House by Holly

Antique Finds | House by Holly Guide

2016-07-19T15:37:00.002-04:00

Hi Readers,

Hope everyone is having a splendid Summer! We have been enjoying the down time and I am holding steady that this Summer lasts for awhile...
The impromptu gatherings and time spent on the shoreline is nothing I take for granted.

With Summer here it's the perfect time to share my tips on how I get my antiques--my goal is for you to think twice when you pass by that next tag sale..

When I see a piece of furniture or an

accessory that I have to have, I always try

to find a place for it--this is how your home evolves.

When you have home decor on the brain you have to be open minded to how you get your loot. I find my antiques from Tag Sales, Thrift Stores, Consignment Stores, Craigslist, hand- me-downs from friends and family, previous home owners, the curb and even Tony--the old guy who started taking in old junk and packed his house with all sorts of goodies. Doesn't it feel good to be greedy?

Tag Sales:

I get tons of compliments on this antique pie cabinet that I bought for a whopping $45. The texture it lends to my kitchen sitting area is breathtaking. I wish I could take the credit for the refinish, but I can't. The heart shaped cut outs were replaced with small mirrors and it was distressed with cream paint.

I find that sometimes you can find items already refinished or items that need to be refinished. It really is hit or miss.

I found this antique blue dresser at a church rummage sale for $5. It is vintage Ethan Allen and was pretty much a call of the right place at the right time.

Hitting a tag sale at the end of the day opens the door for all kinds of possibilities--everything must go, right? Right! This is when the negotiation works in your favor. No one wants to drag that huge piece of furniture back into their home when they just want to get rid of it.

But in the same breath, the early bird--gets the worm.

These antique keys were just a few dollars.. Inserted into a gold collage picture frame backed with a beautiful card stock gives them a new and modern outlook.

Just because there is a price on an item doesn't mean you have to pay that.. Always negotiate.

"Will you take...?"

My masterpiece hangs beautifully on the wall in my office.

Curb Side Treasures:

This antique desk was found on the curb while on a walk with my neighbor. She thought I was nuts. I have to admit I kinda did too, but I am so glad I was at the right place at the right time.

I sanded and white washed it then brushed a coat of antique stain on top to give it a weathered look.

The best finds are FREE.

Another curb side find that had tattered and torn canned webbing. I built the chair back up with batting and painters drop cloth, and made it the beauty it is today. p.s. it was also featured on One Kings Lane.

My Mother towed this antique night stand and desk all the way from Texas once she heard the news we were having a baby girl. It was found in an alley. We painted them a creamy color and changed the hardware.

If you find a piece of furniture on the curb try to envision it in another color and with new hardware.

Hand Me Downs:

This antique armoire was once my Mother's from as far back as I can remember. It was a dark wood color. Once I lighted it up with cream paint it became stunning. One of my most favorite pieces of furniture in my daughter's room--the character is amazing!

My grandmother's antique costume jewelry was something I always wanted. When it was finally passed down, I started playing around and found ways to create one-of-a-kind statement jewelry pieces.

Always take hand-me-down jewelry--You can also use it to make fridge magnets, napkin rings, use it to embellish a bottle of wine for a special occasion and many other things.

I use a lot of this jewelry around The Holidays to embellish my decorations.

I am a child of the 70's so that means my parents and their parents had antique paintings with gold frames. I slipped some of the paintings out and created a beautiful gallery wall in my office.

My Nanny's old German clock entertained me for hours when I was a child. I wanted to find a way to bestow the same pleasure to my daughter. It hangs in her room painted robin egg blue. It adds just the right amount of whimsy to her darling room.

This wood and wrought iron antique lamp was my mother's. I decided to give it a distressed look using cream paint and water mixed together. Topped with an antique light bulb..

it's ready for the show.

Thrift Stores:

This little lady was found at my local thrift store for $60. I instantly knew distressing it and recovering it would give it life again. It now sits pretty in my Master Bath. There were a lot of unbelievers with this one.

The beginning of the week is a good time to hit thrift stores.. this is after people have donated over the weekend and you can find the best pieces.

Don't be shy to ask for a discount on a slightly damaged item.

Previous Homeowners:

An old dresser may not mean much to someone starting fresh, but to someone purchasing a second vacation home--

it means everything.

Never be shy when buying a new home.. this is a time when the homeowner is ready to move on and this could work out to your advantage.

Make a list of the sellers items that you are interested in.. you will be surprised what they are willing to let go.

New knobs and some paint give this antique dresser a totally new life.

An old vintage trunk is hardy and can stand up to any child or animal. That is exactly what I had in mind when I remembered another previous homeowner foolishly left this behind. Now it's an indestructible breakfast cereal and craft specialist. You literally can not destroy this coffee table.

Consignment Stores:

I envisioned this old antique night stand for something that it wasn't. I liked the lines but hated the top compartment. After I hammered it off, it became the perfect dollhouse table.

The $10 price tag was worth the experiment.

Many consignment stores mark their goods down after 30 days. If you have your eye on something, sometimes it proves good to hold out.

Taking your unwanted items to a consignment store is a good way to fund your new antique purchases.

I kept the finish 'as is' because I liked the warmth it brought to my daughter's room.

This antique brass light in our Kitchen was purchased for $23.. another find worth the experiment of painting black.

This nautical brass door bell was a steal for $8 and hangs beautifully in our beach house mudroom.

Tony The Treasure Guys Bottomless Pit:

My friend dragged me into a house that was filled with junk all the way to the ceiling and there was a tiny little isle to navigate through.. There was a small sign on the front of the house that said "Tony's". I have to admit this was a new one for me, but after a couple of hours of digging through all his nostalgic stuff, these antique globes shined in all that dust. Thanks Tony!

When buying items from tag sales or a place like Tony's, you always get a better deal when offering a lump sum for your total purchase. If you are with a friend put everything together and offer a price that you are willing to pay.

It doesn't hurt to put on your game face, don't let the seller know how excited you are about your "find".

Craigslist:

Sometimes we know what we want but don't want to spend the time looking for it. I put an "In Search Of" ad in Craigslist for a wing back chair wanted for reupholstering.

I quickly got an answer for a chair for $50.

After cleaning it up, I was pleased to know it was an antique Hitchcock chair. I used it in my office for a couple of years and the lady who sold it to me found my blog and wanted to buy it back. I was thrilled to sell it.

Next time you are on your way through life and you pass that tag sale, curbside treasure, or bargain barn-- I'm hoping you might be tempted to actually stop. Or when Aunt Sally offers up that nice piece of antique furniture-- I'm trusting that you can visualize all that it can be.

Let's not be hasty.. thrifty is the new chic.

Life is an adventure! Come keep up with me at HousebyHolly.blogspot.com

For more tips and a list of the best Summer Antiquing places in the U.S. visit Invaluable's blog. If you are traveling this Summer, you may be passing by one of these great places to find treasures!

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Creating a Personal Space | Chairish

2016-03-31T09:52:00.004-04:00

Hello Readers,

We all can dream of a room just for us gals... A room that we don't have to share with anyone. A room we don't have to compromise on design.. You want that those beautiful leopard chairs or floral curtains? No problem. They are yours.

Chairish recently reached out to me again.. this time to create my Ultimate Woman Cave. If you are not familiar with Chairish it is a website where you can list your gently used items or purchase from piles of other gently used items. Kinda like an online tag sale. They have been featured in many magazines such as InStyle, Elle Decor, Domaine, House Beautiful and Goop. Check it out!

The Plan: When creating any room there are a few things I take into consideration. First, is the design. I always want to add just the right amount of texture in my rooms, with a pop of color, a comfort element and an efficiency factor.

When designing a Lady Room I start with that same formula and look for comfortable, but stylish seating and a work station to spread out my projects. I chose these beautiful dark grey tufted wing back chairs that are bold but neutral. These chairs can be used in a sitting area or they can be pushed up to the table for extra seating.

I like to bring pattern into a room with either curtains or a rug. This traditional rug has grey, blue, and cream colors that pop with the solid grey chairs.

Task Forse: I also chose this work horse type table that lends an architectural feel to the space. This table would allow me to work on many projects at the same time. A functional square lantern inspired task light hangs directly over the table. I chose these industrial bar stools from Chairish to offer seating on big projects.

Storage: An antiqued sideboard offers an adequate amount of storage. Double brass lamps with black masculine shades light up a beautiful French period painting of Champs-Elys'ees and the Arc De Triomphe also from Chairish.

The Finishing Touch: No room is complete without a little jewel.. In this space it is the white washed antique clock that keeps a reminder of what time it is.

I am loving my Lady Room inspired by Chairish. You too can peruse through a lovely collection of bar stools from Chairish and create a room you will love.

From my house to your house, Happy Hunting!

