repurpose scrap metal for a fresh outdoor life

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Recycled Metal Fence- Fine Craft Guild

When you have scrap metal it is hard to think of new purposes for it.. I’ll admit this is a rare occasion for me however, the projects I have found and contain in this post are inspiring me to possibly start hanging on or finding some. The fence above is a wonderful reuse of multiple types and colors of metal. The contrast makes the fence appear both modern and natural and it is tasteful enough to use as a fence even in a neighborhood setting. The pattern is almost reminiscent of a large-scale mosaic piece.

Rustic Daybed- Live Journal

Bringing an older daybed out to your patio is a great idea for a laid back seating option or a kid friendly rest area. I love this idea because it really breathes new life into a very old type of bed. Metal of this nature is sometimes just thrown out when we don’t know what else to do with it or have any other place to store it, but look how elegant this bed looks outdoors.

Metal Pipe Bed Edge- floradora

Lastly, what a great and very unique idea for a garden bed edge. The pipes themselves can even become planters. Before throwing materials of high quality away, always think in-depth and outside of the box  to find uses for them. Once they are thrown out you can’t easily recreate them and neither can our resources.

how to repurpose an old canvas painting into new art

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If you have a canvas that you painted that you aren’t really digging (this happens to me now and again) here is a project that can help you reuse that canvas in an easy way to make a new art piece. That’s the great thing about canvases, you can paint over them until you create something you like.

Things you’ll need:

  • spray paint (at least two contrasting colors)
  • fake or real flowers, sticks or leaves (but fake can be reused)
  • canvas either painted or blank

So grab that old canvas or new if you aren’t a painter and paint it all one color (My pictures are demo-ing a few different projects). It is okay if portions of the existing painting show through the spray paint or provide texture on it. My view is that these bits of old art make this new one more interesting. It is also okay to use acrylic paint for this layer.

Next, place the fake or real flowers, sticks or leaves whatever you are using, into a nice composition on your canvas. Try an angled position or tearing the flowers or whatever you are using into smaller pieces to provide multiple scales.

Finally, begin spray painting, gently, over the objects onto the canvas. If the objects are light in weight, like leaves, then you will want to spray downward directly over them to keep them from moving out of place. Otherwise, I suggest spraying the whole piece at a slight angle because spray paint tends to look more even with this application.

When the piece is dry you can move the objects you used and a negative outline of them will be left. I think these paintings are simple but also interesting. If you want to take it to the next level you can add acrylic over it and use the shadows you have created to make a piece with a lot of depth. If you do not like the outcome you can simply start over… thus the beauty of working with canvas. If you have any questions feel free to ask :)

growing an unusual garden

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Cranium Garden- DIY Network

The garden of my dreams would incorporate unusual, eccentric and totally original art like these pieces. How amazing is this “cranium garden”?

Recycled Tire Planters- Peru: Invasion Verde, installed 2010.

Check out this great urban project in Peru… talk about a pedestrian celebration. These tires are both a brilliant example of upcycling on an urban scale but they are also a wonderful, maybe subliminal, message that our sprawling communities could stand to borrow. I love this idea for its true inspiration that will reach a potentially endless audience.

Flowered VW Van

And this VW van is just fun! An awesome little celebration piece! Hope this kicks off your weekend like it did mine!

happy Easter everyone!

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Easter Table- A holiday haven

Easter Sunday is one of my favorite days and the weather is supposed to be great where I am today so I am excited! I researched a couple of cute Easter table ideas for a little inspiration just in case you are like me and still thinking of ideas! In the above photo I love the bird cages, the wonderful innuendo of spring, actually I can hear birds chirping right now out in the dark.

Easter Table- the marion housebook

I love the blue in this table, it is fresh and simple and the different shades of it heighten its appeal.

Easter swing- my little jedi

Last but not least, how wonderful is this swing table? It would work wonderfully for a children’s table (although they may have a little too much fun with it) or a romantic lunch setting for two, tucked away in a garden.

I hope you have a wonderful day today and are ready for a fresh start this spring!

