Home Decor – Page 12 – Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys

Potty Pondering…

Published on July 28, 2013February 6, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Now that the house is starting to take shape and I can envision the rooms within the framed walls, I’ve started thinking about details of each space. The one in particular I keep pondering the most is our master bathroom. Although I love the layout of the Master Bathroom, there isn’t much space for storage so I’m trying to incorporate storage into my design. Of course that means I have a host of ideas pinned just waiting to be put into action. Here are a few!

I plan to start with making the vanity super functional by framing in the mirror and adding shelves like this where I can display frequently used items in ‘pretty’ containers.

Inside the vanity there will be lots of organized storage with something like this. Luckily, I spotted bins similar to this at the dollar store the other day so it shouldn’t cost much to create!

Then after we settle in I want to up the ainty with a hidden drawer around the sink bowls out of the false drawer fronts. It’s perfect to hold my makeup and brushes, while the hubby’s side can house his razor and brush along with other daily use items.

I also have plans to add shelves like these above the toilet to store extra towels and toilet paper along with a few decor items just to make it pretty.

Because of the layout in our bathroom there isn’t a good spot for a towel bar within easy reach of the shower. This revelation led me to consider using towel hooks on the tiny sliver of wall next to the shower similar to this instead. I’ve really come to love the idea because I’m constantly trying to get the towels folded and hanging evenly on the double bar we have in the rental right now. Plus using hooks should make the towels dry faster!

The shower will have built in storage with two niche shelves similar to this designed to hold shampoo and other necessities. That means the shower caddy we currently use can go live in the guest bathroom!

And since there really isn’t a logical spot for a towel bar in the guest bathroom layout I’m going to put them behind the door like this. Such an great idea for a small space! I love this idea for hand towels, especially since it goes with my ‘seaside’ decor in the guest bathroom, but I plan to use it on the wall next to the vanity rather than under the window. Definitely better than those ugly towel rings, which I despise.

I also love this idea for both bathrooms! How unique is that! And super simple to change out! Apparently there is a wealth of styles and varieties to choose from, so I’ll have to pick something different for each potty!

Simple, Rustic Monograms

Published on July 5, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

I recently created these monogram wall hangings as inventory for a local craft show using materials I had on hand. A cork square, a little burlap, some cord, my Silhouette machine and a sharpie is all I needed. First I covered the 6” cork square with burlap, wrapping it around the edges and securing it on the back with hot glue.

Next I designed a variety of popular initials and cut them out on either paper or wax paper. This was the first time I’d used wax paper to make a stencil and found that it tended to curl once removed from the cutting mat, so the regular paper seemed to work a little better, although I had to be careful not to tear it.

I pinned the stencil to the board and traced an outline of the letter with my sharpie. From there I just colored inside the lines to fill in the remainder of the letter.

Then I attached a bit of fabric cord in a loop at the top of the board on the back with some more hot glue to make a simple hanger. I think they turned out pretty darn cute and priced them at just $5 due to their simple construction. I still have several available in my Etsy shop and still have materials to make more if you need a letter I haven’t created yet.

I also made these fabric bulletin boards using the same method, sans the stenciling portion. It makes them just a little prettier than the basic cork tile on the wall.

I just love quick, easy craft projects, don’t you?!

I Can See The Light

Published on June 30, 2013February 6, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Now that we are moving forward with construction on our new home – finally breaking ground THIS WEEK!! EEKK! – I’m starting to think obsess about the little details we will soon be choosing. Light fixtures are my current focus. I know it’s one of the LAST things we will need to pick out, but it’s what my brain wants to think about apparently.

Ever since I heard someone on HGTV describe the basic builder grade fixture as a “nipple light” or “boob light” I’ve been obstinately prejudiced to them. I also don’t want fixtures that will collect dust and require me to climb on ladders to constantly clean or suffer increased allergies if I’m lazy busy. Luckily the hubs isn’t extremely picky when it comes to these types of details and lets me pretty much have free rein since I usually pick something he’s ok with. I really love that we have such similar tastes!