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Valentine's Day Treat | Cake Pop Tutorial

2016-02-10T21:48:00.002-05:00

Hi Readers,

Looking for a last minute easy Valentine treat for the kiddos or to take to the office?

I've got one for ya!

Have you ever been enamored by the beautiful pictures of cake pops? The perfect ball with just the right amount of icing and sprinkles that make them just well, darling.

I decided to tackle this adorable treat for my kids Valentine's. My kids are getting older and I know it's only a matter of time until these "cutesy" crafts will be embarrassing. Gasp! Say it ain't so..

Let's get started:

You will need a box cake mix, container of icing, sprinkles, cupcake liners, lolli-pop sticks and cellophane treat bags.

First, you bake any cake mix of any flavor and follow the box instructions. I chose golden vanilla and used a 9 x 13 pan and let it cool for about 15 minutes.

Once your cake is cooled transfer it into a big bowl and break it up. That's right. Completely destroy your cake.

I then mix in half of the container of icing.

Again, any flavor or color of your liking. You could use chocolate to chocolate, strawberry to strawberry, vanilla to vanilla, etc. I could even see brownie mix with chocolate icing...YUM!

Mix the cake and icing together until it is soft and you can roll a perfect little ball from it.

This process if very much like rolling meatballs. Place your balls on a cookie sheet and when you are finished place them in the freezer. I rolled 45 balls for one box of cake mix.

I left mine in the freezer for about 15 minutes just enough to harder a little.

The next step is to get your cup cake liners ready. I layed them all out so that when the icing goes on it can drip right in the cup.

Here comes the fun part: Scoop out half of a container of icing and melt it in a saucepan. I melted the icing on low heat stirring constantly. (I divided my pops and used cherry, chocolate and vanilla.)

When it's melted I take my cake ball and put a lollipop stick in it.

I then give it a spoon bath dripping the icing all over the ball until it's completely covered. Don't move the cake pop around bring the icing to it and gently transfer the cake pop to the cupcake liner and sprinkle with your choice of sprinkles.

Vanilla, Cherry and Chocolate!

Easy as 1-2-3!

Wow Factor: I bagged them individually and tied them with a bow. The kids will add an adhesive label with their friends names on them.

What do you think? Cake pop machine--whatever! I would rate this super easy and for a beginner.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Our Kitchen Progression | The Heart of the Home

2016-01-20T12:15:00.001-05:00

Hello Readers,

Hope you all are having a great start to the New Year!

I recently shared my tutorial on Painting Kitchen Cabinets. I still can't believe I finally had the courage to complete this project. For years, I had been wanting to tackle this and I thought it just couldn't be done. I am so pleased with the results and it has held up beautifully through the holidays.

A lot has happened in our home since this project and I thought I would share with you where I am at design wise.

I found a great roll of craft paper at Joann's to put in the glass cabinet. Before it was very bland with my white porcelian collection...but now my collection POPS.

I even put the paper in my makeshift cook book/wine nook. Everything pops and my elephant teapot gives the nook whimsy. I did consider turning this nook into a wine rack. I am still undecided... I really like the personality and options this nook allows me to bring in with accessories.

You have texture, pattern and personality--I absolutely LOVE my new kitchen.

Next up was the light that inspired a complete 'switch-a-roo' of our furniture in the kitchen..

This light was all brass and I scored it from the Habitat Store for $23. (Yes, $23 dollars!) If you ever shop for light fixtures you know this is a great deal. All it needed was some black paint to totally transform it.

I thought about replacing my DIY Rope Chandelier with this one, but instead decided to keep both. It was then that it only made sense to move the table in the unused open area and hang the new light over it. Very exciting..

The floor plan flows so nicely now and it was almost like this open space was meant to be this way. It only took me 12 years to figure this out. (*pats self on back.)

So what did I do with the area where the table was? I turned it into a sitting area. When we entertain everyone is always in the kitchen, I thought this was a perfect idea for the over flow of guests who would like an additional spot to relax.

PLUS, Mr. House and I have our morning catch up here every day. It's cozy and I love it.

It's come a long way...

Does your house change for the better? Are you thinking about painting your kitchen cabinets? Have you already done it? I'd love to hear your stories.

From my house to your house, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Savvy Southern Style, Savvy Southern Style, Must Love Home

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Tutorial on Painting Kitchen Cabinets | Updating a Kitchen

2016-01-18T16:14:00.000-05:00

Hi Readers,

Last month I shared our delicious creamy white cabinets. I chose Benjamin Moore's White Dove.

Now it's time to get down to the nitty gritty..

After much research and listening to my intuition these are the two products I swear by for this job.

Mr. House suggested I use a scrap piece of wood to test out the products I wanted to use. I did try two that were recommended and I didn't like them.

Then a light bulb went off-- I used the Zisserner Bin Primer for shellac on our Knotty Pine Paneling a few years ago and it has held up fantastic. It gave us a smooth finish and we still have no scratches and no flakes.

I decided to go with the same product with an ultimate stain blocker for our kitchen cabinets.

This primer dries very quickly and it does have a smell, so I would suggest opening the windows or wearing a mask. It's one of those paints that you get on and get out.

Benjamin Moore's Advance Paint is made specifically for kitchen cabinets.

Finally a product that has been created for this purpose! (*The crowd goes wild.)

It has a self leveling quality that will give you that smooth finish you are seeking. Many blog tutorials that I have read claim that they would use Benjamin Moore's Advance paint if they had to do it over again just because of that.

Painting Pyramids--These guys go under the four corners of the doors and drawer fronts for no smudging. An absolute necessity if you are planning to paint your cabinets. Otherwise you would get runs and smudges. Not fun.

My guy, Mike, at the Paint Spot, recommended these 4 and 6 inch Whizz Microfiber Rollers for a smooth clean finish. Look closely, they are not like the traditional roller you would normally use on walls. The threads are longer. I like the finish from these way more than foam rollers.

A 180 grit sandpaper to lightly take the sheen off of the cabinets. I did mine by hand, but you could use a sander.

Let's Get Started:

Here's a schedule I put together to keep your sanity and to give you a good idea of how long this project will take. I broke mine up by doing the island first waiting a few days, then doing the rest of the kitchen. In addition to the cabinets I painted a total of 27 doors and 12 drawers! Big project, but totally worth it.

Day 1-

1. Create a work space with tables and drop cloths. This can be outside or inside. I chose inside because it was raining.

2. Remove all door and drawers. This will get moving once you get going. I used a cordless drill and kept a phillips screwdriver handy just in case.

3. Remove all hinges and knobs. I also used bowls to hold all the different hardware. Knobs in one, screws and hinges in another, etc. This kept me organized during the job and easy to get going in the end.

4. Wipe down cabinets, doors and drawers with a degreaser. Make sure you get off all the food splatters. They will show through the paint if you don't.

5. If you are changing your hardware and it doesn't fit in the existing holes, this is the time to plug the holes with wood putty. You will need to let this dry for a few hours and then follow with the next step.

6. Lightly sand all cabinets, doors and drawers. Just enough to knock the sheen off. Use this time to sand down any unsightly scratches or dents. When you are done it's very important to wipe the cabinets, doors and drawers with a tack cloth to insure a clean surface to paint.

7. Tape all areas off for a clean line. I taped the floor, under the countertop (where it meets the cabinet), back splash, oven, etc.

Day 2-

1. Position all the cabinet doors on their back side with the painting pyramids and open that can of primer paint . Use a paint brush first for the groves on the doors, drawers and cabinets.

Then follow up with the roller. I found that by using the brush first for what you need to do, then using the roller will hide the brush marks and give you a nice finish.

The cabinets, doors and drawers will get 2 light coats of primer paint. Once the doors are finished drying on the back side, flip them over and give 2 light coats on the front. If you notice any runs on any part of the cabinets, sand them once the paint is dry. This will dry for the rest of the day and over night.

Note: I started with the doors and drawers first, gave them all 1 coat and moved onto the rest of the cabinets. By the time you are done with that, you are ready to repeat for the second coat of primer.

Day 3-

1. Turn doors back on the back side and paint all cabinets, doors and drawers using the Benjamin Moore Advanced Paint. You will need to do only 2 light coats of this latex paint.

After a few hours of drying flip the doors back to the front and give them 2 light coats of latex paint as well. Then let all cabinets, doors and drawers dry for the rest of the day and overnight.

Note: The last thing you want to do is plop on thick coats of paint for this project. Take care to use the painting tray to squeeze off the excess paint. This is the step that will either make your cabinets look professionally done or like you did it yourself.

Day 4-

You are in the home stretch! Install all hinges and knobs back in the cabinets. If you plugged the holes for hardware, drill new ones and install new hardware.

Hang cabinet doors and drawers! This is when you really get excited at all that hard work you did and everything starts to come together.

With little bit of patience and time, you too can give your kitchen a whole new look!

