Throughout the years, I've discovered ways to decorate on a budget. One of my favorite strategies is playing the high-low price game. This involves letting go of your expensive dream item and searching for similar, more affordable alternatives by being creative and thinking outside the box. Once you start this approach, you'll be surprised at how your perspective changes. An example of this was when I found a mirrored-top metal table in a luxury furniture catalog. It was exactly what I was looking for, but it was priced at $349.00, and I needed two. So, I let go of my perfect side table and began exploring other options. Let's see what I found: This is the table. I would need two, one for each side of the sofa. Thinking outside the box, I was in a retail chain store and discovered this table. It was small, round, and made of metal, like the high-end table, but it did not have a mirrored top. I wasn't a big fan of the wood insert, but after looking closer, I saw a gap between the wood insert and the metal rim (possibly enough for a mirror). At a third of the cost of the high-end table, I could not pass it up. I bought two, knowing I could return them if the mirrored glass wouldn't fit. I took them to a glass shop and was very happy when they said there was enough room to put a mirror in. This is what it looked like after the mirror was inserted. I love it maybe even more than the high-end table. By opening up my mind to other possibilities, I was able to find two tables for $150 (plus $50 for installation), coming in at $200 versus $698. There are so many ways to find bargains by keeping an open mind, thinking creatively, and above all, enjoying the process! Products : Olivia Mirrored Side Table

While sorting through my Christmas decorations, I realized how my taste has changed over the years. I have used many styles: some traditional, some whimsical, and some elaborate. This year, I've decided to keep it simple and use what I already have. To find inspiration, I looked at magazines and YouTube and was immediately drawn to the antique brass bells everyone was using in their decorating. Even though I wasn't buying, I was curious about the price. I found similar ones at Pottery Barn, and just as I thought, they were pricey. Lucky for me, I have a collection of bells that I can refurbish to look like the Pottery Barn bells. Here's what I did: These are the bells from Pottery Barn, just gorgeous. The string bells were priced at $49:50, and the larger ones were $149 for the set. In my collection, I found two string hanging bells and six larger bells. After removing the cording from the string bells, I was ready to start. With a small sponge, I applied gold acrylic paint in a stippling technique to each of the twelve bells including inside of the larger ones (all products will be listed at the end of the post). It would be perfectly fine to leave the bells this beautiful gold color, but I wanted them to look like antique brass. Using the same sponge I used to apply the gold paint; I began applying antiquing wax evenly to the entire bell. Next, I dipped the corner of the same sponge in the black paint and dabbed it around the bell, then started stippling until blended. Keep looking at the bell and adjust: if it is too dark, add a little gold paint; if too light, add the dark wax or black paint. There is no wrong way to do this, just keep going until you are satisfied. I did not like the white and gold cording, so I twisted jute cording to replace it. I love the way the bells came out. It was easier than I thought and very satisfying. Before and After Products Used: DecoArt Metallic Paint Glorious Gold Waverly Chalk Paint Ink Waverly Antiquing Wax Ashland Twine Gold and Natural If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like (heart at bottom of post) and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

The holiday season can sometimes be overwhelming. Handling everything may feel daunting. To help, I have a simple Christmas door wreath you can create. I made mine using items from Goodwill and craft store bargains, but you can use any remnants or decorations you already have on hand. Let's get to it! I bought this wreath a while ago (all product details will be provided at the end of the post). I chose it because I loved its design, and it can be used both indoors and outdoors. These photos are all items I purchased at Goodwill. The arrangement came with a lovely glass vase for just $7.00 (buying the greenery separately would have easily cost over $40). The red wreath was $3.00. When shopping at Goodwill, I try to think outside the box; for example, with the wreath, it wasn't nice enough to use by itself, but it is perfect to add as an embellishment. The final pictures show greenery and pinecones I purchased from a craft store at a 60% discount, and the ribbon is from the same craft store, which I got during a buy one, get three free deal. With everything gathered, I was ready to create. The first step was to add the red berries using green floral wire. I used wire on two sides and the top, then gave it the shake test and continued on. After the berries were secured, I added more greenery to create a focal point at the bottom of the wreath. Then, I wrapped ribbon around the berries. To further highlight the central point, I placed two large pinecones on each side. The final step was adding a loosely tied ribbon to the center. I love the way the wreath came out; it was both cost-effective and timesaving, taking less than an hour to complete. Keeping my options minimal and having everything in front of me was the key. Products Used: Norfolk Pine Wreath Place and Time Holiday Ribbon Pinecones and Greenery If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like (heart at the bottom of post) and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

