Quick DIY project

Pictured below is a favorite Pottery Barn lamp,  however I would be remiss if I admitted to liking the stark lamp shade.  Recently my DH and I recovered a bench seat that required new strapping and updating.  Scrap pieces were left over from the bench project. 

The lamp before

the after---  I reused the burlap scraps!

It was a messy project

It didn't take long at all.  Simple cutting and hot gluing!

I just love the warm glow...

a chalk board project...

I enjoy junking.  I love pulling roadside or stopping by the local goodwill to dig through junk!  I love displaying my new found junk and I love reinventing my junk...  Below is a recent find--a giant piece of slate.  I know, it doesn't look like much but continue paging down to see what my DH and I did with it... thanks for stopping by!  Elizabeth

the blank wall in the office...

the newly framed piece of slate...

the new chalk board...

Ready. Set. Christmas!

Sharing our Christmas with you... 

My collection of Old World Christmas ornaments...

Our tree.  I just love the beautiful colors of Christmas!

Ceramic tree display.  the trees were made by family members of Christmases past...

Sending you blessings of the season-- Elizabeth

Mud Room update...

This is the mud room before...  In the photo below, we think the addition of a simple row of hooks will help our family stay a little more organized.  Hopefully the lower placement of the hooks will redistribute all that clutter!! 

Here's hoping!
Elizabeth

This is the mud room.  We enter this room from the garage.  This small space really handles alot but clearly it is not addressing our needs as it should.  I believe with better organization its functionality can improve.  As you can see this space is used to hang light jackets and back packs, store shoes, umbrellas, and recylclables.  To the right of the picture is an alcove that holds a desk for bill paying.   The baskets on top of the shelves are too big and there never seems to be an open hook when you need one:).  I am thinking about painting the door and upgrading the runner too.  Please post photos of your entry space--I would love to see how you organized your family!  Stay tuned for my improvements...  have a happy day!

curtain decision...finally!

Finally finding time to finish my post--I apologize for the GIANT pause.  Above is a photo of the dining room curtains-- the way I dreamed they would hang.  I don't make decisions easily and this one I wrestled with for weeks.  Problem: everytime I passed by the room the look never felt right... I always thought too dressed or too layered...  After some more trial and error I decided on the look below... 

I removed one layer at a time.  The velvet topper came down first.   Next the white sheer.  At this point I was left with the velvet curtain panels and the wood blind (in the photo above it is hard to see the blind behind the sheer but it was there too!)  But.. the look still wasn't right.  I narrowed the problem down to the curtain rod.  I toyed with that decision for a few more weeks!  I chose cherry wood instead of wrought iron.  What do you think of this simplified version?

Welcome...

I have been bitten (again) by the decorating bug.  Always looking to improve my humble home by slapping on new wall color, updating curtains, or editing accessories.  Take a look at my dining room... what do you think?  It is freshly painted with a color I think plays up the darker cherry dining set.  Would love your input on accessorizing-- think the room overall looks pretty blah.  No WOW factor here :(...