing everything go…while it’s sad to think of packing up all the festivity, the Christmas tree’s finest moments had withered and gone and I was feeling anxious for something fresh again.  I’d been thinking a little ahead over the break and I knew I wanted to make some kind of “artwork” to set on the cabinet in my living room after the holiday decor was gone.  It’s funny how ideas come to you sometimes isn’t it?  But while I was working on some Giggle mini magnet boards I found my inspiration.  I often come across interesting things inside the frames I purchase…and behind a framed 1943 teaching certificate was a simple piece of fabric turned backwards to fill the space between the paper and the backing.  When I flipped the fabric over I absolutely fell in love!  The pattern was so fun and graphic I decided to keep it in that small frame and use it in my home somewhere.  So that silly little scrap of vintage fabric inspired my DIY artwork for the empty space in my living room!

refresh a room with fabric…

Semi-New Chandelier!

December 11
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I’ve been wanting a new chandelier in my dining room for many years!  At first it wasn’t in the budget with all the house projects we faced so we gave the original a coat of paint & some new shades and it was actually pretty cute for the time being!  It’s funny how so many years passed…even though I was always kind-of looking, we just never found the right replacement.  Honestly I almost always feel like there’s NEVER an ideal time to make a big purchase…but my latest desire to make a change had me pounding the pavement to find “the one”!  Much to my husband’s dismay, I occasionally get these urges for instant change…and then I’m on a mission to make it happen!  Unfortunately for me, sometimes my mission has many stumbling blocks…including cost!  But my quest for a chandelier allowed me to re-visit a suggestion from my husband…why not use the one hanging in the basement?  Well, my first reaction wasn’t that pleasant.  Years ago my in-laws brought us this old chandelier they found in an alley in Washington DC…you can imagine what this thing looked like!  I thought it was one of the ugliest lights I had ever seen…but I knew I could do something with what was left of its crystals…so we kept it.  Tucked away in our workshop gathering even more dust than it came with, I eventually depleted it of all of its drippy, teardrop crystals using them in countless Giggle projects.  But my recent desperation allowed me to take one more look…and we released it from the dungeon.  Hmmm…maybe I COULD work with this.  I have learned after years of junking never to judge by first appearances!  So i was off to get new candle stick covers, light bulbs, and yes, more crystals!  Luckily I had several acquired in my Giggle inventory and I was able to piece together much of what had been missing!  A quick trip to the antique store and I finally had enough to put this baby back together again!  Lots of elbow grease later we actually had a new chandelier!  My hubby is happy ’cause he was always partial to this thing–I’m happy ’cause I finally have something sparkly and unique!  And with a history that will definitely spark an interesting conversation, this semi-new chandelier was just what we were waiting for!

take a fresh look at what you already have…

Winter Whites!

December 9
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There’s something so serene about decorating with white.  And using this color for the holidays is not only beautiful but still perfectly festive for Christmas and the winter months to follow!  However, no matter what color you’re using, you most likely won’t want to leave ALL your decorations up after the New Year begins…but some can easily transition to January and might keep a little cheer in the house after the tree comes down!  Even though I have lots of various shades of white in my house all year long…this Christmas I decided it would be nice to stick with the neutral color theme.  For me, using white is not just simple and calming, but at this time of year it can be somewhat enchanting!  And keeping with the theme of “simple” this year–some winter white is an easy way to make my holiday bright and joyful without all the fuss!

simply beautiful…white!

An Artful Room

September 21
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On a recent visit to a friend’s home I was enamored with her spaces the moment I walked through the door!  Not that I haven’t been there before…but I guess I had forgotten the artful details and ingenious ideas she uses to display all the things that have so much meaning to her and her family!  Her home is layered with memories and representations of those who live there…almost everything in her home had a story–I love that!  I really wanted to share her living room with you today…I think what I love most is how she sees the beauty in ordinary items that are uncommonly celebrated…and yet when displayed in such a heartfelt way, they become as grand as a museum piece!  She truly is an artist…and I know this because I admire her sewn creations but also because I can see how she views uncommon treasures–revealing their beauty in seemingly effortless ways!  When I asked if I could come and take some photos for the blog I knew she would tidy up…I would too if someone were taking pictures!  But I’ve been to her home when it’s in a more “lived in” state…and believe me when I tell you that it still looks equally as lovely and artistically intriguing!  The take-away for me is to display what you love no matter what those things are…and you’ll succeed in creating inviting spaces that tell your story and the stories of those you love!  I hope you find as much inspiration as I did!

