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Decorating

Decorating

stainless is the new avocado?

…I remember thinking that very thing about ten years ago when the stainless steel appliances hit the mainstream and became all the rage.  Because, let’s face it, there was a time when this kitchen was sweet. For a long time, I put stainless appliances in that camp.  I imagined the decorating world collectively looking at them with a smirk while thinking things like  “That looks like my Nana’s kitchen” or “Those are so 2008.”  I figured I would be the smart one who stuck with safe, reliable white appliances. But then I see a beefy stainless range and I go weak at the knees and I can’t help but love it. (source – Evars + Anderson Interior Design) So, have I just hopped on the bandwagon?  Or is this a classic design choice that’s here to stay? Right now, I have all white appliances.  They are not high end at all, but the white blends

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german glass glitter

children's book bunting

We launched our line of MMS German Glass Glitter just before Lucketts and, in such a busy time, I didn’t get to announce it until after the fair.  Now that I’ve had the chance to catch my breath and get back into a bit of a routine, I’m ready to start giving you some ideas for how you can use the glitter and showcase the different colors.  Really, it’s simple.  You can use it anywhere you want glitter, but I know some people like a bit more direction than that! Here’s what I came up with today… This project is a good example that a little glitter adds just that extra something and it doesn’t have to be reserved for froo-froo-sparkle-princess projects. I started with a tattered vintage children’s book.  I love the old illustrations and the colors, but the book was in really rough shape with a lot of scribbling,

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Hand Painted Furniture

painting a primitive cupboard

A week or two prior to Lucketts, I spotted an amazing primitive cupboard on Craig’s List.  I intended to buy it to sell at the event, but I was absolutely smitten with it and decided to keep it.  Believe it or not, I’m usually pretty disciplined about that sort of thing, but this piece was just so special and I could imagine it filled with ironstone and other pretty things. I actually bought the piece sight unseen.  I was busy painting and I sent Jeff & my dad to pick it up for me.  I gave Jeff “override authorization” if it wasn’t as amazing in person as it was in the pictures, but it was and he brought it home.  The lady he bought it from was delightful and a blogger/photographer and was very happy it was going to a good home.  I actually got to meet her at Lucketts

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home improvement

French Style & a fabric wall

I received an e-mail a few months ago, asking if I would contribute to a new magazine, French Style.  Well, that sounds right up my alley!  Yesterday, I found the magazine in Target and snapped it up. First of all, it really is a beautiful magazine.  I loved looking through it and I felt so proud that I was a small part of it and I was very pleased with how my article and photographs turned out.  I always felt like my pictures in print looked yellowish and not as sharp as the other pictures in the magazine.  I felt like these were my best and that’s a great feeling. You can find the magazine on newsstands now. One of the rooms featured in the article is my master bedroom and the fabric wall behind the headboard.  Most people assume it’s wall paper, but it’s actually fabric!  I used an old Army

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Holiday

Christmas in April

Yesterday I mentioned that Jeff and I went to the local tree farm and cut down a tree for my Christmas HGTV.com photo shoots.  It was a pretty odd event…cutting down a Christmas tree just a couple of days before Easter, but I have gotten used to the seasonal confusion that happens in the decorating and retail world.  You always have to be thinking and working well ahead of the seasons. Not only did we have to cut down and trim the tree yesterday, but I had to decorate it three times to photograph three different tree skirts.  My arms had so many pin pricks on them it looked like I had hives!  I guess I usually have long sleeves on when I’m decorating the tree in December!  Despite my flesh wounds, the process was fun in its own weird little way. The first tree skirt was a “sunburst” design,

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Decorating

original art |

There was a time when I didn’t care very much about original art. I actually went to a fine arts college, so I had the chance to attend galleries regularly.  I think it was even required, actually…  I’d stroll around the room, looking for a few minutes and then I’d find my friends and we’d go off to chat in a corner.  I just never appreciated it…until I owned my very first original oil painting. Now I’m hooked. I used to ignore the wall art at antique malls and auctions, but now I lean it and look…seeing if anything speaks to me. And I’ve started to browse eBay for original art to use in my home.  I’ve found so many beautiful, well-priced pieces that I curated a collection of original art pieces that caught my eye.  I even added a couple to my shopping cart, but I’m still thinking… Obviously,

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Before and Afters

1/2 Bath Refresh

Well, today was yet another school snow day.  It was a really good day, though.  The boys played very well together and there was lots of laughing and toys everywhere and imaginative play.  In addition to it being a delight to listen to them play, it allowed me to get some things done. I listed some more things in the online shop and packaged up most things that have sold to get ready for our shipping day tomorrow.  In addition, I played around in the house a bit.  I haven’t touched the half bathroom since I finished it a few years ago and I’ve been thinking it needed a little refresher.  I’ve been leaning pictures against the wall in there and planning things out in my head for weeks and I was finally inspired to work on it today. Above is what it looked like when we finished the bathroom

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Decorating

My Favorite Decorating Books

When Jeff and I were too poor to have cable, internet or dinner and a movie out, we would occasionally go to a book store and hang out for a couple of hours.  He would wander off and look at…I don’t really know what he looked at, but I would make a bee-line for the home & garden section and camp out on the floor.  I didn’t care that it might not be proper for an adult to sit on the floor in a store.  I would sit there and look through all of the books until Jeff came to get me.  I ended up leaving with a full creative tank and a list of books I wanted to ask for when Christmas or my birthday came around.  Between those book store dates and book club memberships over the years, I’ve accumulated a nice library of decorating, home and DIY

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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