A few years back during the after-Christmas sale at Target, I bought three Christmas trees in red metal pots. It was a great bargain, but the pots didn't really go with my usual Christmas decor. My Christmas colors are more subdued, and the pots were red with rope handles that were more rustic than what I usually use. After seeing the new Christmas Gloria Paint Inlays (all products will be listed at the end of post) I decided to give the pots a makeover. Let's see what I did: This is the larger of the three trees, the other two are slightly smaller. They are really cute, but not my style. The first thing I did was paint the pots using French Linen Chalk Paint. This color is more in tune with my holiday decor. The process was not difficult. First, you paint the surface, then position the inlay on the paint. After it is set, you spray the front with water and allow it to dry. Once dry, you respray the surface with water and remove it. Unfortunately, one side of the inlay was successful, but the other side was smeared (I may have used too much water; I am not sure). The smear was something I could not fix, so I painted over the inlay and attempted it again. The bottom picture displays the three pots with the inlays I selected. I didn't show how I removed the inlays, but this time there was no smearing. There were a few areas where the inlay didn't completely transfer, but unlike the initial inlay, I can fix those spots. I used a black colored pencil to fill in the areas that weren't completely transferred. After that, I added color using red and green pencils. For the larger tree, I used only the black pencil without adding any color. Finally, I used clear wax to seal everything. Finally, I removed the rope handles from the pots using pliers. To cover the resulting hole, I cut off the head of a tack and glued it over the opening. To finish, I touched up the paint and applied gold leaf around the top edge and on the tack. After it dried, I aged it with antiquing wax. I am thrilled with how the pots turned out, especially since they complement my holiday decor now. Even though there was a learning curve with the inlays, I will definitely be using them again. Annie Sloan French Linen Chalk Paint Iron Orchid Design Paint Inlays, Gloria Annie Sloan Dark Wax

I discovered a settee at Goodwill for $11.99 that captured my heart. Despite some stains, it cleaned up beautifully. I had purchased the settee with the intent of using it as a source of inspiration for renovating my office space. In my ideal office setup, I envisioned a cozy place (the settee) where I could work, surrounded by objects that reflect my personality and spark my creativity. Let's look at what I did: I wanted to start fresh, so I cleared everything else out of my office except the settee and the chandelier that was already in the room. To ground the space and introduce some color, I chose this rug. The muted tones make a statement without overpowering the room. Next was the fun part: bringing in items that represented my passions like reading, dancing, and creating. The room was too small for bookcases or a dance floor (ha, ha), but artwork would do the trick. Wanting a Parisian, bohemian vibe, I looked on Etsy and found a grouping of downloadable prints of women reading. Then I did the same for dancing and found another downloadable print, this time of a Victorian woman boogying (and maybe drinking). I wanted the "Victorian Dancing Ladies" to be front and center over the settee, but once it was on the wall, I realized it was too small to fill out the space. While looking around my house, I found shutters I had purchased a while back. Their patina was perfect for the room, so I hung them next to the print to balance out the vignette. In my search, I also came upon battery-powered sconces that I attached to the shutters with hooks (all products used in this post will be listed at the end). Here are the three ladies I selected from my downloaded Etsy collection. I was drawn to each one for different reasons. In the first one, I adore her robe and how intently she is reading. The second one seems wistful; maybe she is reading a love story. As for the last one, I absolutely love the assertiveness she exudes; her expression seems to say, "I am reading, do not disturb me until I am finished, or face the consequences!" After having them printed at Kinko's, I placed each print in a frame and matting I purchased from my favorite craft store at a buy-one-get-one-free sale, then hung them over the shelf. I started looking for items to place in the room. To keep costs down I shopped my house and found everything here except the artichoke bookends and the dancing sign. I love the way it all came together. It is the perfect place for me to work and find inspiration surrounded by what makes me happy! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Vintage Woman Reading Art Prints Vintage Victorian pencil Sketch Dancing Sign Artichoke Bookends Bohemian Rug

