Thursday, September 3, 2015

The Look for Less: Pottery Barn Inspired Candle Holders

Grand Standing Taper Candle Holder
A set of black, iron candle holders is something I wanted for awhile now.  I found a pair at Pottery Barn, but they were too tall and more than what I'd pay for candlesticks.

I have a similar pair that I love, mounted on the wall in our entryway.  They were priced a lot cheaper for the pair.

I remembered the set I had collecting dust in the garage and decided to give them a makeover.

To back up a bit, I purchased this set of candle holders for cheap at a flea market.  As the color scheme in my house changed the greenish patina no longer appealed to me.

To get started, I purchased a can of Rust-Oleum black spray paint in a flat finish.  You could change the candle holders out to whatever color you want.  I wanted to create a wrought iron finish.

I really love the new look.  Now, they're more my style!  I love decorating with black accent pieces.  They add a more dramatic feel to the room.

Looking forward to shuffling them around the house.




I am linking this post to:
Thrifty Decor Chick

Monday, August 31, 2015

Looking Back at Summer

Despite months of unexpected house repairs we had a nice summer.  We made the most of it by celebrating holidays and special occasions with family and friends.

Celebrating the 4th of July is the best part about summer.

My husband's best friend and his family visited from Philadelphia.  We skipped the fireworks this year, but had a great time creating lasting memories.

Later that month, my cousin and her family came to visit.  The first thing I did was kiss her baby girl's cheeks!

I forgot what it was like to care for a busy toddler.  At the end of the day I was ready for a nap! LOL!!

Our friends Kenny and Lachelle took a road trip this summer to visit family.  Before they headed back home we got to spend the day with them.  I'm always the one with the camera snapping pictures!!

Lastly, my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary.

It's hard to believe it's been this long.  We've lived a lot of life together and I'm enormously thankful for him.

He's such a good father and puts up with my crazy shenanigans.  This picture sums up his personality.  He's super silly and doesn't take things too seriously!

So how was your summer?  Anything new to share?


Saturday, August 1, 2015

My Neutral Dining Room

It only took me a few years, but I think I finally captured the dream I had for my dining room!
  
I went through phases of ideas that ranged from honey-mustard colored walls to glossy wooden chairs and an unsightly light fixture.  Having a chandelier hanging at an odd length made decorating a hassle and the lighting was awkward. I wanted something close to the ceiling and subdued, so I opted for something subtle.

Having a less extravagant light fixture opened the room up more and allowed me to introduce beautiful lamps to further lighten the room.

*Light fixture can be found here.  I purchased it off the shelf at Home Depot.  It was originally brushed nickel.  I spray painted it with Rust-Oleum's Champagne Mist.

To be finished with my changes now makes me ecstatic (and relieved) that I didn't settle for what I had before. 

 I always had an idea of what I wanted for my dining room.  Since the living room connects seamlessly, I wanted furniture and accents to flow and complement each other without clashing.  


The thought of keeping things neutral with pops of texture and detail stood out to me.  Simplifying colors and adding natural components could actually work!

 By neutral, I didn't mean all white.  I wanted creams, light browns, and wooden textures to be the base of my dining room and living room.
  
Immediately, I took out the eyesore of a dinner table that was ready for a replacement.  In its place is a sophisticated yet rustic table that reminds me of a picnic table.
  


Its raw design made it easy for me find chairs that didn't necessarily match.  I went with metal chairs from Overstock and wooden chairs from Ross Stores on each end to switch things up.  Having different chairs adds a relaxed touch and more seating for when you anticipate having more than just your family over for dinner.

The walls that used to be a warm, rich yellow soon became tired and I wanted something to ground the entire room. So, I painted the walls Revere Pewter.  The new color accentuates every furniture piece nicely.  


Paired with patterned curtains in the same color scheme, I could now begin working on upgrading my wall art and other pieces.

Wooden textures really came into play to open up the room with style.

Rustic word sign can be found here.


I introduced more plants to liven up the room. Adding greenery brought positive energy and excitement to the space, which it desperately needed.

Having real plants and flowers that I could tend to throughout the week made the room more inviting and open. 

Though it took me a while to get my dining room and living room together, I am more than pleased with what I have now. 

Who knows how long I will have this layout before I think of something else, but I know once that time comes, I can easily switch out components and work from there.



I am linking this post to:
Thrifty Decor Chick

Monday, July 20, 2015

New Artwork from Minted.com


If you were to look at the wall art I have mounted, there's a pattern of nature with neutral tones that can be switched out throughout the house.  As versatile as they are, I wanted wall art that was more colorful, a bit quirky, and merely different.  Luckily, I found the perfect match on Minted.com

Minted has a myriad of decorative prints to select from that make choosing art a fun experience!  I had so many options that could bring life to my living room, so I chose a quirky camper art print with lots of color.

I had the choice of customizing the frame which helped tremendously to make the art match with the others in my living room.

There are little details in the wooden frame that add dimension and style.

Minted.com has so many pieces to fall in love with.  With so many beautiful options I had a hard time making my decision.  My new artwork adds liveliness and fun to a room that needed it.  You can find your next favorite wall art here, with customizable options to make it personal.



*I received no financial compensation and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.  

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Monarch Rain Chains

 

In the hottest weeks of the year, we finally have frequent showers to combat the heat and give my flowers some much needed attention.

On days where rain is sparse and the constant need to run to my hose is too much, I needed something that could collect rainwater for later use.  So, I began researching and lo and behold, I have found a functional and decorative way to do so--a rain chain.

Rain chains come in a plethora of sizes and vary in material, so I opted for a pure-copper rain chain with a medium-sized water basin from Monarch Rain Chains.  

The copper color complements the exterior of my home perfectly and the hammered cups had just enough subtle detail. 

It collects enough water to hold a bit of downpour, which is more than enough for me to tend to all my flowers and my small vegetable garden. 

With this rain chain, I have a sophisticated way of conserving water and my energy. 

Having this addition to the exterior of my home adds both decoration and functionality that works well.  It has saved me the infinite amount of trips to and from the hose that made gardening such a chore. 

Monarch Rain Chains offers so many styles that fit anyone's tastes from aluminum rain chains to very large cup styles with ornate decorations. 

Interested in learning more about Monarch Rain Chains and their products?  You can visit their website here, to get a head start on upgrading your rain gutters! 


*I received no financial compensation and the opinions expressed in this post are my own.