I did drag him to a lighting store downtown that I’d spotted and wanted to check out, but in the end he’s glad I did because we found this! A propeller styled ceiling fan! How cool is that?! (Sorry for the crappy iPhone pic, but that’s the best I could get looking up and trying to crop out the other displays.) Yes, it’s a little spendy, but we can make it fit within our allowance and I think it’s a great fit for his love of flight and the craftsman style of our home. At first he thought I was joking that I liked the prop style, but when he realized I wasn’t kidding the light bulb went on (pun intended) and he was suddenly more interested in the rest of the lighting choices.

The kitchen island will have pendant lights over it which sounds simple, but there are literally hundreds of styles of pendant lights out there these days. I was originally thinking of doing mercury glass shades, but then stumbled upon this idea and found that the hubs really likes it and wants to help make them! I guess we’ll be on the hunt for old insulators now! 🙂

I’ve been eyeing this pottery barn fixture for over year now for the dining room and found similar options like this at the big box stores for much more reasonable prices. Again the hubs liked my suggestion! I’m sensing a trend here…

Then we spotted this ceiling fan at the big box store and both immediately liked it. We thought it would be a nice compliment to the prop fan, but at a lower price tag for the Master Bedroom. We plan to add a light kit the to the bottom, which seems pretty inexpensive and easy to do. We just might have to spray paint a not so pretty brass light with ORB so it jives with the rest of the fan’s hardware.

Although I don’t love its hefty price tag, I absolutely ADORE this fixture and think it would be perfect in the entryway. I didn’t see it at the store the last time I was there and haven’t had much luck tracking it down online, so I might have to go back to the store and ask them to order me one. This is where the hub’s enthusiasm wore out. He apparently doesn’t have an opinion one way or another on this one other than the price. If you know of where I can find something similar please let me know so I can compare!

Granted there are a few spots where I plan to have the builder install a basic fixture which we will change out with a creative DIY later like this little cutie I found on Pinterest. I think it would look nice in the laundry room since I have a subtle rustic Americana theme in my laundry room décor – which is currently packed away since our rental has the washer and dryer in the garage! I’d also like to create something like this for the Studio/Office if I can find some antique crystal decanters, or try my hand at making faux mercury glass with a tutorial I found online.

We have an appointment with a sales rep at the store downtown Monday evening so we’ll see if he can fit it all in within budget. If not, we’ll get a few specialty pieces for the main traffic areas and then supplement basics elsewhere to be swapped out later as inspiration strikes. We are also narrowing in on our final choices for cabinets and counter tops so watch for a post about that soon too!

DIY Patriotic Garland

Published on June 28, 2013June 25, 2013 by Jenna1 Comment

I spotted this How Does She tutorial and decided to give it a try since I had plenty of red, white and blue ribbon left over from my recent patriotic hair clip projects and have been looking for ideas I can use on a mantel when we move to our new house. While watching a movie with the hubs, I cut a stack of 4″ pieces of each type of ribbon. I had more of some and less of others since I was using up what I had on hand, but I had enough of each color to make it work so I figured I’d just spread out the pieces of the lower quantities more to make it appear even.

I cut a 3′ piece of larger ribbon to be the base, then started tying the pieces onto this main ribbon, randomly choosing pieces of different varieties and colors – basically just eyeballing what I thought the next piece should be. Luckily the base ribbon was the first piece I had cut off that spool and it had the sticker that held the end down still attached so I used that to hold the end away from me on the arm of the easy chair. It did take the entire movie to complete but it wasn’t extremely difficult.

I’m tickled ~~pink~~ red, white and blue at the final product! The one thing I would do differently next time is make it longer. Three feet just didn’t seem to work for many of the places I thought of putting the garland. I ended up placing it across this octagon window in our family room which seemed to work pretty well. I also found that I liked it better when I twisted the direction of groups of the tied ribbons to give it a little more dimension.

I’m planning to make more just like this but in different color varieties as photography props! I’m thinking a pink one for girls, blue for boys, fall colors, maybe a rainbow or mardi gras colors, orange and black for Halloween and of course red and green for Christmas!