What do you think?

From my house to your house, Happy Painting!

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Linking to: Savvy Southern Style, Must Love Home

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Embellishing Your Holiday Decor With Faux Fur | A Sentimental Gift

2015-12-11T14:51:00.002-05:00

Hi Readers,

Hope you are well on your way to decorating with some beautiful things this Holiday Season. I just finished putting the finishes on our house earlier this week.. I shared some great ideas on simple Holiday decor that doesn't break the bank..

Decking the Halls 2015

Faux fur has made a come back.. Not only is it a chic way to accessories your outfit, but it's a chic way to decorate your reindeer.. or even your wine bottles for the holidays.

I've seen a few of these fur scarfs at various stores that have caught my eye, but you know me...I'm going to do it my way.

I cut this random piece of faux fur off an old stocking and dipped into some of my Grandmothers earrings. You can easily buy some of this inexpensive fur in various blends at the craft store.

The combinations can be endless.. You may have some pins you would like to pass on.. or you can even find sparkly earrings and pins at discount chains, or department stores..

Step 1: You simply cut the faux fur to the desired length. You can do a simple cuff or you can overlap like a ribbon.

I bought my naked reindeer at Target a couple of years ago.. ha!

Step 2: Once I put the fur in place, I just used the earring to secure it. Super easy and beautiful.

I love this..

This is also a great idea for your hostess gift or maybe even a sentimental gift to a Daughter, Sister, Mom, Grandmother or Friend. Doesn't get classier than that..

My Grandmother passed down so many of her beautiful pins through the years. I love a gift that has meaning.

I even put one in my office...very chic.

This is a quick project that bumps your Holiday decor up on the chic meter.

Is this a project you can see yourself doing?

Best,

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chick, A Stroll Thru Life

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Holiday Tour 2015 | Decking The Halls on a Budget

2015-12-07T20:31:00.000-05:00

Hi Readers,

This month has been busy, I recently shared our kitchen update which features our newly painted kitchen cabinets. A lot of work, but totally worth it in the end. Now on to bigger things..

I've always loved decorating for Christmas.

Who am I kidding? I've always loved decorating period. The thrill of my passion in both is finding ways to get the look I want without breaking the bank.

I thought this would be a great time to share how to decorate for Christmas.. like your house didn't trip over the North Pole.

This year I dragged 3 Christmas bins up from the basement only to find that I like about half of one bin. Seriously. You know the bins, the ones you take out once a year to fill your home with fluffy, red and green colored things that are shiny and covered in glitter.

They are mostly filled with things I have collected from as far back to fifteen years ago-- things my Mom handed down to me and a few things I have picked up at discount store chains. I have shared before that I'm not one to decorate like the Easter bunny vomited all over my house or to be taken over by the colors black and orange during the month of October. Rather just a touch here and there...

It must be from when I was a kid and I remember my Mom taking out huge bins for each big holiday and replacing everything she loved the rest of the year in those boxes so that she was able to display those holiday items without a lot of clutter. I never liked that. Taking away from the decor that you loved, putting it away only to be bombarded with the task of switching it all out again. Seemed like a lot of work. I also realize I may be weird ;)

So with that in mind, and also the fact that you could really spend a fortune on these decorations trying to out due whatever you did last year.. I am going to show you how to make your decorations for year round take you into Christmas.

Dining Room & Foyer:

The dining room is very important in my house. It's one of the first rooms you see when you come in.

It's also where I try to make everything fancy for the feast we have on Christmas Eve.

This is a place that I really like things to sparkle. But it doesn't have to cost a fortune! ;)

I use my existing china and crystal to start.

For my centerpiece, I trimmed some arborvitae branches to create a wreath and wrapped some thick ribbon from last year around it. I topped it with a glittered deer and tucked a few pine cones and a glittered flower to top it off.

Gathering my collection of mercury candle sticks and votives creates the sparkle...

I use these throughout the year, so putting them in one place or purchasing a few more isn't a big deal. These could be used 365 days of the year. See easy.

Some inexpensive faux shimmery poinsettias pulled off the stem and placed on top of the a mercury votive add a little texture and color to my masterpiece.

These could be glittered, gold, silver, red, green--whatever.

Next, I sprinkled a couple of large silver and gold ornaments to give some more shine to my tabletop.

I finally sold two sets of dining room chairs and settled on these chairs..I heart them!

My next trick is to place these gold snowflakes that I swear by on each dish. I have been using these inexpensive Walmart snowflakes for years! You can also hang them all over the house for a magical Christmas.

You can find the metallic gold trellis pillow at Target.

Kitchen:

This is easy too. This year I just put a boxwood bush out and called it a day. This boxwood creation can be used throughout the year, so no need to pack away once the holiday is over. Maybe some pine cones or ornaments in a bowl. Done.

I happened to find this great porcelain deer head at Target last year and against my cutting boards it looks magnificent.

Our old pie cabinet turned "craft closet" for the kids holds a tree wrapped in ribbon that I simply tucked silver glittered pine cones to finish it off.

I found the brass deer at a thrift store for a couple of dollars last year. Otherwise, I use the rest of the decorations year round.

Another great idea is to make or buy a chalkboard, write the days of December and hang a beautiful boxwood wreath framing your favorite word for the season. The kids could have fun taking turns marking out each day. Simple.

You can buy a boxwood here for $20.

Living Room:

I have had my tree skirt for about 6 years. I don't love it anymore and haven't for a couple of years. Last year I used an old curtain panel, this year I will use a drop cloth from Lowe's. Yes, you heard right. No one will ever know (except you!) and it lends just the right amount of muted texture that I want.

This year I am just using blue, cream and mercury ornaments. These are easy enough to buy in a bundle from Walmart or any other discount chain. Done.

I found this banner with gold polka dots in the craft isle at Walmart for less than $3. I purchased 4 and incorporated them on the mantle, tree and up our stairs. These could easily be used for another holiday or special day in your life.
There are some similar ones to chose from here.

The Mantle requires a little bit more care. Again, I gather some more mercury or glass candle sticks or votives and sprinkle them around. You can easily update the candles from a discount chain to unify them.

I found the silver bottle brush trees from Target and placed them in my existing large mercury votives to give them height.

I go out to my yard again and cut pieces off my arborvitaes to complete the look with garland. I also tucked pieces of greenery cut from the bottom of our tree in for a fuller look. Super simple and could save you tons of money. And I don't have to sit and bend the previous years garland hoping that it looks nice. Nothing is better than fresh greens.

I love the look of the paper banners..these are gorgeous and highlight the organic, shiny neutral look I am going for..

I tucked a couple of metallic faux flowers, glittered pine cones and large silver and gold ornaments on the garland. The outcome is beautiful.

So there you have it. Super inexpensive ideas on how to create simple, but elegant Christmas decor by using things you may already have and that don't break the bank.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of Holidays!

For more beautiful ideas you can view my decorations from previous years.

2014 A Little Holly Jolly

2013 Simple Ways to Add Sparkle

2012 Boughs of Holly

And of course, for some laughter and funny stories about keeping the BIGGEST secret ever! This is probably my favorite post ever and highlights the things we do to keep the Christmas magic alive!

The Holidays My Way | Keeping it Real

Enjoy!

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chick, A Stroll Thru Life

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Kitchen Update | Painting Kitchen Cabinets

2015-12-02T11:49:00.003-05:00

Hi Readers!

Well the time has come to share the details of our perfectly white kitchen. This is one of the biggest transformations our home has taken. You may have read before that I have loathed my kitchen cabinets for 11 years. I have even had various companies come out and quote refacing and painting them only to be shocked by the sticker price--one quote was $15,000!

The hubs (Mr. House) and I went back and forth about painting them ourselves for about 5 or 6 years. I even changed my mind several times thinking, "There is just no way." Part of me was intimated by the size of the job while the other wasn't so sure I would get the finish I wanted. Would they look professionally painted? There's nothing worse than working your butt off to not be happy with the final outcome.

Well, we did it! Mr. House even gave it his approval.

With the proper research and products you can have the cabinets you want and they will hold up through the years. The key here is the right products.

We also have plans to add moulding and feet to the cabinets just to give them more detail.

I'm going to show you the way back "before's" and then move forward through the years.

When we moved in this is what the builder had chosen for our cabinets. We instantly disliked them but there was nothing we could do.

There were no bells and whistles, so to speak... and I'm not really a light maple girl.

And then there is this. Not sure if it was my "hey, lets see how much crap we can cram in a room phase." Again, 11 years ago...

About 6 years ago we picked out this back splash and upgraded to uba tuba granite.

And in 2012 this was my attempt to soften the cabinets bringing in my collection of white porcelian..

You can read more about that here.

Now we have this..

I also painted the walls a beautiful grey/beige color about 6 months ago.

