I’m not one of those people you’ll find decorating my home at Halloween with anything gory, although I know the teenagers love it. I prefer the whimsical kid friendly version of Halloween, especially since I’ve got to look at it all day. And so do my little ones. So yesterday, I sent my cousin and…
Our master bedroom hasn’t changed much over the years. The linens and accessories get rotated over time, but the colors, textures, and wood tones have remained the same. While I swoon over so many designer rooms, for my personal bedroom, I retreat to the comfort I find in timeless and traditional style. This is the…
I almost fell over backwards when I saw this key art all over Restoration Hardware’s latest catalog spread. How cool are these keys so beautifully framed? What’s not cool (at least to me) is the price. At $199 dollars each for an 18 x 18 inch square, I had to choke a bit. You see,…
Hello friends. I need your help ! I was honored to be one of the weekly winners in One Project Closer’s Before & After 2009 contest supporting Habitat for Humanity. Our July staircase transformation was one of the weekly winners. Remember all of the sweat that went into revamping our foyer? Remember how I took…
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m a big believer in making your home your personal refuge from the world. I’d rather spend my money on feathering my nest than taking a grand vacation. Those new to this blog should know that we expanded our home in a (nightmarish) remodel back in…
I’ve received several emails lately inquiring about painting the brass exterior surround of a fireplace. My response has always been to try a brand of high temperature specialty paint. I’ve passed this product several times in the paint aisle at Home Depot and Lowes. Over the summer, I even considered repainting the outside of our…
The temperatures have dropped. A cold front is on its way. The wind is blowing the leaves off the trees. It’s officially fall in my town. With that in mind, I’m so glad the old saying about rebuking unnecessary ornamentation specifically names the lily, and only the lily. I thank thee Shakespeare. Because I’ve gone…
When I go to an antique fair, I sometimes go incognito, then I photograph all of the things I love, or the things that inspire me. What I truly love about outdoor antique fairs is the exposure to other people’s conversations. I’m not eavesdropping on purpose. But one can’t help overhearing the most interesting observations with so…
Here’s a glimpse at just a few little projects I’m cooking up. Thrift store buffet/hutch – Before The plan? Oil based primer and two coats of oil based paint. Slipper Chair – Before The plan? Restain base and reupholster with modern fabric. Pair of bookshelves, each 100 inches tall. The plan? Repaint…
Ever since I repurposed some bookshelves into a media center in our guest studio, I’ve had bookcase styling on my mind. I am always drawn to bookcases where the back has been enhanced with paint or wallpaper. I took a few hours to decorate my own media bookcases in an inexpensive way. But first, here…
Lately, I’ve been inspired by several bloggers to embellish some glass objects with frosting. What finally motivated me were these etched glass wine bottles I swooned over at my favorite shop in St. Helena called ‘Vintage Home’. Not only did I want to enhance some decor, I also had a practical purpose. I needed…
Since we finally tiled our master shower a few short weeks ago, I was determined this past weekend to finally put some finishing touches on the master bathroom. You regular readers know that since our remodel of 2006, our master bathroom has been nothing more than a storage closet, until about ten months ago. We’ve…
Five years ago, Mr. CG and I toured New England in mid October. We started in New York City, drove through Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod, and ended our trip in Boston. Boston. October 2004. Ring a bell ? Imagine trying to get a room in Boston in October of 2004 when the Red…
William Hickson once said, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” This is the story of my guest studio headboard. A few months ago, I had an idea to convert some leftover cabinet doors into a headboard by covering them in fabric and mounting them on the wall. It was a good idea,…