Once I get going I may even make a stock of them to sell to other photographers now that I’ve set up my own Etsy shop, (where I also have a stock of patriotic hair accessories!). I just have to decide what to charge for this new item. I saw a fabric garland done in the same tie-style at Michaels the other day for $14.99, but I don’t think it was a pretty or vibrant as this one. I’m thinking $15 would be a fair price, especially if I custom make one with requested colors. And because they are so light weight, it shouldn’t cost much more for shipping.

What do you think? Would you use one at a photo session you were paying for or for decor at a party you were hosting and if so, do you think that’s a fair price? What colors would you like to see? Or better yet, anyone want to place a custom order right now? 🙂

The Easiest Project Yet

Published on June 26, 2013June 24, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

I spotted these pretty mason jar soap pumps on DecorSteals.com and immediately ordered two. Unfortunately during the checkout process I was informed that they would not ship to Alaska. UGH! Guess that was fate telling me they really were as overpriced as I thought they were – $29 a pair, plus shipping! I knew I’d pinned a DIY tutorial on how to make the same thing so I figured I’d keep my eyes peeled for pretty mason jars and pumps locally and give it a try.

About a week later my hubby took me to a deviously wonderful antique store he’d spotted while out and about. Where I found these lovlies for just $10 each.

I was twitterpaited. And then like I always do, I got distracted and they sat for weeks, until the day I needed a few items to fill the dishwasher before running a load. Now all clean and pretty and sitting on my counter, they were back on my radar. Luckily, a few days later I made a trip to Pier 1 to use the gift card my mom had gotten me for my birthday and found clear pumps for just a $1 each! Of all the things I might find at Pier 1, that certainly wasn’t one I thought I would, but I’m sure glad I did!

I was in the midst of getting lots of crafts done for an upcoming display so I wasn’t planning on working on this little project until later, but my hubby decided to make it happen and started pulling out tools. I quickly looked up the tutorial I’d saved to show him what the steps were and then followed him out to the garage to get action shots.

First he marked the center of each lid with a dot. Then he drilled a hole slightly smaller than the circumference – I love how that word makes me sound smart! – of the pump. He then took a little more off the edges of the hole until the pump would fit into the opening. Here’s the line up of each stage from far to near.

Yes, that is our garbage can being used as a work bench. I’m not the only one who longs for the day we move into our NEW home and start setting things up the way that works best for our needs – including a study work table with tool storage nearby!

At this point I returned to whatever craft I was currently working on and the hubs applied epoxy to each pump and lid to create a seal. We let them dry a day or two to make sure everything cured completely. Then he measured how long each stem should be and trimmed them down to fit.

I filled each with a healthy dose of soft soap from the bulk container I’d purchased some time ago for filling the small single hand pumps we’d had previously and then placed each in their new ‘home’. I love that each is different and has it’s own character.

All together we made four dispensers for $44. That’s less than I was going to spend online without shipping, which makes me like them even better. I think they turned out pretty darn cute and the hubs declared them “the easiest project yet!” He then noted how he was surprised I hadn’t done more for things like lotion, etc. I took that as a clue that he really does enjoy doing these little projects with me and told him I’d be sure to watch for more jars so we could make those daily use items ‘pretty’ enough to display in our new home and then promptly showed him one of my many DIY plans for the master bathroom… 🙂

Water-Proof, Scratch-Resistant and Just Plain Pretty

Published on June 14, 2013July 31, 2013 by Jenna1 Comment

Sawcut Arizona Allure Ultra Flooring (Source: The Home Depot)

As promised, here’s a little run down of the flooring we plan to use throughout the whole house. I knew I wanted wood floors because not only do I love the way they look, but they are easy to clean and should be better for my allergies than carpet. The hubby had laminate floors in previous homes and was adamant that we would not use a laminate because of the issues he’s had with them, so we started looking at hardwood and engineered hardwood products.

We found several that we loved the look of, but were completely beyond our budgeted allowance with the builder and just wouldn’t stand up to our rough and tumble dogs. Plus they wouldn’t work in areas like the kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms, which meant we’d have flooring transitions – something we were trying to avoid whenever possible.

