Creating a Cozy and Welcoming Christmas Entryway

Our front porch and entryway spaces are my favorite areas to decorate through the seasons. They are good, big spaces to style and they serve an important purpose--welcoming friends and family into out home. Let me welcome you in with a quick tour.

You walk up some front steps to my main entryway. This porch is covered. The original double doors to our old schoolhouse are simply adorned with pine garland and premade wreaths from the thrift store.

On the left hand side of the porch is a sitting area with cozy blankets and pillows. Will I sit here in the winter? If it gets above freezing I might. Twinkle lights are on the mini tree, wrapped in the pinecone arrangement, and are stuffed I the metal tree cutout lantern that hangs in the corner. I created the painting, it is one of four seasonal paintings that I made for my front porch. I painted on both sides of two boards so I have less seasonal decor to store. 

This thrifted, green, metal planter gets changed seasonally. This year I added red sumac berry clusters from my yard, large pinecones, and some cedar sprigs. 

On the right side of the porch there are more pinecones, branches, sumac berries, and fairy lights. Both the front porch and the entryway get lovely late afternoon light.

When you come in from the front porch to the entryway, you are greeted by this wall across from the door. A small tree with battery operated lights sits in a rattan stool. I continue to enjoy seasonally changing the chalkboard art that hangs on this wall.

This year I chalked a cozy cottage in the snow. In the beginning of creating chalkboard art, I would erase and erase until it was perfect. Nowadays, it is a one shot deal. This scene will last until March.

Below the mirrored candle sconce that hangs here year round, I framed and hung a vintage card that was one of the last cards my great grandma received in 1953.

On the right side of the entryway, diagonally across from the door to the great room, is a bench for guests to sit on to take shoes off. A blue and brown plaid pillow (with an elk scene on the other side) and a nubby linen blanket add warmth and softness to the space.  The shelf and coat hook, from my second book, Wood Pallet Wonders, (BUY HERE) acts as a mantel for my decorating. The coat shelf is useful to hang coats and decorative items. I hang various leather cases that I tuck seasonal books and sprigs into. Coats can still hang on these hooks.

On top of the shelf lays a pine garland, various pinecones, nests, sparkly branches and three taller trees or branches with fairy lights in them. 

The basket with the round mirror stays year round as does the large, thrifted, gold school bell. the antique gold box adds a touch more metallic color and looks like something the wisemen could have carried. 

This year I am using this vintage watercolor from the thrift store that I found a few years ago. I framed it in the barnwood frame. The soft blues and greens and browns and snow incorporates my theme this year in both color and subject and style. 

98% of my porch or entryway decor came from a thrift store and yes, I am happy and proud to announce that. It is my hope that these spaces say to guests, "Welcome! We are glad you are here and we hope you feel warm and cozy while you stay."

Create a Winter Centerpiece with Thrift Store Finds

The home "halls" have been decked for Christmas and over the next week I will share my holiday home with you. I didn't completely change up my decor this year, but restyled what I have and added bits and pieces of new finds. Blues, greens, and whites are my color scheme. I am incorporating a lot of natural and organic elements such as pine branches and pinecones and warm light. Let's start with my dining table centerpiece.

Just about everything you see has been thrifted! Only the blue ribbon, the fairy lights, and the gold candle cups in the green glasses were purchased brand new. I found this antique, European wood sled last year at a favorite local thrift store and bought it instantly. I love the height it adds and the warm wood tones.

I placed the sled on a thrifted blue and brown plaid runner that also has bits of yellow and rusty red running through it. A pine garland that is sparse runs around and through the sled.

I used all kinds of thrifted, faux, pine stems to create the pine bouquet. I arranged the stems in a 99 cent, brass pot and added a blue ribbon and fairy lights on a timer. A thrifted, Putz style church sits in front on the wood sled. It does have lights, but I need to get a battery for it. 

A pair of green glasses that I turned into candlesticks with the addition of gold candle cups complete the centerpiece, adding height and candlelight. 

This thrifted centerpiece will most likely grace my table through the winter months. Remember these key elements to create a visually appealing vignette: varying heights, repeat colors, elements, and textures, use something natural (or natural looking), [lace objects on something to ground them, use unique items that you love!

Adorable Vintage Christmas Finds

Sourcing very vintage Christmas items is becoming harder and harder. But, here are a couple recent finds that are perfect for a vintage Christmas theme. 

Okay, the metal lunchbox bottom isn't necessarily a Christmas item, but I turned it into one. I found this at a garage sale a month ago. I picked it up and the gentleman said, "Oh, that's trash." He gave it to me for free (I did have to dump out the rusty nails in it).  

I clear coated it inside and out to stop the rust and add a floral foam block and various faux pine stems. Some little fairy lights finish this adorable centerpiece.

I also found this 1928 Santa Sunkist Lemon crate end.  It was very fragile and crackled. I did put a clear coat over the top of it.

It amazes me that something like this that is 97 years old has survived.

Both of these vintage finds will be available at my next pop-up, November 29, 9-4.

Cozy Curated Finds and an Easy Makeover

What criteria do I use when deciding to purchase a piece of furniture that needs upcycled? 1) Is it real wood? 2) How wobbly is the piece and how hard or easy will it be to sturdy it? 3) Is it a piece of furniture that is useful and versatile? 4) How much time will it take me to update it? 5) Is the price worth my time to upcycle the piece?

When I recently spied a mid-century, vanity bench at a local thrift store, I ran it through my checklist and decided it was a YES, buy it piece! 

This vanity bench is very solid, not a wiggle or a wobble in it. The wood is in good, nice looking condition. Perfect? No, but nice enough that the only thing I needed to do to it was clean it up with some soap and water. All I wanted to do to update it was recover the seat.

I have had this small wool square for sale in my pop-up shop for quite some time (I thought it would be great as a table square). I decided that if the square was big enough, I would use it. I liked the warm and cozy look that the cream and brown plaid wool square brought to the mid-century piece.

I could see the blue fabric had been used to recover the original fabric. I left both of those and typically do when recovering a seat, as long as they aren't too dirty or stinky. I covered the blue fabric with two layers of Warm and Natural quilt batting and then the wool piece. 

I few other recent finds that add to this cozy seat include some good, realistic looking pine branches, green velvet pillows, and a frame (that needs glass) and a vintage Colorado mountain picture. This vanity bench makes a great entry bench, an extra seat at the kitchen table, as a side table with a tray on it, or used as a bench at the end of a bed.

Cozy Christmas Decor and a Reclaimed Wood Fireplace Mantel

Oh, how I wish I had a fireplace mantel to style each season. Alas, I do not (but I do use my front entryway shelf like a mantel). I love making faux mantels or fireplace shelves for my pop-up shop to sell to those who also crave the ambiance that a mantel brings to a home space. Last year I made and sold three different faux fireplaces during the holiday season, each one different and unique. Here is this season's first "fireplace" for the pop-up shop. 

This one I created using reclaimed, graying, barnwood. Although it has a rustic style, it can easily be dressed up or down to fit in a variety of homes. The mantel piece is a live edge, reclaimed barnwood plank with moss on it. It is lovely.

It is hard to see in these pictures, but the fireplace is backed with a piece of sheet metal. 

This fantastic, antique, brass gargoyle, peacock fireplace fan dresses up the rustic wood. It is definitely a fun find.

I sewed the stockings from a damaged Pendleton plaid wool blanket.

Other recently curated items include a painting painted in 1984 that was painted by mouth and is signed by the artist. The vintage, printed Santa cutout is perfect for a shelf or mantel. 100% sheepskin pillows are cozy and white pom-pom garlands add layers to the mantel.

The cozy feeling that the faux mantel gives the shop is appreciated and just right for my upcoming Holiday Home pop-up. 

A Project Fifteen Years in the Making

Some projects take longer than others. I knew exactly what I wanted to create when I purchased this antique, birdseye, maple headboard (and footboard) at a garage sale 15+years ago...

It just took me awhile to get to it!

But, this weekend was time to build the bench that I envisioned many years ago and I must say, it turned out even better than I pictured. (Sorry about the sunlight streaks.)

The curved footboard was cut in half and attached to the headboard on the sides. I then created a seat frame, using a nice piece of wood across the front. I cut a piece of plywood for the seat bottom and used a thick piece of memory foam as a cushion. I covered it in a piece of thrifted, cream wool that I scotchguarded.

The headboard and footboard were made by Innis Pearce & Co.  in Rushville, Indiana. They manufactured furniture from 1884-1921. I love researching the history of old pieces. Isn't she a beauty?

The bench will work with many different styles. Here it is shown with a cozy, plaid, wool blanket and a wool pinecone pillow--perfect in a rustic home or cabin.  Switch out pillows and blankets and it will work in a farmhouse, eclectic, or traditional home. This bench will be for sale at my upcoming pop-up shop.

Warm and Cozy Curated Finds

Do you crave warm and cozy spaces this time of the year? I sure do, which means I am curating warm and cozy home decor items for the pop-up shop. Here are a few recently sourced items that are perfect for fall and winter. 

Let's start with this cute footstool made from an old crate. 

I loved the wood on it and the previous owner did an excellent job making a sturdy, hinged lid for it. It was however covered in an early 90's, Amish country buggy print. I recovered it in a yellow and brown plaid wool. It is neutral enough to go with lots of different decor and chocolate brown is back!!

This vintage Watanabe Seitei Woodblock print featuring orange Chinese lanterns is simply lovely. It is entitled Starling and Snake Gourd from the Meiji Period 1868-1912.  The print was framed in South Bend, Indiana at a shop that is no longer in business, but that was started in 1911. 

This blanket is so soft and such a lovely warm color. It is made in Italy for Lands Down Under.

The velvet pillow and rust velour chair seat add more warmth. Color, fabric choices, and organic textures all create comfortable and welcoming spaces.

The BIG Spoon

Honestly, sometimes I source items that I have no idea why or what I will do with it. Such was the case with a recent BIG, carved wood spoon. Now, I have seen the big spoon and fork wall decor pieces often, but this spoon was a little different so I decided it needed to come home. It didn't take me long to decide to create a fun holiday decor piece with it.

I am not sure if the BIG spoon was individually hand-crafted or a mass-produced item, but I loved the carved details on the spoon handle.

I used some wire to add a faux pine branch.

I gave it a big, red bow and a gold bell to finish the look.

For photos, I used command adhesive strips to hang the BIG spoon. I love decorated cupboards, especially for the holidays. 

The BIG spoon will be for sale at my next pop-up, November 7 and 8.

Fall Porch Decor With Thrifted Finds

What do you get when you take a thrifted nail keg barrel,

and add some curly willow branches from the yard,

and thrifted, faux, fall stems?

A cute, fall decor display perfect for a porch.

I simply cut the branches from our fallen willow tree and put them in the barrel.

I stuck the faux, fall stems amongst the branches and,

voila, a perfect porch piece. Throwing a few rocks in the bottom helps the barrel to stay upright on windy days. This nail keg will work year round--add pine branches in the winter and pussy willows in the spring. This item will be for sale at my upcoming pop-up-shop!