If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed a lot of furniture and accessories coming and going.  You may watch that and think something like, “Well, of course she can do that!  She’s an antiques dealer and a blogger and all of that is a part of her business, but what am I supposed to do?” Yes, the fact that I buy and sell things as a part of my business makes it much easier to try out new pieces of furniture in my home.  The fact that I am a blogger and get a lot of things for free or discounted in exchange for advertising does give me a lot more options, but I’ve been playing this same home decorating game for almost 15 years.  Long before I did this professionally, before I traded for cool stuff from great companies and before I had

We all know that hardware is like the jewelry on a piece of furniture. It’s the finishing touch that can make a piece special. It’s also where a piece can go really wrong.   When I first started refinishing furniture, I felt like I had to replace the hardware on every piece.  I’ve since changed my tune.  If the hardware is original, in good condition and complete, I keep it.  If there are pieces missing, it’s broken or it’s really ugly, then I replace it.  My Tricycle dresser (above) was missing most of the hardware, so I replace it with these over sized ceramic knobs from Hobby Lobby.  I wasn’t sure about how they would work, but they made the piece, in my opinion.     The amber knobs on the Mustard Seed Yellow dresser were actually original and unlike any knobs I’ve seen.  The end of the knobs actually

There are certain decorating tricks I go to again and again…my “secret weapons.” One of my favorites is using old doors and shutters to fill up an empty wall and to add some texture or color to a space.   Think about how much you would spend on a piece of artwork, even a cheap reproduction, that is 3′ x 5′.  I bought the pair of shutters in my bedroom from a junk shop for $45. I got out of breath when I saw the hinges and chipping gray paint.   I use doors and shutters all over my house.  I lean them behind chairs…     …there’s one behind my vanity…     …a slim pair flanking a window in my family room, as well as a doorway in my dining room.     I even have a huge bead board door leaning on my piano.  It acts as a nice,