Today we have a Jessica (not our Jess, a different one) from Arcadian Lighting guest posting about blending modern and country designs. We love this trend, so we were excited to see what she had to share. I (Monica) happen to love Arcadian Lighting. We made one big lighting purchase when we built our home. Our foyer needed a huge light and it needed some major wow factor. We must have looked at 192364 stores, and Arcadian was where we found a winner!
It's one of my favorite things ever (and they have great sales, so of course I didn't pay full price!) So, thanks for being here today Jessica! **********************************************************************************
Hi there! I'm Jessica, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, which is a wonderful online resource for beautiful, affordable lighting fixtures. I'm delighted to be guest posting for Monica and Jess today because I'm going to be sharing a collection of inspiring modern country interiors. Rustic and casual with a sophisticated modern edge, these country interiors are just right for the fresh, airy days of Spring. I hope you enjoy!
A simple checked table cloth and set of traditional English china give this lovely dining table a classic farmhouse feel. The contrasting modern wine glasses and Donghia stacking chairs are cool accent pieces.
A chic neutral color palette and a checked upholstered arm chair in the corner bring together new and modern with old and classic beautifully. The branch candlesticks are fun and unexpected.
A gorgeous mix of crisp, modern furniture and rustic exposed wood beams creates a perfectly elegant, yet relaxing atmosphere in this living room. These types of ornate wooden mirror frames and chandeliers add a bit of drama.
The slate fireplace, twinkling candles and brilliant chandelier give this sophisticated dining room just enough simple country beauty. A lovely bouquet of fresh greenery makes the perfect accent, as well.
The vaulted ceiling and shelving gives this living room a distinctly farmhouse appeal. Weathered antiques and cushy modern furniture make the room cozy and inviting.
The handsome dark wooden floorboards and rustic, industrial stools add a rugged edge to this chic kitchen. The pendant lights overhead are simply beautiful, and the under cabinet lighting is a great touch.
A dusty blue wall color and sheer white curtains make this bedroom absolutely dreamy and romantic. The wood beam ceiling add so much natural texture and color that it makes a perfect accent against the very simple furnishings.
The paneled walls in this bedroom lend a cozy country atmosphere to the room, especially with a serene beige paint color. The rustic nightstand and modern headboard are particularly handsome together. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Which of these modern country rooms is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! And be sure to stop by Arcadian Lighting for a modern light fixture or two to brighten your home! -Jessica
Voting is closed! To see the winners of Round 1,click here. Check back next Monday, March 18th for Round 2 projects and voting! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to Creating with the Stars 2013! Let the contest officially begin! This season of CWTS is going to be Epic and these Round 1 projects are a clear indication of the insane talent of these contestants! Just a few reminders before we get to the voting… Round 1 Challenge:
Round 1 Prize Package: We have the Best Sponsors for CWTS2013 and here's a reminder of what our Contestants are playing for this week… $50 worth of 31 Gifts products $60 worth of Twysted Yarn products $70 of Henle Headbands products $100 Blog Re-design from 733 Design (who designed all the CWTS logos!) Project featured by HomeTalk We also want to thank Homes.com for being the Official Grand Sponsor of Creating with the Stars!
Without Further Ado… In No Particular Order, Here are the Round 1 Projects…#1- Dresser Turned Modern Sandbox This dresser had no hope. It was in extremely poor shape. I mostly bought it for the legs, but after learning I was in CWTS, I thought I could do something with it. I decided to turn it into a sandbox filled with sand and dirt. What kid does not like sand or dirt?! The issue I have with sand tables is how much of an eye sore they can be. After cutting off an entire level of drawers that brought it down to kid/side table height, I placed sand and dirt inside the top two drawers. When guests come over, I simply place the dresser's top back on covering up the dirt and sand. It is an easy solution that is modern and stylish. Using a friendly exterior paint protects the furniture from the elements. Placing the dresser top on when not in use protects the sand and dirt. The two bottom drawers are functional and can be used for outdoor storage like small plant pots, garden tools, and kid toys. I used a couple of rabbit knobs for fun and green paint for a punch of color.
#2- Little League Lounger I love taking old, crappy stuff and turning it into something that I will actually use! I found an ugly outdoor folding chair at my local thrift store, and knew it would be perfect for my upcycle project. Now, I have a completely re-done"little league lounger" to use at all my boys' baseball games this summer!
Here's what the chair looked like before I worked my magic:
I added all new cream-colored webbing {with a navy pin stripe}, updated the arm rests by re-purposing an old wooden baseball bat, and made a baseball stitch pillow from an old table runner. I love how it all came together!
I can't wait for baseball season to get started so I can use my new chair!
#3- Floor Board Kitchen Island
I love our kitchen, but I've always wanted a big kitchen island where we could hang out. I wanted to take this unused space in our family room and add a table or counter. I had no idea what to use, but all of a sudden, a light bulb went off in my head. I remembered some old floor boards hidden in the basement rafters. They were dusty and worn and perfect. BAM — perfect for an old rustic island! We washed and sanded the boards, and got to work building our new favorite spot.
Add in some painted stools and we now have a space just off the kitchen that is perfect for parties, eating, hanging out, or working on crafts.
#4- Man Chairs Often the"dreaming up" of a new project can be done in my sleep, literally. But execution can feel like a trip to the dentist, one in which I go in for a routine cleaning and find I need a double root canal. The trick to any DIY project is COMMITMENT. Commit to your goal and don't let up no matter how many coats of paint are applied in vain. These previously drab, brown, faux-leather club chairs were purchased on sale for $12 each at a local thrift shop.
A bit of auto upholstery paint, steal tacks, metal coating paint, a couple patinas for good measure and some tough new casters and this thrift store find is ready for"the man".
#5- Tin Tile Mirror So, I'm still totally in shock that I was chosen to be a part of Creating with the Stars. With the first theme being"Upcycle", I wanted to do something a little different. I hit up a local flea market, hoping to find something that screamed my name, and when I saw these vintage tin ceiling tiles, I knew these were it. The fun color that looks so much like patina, the rust, the texture, the scuffed parts revealing the silvery color underneath. LOVE! They were marked $6 a piece, but I offered her $5, and she accepted. So $40 for all 8. Score!
The next stop was Home Depot for wood, and I built a simple frame. Each tile was approx 12x12, so the finished size is 36x36. Not all of the tile sides matched up when I nailed them in, so I'm going to blame the tiles and say that they're wonky, rather than my measuring (which is probably more true). A little paint matching, painting in the gaps, building a frame for a mirror that I picked up at Michaels, attaching the mirror and frame with some glue, and we're almost done.
I had the perfect spot in my hallway that was just begging for some oomph. For under $60, it's a huge statement piece that fits perfectly. I'm thrilled with how it turned out.
#6- Television Stand Upcycled to a Bar When I saw this ugly, 80’s style television stand at our local Goodwill for a whopping $30, my mind immediately started churning with ideas. I’ve been wanting to set up a bar area in our house, and I knew this would be the perfect piece to turn into a bar. It just needed a little (or, um, a LOT) of love!
I added legs and a little stand at the bottom to make it a bit taller, and gave it a few coats of navy paint (and, of course, a stencil to add some fun). I turned the drawers on either side that used to be used for VHS storage into the perfect place to stash a few bottles. And, since most alcohol bottles are all different sizes and shapes, I poured our frequently used ones into uniform glass bottles that I etched with the name – that way I can be sure the bottles fit and they look pretty to boot!
Finally, for a last little touch, I dipped some of our glasses in gold paint to make things a little more sparkly and fun. I’m so happy with how it turned out and I’m loving the extra storage! I can’t wait to put this thing to good use!
#7- Trash Pile Tire Made Trendy Table Early Saturday morning, still bra-less and in my PJs, I drove to a neighbor's house and hurled an old tire from their curb-side trash pile into the back of my car. My plan for the filthy tire was still foggy… as was my pre-coffee brain, but I was determined to turn it into something cool. After a day of deliberation, trial, and error, I determined side table was to be its fate. Let's get upcycling.
I started by giving the tire a scrub with some dish soap. Next, I tried to figure out what to use for legs. Since this tire still has the (very!) heavy rim attached, I needed something sturdy. After contemplating many possibilities, I decided to cut them out of a piece of pine left in my garage from another project. The legs were stained and attached to a plywood circle I cut for the base. Then, I glued the tire on top of that with construction adhesive, and added a smaller circle to the top of the tire to act as the table top.
I covered the entire tire in rope using Liquid Nails and"dipped" the legs in a bright citrus-ey yellow paint. I'm pretty jazzed with how it came out and can't wait to tell people I have an old tire in my living room. Ha!
#8- Vertical Blinds Headboard Why is it that bedrooms are always the last rooms to get decorated? This room had no artwork, no matching furniture, and a mattress sadly sitting on a cheap bed frame. The only good thing about it was that it was prime for a makeover!
When my parents upgraded their patio doors from vertical blinds to curtains, my mom saved the blinds for me thinking I could “make something with them.” Does this happen to all creative types? But Mom was right, those old vertical blinds were the perfect material to make an over sized woven headboard for the bedroom.
A sleek wooden frame hangs so that the headboard almost reaches our 8 foot ceilings, and two spray painted clamp lights provide adjustable lighting for bedtime reading.
Similar, but smaller, woven headboards can cost over $700, but since I re-purposed my materials, this statement-making headboard cost less than 1/10th that much. No more sad, bland bedroom for us! #9- Bicycle Wheel Clock
There are clocks. And then…there areclocks. There are clocks that tick and tock and ring and jingle and tell time underwater and sound an alarm. And then there are clocks made from a bicycle wheel with yardstick ruler hands perched on a chalkboard surrounded by roman numerals above a table strategically styled with a bicycle seat. That is one fine clock.
And the best part? I got the bicycle wheel for free. Can you even believe it? I walked into a bicycle shop and randomly explained to the resident bike expert that I wanted to make a clock and I needed a cute bike wheel that had preferably been around the block a time or two. Wordlessly he stared at me. I don't really know why. I'm sure they get that request all the time.
And then he went to the back where they keep all the spare wheels for people who come in with clock requests and he handed me this bicycle wheel. I totally wish he could see his wheel now. He'd probably charge me for it.: )
#10 Statement Piece Light Fixture
Walking through Habitat ReStore, I spotted a few egg crate diffusers — you know those grates that cover fluorescent lights in basements across the country. It's the last lighting fixture I would consider for a project but once I got around my thoughts of drop ceilings, I began thinking how neat it would be to use the grid to create any square cornered geometric shape that I wanted. At $2 each, what could I lose?
Browsing Pinterest I found this amazing light and fell in love with the arms. It's lines are simple, but make a big impact! Perfect for a statement piece! The egg crate diffuser was cut into the shape of the arms, filled with plaster of paris, sanded and painted. So that the wiring and housing wouldn't compete with the outer arms, I made a simple fixture out of metal tubing, PVC plumbing parts, and a few parts from an existing chandelier. After wiring it (and being elated that it worked!) I installed trim on the ceiling to frame the chandelier, and added a little more interest by painting alternating stripes in ivory and a light gray. Finally, I installed a gallery wall with a few fun pieces!
From a designer's nightmare to an energetic statement piece, this diffuser has come a long way! #11- Lab Station Turned Dining Room Buffet
servin' it up old school… The story of how a lonely old science lab station gained new life as an industrial-style dining room buffet. Once upon a time…on an unusually warm and sunny spring day, I was leisurely browsing a flea market when I spotted this piece and was immediately drawn to it…the color, the rust & patina, it's industrial style, and the fact that it was old and had great visual evidence of it's previous life--lots of it. As I looked closely at the butcher-block top complete with bunsen burner stains, student-carvings (i.e."jennie-loves-alex") and distress-marks galore, I knew that I had to have it--for something, but what that something was, wasn't clear to me at the time. We just had"chemistry"--I could feel it.; ) Luckily, the kind gentleman who I was buying this (very heavy) treasure from was willing to help me get it into my truck…and let me tell you: it. weighs. a. ton. Chapter Two: Fast forward to Project One CWTS: Upcycle. I knew instantly that this sad science lab station was about to have a major career change. I tossed around a few ideas, but pretty quickly decided it would be a fabulous, industrial-style dining room buffet. The hardest part was this: while I love the"vintage-industrial-rusty-patina" look and eagerly welcome it into my house, this was looking a bit too"raw" for my dining room. Well, try googling"how to tone down rust on metal, yet keep just the right amount of color and patina". If there is a tutorial for this…I didn't find it!
Chapter Three: So, I did a little DIY-science-experimenting and discovered a technique to get just the look I was hoping for. After this process I added the casters, the door knobs, stenciled on the quote and stained the butcher-block top. Add some wine, grapes, cheese…and this"new" buffet is all ready to help you eat, drink and be merry.; )
…and she lived happily ever after in my dining room.
#12-From Frumpy to On Fire, Fireplace! When I was told that the first week of Creating With the Stars theme was upcycle I was over the moon excited. Upcycling is my thing. It’s where I get my groove on. And so, it wasn’t a matter of finding something to upcycle; it was a matter of deciding which thing to upcycle. So, I took a tour of my house and gazed at all of the items that needed some good loving. And then, I sat and thought about what I wanted in my home. And, it came to me. Hmm… could I? Would it be possible? Yes… yes, it could!!
I’ve wanted a fireplace forever and ever. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. But, you get the gist. And, while this fireplace/bookcase might not be the real thing it fits the bill quite nicely. I was able to create my “fireplace” from an old bookcase that was sitting in my laundry room, a mirror frame that was on it’s way to the trash, and an antique footboard that had lost it’s headboard (poor thing). The bookcase is the most important element; the mirror and footboard helped create awesome and turn the bookcase/fireplace into something spectacular.
I cut the footboard down to size and used it as the “mantel” as well as give the fireplace/bookcase a skirt at the bottom. Scrapbooking chipboard embellishments gilded, painted, and antiqued look like beautiful wood cutouts on the mantel. The trim on the sides of the fireplace/bookcase are pieces of the mirror cut down to size. A chimney that runs the length of my 12 foot wall was created with a simple frame covered in tin. The back of the bookcase was covered in that same tin for added charm. I must say this project exceeded my expectations and far surpassed the image of awesome I had for this project when I started out. I love walking into my home and seeing this and am so pleased waiting forever and ever is over!
