Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

All Things Home

1970 home renovation

the Sherwin Williams color match to my kitchen cabinets

One of my most frequently asked questions over the past year is, “What color are your kitchen cabinets?”  Since I paint everything, I think people assume I selected the color and painted the cabinets myself.  This is actually the first time I didn’t paint my own kitchen cabinets!  I ordered them in this color – Painted Sage by Waypoint.  You can find more information on the cabinets I selected and how we customized them HERE.  Since I’m asked so often, I’ve intended to take a scrap piece from the kitchen install over to Sherwin Williams to have it matched and it just kept escaping me.  Today, I decided to get some errands done that have been languishing for a while and I stopped in the paint store to find the best match. Now, if you had a sample of Painted Sage by Waypoint, which I’m sure you could get from

Read More
1970 home renovation

1970 home renovation | the beginnings of the boys’ bathroom reno

Warning, this is not a pretty post, but this is the reality of buying a 50+-year-old home that was mostly in original condition.   While none of the rooms in this house were ugly (I think the previous owners had wonderful taste), there comes a time when the fads of the day are dated, and the wear and tear on a home warrant a redo.  In the case of the boys’ bathroom, it’s just time.  But, as I’ve shared before, the renovation money initially allocated for updating the two bathrooms went towards a roof (you can read about the new roof HERE), which was in worse shape than the home inspection showed.  It was a smart choice, but a roof isn’t quite as fun as a new bathroom.  I try to appreciate it every time I walk or drive by the house and when we have heavy rain. Fully renovating this

Read More
All Things Home

favorite things | antique transferware plates

I have loved antique transferware plates for years, decades even.  I think they were one of my earliest yard sale purchases as a newlywed.  I remember reading a magazine article that showcased stacks of mismatched antique transferware plates that had been collected over time and I fell in love with the idea of having a set of dishes that wasn’t a set at all.  I also subscribed to the idea early in my decorating journey that pretty plates and platters made unique and inexpensive wall art and I’ve been hanging them on the walls ever since. Even though I have well over 100 plates and platters (it’s probably closer to 200), I still am drawn to them and find new excuses to acquire them.  Well, these would be perfect for a still-life painting, so I can buy them to use as props.  If you’re a collector, you understand that some

Read More
All Things Home

kitchen eating nook changes | the open wall shelves

If you’re thinking, “Didn’t I already read this post about the wall shelves in your kitchen?”  You are partially right.  You read my first draft of this post and, because of a technical glitch on my blog, my blog was down for several hours last week and had to be reverted to an earlier version.  This post ended up being the casualty.  I really liked this post, though, so I didn’t want it to be completely stricken from the Miss Mustard Seed record, but I knew I would never be able to rewrite it word-for-word.  I remembered enough, though, to be able to capture the spirit of the post and, perhaps, articulate things even better the second time around. As I was writing the series about some updates I made to the eating area in our kitchen, the thing that was most discussed was the white open wall shelves adjacent

Read More
All Things Home

kitchen eating nook changes | shelf styling

I’ve been sharing some tweaks and changes I’ve made to our kitchen eating area in my last two blog posts and I’m continuing that short series.  Today, I’m going to share a bit more details about the shelf styling.  I wanted to rearrange these shelves for a few months, but it kept getting pushed to the back burner.  I wanted to give myself plenty of time to make a bit of a mess and play without feeling rushed.  Shelf styling often involves a lot of trial and error, so it’s not a process that’s easily rushed.  I finally had a quiet afternoon last week and started pulling things off the shelves to get a fresh start.       When I’m working on a shelf styling project, I usually have a loose vision in mind.  Sometimes, I want things to be arranged in a way that looks and feels more

Read More
Decorating

kitchen eating nook changes | the new chairs

Yesterday, we took a look at the new chandelier in the kitchen eating area and today, I’m going to share all about the new/antique chairs I found recently on Facebook Marketplace.  As a reminder, here is how the space looked… I actually love these chairs and they have been in our dining room in both the PA house and the MN house.  The problem with these chairs is they really aren’t ideal for heavy, everyday use.  They are antiques and are already starting to show wear from being used at our kitchen table for the past year while I looked for other chairs I liked.  One of the chairs is also in need of repair, so it’s been sent to the garage so it didn’t collapse under an unsuspecting sitter! So, I’ve been on the lookout for just the right chairs for our kitchen for over a year.  It makes

Read More
All Things Home

kitchen eating nook changes | new chandelier

Over the past couple of months, I have made a few changes to the kitchen eating area, so I thought I would share those changes in a small blog series.  There are three main components I changed and you’ll be able to see them all, but I’m going to focus on one element per post, so we can dive into the changes and my thoughts behind them.  While the food-prep side of the kitchen is done (aside from some tweaking for the seasons and playing with accessories), I knew this kitchen nook area would be an evolution.  Since nothing is a permanent fixture, I can play with it and make changes when whim dictates. So, here is how the kitchen eating area looks now… As I said, three things have changed since you saw it last.  1.) I found some charming antique chairs on Facebook Marketplace to trade out the

Read More
All Things Home

olive velvet pillows & a block print quilt

I thought I would share a couple of small details in our primary bedroom as it transitions from Winter into Spring.  I don’t make many big changes to my house through the seasons except for Christmas.  I do like to make subtle shifts with things that are easy to switch out, though.  It’s a way to refresh a space without spending a lot of time or money on it. I took down the greens around the top of the bed frame and switched from the indigo sheets back to the cream ones.  I have decided to keep the winter arrangement out for a few more days, though, but that will be swapped out with something that makes sense for Spring and Summer.  I’ve just enjoyed it, so I’ve left it out.  To add a touch of spring, I brought in a couple of   While these pillows aren’t specifically “Spring”

Read More

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.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest