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All Things Home

my favorite home projects of 2020

We were home a lot last year.  I’m a homebody, so it suited me to some extent even though it wasn’t under ideal circumstances.  As many of you did, we made the best of it and used the time to get some projects done around the house that have been hanging out on the to-do list for a while.  I had the extra incentive of working on projects for my upcoming book.  Looking back over 2020, we got a ton of home projects done and completely transformed a few rooms in our house including the living room, sewing room, and ensuite bathroom. Here are a few of my favorite DIY home projects we finished last year… fireplace surround This is one of the easiest projects I did in 2020 and it’s one of my favorites!  I have disliked that shiny granite since we first moved in, but I felt a

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January 11, 2021 28 Comments
All Things Home

woven jute living room rug

I’ve been asked a lot about my woven jute living room rug on Instagram, so I thought I would write a post about it share the source as well as why I chose it along with a review. When we had hardwoods installed this summer, I knew I would need to find an area rug for the space.  If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that rugs are a challenge for me!  I have learned that I tend to like quieter rugs and most of the rugs in our house are woven or braided jute.  They are relatively inexpensive, forgiving, and hardwearing.  They are also not too precious that I freak out over spills and pet accidents (which always happen on rugs or carpets!) So, when I was looking for a living room rug, I wanted to stay in that world.  Some day, I might want to

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January 6, 2021 30 Comments
All Things Home

Christmas Dining Room 2020

Last year, I didn’t decorate my dining room for Christmas, because it was just too much to try to do as my shoulder was still healing from surgery.  This year, though, I was right back to dressing our dining room for Christmas!   I kept it pretty simple, though, and just added some faux greenery to the chandelier, our small tree in a goat cart for our advent stockings, some garland on the mirror, and gingerbread in the hutch. I really wanted to do my usual advent wreath for the center of the table, but the cats picked mine apart last year, so I didn’t do it.  I just used a simple candle ring on a chunky candle in an ironstone bowl as the centerpiece. The greens are just tucked into the chandelier.  You can see a tutorial on my method HERE. Violet let me know she was watching. On the

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December 22, 2020 28 Comments
All Things Home

Blue & White Christmas Living Room 2020

The living room is definitely my favorite room to decorating for Christmas.  I love having a mantel for the stockings and a perfect place to put the tree, so we can all enjoy it.  And I love how everything feels festive and seasonal while still working with my color scheme.  Here’s a little tour of how my blue & white Christmas living room looks this year… You can see more details about the tree in THIS POST. We moved the dresser that is usually in that corner out to the garage and I swapped out the antique birdcage that hangs on the wall with a mirror.  I’ve wanted to try a mirror there for a long time, but haven’t found one that’s the right shape, size, and finish.  I finally found and it works perfectly!  I don’t know if I’ll move it after we take the tree down or keep

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December 15, 2020 40 Comments
All Things Home

reassessing the art studio

Every once in a while, I have to reaccess my art studio and how it functions.  For while, I have felt like I needed more flat work surfaces.  My primary work surfaces are tilted (the easel and the drafting table) and I just have the flat surface of my desk.  I found myself wishing the back wall of my studio was just about two or three feet wider, so I would have plenty of room to add a generously-sized, counter-height island right in the middle.  But, moving walls is complicated and expensive, so that will remain a wish and a note for any future studio. I decided to set my so it was level and used it like that for much of the week.  I think I would miss having the table titled, though, which I use for sketching and watercolor.  It’s not too hard to adjust, but it does

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November 9, 2020 34 Comments
All Things Home

antique pine chest in the foyer

I hope you’re all having a wonderful week!  We are having some warm, sunny days this week, so that’s giving me lots of energy to be productive and creative.  I’m also looking forward to traveling east to visit our families (it’s been way too long since we’ve been to PA and NC) and the entire holiday season.  I have some fun Christmas projects I’ll be working on to share over the next few weeks.  Before we get to Christmas, though, I wanted to share about a small change I made in the foyer.  When the antique pine chest was displaced as Jeff’s nightstand, I decided to try it in the foyer. Right away, both Jeff and my mom said it was too big and I should keep the bench that had been there for a couple of years.  The bench worked…it was okay, but I loved the idea of having

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November 3, 2020 49 Comments
All Things Home

organizing the sewing room closet | plus tips

As tidy as I am, there are spaces in my house that get out of control or have never been organized properly since we moved in.  Such was the case with the closet in my sewing room and it was time I got around to organizing it. I will say right up front that it’s amazing to have an entire spare room that I can take over for sewing and upholstery supplies, my fabric stash, sewing machines, etc.  We really didn’t need this extra bedroom, but I will take and utilize it!  It’s also become the “cat room” and we keep one of their scratchers as well as their litter box in here. The closet in the sewing room has been problematic when it comes to organizing since we moved in because it’s configured for clothes (understandably), not for sewing and upholstery supplies.  I have planned on building shelves in

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October 19, 2020 27 Comments
All Things Home

farmhouse white chair makeover

A couple of months ago, I picked up this sweet vintage chair from a local antique shop for $25.  It was just the kind of chair I had been looking for to use at my sewing desk.  I don’t typically sit and sew for hours on end, so it didn’t have to be super comfortable.  My sewing desk is also vintage and smaller in scale, so I needed a vintage chair that would be sized appropriately to pair with the desk.  I liked the idea of how the cutout in the back of the chair would stand out against the pine desk.  It was a little grubby, though, and the paint could use a refresh, so I gave this chair a quick and simple makeover with Farmhouse White Milk Paint. I started out the makeover by wiping the chair down.  It had clearly been stored for years and would benefit

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October 14, 2020 23 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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