Can You Believe That Talent? It's Time to Vote!You can only vote one time, but you can vote for your favorite 3 projects.Before voting, please LIKE EC2 on Facebook. Thanks! If you're having trouble viewing the voting box, click HERE to vote. Don't forget that tomorrow it's your turn to link up your own upcycle project!Thanks for playing along!!
Last week I mentioned needing to overhaul the 1/2 bath in the hallway on our first floor. We haven't started that project yet (I'm dying to get started, but we're waiting for a little more moneycashflow first), but I know exactly what we're going to do. Like every other room in our house, I'm trying to move in the casual/coastal cottage feel. So you can expect to see lots of neutral colors, warm woods and rustic Pottery Barn-esque elements. The only thing I'm keeping in this room is the bathmat and the toilet. Everything else has seen it's last day. Here's our current"loo" situation:
On a side note: I didn't realize how badly this bathroom needed a makeover until after I took these pictures. Can we say boring with a capital"B"?
This builders-grade vanity has GOT TO GO!
Same with that terrible light fixture. How have I lived in this house for almost 4 years and not changed that thing out? Blech.
I'm thinking this mirror needs an upgrade (like a frame) or a replacement. I'm leaning towards replacing it with an unexpected mirror. Something different and unique. Bathroom Makeover To-Do List: 1. Paint wide horizontal stripes on the walls.
Source: younghouselove.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Adore that mirror, by the way. I love that both these bathrooms have very subtle stripes on the wall. I'm thinking a tone on tone color, or even one color, painted in stripes with different sheens (semi-gloss and flat). I love these two colors that fall next to each other in the Benjamin Moore Historical color wheel: Elmira White and Grant Beige. You almost can't see much of a difference which is exactly what I want. I'm not hoping to bowl anybody over with loud colors in this room.
Also, I'm thinking really thick stripes, maybe five total, ceiling to floor.
2. Build a vanity out of an old table or desk.
Source: desiretoinspire.net via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: decorology.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Ok, this is my favorite feature for the bathroom and is non-negotiable. This means that the whole makeover has to wait until I find the right piece of furniture. I'm hoping my luck will kick in soon and my next trip to the ReStore or thrift store will be the winner. Anyway, this is obviously a job for my hubs, but I've researched it, and it really is a pretty simple project. (I can say this since I will not be the one doing it. Ha!) I also saw a few sink bowls for really cheap at the ReStore my last time in there. 3. Add decorative items that also work as storage. Since this is the hall bath, I don't need much in the way of storage, but I do want to be able to hang a few towels and keep extra soap and toilet paper handy, especially since there won't be any storage under the new vanity. I'm totally in love with these vintage ladders and would be thrilled to score one. If I can't find a real vintage ladder, I saw a great tutorial on how to make one here.
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Surprise! The ladder above is a fake vintage ladder. Pretty convincing, huh?
Source: alovelyescape.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: ballarddesigns.com via Jessica on Pinterest I'm also liking this basket from Ballard Designs. It would go great under the new table/desk/vanity. 4. Install new lighting. The look I'm going for with the lighting is industrial. Not so industrial that it's modern, but just industrial enough to look rustic. I'm not sure if that made any sense at all, but these pictures help explain it a little better:
Source: decor8blog.com via Abbie on Pinterest The lights above are my absolute favorites ever. If anyone knows where I can find one, please, I beg you, share the love!
Source: shadesoflight.com via Sarah on Pinterest
Source: houzz.com via Casey on Pinterest 5. Add a few fun elements like artwork, possibly some decorative trim (crown moulding), and wouldn't it be cute to add a door like this one?
Source: theletteredcottage.net via Jessica on Pinterest ReStore, here I come! So, what are your thoughts about my Bathroom Game Plan? Am I missing anything? Is there anything you hate? Discuss!
This bedroom makeover was so fun to work on because we were challenged to combine both rustic and industrial styles together to make the space work! This room was huge, so we were able to do lots of fun DIY projects. Take a peek…
Now, to fully appreciate this room, you've got to see what it looked like before we started…
Talk about a transformation right?? You can watch the full episode online by clicking HERE. We had a blast working with Tiffany and Jon and were so glad they BOTH liked the finished room!
Later this week we'll post all the juicy details about all the projects in the room, but for now, here's just a little room tour for ya…
This world map project wasn't featured in the show much (there's just never enough time), but we loved how it turned out and it might be one of my favorite projects of the makeover!
After a fun trip to one of the BEST salvage shops around, we built these reclaimed wood floating shelves using conduit pipe! The awesome shop we went to is Architectural Antiques in Bedminster, PA. Click here to visit their Facebook page for more info!
Using a mantle we found at the salvage shop, we used wood slices to create a faux fireplace look. It really helped define the sitting area we created!
One of our wildcard projects (AKA we'd never tried it before and just crossed our fingers it would be awesome) was our metal headboard. Toilet bowl cleaner and inexpensive metal sheets never looked so good!!
And stealing the show… herringbone barn doors with a custom made track for UNDER $200! I love how these doors are barn, but with such a modern twist. The yellow color and the arrow pattern made these doors super unique! So, go check out the episode HERE, and then check back this week for all the complete tutorials!!
We've gotta know… What project is your fav? Any you'd like to try?
Ok, we're back, as promised, with all the information about our Thanksgiving centerpiece and place card ideas! If you didn't see the segment today on the Channel 69 Sunrise morning show, you're in luck because you can watch it here! First of all, I just have to say, that Monica and I love doing this show. It is so much fun, so laid back, and Eve Tannery is a total pro! Plus, she actually reads our blog so we know she's legitmately a fan (thanks, Eve!)
And of course, we had to include a goofy one…
I just have to mention one funny thing that happened this morning before our segments. Monica and I were setting up the table and Mo started to light the candles in some of our centerpieces. I wasn't sure if we were allowed to, so I caught Jaciel's (the other anchor) eye while Eve was doing her thing and mouthed"Can we light these?" He didn't hear what I asked, and said,"Do I like those? It looks so nice." We were cracking up thinking about what he must think of us asking if our table looked nice as he was giving the news. Maybe not so funny to you, but stinkin' hilarious to us that early.: ) Ok, now on to the good stuff: Centerpieces The Gourd Vase We like to keep it simple, bring the outdoors in, and use things you can find around your house. This centerpiece meets all of those requirements, so I'm one happy camper!
I (Jessica) went to a local farmstore called Penn-Vermont Farms (which is fabulous by the way!) and picked up a bunch of different sized gourds. The gourd I used for the vase is a kershaw gourd, but you could also use a birdhouse gourd. You want to choose a gourd that is not top-heavy so it can hold the weight of the branches and leaves. Then, I drilled a small hole into the top.
I recommend making this centerpiece on the actual day of Thanksgiving because once you cut the branch, the leaves quickly die. Ask me how I know that. You could easily use berries or bare branches and this centerpiece would still look amazing. (Curious about my table runner? You can check out how I made that using a dropcloth here)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Candle Log
This centerpiece is so simple, but really pretty. Monica made this using a birch log, but any kind of wood will do. First measure the length of your tray (Mo picked this one up at Michael's!) so you can determine the length of the piece of wood. You'll want to leave a few inches on either end. Cut the sheet moss to the size of the bottom of the tray and lay it down lengthwise in the tray.
Place the candles on the log and mark where you want them to go.
Using a circle drill bit (this one is 1 1/2 inches), partially drill the holes until you have enough depth to place your votive candles.
