Stylish Message Centers

Hello everyone!

This time of year, we're all organizing our calendars and organizing our lives basically.  So, chalkboards and other forms of message centers are a big part of that

I have this little chalkboard hanging in the hallway right outside my kitchen.  It is cute, all by itself, with it's wooden frame and metal basket to hold chalk etc.  However, I wanted to jazz it up just a little bit more.  My hallway is white and could use a little extra style and interest.  

This is how it started out (minus the writing).

But, I decided to add these little bitty garden pots, that I had, to the basket.  Then I filled them with some greenery.

Such an easy way to dress this little chalkboard up.

I love the rustic charm it has.

Another stylish way to keep organized is having a place to hold reminders and notes etc.  I don't like a bunch of magnets all over the refrigerator etc.  So, this metal message center solves that problem.  This hangs on the side of our refrigerator.  It's easy to clip a note to  whenever it is needed.

Do you have any innovative and stylish ways to stay organized in your home?

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Kelly ~

Master Bedroom Mini Makeover

Hello everyone!

There is a great big smile on my face today! Do you know why?  Because the veil of clouds has lifted and given way to beautiful sunshine here in GA!  Not only that, but it will be sticking around all week long.  I'm looking forward to getting some things done in my basement and garage this weekend and getting my car washed finally.  

Since the weather, this past week, was SO awful, I decided to give my bedroom a mini makeover.  Remember when I hung the large old gate above my bed?  Well, that sort of started a domino effect and decided to make a few more changes.  We officially hung the gate up now, so no one has to worry about the gate falling on our heads anymore.

The first thing that changed was my bedding.  I bought this cute ruffled quilt from Target from Simply Shabby Chic.  It was on sale, so I grabbed it!  It will now allow me to have a spare now when the other comforter is being washed.  Having white bedding can cause lots of extra washing.

I also hung my cotton wreath back on the gate too.

The next thing I did was to use drop cloths as draperies in here (just as I've done in other areas of my house).  I like the lighter color and it allows me to be free to use whatever color or pattern I want in here compared to the checked panels that were in here before.

I added the grey bench to the foot of my bed.

Then, I changed up my bedside tables.  One of them included a new lampshade from Target too.  I just love how it looks when the light is on.

Here is the other side.  

I changed up the pillows in my chair too.

I'm bringing in more grey in here than the beige I had before.  

So, that's it for my mini makeover.  I'm getting anxious to work on the master bathroom in the near future so I can get it to match this room better now.  However, it won't be a mini makeover.  So, it will take some time and money.  We will do it in stages, I think.

Hope you have fun plans for the weekend and are getting some sunshine as well.

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Kelly ~

Decorating with Wooden Crates

Hello everyone!

How is your week going so far?  I don't know about you, but I am SO ready for some good old fashioned sunshine.  It has been rainy, cold, and foggy here for the last several days.  I don't know how you people in Seattle do it!  

So, since the weather is so dreary here, many of my photos show the lights turned on.  Hopefully, the photo police won't arrest me! (You know who you are!)  LOL!

I have a very strong affinity for old wooden crates.  Well, actually, any wooden crate, for that matter.  And if it has wording on it..........even better!  

I used this one on my kitchen table with some topiaries in it.  I love using plants to fill my crates.

I know I've shared this one before.  This is a very  old crate in my dining room.

I've also shared this one with you before.  It is an old crate with German writing.  It is used in my foyer.

I found this one recently and decided to place it under my old scale.  It's actually a wooden tray.

I love wooden trays too.  I have this extra large one on my coffee table.

This crate is one of my favorite newer ones because of the wood mixed with metal and the rope handles.  It sits on top of the refrigerator holding more plants.

One of my all time favorite combinations is an old bottle in a wooden crate.  I found this one at an antique mall last year.  It now sits on top of our computer cabinet in the kitchen.

And finally, I have this old milk crate in my family room.  

I think I know why I love old crates so much.  Since my home is mostly painted furniture and white walls, the warmth of the wood from the crates gives it a nice contrast.  I don't think I would like them so much if I had a lot of wood everywhere else in my home.  These pieces become interesting accents that also provide storage (if I should ever use them for that).  

Do you have something that you're drawn to that makes a difference in your home?

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Kelly ~

Re Purposed Items in my Home - Part 2

Hello everyone!

Here are a few more items that I've re purposed in my home.  

I've had this old porch post for years.  I actually have a pair of them.  I used one in my sitting room as a planter.  The top of the post is open so I can stick plants down in it.  They are not real though.

I love using interesting things as planters.  Here is another one.  This is a soup tureen.  I just took off the lid and plopped this plant in it.  I like the contrast of the white against the greenery.

I love old grain sacks, especially ones with monograms.  I actually cut this one in order to use some of the fabric to cover a chair seat.  By cutting it, it made it longer so I decided to use the rest of it as a table runner.  It is unfinished on the side, but that doesn't bother me.  

