Home Decor – Page 10 – Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys

A Little Update Up Top

Published on July 10, 2014 by Jenna3 Comments

Although I love the decor I chose for the small section of our kitchen cabinet tops, I wasn’t super crazy about how things were looking on the long portion. I’d tried a few options and had a plan to update a large tin I purchased, but something still wasn’t just right. It just seemed a little to sparse compared to the other side, so I knew I wanted to add something. Maybe a few somethings.

Luckily, while I was in Portland I found several somethings on my pilgrimage to Home Goods and a visit to a large Goodwill. The new haul included a basket tray, a tall distressed white ceramic container, a fake plant and a green glass jar. All together, I probably spent around $30 for all four, which brings the current total spent to around $40. Still within my bargainista budget.

I added a cream ceramic pitcher I already had and the former cache pot – watch for an update on that project soon. I played around with the items, trying things in different spots and finally settled on this line up.

Apparently Luna approves! In fact, I’m surprised she didn’t knock over the basket so she could lay in IT! I’m still getting used to the new look, but I’m pretty happy with how it pulls in the colors and textures from around the kitchen and family room. The fact that the pitcher is a different color than the other ceramic pieces kinda makes me twitchy, but it works for now. 🙂

My Garden Stool Addiction

Published on July 6, 2014July 15, 2014 by Jenna3 Comments

My name is Jenna and I’m a garden stool addict. Our trip to Portland produced three new garden stools, which now brings me to a total of five. It all started with an online purchase of the first when I needed a table for the chair and ottoman in our family room. Then I picked up a metal stool last summer at the nursery and used that as a side table for the chairs on the balcony of the rental house.

I purchased the third in Portland last fall, but couldn’t bring it home on the plane so we left it there with the ’55 knowing we would be back to get it in the coming months. I plan to use it with the chairs going next to the fire pit.

In the meantime, I’d started using the blue metal stool in our master bathroom shower as a spot to prop my foot when shaving my legs. It fulfilled a need, but the blue wasn’t working with the rest of the room’s decor, so I was planning to paint it gold like the accent in our mosaic tile. I purchased spray paint several weeks ago, but hadn’t gotten around to completing that project before leaving on our trip.

So when I spotted a white Moroccan garden stool that I loved at Home Goods during my pilgrimage there I convinced myself that it would coordinate with the white trim in the room and would make an excellent replacement. It was a bit pricey at $80, but I reasoned that if I decided it didn’t work in the shower I could use it elsewhere and go back to my previous stool.

A few days later we hit Marshalls to use a gift card and I found this. The color was a perfect fit for the bathroom and the pattern would work with the decor as well. And at $39.99 it would only cost me $15 after my gift card! I believe there was a heavenly hymn playing on the overhead speakers. I snapped that baby up and claimed her as mine.

Then I spotted a wooden stool nearby and debated which would work better in the shower. So I did what I always do, I grabbed both and found the hubs to let him help me decide.

That wonderful man didn’t bat an eye when I walked up to him with not one, but two more stools and asked which he liked better. Oh how I adore that man! A short discussion later the decision was made and the wooden stool left behind as we proceeded to the checkout.

So now I have a diverse collection of stools. But in my defense, they are all useful and #5 is perfect for the shower! So I guess this is one addiction I’ll maintain. 🙂

A Quick Fix

Published on May 30, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

When we first brought Luna home, she took out her anxiety on my storage bench in the Master Closet. Since my other chitlins had somehow stained the seat while we lived in the rental house I wasn’t too upset about it.

But now that we’ve passed the “settling in” phase and she is secure in her role of ruling the DB&DT household, it was time to fix this little blemish.

I dug through my fabric stash and decided a tan microsuede remnant was the perfect match for the master bedroom decor and was just the right size for the project. Apparently, Luna felt a tad bit guilty about her role in creating the problem, so she wanted to help by taking her bath right next to the board as I worked on it.

A few staples and snips later, it looks better than new!

So good in fact, that the Princess herself came to give it a royal approval!

And then pause to appreciate how pretty she was after her bath!

Hopefully, she has no plans to tear up her new throne now that it’s been upgraded. 🙂

Peter Cottontail Gets a Facelift

Published on April 20, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Happy Easter! I thought I’d share a little Easter craftiness today. I’ve had this cute little bunny yard stake for several years and as you can see, the Alaskan spring weather has done a number on it. So I decided it was time Peter Cottontail get a facelift!

