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All Things Home
Decorating

christmas decorating sources 2022

I think 2021 was my favorite year so far when it comes to decorating for Christmas.  I started early because I felt like it and I genuinely enjoyed the process, the projects, and relishing the season.  This year, it’s a little harder because we’re still in the middle of projects, painting, and settling in.  I’m going to start decorating after Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to it, but I don’t think it will be quite as magical as last year.  Maybe it’ll surprise me… Since I enjoyed Christmas decorating last year so thoroughly, though, I thought I would share sources for things I used last year that are available again this year. faux stag antlers | faux cedar garland | chunky knit stockings | velvet ribbon The stockings weren’t available for a couple of seasons after I first bought them, but they are back again!  I personalized them with

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November 24, 2022 15 Comments
1970 home renovation

antique step-back hutch & breakfast nook

The kitchen will be our next big project in the house and I can’t wait to tackle this space.  As I’ve shared before, it’s a bit of an awkward room that is sort of a U-shape.  One side of the U is a hallway that leads to the pantry (the door to the right in the photo below), the foyer, and opens into a kitchen breakfast nook.  In the little hallway to the pantry, I put the antique step-back hutch that I purchased last summer at Gold Rush Days in Minnesota.  I bought the piece for the basement and never really did much with it.  It was a piece I wanted to keep for a few reasons.  First of all, it has a small footprint but offers a lot of storage.  Second, I didn’t really have the chance to enjoy it, so I wasn’t ready to let go of it

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November 23, 2022 16 Comments
Antiques

Antique French Louis Philippe Vitrine

Remember the piece I purchased from Ekster Antiques?  When I shared it on Instagram, one of my friends (who is a designer and European antique dealer) informed me this is an antique French Louis Philippe Vitrine.  I didn’t know it was called that specifically, but I knew that it was gorgeous and that I loved it.  It was even better than what I imagined when I put “glass front cabinet” on my furniture shopping list for the new house. I was at the Ekster Antiques barn to pick up a piece for my studio, but I kept getting pulled back to this piece.  One of my goals, when it came to purchasing pieces, was to only buy pieces that were “favorites.”  I want to have a house full of favorites, as I wrote about HERE last year.  There was no denying when I stood in front of this antique Louis

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November 21, 2022 26 Comments
Antiques

the antique victorian bamboo shelf

Remember the antique Thebes stool I found a few weeks ago at a local antique store?  Well, in that same booth, I found another incredible find at an excellent price – an antique Victorian burnt bamboo shelf.  I think it was $85 with an additional 20%.  As I picked up the rickety old shelf and handed it to Jeff, he gave me a quizzical look.  Trust me.  It’s special.   I have seen these antique burnt bamboo shelves go for a lot of money.  This one, while just a little shifty from being such a waif-like shelf, was in excellent condition.  I normally have a piece in mind where I can use a piece, especially a piece of furniture before I purchase it, but this is the kind of piece you can use in a dozen different places.  I imagined it in the kitchen stack with linens and some copper pots

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November 17, 2022 35 Comments
All Things Home

blue & white checked curtains

When my mom and I took a day to make the curtains for the living room, we also made blue and white checked curtains for the primary bedroom.  I used the same tutorial, same curtain rods, and black-out lining, but instead of the darker blue plaid fabric, I used THIS lightweight, linen blend I bought on Etsy a few weeks ago.  I also used clip rings instead of the rings I sewed into the header for the living room curtains. And here is how the curtains turned out… I was planning on using only the curtains for privacy and to block out the light, which is why I lined them in blackout fabric, but I realized while hanging the curtains that they would cover the air vents when closed—definitely an oversight on my part.  I tried using some magnetic hooks on the air vents to hold the curtains up, but

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November 14, 2022 26 Comments
All Things Home

favorite things | antique kilim rugs

Let’s talk about one of my favorite recent things – antique and vintage kilim rugs.  I’ve been admiring vintage and antique rugs in general because of the warmth and sense of history they bring to a room, but I’ve been interested in kilim rugs for a few reasons.  “Kilim” is a Turkish word meaning a flat woven rug that doesn’t have a pile.  This means they are hardwearing, pet/kid-friendly, and ideal for high-traffic areas.  They are also more affordable than most of their antique/vintage rug counterparts.  I have been buying them for use in halls, bathrooms, and in front of doors (they are great for those places because they are so flat), but they also come in large, area-rug sizes. The shop I’ve been purchasing my rugs from is Kilim Rug Home.  The owner has impressive reviews, offers great pricing, is very attentive when it comes to questions, and offers

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November 10, 2022 17 Comments
All Things Home

framed antique indenture

When I shared the living room curtains earlier this week, a few of you noticed the framed antique indenture hanging on the wall over the sofa.  Well, let’s talk about this piece of custom-made art! First off, let’s talk about what an indenture is since most of us are familiar with it only in terms of servitude.  An indenture is simply a contract and the subject of that contract can be a variety of subjects including labor, marriage, property, settlements, and more.  Second, you can find for a wide variety of prices but can get bargains for around $25. The price is based on the age, size, quality, and subject of the indenture.  I bought mine from last year.  I know she has more, so send her a message on her Instagram HERE if you’re interested in details. My particular antique indenture is a marriage contract from 1842 and is

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November 9, 2022 28 Comments
All Things Home

custom living room blackout curtains

As I’ve shared over the past couple of weeks, I have to bounce between things that need to be done that aren’t super exciting (like organizing the basement and wiping wallpaper glue off the walls) and things that flex my creativity and are fun.  By jumping between the two, I feel like I’m productive, moving the needle in the things that need to be done, but I’m also staying motivated and feeling fulfilled.  It’s a delicate balance but it seems to be working.  Aside from a few boxes in out-of-the-way places, we are unpacked and able to live comfortably in the house.  We’ve made the sprint and can now slow to a comfortable jog for the next few years to bring this house to where we envision it.  One of the fun things (whether sewing is fun is debatable) I worked on last week was making custom blackout curtains for

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November 7, 2022 22 Comments

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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