Since we are renting I'm trying my very best not to break down and paint every wall in this builder beige {with a very pinkish hue} flat-paint-walled house. Do you have any idea how quickly flat paint looks dirty? Combine that with three boys little bare feet and within hours I knew the wall under the bar was going to look like a crime scene.
The solution was my beloved painted door that I'm sure you are tired of me talking about. But where else can you see the same door, furniture and accessories used in so many different scenarios? Please tell me all this moving around has at least one redeeming factor.
Here's the answer to the question I get asked the most. I just attached some kind of hanger to the back. It was what I happened to have at the moment. Not ordained, not the best, not the only thing that one can use to hang the door. It's simply what worked for me. Oh and the answer to the question I get asked the second most: it's a mixture of 5 different 89 cent acrylic paints that I had around the house.
I've always hung the door by myself. You can read more about that fiasco here. I just use whatever is underneath the door to balance it. And, if there is nothing underneath the door, I'll move something there temporarily to help me.
In a perfect world, I would own my own home and put crisply painted beaded board up under the bar and around my family room. But, alas the world is not perfect. And I'm secretly pleased with my solution to escape the foot printed wall.
Sometimes I'm ok with the world being imperfect.
Hanging A Door on the Wall {yet again}
An Inexpensive Pot Rack
Sometimes the simplest way to make something...is to drive to IKEA and buy it ready made for $25. But thanks for all of your ingenious ideas on how to make my own.
Have you ever sat out to make something only to find it much easier just to purchase?
Fear of Decorating?
Last week when I was interviewed with on Blog Talk Radio, I had an online question from someone who was "terrified to paint her walls". I regretted not asking the question: "terrified of what?". In my head, the worst thing possible thing that can happen when you paint is spilling the entire gallon. All over the floor. Which I have lived to tell about. Is the fear of painting the wrong color that debilitating?
My sister had a fear of making holes in her wall but after much counseling, she is over that.
What was or is your biggest decorating fear?
Mantle Upgrade :: Using What I Had
Using items I already had I incorporated:
- Layers
- Texture
- Contrast
- Color
It looked like this last week. But it was missing some umph.
It started out with a pretty but pipsqueaky little raised embellishment. So I made a tiny nail hole and hung a wood carving over it to bulk it up a little.
Here's the before.
Here's what I added. I wonder what it will look like next week.
Wait till I show you the 5 minute fireplace surround upgrade tomorrow--it changed the whole room.
Shop The House
If I were rich beyond reason there's no doubt I'd be surrounding myself with fresh flowers, live berries and fruits all the time. Flowers next to the toilets, flowers overflowing window boxes, I would drive a parade float around town instead of my mommymobile..
But, since I've been given a different sort of riches, I decided to shop the house and grabbed this yard sale urn.
And combined it with these lovely, light spa green pretend berry type things that I plucked from my fall/winter wreath. All this time they've been ignored and under appreciated because I was assuming that I could only utilize them half the year. I can just stick them back in the wreath when I'm ready to hang it again.
Have you shopped your house lately? Why not look at those Christmas berries through your July colored glasses and find a new way to use them? What seasonal item have you repurposed lately?
Sofa Poll!!
There's a poll embedded in this post about sofas and how much yours was so click over and enter if you are reading via a feed reader. I'd love to hear what you spent! Tomorrow, I'll start pricing my space. And the Price My Space party is Monday!
Anyone know why my link within is up there?
Nesterize your Boo Boos!
The following is a Guest Post from Sandy from 4 Reluctant Entertainers
I love how resourceful Sandy is! And if you haven't had the chance to meet her online yet, you will adore her, she is a no nonsense entertainer/decorator/mentor to tweens/writer/friend and full of encouragement. I was lucky enough to room with her at the last blissdom.
Do It Yourself Pot Rack?
Our ceiling is begging for a pot rack. I loved ours in our last house that we owned but we left it with the house. Wouldn't it be great if I could make one myself?
I found a Ten Dollar Pot Rack at Wise Bread but my ceilings are high so it has to hang down really far.
Here's one from DIY Home Projects using a metal wall scroll work thingamajig. Like that idea.
Lowe's told me how to do it but there's no way I'm going to measure that much.
So, I'm going to the best source {you} before I go to the second best source {ebay}. Have you made or seen a neat hanging pot rack?
Chandelier Lamp Shades
I am passionate about chandeliers. Love them. Want one in every room, even my closet.
And when I have a chandelier, I like to be able to switch it up a bit with clip on shades. Found that set of 5 hand painted shades while thrifting. I paid less than $5 for the 5 of them.
You can also use clip on shades to liven up a thin buffet lamp. I switched out a plain white shade for this 80 cent thrift find. And I've got two more to spare. I'm now on the lookout for a three arm small chandelier to go with my shades. It that backwards thinking?
Clip on shades. Keep your eyes open for them while you are out. When added to a chandelier they bring instant warmth and character to a room. You might be surprised how simple shades can soften up a dining room. My advice, grab your fabric file and jot down how many lights your chandelier has. Nothing is worse than getting a great deal on 5 shades only to come home and realize your chandy has 6 arms.
How to Make a Centerpiece
You can make a quick, easy and meaningful arrangement using some containers, moss and things you probably already have. If you need multiple centerpieces for a banquet this is a great template to add in anything that will add to the theme. It's easy to personalize and looks exquisite.
We've all got different tastes and we've all got different stuff in laying around our house to choose from. My guess is that you like the stuff you have as much as I like mine.
Start with shopping the house and yard for some natural items. If you need lots of centerpieces or arrangements, spread the word, find local items that are in season such as pine cones, seed pods, and make sure to add in any trinkets that can contribute to a personal one of a kind feeling that most arrangements lack.
Locate a container of some sort, an urn, basket, bucket, bowl--anything you like. I found these two tin rectangular bins last year at Hobby Lobby.
Put some foam in your container. I like to hot glue mine down so it will stay put.
Then hot glue in some moss to cover up that ugly foam.
I added some natural looking fake greenery {be a P.O.O.P.I.E} to the back just for filler. If you are making an actual centerpiece that will be viewed from all sides, put your filler in the middle of the container so you can fill out each side.
This arrangement will only be seen from the front so I didn't need to make sure the other sides looked presentable. I then stuck in a starfish and two corn dogs. The idea is to add interest and some height. If you don't have corn dogs you can use natural cat tails.
Next a nest. If you hate all things nests, then you can use whatever it is that nest haters use. If you hate all things nest are you even here? Something tells me I lost all my nest haters long before this post. Remember, the idea is to make an interesting arrangement that not only looks good but evokes an emotion. Isn't this centerpiece looking serene?
Fill in with small items found in that potpourri you have that you don't know what to do with. Now we have this arrangement. Quite pretty right? This would make a great inexpensive centerpiece as is. But, it's not done yet.
I want feathers. Alarmingly tall, needless yet magnificent feathers. A little drama goes a long way.
You can change it up to feel more summery.
Winter.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Autumn.
Adorable. How cute is that silver rattle? Wish I was having a baby shower for someone, I'd so be using this as a centerpiece--add in some little white booties and it's instant charm!
The possibilities are limitless. Don't feel like you have to use dusty old pretend flowers to make a lovely arrangement. You could tuck in a framed photo or some personalized ribbon if you are making something for a wedding. I've decorated for wedding receptions before and people go ga ga for tables that each have their own beautiful centerpiece with a unique personality that ties in with the rest of the decor.
Shop the house, use what you have, show off what you love, change it up for the seasons and have fun while customizing your own flowerless arrangement.