Tag Archives: home decor

The Chair

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Chair history: Purchased for $2 at a garage sale in Nebraska, 1992.  I used tapestry to re-cover the seat at that time and it sat in the entry hall at our last house for years (the sunlight fading the tapestry).  It has had no use now for several years except extra seating for large family dinners.

But yesterday afternoon, I got out a can of orange paint I bought 5 years ago for $1 in the mis-mixed paints at Home Depot.  I also came across a couple of candle holders from the “Under the Tuscan Sun” days when my “altar” was covered in candles and crosses (and quite cozy and romantic).  Orange paint, people!

A change is coming.  Watch for it!

  

BTW:  My daughter Stephanie is the one who told me to take a “before” picture.  Otherwise, as you can see, I was tearing right in!  I am glad she told me that!

click on images for a bigger view

Robin’s Nest

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My sister-in-law, Robin, is a pastor’s wife, mom of four and a real estate agent (I wrote about her recently).  She has always successfully put her homes together with more creativity and ingenuity than with piles of cash.  She loves cottage decorating and has a toile passion.  She commented on my recent “House Call” blog post about how she enjoys painting furniture these days and making chalkboards from cheap, ugly and old Salvation Army artwork.  She paints the frames and then just paints the picture part with chalkboard paint and has one in almost every room.  As per my call for your pictures (readers-that means YOU), she just sent me a few photos of things she is up to in her house these days.

See Robin’s home and current projects.

 

Here are a couple of Robin’s chalkboards from what were formerly old thrift-store framed art.  Also, check out Robin’s favorite curtains made from toile she purchased at WalMart and the three large windows she covered in curtains she made from $1-yard fabric from the same decorator’s paradise! (Do I see “Robin’s egg blue” on those walls?  Haha!  Your name just lends itself to these comments and phrases, Robin!)

  

  

Next project:  The wood piece above is an old optometrist’s cabinet that Robin plans to paint.  The French impressionist painting on the left below was a $2 find at the Salvation Army in Aberdeen, SD.  The classic English boy and girl prints also came from “Sally’s.”

  

 

Here are Robin’s empty frames, hung for the beauty they possess all by themselves. And an invitation to imagine what might be!

Thanks for sharing a glimpse through your Aberdeen, SD windows, Robin.  Now, dear readers, you send me your pictures.  Show me what makes your home really your home in snapshots of vignettes and rooms.  E-mail them to jeanierhoades@yahoo.com -or- the other email! :)

We are taking home tours!…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  A new chalkboard in a cool frame (painted, naturally)!  The one I have actually was a chalkboard.  How very un-original!

click on images above for a better view

Real Houses, Real People

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Stephanie Nielson of Arizona, or Nie Nie as she is known to her blog readers (and there are gazillions, it would seem!) had her home chosen as the #1 Home of the Year by Cookie Magazine (“All the Best for your Family”).  See the whole description from Cookie’s decorating blog and lots more pictures here.

I love that she is young and has 4 kids and wasn’t some big crafter-decorator, but let her growing family and the personalities of her children sort of nurture that side of her.  Check out these cool ideas from a real family!

  

Check out the living room: no curtains or shades!  She isn’t worrying herself to death with how to stylishly cover her windows and the light shines in – on purpose!  I love the redhead on the couch!  The silhouettes are actually photo cut-outs painted black.  She updates them for her whole family annually!  And the shelves are lined in glued-on Old Navy gift wrap (click on the thumbnails above for a better look).

 

OK – look at the crib.  No, look more closely.  See the “garland” draping it?  They are the shrunken sweaters her mother wore growing up in the 50s and which she and her sisters dressed their dolls as they grew up.  Now they adorn the crib and I think it is genius!  I had all these baby clothes from Dave’s beginning and a couple of mine and never quite knew what to do with them.  LOVE IT!  And a kitchen wall lined with photos of the babes?  Have ALWAYS dreamed of doing that and covering with those 4′ x 8′ sheets of acrylic you can get at any home store to protect.  Someday….Stormie seriously loves that stainless-steel table (on top of an old dining table??) and the red chairs.

Here are more pictures from her personal blog:

  

  

  

I see color.  So great!  I wish I’d have been as brave at her age!  But all of you youngsters out there: get nesting!  In color!

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Or, if you prefer, some current “magazine-worthy” showhomes:

  

Be real.  Use your stuff.  It’s you!…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  Unpack and re-evaluate things I love, but are carefully stored away.  Can they be loved in broad daylight?

NOTE TO READERS:  Send me pictures of your home-sweet-home space that really, truly and honestly reflect you, the real you and let me share them!  jeanierhoades@yahoo.com