I'm using this wicker covered bucket as a trash can in our powder room.  I like that it is both functional and pretty.  

I love using dishes to decorate with, not just to serve food.  These white platters are grouped on a wall to form a pleasing arrangement.  Now they make an interesting wall display.  

I don't know how to read music but I love the look of aged sheet music.  You can find old sheets at antique stores and even Etsy.  I have been enjoying wrapping them around candles and tying with string.  It's a fun way to add interest to plain candles.  (Note:  If you're going to burn the candles, then I would recommend wrapping the sheets around a glass container that holds your candles.)

And last but not least, I found a checked shower curtain at Ballard Designs Outlet several years ago.  I decided to cut it down the center to make two panels.  Then I added some burlap fabric and trim to the bottom to lengthen them.  I hung them in my bedroom as draperies.  

So, have I inspired you to use things in new ways around your own house?  I hope so.  It's a great way to make your home unique and  even save money.  

Hope you all are staying warm during this cold chill that's blanketing much of the country.  

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Kelly ~

Re Purposed Items in my Home

Hello everyone!

Since my last post about re purposing an old gate, I decided to find more items in my home that I've found new uses for. I thought you might like seeing them and maybe even give you some ideas of your own.  Many of these have been done by other people as well, so I don't take credit for inventing these ideas!  I just wanted to show you what I've done and enjoyed.

First up, are these clamp lights that you can find in any hardware store.  They are made for working on things where you need better light.  I used them throughout my kitchen as task lighting above my cabinets.  I love the industrial look and their low price!

Here is a close up of one.

Something else found in a basic hardware store are drop cloths.  They are used to protect your flooring while painting, but I'm using them as draperies.  I have these throughout my house too.  I like the weight, color, no sew quality and low price.

These grey wooden doors  are actually TV armoire doors that we took off.  I painted them and hung them on the wall.  Then I hung a preserved boxwood wreath over it.  I love using these doors as a backdrop for something else.  

I love using "found" objects throughout my home.  One of those is this old milk crate.  I'm using it as a planter behind my sofa.

I needed a small table to place beside my chair.  So, I decided to use this wicker hamper that I had on hand.  I love the texture it brings to the room. The size is perfect and I can even fill it with throws to use in the family room.  

This olive bucket is made for holding olives after they're picked from the trees.  I'm using mine to hold firewood next to the fireplace.  Well, in this case, decorative birch logs.  But you get the idea!

I will stop here, but I have several more ideas to share with you.  So, check back and I'll have part 2 of  my re purposed items!

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Kelly ~

Adding Farmhouse Style in the Bedroom

Hello everyone!

Since moving things around after Christmas, certain things ended up in different places.  One of them was the extra large old gate that used to hang above my fireplace.  When I took it down, I wanted to be able to use it some place else.  I've only had it a few months anyway!  So, I decided to give it a try in my bedroom above my bed.

The only way it would fit was on its side though.  But laying it on its side caused it to not be level.  So, I had to temporarily add something to one side to level it up.

I asked my husband to make me something with a piece of wood to place under one side.  One he does that, it will look a lot better.  (I hope!)

But, for now, this will have to do.  I really like the large scale of it and the rustic style which gives my bedroom more of that farmhouse feel I love.

The best thing about it is that it is something unexpected and repurposed.  That is something I strive to do throughout my home.  

I should do a post about all of the things that I've repurposed in my house.  I think you would be surprised how many there are!  

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Kelly ~

New Year New Look

Hello everyone!

Have you been enjoying 2015 so far?  It has been a rainy one here in GA and we woke up to a flood in our basement this morning.  OMG!  Apparently, a critter  of some sort (probably a chipmunk) built a nest or something in our drainage pipe that allows water to drain off the foundation of our house. So it became clogged. As a result, all the water from the rain we've been having seeped into our basement and garage.  What a mess!  My husband had to use a shop vac to get it up and then mop the area with some bleach and water.  We have a dehumidifier running and some fans and plan on getting some Damp X to absorb any more moisture there is.  What a mess!  Not a very good start to the new year, huh?

However, on the flip side, I have been busy taking down Christmas decorations and making new arrangements around the house.  That's always fun!

Here are just a few pics of some of the changes I've made.

Some paper whites now sit in the center of the dining room table.

White hydrangeas in the foyer.

Topiaries on the coffee table.

My wooden horse statue is now on top of the mantel.

Found this cute crochet sweater pillow and added it to this chair.  

New arrangement on the chest of drawers.

These are just a few changes I've made.  Don't you always change things up a bit after you take holiday decorations down?  

I guess the only silver lining to a flooded basement/garage is that it's getting a good cleaning now!   Luckily, nothing was damaged either.

I'm trying to stay positive in 2015!  Guess I'm getting my first test.

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Kelly ~