3 Ways to Use a Thrift Store Crate

A cute, small, green, thrift store crate or wood box can be utilized in so many different ways in the home. Here are just three!

A small box like this is a good way to corral and organize items in the kitchen on the counter.

Cooking oils, a jar of tea, a cutting board, and rolled towels look neater when organized in the green crate. It also makes it easier to move items when counter space is needed.

A wood box is a unique way to create a centerpiece for a dining table or shelf. Autumn items--art, dried flowers, candles bundled together, a wood acorn dish, and plaid napkin are neatly displayed in the crate. 

The centerpiece sits on a vintage, needlepoint piece in fall colors.

Set the crate on a guest bedroom bed and fill it with comfort items for your guests--an extra throw blanket, tissues, books, and a decanter with some good bourbon in it for a nightcap.

There are so many other ways to use a sturdy wood crate--books, bathroom towels, stuffies,  hang on a wall as a shadow box. Be sure to pick these up when you see them!

5 Ways to Add Cozy to Your Home

Fall means it is cozy season, a time when we tend to be indoors a bit more and when we want to feel relaxed and comfortable in our spaces. And although cozy may mean something different to each of us, there are certain elements that you can add to make your space feel more inviting and warm. 

Let's start with COLOR. No matter what colors you decorate your home in, you can always add touches or "pops" of warm colors to cozy up your home. Use yellows, oranges, reds, browns, and mossy or olive greens. By the way, chocolate brown is back and is coming in hot this fall for both clothing and home decor. Remember there are so many different hues and shades of these warm colors and you don't have to repaint a wall, just incorporate small touches.

Faux flowers tucked here and there are a good way to incorporate warmth.  

This chair is always in my family room because I love warm colors, but a golden mustard colored throw adds a bit more color.

LIGHTING is the perfect way to add some coziness to your house. Candlelight is the very best, please remember to never leave burning candles unattended. Changing lightbulbs to warmer hues in lamps that aren't used for tasks add more warmth. Twinkle or fairy lights wrapped around a banister or placed in a house plant are also a good way too ambient lighting. 

FABRIC choices and texture make a space feel more homey and comfortable. I change out the cotton and linen pillows and throws I have been using during the spring and summer for velvet, wool, velour, sherpa, etc. Incorporating more texture also makes a spot feel cozier.

LAYER decor! I always like layers, but tend to pare them down for cleaner, more streamlined displays in the warmer months. For autumn, I start to add small extra pieces and bits to my vignettes. I also use more warm metals--brass and copper in the fall and winter.

Decorate with some WARM ART. I no longer go nuts with seasonal decor, but I do change out some pieces like this art in my front entryway. This thrifted, original painting is the perfect way to add some coziness to the hone and to transition into a new season.

You don't have to make huge changes to cozy up your home. Simply use color, lighting, fabrics and textures, layers, and art to make your home feel comfortable and welcoming this autumn.

Flat Lay of Fun Fall Finds

Have I mentioned that fall is my favorite season? (Yes, yes I have!) Sourcing for fall pop-up shops is so much fun. Here are some recent finds. Be sure to keep reading for details!

They are hard to see, but there are a couple fall colored textiles underneath all of the goodies. In the upper left of the picture above there is a throw rug in soft blues, tans, and golds. At the bottom of the photo is a cream colored tablecloth with gold and orange flowers on it.

Vintage art is my favorite thing to curate and I have found some wonderful pieces lately. The Art Nouveau print, "Courge Squash Flowers", by French artist Pillard (1896) is such a lovely way to celebrate fall harvests. The original, acrylic landscape is definitely vintage. The vintage print on cardboard is Picasso's "A Peasant Woman". I thought she was kind of spooky for Halloween. A wicker cornucopia holds plaid napkins and a wood pestle. A brass compass sits on the gourd print.

These large pottery mugs are by designer Leanne Ford. They are Brekkie mugs and originally sold at Crate and Barrel. They are perfect for hot cider or cocoa or coffee on a cool autumn day.

I love the sweet, vintage, hand-painted orange and brown floral art piece.

This original, acrylic painting of mountains and a fall field is not old, but I adore the colors and composition. You can see the rug better in this picture and some brand new, fall floral cloth napkins. The wood round object is a cake stand and the stoneware coasters are fun and colorful.

A spinning caddy is perfect for any time of the year. I think it would be cute on a coffee table with curiosities in it--shells, old photos, small collectibles, dried flowers. The pumpkin holds a candle. The 1973 gold bust might get white painted eyes to enhance it's creepiness. I found 45 wood bullseyes and will make some art pieces with them. The teapot works well to hold a floral arrangement or hot tea.