During one of our ‘research’ trips to Home Depot I spotted a new tile product made to look like wood floors and asked an associate about its durability. When I explained what we wanted he asked if I’d see the new Traffic Master Allure Ultra Flooring. We hadn’t, so he took us to the display and explained how easy it was to install (click & lock with no under layment necessary) and how resilient it was – water proof and scratch proof. Click here to view a video about the product, describing all of it’s attributes and installation.

The store associate also mentioned that he was about to install it in his own home and that his manager had also used it in his home with great results. That made us even more interested, so we took a couple of samples to see which we liked best and test them out under doggie feet.

Because both samples held up perfectly to the dogs’ attacks, the hubs decided to give it a little extra testing and actually took a key to the sample we liked best trying his hardest to get it to scratch. When that didn’t produce any real visible result he moved on to testing with a very sharp knife, which finally did have a result, albeit minimal. The scratch was minor that you probably wouldn’t see it from a standing height when it was on the floor.

That was the critical selling point for us. Adding in that it was comparably priced to the end cost of a laminate or tile once you factor in the extra materials needed for installation sealed the deal. Then we learned that because we would be installing it in a residential home there was a 25 year warranty. Plus because we plan to use it throughout the whole house there will be no transitions! I don’t think we could have asked for a better product.

Of course the true test will come once we install it and move in, but based on our testing I don’t anticipate having any issues once we are living on it. We’ve chosen the Sawcut Arizona style for its rustic look and variety of colors. I wasn’t crazy about it when I saw the small sample but when I pieced several together and set them on the floor I was sure I liked that style better than the other we tried out. It’s going to look fabulous with our dark cabinets and light counter tops – which will be featured later once we pick out the exact ones. 🙂

Our Little Oasis

Published on May 31, 2013June 2, 2013 by Jenna3 Comments

Summer time has finally arrived here in Alaska and that means it’s time to get outside and soak it up before winter descends again in a few short months. Luckily, our rental house has a little balcony right off the main living room that is a perfect spot to sit and enjoy an evening chat. Unfortunately it was looking a little sparse when we first moved in this winter. So I decided to make it a bit more inviting.

I had already picked up two strawberry plants at the farmers market last weekend, which would be hung in the two square baskets I already had. But I was going to need a lot more than two strawberry baskets to save this sad little balcony. The first thing I knew I wanted to add was some chairs, because you can’t sit and relax without those! I contemplated purchasing some plastic chairs but didn’t want to spend almost $20 a pop – especially knowing we probably wouldn’t use them again when we move. Then I remembered we had ‘camping chairs’ which would fit well in the space. Although the chairs have a cup holder built in, I still wanted a little table in between to hold a few little things when necessary. I also knew we needed some flowers to liven up this space. So list in hand, I headed for the largest nursery in town.

I was literally amazed at this place. Not only do they have a HUGE green house full of every type of plant that grows in Alaska, they have 3 HUGE green houses! Plus they had a coffee bar and cafe along with a large gift shop! They are are so big they even do bridal registries! I could have spent all. day. long. here and still not seen everything they had.

The first thing I found was a little stool that I thought would work nicely as a table for the chairs and can later become a photo prop or garden stool. At $26 it wasn’t a super bargain, but I thought it was fairly priced. I knew it would compliment the blue chairs and make a perfect spot for one of the little citronella pots we brought with us from Kodiak. I love how the blues and greens all work together – creating a natural soothing palette. It’s almost like I planned it! 🙂

I picked out marigolds and lobelia to fill the rail baskets we already had, but when I went to hang them I realized the hooks were for a smaller top rail. Lucky for me, my ingenious hubby figured out how to tweak the hooks so they would work on this taller board. Love that man! Hopefully the marigolds add to the citronella and keep the bugs at bay so we don’t spend our evenings swatting the air. I also snagged a lavender plant for the pretty grey pot I had planted seeds in, which never spouted.

