Just some quick snapshots of simple ways I’ve started to bring some summer style into our house . . .
And with this post, my sweet readers, I’m signing off so I can get ready to have these babies later this week. Can you believe it’s here? If you could see me, you would know it’s time! Thanks for all of your encouragement and prayers. I’ll be checking in when I can with pictures of the newest additions to our family. I can’t wait to see them!
We’re taking advantage of this last long weekend before the babies come and have spent a couple of nights sitting outside, eating with friends. I love the casual, relaxed feel of dining outdoors and for my latest Houzz ideabook, I’ve put together 20 products that I would use to set a beautiful summer table.
See the full ideabook here.
Happy Memorial Day!,
Besides a dirty white door, the other problem with our back hallway (that I blogged about yesterday) was that it became a dumping ground for backpacks, jackets, shoes, etc. It made me a little crazy and I knew hooks were the solution. For less than $30, we were able to bring some organization to this spot.
We bought this pre-cut piece from Lowe’s, and I gave it a couple of coats of trim paint that we already had. Then, I bought several packs of my favorite hooks from IKEA (2 for $9.99).
One of my projects for this summer (you know, in all my free time with a baby in each arm!) is to hopefully frame some of the kids’ latest and greatest art pieces to fill the wall like I did in our last house. I’m thinking of using all white frames this time (aka painting the ones I have) to keep things bright.
And, just this week, I put all of their coats and jackets away, leaving lots of space for just their school bags. Is it just me, or does anybody else get a thrill out of saying goodbye to coats and socks for the summer?!
So far, I’ve managed to keep the other thorn in my side (the shoe situation!) somewhat under control by giving each kid their own dollar basket from Target to keep in the laundry room. It’s not perfect, but it’s working okay for now.
Any other tips for keeping the busiest doorway in your house from becoming chaotic?
This door by far gets the most in-and-out traffic in our house. And for that reason, it’s usually covered with dirty handprints and who knows what else. . . . Since it’s a pretty dark little hallway, I decided that adding a color to the door would help to brighten things up and hopefully disguise some of the dirt.
I’ve also been wanting to try Annie Sloan chalk paint, especially the color “Arles.”
It’s next to impossible to get a good photograph with the lighting in this spot, but once the color was on the door, I would describe it as a shade somewhere between cheddar cheese and a school bus.
How’s that for descriptive?
I’m not sure if it was the surface of the door or the texture of the chalk paint itself, but it ended up taking three coats for good coverage.
After one coat. . .
After three coats. . .
I also have the Annie Sloan soft wax, but confess I still haven’t gotten around to it after painting my door a couple of months ago. Any thoughts on if I really need to do this?
By the way, if you’re interested in ordering chalk paint, I got mine from Jenny at the Back Porch Mercantile.
Have you used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint? What did you think?
It’s almost summer and yard sale season is now in full swing. It’s hard to get up early on Saturday mornings and easy to get discouraged if you never find any treasures. I used to run a clothing store on Ebay (lots of work, little profit and not nearly as fun as blogging!) and would be out shopping/rummaging every weekend with the best of them. My yard sale time has been put on the back burner thanks to the kids’ Saturday morning schedules, but when I do get to go, there are certain things I like to always keep an eye out for. . .
Glass bottles and jars
It’s hard to go wrong with glass. Whether for decorative, storage or serving purposes, there’s always a use for it. Mix and match your pieces, and think of new ways to display every day items:
Baskets
I’m always seeing baskets. Some aren’t necessarily pretty enough to display, but they still make great storage in drawers and behind closed doors. And, there’s always the option to add a stencil or some paint.
Real Simple
Books
You know I love decorating with books. They instantly warm up a space. And, they make great (inexpensive) accessories when used in stacks. I always look for colorful spines or pretty pages to frame.
Decorative Boxes & Bowls
They say it’s all in the details. So, I like to look for small boxes and bowls to hold or disguise every day items around the house, like remote controls, keys or loose change. A pretty bowl or box looks great atop a stack of books or on a bedside table. Again, think of ways you can update them using a stencil or some painter’s tape.
(One of my latest finds now hides our remote.)
“Spray-Paintables”
I think I just made up that word. But, I’m always on the look out for small accessories or pieces that have a great shape and just need a fresh color. It’s easy to create a collection by buying lots of different pieces and giving them all a coat or two of the same paint. I’m also a sucker for a pretty lamp base, no matter how ugly the color may be.
Ginger jar lamps are some of my favorites. They look great in a bright color and with a fresh shade.
Bella Mancini Design via DecorPad
Another lamp I found for $3. It was a dull brass before I gave it a really red makeover:
Are you an avid yard sale shopper? Is there anything specific you always look out for?
