Reclaimed Wood Projects

We are trying to decide on a new dining table for the beach house. While we've been making do with a big oval Queen Anne table, from our old Queen Anne bungalow, it doesn't really "fit" in a contemporary rustic beach house. Don't worry,  we won't throw it into a landfill -- we will donate it to a local charity shop when we replace it. We are considering having something custom made from reclaimed wood.

 Do you just love all the gorgeous things folks are making from reclaimed wood?

Christmas Swedish Advent Star -- A New Variation

I never get tired of folk art, vintage paper, or Christmas! 

Seriously, an heirloom ornament for inspiration, some Christmas carols, an old book and some glue = my happy place.  I first shared how I make woven advent stars from folded strips of vintage paper in this post.

I shared a picture of my dear friend's family heirloom woven star, as well as some history and important copyright information in this post.

Ideas for the Thanksgiving Kid's Table

I will confess that I have never gone overboard decorating for Thanksgiving. Beyond a door wreath and some mums on the porch steps, Thanksgiving decor is usually limited to the tablescape. How about you? Do you decorate the whole house, or keep things pretty simple?  Whenever possible, we kept the kiddos at the big table, but some years there just wasn't space, and having a kid's table gave the cousins a chance to build their own special memories and bonds.

Here are a few ideas and links for decorating kid's tables with treats and activities.

Ideas for Updating Lampshades

Have you priced lampshades lately?  Yikes!  Those things can cost more than lamps!  My husband accidentally knocked a floor lamp over the other day, and I nearly had a heart attack worried about whether the shade was damaged (and it's part of a pair, so replacing one means replacing two).  The lampshade survived the fall, but the incident got me thinking about creative lampshade ideas.  Here are a few:

Many of you saw the wild pants lampshade I did a couple of years ago.

Is it Okay to Mix Paneling Styles?

Have you ever wondered if it is okay to mix paneling styles?  I always remind my clients that designers don't follow "rules" -- they apply design principles and psychology and creativity.

You can mix paneling, but it should be done thoughtfully.

How We Care for our Natural Flagstone Floors

I've talked about our natural flagstone floors at the beach house a few times. Recently I shared a little about how our nephew patched them, and why we chose not to rip them out and replace them.

When we originally bought our beach house, the flagstone floors were pretty dirty.  Actually, they were filthy.

Decorating with Re-Purposed Vintage Lockers

My husband has several banks of old gym lockers in our garage. He bought them at a building supply salvage yard a few years ago to use for tool storage.  They're not working out.  His tools are all the wrong sizes and nothing is fitting quite right. He's offered them to me for the beach house!

At first, I really wanted the lockers for my beach house loft studio.........., but somehow the studio got bumped for an office/ secondary family room..... sigh...., and my studio stuff is still boxed up in an attic room. (which may be turning into another bunk room.... sigh...)...  I think I may still want the lockers, though.

Six Reasons to Buy a Vintage Appliance for your Home

Over the years, I have loved many vintage appliances.  When it comes to making a statement, buying a retro appliance can give you a great return on investment!  Here are six great reasons to consider a vintage appliance for your home.

Beauty. There is no denying that many antique and retro appliances have style and grace. They make a statement.  While a new professional quality stainless appliance also makes a statement, a vintage appliance makes a statement that is unique to your home.

Tips for Finding the Perfect Vintage Stove

We've decided to go all electric at the beach house.

Our propane stove is gorgeous, and we plan to keep it, but it will go to another property we own.  For the beach house, we want to make things really simple, thus going all-electric. Plus, our climate is really hard on propane tanks and valves.

Our Flagstone Floors

It's been a while since I talked about the floors at our beach house.  Some of you may remember that we bought a beach house about three years ago that was full of rot and mold and rat poo.  Because, everybody wants those things, right? I know you're going to be feeling jealous when you see this picture, but don't hate me, okay?  Not everybody can have all this....

It had been a foreclosure that sat empty, then someone had tried to renovate and flip it, but had only gotten as far as taking a sledge hammer to much of the drywall.  Rats had moved in. Moisture was taking it's toll. This house was a big mess. At the time, I thought the floors were kind of terrible, too.