Mantle Challenge: Results!

I can't believe it's already been two weeks since I posted the mantle challenge. I'm happy to say that I was actually able to clean things up and start something that won't be such an eyesore to look at! I wish that my photos were a little better...our living room, despite having five windows, gets terrible light and pictures always come out a little sad (why I don't take my product photos anymore in here!).

So anyway, here is what was there before:



And after....





So I have always wanted one of those beautiful ornate, gilded mirrors that they have at antique shops, but they are soooo expensive usually. Yeah you can get one at Homegoods, but I really hate pretend antiques, don't ask me why. We went to the Goodwill store and they had a mirror in a nice wood frame....for $9.99! The only problem was the wood was painted a hideous black. Like, an old shredded tire black. But $9.99! So we took it home and I painted it with about a dozen coats of gold acrylic paint. And voila! It looks like the gilded mirrors I always pine over. This project also gave me the excuse to use Scotch Blue Painter's Tape, which is like my favorite invention ever. It's so fun!

We also got a bunch of junk frames in gold colors and I placed them around the mirror. Obviously there are some bare patches and more frames are required. Don't worry though, I'm on it. More to come soon!
Aside from that I just got rid of a lot of the junk that was cluttering up the mantle (by cluttering up other places with it). More projects!

Did you transform a space in your home? Do any cleaning or otherwise make an improvement that's been bugging you for a while? Let me know!

Printer's Boxes

So I've been thinking a lot about organization lately (especially for all of our mantle-dwelling knick-knacks) and I keep coming back to old printer's boxes as a perfect option.
My mom has an awesome printer's box that is filled with little antiques and knick-knacks from a lifetime of collecting, and my grandmother has one also. I have a smaller modern one in my old room, but now I have a hankering for a real, old one of my own.
They look stellar in all sorts of decorating schemes....rustic, country, modern, Victorian...

1. Vintage printers engraver drawer tray, from nikinut on Etsy
2. Large wooden printer's tray, from NinaBellaFarms
3. Seashell collection in dark printer's box, by xenasdad on Etsy

Does anyone have a printer's box already? How do you use yours?

Mantle Challenge!

These past few days of rain have been tough. The dog is bouncing off the walls, the cats are ornery, the plants are wet, and I am going a little stir-crazy myself. I've been trying to channel some of my energy into working on my blog and Etsy, but it has involved a lot of sitting on the couch and staring at our mantle.

All the apartments in our building have a non-working fireplace and a mantle. Ours is in a pretty sorry state. Long after it was working someone decided to re-brick it with those cement style bricks from the 70s. And whoever painted last in here wasn't very diligent about clean-up, so the wood is dappled with white and yellow paint splatter.

In any case, it's a mantle. And there is a lot of potential for it to be an interesting and pleasing focal point for the room. But right now it's being waaaaay underutilized as a catch-all for our knick-knacks and unruly candle collection.

Highlights of our mantle include: two crooked photos hung above it (by yours truly), too many Yankee Candles, our wedding silhouettes, leftover wedding centerpieces, two kissing balls, a Venetian mask thatreallykindofcreepsmeoutbutIamagoodwifesoIletitstay, those little ceramic animals that come in the tea boxes, and some bird statuettes.


Yeah. It's a mess.

So I'm giving myself a challenge. Two weeks to clean it up and turn it into something I'm proud to have in our living room.
Will you join me? Even if you don't have a mantle, just pick one little area of your home that you've been neglecting and want to clean up and make special. Let me know in the comments and report back here in two weeks to see how we all did!

Five Quick and Easy Romantic Touches for your Home

I am probably right up there on the list of laziest home-keepers in the world. All I have is a small apartment to keep clean, yet even dragging out the dusting cloth or vacuum is done with a great amount of teeth grinding and sighing. One thing I have noticed though is if the apartment looks nice to begin with it is a lot easier to be motivated to keep it like that. Here are five simple, inexpensive ways to add that uplifting little accent to your home.
Warning, side effects may include an increased sense of euphoria and otherwise elevated levels of domestic bliss.


1. Get Scent-ual
I think scent is probably one of the most under-utilized aspects of decorating or creating a space in a home. Just think of all those memories and feelings that are triggered from smell. So think about how you want your home or certain room to feel, what kind of mood do you want to create? In the spring I like to light a scented lavender or rose candle and open the windows, so the apartment smells fresh and light. In winter I usually go for some cinnamon sticks hung from a ribbon or a apple scented candle. Potpourri, dried flowers, or oil diffusers are all also good, inexpensive options!

Beautiful candles from Finch Apothecary on Etsy

2. Stop and Smell the Flowers
Absolutely nothing brings a room to life like fresh bouquet of flowers. There's just something about the colors, smell, and life that make a room feel happy and alive. You can usually buy an in-season flower by the dozen at the grocery store for less than $15, or you can go the silk route and make your own bouquet from Michael's or Joann's and change them up seasonally. For an added touch of romantic whimsy, pick up some inexpensive and interesting vases from thrift or antique stores.

Here are three mini arrangements I made by just sticking some silk flowers in unique vintage vases. Total cost? Less than $10, and they'll last forever.

3. Collection-mania
The Victorians were notorious collectors, and I think in terms of interior decorating they were right on the money on this one. Nothing creates a point of interest for a room like a well curated collection. It can be something as simple as some your collection of thimbles or matchbooks arranged on a shelf, or as elaborate as an old printer's box filled with unusual knick-knacks. I collect Victorian fashion plates, and love arranging them in big groupings on the wall. It's easy to go over-board (trust me!) so if your collection begins to get unruly, consider breaking it up into smaller groupings and placing them around the house

My bedroom wall decorated with my fashion plate collection

4. Well-dressed Windows
I'm not going to lie, window dressings totally intimidate me, both for the dizzying array of design options as well as some of the prices. Our apartment came with Venetian blinds, but the windows still looked so unfinished. Simple solution? We grabbed some old white sheer panels and stuck one each on the windows. Half the price of using two panels per window, and it makes the bedroom look airy and clean. Another great hidden secret- Ikea. Not the ones they have on display on the showroom floor though. Go down to the warehouse floor (in our local one it's right near the checkout) and look for the returns/already-built furniture section. They have HUGE bins of fabric and curtains and that were returned but are absolutely fine. I snagged some beautiful linen panels with gray floral patterns for $3 each. For realsies.

Sheer panels are a great way to let in light and add a finishing touch to a room

5. Get Organized
No one likes to spend all their time organizing (well, maybe some do), but what if organizing and tidying up went hand-in-hand with creating something pretty and romantic? Old teacups from the thrift store are a great way to store little doo-dads and business cards. Or how about a vintage wood crate for storing mail or papers? There are so many possibilities for creating unique organization options that work for you. And a trip to the antique store is always fun!

So what about you? What are some of your favorite ways to add an unexpected and romantic touch to your home?