Must-Have Tools and Supplies for Any DIYer

Do-it-yourself projects can be really daunting at times, can't they? Even if the steps of a project aren't particularly elaborate, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of supplies necessary to complete it. Well, today, I want to disprove the notion you've got to have millions of tools to get down to DIYing because...you don't. It's as simple as that.

The Book of the Peony

It's easy to be inspired by the naturally-sculptural shape of flowers; for me, my favorite flower is the peony and one of the aspects I love most about this variety is the full shape of the bloom that practically defies gravity. Each stem is like a tiny piece of art from the garden.

Published in 1917, Alice Howard Harding's book The Book of the Peony captures the organic beauty of my favorite flower in a series color and black-and-white photographs that deserve to be framed like art and once you see these images, I think you'll agree.

Pair of Vintage Open-Arm Chairs

Friends, I benefited from my own auction tips last week. Last Monday afternoon--despite nursing a bad cough and cold--I drove to an auction preview and left an absentee bid on a pair of upholstered arm chairs for the living room. In their current state, they weren't pretty; but my reasonable bid was enough to bring them home (I got them for $130!). Their open-arm style was calling my name even if their fabric left a lot to be desired.

Let's start musing inspiration for the transformation of these cool chairs, shall we?

Hey, JCP. I'm Digging Your Style.

(one / two / three / four / five)

Let me be the first to admit: I can't believe I'm writing about the stylish offerings from JC Penney because, truthfully, the store never had many products that appealed to me. Sure, I remember loving to study each page of their huge paper catalog as a kid, but that was a long time ago.

Yet, with a new visionary leader in Ron Johnson, the once-ugly duckling of a brand has emerged this spring like a swan. Only a few days into the spring, this season's goods are colorful, exciting, and attention-grabbing. We should take a look at them, no?

Where Have All the Comments Gone?

Look, I'm not asking; they are. Paula, Elvis and the ladies of the Supremes want to know. 

Rush, Rush

[Yep, that's a Paula Abdul reference; you're welcome.]

For Christmas, I received Ben Pentreath's book English Decoration and promptly began studying it. What appealed to me about the book was the English approach to interior design that Pentreath presents: imperfect, collected, aged, loved, layered. 

Aren't those adjectives we'd all like to use about our own homes?

Examining the pictures inside, I noticed a running theme, a recurrent element appearing in many of the homes featured in the book: the use of rush matting as a rug or rug underpinning. Traditional rush matting or baskets, like grasscloth or linen, is a staple in decorating with texture (and a decorating staple in England, in particular). So why not learn a little more about it?

Everything You Wanted to Know about Auctions, But Were too Afraid to Ask

(Note: try not to get escorted from an auction in police custody, like Roger Thornhill)

I could have entitled this post ‘Everything You Wanted to Know about Auctions, But Were too Afraid to Raise Your Hand and Ask Because You Were Scared You Might Actually Bid on Something You Didn't Want” because, really, isn't that everyone’s fear with auctions?

Today, I thought it would be fun to share tips for a successful, stress-free auction experience and I’m not talking Ebay auctions; I mean the bidding-in-person-with-a-numbered-paddle-kind of auction. Since I was a child, I've been attending auctions and during that time I've gleaned a lot of knowledge that’s worth sharing, especially for those who want a good deal on antiques or first access to pieces without paying the retail markup.  And remember, auctions aren't meant just for millionaires. We've all heard of Sotheby's or Christie's, but auctions can be a great venue for finding affordable treasures; after all, at auctions, the bidders name the price. I've walked away with furniture for $20, $10 and even $5! With that, let’s get into it.

"What I'm Workin' With" Week: The Basement & Craft Room

All week, we've explored our new house and that brings us to the finished basement. Basements are not usually the most chic of spaces in any house, but our basement so exceeds my expectations already (even without boxes unpacked or books put away) that I can't wait to turn it into a place I'd be happy to show off.

"What I'm Workin' With" Week: The Upstairs Bedrooms

As we head into the end of "What I'm Workin' With" Week, the tour is winding down and today we'll stop by the bedrooms upstairs!

"What I'm Workin' With" Week: The Bathrooms

In the ongoing saga known as "What I'm Workin' With" we are going to talk bathrooms today, friends. Brace yourselves because it might be a bumpy ride. We have 3 1/2 bathrooms in this house (with a possibility for another bathroom in the finished basement), so while they are not in a short supply the bathrooms each need some tweaking. Come see what I'm talking about.

"What I'm Workin' With" Week: The Dining Room & Laundry Room

Yesterday, we surveyed the foyer, stairway and the adjacent hallway upstairs but before we leave the first floor, we'll visit the dining room and laundry room.

"What I'm Workin' With" Week: The Foyer & Hallway

This week I'm taking you readers on a house tour full of "befores" in a series I'm calling "What I'm Workin' With". To fully appreciate the eventual "afters," you have to be subjected to the not-ready-for-primetime "befores", right? Most bloggers would cringe seeing these current photos without immediately sharing a jaw-dropping "after" but I'm keeping it real.

You've seen the kitchen, the living room, the den and the master bedroom; but today we're talking about the all-important first impression: the foyer. Foyers and entryways are the perfect place to introduce friends and family to the style of your home and, right now, our foyer doesn't offer much about us so why not start here?

Ideas for the Master Bedroom

All week I've been chattering about the living room like a little monkey. Well, enough of that. Today: it's all about the master bedroom. Let the post commence!

There comes a time when a "done" room needs to change, and that's how I feel about our master bedroom. With an abundance of light and space in our new room, I have the urge to go a little darker, moodier and a little more mature. Today, it's all about reimagining our master.

Stripping and Liming a Vintage Desk

I've turned over a new leaf when it comes to painting vintage furniture. I'm increasingly more interested in seeing the grain and the texture of wood furniture, so I recently reworked a thrifted desk that I had, giving it new life and a new look for the living room.

Colors and Fabrics for the Living Room

Are you tired of hearing about our living room yet? Well sorry, friends, you'll have to get used to it because it's the one space in our house that's getting a lot of my attention. Today, I thought it would be fun to chat about fabric choices for our tufted sofa.

New Round Coffee Table for the Living Room

Last Thursday was my birthday. My husband and I opted for a low-key day without a lot of fanfare or big presents because, after all, we bought a house only a month ago! But, I couldn't help treating myself to an inexpensive birthday present to myself: a coffee table.