I had the hubs give him a good coat of white spray paint. I had planned to touch up his facial features with craft paint but then I remembered I had a bunch of colored sharpies so I picked out a cute pink and went for it. Once he had a pink nose and grin he did look a little girly so I decided to give him a little bow tie to help balance out the pink. I pulled a purple ribbon left over from our wedding invitations out of my supply stash and fluffed until I was happy with the shape.

Now he looks good as new. In fact you could say he was resurrected, which is a perfect reminder of the real reason behind this wonderful holiday!

Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten any landscaping in yet thanks to the slow spring thaw and the need to wait for the builder to come clean the lot of all the debris they left in the snow. So I propped him up next to the garage with some rocks. Maybe next year our landscaping will include a bunny trail that brings some other cotton-tailed friends to the yard.

A Tin Crown

Published on April 16, 2014April 17, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

I picked up this beautiful tin tile at an antique show soon after we moved into the new house. Crafted by the same vendor who I got the entry way dresser from, it was a bargain at just $7! And I knew I wanted to use it in our Master bedroom where it would tie in with the other Moroccan patterns I’d gathered.

Unfortunately I couldn’t seem to find the perfect spot for it. I considered putting it over by the tub, but it felt crowded there. I was tempted to replace one of the items hanging on either side of our vanity, but the scale was off. I also considered using it in the bedroom, but that didn’t seem right either. At one point I even tucked it away in the cabinet planning to use it on the shelves I want the hubs to install above the toilet. Then I had a ‘light bulb moment’ and realized it would fit perfectly over the top of the shower tile.

I asked the hubs if he thought it would be ok in such as ‘moist’ environment and he gave a green light. So armed with a hammer, nail and step stool I proceeded to hang my green treasure in the shower. I’m pleased to say that I’m very happy with how it looks. The green coordinates with the green in our decorative tile making it seem like it was painted just for that spot! Maybe I’d go so far as to say it’s the crowning jewel of the shower.. you know, if crown jewels were made of tin! 🙂

I’ve never hung anything in a shower before (other than a shower curtain), so now I’m curious – has anyone else decorated a shower with art? If so, leave a comment and tell me about it!

A Little Lace Makes A Big Impact

Published on April 10, 2014April 13, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

I thought I’d share the story behind the little lace votives that we’re seen in my recent Easter decor post. I made these as inventory for my recent craft show booth, but they didn’t sell so I decided they were the perfect addition to my holiday decor. They were super simple to make. I started with plain glass votives that I purchased for another project and no longer needed.

I had a bag of lace I’d been hoarding since someone gave it to me so I picked out a couple of sizes that fit the votives well in spring colors. I measured out how much I needed to go around and added a little extra for room to glue it down. A little hit glue and about 10 minutes later I had pretty vintage looking votives!

This has to be one of the easiest crafts I’ve done in a very long time! And because I already had everything on hand it didn’t cost me a dime. 🙂

Bright Colors, Bunnies and Chicks

Published on April 9, 2014April 8, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

I finally took down the St. Patty’s decor and put up some Easter decorations. I’ve actually acquired a pretty good inventory, so I spread things out around the main area of the house.

I hung an egg garland across the mantel, where my little lambs found safe haven from becoming chew toys. I also added the pretty Pottery Barn-esque twig basket I found on sale last year at Target.

Either side of the TV got a few items as well, including the larger lamb I found at a local boutique recently. Thus far the fur babies haven’t shown any interest in these items so hopefully my fluffy new friend is safe there.

The kitchen got a few Easter towels I picked up in the dollar zone at Target and the bunny towel I got a yard sale a couple years back.

The entry way’s holiday tree was festooned with eggs and bunny ornaments, which was also the theme on the entry table.

Across from the dresser I hung one of my favorite thrifted items, filled with pretty spring flowers.

The front door also joined in on the bunny & egg-palooza with my clearance egg wreath from Pier 1’s end of season sale a few years back.

Back inside the dining room got the last of the Easter items, my Princess House rabbit dish and some rustic speckled eggs.

I updated the St. Patty’s Day centerpiece with a few fuzzy chicks and some more speckled eggs, much to the delight of Luna who believes they were put there just for her entertainment.