We used a luscious creamy white paint on the cabinets and updated the previous hardware to this detailed chrome hardware.

This cabinet from Walmart is great for the overflow of my collection.

I have even more plans for the nook where my cook books are and we are planning to add some moulding to the glass cabinet fronts.

It's brighter, whiter and I am loving my kitchen for the first time.

You might not even know that our kitchen didn't come this way...

I will be sharing the tutorial later this week..featuring the products I used to achieve professional results and my plan to space out the work to keep your sanity.

I have also taken a stab at painting our knotty pine in The Beach Bunker with a complete tutorial. It has been almost four years and the job has far exceeded my expectations.

What do you think? Is this a project that you have been wanting to do too? I would love to hear from you!

From my house to your house, Happy Hunting!

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Linkin to: Thrifty Decor Chick,

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America Recycles Day | Cotopaxi

2015-11-13T12:47:00.002-05:00

Hello Readers,

Sunday, November 15th is America Recycles Day. If you follow my blog you know I like to re-purpose things from time to time... Repurposing is like the new recycle.

In honor of America Recycles Day, I am featuring a great company that provides 'Gear for Good'. Not only does Cotopaxi make great outdoor gear--they are passionate about adventure, making a positive impact, and inspiring others to the same in outdoor gear.

Cotopaxi has a two part promise: They make good products and they do good in the world.
This company focuses their efforts on global poverty alleviation and gives targeted grants to advanced health education and livelihood initiatives around the world.

I'd like to share with you a project that Cotopaxi has been doing that involves repurposing fabric that was headed to landfills. They gave sewers in the Philippians total creative control to create these one-of-a-kind nylon bags packed with punchy colors. No two bags are alike. Here's a short video about the Luzon Del Dia bag and how it's made.

Pretty cool, huh?

The Luzon Del Dia features a roomy sleeve with ripstop nylon, top drawstring

closure, mesh backpack straps and an internal hydration sleeve.

Whether you're on the traills or bouncing around town this bag is truly unique and is

'Gear for Good'.

I've got to have one! What about you?

Be sure to check out more of the Cotopaxi backpacks!

And in honor of America Recycles Day--Do your part to keep America beautiful People!

From my house to your house, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

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Uncommon Goods | A Little Something for Everyone

2015-11-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers,

With Turkey Day just a blink of an eye away, I thought this might be a good time to put together a fabulous gift guide for the special people in your lives... Or maybe you'll see something for yourself!

Have you heard of UncommonGoods? UncommonGoods is a website that specializes in creative and exciting handmade merchandise--from home decor, jewelry, gifts, entertaining, hobbies, beauty, accessories and much, much more!

UncommonGoods works with artists and small factories to make their products environmentally responsible--using recycled components and organic products. The best part: They do not sell products that harm humans or animals.

Give Factor: Uncommon Goods will even donate $1 to your choice of a non-profit organization with your purchase. What's better than that?!

Here are some of my favorite gift ideas for just about anyone to make your gift stand out above the rest this holiday season--all for a good cause!

Don't forget your host or hostess!

For the Traveler or Special Guy on your list:

Ballpark Blueprints

A cool gift for the sports fanatic.
There is just about any ballpark blueprint available depending on where your favorite home team is.
Be sure to check out all of the one-of-a-kind art on UncommonGoods.

Beer Cap Art

What a clever way to keep the caps you're proud to drink..

A 'must have' for the beer connoisseur for sure!

Beer Jelly

Whoa...what? I know some dudes that would love this.
Beer good. Jelly good.

Scratch Map

Travel maps are a really cool way to show where you've been. This one is a scratch off... A great conversation piece!

Optimist Pessimist Glasses
A realistic take on your beverage...would be great with milk or water too.

For the Chef or Foodie:

Salt Collection of America

11 All American gourmets salts. A great way to being your dishes to life!

Foodie Fight
A fun way to test your knowledge of Celebrity Chefs to food science to exotic cuisine!

Ocean Reel Salt and Pepper Mill
A clever nautical spin on the old classic condiment.

Cheese & Crackers Board
I am obsessed with the ampersand...for me it means 'more than one'.
This board is a great gift for just about anyone or family.
Just look at how everything nuzzles in the groves...

For the dog lover:

Dog Blueprint

What's your favorite four legged friend? You can order just about any breed..
Yes, they even have cats!
A great way to treasure man's best friend.

Wiener Oil & Vinegar Set

How adorable are these handmade glass Dashshunds oil & vinegar set?
A great conversation piece!

Hand Knit Dog Ornament
What does every dog owner hold close to their heart? A handmade ornament of their beloved little friend.
Ruf!

For Her:

Chilling Wine Glasses

No more ice cubes watering down your wine. Need I say more?...

Tea From Around The World

Plenty of global delights to explore and made in Paris, France. A good cup of tea makes everything better!

Water Infuser
This handy little device lets you take your refreshing fruit infused water with you. Orange, cucumber and blueberry water are all my favorite.

Kimono

This beautiful chic Kimono made from India would be gorgeous as a swim suit cover up..
Um.. yes, please!

Arrow Necklace

The Arrow is a symbol of love and war in mythology and the wearer represents a sense of power.
I absolutely love this statement necklace.

Garden Elephant Sculpture

Elephants are said to bring good luck and prosperity. Who wouldn't want to pass this beautiful handmade Indonesian elephant on to a great friend or special lady?

And of course anyone who loves to make their house into a home, you can check out UncommonGoods for more endless home decor ideas.

For the New Couple (or Fun Couple):

Molecular Cuisine
A great way to show off your "food skills" to guests or someone special. You can transform liquids to cubes, morph melted chocolate into powders and many other cool things.

Molecular Drinks
A great pairing with the molecular cuisine or just for a fun experiment. A great ice breaker!
There is also a cheese making kit--awesome.

Personalized Cutting Board

A great personal touch to display at a party or small gathering.
It could be the closest you get to seeing your name in lights...

Need an idea for a Housewarming gift or a hostess gift? UncommonGoods has piles of fabulous ideas to make anyone feel special.

If your anything like me, Thanksgiving marks the time of giving and I hear a loud horn as I am off to find the.best.gifts.ever. I hope this round up helps you do just that.

From my house to your house, Happy Hunting!

I'd Love to Connect with you!

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Brass Lamp Turned Finial | DIY

2015-09-04T14:32:00.000-04:00

Hello Readers,

Things have been pretty busy over the Summer and now that my "little busy bees" are back into a school routine, I can get back to what I do best-- DIY Projects!

*clap

I was inspired over the Summer when I dropped my daughter off at one of her friends house for a play date. I was quickly awestruck and distracted by a pair of bright, beautiful yellow finials that sat on a table in my friends living room...

Um...I'm sorry, what time should I pick her up?

See how they just pull you right in?

Her home was modern, mixed with greys and the pop of yellow was absolutely breathtaking. I just couldn't stop drooling over them until she told me how she made them.

They were originally a pair of brass lamps she purchased from a thrift store and took apart, then spray painted yellow. What a great idea!

I think she might have been reluctant to tell me where she got them, but doesn't everyone go to thrift stores now-a-days?

In fact, I bought a brass lamp a couple of years ago for my daughters room and spray painted it cream. You might remember this one. Here's how the whole room turned out.

So I ran to one of my favorite thrift stores and found this brass lamp for $19.99.

I started by unscrewing the top and then pulling the cord out. Super easy!

I decided to add an old chandelier finial to the top of mine just to finish it off. It came from the bottom of an old chandelier that I wrapped in rope.

Remember this beauty?

Tutorial on how to wrap a chandelier in rope.

The final step was to spray paint it a beautiful color of indigo blue that I purchased at Lowe's.

I chose a blue shade because I wanted it to tie in with some of the other blue that I have in the room.

What do you think? I absolutely love it. A pair of these on any buffet type table would be breathtaking. Or you could use different ones with varying heights... You could even make a candle holder out of them! I'd love to know-- is this a project you could see yourself doing?

Thanks Mrs. Mains for the inspiration!

From my house, to your house, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chick

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Back Porch Nook | Simple Ideas

2015-06-04T09:18:00.000-04:00

Hello Readers,

With the recent drop in temperature and what seems like a we finally got our Spring showers the last 3 days, I thought it would be fitting to share what I have been up to lately on our back porch..now that the sun is back.

A few weeks ago I gave our outdoor furniture new life with the Olympic deck rescue paint.

Before:

You can see that the wood is dry and has lost it's color.

After:

This product worked wonders for our teak outdoor furniture that is 8 years old. One thick coat of "Autumn Brown" was all that it needed to bring this furniture back to life. I could only imagine what it could do for a splintery old deck. That's next on my list..

