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All Things Home

a slice of life

Neat Steam Cleaner Review

When I shared about the progress in the ensuite bathroom a couple of weeks ago, the thing I was asked about most was the steam cleaner I bought to keep the tile, grout, and glass clean!  So, in this post, I’m sharing the brand of steam cleaner I bought and offering a review for those who are interested in purchasing a steam cleaner. First of all, I have used a steam mop to clean my hard floors for years.  I love my steam mop so much that I’ve given them as gifts.  It is definitely my favorite way to clean tile, sealed wood, and even my painted studio floors.  It gets the floors squeaky clean and sanitized and doesn’t require any cleaners or chemicals.  My steam mop (I currently have the older version of THIS ONE) does come with some attachments, but it really is best to use on the

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All Things Home

Decorating trends that are out in 2020 | an opinion piece

When I was searching for something related to decorating a few days ago, I noticed one of the top searches suggested by Google was “Decorating trends that are out.”  I didn’t give it much thought initially, but it stuck with me for a few minutes and I gave it a little bit more of my attention.  Why is that one of the top searches suggested by Google in relation to decorating? Behind each internet search, there is a need…  We’re looking for information, something we want to purchase, a place we want to visit.  We want to satisfy our curiosity or be in the know.  So, what is the need behind a search on decorating trends that are out?  What is at the heart of that search? I’m sure some people are searching it out of pure curiosity or maybe they are looking for some snarky, entertaining article bashing chevron

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All Things Home

easy ticking footstool makeover

Remember this antique footstool I purchased a few weeks ago when my mom was visiting?  Well, I finally gave it a makeover!  I was planning on making a slipcover, but this footstool makeover turned out to be much easier… I decided to try to pull off a couple of the tacks to see how easy the footstool would be to strip.  I’ve stripped several pieces finished with nailhead trim before and they can be so tedious to remove.  These just popped right off, so I proceeded with the footstool makeover right on the spot.  I was able to strip it in about 15 minutes and discovered that contemporary leaf design was hiding delightful antique blue and white ticking! This layer is obviously the equivalent of the footstool’s undergarments, but I still love it.  It was a little dusty, so I cleaned it thoroughly with a vacuum. I still might reupholster

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All Things Home

picture ledges for pigment bottles in the studio

My studio continually evolves as I use and finetune the space.  A couple of weeks ago, I was doing some reorganizing and realized I could utilize the space to the left of the large hardware cabinet.  Some picture ledges would give me a little more storage and would also be the perfect place to display my bottles of pigment. What was hanging there before was a pinboard with color swatches.  While I enjoyed looking at them, I didn’t really use them, so changing it out made sense. Sienna Counterweight Studio Easel | | painted checkerboard floor | Hare art print I purchased shelves from Target for $15/each and hung them in that space.  The dimensions were absolutely perfect for my collection of bottled pigments. | | antique palette I bought the bottles from Hobby Lobby, but I wasn’t able to find them on their website.  They are in the glass

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All Things Home

latest consignment store haul

Hey, everyone!  I enjoyed a few days off but really started to miss sharing here on the blog towards the end of the week.  I got so much done, though, and it was focused, unhurried, productive, fruitful…just what I needed it to be.  Towards the end of the week, I was feeling a bit fried and antsy to get out of the house, so I went to my favorite local consignment store (it’s Kismet for those who are local or passing through Rochester, MN.) I originally went in because I spotted a pair of chairs on their Facebook page.  I thought they would look nice flanking the hutch in the living room.  They were still available, so I went to the consignment store the next morning and they were even better in person.  They were both sturdy, in excellent condition, and it looked like the hand-tied caning had been redone

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All Things Home

ensuite bathroom makeover progress

Before I get into the post about our ensuite bathroom (master bathroom) makeover, I wanted to let my blog readers know that I’m going to take next week off.  I have had a lot of work on my plate outside of the blog (all fun and exciting stuff that I can’t wait to share with you) and I need to take a week to put my work focus solely on those projects. I’ve really been trying to do too much simultaneously and I’m feeling a little scattered.  I know it’ll help me so much to set a couple of things down in order to do other work with excellence.  So, I’ll pop onto Instagram here and there, but I’ll be quiet here on the blog next week. Our master bathroom (ensuite bathroom) is finished, but I haven’t shared very much of the process here on the blog, so I thought

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All Things Home

stripping & waxing antique pine

A few weeks ago, I dragged this old cabinet outside to sand it down.  It had been in Marshall’s room for a few years in this house and our PA house.  It had some water damage on top as well as sticker residue on the sides.  I mean, it has been living in a kind-turned-teen’s room for a few years and they aren’t the best at furniture care!  It was getting to the point that stripping and waxing this antique pine piece was going to be the best way to bring it back to life. Striping Antique Pine This cabinet had a very thin, yellowing finish on it that was easy to sand off with an orbital palm sander equipped with 100 grit sandpaper.  I opted to go that route instead of using a chemical stripper, which is usually my preference.  It would be faster and a little less mess

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All Things Home

make-do custom mattress for an antique daybed

Remember the antique Jenny Lind daybed I bought off of Facebook Marketplace a few weeks ago?  Well, I finally received the foam and batting I ordered to make a custom mattress for it. antique jenny lind daybed My plan is to make a french-style tufted mattress, but I starting wrapping the foam in the cotton batting I ordered and I realized I would need to make a cover to hold the cotton batting in place.  Poly batting is much easier to slide a fitted cover over, but I went with cotton because it gives a softer appearance to the cushion.  It was one of those afternoons when I was determined to get this done.  I knew it was irrational to think that I could finish an entire custom mattress in an afternoon, but I felt this push to try. I cut down the 3″ upholstery foam with an electric carving

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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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