Decorating my mantel for Christmas is something I truly enjoy. However, this wasn't always the case. In the past, I would haphazardly gather my Christmas decorations and start without a clear direction. I would get frustrated because it took so long to find things and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Basically, there was no plan, which was not an effective way to do anything, let alone decorate. The best advice I can give from my mistakes is to determine a direction and make a plan. This year I have opted for neutral tones and natural elements. By gathering all the necessary items beforehand, I managed to complete the mantel decor in a short period of time and really savor the process. Let's get to it! When decorating my mantel, Christmas tree, banisters, and other areas, two essential items for me are greenery twist ties and removable hooks. The greenery twist ties are used to secure the garland, hold the picks and ribbon in place, while the hooks prevent the heavy garland from slipping off the mantel. Before I started, I cleaned the mantle and removed the bowl. My next step was to join two garlands using twist ties. I secured the garland in place by attaching a hook at each end and in the center of the mantel, and then positioned the garland. Making sure to drape it over each side of the mantle. After placing the garland, the next step was to add lights. I prefer using battery-operated lights for the mantle to avoid dealing with power cords. I wrapped the cord around the garland, securing the lights with twist ties every few inches. Now it's time to begin adding all the decorations, which is when the fun part begins. These items can be expensive, so I opt for larger picks then separate them using wire cutters into multiple stems. I repeated this process with the pinecones and made two or three picks from each stem. To add even more texture and interest, I purchased two types of ribbon. One was a very tactile mesh with white paint and sparkles, and the other ribbon was beige linen.   To begin, I added pinecone picks and secured them in place with floral wire. Next, I intertwined the two ribbons and twisted them among the greenery, using floral wire to attach them wherever I wanted to create a dip. To create the focal point of the arrangement, I placed two smaller picks along with two of the pinecone swags. Lastly, I made bows out of the remaining beige linen ribbon for each candlestick, embellishing them with greenery and white berries for a final touch. I love the way it turned out! Best of all, it took less time and caused no frustration, all because I had a plan. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products used: 3M Command Brand White Hooks Greenery Twist Ties Ribbon and Picks were all purchased t Micheal's

The “Purple Painted Lady Festival” is scheduled for September 18th and 19th, and I'm still creating pieces to sell at the event. The past few months have been incredibly busy with continuous work, but the finish line is in sight, and I'm eager to see how people respond to my creations. Now on to the cabinet makeover, which will be for sale at the festival! A few months ago, I bought this cabinet on Craigslist. I was drawn to its design and thought the door medallions were cool. However, it needed some work. I wasn't fond of the back piece on top of the cabinet; one of the medallions had a missing part, and the interior was in poor condition. Since I planned to paint the top, I removed the back piece and used spackling to fill the holes (all products used will be listed at the end of the post). Once it dried, I sanded it smooth. I also used spackling to fill in the missing section of the medallion and sanded that as well. Finally, I chose to paint the inside of the cabinet the same color as the outside. I painted the outside, top, legs, and inside with black chalk paint (all products will be listed at the end of the post) finishing it with clear wax. I applied Tung Oil to restore the front of the doors. Here is the finished piece I styled it three ways: Entry table to hold keys, sunglasses, and mail, with room inside for purses, scarves, and gloves. Bar that holds on one side and liquor on the other. Television stand with room underneath for blankets. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products Used: DryDek Spackling Annie Sloan Athenian Black Chalk Paint Annie Sloan Clear Wax Tung Oil