Instead of adding a huge amount of potted plants this year, I decided to keep things simple. A tall arborvitae in a pot for some height, a succulant centerpiece, and a simple hot pink geranium for some color. In memory of my Grandmother that passed last year. Geraniums were her favorite.

I also hung two peach petunia pots on the outside off the porch just for good measure. Mostly because I could not resist the color. If you know me, you know I am obsessed with coral and peach right now.

Some simple black and white pillows that I scored from Walmart last year gives this space the edge I was looking for. p.s. I love black and white in an outdoor space.

I picked up a couple of these outdoor lantern lights that I shared on Facebook recently.

They were $22 each at a Habitat for Humanity Store and the finish and detail was just the look I wanted.

And it wouldn't be complete without dusting off our old bird feeder. I now have a quiet little place to enjoy my tea in the morning and listen and watch the birds as they enjoy the taste of Hannah's sandwich crusts cut off from her lunch.

A great way to start the day and to show you just how beautiful life can be. Don't mind if I do!

Someone else is enjoying the view as well.

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!!

Let's Connect!

Linking to:Thrifty Decor Chick, Savvy Southern Style, Milas Little Things

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A Bold & Dramatic Powder Room | A Stencil Project

2015-03-30T15:40:00.000-04:00

Hello Readers,

I'm talking about Powder Rooms on the blog today and I'm going to show you how I finally made my mark on ours and how I gave it a ton of personality. Here's a peek..

My latest obsession has been to update our Powder Room. If there's one room that should make a statement in your home--- it is the Powder Room. This is the one room that potentially everyone that visits your home will go. Why should it be less than stunning?

My office sits off the Powder Room, and I have to admit I love looking up and seeing this work of art.

I have been ~~inspired~~ drooling from all the beautiful wallpapered bathrooms that I have seen on Pinterest. I am in love with all the bold patterns and deep dark base colors creating so much drama... But not with the cost of expensive wallpaper + the labor to do it. This could cost you a pretty penny..

As you can see our "before" Powder Room is not very dramatic or bold for that matter. I wanted to try a project like this for some time so I finally decided to put my 'decorating jeans' on and try to achieve this look with a stencil. For a fraction of the cost, (and maybe the same headache) I was confidant I could do this.

*Enter: Cheerleaders.

First, I painted the walls a delicious coat of Pantone's Charcoal Grey in satin. These pictures of the walls just don't do the color justice. It has just a hint of blue in it so it looks like the most perfect shade of steel blue.

Then, the madness starts... I mean creative process, right?

Supplies Needed: Foam plate for paint, foam roller, painters tape, pencil, stencil, paint for stencil, leveler, paper towels to roll off the excess paint.

I measured to find the middle of the wall that you would see right when you walked in and left a pencil mark so I could line up my stencil. This one stencil dictates exactly how the rest of the room will look. You work up, over and out from this first spot to ensure your pattern will be executed just the way you envisioned it.

I rested the edge of my stencil on the molding and I used a leveler to make sure it was level.

For my stencil color, I chose the Hi-Ho-Silver in satin by Olympic. The little tubs at your local home improvement store are perfect for a job like this. It only cost me $6 for the paint.

For my look, I wanted the pattern to go up and then the next rows pattern to start halfway between. I wanted 2 inches between the start and finish of the repeated patterns so I measured that every time and then lined up and taped my stencil for the next spot.

Just when you think the stencil is straight--it is not. Use the leveler every time. Just a slight pattern in the wrong direction will mess up your look and wreak havoc on your patience.

Advice: I watched a couple of videos and they are all pretty much the same.

Use painters tape to hold the stencil up.
Use a foam plate, foam roller and a paper towel folded to wipe excess off the roller before you roll it on the stencil. Every time.
Let the stencil dry before moving it to the next spot (2-3 minutes).

Time: I broke this project up into a few days. 3 hours here, 2 hours there and another 2 to finish it up. Yes, that was 7 hours to do this project. I used my stencil almost 70 times!!

Design Drama: In a perfect world I would have purchased 2 light sconces for either side of the mirror, but since my room did not give me that kind of space, I purchased a 2 light sconce for ABOVE the mirror so I could have a little of the same drama. I then purchased these beige linen shades to finish the look and give a little warmth to the room. I liked the simple, but elegant look of this sconce..

I knew that giving my Powder Room a face-lift didn't have to cost a fortune, all I needed was a little budget and a lot of patience. By completing the look of our Powder Room with a new mirror and light fixture my Powder Room is singing another tune. That's for sure.

So what do you think? Is this a project you could see yourself doing? I'd love to hear from you..

For more Bold, Dramatic Powder Rooms like this-- see my Powder Room Inspiration ideas...

Source

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Must Love Home, Life on Virginia Street, Thrifty Decor Chic, Savvy Southern Style, Milas Little Things, Life on Virginia Street

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Vintage End Table Hack | Dollhouse Stand

2015-03-19T09:31:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

How's it going? Recently I shared my daughters room and now I want to share with you how I came up with the dollhouse stand.

This dollhouse was given to me in the early 80's.. I played with it for hours. I would make curtains and clothes out of toilet paper...Every now and then my mom would take me to MJDesigns and would let me pick out some furniture.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I gave the dollhouse a fresh new look with a coat of white paint and a fabulous red door. And I got out all that fabulous furniture my mom saved all these years.

My daughter loves the dollhouse but she needed a way to raise it up to her level. The floor was too low for her to see the rooms on the 1st floor. We tried it on top of a short bookcase and even on a little kids table. But I was looking for something different...

I found this vintage end table at the Habitat for Humanity store for a whopping $10. Which means if my plan failed, it was no big deal.

The moment I saw it-- I liked the detail of the legs, but not the two story look. I purchased the table with the intention of taking the '2nd story' off.

When I got home, I had Mr. House pull the 2nd story off and before I knew it my vision was in front of me.

The next step wood putty the holes, prime and paint. Or just put the dollhouse on top and noone would ever know..

While I originally wanted to paint the table white, I kind of like how the color of the wood pops in her room.

So the lonely out dated end table got another chance.. This is re-purposing at its finest, folks.

Here's a picture with me and the dollhouse around the same age as my daughter. The dollhouse was built by hand and given to me by a family friend, Bob Martin.

A picture complete with shag carpet, green and white gingham curtains and a less than thrilled "mom hurry up and take my photo"...

So the dollhouse and the end table got another chance at life. Amen. It's a good day.

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to:Life on Virginia Street, Life on Virginia Street

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Modernizing a Curio Cabinet | On the Down Low

2015-03-05T10:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers,

I am loving all this wallpaper or wrapping paper on the backs of bookcases and cabinets.. but what about covering up a mirror on your curio cabinet? Well, I decided to give it a try...

I have owned this little beauty for about 18 years.

She has followed me from Texas all the way to Connecticut and has displayed all my pretties lovingly for so many years.

I simply purchased a $20 roll of wallpaper from a hardware store for this project.

Out with the old: I cleared out the shelves and used double sided tape to hang this paper up.

I really like the simple neutral background of this wall paper, but I think a bolder brighter pattern would be fun too.

That's the beauty of this project, its not permanent and you can change it out whenever you want!

I laid the paper up and when I was done I used an x-acto knife to cut the paper down to a perfect fit and get all the angles right. A razor blade would work too.

In with new: I slipped the shelves back in and decorated them with some pieces just like you would a bookshelf. I added some pieces I recently picked up from a thrift store along with some pieces that hold memory from my family.

The end result: While it's not an actual bookshelf this look gives the illusion it is and takes the once dated curio to a modern level. What do you think?

Do you have a bookshelf or curio cabinet you'd like to update?

Here's one idea for your closet!

{Source}

And linens in a bathroom:

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And a smart way to create a bar:

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For more inspirational pictures of other cabinets, please see the Pinterest board I have created.

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

I'd love for you to connect with the following!

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Chalkboard Accessory | Chalk Holder

2015-02-26T08:08:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers,

Earlier this week, I shared how I transformed an otherwise boring hallway near our foyer into a magazine worthy mudroom.

Today I'm going to show you how I came up with the adorable chalk bowl holder.

If you follow my projects regularly you know I like to add a little gold/brass accent to every room I design. I like to think of it as the cherry on top. This particular gold accent is one of my favorites.

I simply turned a vintage cabinet pull upside down and re-purposed it as a chalk bowl.

But how do I attach this to the wall you may ask?

You insert two nails (backwards) into the holes, hold them straight and by eyeing it to make sure it's level you quickly but firmly press it into the wall just enough to make the marks of where you will need to hammer your nails in.

Clever, huh?

When you hammer your nails in leave at least an inch showing so it can easily slip onto the holes of the cabinet pull.

Once you have hammered the nails into position, line up the holes on the hardware and firmly press the cabinet pull on the nails and all the way to the wall.

Now my friends, you too have a unique chalk holder!

Enjoy!