Wrap the whole thing with a pretty ribbon, and voila! An easy, rustic centerpiece!
Fall Tray with Cut Log Pieces and Candles
I found a great oversized tray at ReStore, and could not wait to put it to good use! Monica had recently cut a bunch of birch logs for a project (more on that to come later!), so I used them to fill my tray. Use a chop saw to cut your log into 1-2 inch circles.
I surrounded the birch discs with a bed of yellow and red leaves and then placed 3 orange pillar candles in the center. You could easily do a more modern, less rustic, take on this by leaving out the leaves and adding white pillar candles for a sleek, cool look.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Place Cards Modern Name & Menu Napkin Rings
Monica made these using regular cardstock in two fall colors. Decide on the font you want to use, type it up in a word document, and then print it out. Layer the printed paper onto the opposite color paper and wrap around the napkin. Mo used extra fabric she had laying around to make a napkin and laid the utensils on it, followed by the place card. Finally, lay the whole thing onto the plate and you're done! Remember: you don't have to spend a million bucks to create a beautiful tablescape for Thanksgiving. Use what you have on hand!
Pair it with the candle log and you're table practically sets itself! (BTW- do you notice the name Mo used on the place card? Greyson. She secretly wished she had named one of her children that. Now the secrets out.: ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chalkboard Mason Jar Mugs & Tin Buckets
This is one that the kids will enjoy because it uses chalkboard paint. Let them write the names of your young guests on these mason jar mugs and place them around your kid table. They'll love being involved and will be thrilled they have their very own cup! Or for a more mature version, grab a few tin buckets and paint with chalkboard paint. Fill it with a few pinecones, or a few after-dinner treats.
Anyone can do this, and it adds instant fun to your table! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinecone Placecard Holders
Michael's has loads of scented pinecones for sale right now, but you could also take a nature walk and collect them yourselves for an even less expensive way to decorate. Enlist someone with some muscles, because cutting into a pinecone is no easy task! Use a hack saw to create a"slot" in the top of the pinecone and then slide your placecard right in. Mo used cardstock, but you could get a little fancier if you wanted because you saved a bundle by using pinecones!: )
Of all the placecard holders, this just might be my favorite. Take a couple of the wood slices you cut for your centerpiece, and create a slot in the wood using a hack saw or a sharp knife.
To make the placecards shown here, find two complimentary pieces of cardstock and scrapbook paper. Cut to size and layer them. Add a tiny clothespin for interest and write the name of your guest on the card. That's it! Use this with the fall tray centerpiece and you're able to maintain continuity of your design throughout the entire table.
Ok, I saved the easiest for last. Make your placecard with cardstock and write the name of your guest on it. Punch a hole and tie it around the stem of your gourd. Easy peasy and adorable! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We hope you liked our table decor ideas for Thanksgiving- we had a blast coming up with them! We'll be making another appearance on the Channel 69 News Sunrise show in December and would love to hear what YOU would like to see us create or design! Leave us a comment with your thoughts.: ) T minus 16 days until Thanksgiving. Get decorating!
Now that we have our hallway bathroom redesign almost completed, I've already moved on to my next big project (because life is not complete without some sort of project going on, am I right?)! I'm just in the daydreaming, inspiration-pic collecting phase, but there are two things I know I want: A neutral color pallette (surprise!) and a bench at the foot of the bed. We recently rearranged our bedroom on a whim one night (say goodbye to the simple door headboard!) and I'm totally digging the new layout. All of a sudden it feels like we have a lot more room, and so now the wheels are turning about a major overhaul to the whole space. Am I excited? Oh yeah. So, back to the bench: There is something so appealing to me about using the space at the foot of the bed that often goes overlooked. Plus, I can't wait to have a spot to throw all my clotheson sit down and put on my shoes, or pull up my stockings. Who the heck am I kidding? I don't wear stockings. Anyway, here's a little round-up of some of my favorite benches at the, you guessed it, foot of the bed. There are so many different design directions I could go in, but I think I've narrowed down my top four categories: Rustic & Simple, Upholstered & Chic, A Double Ottomon, and Completely Non-traditional. Take a peek:
Simple & Rustic This obviously fits the coastal cottage feel I'm going for, but I also want to be careful I don't go overboard with the"theme".
Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: valdirose.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: scotchandscones.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Who knew a bench could make your heart stop beating?!
Upholstered &Chic I kind of like the idea of the element of surprise this could bring to the room- a little more modern (or at least, transitional) than the rest of the space.
Source: housebeautiful.com via Jessica on Pinterest Isn't that bench just plain awesome? I love that it has a back and it just looks cozy!
Source: crateandbarrel.com via Heather on Pinterest This had me at the nailheads, for sure. The Double Ottoman This is so clever. It definitely breaks up the space at the end of the bed instead of seeing one solid piece, and so, creates the look of a little more space. Plus, you could totally use these somewhere else if you ever needed extra seating.
Source: granvillehouse.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: bhg.com via Jessica on Pinterest My personal fave of the bunch are the ones above. Glorious color, lines and detail. Completely Non-traditional I'm pretty sure I won't be entering this territory, but it's so fun to see the options out there. People are so creative, aren't they?
Source: imminentenvironment.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest Of course, I love a good basket, but I have a small bedroom and visually this looks huge to me and takes up a good amount of space. I'm looking for something a little sleeker, but isn't it perfect with the nautical vibe? And did you see that vintage map wallpaper? I die. Source: buzzfeed.com via lila on Pinterest
Source: housebeautiful.com via Peanut Butter Fingers on Pinterest I could turn my old suitcase into a bench, but doesn't this scream beauty-and-the-beast-household-item-that-came-to-life? I'm afraid I'd wake up to it singing to me or something.
Source: bucketsofburlap.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest Now who would of thought to put a vintage bathtub at the foot of the bed? Not me, that's for sure. I'm obviously not that creative. But it's beautiful in all it's rusty, chippy glory. So, can you see the beauty in a foot-of-the-bed bench? Are you digging it like I am?
Oh yeah, there's still time to vote for our knock off project for Round One of Crafting with the Stars. Polls are open until 8 PM tonight, so please take a trip over to Sew Dang Cute and vote. Thanks a million! Click Here to Vote
You guys. Every once in a while one of my crazy ideas actually pans out and is awesome. I have to say, that in my opinion, this project is one of them. You know me, I'm a whole lot less modern than Monica when it comes to decor (and most things, come to think of it), so I surprised myself with how much I liked this wreath!! Without further ado, here's my little bit modern/little bit rustic Wood Slice Wreath:
I pretty much adore this wreath that I made from a tree that was knocked down during Hurricane Sandy a few weeks ago. We were fortunate to only have a few downed trees, but we still need to figure out what to do with all that wood! It was pretty much free, since I used materials I had on hand. That makes it even better in my opinion. Can I get an amen? You'll want to let your wood sit inside out of the elements to dry out for a while before beginning.
Here's how to make your own:
1. Cut a slice of wood from a tree trunk using a chainsaw. I'm pretty comfortable with most saws, but I stay away from chainsaws! My hubs cut a slice for me at about 2 inches thick. These pictures are a bit deceiving because the diameter of this wreath is about 1.5 feet, so it's pretty large!
(Wondering why everything looks so golden? No it's not Heaven, it's the nightime lighting in my garage. Please tell me I'm not the only one using power tools at 11 PM in the garage. My neighbors love me, as you can imagine.)