Recently, I've been experiencing some challenges with my current office arrangement. I realized that working at a desk wasn't for me, so I often found myself working on the couch in the front room instead of in my office. With this in the back of my mind, I was browsing through items at Goodwill when I came upon a settee that sparked an idea for my office setup. Instead of using a desk, I could do my work while sitting on the settee. All kinds of thoughts began to form in my mind, but there was one issue: the settee had a lot of stains and was quite dirty. But at $11.99 I decided to purchase it and see what I could do. The settee in the picture appears pinkish, but it is actually a deep, rich brown color. The first thing I did when I got home was give it a thorough vacuuming. I found crumbs and small toys in the crevices, which made me think small children had used it. That brought a smile to my face. Getting the crumbs out was easy, but dealing with the stains that were still there was a more challenging task. To tackle the stains and dirt on the settee, I used my upholstery cleaner (all products used will be listed at the end of the post). I cleaned the settee three times with the upholstery cleaner before the water ran clean. This settee had defintely been well used! All the stains on the settee were successfully removed except for one on the seat. This particular stain had a whitish appearance and felt hard to the touch. Despite trying different methods like ironing, using glue remover, upholstery cleaner, and attempting to push the substance through with a stick pin, some of the stain remained and some of my efforts led to slight fraying of the upholstery. Since most of the stain was gone and to prevent further damage, I chose to embrace the imperfection and move on. Besides, a strategically placed throw blanket can also solve this problem (wink, wink). My next task was to remove pulls around the settee. Taking a razor blade, I gently removed each pull, which took about an hour, but was worth it; in the end you couldn't even tell. And here is the final product. It looks amazing! A pretty good deal for $11.99! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products used: Little Green Machine Oxy Spot And Stain Remover Goo Gone Keep an eye out for my next post: Settee Makeover Part Two: Office Transformation!

While browsing "YouTube" for a Christmas do-it-yourself project, I came across a tutorial on making a book page wreath. The project seemed easy enough, and a wreath would look great in our front room, so I decided to give it a go. Since there was quite a bit of preparation required, my mother-in-law Audrey offered her assistance, and I gratefully accepted. Full disclosure: As someone who loves reading, I don't take cutting up a book lightly. However, the spine was broken, and the pages were coming loose and would have been discarded. Instead, I used it to make a wreath that will preserve it for years to come. Let's see what we did! To start, I used an X-Acto Knife to remove the cover, making it easier to extract the one hundred and twenty pages. I then trimmed the edges to ensure they were all the same size. I rolled and my mother-in-law taped. In between, we chatted! And just like that, we had one one hundred and twenty cones. Using a tape measure, I measured one inch from the tip of the cone and secured it with a staple. I repeated this task a total of one hundred and nineteen times. Next, I used a piece of string and a pencil to draw an eight-inch diameter circle and a four-inch diameter circle on a piece of poster board. With a glue gun, I started a pattern on the outer eight-inch circle by placing cones at twelve o’clock, three o’clock, six o’clock, and nine o’clock, and continued until the first layer was complete. After finishing the first layer, I went on to create the four-inch inner layer.  I liked how it looked, but I wanted a fuller wreath, so I added a third layer. To accomplish this, I added a two-and-a-half-inch circle to the center and repeated the process. The bottom two photos show the difference after another layer of cones (one on left has two layers, on the right has three). For an added touch of sparkle, I placed ornaments and a some of my mother-in-law's costume jewelry (which she donated to the project) in the center of the wreath. The finished wreath was bigger than I expected it to be, but I loved the way it came out. The wall in my front room over the couch was the perfect place. It was big enough and the wreath compliments the room beautifully! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