This is my first time attending the Brimfield Antique and Collectible Show, and I am accompanied by my cousins who are familiar with the event. There is no greater joy than exploring it with these amazing ladies! "Cousin Love" all the way!! We have arrived! The wagons are set up, we have our map (which is a little overwhelming), and we are ready to go! There was wrought iron everywhere! I would have loved to purchase one of the archways and a couple of trellises for my garden. Alas, no room in my car. I did, however, buy two cloches. They will be perfect in the garden or in large urns as a topper. There were plenty of collectibles to choose from. Here are just a few Jadeite (green dishware), a German cannister set and some old fashion glassware, bowls and vases. I could have spent all day in these shops. Painted furniture, French décor, unique items, pillows and more. This was right in my wheelhouse! There were also some random things that made me laugh, like the Mancave Mannequin and the doll that reminded me of “Chucky”. Some of the vendors were selling live plants. I loved the rosemary topiaries, but a five-hour car ride smelling rosemary would not work for me. These original pieces of artwork were from the Easton Antique Emporium . These wood sculptures were made from vines shaped into these forms. Wow! Memory Hole Vintage takes all their merchandise on the same bus they travel from show-to-show in. Drive in, drive out, no set-up or break down. What a brilliant idea ! The effort put into setting up this vendor spot was truly impressive. It featured stone garden figures, wrought iron pieces, fountains, arches, and more. To illustrate the heaviness of the items, consider the small rabbit on the bench in the lower middle picture. When I attempted to lift it, I needed both hands as it likely weighed around thirty pounds. When I inquired about the setup time, the vendor said it took two and a half days! This is just a taste of what was at Brimfield this year. We were lucky enough not to be rained on while we were there, but the weather was extremely hot. We were uncomfortable, but pushed through and saw as much as we could in the time frame we had. I think to truly see everything you need to be there a couple of days. That way you can take a more leisurely pace and see it all. I hope I gave you a sense of what it was like and peaked your interest. Maybe it is something you would want to go to next year if you get the chance. It is worth it! After the show my cousins and I went to “The Duck” restaurant in Sturbridge Ma. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful day with my cousins! Going to Brimfield got me excited abou t The Purple Painted Lady Festival ! I m in the Festival and hope you will come and se me! #BrimfieldAntiquesandCollectibles #BrimfieldFleaMarket2021 #Girlsweekendideas #StylingAntiques #Collectibles #RosemaryTopiaries #WroughtIronIntheGarden #Antiqueshaul

When we first moved into our home, the kitchen was not what I had dreamed of. It had dark wood cabinets, red brick linoleum flooring, and a pony wall separating the kitchen and family room. I wanted to make changes right away, starting with the pony wall. My husband was like "Easy Speed Racer" - so we compromised: I would leave the pony wall alone (even though I had the sledgehammer ready), and we would start with painting the walls and getting new flooring. We also talked about the cabinets; I wanted to paint them white, but my husband was hesitant - he wanted to keep the wood (men and wood, right?). With much cajoling and dozens of pictures of a white kitchens, he finally agreed. After researching, I found a cabinet refinishing kit (all products used will be listed at the end of the post) with good reviews and step-by-step directions that I could work with. The process took six months, but the result was worth it - the cabinets are beautiful! Note: The next year, we took out the half wall, installed granite countertops, and added a subway tile backsplash. This is our original kitchen after our updates. Removing the pony wall gave us more workspace and even allowed us to have a kitchen table in the space. I loved this little kitchen! Ten years later, our little kitchen would be getting a major renovation as my mother-in-law (Audrey) was coming to live with us. To accommodate her arrival, we would be adding an addition to our home which included expanding our kitchen so she could easily access the main house. With the increased space, we opted to revamp our own kitchen by replacing the cabinets, installing quartz countertops, and adding an island, pantry, and dining space. It's hard to believe that this is my kitchen. I have to pinch myself every morning just to make sure it's not a dream. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you have probably figured out by now that my brain works differently than most people. Like the fact that most people I know do not have dreams of having a party in a perfectly organized pantry with Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, and more recently Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin from the "Home Edit." I didn't think so. I share this with you because our architect who is doing our addition/renovation has been able to incorporate a pantry in the kitchen plans. After she told me that, I sat down and did not hear anything else because I was, of course, envisioning my perfectly organized pantry. Once again, I pulled from my imaginings over the years of my perfect pantry and what I would have wanted. Except this time, it was real, and I needed to get it right. Since it was a once in a lifetime deal, I asked for everything. My design included enough space on the top shelf to house all my extra dishes, glasses, and platters used for entertaining. I also wanted enough space from the bottom shelf to the floor for paper products, water, and back up supplies. I also had an outlet put in the pantry for a coffee station. After twos coats of white paint, it was ready to put it together. I started gathering everything I wanted in the pantry and got to it. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Look for "Pantry Organization And Reveal!" Products Used: Behr Premium Pure White Paint