After I’d planted the strawberries in the hanging baskets I had to figure out where and how to hang them. I had these pretty bird brackets I’d purchased on DecorSteals.com for our new house several months ago and decided we should start enjoying them now. The hubs put up the brackets where I asked and I think they look great.

Near the check out we spotted a stand of nautical bell wind chimes and tested them all out to find the perfect tone (hopefully the neighbors agree!). We selected one with a dog at the end of the chime rather than the typical Alaskan bear, moose or salmon because it was more symbolic of our little family. Granted neither of our girls have tails, but they didn’t have a chime with a ‘nubby’ dog! LOL Although it was a bit of a splurge at $68, I’ve wanted one for a long time and I knew that was the standard cost for something of that size and weight, especially when you don’t have to pay shipping!

I brought a wrought iron piece out from inside to give the space a little extra flair and then placed the cherry tomato plant I snagged during another trip to the farmers’ market for just $10 under it. We already have a few tomatoes about ready to be picked and enjoyed!

I topped everything off with the little rug we already had so there’s a comfy spot to wipe any dirt off your feet before coming back inside. The hubs replaced the ripped screen so we can also enjoy the breeze from outside even when we are inside. But the best part is that everything we’ve done (except the repaired screen) can be taken down and brought to our new house as soon as it’s ready. So here’s the finished product. What do you think?

I think I’ll light my little citronella pot, sit and enjoy a nice little chat with my hubby after dinner tonight!

Some Gave All

Published on May 27, 2013June 2, 2013 by Jenna1 Comment

As I sit here on this beautiful Memorial Day with all of the windows and doors of my house open, feeling the breeze float through my home, I am thankful to those who make this life possible, especially those who gave their lives to ensure my right to live as I please. I have been blessed to have never lost one of my numerous friends or family who have served in our armed forces, but there are many who have and I hope that they know their sacrifice is not in vain – at least not in my eyes.

I may not always agree with the politics that send them on missions, but I ALWAYS support the troops. They did not choose where they would serve or what the objective is. Rather they respectfully fulfill their duties without understanding why one day a stretch of ground is worth American lives and the next it’s not.

Part of my remembrance of those who have given all includes decorating our home with a collection of red, white and blue I’ve acquired over the years. Just as it does every year, this patriotic decor will remain on display throughout the summer in celebration of Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day – reminding me of the liberties I enjoy because of the brave.

For me, the song “Some Gave All” by Billy Ray Cyrus is a fitting tribute to those we honor today. May they rest in peace because freedom isn’t FREE.

I knew a man called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don’t understand
About the reasons we are free

I can’t forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man

Love your country and live with pride
And don’t forget those who died America can’t you see

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all

Some gave all

Storage Hidden In Plain Sight

Published on May 17, 2013June 2, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

I. love. storage. Seriously. I always consider storage whenever purchasing something. Either it provides storage or it has to be stored. So when I was considering adding a bench to the foot of the bed in our guest room, something where guests could stop and remove their shoes by the front door and a chair in the corner of our master I knew I wanted them to add storage if they were going to take up room.

I found the storage bench for the guest room first. I’d looked at similar styles online and at Target, but just couldn’t stomach the $100-200 price tags. So during a late night run to Fred Meyer I decided to cruise through the home decor area just to browse. And then I spotted it. The bright orange sign that said “Today only! All ottomans 1/2 off!” *Cue heavenly music**

I started scanning the shelves and found a pleather storage bench and a small rattan storage ottoman. The bench seemed the perfect size for the foot of the queen bed in our guest room and was regularly $160. $80 seemed a pretty fair price for such a big bench, so in my cart it went. I pondered over the rattan ottoman for the entry way. I considered getting two to make a longer bench but our rental has just a small stair landing inside the front door so I opted to get just one. They were normally $60, making it just $30. Then I remembered I had a coupon for home decor! Another 10% off!

I happily made my way to the register as they announced the store would close in just 10 minutes. It was obvious that the cashier was ready for her shift to be over and not excited by the rush of people now in her line due to the announcement. As she rang me up we realized that the storage bench didn’t have a bar code on it, so she called back to that department to get a SKU number.