 

 

 

How to create a shutter wall

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Country Living- Shutter Dining Wall

I don’t know if any of you have seen this yet but isn’t this shutter wall in a dining room beautiful?? I love it! Especially since I was recently blogging about how simple shutters add serious charm trying to brainstorm creative design options using shutters. I just thought this was a lovely idea and it really brings the outdoors and garden culture into the house. I actually think it would look gorgeous as a wall under a covered patio or in a sun room as well. If you would like to read the article here is the link: How to Create a Shutter Wall which details each of the steps! Love this idea, so creative and beautiful!

Country Living- Shutter Dining Wall

how to love your small house

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Long Entry Table- TRUECONNECTION

My last post posed the question does a small house make for a big life? The response I got to this post was great and so I think I will try to expand on it a bit. For today’s thought I would like to discuss how to love your small space. I think that the key to loving a small space is making it work for you. I am reminded of a very tiny apartment my husband and I lived in when we were in college. It must have been only about 600 sf, one bedroom, one bath, a teeny tiny living space and dining space but it was indeed a cozy little home. The key to getting this tiny space to work for us can be summed up in these five tips:

Wood Crate- BridgewoodPlace

1. declutter- get down to the necessities: in a small space, organization is key. Purge your spaces of anything and everything unwanted, unuseful and that you have outgrown physically (like clothes) or mentally (like that ugly lamp you truly hate but it was an impulse buy). A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used it in a year, you may not need it anymore. Besides, there are probably people out there that need it more than you.

Vintage Sap Bucket- BridgewoodPlace

2. create getaways- if you are living in a very small space it will be important to create a few personal getaways. If you have a small window balcony or a patio garden utilize it by making a comfy place to sit and read or work.  An outdoor space can be a great way to recharge but if you don’t have one, try to bring the outdoors in by incorporating plenty of plants and natural elements into your decor and art. Additionally, try to use light-colored fabrics and paint selections to create a calm, relaxing space in your bathroom and bedroom.

3. catch your own eye- decorate your home with things that are eye-catching to you, particularly graphically. In a past post I have introduced some of the basics of choosing a statement piece  for a room but I also encourage decorating with items that are special to you. For instance, if you love cooking, line up your counter with tons of different cookbooks and let the bindings add to the color and theme of your kitchen. If you have a special art print that you got while on vacation, mat and frame it so that you can see it often when you walk in your front door. In a small space, a little personalization can be momentous.

Classic Wood Car- amy+mayd

4. have fun on hand- in a small space it is also important to have ease while entertaining. I like to stow games in an easy go-to place right off of our dining area… having them visible gives guests a sense of a relaxed environment that my husband and I prefer, plus it makes finding something to do a breeze. In a small space you also may not have a dedicated bar or entertaining area so it is important to have drink selections and a variety of different glasses on hand. decorating with these essential items can actually be fun and inviting to guests, it will give them a sense of your entertainment style.

5. create flexible spaces- finally, it is extremely important in small spaces to make your spaces as flexible as possible. Can a closet double as a storage space and a desk nook area if the doors are removed?   Is your dining area flexible enough to accommodate two- six people with a few extra chairs? Can you create two spaces out of one if you separate your couch and a few arm chairs with a small table? These are just some of the things to examine when making use of a small space.

Does a small house make for a big life?

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Tiny Porcelain Clay House- shoda

One of my friends recently brought up a great point, she says she loved growing up with a big family (5 kids and about 7 dogs) in a small house. In the new age of  burst bubbles made of million dollar mansions and inflated incomes, this might make more sense as the new “American Dream”; living in and loving your small home.

wood wall sculpture- TheHauntedHollowTree

I grew up in  a medium-sized home with two parents and two siblings so we were often together and we had fun. With a reduced amount of space, is the new ‘it’ home, the small efficient space? One where each room is designed and tailored to its inhabitants with only the necessities? No extra extravagance no opulent amount of room, just simple spaces, that work?

Small Watercolor Painting- LoganBerard

I think this ideal may be worth entertaining, in many other areas of the world people live much closer to one another and  rely more heavily on community for survival and shared spaces to partake in recreation. In a small home, there is less space to accumulate stuff and therefore, the occupants are forced to reduce their hoarding and their carbon footprint.

