My House Archives | Page 28 of 125

My House

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

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

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

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

November 14, 2022 26 Comments

1970 home renovation

reno recap four | kitchen plans, steam cleaning, & pacing ourselves

Home renovations aren’t always full-steam-ahead, especially if you’re living in the home while doing the work. Sometimes you need to take some time to slow the pace, ponder upcoming projects, readjust the plans, and properly clean the house. With a sick kid at home and feeling a bit under the weather myself, this was a good week to slow things down. So, the past few days have been about rest, plans, and getting a few small things done. We’ll get to the ever-evolving kitchen plans in a minute, but let’s start with some of the little things. One of the sort-of-house-related things I’ve been working on is learning how to photograph this house. I’ve been having issues with windows being “blown out” meaning they are so bright they have lost all detail. When I try to edit the photos, they just don’t turn out the way I want. So, I’ve

November 11, 2022 27 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

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

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

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.

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.

My House

antique step-back hutch & breakfast nook

Antique French Louis Philippe Vitrine

the antique victorian bamboo shelf

blue & white checked curtains

reno recap four | kitchen plans, steam cleaning, & pacing ourselves

favorite things | antique kilim rugs

framed antique indenture

custom living room blackout curtains

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

Recent Video

Spring Posts

April garden notes

power washing the patio

painted garden obelisk

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories

Pin It on Pinterest