I don’t always follow trends in design, but one trend I have been transitioning too is the use of lighter more natural looking wood tones. I love the organic look and warmth it gives to the space. I recently rearranged my family room which included placing a half circle table in front of a window. The table had been painted and needed a refresh. Many of the pieces already in the room have natural wood tones. The piece in question is not good wood therefore not a candidate for refinishing using stain. I have been experimenting with chalk paint to create a faux wood finish and thought this would be the perfect piece to try it on . Since the body was in good shape, I decided to just use the technique on the top. Let’s get to it! The top was in rough shape. It was hidden behind the couch before, and no one could see it. Not anymore! The first step in the process was applying two coats of Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint. Sometimes I use water to thin the chalk paint. In this case I wanted a thicker base to work with. The thicker base enabled me to create a faux wood grain by painting in one direction, you can see the grooves in this picture. I did not get pictures of the second step which was to paint another two coats of chalk paint this time using Annie French Linen. Once the paint was dry, I used Waverly Antique sealant. I have used it on other projects and loved the richness of color and natural wood look it gives. It may seem like a waste of time using two different types of chalk paint then covering it with a dark sealant. But I can tell you from experience just using one type of chalk paint or just the sealant will not give you the same look. Layering is the key to getting a natural wood appearance. When applying the sealant, I went in the direction of the grooves that were created using chalk paint, again adding to the look of real wood. The color was a little uneven . I created a wash using Annie Sloan Old White Chalk paint and water to help even it out. First, I misted the tabletop using a spray bottle then applied the chalk paint. Using an old tee shirt, I wiped off the excess. To get in the crevices I used a small paint brush. At this point I liked everything I did thus far, but felt it still needed more movement I took a chance and added Annie Sloan Old White, French Linen and Honfleur Chalk Paint. The worst case being I would have to start all over again. Been there, done that before! Not an issue! In my mind I could see different striations of color going in the direction of the faux wood grain. Using a large chip brush, I dipped it into the three colors without mixing it. I used a dry paper towel to off load and began to brush in the direction of the wood grain. I kept brushing until there was no more paint, then repeated he process. If you were not sure what I meant by movement, this is it! The different color tones and lines creating the look of real wood. I am really happy the way the table came out. It definitely looks like real wood and will look great in the space. I styled the table in the dining room, but it will eventually find its place in our family room in front of the window. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like' and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

I have a gorgeous crock that I actually found on the side of the road, which I use to display artificial or dried seasonal flowers. It took me a while to come up with a way to style the flowers and keep them in place. Initially, I tried using flower foam blocks, but they broke apart easily and created quite a mess. I also attempted to use paper towels to create space between the stems, but in this case, you could not move the arrangement without disrupting the design. While browsing through my favorite craft store, I saw something that I would not have considered before. I had been looking for something that would support the flowers from the base, but this time I thought, why not secure the flowers from the top of the crock? Not really finding any other solution, I purchased it and took it home to try. Let me show what I am talking about: This is what I found at the craft store: a floral disc (all products used in this post will be listed at the end). I believed that by placing the disc on top of the crock and poking stems through it, I could design an arrangement that would stay in place even when moved. To start, I placed the disc on the crock. Next, I poked a hole using a screwdriver in the middle of the disc and began to place the stems. Once I knew it was going to work, I trimmed the edges but still kept enough on the sides so it would not slip down. Continuously adding floral stems, I would step back to check where the next one was needed. Once all the stems were in place, I positioned it on a stool facing outwards for a final inspection. After making sure that everything was to my liking, I carefully trimmed the remaining part of the disc's edge to ensure a snug fit, taking care not to cut off too much. To hide the disc, I placed moss on top. I am very pleased with the design of the arrangement, and what's even better is that it stays in place when I move it. The arrangement above was for spring. I recently made another arrangement for fall using dried hydrangea stems. (A big thank you to my neighbor Sue for giving me some of her flowers so I could finish). Repeating the same process as the spring arrangement, I began placing the dried hydrangeas. This is the result! I will most definitely be using this method again in all of my flower arrangements. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products Used: FloraCraft® CraftFōM Disc White Cream Blossom Branch Stem by Ashland®