Three Tiny House- LucysArtEmporium

Another benefit of living in a small space is the ability to foster bigger, better, relationships.. if you have to spend tons of time with your family you are forced to reconcile differences when they arise and congregate around shared interests naturally. Plainly, I think more conversations are born this way and probably more meals are shared this way. Isn’t this a healthier ideal?

Maine Landscape House- TheMaineHouse

I know you may be thinking, what about alone time, or luxury space? Well, just because you and your family, or loved ones, roommates or whomever you reside with are in a small space doesn’t mean that you can’t have your own freedom. I think the small space concept drives the whole family or unit to design their own getaway spaces. Be it a comfy reading chair or a hammock outside, these micro-spaces become special.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this concept?

how to chose the right pillows for your space

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Alice Pillow- amy+mayd

I always gravitate toward colorful pillows because I feel like they are simply an art piece for your furniture. They help accentuate your design personality by making your furniture stand out and when arranged with care, brights and patterns can be a joyful compliment to neutral furniture.

Tara Pillow- amy+mayd

Tara Pillow- amy+mayd

I like to choose pillows that are colorful but also have fun quirky details. I love pillows that have personality like bows, ruffles and trimmings on the edges. I also love to incorporate vintage or upcycled fabrics from old quilts or unique stitching in pillows I make because it gives the pillow a bit of a story, something that is not easily duplicated. Pillows can add a lot of eclectic persona to your home simply because they each embody so much style.

Jeanette Pillow- amy+mayd

Once I find a group of two to four colors that I’d like to stick with I look for a few pillows with prints in these colors and a few solid pillows in the same color scheme and maybe one or two with some really amazing hand sewing or intricate detail of some sort. In order to decorate with so many different types of pillows, I have to keep at least one thing consistent, this is usually done with the color scheme but can also be reinforced with the shape of pillow or the theme.

Lanette Pillow- amy+mayd

Lanette Pillow- amy+mayd

If you are on the look out for something a little less bold, try pillows of the same shade or a slightly varied monotone but that are composed of different fabrics. Texture is a wonderful way to add visual interest and flair without being overly “loud” in a room. Personally, I am just a fan of  loud accessories, I love items that are out of the ordinary and leave you wondering… “what’s going on with that couch???”, but in a good way!

 

a letter for simple charming decor

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Letter Customizable Typography- RivalryTime

Great decor can be as simple as the letters in your name or monogram. There are all sorts of letter options on Etsy from monograms, to wall art to a personalized wooden letter name… it’s all there. Using your last name in your kitchen on a small shelf or using just the first letter of your last name somewhere unexpected like your china cabinet can really bring a warm welcoming atmosphere to your home.

8 inch Alphabet Wall Letters Whimsical - woodwallletters

Additionally, letters or your baby’s name in a nursery are great decorations as well as learning opportunities. Children become accustomed to seeing their name and/or the alphabet and begin to interact with the letters on the wall.

Lowercase Letter g in Gulf Blue Teal Wooden Distressed- SlippinSouthern

Lastly, a fun place to put a letter is outside on your fence or in your garden space, maybe even hiding along a flower path. I just love using these fun pieces in unexpected places. They are whimsical and a small delight. Easy decor that goes a long way. Incorporating letters into a gift basket, wedding gift or baby shower gift is also a great idea. I have received a few letter’s in gifts and really you can always find a special place for them.

imperfect reclaimed wood coffee tables beckon to be used

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modern reclaimed wood coffee table with hairpin legs- birdloft

Although the Etsy shop bird loft carries more than just furniture, I think their coffee tables and console table really standout of the crowd. These upcycled rustic pieces are just gorgeous. I love this photo, I can just imagine having some Sunday morning coffee and a game of scrabble right here on this table.

Island Barn coffee table XL- birdloft

The great thing about reclaimed wood and steel furniture of this nature is it works both indoors and out. I would love to have one of these pieces on my patio so that I can continue a rustic, handmade collection that mirrors my indoor look.

Stripping furniture to its inherent essentials is a not only a beautiful way to highlight and honor materials, it is also much more functional because somehow the finality and perfection being lifted makes way for actual use and wear. I like to choose furniture that I know may not end up perfect after my family has used it for years but rather, it accepts a beating which only enriches its imperfect, natural look.

barn door Z brace console table- birdloft