Our laundry room/mudroom is finally done! It took nine months to complete and definitely had some challenges along the way. Having the laundry on the first floor is amazing in itself, but my husband-built storage for shoes, boots, and coats. This will eliminate shoes collecting at the front door (a pet peeve of mine). With the laundry right off the entrance from the garage, now everyone can take off their shoes and coats before entering the main part of the house. Just the idea makes me do a happy dance in my head! Update from where we were last post: My desire to have a utility sink in the laundry room came to fruition after finding one for a great price and refinishing it. Following that, I asked my readers to help me choose between black and yellow paint for the sink base, and yellow won out. Now that you are caught up let's see the rest of the transformation! Most of my design decisions concerning long-term items such as flooring, countertops, and cabinets have been based on their ability to stand the test of time. Since we do not plan on ever having another major renovation, our choices needed to be classic designs, neutral colors, and timeless patterns that will never go out of style. I opted for dark tile in a herringbone pattern, a schoolhouse light, and a single pendant - all classics. Having said that, it doesn't mean I can't have fun, like with the daisy wallpaper that can easily be removed if I grow tired of it. These are the shelves my husband built. I painted them white and added Scrabble tiles spelling our names. Did I also mention that my husband built a barn door? (That man is so talented!) I love my utility sink. It is exactly how I imagined it would be. We made use of all available space in the small laundry room to add additional storage. Above the built-in shelves, we placed containers for hats and gloves, plus hooks on the side for mops and brooms, with even more storage underneath for boots and other items. A shelf was also added above the washer and dryer for laundry supplies, and below to hide the unsightly plumbing behind the washer and dryer. Lastly, hooks were placed next to the utility sink for coats. It is amazing how much storage we were able to add. My favorite part is that it still looks cute! I could not be any happier with the results! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. .

If you've been following my blog, you're aware that my mother-in-law moved in a few months back. We were in the middle of a renovation and expansion project, and she had to move in early due to health issues. Thankfully, she has recovered well, and the construction work is nearly finished. Initially, we focused on creating a comfortable space for her on short notice, bringing along some of her cherished belongings, although we couldn't unpack everything. Now, we can finally start making her living area feel more like her own. Years ago, my mother-in-law worked as an antique dealer and amassed a beautiful collection of items, including eleven portraits of turn-of-the-century women. These portraits used to hang on the wall going up the staircase in her home in Binghamton, NY. With her new space in Rochester, we decided to hang them above her bed. Given the varying sizes and shapes of the portraits, I opted for a simple method of hanging them without measuring that involved paper bags. Let's see what I did: These are all her ladies. She was so excited to finally be able to hang them. I laid the portraits on the paper bag, outlined their shapes with a Sharpie, and cut them out. As I cut them out, I labeled each one (lady with a blue hat, lady with no hat etc.) so we would know which portrait we were placing on the wall. This is the configuration we thought was the best . I measured each picture from the ceiling and the distance between each picture. To find nail placement, I turned the picture around and poked a hole in the paper where the nail would be. Here is the result. It took one try and less than an hour. And one nail hole! My mother-in-law was over the moon! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

I have been known to paint a room, repaint, and then paint again in order to find the right color. When it comes to my furniture pieces, I usually do not have this problem. The furniture speaks to me (not literally, I just get a feeling) and I go with it. There may have been a couple of times that I changed color or reworked the original idea. But I have not had anything that kept me up at night until now. I have been working on an old buffet that we use as a console for our television. Over the course of three weeks, I have been painting and repainting the dresser, trying to get the right color. In the end, the tally was seven colors! Starting with Old White, then Svenska Blue, Lem Lem, Amsterdam Green, Napoleonic Blue, Aubusson Blue, and finally Coco. All of these colors are from the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint collection. This piece has been one heck of a ride for sure. One I hope not to repeat anytime soon! This is the original two-tone piece I created years ago. I always intended to redo it in a single color, but I was uncertain which one to choose. Thus begins the saga that would last three weeks and almost have me pushing it to the curb! Initially, I used Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint but wanted more color, so I chose Svenska Blue. However, it didn't feel right, possibly due to the dark wood top. After sanding the top to raw wood, I still felt the need to change the color. I then tried Aubusson Blue, which I liked before, but it ended up being too much blue for the room. Finally, I decided on Annie Sloan Coco Chalk Paint, the color I initially considered but avoided due to its use on the dining room hutch. All the shades of paint I have tried. I wasn't kidding. Initially, I used Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint but wanted more color, so I chose Svenska Blue. However, it didn't feel right, possibly due to the dark wood top. After sanding the top to raw wood, I still felt the need to change the color. I then tried Aubusson Blue, which I liked before, but it ended up being too much blue for the room. Although I didn't take pictures of every color attempt, while sanding, I could see all my choices and I listed them so you could see. Finally, I decided on Annie Sloan Coco Chalk Paint, the color I initially considered but avoided due to its use on the dining room hutch. I like the way it came out. Was there a lesson to be learned here? I am not sure. I will still be a perfectionist, keep working until I drop, and keep going on something until I feel it's right. (I can actually feel my husband shaking his head over this statement.) Ha ha! :) If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

Our home was initially meant to be a starter, but like many people in the neighborhood, the convenience of its location and the community convinced us to stay. The homes are mostly center entrance colonials with standard layouts. Though we faced challenges entertaining more than ten guests due to space, we managed with humor. Occasionally, we dreamed of a larger space, and now that dream is a reality. We cannot wait to entertain in our new space. This used to be our dining room, accessible from both the entryway and the kitchen. However, when we repositioned the table to accommodate ten people, the kitchen doorway was blocked, forcing our guests to walk by the front door down the hallway and into the kitchen to get their food. I loved this room and will cherish all the wonderful memories we made with family and friends . Even if half of them couldn't access the kitchen directly!   In the original plans, the ceiling in the dining room was flat. My husband noticed the vaulted roofline during the construction and asked if we could have the ceiling follow that line. The framers said that it could be done and, best of all, it would not cost any more money! Thanks to my husband, the half-vaulted ceiling is a major feature of the new dining area. The new dining room is so much bigger than our old one. We even have extra seating at the island so no one will be blocked from the kitchen in here. We are so truly grateful for our new space and looking forward to making many more great new memories with family and friends!      If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. .

As the addition/renovation project is coming to an end, I find myself at odds with my emotions. As each project gets completed, there is relief, but also a sense of sadness. In my case, this feeling of loss is only natural because it has not just been an eight-month renovation; it has been years in the making. I have been renovating and reimagining my home in my head for as long as I can remember - moving closets, knocking down walls, changing layouts, and so on. To me, this is not just the end of the renovation, but the closing of a large chapter in my life. Many of the things I imagined, or couldn’t have imagined, are coming to fruition. One of which has just been completed: The Powder Room! When the addition for my mother-in-law needed access to our existing house, the old powder room needed to be moved. I was not opposed to this idea because I had always wanted to move it from its location near the kitchen. When the framing started, I already knew I would be using a chandelier I purchased years ago at a garage sale, a frame that I wanted to turn into a mirror, and wallpaper I had already picked out. I told you I had been remodeling in my head over the years and now I get to implement my ideas. The first thing we did was put up the wallpaper. I liked the dark background of the wallpaper, so we had paint color matched for the lower half of the walls. Next, we added molding below the wallpaper for more definition. Finally, adding the chandelier, it was so beautiful. I kept coming back just to look at the room. I couldn't believe it was ours. To start off, we installed the wallpaper. I was fond of the dark backdrop of the wallpaper, prompting us to get a paint color that complemented it for the bottom half of the walls. Subsequently, we incorporated molding below the wallpaper to enhance the room's definition. Lastly, when we hung the chandelier, it looked stunning. I found myself returning to the room just to admire it. It was hard to believe it belonged to us. I loved the patina of the mirror but was not a big fan of the painted flowers or brown embellishments on it. Using steel wool, I was able to remove the paint on the flowers and then added black wax to give them depth. Then I painted the brown panels with chalk paint and layered on black wax until I liked the color. Once everything was dry, I took it to have a mirror installed. I decided not to invest in art, so I repurposed the lovely plates from my mother-in-law by attaching them to the backing of a shadow box using Velcro. And just like that, I created my own artwork! Now for the reveal! I am so excited to have one of my dreams for our home come true. I am pinching myself to make sure it is real and not still in my head. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products Used: Sarah Richardson Graphite Scandi Wallpaper-Not sure if pattern is available anymore Annie Sloan Paris Gray Chalk Paint Annie Sloan Black Wax