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Linking to: Life on Virginia Street

Creating a Mudroom Command Center For Less

2015-02-24T14:33:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year Readers! (Sorry I'm a little late..)

Now that the New Year is here, I'm sure everyone has the same mission: To get organized and be the best you can be.

There it is. The pressure. New Year, New YOU. (It's everywhere, isn't it?)

Well, my best advice is-- to take it one day at a time.

Your home should evolve, just like you. You grow. It grows. It's only natural.

Let's take my first project I tackled this year, for example. I couldn't wait to get my hands on our mini mudroom...(well, it's not really a mudroom, just a long hallway I want to utilize like a mudroom.) Here's the 'before'... Do you see the potential?

Here's the closet and hallway I updated back in 2012. If you click on the link, the before is pretty bad.

This set-up has served its purpose for a couple of years, but as our family gets busier, we really need more organization to keep us grounded. After all, there is a huge wall to work with--when you can't go out, go up.

I will be the first to admit our "command station" has resided on the side of the fridge for many years and has been cluttered and messy. Often an embarrassment... I'm supposed to be House by Holly, right? The wind lets right out of my sails every time I see those papers taped and magnetized with no purpose. Now's the perfect time to aim for a change.

The formula for a basic Mudroom command center:

A chalkboard (notes)
a message board (tack important papers)
a clock (time)
a mirror (to take one last look at yourself)
some family pictures (sentiment)
seating (put shoes on)
a row of hooks (coats and scarves)

There you have it-- a purpose for the space.

Now you could go straight to a home store and purchase all these things. OR you could be like me and try to do it for next to nothing. I got time on my side people...lots of it. Plus, I'm a twit when it comes to that stuff. 'Must. re-use. my stuff...'

Here's what I came up with--

I took an old frame and covered the cardboard in painters cloth and used ribbon in a diamond pattern to create a neutral message board. (Yes, you can do that!)
I took another frame I had and painted the glass with chalkboard paint to make a chalkboard. (Yes, you can do that!)
a $10 clock for a discount chain (purchased in 2012)
I Re-used the existing black framed pictures with the kids school picture. At some point I will probably add frames holding some special art work the kids make...
2 cube seats for the kids to use while putting on their shoes. ( I re-upholstered these inexpensively in 2013)
An umbrella stand that was in the garage makes its way back into the house.
A $5 mirror from Walmart tied with a grey ribbon.
A picture of a tree that says "Home" was in the basement...
A $15 row of hooks from a discount store. (purchased in 2012)

This project cost me nothing. I bet you can find some things lying around your house to do this same project.

And no room would be complete without a little touch of gold. This gold cabinet pull hung upside down creates the perfect bowl for my chalk. Here's the tutorial on how to hang it.

(I purchased this one at a discount chain about a year ago waiting for the perfect project.)

(The view coming in from the garage.)

The end result: I created another extension in our home specifically for coats, hats, boots and all those important papers that we need to look at during the week. No more messy, cluttered fridge with crap hanging off the side of it. Everything is in one place. The memoboard will have all the kids important schedules and reminders tacked to it.

What do you think? Is this something you could see yourself doing in your own home? I'd love to hear your feedback.

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

And remember to take this 'New Year thing' one day at a time.

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Linking to: Savvy Southern Style, Life On Virginia Street, Thriftyy Decor Chick

Masculine Beach Digs | Invaluable.com

2015-01-23T11:25:00.000-05:00

Hello Readers,

Recently I was contacted by Invaluable.com to design a room around one of their auctioned paintings. If you're not familiar with Invaluable.com they offer premier on-line world auctions--featuring paintings, furniture, jewelry, rugs, collectibles and even wine and toys from all over they world. This would be the place to get something truly unique for your room or splurge on something exquisite for yourself or someone special.

I love it when companies or clients contact me to design a room around one thing. One of my favorite things about design is-- the starting point. Not knowing what you will create, but when you are done, absolutely loving what you've created. The room could have taken on another look if it was based around say a rug or a piece of furniture... That's the part that makes me truly appreciate where I go with each room I design.

There are so many paintings to chose from at Invaluable.com: Whether its seascapes, animal oil paintings ( I am a huge fan of the dog pointer paintings), European art, posters, photography prints and even sculptures.

I decided to search the "seascapes" paintings and I found this great painting of a sailing ship by Elisio Bolino San Giacomo for $100.

The painting has a masculine feel to it so I instantly knew I would be designing a room for The World Traveler who happens to live on the beach. The purpose is to bring in some nautical aspects of the room, but not make the room too cliche'--A room that will express the love of the beach, but also have the masculine undertones of a man that appreciates the world.. And the Beachy, Eclectic Traveler is born.

The Turkish rug, brown leather chair and natural driftwood shades offer the perfect balance of relaxed-texture and keep with a masculine flair them of the room. A cube ottoman provides extra seating in a pinch. Silver, gold and antique bronze are mixed through out the room and bring the room to life. I chose Benjamin Moore's Grey Horse as an accent wall behind the couch and painting-- I love how it interacts with the colors in the painting and make it pop.

Nautical elements: Driftwood shade, Couch, Port-hole mirror, oil painting, floor telescope, green bottle, sleek flush mount lighting, & iron and wood side table.

Worldly collections: Leather Chair, the aged curio cabinet, Turkish carpet, globes, a collection of books, gold floor lamp, & grey nail head trim ottoman.

Thank you to Invaluable.com for the opportunity to inspire me to create a room that has so much to talk about. I do happen to have someone in mind for this project...

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

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A Little Holly, Jolly | 2014 Christmas Tour

2014-12-11T13:25:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Today I am sharing how to bring in a little 'Jingle' to your house this Holiday season.

I love to decorate for Christmas, but I don't like to be overwhelmed by the decorations. I just bring in a few of the seasons natural 'gifts' and keep it simple.

My Number One Rule: Bring on the shine, sparkle and texture!

(Here's our previous years inspiration. It's interesting how my taste changes from what I am inspired from year to year..)

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2013

Front Porch: I splurge every year on fresh garland.. I use it around the door and break it up to tuck here and there. This year I used some to make a swag on our outdoor light sconces.

The wreath is a simple faux green wreath with fresh springs of cedar tucked in. I added 2 pine cones threaded on a metallic ribbon hung from the wreath holder.

Foyer: This year our home is filled with pine cones, mercury glass, muted ornaments and fresh garland. You don't have to spend a fortune making your house special for the Holidays. A box of ornaments and snowflakes from Walmart, a few mercury candlesticks from Homegoods and mixing in a few things you already have can easily do the job just fine.

A garland swag for the stair case.. I usually sweep the garland all the way up the stairs, but this year I was inspired to do just a swag at the arm.

I used a four foot fresh garland and tied it with string to keep it in place. I then tucked and poked fresh cedar springs from my yard and added pine cones and ornaments.

I love all the layers!

Dining Room: My dining room is pretty simple.. Just a boxwood wreath around a hurricane vase for a centerpiece and a bunched up runner.

I shared my DIY Paper Holiday Wreath last week.. It looks like a lot of effort, but I used white printer paper and it only took an hour.

I think the end result is breathtaking and I can get some use out of it through the Spring..

Here is the Tutorial.

My centerpiece: I simply tucked fresh cedar sprigs and pine cones inside the hurricane vase and added a mercury candle for some shine.
It's the simple touches of outside that inspire me during the holiday season.

Family Room: Our mantle has been tucked with fresh garland as well. I used the trimmings from the bottom of the tree and added fresh cedar from my yard. My faux fur wreath was a score from Marshall's.

A simple pillow with some sparkly beads is enough to dress up a chair and make it extra special..

Our tree is adorned with gold, silver and pearl white ornaments, snowballs, snowflakes, and some great family ornaments with memories-- just the way I like it. The kids help me decorate it now every year and it is has so much more meaning..

This year I used a curtain panel as our tree skirt. Any fabric will do...

A simple bow tied on a dresser takes it up a notch..

A silver tray given to us as a wedding gift makes a great place to gather these ornaments, pine cones and mercury votives...

Kitchen: The kitchen is the gathering place for most 'get togethers'.. Why would it be any different for the Holidays? Again, I just like the little touches..

A simple boxwood wreath adds the right amount of texture to the glass cabinet doors.

A white stag head on a cake platter with fresh greens is a simple statement for the season..

Our pie cabinet gets the treatment with fresh greens, a small tree with metallic pearls, silver candlesticks with gold painted pine cones, and a glass house.

I used a gold snowflake stocking holder to hang a string of pine cones and an ornament.

And last, but not least, our back porch..

This year a wrapped lights around the top rail of the deck and the result at night is very sweet.

I also hung a faux green wreath and hung ornaments from a gold and brown ribbon behind it.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you were inspired with a few ideas to make your Holiday better than the last.

