“farmhouse” finds
When shopping for a retail space or event, I used to just buy whatever I liked and felt I could make a profit on. A few years ago, I learned that it was easier to focus my shopping/making/painting efforts around a loose theme. This year, in homage to our new MMS Milk Paint Color, the […]
there is a time & a place for burlap
Remember when we were all collectively wooed by burlap? It’s cheap. It’s neutral. It brings lots of texture to the space. And, did I mention that it’s cheap? So, burlap was everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Curtains, wreaths, dust ruffles, pillows, upholstery, table linens… burlap wasn’t off limits for anything home decor. It still isn’t, really. If you […]
favorite Ikea finds
We live about 90 minutes away from an Ikea, so I don’t go there often. Maybe once every three or four years. On Friday, my mom and I made the trek and spent the day “doing Ikea.” It really is like a theme park. Wear comfortable shoes, get your map, make your lists, so you […]
favorite things | antique flatware
I’m sometimes asked what I look for when I’m out shopping for things for my home or things to sell. The broad, non-specific answer is that I look for whatever speaks to me. Certain things just capture my attention. I like them. Why do you like what you like? You just do. One of the […]
the awl that quite possibly saved my life
Remember my struggles with the tufted sofa? I’m not usually paranoid about inanimate objects, but I felt like I needed to keep an eye on that one. It silently threatened to “do me in” with its seemingly bulletproof batting and ridiculous amount of tufts. I finally learned how to speak a language this sofa would […]
country living | behind the scenes
Several of you have already come upon a secret I’ve been keeping since June of last year. My home was featured in the March 2016 issue of Country Living. AHHHHHH! And, yes, lots of geeking out has taken place. Lots of high-pitched squeals and pinch-me moments and slowing down to soak it all in. It was the […]
Kim’s coastal bedroom | non-chippy milk paint
I love the look of paint that has been worn with time. Chips, flakes, rubbed areas that reveal the warm patina of the wood underneath. It just speaks to me. But, I know some people look at those pieces and wonder when you’re going to repaint or refinish them. It’s just not a look that […]
creating a chippy finish
One of the reasons I love milk paint is because it can chip and flake in a way that makes a freshly painted finish look authentically old. This chipping can be a bit random, though. I’ve tested out a lot of different products and techniques to consistently force chipping to happen and, while I’ve achieved some […]