A pair of watercolors by the same artist depict late fall or early winter scenes. The wool lumbar pillow is a nice addition to a chair.

A picnic basket holds fall stems and a brass trinket box sits on a wood cutting board. The oh so soft, plaid shacket is most likely a keeper. A pair of Pottery Barn pillows are a good way to add some fall color to a sofa or bench.

A sweet pastoral print in browns and golds adds a calming and homey touch to any space. 

If you think cozy when you think autumn, the pair of sherpa pillows under the orange flower painting are just the thing. They are genuine sherpa.

Wow! I think that is all. That is a lot of curated goodness, isn't it? What do you see that you like?

Front Porch Flooring and Fall Makeover

When you live in a 93 year old schoolhouse, there is never a shortage of projects to do. This past few weeks we tackled the covered front porch flooring. When we bought the house, there was painted plywood over the original beadboard porch flooring. We removed that a few years ago and were left with the beadboard that needed help.

It had a cut across the front and the front edge was rotted (in the above picture hubby had already cut off the front edge).

We chose to lay a tongue and groove cedar over the beadboard. There was enough space at the threshold that we could lay the cedar on top of the original flooring. We then used a good finish on it that took 9 days to dry!! Montana is a dry climate, but we got lots of rain two days after clear coating. a ribbon had to go up across the porch to keep people off of it. 

It is finally dry and I was able to decorate for fall. I changed up quite a bit of the decor and furniture. 

On this side of the porch there was loveseat. A loveseat that the neighborhood cats loved and would pee on! Grrr! Those cushions have all been thrown out. The loveseat will be moved to my sunroom and the matching couch in the sunroom is going to my son's. My son was given these high end chairs from his former place of employment. (He went into business for himself and contracts with them now.) These chairs are super comfortable, very ergonomic and I love them on the porch. 

The typing table, a dumpster find, was previously on the porch. For fall I've added yellows, and greens, and oranges. The garage sale fountain is fun and gets plugged in when I am on the porch. The mustard yellow tote under the table holds some seasonal items. Faux flowers hide them.

We use the door on the right. I had the cutest green, wood wagon here in the corner for years that I changed decor on seasonally. But, the wagon made it hard to open the door wide and so I decided to move it to a flowerbed. 

I put this ice cream bucket, that did sit on the wagon, in the corner instead. I may set it up on a little stool, but I am liking the open space. I've added some dried tansy and faux orange stems to the curly willow.

In the corner facing the doors is another sitting spot. I tried to put this chair in the corner where the wagon was, but it didn't work with the door open. A little green wicker table is the perfect place to hold a coffee cup or drink. The concrete urn on the table doubles a s a door stop on windy days.

I have some mums hanging out front and the yellow/orange petunias on the steps are still blooming. We have white twinkle lights around the porch opening that are on a timer that make the space glow at night. The space is cozy and comfortable and is so much more attractive with the new flooring.

Easy DIY Fall Decor from the Thrift Store

It is Labor Day weekend and for most of us, that means the unofficial start to fall. 

When I spied this brand new hearth or fireplace broom at the thrift store, I knew it would be perfect for a fun and easy fall wall or door decor upcycle.

I found some good quality, faux stems at another thrift store and wired hem onto the handle of the broom.

I love that the hook on the end make it perfect for hanging. the short size means that this works well on a door or a window or wall.

A few other thrifted finds complete this window display--a vintage fall print, a wood acorn bowl, and an orange candle. 

I like that this piece is subtle Halloween due to a broom, but can easily be used all fall. 

I am not a big ribbons and bows kind of a girl, so I added simple, jute tied into a knot.

This fall broom will be for sale at my next pop-up shop and remember to look for fireplace brooms at the thrift store--I see them often

Fresh Finds For Fall

Fall feels are in the air. Ok, it is 90 degrees out for the next week, but I am still seeing signs of autumn--some leaves starting to change, it takes longer for it to heat up outside, and it is getting darker earlier. I have been sourcing vintage and unique home decor items for the pop-up shop with all of the cozy, fall vibes. Here are some of them.

Let's start with this awesome, crocheted, granny square blanket. I love the muted colors. The needlepoint, orange, and blue pillow is beautifully handcrafted.

The black picnic basket is definitely an oldie. I like the wood lid with the round, wood handle. A trick or treat plate holds one of the three rattan pears. a pair of handmade wood candle holders with fall colored candles sit on the picnic basket.

A pottery pumpkin bowl (that looks like carved wood, but is indeed a clay piece and is a bowl even though it looks like a platter in this picture) will make a Halloween great candy dish. The blue creamer repeats the blues in the afghan and pillow and the black pillow is perfect for fall and winter.

The original art that I have curated includes a vintage stitchery, and two watercolors--one of fall trees and one with pumpkins and apples.

I love fall, it is m favorite season, and I look forward to offering these curated items to my customers soon.

Makeover for a Pair of Thrifted Stools

When I spied this pair of stools at the thrift store, I knew that they would be perfect for a makeover. I love their shape and versatility. They had been painted (with chalk paint) that was badly scratched and honestly, poorly painted to start with.

I lightly sanded them, wiped them clean with white vinegar, and painted them with a pretty, peacock green oops paint I recently purchased. I clear coated them after painting. Here is a great ttip when brush painting stools or chairs--always turn them over and paint the legs and underside first.

I love these as stools because they sit flat against a wall (or bar) and don't stick out from under a counter.

But, these stools also make fantastic side tables for spaces where you might need a smaller profile.

They are a nice height for a chair or table that has a higher arm and again, like at a counter, they sit flat against the furniture. There is enough space on top to sit a book, a mug of coffee, and even something decorative.

Stools make fantastic, sturdy plant stands.

However they get used, the pair will be available for sale at my August POP-UP SHOP, "Home Stories".

A Warm Vignette Created with Recently Curated Objects

The sourcing for my pop-up shop has been sparse because I have been busy playing in the great outdoors and I have been fairly picky about what I have been buying. But, I have found some lovely items that will be available at my August pop-up shop. I styled some of these curated goodies to create a warm and unique vignette.

My next pop-up shop theme is "HOME STORIES". I hope to help customers find home decor that they love and that feel a connection to. I want people to have their living spaces tell their stories, not the local home story aisle 12 story. Keep reading to learn about the details of these vintage, one-of-a-kind finds.

This mid-century style chair I shared with you a few years ago. I have been using it in my home, but I am ready to part with it now. The pillows that sit in have great texture and I love the mix of patterns. The blue color on the front pillow (that does have a rust colored top stitched line that matches the chair seat color) is repeated in the silk stitched piece and the long, narrow needlepoint piece. 

The table next to it is an antique find. It was scratched and in rough shape, but solid.

I decided I wanted to leave some of the age and character so I didn't sand out every scratch and mark. Instead I lightly hand sanded it and then stained over it all with a dark, mocha stain. I then clear coated the table. I am happy that the original tag was still on the bottom. 

I did a little research and learned that the company manufactured furniture, mostly library tables, from 1906-1916. I love furniture pieces with a history so i don't want to completely erase that history by sanding it out or painting over it. This table has been used and enjoyed in other homes--I'd love to know its whole story.

I love the detailed molding or apron.

Across the table I placed a piece of yellow and brown plaid fabric. I thrifted this and will probably use it to recover a bench seat or chairs. It does make a nice runner in the meantime. The vintage art print in an antique piece is an interesting find. It is a print and it is old, I can see that from the paper it is printed on. But, it has a canvas looking texture to it which I haven't seen before in old prints. I loved the warm, rich colors and the frame. The little library table holds books on the bottom shelf. 

A trio of card wood boxes sit on one end of the table. They provide hidden storage and fantastic, interesting texture. 

Next to the boxes I styled a vintage, 1970's pitcher with faux stems. Remember, if you are going to use fake, make sure they are good fake and no fake ivy! I set the pitcher on top of an overturned copper dish to give it a little more height and to repeat the copper color in the oval dish I hung on the wall.

This hand embroidered, African textile has great colors and textures, The vintage, needlepoint, narrow wall hanging fills the space between artworks beautifully and incorporates more texture and repeated colors into the space. A stitched, silk, Asian piece hangs opposite the needlepoint. It has a few stains on it, but it a gorgeous and very old piece of art. 

The copper dish fills a hole under the silk stitched art and adds warm color. The oval shape breaks up the rectangles and creates visual interest. 

When hanging a wall grouping, don't hang items too far apart from each other because it breaks up the flow of the eyes. You want the grouping to feel connected not disjointed. 

SLOW decorating is all about telling your story and your home's story. Take the time to curate items that speak to you, that you love and display them in an interesting way. Let's say no to boring, cookie cutter, big box store decor!