decorating
Refinished Wood Mirror With a Sentimental Twist
I love a DIY project with a sentimental twist. Don’t you? Today’s refinished wood mirror project fits that description to a T. We have owned this wood mirror our entire marriage, so over 20 years but the mirror is much older than that. It was made in the mid-1960s. I had never seen the frame unpainted. It was painted when Handy Husband carted it over from his dive of a bachelor pad (Hello, gross shag carpet!) to the place we rented together. It was painted several times by yours truly as my style evolved over the years. The most recent iteration was a chippy, distressed look. Since that’s no longer…
Sink Skirt Hack If You Don’t Own a Sewing Machine
Who loves a good hack? *raises both hands* Today, I have a sink skirt hack for you if you don’t own a sewing machine or don’t want to use it. Either way, I totally understand. Sewing machines and I are not on good terms, so I go out of my way to avoid using one. Because I’m a giver, this blog post contains not one, but TWO sink skirt hacks. For the purposes of clarity, I’m defining a sink skirt as a skirt that covers the opening underneath a sink that might typically be covered by doors. If your situation is a little bit different than mine, these hacks should…
In Praise of Pretty Brooms
I’ve got pretty brooms on my mind today for one simple reason. I’m at the point in life where if I have to do a chore, I want the item assisting me with this chore to not only be functional but pretty too. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Frankly, it WAS too much to ask for ALL chores to be banished from my life. Don’t ask me how I know. So, I’m going for the next best thing – pretty brooms and pretty tools that are functional too. I recently purchased a classic broom with a black handle that blended in with my decor and didn’t make…
Use a Cake Stand to Corral Bathroom Counter Clutter
Cake stands aren’t just for cake! Did you know you can use a cake stand to corral bathroom counter clutter? Many folks corral bathroom counter clutter using a basket or a tray, but a cake stand literally elevates this organizational issue. There are two reasons why I use a cake stand to corral bathroom counter clutter. First, cake stands are pretty! Simple as that. Second, using an elevated cake stand to corral bathroom counter clutter means you get additional storage space without sacrificing counter space. If you’ve ever had a small bathroom then you know the struggle of trying to get ready in the morning, but not having enough counter…
Spring-Themed Teen Bedroom and a Fun Wall Sconce
I’m so excited to share a spring-themed teen bedroom refresh with you. Even if you kissed those teenage years goodbye and good riddance a long time ago, there are some ideas in this teen bedroom that you might enjoy for your own home. Here’s how this teen bedroom looked the last time I shared it. Not a boy band poster to be found…thank goodness. When we installed a bedside wall sconce above our son’s headboard, our other kiddo wanted one too. This kiddo’s bedroom doesn’t have any overhead lights, so this was not an outrageous request. In fact, the only light in this room was that bedside lamp on the…
Wood Deacon’s Bench Makeover and a Tip for Disassembling a Bench
If you love a good furniture makeover then you’re in for a treat today! We recently completed a wood deacon’s bench makeover that was so satisfying. This makeover will probably be even more satisfying for you because you didn’t have to do the work! Ha! I found a wood deacon’s bench on Facebook Marketplace for $10. The listing said it was “priced to sell.” Talk about an understatement. Here’s how the deacon’s bench looked when we brought it home. At first glance, it doesn’t look too bad. Upon closer inspection, the finish was in rough shape and the legs were a little wobbly. However, at $10 this was a steal…
The Charm of a Woven Basket Plant Stand
I recently became acquainted with the charm of a woven basket plant stand in the dark, dusty corner of an antique mall and I haven’t stopped gushing about it since I brought it home. I’m not joking. It’s my new favorite thing and you need this type of simple joy in your life too. I fully acknowledge that the charm of this particular woven basket plant stand is multi-faceted. First, I got a screaming deal. The basket did not have a price tag on it. The store worker had to call the owner of this particular antique booth to get a price. When she reported back to me that the basket…
In Praise of Wood Trinket Boxes
When I was a kid, a family friend gifted me a personalized wood trinket box. They built it themselves and it had my name on it! My uncommon name. As a kid whose name never appeared on any of the pins or magnets at the touristy gift shops, I relished the idea of having something with my name on it. I felt so special…and normal. This wood trinket box has been a secret keeper and a memory holder through all the phases of my life: teenage angst, falling in love, getting married, and so on. What sorts of things have this wood trinket box held over the years? When I…
Our New Living Room Rug Gives a Warm Feel To This Part of Our Home
Make one change and an entire space can feel different. That’s what happened when we rolled out our new living room rug. Our new living room rug gives a warm feel to this entire space. And that’s all I have to say about that. The end. Kidding! You know I can wax on about pretty much anything in a blog post! Our old living room rug, which I still like, had a brighter version of the same colors this new living room rug has. Blues, yellows, orangey reds, browns. It was bright, playful, and didn’t take itself too seriously. Our new living room rug is a bit warmer tone-wise, understated,…
In Praise of Miniature Table Clocks
Ah, miniature table clocks. Those take me back. When I was a teenager my piano teacher gifted me a miniature table clock. I felt so fancy and grown-up. Looking back on that gift, I have no idea why she selected it. Now I wonder if it’s because I always had trouble counting or keeping time as a pianist. It’s not that I couldn’t count. It’s that Teenage Me lacked the discipline to play the piece as the composer intended. I thought I should be able to take creative liberties with the sheet music. Go where the music led me…or something like that. Adult Me has the same problem. Actually, I…