The department clerk had a hard time locating one because I’d grabbed the VERY last one of this style. Several minutes later the cashier was read a bar code which she entered. After the computer automatically applied the sale discount it rang up at $24.99! She didn’t bat an eyelash, although the rattan ottoman had rung up for more and was smaller. I waited a moment for her to say something, but she didn’t. She was ready to move on to the next customer and bring an end to the day. She told me my total, I paid and practically bolted out of the store before someone would tell me I needed to pay more.

Once I got it home and placed in the guest room I packed it with extra blankets that guests may want to use. The prettier ones left over from this storage in the family room. The rattan ottoman worked out perfectly for the entry way landing and provided the perfect spot to store the extra dog leashes, ‘pop’ baggies and collars our kiddos have amassed.

I’d been stalking an ottoman at Target for the master for a while when I finally decided it was worth the price. Normally $80 I got it for 5% off because I used my Target Red Card – if you shop at Target often and don’t have one you’re crazy! Not the super deal I was hoping for, but I figured it made up for the super savings I’d gotten on the guest room bench. And it was the perfect size to fit in the little corner between the back door and our closet. It makes a perfect spot to sit and put on my socks/nylons and shoes each morning, which was exactly what I wanted.

I haven’t stored much in it yet, other than things that I don’t want the dogs getting into during the day when I’m at work. For now the plan is to start storing clean trash bags there so I have a ready stock when I do the weekly yard clean up, eliminating the need to traipse through the house with dirty shoes upstairs to get one out from under the sink in the kitchen.

The best part about each of these ottomans is that they could work anywhere in our new home and probably will end up in areas different than they currently are. Which is why versatility is the second thing I look for in each item I purchase!

Pottery Barn Knock Off Wall Medallions

Published on May 8, 2013June 2, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

I can’t explain why, but I’m completely drawn to anything with an exotic print or pattern. Perhaps it’s because of my plain Jenna, American apple pie background – you know, the whole you want what’s different and mysterious thing? Whatever the reason, it’s part of why I L.O.V.E. Pier One and Pottery Barn‘s eclectic accessories. So it was no surprise that I audibly gasped when I saw these in a Pottery Barn catalog a few seasons ago. And then quickly went into sticker shock when I saw the set of three ran $130! Um.. I don’t think so. No even if I had a gift card. I just have a mental block about over-priced items.

So I did what I always do. I pinned them for inspiration and kept an eye out for something similar at a more reasonable price. Then one day I found some wooden trivets at a yard sale in Kodiak. They looked pretty old and dried out, but the carving pattern was pretty similar. Plus the lady had three – small, medium and large! I tried not to act too interested when I asked how much she wanted. She glanced over and mumbled, “How about $5?” I don’t think a $5 bill ever flew out of my pocket so fast!

Unfortunately I wasn’t blogging back then and don’t have a before picture to share, but here’s a sneak peek at what they look like now. Of course when my hubby saw them he raised an eyebrow and asked just what I intended to do with them. I showed him my inspiration picture and explained I wanted him to paint them white for me. I don’t do well with painting since I’m usually in a rush and try to do thick coats instead of thin ones and usually create a pretty wide berth of over spray so we decided long ago that when it comes to painting he saves himself a headache and just does it for me. Yes, I’m spoiled, but he is too, so it’s an even trade! 🙂

It took a few coats because the wood was so porous and dry, but they turned out beautifully. Unfortunately we were living in military housing at the time which meant ALL of our walls were WHITE. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE white walls? If not, just accept that I do. They make me feel like I’m in a cold hospital or crappy hotel room. That left me stumped on what to do with these newly painted pretties. So they sat in my project pile. Waiting for something to happen. And then it did. We moved!

90% of the walls in our rental are painted and I decided to do a Modern Exotic theme in our bedroom since we opted to do a road trip honeymoon rather than jet off to some foreign locale. The pattern fit right in with the other elements in the room and the white looks great against the colored wall. I hung them above the TV on a small wall that needed a little something to make it look finished and I’m very happy with the final look. Especially when my version comes in at just under $10!