That would be Luna waiting for me to turn away so she can return to playing with her new toys…

And last but not least, I added some fresh flowers from the grocery store to the side table in the green vase I found on my thrifting spree earlier this year.

I still feel like my Easter decor is a little juvenile, so I plan to add in a few more biblical pieces – beyond the lambs, which are my current favorite – next year to represent the true meaning behind the holiday. But for now, I enjoy the pretty colors which remind me of God’s promise to make all things new again. Did you do any religious decor for Easter? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

Kiss My Glass

Published on March 24, 2014April 13, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

I recently discovered a local artisan who does stained glass pieces and ordered this beautiful whale for my mom’s birthday. The hubs catch a glimpse of the piece before I shipped it off and was a bit upset that we weren’t keeping it, so when the artist posted a new pattern of two whales with special multi-colored glass I knew I wanted one for our home.

Even though she follows a pattern, each piece turns out a bit differently, due to the glass variations and hand crafting. She can also create custom pieces like this, which I’m remembering for later! 😉

I decided to hang our whales in the guest bathroom, where I have all the nautical décor. I had been feeling like there were too many fish in there with the fish plates on the wall and the hanging fish in the window. I simple adore my fish plates, so the hanging fish had to go. Now the glass whales hang in their place look a million times better! Plus the colors coordinate perfectly with everything else in this space.

The artist calls her side business, Kiss My Glass Alaska. Isn’t that the most perfect name ever?! It was so great that I had to borrow it for the title of this post!

You can see other designs she’s done on her Facebook page and while you’re there be sure to click like so you see future creations too!

I’m a huge proponent of supporting small business, especially as a small business owner myself! These kitchen table shops make a huge impact on the economy and directly support American families, rather than line the pockets of corporate tycoons. And it doesn’t hurt that they make the world a prettier place too!

Feelin’ Lucky

Published on March 17, 2014March 19, 2014 by Jenna2 Comments

Because neither of us have Irish heritage and we aren’t big drinkers, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t a huge to-do in our home. Regardless, I still like to put up a little green here and there. I usually round up whatever green and gold décor pieces I have lying around and mix them together with the small stash of stereotypical St. Patty’s theme items like leprechauns, gold coins and rainbows I’ve accumulated over the past few years. Here’s what I came up with this year to bring a bit of luck to our home.

On one side of the mantel I used a framed Irish phrase I found online and printed with some Celtic graphics for a border along with some green and gold accents. The other side holds my newly thrifted green vase with some white hydrangeas, another gold votive and our pretty D monogram which has hints of gold to it as well.

The button rainbow I created a few years back fit perfectly on the little side table between the chair and couch. A little potted succulent next to it added a bit more green.

The space on either side of the TV got a little attention with more mix and match green and gold. Split peas in a glass jar keep my little leprechaun contained with his gold. I also paired a white crock I picked up at a thrift shop recently with faux clover I found on sale at JoAnns last month. A pretty green bird and some more gold votives finished off the look.

I made this blarney stone back when we lived in Kodiak and love how it looks with gold coins in this pretty cloche which I placed on the buffet in the dining room.

More split peas in a white tray with white pillar candles makes a super simple, but elegant centerpiece.

The entry way was the refuge for all the left over green and gold, which I compiled into two little vignettes around my green filled Scentsy . It was also the perfect spot to hang my lucky leprechaun sign.

And of course I had to make a little green bling for myself to wear today! I put this small pin on my green cardigan and have a larger version on my coat lapel. Irish or not, I’m not getting pinched! 🙂

Do you do something fun or unique to celebrate this fun holiday? Leave a comment and tell me about it!

Cast Iron Charm

Published on March 5, 2014March 11, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

I found these pretty cast iron medallions at a local antique shop recently and knew I wanted to use them in the Master bathroom, although I wasn’t sure exactly how. I considered making hooks out of them for our towels, but didn’t want them to be covered up most of the time. I also thought about attaching them to a board and making a piece of art, but that didn’t feel right either. Finally I decided that putting them above the window over the tub would be just right.

They also made a great visual anchor for the hanging terrariums I had the hubs put up in here. I think they fit perfectly with my eclectic Alaskan spa theme in this space. I’ve been incorporating a few Moroccan pieces and patterns in this space and these medallions follow that trend, without being over powering.