Few things embody summer like the taste and color of fresh cherries. This summer cherry palette reminds me of simple pleasures and living in the moment. This past weekend we got an unexpected visit from out-of-town friends. Their family was passing through town and stopped at our house for a couple of days. To entertain the kids, we walked to the neighborhood park. As we were getting ready to head home for lunch, my daughter noticed a single red cherry laying on the ground in front of her. She looked up and realized we were standing under a huge old cherry tree, laden with perfectly ripe cherries! The kids (and… Keep Reading
Summer Patio Makeover Reveal
Our Summer Patio Makeover is finally finished! We started a month ago, and I’m so glad we finished all our projects before the weather got too hot. Now we can sit back and enjoy our patio in the shade all summer long. As with any big project, this Summer patio makeover was made up of several smaller projects, so I’m breaking this down into all the pieces and parts. Hopefully you’ll get some ideas along the way for your own outdoor oasis! ~ This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. ~ Summer Patio Makeover The… Keep Reading
Bring the Indoors Out with an Outdoor Rug
Designing a comfortable patio starts with function, but it doesn’t have to end there. To truly create an outdoor living space, you need to add a few touches of comfort, like an outdoor rug. And I’ve got just the place to find one! This month marks the beginning of outdoor living in our part of the world, and I’m jumping on that bandwagon by making over my back patio, just in time for summer. Last week we painted our concrete block wall, which made the whole space feel more inviting and lived in, and now we’re moving on to decorating the space under our gazebo. I want my outdoor dining… Keep Reading
How to Unwire an Old Chandelier for Outdoor Lighting
This month we’re giving our patio a makeover, and today’s mini-makeover is how to unwire a chandelier to make it suitable for outdoor use with no electricity. We’ll be taking an old, dated chandelier and reworking it to turn it into a cool candelabra to hang over our outdoor dining table. I don’t know about you but I find electricity to be a little scary. I do a lot of DIY projects, but one thing I don’t touch in our house is wiring and electrical fixtures. So when I decided to turn this old chandelier into a functioning non-electric one for candle-lit dinners in our backyard, I felt a little… Keep Reading
From Boring Concrete Wall to Pretty Painted Patio
This patio makeover gets a kick start from a fresh paint job on an ugly concrete block wall. Further proof that paint really does fix everything! This month I’m tackling a patio makeover that all started last year with our new gazebo. We installed the gazebo, loved how it looked and functioned, and immediately wanted to fix up the rest of the backyard but got distracted by summer activities with two kids. (The best kind of distraction!) Now that the weather is getting nice again, my husband is planning several sprinkler and landscaping upgrades, and I’m looking for ways to get out of digging ditches with him. So I’m painting… Keep Reading
Moored Palette
This moody moored palette captures the deep blues and greens of the water, even though you don’t see much water, or really anything but what your mind thinks is black and white in the picture. My family has been talking a lot about change lately. As the school year winds down, I’ve got one kid finishing middle school, getting ready to start high school next year, and one kid having just survived her first year of middle school. One thing I can tell you, from their experiences and mine, is that middle school is aptly named. It’s a time in between. You’re in between elementary school where friends come easy… Keep Reading
How to Hang Curtains the Easy Way with a Laser Level
When it’s time to hang curtains, make your life tons easier with this simple inexpensive hack. You’ll never hang curtains without a laser level again! This is the third in my Back to Basics series, where I’m covering all the basics on things like making art from color palettes, tools that make it easier to paint a room, and now hanging curtains with a laser level. Hanging fresh curtains is a great way to change the look of your room. It may not be the most fun job but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be frustrating. First I have a confession. This post is difficult for me… Keep Reading
How to Make Painting Simple With the Right Tools
Painting a room doesn’t have to be difficult or intimidating. Make painting simple with the right tools, and a few insider tricks. I’ve been meaning to write this post for years, but I always assumed I’d be telling you something you already knew. That changed this week when I stopped by a friend’s house as she was painting her living room. Watching her try to do the job with only a roller and a paintbrush made me realize it’s time to share what I’ve learned over many years of painting rooms. (Hint: the right tools make all the difference!) Some folks are intimidated by painting rooms, since it’s such a… Keep Reading
How to Use Color Palettes to Make Custom Art
Have you ever wondered what people do with all those pretty color palettes you see on Pinterest? Last week I shared some of my favorite ways to use color palettes (other than just drooling over them) and today I want to show you how easy it is to make a custom art project based on your favorite color palette. ~ This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. ~ Psst. I’ve got a little secret for you. You know what it takes to make a good design and a great piece of art? A color palette!… Keep Reading
Neopolitan Palette and 9 ways to Use Color Palettes
As a color enthusiast, I believe that color is an end to itself. Color is its own reason for existing. Or another way to say it: because things can be colorful, they should be. I mean, just look at the delicious macarons in this neopolitan palette. In theory, they would be just as tasty without their colors, but I somehow doubt it, at least for me. When I saw these, it took me back to when I was kid and we would visit the grandparents. My grandma always had giant bowls of neopolitan ice cream waiting for us as soon as we arrived. It didn’t even matter if it was… Keep Reading