Hook Racks!

An essential to every home is definitely a hook rack or two or three!  I recommend putting one by the doorway that is the main entry to the house (by you, not your guests).  Our main entry is the door leading from the garage into the laundry room.  This is the first stop by my kids every single time they come in the door.  First, to take their shoes off (like their mom, neither one can stand to wear shoes in the house!  Dad can wear his all day which we think is just plain weird!), and second to hang up their backpacks and jackets.  Sometimes I catch them throwing these things on the kitchen floor (which is the next stop in the house), and have to remind them about hanging them up.  Okay, so most days I have to remind them of this.  I am anxiously awaiting the day they actually do this without being told!  But I digress...
Hookracks are great for jackets, backpacks, purses, totes, hats, key chains, you name it!   Just make sure you drill it into a stud so you don't have to worry about weighing it down!  Then, I try to always hang a horizontal item above the hook rack to give it more style.  Hookracks can also be used in bathrooms for towels or bathrobes, in bedrooms for hats and necklaces...the possibilities are endless!

My chair fetish

I have a problem with chairs - I love them too much and have way too many.  We were in the process of packing up the moving van many years ago and my husband decided to count how many chairs we had - 36!  And this was for a family of 4.  Embarrassing.  Since then, I've tried to put strict controls on the chairs I have in my home.  My new rule is:  if I bring a chair in the house, another one has to go out.  When I found this chair at a secondhand shop, I loved the white paint (of course), but it was upholstered in a pink and blue fabric - think 80s.   My initial thought was to sell it through my antiques business, but I even told my sister I wasn't sure I could get rid of it.  And now that I've recovered it in a khaki fabric, I can't.  It now sits in my living room, having displaced a gorgeous, 100-year old leather chair with stamps marked "U.S. Department of the Treasury."  That chair will now be found at my next antiques sale!  And now my plan is to reupholster another similar white chair I have and place the matching pair in my living room.  For the love of chairs!

Creative Organizers

It's the smallest details that count, right?   Even in decorating, just because no one can see what's inside your drawers, cabinets, closets... does it matter what they look like?  Yes!  Because YOU see what's inside every day!  So, go to the extra lengths to make small, unseen details as great as the large, obvious ones.   Here, I've been brave enough to show you the insides of some of my spaces.  And no, not all my spaces look this great or organized!  The first photo is of a very old muffin tin repurposed as a desk organizer.  Each little indentation is the perfect size to corrall all my junk!  The second photo is of an old red painted utensil drawer divider.  Realisticaly, I could use a stainless steel or even a plastic one.  Blah!  This vintage red one is much more fun and matches my personality so much better.  So round up some fun and unique storage organizers and make those little details matter!

Sunburst Mirror!

I am soooo excited about my new sunburst mirror!  I love the look of these, and after I saw one at a friend's house, I just knew I had to have one!  Fortunately, I came across one this past weekend at a yard sale.  It was a gold sunburst mirror for $2 and I snatched it up!  When I returned home, I immediately spraypainted it white (I ALWAYS keep extra spraypaint around the house (white, red, and black) so I can complete projects right when I'm inspired - they're more likely to get done that way!), waited for it to dry, then sanded down the edges for a distressed look.  I then quickly scraped the excess paint off the mirror and it was done!  It now sits in my dining room along with my other mirrors.  It's a great addition to the collection and I'm thrilled to now have a sunburst mirror in my own home!

Burlap to Cashmere

Burlap usually connotes rough, itchy, ugly sacks that hold some kind of smelly animal feed.  Fortunately, that is no longer the case!  Burlap is making a comeback as a versatile fabric with a touch of elegance.  Burlap is much softer and smoother now and can be found endlessly and reasonably at fabric stores.  These photos are of a couple favorite burlap items in my home.  I just purchased the little burlap flower yesterday to hang on a mirror vanity along with other fun whimsical items.  I purchased the burlap chair several years ago and have always loved it.  It is very comfortable and can be dressed up with a throw and pillow.  Of course, the nailhead trim doesn't hurt either!  I have a friend who makes very soft burlap pillows with gorgeous flowers pinned to the corner.  The possibilities are endless!

Great Quote!

Not much to say today, it's been a busy weekend reconnecting with great friends.  I came across this quote today that reminds me of my relationship with my homes over the past many years:

"A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest...wrenches it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his image."  Joan Didion

'Nuff said.

No toilets in this yard!

Just about anything can be turned into a planter.  I've had much fun over the years turning unexpected objects into everyday outdoor planters.  They've ranged from wooden toolboxes to tin pails to galvanized washtubs to metal watering cans to toilets - just kidding about that last one.  You will NEVER find a toilet in my front yard with flowers sprouting out of it!  Although I do have to say, my last neighbor proudly had two in her yard.  Sigh.  You should be quite proud of me that I didn't say anything snotty to her about it!
Back to tasteful planters...this one shown in the photo is just a plain old wooden box.  Already wonderfully roughed up, all I had to do was drill a few holes in the bottom.  Always be sure to do this for proper drainage, then lightly cover the holes with rocks before you add soil.  Since this is obviously a very shallow container, be sure to add mulch to the top and water frequently to maintain good moisture.  As fall is approaching, take the opportunity to hunt around for an unused container at your house to turn into a planter that would look great with pansies in it!