look into an artful room…

Grown-Up Bedroom

July 29
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Not too long ago we revamped my little guy’s bedroom and I thought it was time to give my older son’s space a facelift as well!  As kids grow, it’s fun to let their rooms change as they do…not necessarily a complete redesign but a few revisions to let their space reflect their current style!  My boys’ rooms have seen many different themes…from cowboys to dinosaurs to safari…and since neither one of them wanted to completely let go of their past favorites, over time their rooms became a total hodge-podge of collections!  Not that there’s anything wrong with that but eventually it’s time for a room to grow up…and if kids are ready they’ll welcome the change!  So even though this room had seen some change already–it was once again time to let this bedroom really reflect my son as he is today!  With a fresh coat of paint, a new-to-him bedroom set, and some fabulous artwork (from the artist who resides in the room!) we transformed his space!

time for changes…

The Water Closet

May 18
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I love to decorate…but the only room that’s not my favorite to focus on is the bathroom.  Not that there aren’t thousands of gorgeous baths featured on Pinterest…all lovely and equally beautiful as any other living area in the home…but I still find it hard to get thrilled about my personal bathroom spaces!  If you’re doing a complete gut job and have a hefty budget to go along with it, I don’t doubt a bath re-do would be enjoyable!  But sometimes working with what you’ve got just isn’t as much fun…and let’s face it–how crazy can the average person really get when decorating a bathroom?  You’ve got a place to wash, a place to brush & polish, and a place to–well, you know.  So in a situation like mine, there’s not a ton of creative decorating freedom to be had in the bathroom!  Like most of the rooms in our old house, the master bath follows suit…offering little space and no storage!  I tried to come up with something that could creatively hold our towels and toiletries, still look pretty, and not cost a bundle!  Have a peek at some little bath details…

in our tiny water closet!

Spring in Neutral

April 24
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Anyone who knows me well knows that I can’t resist color!  I’m drawn to it…and with each season comes a new color love!  The only problem is that I can’t seem commit to certain hues or patterns and be satisfied with them forever!  I do enjoy change…but I also have to buy groceries so I can’t be redecorating my home every time the mood strikes me!  I’ve learned over the years to keep the major pieces in my home neutral allowing me to change it up with simple and inexpensive accessories to suit my seasonal mood!  This year seems to be extraordinarily hectic for my family…so my need for a sense of calm overrides the color whim this time!  I decided to go black & white…not a common color combo often associated with spring but honestly, I think it’s perfect for any time of year!  Still allowing for a few touches of springtime color, my living room looks fresh for the season in simple neutrals and is a welcoming room for me to relax…even if it is for just a moment!

black & white…a lovely backdrop for spring!

Snips and Snails…

April 20
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Each spring I try to rid my home of unused things…junk…or clutter, you might call it!  My boys’ rooms can definitely use a thorough “de-cluttering” from time to time…and it’s a great opportunity to do some re-arranging!  My youngest son’s bedroom needed a update–I wanted to find ways to keep it better organized and also make it more grown up–without loosing a youthful feel! (No need for him to grow up too quickly!)  So we said goodbye to old toys and worn out clothing making room for new treasures and spaces to hold keepsakes!  With his ideas on the forefront we transformed my son’s room into a comfy haven…without buying a single item!  We merely recycled from the rest of the house and highlighted some of his favorite things that were shoved in closets or piled on the floor!  Here’s a look at his new space still full of snips and snails…

and puppy dog tails…

Contain It Pretty!

April 15
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It seems as though my house is filled with “stuff”!  I try to eliminate clutter but no matter how hard I work there’s always little piles of miscellaneous things everywhere!  My dad once said “a house without messes is a house not lived in”…I think I’ll run with that one!  But even though I try to remember that wise phrase, the piles of “junk” still drive me crazy and I’m always searching for ways to contain my family’s clutter!  Because I enjoy collecting (part of my problem!) and recycling…I love to use found containers to hold our things and keep us as organized as possible!  Some of my favorites are old serving dishes, trays, and baskets–they not only store items but make even the most ordinary utensils look lovely while keeping them within arms reach.  If you don’t have lots of storage space in your home you might not be able to hide clutter in closets…my problem exactly since I hardly have any! (closets not clutter!)  Maybe these things should be kept out in the open…organizing them in fun, creative, and unique ways!  So go ahead and live it up in your home–just contain your clutter…pretty!

fun ideas for organizing “stuff”…

A Space for Inspiration

April 13
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When you live in a house for a few years the rooms seem to evolve…we discover how our spaces suit our needs best at the time–and undoubtedly they will change again!  My “sun room” has played many parts…a sitting area (which was a total wasted space I might add!), a mini play space for my boys, and an office.  We’ve kept the computer in that room ever since and it became a place for me to get creative, organize the business, manage household & school info, and still snuggle into a cozy seat-where I can daydream of new projects & ideas! So even though it has kind-of evolved into my workroom…it’s also a mini family room with barely enough room for two–and yet it still works perfectly!  I guess my point is, no matter the room, size of it, or what it was originally intended for–make it a space that fits your need right now…you can always change it later!  Today I want to share how my tiny sun room has evolved into something just right for me…and my family!

tiny space…big inspiration!