After being in public grade school education for seventeen years, most recently with eighth graders at Johanna Perrin Middle School in Fairport, N.Y., I decided to retire to pursue my creative passions. Before my departure, there was one thing I wanted to accomplish, and that was to "zhuzh up" the faculty lounge. This idea has been spinning around in my head for years. Every time I had a lunch break, I would imagine different ways to make the space better. After receiving approval to work on the space from the principal (with no allocated budget), my initial step was to enlist some help. Paula, another retiring colleague recognized for her creativity and artistic skills, accepted the invitation, and we put the plan in motion. The faculty lounge is a moderately-sized room with a small kitchenette that includes a sink, counter, cabinets, refrigerator, microwave, and toaster oven. The rest of the room was filled with mismatched furniture pieces that had been collected over the years. The walls were painted light yellow and blue, and the only adornments on the walls were two large bulletin boards. It was a functional room but lacked personality and warmth. While looking over the lounge furniture to see if anything could be salvaged, I came upon the green chairs that had been there since I arrived. During my lunches in the lounge, I often wondered where they came from and how long they had been at the school. To satisfy my curiosity, I asked some of my colleagues. To my surprise, everyone seemed to say the same thing: the chairs were there when they arrived. The furthest account was from a teacher who retired after 32 years, and he concurred that the chairs were there when he began at the school. The exact date or where they came from still remains a mystery, but they had undoubtedly served their purpose. In the spirit of Marie Kondo, I expressed gratitude for their long service before pushing them out the door. Not being able to change the cabinets, countertops, refrigerator or floors. I focused on things I could change like the bulletin boards, wall paint and furniture. Starting with the bulletin boards, which were in good condition but needed to be repainted, and the outdated '70s fabric replaced. Once the boards were painted, I attached linen fabric with spray adhesive, smoothed it out, trimmed excess, tucked the rest under the frame, and concealed uneven areas with black cording using hot glue. Following that, I tackled the walls, painting them a gray-beige color to brighten the space. The faculty lounge is a perfect example of why I love paint in interior design. It can take a room like this and immediately transform it from "drab to fab" — sorry about that, I think I'm still feeling the '70s vibe from those bulletin boards. For furniture, I checked Facebook Marketplace and Goodwill. Found two chair sets on Facebook and side tables at Goodwill, all at reasonable prices. The first chair set was easy to disassemble for painting and cleaning the upholstery. I used the same color paint as the bulletin boards, adding two layers and sealing it with polyurethane for durability (which is needed especially if they need to last another 32 years). The second set of chairs appealed to me because they matched the color tones in the kitchen cabinets, and the rattan was easy to clean. After sanding the arms and legs, I applied two coats of the same paint used on the bulletin boards and the first set of chairs, then sealed them with polyurethane. The orange-reddish color on the tables had to go. I sanded them and applied a whitewash finish to the tops, then painted the bottom black. When the bulletin boards were moved to the other side of the room, a large wall area was left that needed to be filled. Keeping the lack of budget in mind, I looked at the resources on hand. From a previous project, I had cover prints of "The New Yorker Magazine" that were purchased from Etsy. In addition, there were two large blank artist canvases in storage that could be used. In order to save time, we split the tasks: I went to Kinko's to have the prints made and to find frames, while Paula took the canvases to work on creating color block art. With everything in place, the kitchen area was still not meshing with the rest of the room. To bring it together I found peel and stick wallpaper to use as a backsplash. I was very apprehensive about hanging the wallpaper, but I didn't have to be. Paula was awesome and came with everything that was needed to hang wallpaper, including a level. Yeah, Paula! We went through two rolls of wallpaper, and it took us more than three hours, but it was looking great. The next day, I returned to caulk around the sink and countertop, giving it a more realistic appearance. It was a beast of a job, but the results were next level and absolutely worth the effort. The final reveal: Kitchenette I love this wallpaper it looks so real people actually touch it to see if it is brick. The colors in the wallpaper work so well. It even makes the generic cabinets look good! Kudos to our custodial staff for cutting an old sewing machine cabinet so the microwave, and toaster oven would both fit in the kitchenette area. Eating Area If budget permits, the school now plans to acquire individual small square tables that can provide more seating options but can also be combined to accommodate large groups. Seating Areas The rattan chairs tied in with the cabinets and floor, but I needed them to pick up the color in other set of chairs. As luck would have it, I was at Good Will, and I found two outdoor pillows (wipeable) that worked with the color of the chairs and the artwork. Booyah! Artwork Paula did a great job pulling colors from the prints to create her color block paintings. Just a little reminder of where we began. Before and After Even though we will not be using the faculty room ourselves (because of our retirement), we were absolutely thrilled to be able to contribute to its revitalization. It gave us great pleasure to leave our mark in such a meaningful way before our departure. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new post as they are created. As always, I love to receive comments, keep them coming! Products used: Magnolia Cabinet Paint Black Scotch Spray Adhesive Etsy New Yorker Art Prints NextWall Peel and Stick Wallpaper