2. Using a large drill bit, drill a hole in the middle of the wood slice. This makes it easy for you to start cutting with a jigsaw.
3. Cut out the middle portion of the wood slice to create the wreath. I was lucky to have a piece of wood that had distinctive rings for me to use as a guide for the jigsaw. Make sure you have a long blade that is specifically designed to use on wood. This will make the job SO much easier! I'll be honest, this part was hard work! I had my husband hold the piece of wood to give me some resistance as I was cutting. We eventually had to switch jobs because it felt like my arms might just vibrate right off!
4. Sand the inside ring of the wood to even it out and to get rid of splinters. Easy peasy.
5. Tape off the top of your wreath and spraypaint the inside a fun color. This step is optional, but I wanted to give my rustic wreath a little bit of glam. I used Valspar Gold Metallic spray paint and did a couple of coats. Warning: because of it's circular shape and it's 2 inch depth, the paint will deflect right back at you! My gray nailpolish quickly became gold!
6. Add Self-Stick Foor Care pads to the back of your wreath to prevent scratching. This wreath probably weighs close to 10 lbs, and the last thing I want is for it to bang around in the wind and mark up my freshly painted front door. Adding pads creates a nice barrier between the wreath and the door!
7. Add your desired ribbon and step back to admire your work! Isn't she pretty? (Yes, it's a girl)
Look at those multi-colored rings! You just can't beat the beauty you find in nature.
My gold ribbon is just the right touch, don't you think?
And the gold interior ring is just subtle enough that it doesn't steal the show, but totally complements the tones in the rest of the wood.
If you want your wreath to last a long time, I recommend brushing a water-based polyurethane on all the surfaces to seal it. Because it's water-based, it won't change the color of the wood or cause it to yellow over time.
What do you think? Are you digging it like I am?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh yeah, did you hear? We want YOUR Christmas cards!!
Please please send them to us because getting Christmas cards is one of the highlights of our lives. A bit dramatic, yes, but oh so true. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a few days left till the Christmas Month starts. I've thought and thought about what light decoration I want to have this year and when I saw this one I fell in love. Rustic can never be wrong!
Only 11 days until Christmas, everyone! Start panicking! Just kidding- I absolutely love this holiday season (September through December is my FAVORITE time of year!) and have been tweaking, arranging and rearranging my Christmas decor for the last few weeks. And guess what? I probably won't stop until I take the stuff down on January 1st. I'm so excited to show you around on my first official home tour. Come on in and make yourself comfortable! (Warming: LOTS of pictures to follow, and hopefully, I'll be able to keep my mouth shut and let you enjoy it!: )
I'm still in love with my blue front door, and decided to forgo the traditonal holiday colors in favor of a rustic, woodsy color scheme. Browns, creams, copper and a few wood tree trunks!
Welcome to my foyer! This is what greets you as you come in the front door.
Isn't that houndstooth wrapping paper fabulous? Monica has great taste in (and an obsession with!) wrapping paper, so I have her to thank for it.: )
I tried my hand at making a wrapping paper leaf garland this year. It's pretty cute, but took a long time!
Living Room
I had fun decking out my mantel- again going with the rustic,woodsy theme.
I had to include my wood slice wreath, threw in some cut greens leftover from our tree, wrapped a few little presents with cute wrapping and added those charming. brightly colored reindeer from Target.
I love the Pottery Barn stockings that were a gift to us from my mom, and think they look great against the stenciled fireplace.
On the other side of the room, the moss monogram made it's appearance again this year.
I can't wait to show you how I made this faux-console table for behind the couch. So easy and makes a world of a difference!
Dining Room
I'm so close to a full reveal of my dining room (coming January 2013!), but couldn't resist sharing a few little glimpses. It's beautiful and I often think,"This can't be my house."
Family Room/Basement
I recycled the Nate Show ornaments that Monica made for me last year (why buy new when the old stuff is so cute?!), and bought two adorable plaid pillows on clearance from Target to stick on top of my old thift store trunk. And of course, what makes the space is the reindeer sillouette art.
I totally dig this space!
And see that little red pillow with the zipper? Monica and I made that last year for our fourth Nate Show episode. So cool, right? Kitchen
I kept it clean and simple in this room, folks.
I made that felt garland and let me tell you, it was a bear to make. Worth it, but oh-so-time-consuming.
We broke out the framed Advent calendar again since it was such a big hit last year.
Hall Bathroom
I had to show you this fab plaid rug I got from Target (yes, Target again, and no they don't pay me). It's so cozy, but doesn't scream Christmas. Love it.
Thank you, Jones Design Company, for the pretty (and meaningful!) printable! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But nothing in my home beats watching these two enjoy the holiday season. Celebrating Christmas with kids is so.much.fun.
And not to be outdone by the fun, crazy Mangin picture, here's a greeting from my cuties!: )
I hope you enjoyed my Christmas home tour! Let's play the favorite thing game. Ready, set, go! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And oh yeah, if you missed Monica's tour earlier this week, check it out HERE. There's some good stuff in there, folks!
One of the most fun parts of the CWTS contest is getting to see the fun projects linked up in our weekly link party! The girls in this contest are seriously talented, but guess what?! So are YOU! If you want to get a burst of inspiration, check out the fab upcycle projects that were linked up right here.
We were immediately drawn to this end table when we saw it in the party since we're both HUGE fans of rustic industrial style furniture. Allison from The Golden Sycamore put some serious effort and time into this piece and it tells! It's absolutely gorgeous! Well done, girl.; )
As I mentioned a few weeks ago on my blog, I'm really into the industrial look right now. I seriously can't get enough of it! While I was playing around online one day, showing my husband all these cool industrial tables, he got an idea in his head: Why not build one ourselves? One thing led to another and now we have our own custom industrial end table for our living room! (You can see the reveal post {here}). This was our inspiration for the table …
My husband and I are really happy with how our table turned out and I'm excited to share this project with you, but I want to warn you, this particular DIY project is not for the faint of heart. This project is a bit of a process and can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing and aren't careful. PLEASE do not attempt this unless you feel very confident in your abilities. Please be sure you take all safety precautions when using a power tool or dangerous chemicals or objects and read the instruction manuals before using them. I am not a trained professional. If you are uncertain, please consult an expert before attempting this or any projects on this blog. I will not be responsible for any injuries or damages caused by any attempts to recreate this or any projects posted on this blog.
Alright, now that that's out of the way, onto the tutorial. Aging Galvanized Metal
SUPPLIES: 8 — 3/4" x 10" galvanized pipe ($29.60) 16 — galvanized floor flanges ($116.16) 48 — 1/4" x 1" galvanized lag screws ($22.08) HCl / toilet bowl cleaner Plastic container Small map gas torch ($41.97) Heat safe gloves ($4.46) Vegetable oil Beeswax Metal pan Metal pliers PROCEDURE: Start by putting your galvanized metal plumbing supplies in a plastic container. Add enough HCl / toilet bowl cleaner to cover all the metal and let sit for 2-3 hours. This process will remove the zinc coating off the galvanized metal. **DO THIS PART OUTSIDE OR IN A VERY WELL VENTILATED AREA — YOU DON'T WANT TO BE BREATHING THESE CHEMICALS IN!! (This is a picture of the screws in toilet bowl cleaner. We did them separately, but you can just put everything together.)
After a few hours, rinse all your metal pieces off. Pour some vegetable oil in a metal container. Wearing heat safe gloves and holding your piece of metal with a pliers, heat metal with torch until it is hot enough that it turns orange. Once it is thoroughly heated, dip in vegetable oil. Then reheat the piece of metal to orange hot. Once it is hot enough, set in oil to cool for about 30 seconds. **AGAIN — USE CAUTION. DO THIS PART IN A SAFE AREA AND HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER NEAR BY IN CASE OF FIRE!!
The metal will still be very hot, so take the piece of metal out of the oil with a pliers.
Cool the metal with water.
Once it's cool to the touch, scrub off burned oil residue with water and a wire brush.
Lightly heat metal again with torch (about 30 seconds) and coat with beeswax. Once coated, rub with cotton rag while still warm.
Let cool before handling. Metal will still be hot for a while.
And that's it! Haha! I know the process is intense, but if you really want the aged look, it's worth it! Here is what your finished product should look like. Repeat process for all your pieces of metal.
Now onto the wood shelves.
SUPPLIES: 1 — IKEA Numerar oak butcher block countertop ($129.00) — we used a little over half the length, so the cost of what was used was roughly $70 Tape measure and pencil Circular saw Straight edge clamp Router Orbital sander and sand paper Stain Silhouette Cameo and stencil Paint and paint brush Mineral oil PROCEDURE: Start by measuring your Numerar butcher block to the size you want your shelves and mark where to cut. Our shelves measure 19.5" wide x 24" deep.
Set up your straight edge clamp so that your saw will cut on your measured line. You'll probably have to set it to about a half inch over to allow for the width of the saw.
Cut butcher block with circular saw. Repeat this process for second shelf.
Run orbital sander along the edges to ensure a smooth finish. Then router the edges of each shelf — remember to do the top and bottom sides to keep the look cohesive.
With your orbital sander, sand the finish off the top and bottom of both shelves.
Using Minwax Dark Walnut stain, wipe on stain and immediately wipe off to get a slightly darker color, but not too much penetration. If you desire a darker stain color, either leave the stain on longer before wiping off or apply more layers of stain to darken it.
I don't have pictures of this part, but if you wish to add numbers to your top shelf, here's how to do it. Choose the style and size of numbers you want and cut them out using your Silhouette Cameo. If you don't have a Cameo, you can always print numbers out on your printer and then cut them out by hand. Once you have your numbers, arrange them on the shelf the way you want them and then trace around them using a white or black colored pencil. Once your numbers are traced, use craft paint and a small paint brush to paint inside the lines. Let paint dry and sand lightly with sand paper to desired distressed look.
Once you are done with your numbers (or if you skipped that step) wipe both shelves with mineral oil (or some other sealant like wax or polyurethane) to seal the shelves.
Now to put it all together. SUPPLIES: Drill Wrench or impact driver All your metal pieces Both shelves Level PROCEDURE: Drill pilot holes in each shelf. You'll drill four holes per flange. Drill holes in the bottom of the top shelf. The bottom shelf will get holes drilled in both sides — top and bottom. Make sure to stagger your holes on the bottom shelf so that they don't meet up with each other through the wood. Using your wrench or impact driver, on the bottom shelf, attach 4 flanges with your lag screws on the top side of the shelf. Screw pipe into the four flanges. Attach flanges to the bottom of the top shelf with lag screws. Screw those flanges to the pipe that is already attached to the bottom shelf. Attach flanges to the bottom side of the bottom shelf. Screw pipe into flanges and screw final flanges to the bottom of the pipe — these are the table's"feet". Check to make sure the table is level. If it isn't, screw or unscrew pipes until the table is level.
Alright, if you've made it to the end of this post, I applaud you! I told you it was intense! I definitely can see why our inspiration piece was almost $700! Not only are the materials relatively expensive, but it is also quite labor intensive! In the reveal post, I said that the table cost us about $300 to make. We had a lot of the tools on hand, but we had to purchase most of the supplies. In this post I've added up the supplies we bought and calculated our total cost (using about half the countertop cost since we can use the remainder of the countertop for another project). The total came to $284.27. If you add MI tax, it comes to $301 and some change. That's a pretty good estimate on our part, if you ask me!: ) If I didn't explain something well enough or you have any questions, PLEASE feel free to ask! I'll do my best to help you out! Thanks so much for reading my loooong tutorial!: ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isn't that incredible?! Seriously, so good. Thanks for linking up, Allison! Don't forget to check back at midnight tonight to see the Contestants Round 3 projects!
It is absolutely unbelieveable how many amazing, talented and creative women there are out there. We spends loads of time reading our favorite design blogs which inspire us to create beauty in our homes, and so, every month once in awhile when we feel like it, we'll be featuring the homes of bloggers that we love-our
Design Icons of the Blogosphere!
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Up first: my personal favorite, Our Vintage Home Love. Diana has captured the exact feel I want for my house, in her adorable home. She has such an amazing sense of style, and her house exudes calm. Not only is Diana super-stylish, but girl knows her way around a toolbox. She's built several pieces of furniture that I secretly covet really admire, like the Rustic Island she built for her kitchen, the barn door-turned-headboard for her master bedroom, and the salvaged wood shelving unit custom-made for her hubby. No joking- Diana has some serious skills.
So, without further ado, let's take a little tour of her lovely home:
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest If that doesn't say,"Welcome. Come sit awhile", I don't know what else would.
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Diana painted stripes in neutral colors on her side porch, which are so cute. Genius!
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest I love Diana's use of textures in her house- lots of khakis and whites in the furniture and wall colors, woven baskets, warm wood tones and great, meaningful accessories complete the look.
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Aren't those floors to die for? I love the rich color. I'm guessing they're original to the house, which was built in 1905! And do you notice that vintage ladder over there in the corner? Does it remind you at all of my bathroom ladder? (Truth be told, Diana's ladder was the first of many to inspire me to get one of my own!)
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Her kitchen is so light and airy. I totally feel like you could walk in there and take a deep breath and poof!- there goes your stress. Yup, that's the kitchen island she built. Impressive, huh?
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Her master bedroom features the authentic barn wood headboard. I mean, really, couldn't you envision that door on a barn somewhere? Nope, she built it. Jealous much?
Source: ourvintagehomelove.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Her den was a labor of love for her husband. She wanted a place he could relax that included items that were important to him.Sheesh- talented and thoughtful? Making me look bad, here, Diana. By the way, I LOVE the pop of red on the pillows. So, that's it. I think I'm in love. Head on over to Our Vintage Home Love and leave Diana a happy comment. Let her know we sent you.: )
We've been keeping a secret from you. And it's a good one. But don't worry! We're about to let you in on it…ready??…ok, here goes: Six weeks ago we asked several amazing bloggers to join with us in a collaboration group we called Blogging 2 Better. We're a bunch of like-minded home, DIYand crafting bloggers that want to learn as much as we can about blogging, while also sharing ideas, encouraging one another and sharing each other's awesome projects as much as we can. We're so fortunate to be part of a blogging community that encourages sharing! (If you write a blog, we strongly suggest getting a group of girls together to learn from. No one understands all that blogging entails except for other bloggers! You can find more about that in our Part-Time Blogger series here.)
