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

My House

My House

a work bench & office light

I mentioned a couple of days ago that Jeff and I worked on getting the basement cleaned up to make it more functional.  That involved bringing in some more wire shelving and moving things around.  We’ve had a workbench that was left by the previous owners in the basement when we bought the house.  It had an ugly remnant counter on it, but it was a useful piece, so we kept it.  Now that we were bringing in more functional shelving, the workbench needed to find a new home. I just wasn’t ready to let it go.  There was something about it.  We removed the counter and saw the original workbench, probably original to the 1940’s house. The patina of the wood was the something I saw in it. And the bead board shelf… …and the wooden pegs holding the boards in place. Sure, there’s a big honking hole where

Read More
My House

the boys' room

Today I did some house cleaning.  It really needed to be done.  I’ve always loved a clean house and used to clean at least twice a week when we lived in a tiny townhouse.  Between a bigger house, kids and a business, my tolerance of a messy home has increased.  I just don’t always have time to do a thorough deep cleaning.  So, I run the vacuum and pick up and clean the toilets, so everything looks nice, but I must admit I neglect the areas that are out of sight and out of mind.  We have some special guests coming tomorrow, so that was a good excuse to get some good cleaning done. I got the guest room all fluffed and ready to go… I started out tidying up the boys’ room and that turned into a deep clean.  It needed to be done and it felt good to

Read More
Before and Afters

1/2 Bath Refresh

Well, today was yet another school snow day.  It was a really good day, though.  The boys played very well together and there was lots of laughing and toys everywhere and imaginative play.  In addition to it being a delight to listen to them play, it allowed me to get some things done. I listed some more things in the online shop and packaged up most things that have sold to get ready for our shipping day tomorrow.  In addition, I played around in the house a bit.  I haven’t touched the half bathroom since I finished it a few years ago and I’ve been thinking it needed a little refresher.  I’ve been leaning pictures against the wall in there and planning things out in my head for weeks and I was finally inspired to work on it today. Above is what it looked like when we finished the bathroom

Read More
Before and Afters

stool gallery

Some days I just need to paint.  It’s therapeutic for me and it makes me feel a sense of accomplishment.  With a two hour school delay, I didn’t have a lot of time to get things done today, so I picked a small project I’ve been wanting to work on – painting this little stool. It’s in our master bathroom, so I decided to use MMSMP Artissimo. It’s a deep navy blue.  A yummy color, in my opinion. Now, I painted a lot of chairs and stools before I realized that I should start with the piece upside down.  That eliminates a lot of the awkward reaching and neck strain and paint on your forearms.  Maybe you’re smarter than I am and figured that out on your first try! I decided to apply the paint without prepping the piece at all.  I had a pretty good feeling it would adhere

Read More
Family Room

Vintage Pillow Cases & Sofa Update

When I went shopping earlier this week, I found an amazing pair of vintage pillow cases.  I’ve never seen any as long as these.  They’re probably a good 12-18″ longer than the pillow.  They were exactly what I’ve been keeping my eyes opened for.  My pillow, which is down, is always popping out of the case through the night.  I have tried at least eight different cases and they all did the same thing.  So, I was looking for one that was longer or one that had an envelope closure.  Jeff was having the same problem with his pillow because it’s a flat memory foam pillow, so he was using a flannel Snoopy pillowcase I had since I was a kid.  Of course, I always got a little twitchy when I made the bed and saw the Snoopy pillow peeking out from all of my pretty pillows.  But, the man’s

Read More
Decorating

Hanging Plates on the Wall

Many of you have noticed the plates hanging on my walls throughout my home.  If you haven’t noticed, plates, platters and lids are pretty much my go-to wall art.  It all started because I could find plates at yard sales and thrift stores…sometimes for as low as 10 cents a piece.  I ended up with enough plates to feed a small army, so I started hanging them on the walls.  I first hung plates in the obvious place…the kitchen, but when I needed something to hang in the bathroom of our townhouse, I opted for an arrangement of silver plated platters.  (They looked so good against the rich navy walls!) I always have a stack of plates and platters in my home, so when I’m moving things around, the plates are often the first thing I pull out to fill a space or round out an arrangement. When we hung

Read More
Decorating

my home – the paint colors

I have recently received a lot of e-mails and comments asking for the name of the paint colors I use in my home, so I thought I would share them in a post.  (I’ve also been asked how I hang my plates, so that post is coming up.) Do you remember the era when everyone had a yellow kitchen, red dining room and beige family room?  Well, just about everyone I knew did!  Anyway, during that era, Jeff and I bought our first home – an 1100 square foot, two story condo.  I had been dreaming about paint colors the entire time we rented and lived with white white walls.  I also spent most of my childhood in military housing (with white walls) and with a mom who was a little scared of color (which meant white walls.)  She has since gotten more daring with “accent walls” and even beiges!

Read More
Decorating

about my jute rugs

Many of you noticed the jute and seagrass rugs throughout my house in the partial house tour and asked some questions, so I thought I would share a bit more about them.  After trying a bunch of patterned rugs in my home, I realized I didn’t want so much pattern on the floor.  I wanted the rugs to be quiet, so the fabrics and painted furniture could be the stars.  The rugs in the living room, dining room and kitchen were purchased from Joss & Main with credits I earned there.  They are the Barbados Rug by Safaveih.  I would describe them as nubby, but soft.  They don’t feel scratchy, but since they are so heavily textured, it feels better to wears socks or shoes when walking on them.  They’re definitely not rugs to snuggle on. I have found these rugs to be very forgiving with crumbs and spills so far.

Read More

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.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest