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!

Decorating a Mantel

I know a lot of people struggle with decorating a fireplace mantel.  When we moved into our home a couple years ago, I was so excited to actually have a mantel to decorate!  Mine is unique in that a mirror is actually built into a slight inset into the wall above the mantel.  Not my favorite look, but I worked with it.  I think the most important thing about decorating a mantel is adding objects of varying heights and widths.  Also, try to coordinate the colors of the objects so they look like they belong together.  I stuck with a color scheme of whites/creams/browns, then added a splash of red so it wouldn't get too boring.  Candles and candleholders are a great way to add varying height.  I also layered the backdrop, leaning a leaded window against the mirror, then 2 sepia toned canvas prints in front of it.  All together this gave my mantle a calm, sophisticated tone.  If you're looking for a warmer or more funky look, add more variances in heights, shapes and colors!

Speaking of white frames...

Here are some more white frames I have in my bedroom, but this time with actual pictures in them (imagine that!).  I love extreme close up photos, especially those of flowers and architecture.  It can get very expensive to buy someone else's photography, so try doing it yourself!  The closer you can get to the object you are photographing, the better - that way there are no unwanted objects wasting space.  Once you get the print downloaded on to your computer, then you can zoom in even closer, edit out non-essentials and play with the coloring.  The photos here were taken on a trip to Charleston, South Carolina - one of my absolute favorite cities!  They are close ups of some unique ironwork and flowers down there.  I love displaying these photos not only as works of art, but as reminders of that fabulous city!