Anyway, these girls are really, truly talented and it was a lot of fun getting to know them better. For our final week, we had Beckie from Infarrantly Creative give us a list of materials that we all needed to incorporate into an awesome project. It's like our version of a Nate's Crate Challenge! Woohoo! And today is the day we get to see what everyone's been up to!! Once you finish taking a look at what we created, make sure you hop over to the other gal's blogs to see what they made.
Here's the list of the supplies from Beckie:
And here's what we came up with:
We struggled to come up with a clever name for it, but basically it's a rustic/industrial storage bin. A very easy project that turned out adorable, if we do say so ourselves. You know we love a good pallet project (we've done several here and here), but we also keep loads of barnwood on hand, too. We picked one that was already the perfect length (yay! no extra cutting required!)
We also scored these three wire bins at HomeGoods for four bucks a pop! We didn't love the color, but knew immediately that this is where we could use coral! We spraypainted them with Valspar's Hacienda Tile- the perfect coral.
Next we found a font that we liked and printed number 1 through 3 large on regular, old paper. With a pen, we traced the number while pressing down to leave the outline on the barn wood.
Have you tried paint pens yet? They're so easy to use, but they still looks like paint. We carefully filled in the stencilled numbers with a black Sharpie paint pen.
Once the paint on the bins had dried, we brought them in and laid them down in front of the wood to determind the placement. We measured the board, divided it into thirds and then marked where the hooks would go.
Monica drilled pilot holes where we had previously marked and then we screwed in the eye hooks …Six hooks for three baskets.
Then I gently sanded down the numbers to distress them a bit.
Monica whitewashed the entire board with a mixture of paint and water to give the piece a little more depth. (Side note: working as a team makes the project go faster! We're so fortunate to have each other.: ) (I totally Agree! -Monica)
The last step for the wood piece is to add a coat of water-based polyurethane (water-based won't change the color of the wood!).
To hang it, we took chain, cut it to the length we wanted with wire cutters and screwed threw one of the links directly into the wood. Make sure your screw isn't so long that it goes right through to the other side!
Then we hit a creativity wall. Booo. We could not for the life of us figure out how to incorporate fabric into this project. We toyed with lots of different ideas, but finally decided on a cute hanging pendant banner for one of the baskets. Recently we came across a shop called The Finest Kind and we couldn't get over how cute their stuff is! We decided to purchase three of their typographical tags to use on our pendant. You'll probably catch the significance: EC2.: ) First, we spraypainted the little cuties blue.
Next, we took apart three 2x3 frames so that we could use the cardboard backing. Wierd, I know, but there's always an untraditional use for everything!
We wrapped the fabric around the cardboard and mod podged it right on.
Before the Mod Podge had dried, we stuck our tags on, and voila! An adorable pendant honoring our blog for the basket!
We were thrilled with the finished product, and it has now made it's home in my dining room. And just so you know, it totally inspired me to rearrange my living room and gave me the motivation I needed to start our dining room makeover!
To be completely honest, we liked this project better without the fabric banner, but do think it makes a super cute accessory!
And now for the REALLY fun part! We were so excited to see what our blogging buddies came up with using the same materials, and they did not disappoint!
Please stop over at these amazing ladies blogs to see what their projects. Share the EC2 love with them and tell them we sent you! Clockwise from top right: Kim from Sand & Sisal: Surfboard Pallet Art Brook from Being Brook: Fabric Wall Map Allison from House of Hepworths: Dangle Earring Frame Jenna from SAS Interiors: Monogrammed Chevron Pallet Tray We had SO much fun putting this project together and consider ourselves lucky to be in the company of these awesome bloggers. If you don't already follow them, shame on you! But it's not too late, go ahead and do it now.: ) We want to know: What would YOU do with those materials?
** And if you're loving up all the wood ideas, this one is one of our favorites! Check it out!
**If you're visiting from one of the other bloggers' projects, thanks for stopping by! If you like what you see use the links below to stay up to date with all of our projects and ideas!
Phew! The contestants and their Star partners really set the bar high this week with their Round 1 projects. Almost every one of you commented about how hard it was to choose only three favorites and we felt that pain right along with you! We know that you're not really here to read lots of mumbo jumbo from us, so let's get to those results, shall we? And the Winner of Round 1 is…
We loved this project and think it was executed so well! Nice work Karianne!! Can't wait to see what you'll come up with for Round 2. Let's see who else made it to Round 2… 2. Sarah {While They Snooze} & Sarah {Thrifty Decor Chick} Trash Pile Made Trendy Table
3. Sarah {Sarah M. Dorsey Designs} & Brooke {All Things Thrifty} Statement Piece Light Fixture
4. Amanda {Love and Renovations} and Beckie {Infarrantly Creative} Televison Stand Upcycled to a Bar
5. Jane {Life, Crafts & Whatever} & Jamielyn {I Heart Naptime} Tin Tile Mirror
6. Melissa {5 foot 12 Creations} & Sherry {Young House Love} Lab Station Turned Dining Room Buffet
7. Nancy {Owen's Olivia} & Kari {Ucreate} Dresser Turned Modern Sandbox
8. Ann Marie {White House, Black Shutters} & Shaunna {Perfectly Imperfect} Floor Board Kitchen Island
9. Janel {Nellie Bellie} & Brittany {Pretty Handy Girl} Frumpy to On Fire, Fireplace
We're so sorry to say goodbye to the following three contestants! Boo, we hate this part. Thanks for all your hard work and excellent projects this week, girls! 10. Jourdan and Ashley {Little Yellow Barn} & Beth {Home Stories A to Z} Man Chairs
12. Nat and Holly {My Sisters Suitcase} and Jane {Tatertots & Jello} Little League Lounger
To keep things legit, here are the official results!
I'm sure she doesn't need a reminder, but here's what Karianne won this week! Round 1 Prize Package: $50 worth of 31 Gifts products $60 worth of Twysted Yarn products $70 of Henle Headbands products $100 Blog Re-design from 733 Design (who designed all the CWTS logos!) Project featured by HomeTalk We also want to thank Homes.com for being the Official Grand Sponsor of Creating with the Stars!
Congratulations to the nine moving on! You have your work cut out for you, for sure! Next week's theme is KNOCKOFF!
The winner of Round 2 will win the following AWESOME prizes: (to see the entire prize package, click here) The Week 2 Winner will receive: $100 Gift Card to Royal Design Studio A pair of $120 Robert Allen pillows from Chic Decor Pillows Project featured by HomeTalk
Voting for Round 2 will begin on Monday, March 18th at 12 AM EST. Don't forget that you can link up your favorite upcycle through this Friday at 10 PM EST right here for the chance to win prizes and be featured here on EC2! Finally, we're super excited because: 1. Tomorrow we'll be sharing Karianne's tutorial for her awesome bike clock. 2. On Friday you'll get to see how Sarah put together that amazing trendy tire table and, 3. Saturday, Sarah will be giving us the step-by-step process behind that insane light fixture! Be sure to come on back for loads of inspiration starting tomorrow!!