For more ideas to make this years Holiday special visit my pinterest board --Christmas.

Wishing you and yours a Holiday filled with laughter and joy, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to:Thrifty Decor Chick

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DIY Paper Wreath | A Holiday Craft

2014-12-05T12:10:00.002-05:00

Hello All,

It is the most wonderful time of the year. Isn't it?

All I hear in my head is.. Silver Bells.. and The Little Drummer Boy--Rum, Pum, Pum, Pum..

I know by now you are probably looking for the perfect decorations to make this holiday better than the last. This year I started my Christmas decorating a week before Thanksgiving --I just could not wait any longer!

I love how my house looks --so full and overflowing with texture this time of the year. It seems like it's the only time of the year that it's acceptable to decorate your home with glitter.

My theme this year is silver and gold, mercury glass, burlap, and bringing the elements in from outside--fresh greens, fur and pine cones. I promise I will share it soon!

In the meantime, I am going to show you how to make a simple inexpensive paper wreath that will shine in your home. Just in time for the weekend!

She is glorious, isn't she?

On a side note: I am obsessed with this ribbon from Walmart just $8 for 21 feet. It has the natural burlap feel that I want, but stamped with a beautiful gold damask.

You will need:
30 sheets of white printer paper
pencil with eraser
wreath form (you can make your own from cardboard or styrofoam)
hot glue gun and 3 sticks of glue
optional:
spray paint (I chose cream)
gold glitter spray

1. I cut a 8 x 10 sheet of paper into 4 pieces. They don't need to be cut evenly.
2-3. I took my pencil and pushed into the middle while wrapping the sides around to create a 'messy cone look'.
4. I hot glued the pieces of paper on the inside of the wreath going all around and then on the outside rim.

In order to fill in the gaps, I cut my paper into 8 pieces repeating the steps above.

The wreath took about an hour at this point..

A lot of bang for no money!

I spray painted the wreath with a creamy ivory spray paint I had on hand.

Then with gold glitter spray.

I displayed my wreath in my dining room.. And when you walk into my house, it pulls your eye right in.

From the kitchen view..

You could really have some fun with this project using different patterns of paper (think book pages) and even maybe using gold or silver paint. A group of three painted gold would be breathtaking.

This is a great way to add texture to a room (or your covered front porch) for the holidays that could also be used through spring.

What do you think? A project you will try?

Looking for other ways to keep up with House by Holly? I'd love to have you follow me on any of the following:

Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Houzz

From my house to your house, Happy Crafting!

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chick, Savvy Southern Style, Thrifty Decor Chick

Last Minute Kid Approved Thanksgiving Table

2014-11-21T08:54:00.001-05:00

Hey Turkey's,

The big day is almost here and I know everyone is looking for simple ideas to make this years table better than the last.

Whether its a card table, a make shift table or simply just the kitchen table..
Here's a few inspirational ideas to take your kids table or perhaps your casual Thanksgiving table to another level.

For the artist in all of us: I used some wrapping paper turned on the back side to create a paper runner for my table. (Pretty cool, huh? And FREE.)

Who doesn't like to scribble while they wait for a meal? It's a great way to get everyone involved!

This is a great idea to be used throughout the year any time you have a casual meal or just for fun.

Drinks on pedestals: My kids are a little older and they love to drink out of stemware.. it makes the occasion feel a little more "grown up".

Milk and apple juice suddenly become fancy.

Chalk it up: Last year I painted some Holiday chargers with chalkboard paint. My kids love the idea of creating while they wait to eat.

We use these on other occasions as well.. even to practice letters and numbers on a regular evening around our house.

My kids really enjoyed this wrapping paper runner.. which one will you try this year?

Here's an interview I did last year with Lifestyle by Design on a Thanksgiving and Christmas table that will sparkle.. on a budget, of course! By using some things you already have and a few thrifty items -you can get a spectacular table for less.

For more adorable Thanksgiving ideas follow my link on Pinterest --Turkey Day Board.

From my house to your house, Happy Thanksgiving!

Looking for other ways to keep up with House by Holly? I'd love to have you follow me on any of the following:

Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Houzz

A Sophisticated Girls Room | One Adventure at a Time

2014-11-13T13:02:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

My little girl is growing up people.. She just turned a whopping 8 years old! Where did the time go?

It seems like I just got used to the idea of putting her on the bus to go to Kindergarten.. Now she does her homework on the bus, so she can play with her friends right away when she gets home. Very clever.

So how can I give a witty, 8 year old that loves animals and likes to play dress up with her friends, an updated super sophisticated room? One adventure at a time.

(Hannah's old room (and Hayden's!) was featured on CNN Living, but that was almost two years ago.)

Any room takes time to evolve. Layer upon layer is what tells a story.. Here's the latest version of my daughter's room and how I decorated it--One adventure at a time.

This floral pillow was once a placemat. I simply ripped the side seam open, stuffed it with a pillow and sewed it back together with a needle and thread. No one would even know.

I found these placemats while on the 'hunt' at Marshall's. And there were (4) so that means 4 pillows!

The lamp was a brass rescue painted cream.

We recently traded in Hannah's twin bed for a super-roomy queen mattress perfect for sleepovers. But finding the 'perfect' bedding became a challenge.

I have never been a fan of a 'bed in a bag' or any coordinating set. I think the concept is great--you walk away with everything you need to dress your bed, but I like to add my own personality. It adds character and whimsy..

The textured rose quilt, linen floral pattern with a hint of blue, and green/white stripe sheets are the perfect combination..

My Mom's armoire from the 70's painted cream houses all Hannah's books, pajamas, socks, bathing suits, and such. Can you say storage?!

I also added a $10 gold mirror from Walmart-- so 'the girl' can check out just how fabulous she is every day.

This desk (and nightstand) was a gift from my Mom when Hannah was born.. She found it at a tag sale for $20, painted it and changed the hardware.

The tutorial for the fabric memory board and 'letter H' frame can be found here.

These two projects are super easy and you could probably make them using things you already have on hand.

And every room needs a touch of gold.. this deer antler magnifying glass is from Marshall's and has become very popular with my 8 year old. She even talks in a funny accent when she uses it..

A sitting area to read books is a must.

Nanny's old 'coo coo clock' got a complete makeover too.

The color of all the bedding is tied together with the 'placemat' pillows. And to add a little jazz another shopping trip revealed a blue beaded pillow to pick up the blue in the pillows..

What girl doesn't like a little sparkle?

The 'cow oil painting' is a $5 tag sale find. I don't know if I will ever be able to part with it.

I recently reupholstered this chair with a stripe fabric that has the same colors as the placemat pillow. It's a match made in heaven.

The chair was a tag sale find for $20 that I have re-upholstered many times. It finally found the perfect home in my daughters room.

To add some texture, I made these pom pom's from tissue paper and a string of Chinese lantern lights. Here's the tutorial.

I also painted some frames to display some of Hannah's art.

The butterfly plate that is sitting on the frame belongs to a tea set.

My dollhouse from when I was a little girl.. It was yellow and white with a forest green door. When I was pregnant with Hannah, I painted it and gave it a new look--complete with a red door!

She likes to play with the original furniture too. I am so tickled that my Mom saved it.

Of course, it's mostly is a place where all Hannah's 'tiny animals' live.

The perfect rescue stand for her dollhouse. I will be sharing how I came up with this 'dollhouse stand' soon.

Because every girl needs a leopard cape, cat ears, a tutu and a pink sequin cap..

This trunk holds costumes, purse's, gloves, heels, hats and more!

I made this 'butterfly specimen art' from old thank you cards and magazines, a butterfly punch and hot glue. Simply spray paint a picture frame and create. Go!

Where are the toys?

Glad you asked..

Most of the toys are kept in bins on the top shelf of the closet. Others in lower bins, which makes for a cleaner room. When Hannah wants to play with something, we pick it up and put it back when she is done.

For more tips on how to cut 'kid clutter', visit my Just For Kids section.

This 'room remix' is full of whimsy, tradition, sophistication and lots of color...perfect for my little animal lover.

Have you heard the news? House by Holly is open for business.

Do you have a decorating delima? Are you having a hard time bringing the look of a room together? Not sure about furniture placement? How to display a collection?

Let's give you that special room you have been waiting for!

I offer affordable interior design services locally and online.

If you are looking for a fresh set of ideas, contact me or send me pictures to HousebyHolly@yahoo.com for a consultation.

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Must Love Home, Savvy Southern Style,Thrifty Decor Chick

Chair Crush | One Kings Lane

2014-11-06T17:28:00.001-05:00

Hello All,

Who's ready for another furniture inspiration?

Recently, One Kings Lane contacted me again to feature another accent chair. But not just any chair... "What's your Chair Crush?"

If you missed the first one, you can find it here and you can see my chair eventually featured on their Home Decor Resource Guide DIY- Sitting Pretty . (That is pretty cool, huh?)

