Vintage Decor Inspiration

A couple of months ago Ben and I went to our local library's book sale, which is the first Monday of every month.  We found a lot of cool books but my favorite by far is my Better Homes and Garden's Decorating Book 1968 Edition and it only cost .50! I love the furniture, the wall hangings, the use of bright colors and pretty much the way people decorated their homes in the 60s and 70s in general. So I decided to share some of my Decorating Book's vintage loveliness. I hope everyone enjoyed these photos as much as I...

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The Wood Paneling Debate

Since moving into our 1940's cottage style home, Ben and I have always disagreed about our living room's wood paneling.  We have that "real" wood paneling that I believe is knotty pine, that a previous owner thought was really fancy and had it installed in both the living room and one of our bedrooms.  Ben loves it and thinks it is really fun and vintage.  I hate it and how dark it makes our living room.  I seriously want to paint over it and Ben hates that...

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Before & After: Ugly Chair Cushions Recovered

Until we get a new kitchen table and chairs, we have to make do with our current ones which were given to us by our former roommates.  I am glad these ugly chair cushions can be re-covered quickly and easily.  Notice the gross paint drops from who knows what.

All you need is a screwdriver, a staple gun, fabric and something to help you remove the staples, like a flat head screwdriver. This is the fabric I chose.  I bought it at a thrift store and at first...

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Before & After: DIY Vintage Painting Headboard

Right after we first moved into our house, our yard flooded into our neighbor's yard and garage.  Ben went over to introduce himself,  help clean up and apologize.  He returned with this painting. He said that she asked him if he liked it and mostly to be polite, he said yes.  She went on to tell him that her daughter in law painted it and she hated it but had kept it up for years.  We decided that we couldn't get rid of it. A year later I had an idea. Ben and...

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Easy No-Sew Drop Cloth Curtains

Recently I have been trying to find ways to make our living room look brighter and more inviting,  which is a challenge with our wood paneling.    The obvious answer would be to open the blinds and pull back the curtains but we live on a somewhat busy street and I enjoy my privacy.   While looking at a home tour on either Design*Sponge or Apartment Therapy (sorry I can't remember which one) I noticed that someone mentioned their curtain was actually a drop cloth.   So I measured my windows and off to Lowe's I went on a...

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DIY Winter Wreath

This holiday season I decided to make fun DIY decorations for my house.   I made this green and silver winter wreath using this tutorial from Design*Sponge.  Mine doesn't look a lot like their wreath, but I am happy with it.  I love the way this wreath looks on my front door and it was not hard to make but be advised that it takes longer to make than one would...

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Pretty Shower Curtains

Ben and I need a new shower curtain since we moved our cute shower curtain into the guest bathroom.  Any of these pretty shower curtains would be great, especially the first one.  I am kind of in love with it actually. Flamenco Shower Curtain from Anthropologie Cityscape Shower Curtain from CB2 Falling Leaves Shower Curtain from Urban Outfitters Madison Taupe Shower Curtain from Crate &...

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Home Inspiration: Shutters and Windows

I have so many fun ideas for new house projects.   But  when I get a chance to tell Ben about them,  it seems like I spend more time trying to remember which blog, site or picture inspired me.   In an attempt to organize my thoughts and inspiration I have decided to share my ideas with you by category. Pretty Shutters and Windows I...

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Not your Maw Maw’s Crochet

Nathan Vincent's crochet work is amazing and I think this lion should hang in my living room.  Check out his portfolio. Or maybe this deer. Thank you Katie for sending me a link to his interview with...

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Home Inspiration: Cottage Garden

Sometimes I have trouble conveying to my husband exactly how I want our yard to look.  We are working on our landscaping and I have a vision but I talk really fast and a lot, so sometimes I overload him.  In his defense I usually say something like, "Ben I want us to have almost too many  flowers like a cottage garden."  And I often say to him, while he is driving, "See that yellow bush over there, that is exactly the one I want" or "look at those shutters, they are perfect."   Upon reflection I realized that these two...

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