Ok, we all know that the reason we love DIY and home decor blogs is that we can legitimately snoop in other people's houses. Seriously, you know it's true. Well, I'm here to please, folks, so I'm going to give you a little glimpse into the house where my family (parents, both sisters and their families, and my fam) stayed the last week. We have this awesome tradition of spending a week together on vacation every year and we always go somewhere new. This year, my dad found this gorgeous house called"Old Wintersell" right outside of the adorable little town of Oxford, which is situated on the Chesapeake in Maryland. We've been to a lot of places, but this spot was definitely in my top 5 locations. Let me show you why:
This beautiful old house was built in 1845 and sits on a sprawling 14 acres. It was impeccably maintained and obviously nicely updated. Just in case you were wondering, here's the aerial view of the house (taken from the home's website- you can see lots more pictures there. This house is for sale, too!)
The kitchen was well-appointed and had everything we needed!
Loved these decorative spheres (I would have said balls, but that just didn't sound quite right)
The butler's pantry was so big that I couldn't get it all in one shot. On the left was a desk and bookshelves, stocked with loads of Bon Appetit magazines, and on the right was the coffee station and plenty of pantry space.
The kitchen opened into the main living area, where we spent most of our evenings hanging out.
This trunk-turned-coffee-table was a fun piece that added a lot of character to the room.
The bathroom off of the kitchen was very dark and stately-the gold framed mirror was a show-stopper!
My favorite feature of the house was this enclosed all-weather sun porch. It overlooked the yard and the water in the distance, and had a gorgeous brick floor and several seating areas. It was light and airy and very long. This space had to be close to fifty feet long!
I loved the sunny mudroom, which had a long bench along one side that was rustic and perfect and an awesome shelf with drawers on the other side. I'm thinking that shelf might be a DIY project calling my name!
I didn't take many pictures of the bedrooms (I tried not to spend my every waking minute taking pictures of just the house!), but this bedroom my sister and brother-in-law stayed in was so peaceful and calm. Plus, that fabric headboard was really cute!
This was their view…not bad, huh?; )
I never would have thought to hang plates in a bathroom, but they look so sweet above the beadboard. And, that vanity with it's marble top is looking mighty fine, as well.
Now, on to the outside:
We had so much fun kayaking, crabbing, and riding the boat off of this dock. There's nothing like getting up early and walking right down to the water. Love that.
The pool was wonderful, but the fence didn't go all the way around, which made for a few nervous moms. But, we spent a good amount of time in that thing, so I can't really complain.
The back of the house and the yard were perfection to me. It felt like I was kind of living in a movie or something. The evenings were absolutely perfect: the kids played in the yard while my parents watched from their adirondack chairs and my husband and brothers-in-law check the crab traps. Just lovely.
Oh, and the flowers…
The Chesapeake is only a 3 hour drive from our house and I highly recommend it as a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation, like we had. It's quiet, peaceful and quaint. It almost feels New England-like, but is a only a short drive away. St. Michaels offers lots of cute shops and good restaurants, and Oxford has the BEST icecream place on the Eastern Shore: Scottish Highland Creamery. If you go down to Oxford, stopping there is a must.
There's nothing I enjoy more than family vacation and being on the water. Combine the two and you have one pretty amazing time.
Can you tell we loved it?
What's your favorite vacation destination? We're always on the lookout for our next one!
I'm going to keep it real here and first say that I felt like I was in a blogging slump the last few weeks. But a wonderful Christmas break and looking back over our past year has rejuvenated me! I'm so proud of the projects Monica and I completed, and of this blog that we love! I'm going to try to keep it short and sweet (I tend to be a bit wordy, yes?; )
1. Ever hear of a guy named Nate Berkus?
I just couldn't do a 2011 recap without mentioning our whirlwind love affair crate challenges with Mr. Nate Berkus, himself. You can see what we did for the show here, here and here. 2. Barnwood Artwork
This beauty was, by far, my favorite project of the year. Modern, rustic, simple. Plus it was made with love for my best friend- you can't beat that! 3. Easy Door Headboard
This sort of makes me laugh, but this project is one of our most popular. My hubs and I made this headboard on a whim using some very non-traditional methods, but it's a winner! 4. Antique Table turned Vanity
I had been wanting to do this for a long time, and the Crafting with the Stars challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to give it a go! Monica and I spent one looooong evening getting it just right, but now I can't even express how much I love this vanity! (That sentence is ridiculous, but oh so true.) You can check out two of the other projects we did for CWTS on Monica's post yesterday. 5. Modern Typography Meets Reclaimed Barnwood
Oh barnwood, how I adore thee. Same to you, typography. Why not marry the two and make something fabulous? Well, ok, I will. Thankyouverymuch. 6. Pallet Shelf Love
Who loves free projects? This girl (said with thumbs pointing at chest)! This shelf was free, easy and quick. Love that. 7. DIY Drop-cloth Window Treatments
Drop-cloth window treatments have been floating around the blogosphere for a while now, but I tried my hand at making some valances for my living room when I heard aforementioned Mr. Berkus was sending a team to my house to film. That sure got my rear end in gear, and boy, am I glad. Those naked windows were in desperate need of some clothes! 8. From an Oops! to a Yes! Mirror Transformation
That this mirror turned into something I'm proud of, is an absolute miracle and purely an accident. It made me so thankful that, sometimes, persistance pays off! 9. Faux-Stained Glass Window
I have a crush on old things of all kinds, but can't often pay for the real deal, so I came up with this idea of using a wall decal from Home Depot and an antique window from my in-law's barn and making a faux stained glass window! I really liked it then, but liked it even more after Monica used it in my basement makeover! 10. A Garden Wall
I brought a bit of green into my kitchen by creating a garden wall with succelents. You know, the kind that are ridiculously hard to kill. It's true! I've had these since May, and they're still living, for which I can take no credit! 11. The Barn
Monica and I were so excited to combine our talents this year to design and create one-of-a-kind products using reclaimed barnwood. We opened our etsy shop in September amidst all our crazy Nate show stuff/ Crafting with the Stars submission/ and our first appearance on our local news. Can you say bad timing?: ) Even so, we love the items and our shop, so if you are ever in need of a unique gift or item for your home, we'd be thrilled to make one for you! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, we've had a GREAT year, and owe you a huge, fat thank you! This year would not have been possible without you and we so appreciate you taking time out of your busy lives to stop by our blog! Here's to another fantastic year in 2012!
Last night it fell about five cm of snow. Now, if the temperature doesn't rise too much it will still be there this afternoon which would be perfect since Liseberg's Christmas Market is on tonight's agenda.
Five million lights and 700 Christmas trees greet you when you walk in the entrance to Liseberg Christmas Market in Gothenburg. This year Christmas at Liseberg celebrates it's ten year anniversary and is more popular than ever.
Northern Europe's largest Christmas Market offers, in addition to all the traditional attractions; buildings dated from the 18th century, about 80 rustic stalls brim with traditional handicrafts and seasonal Swedish treats, reindeer and ice skating. And of course, the restaurants serve Christmas delicacies.
The design and craft market offers an enviable selection of gifts from famous names such as Iittala, Georg Jensen, the Kingdom of Crystal (including Orrefors and Kosta Boda ) and Lammhults furniture. In the Lapland area you can buy unique Sami handicrafts and see the reindeer. You can visit Liseberg Ice Gallery & Bar, the interior of which is sculpted entirely from ice from the Torne river.
Christmas at Liseberg is open from mid November to 23 December.
Source: boinzo, kberberi, maj-lis, nouna andersson, sofia bystr'm ' flickr.com