But how can I chose just one chair to crush on? I do have an obsession with accent chairs. I'm almost like the cat lady that keeps taking in the stray's when it comes to chairs. I just can't say no.

I'm always looking for ones with good bones, classic details, one that is easy to re-upholster, and of course, cheap.

Here are some gorgeous inspiring accent chairs that you can find now at One Kings Lane:

You can imagine my excitement when I found this 'little lady' reminiscent of a French Bergere chair. My ultimate chair crush! Definitely French, and most likely a reproduction. She was only $35 at a thrift store.

I guess you could call her a 'blue light special'. I saw the potential, do you? You have to look real close, but it's there.

I was instantly drawn in with her details...the wrap around panels with cane webbing.. the feminine lines. But the chair had been left behind...way, way behind. And it needed some work.

I mean, did someone, somewhere, some years ago, actually go to the fabric store and pick out that horrendous fabric?

The Plan: To bring this beauty back to reality and give her a distressed weathered grey look and a nice new bold, beautiful, velvety fabric.

I started by mixing a creamy watery chalk paint mixture that included plaster of Paris, latex paint and water.

And then I covered the chair in it.

Say What?! I chose to do this because I wanted the creamy color to get in all the groves and I chose to make chalk paint because it adheres to the chair's existing shiny stain beautifully without needing a primer.

Then the sanding took place. For days. Not simultaneously, but rather here and there.

The chair literally sat in my garage for about 9 months waiting to make it's glorious entrance. Just when I wanted to quit, each time I found the strength to pull through...
I just knew this chair was going to be beautiful!

And just when I almost covered it in a can of creamy paint, I used 'all my might' and the sanding was finished.

I wiped on the grey stain with a rag, stood back to see what I had created and took in what had almost killed me. Literally. (In the process I had come down with a nasty sinus infection due to saw dust. As well as, back pain and a few fingers rubbed raw from the sand paper.)

While the sanding was a lengthy process, I really feel it wouldn't be the same unless I did it this way. The cream layered in all the grooves gives the look of an aged patina. And the grey stain gave it an extra aged look.

I've said it before, an accent chair is like a piece of jewelry for a room. Whether it's booming with personality or tucked in a cozy corner creating the perfect reading spot...
an accent chair brings a certain 'je ne sais quoi' to a room. The cherry on top, if you will.

I covered my thrifty treasure in a deep navy blue/grey velvety fabric. It's a color that you will find throughout our house and I am in love with it.

A friend of mine said that her mother had the same chairs and recovered them, but they still had that dated feel. She was interested to see if I could make mine fabulous...
Challenge accepted! Well my friend, did I?

And a special thanks to One Kings Lane for the 'push' to finish my masterpiece. (Or I should say, my chair crush!)

Not in the mood for sanding, sinus infections and such? Well then you can check out all the One Kings Lane Accent Chairs that are updated daily. The inspiration is endless. The sales are stimulating. Go find your Chair Crush!

Not already a member of One Kings Lane? Here's an official Invitation.

From my House to your House, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Life on Virginia Street, Thrifty Decor Chic, Savvy Southern Style

A Jewelry Board with Meaning...

2014-10-23T14:28:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

Recently I flew home to Dallas after my Grandmother passed away. She was a long 98 years old. I remember her fondly to be a woman of great style and class. Always put together and very proper. Always a lady.

When I was growing up, I would stay with my Grandmother at times during the Summer. She would put me in the tub and clean under my nails and put "smell goods" in the bath water. Do you remember those clear balls filled with an oily fragrance?

The regimen was followed up with a quick fresh coat of pink nail polish on all of my piggy's. She would also sometimes let me play with her jewelry. I would pretend I was a dealer selling these beautiful pieces to someone important. I did this for hours and hours.

When I was older she would send me beautiful shades of lipsticks and eye shadows from Estee Lauder all tucked in a beautiful promotion bag probably from a few seasons back. I would get so excited when she would send me a package filled with "pretties". I can still hear her say, "Here's some pretties, for my pretty little girl."

I was lucky enough to go through her jewelry and collect some pieces that reminded me of her and some that I absolutely love. I know that her love of jewelry and fashion was not lost on me... It's our special bond.

My collection of "pretties" is getting a little overwhelming and at times, I can forget what I have and miss an opportunity to showcase that special statement necklace with the perfect outfit. Well, not any more!

How to make a fabric covered board: I ended up recycling a large frame that housed a cheap print I purchased at a retail chain some years back. I really liked the detail of the silver frame... I simply got rid of the glass, covered the cardboard backing using a hot glue gun and painters cloth and placed the "fabric board" back in the frame.

You could use any fabric you would like. Black velvet would like nice as well.

You will need:
1 picture frame
a glue gun and glue stick
a piece of fabric cut 1 inch larger than the cardboard backing

Notes: If your fabric covered cardboard doesn't stay in place once you pop it in, simply use some heavy duty tape lined on the backside of the frame to reinforce it. You will also need to hang this frame on two nails to keep it from moving side to side when jewelry is put on and taken off.

I took my creation a step further... There were a string of faux pearls that looked like my Grandma was going to restring, but never got to it. I thought it would be nice to glue the beads to straight pins and use those pins to hang my jewelry on the board. Well, as long as I got the glue gun out, right?

Not only was I displaying some of my Grandmother's favorite jewelry but I gave the board meaning. I know I will think of her often.

For some more great ideas on how to recycle Grandma's Pearls, click on my links below.
Warning: You may never think of your jewelry the same way again.
Enjoy!

DIY Jewelry II

DIY Jewelry I

And you don't want to miss our Master Closet redo with 6 tips for a more efficient closet. Complete with before and afters!

From my house, to your house, HAPPY HUNTING!

Let's connect!

Linking to: Thrifty Decor Chic

Happy Fall, Ya'll | Tucking Pumpkins

2014-09-23T21:01:00.001-04:00

Hello All,

With the recent chilly nights and mornings the last few weeks I have been pushed to a new realization: Summer is gone and Fall is here.

Fall just so happens to be one of my favorite seasons of the year. Aren't they all?

So, what does that mean?

Lots of fires to keep us warm...
impromptu "Smore's and Sparkler parties" on the outside fire pit...
picking the most glorious assortment of pumpkins and gourds...
and eating my way through all the Fall fairs.

I am officially on the hunt for the best corn dog and funnel cake out there and I plan on washing it all down with a Guinness. (It doesn't take much to make this girl happy.)

Here is the view today off my porch. The leaves are already starting to change and I am inspired by the bursts of color...
Pops of red, orange, yellow and green...

Today I am sharing one of my favorite ways to create a planter full of the inspiration for this seasons colors. On a budget, of course.

Renewing your planters for Fall: I love to have my pots dripping with perfection. The key to this is literally to tuck and poke various plants into their new home. And to follow a simple formula...height, texture, color, and vining (drip).

This time of the year, some of the plants you planted in the spring might still look good. I've always frowned upon throwing out perfectly good plants just because they didn't fit the season. Take my potato vine (drip) and coleus (color) planter for example. These plants still work with the inspiration colors.

I took the caladium bulbs out of the middle and replaced them with tall purple fountain grass (height), a small white mum (color) , creeping fig (drip), and a cabbage (texture).

This containers final cost? $12.00

Splitting mums: Most plants have one stock in the temporary pot when you buy them. My yellow mums had 3 stocks in one pot. This means I can split them apart and get more bang for my buck. The cost for my yellow mum was $5.00. I also use this little trick when buying plants for my garden....
tomato plants..peppers..and cucumbers to name a few.
Just a little tip my friends.

This variation of a yellow mum split up is a perfect example of getting more bang for your buck. Don't you think?

Don't forget to tuck a pumpkin in! Total for this little beauty? $11.00

Discount Deals: Fall is the perfect time to visit your local green house or discount chain for spectacular deals on annuals and perennials right now. I saved big bucks and had lots of choices to bring in color and texture. The best part? All of these but the ornamental kale and coleus are perennials. That means I can use them again next year...

It's the small victories people.

This one has creeping fig (drip), coral bells (texture), and coleus (height) with some existing potato vine (drip). The pop of the orange pumpkin gives this masterpiece a touch of the unexpected. Not too bad for $9.00.

Tip: When the last carmel apple has been consumed (or you throw out the last slice of pumpkin pie in an effort to start your new diet) feel free to plant your perennial potted mums in the yard. Just simply dig a hole, put the mum in and cut the foliage down leaving about 3 inches.

In the Spring, the foliage will be a green ball until the end of August producing a nice pop of color just in time for Fall. Yippeee!

Who can resist a planter full with the combination of these little Fall goodies?

From my House, to your House, Happy Hunting!

Let's Connect!

Linking to: Savvy Southern Style