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

Preorder the Book
Facebook Instagram Youtube Tiktok

Decorating
All Things Home

decorating dilemma | massive, masculine furniture

Leigha has been a thrifter her entire life.  The talent to find a good deal was used to furnish her home and she eventually sold her finds out of two booths at antique malls.  She’s recently been honing her style and realizes that “her home no longer speaks to her.”  While Leigha’s ready to sell it all and start over, the fact that she has a busy life (works as a librarian, married to a firefighter, three boys), it’s a little more than impractical. She would really like to make her bedroom a haven, though.  A place she really loves. Right now, there are only two things she likes in the space…the pictures of her boys (not the thrifted leopard frames) and the tall secretary her parents gave her.  That’s it. Leigha wants a lighter, brighter, cozy space.  She wants to move away from the heavy, masculine furniture.  She loves green, crocheted cream

Read More
October 6, 2015 42 Comments
All Things Home

Painting with White

When I see someone who doesn’t know what color to paint something, they almost always default to white.  It’s neutral.  It’s easy. Right? I will admit that it is hard to go wrong with white.  I love white and mix a lot of different whites in my home.  All three of the whites from the MMS Milk Paint line are represented. Ironstone on the dining table base and chairs… Linen on the jelly cupboard… …and Grain Sack on the 1800’s marble-topped dresser and Gustavian sofa frame to point out a few. So, I’m a fan. But, white is actually one of the hardest colors to paint with.   It doesn’t matter what kind of paint it is, white just doesn’t cover as well and almost always requires more coats.  This is especially true with milk paint, since it’s thinner than modern paints.   Here are some tips and tricks I’ve

Read More
October 2, 2015 19 Comments
All Things Home

steal-worthy office organization

If you missed it earlier this week, I finally finished Megan’s office and revealed all of the details.  You can see the full post and series HERE.  But, in this post, I wanted to share some of the amazing office organization happening in this space… As I shared in the post, Kriste and I worked together to develop an overall floor plan and feel for the space.  We worked on the specific pieces of furniture, the Craig’s List wardrobe, the revamped desk chair, slipcovered arm chair, etc.  I shopped and selected accessories for the room, like the rug and antiques. When it came to really pulling it all together and making it personal and functional, that was all Megan.  Other than nudging something in one direction or fluffing a skirt, we left things as she put them.   And I think she made some very clever choices that were both

Read More
October 1, 2015 13 Comments
All Things Home

dear reader | to the one who’s waiting for the next house

Dear Reader, Have you ever had a moment when you look around your current place of residence, make a mental list of things you’d like to do, things that would make you really love the space, and then you resign and decide to just wait for the next house? You can’t execute your vision or live out your dream in this place, so you’re going to raise the white flag and imagine the day you can pack up and move on.  The next house will be better. You’ll love the next house. I feel like I’ve been looking to the next house my entire life. As an Army brat, I grew up in military housing.  Enough said.  When we moved back to the states from Germany, my dad bought a house and we didn’t see it until the day we moved in.  My mom cried when we walked through the front door.  And it

Read More
September 29, 2015 63 Comments
All Things Home

Megan’s office makeover | the reveal

It’s finally time to reveal Megan’s office makeover! Kriste and I met Megan, of the blog Mercy in the Middle, through one of our milk paint workshops.  She then volunteered her time to help as we were getting ready for the Lucketts Spring Market earlier this year.  She mentioned wanting some help with her home, so when I decided to start working with design clients, she immediately came to mind as an ideal guinea pig. Of course, she’s a little cuter than a guinea pig. It would take me way too long to recap the entire makeover, but you can catch up by clicking through the links below… part 1 | the before part 2 | the “franken-chair” part 3| the plan part 4 | wall colors & design elements part 5 | the slipcovered desk chair reveal part 6 | the Craig’s List wardrobe part 7 | the Craig’s List wardrobe

Read More
September 28, 2015 39 Comments
All Things Home

hemp sheets & hemp oil

In yesterday’s post, I shared that I just got in a new shipment of antique hemp sheets from Europe and many of you asked what they are.  I’ve talked about them before, but I don’t know if I’ve ever really explained what they are. They are actually sheets, but not like the modern bedsheets we have today.  They are made of three long, narrow pieces of fabric stitched together to make a larger sheet of fabric.  The seams are one of my favorite parts about them.  Some are hand-stitched in the most charming ways. Another thing I love is many of them are marked or monogrammed, so they wouldn’t get mixed when they were laundered. They come in all different weights, from heavy and scratchy to thinner with a tight, flat weave, more like a heavy linen.  My favorite are the latter. They are very hard-wearing, but still feel soft.  Their

Read More
September 24, 2015 23 Comments
All Things Home

Finding Fall Home Tour

Today, my blog is the second-to-the-last stop in the Finding Fall 2015 Home Tour.  There are a lot of amazing homes and decorating ideas that have been shared so far, so be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this post if you’re just jumping in on the tour. If you’re stopping from Unexpected Elegance and are new to my blog, welcome! Before we get into the pictures, I must be a bit transparent for a minute.  Getting ready for this fall home tour was tough for me.  I imagined getting a bunch of beautiful heirloom pumpkins and putting fall touches in every room, but I didn’t realize what a challenge that would be. I have never tried decorating for fall this early and the pumpkin pickings were slim in my neck-of-the-woods.  I drove 45 minutes to a local Wegman’s only to find the tacky orange pumpkins with

Read More
September 18, 2015 23 Comments
All Things Home

Megan’s office makeover | the chalkboard wall

We are so, so close to finishing Megan’s office!  Megan and her husband, JT, came to pick up the furniture from my studio over the weekend.  Moving that wardrobe was quite a job and it was even a little nail-biting seeing if they could get it in the space, but they were able to and it will provide loads of closed-door storage. They also picked up the rug, curtains, armchair, accessories, etc., so they could put them in the room.  (Do you see the adorable antique trashcan that Carrie from Copper & Tin gifted to Megan?)  Kriste and I drove down today to check out the space and work on a few things before the final reveal. If you ever paint a chalkboard wall (or anything in chalkboard paint, for that matter), you should season the surface.  This accomplishes a few things.  First of all, it takes the edge off the black

Read More
September 17, 2015 19 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.

Facebook Instagram Youtube Pinterest Amazon

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Get Early access →

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.
Explore the shop →

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.
Shop Now →

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest