How Did Those Brown Deck Railings Hold Up This Winter? An Update!

Last summer I shared an issue I was having with my white painted deck railings. I love having a white porch and loved my white deck railings, but...   ...I was not at all happy with how the tops of the deck railings were always looking. Even after having them freshly painted, they would be back looking like this in no time at all! Argggg!   It's pretty much impossible to keep … [Read more...]




A New Toy in My Cleaning Arsenal & Bunny Plates for Easter

I follow a few kitty Instagram accounts and they keep me in stitches daily. One account that I follow (bonnieclydekitties) shared the coolest tool for helping keep hardwood or tile flooring clean. I don't have pets now, so I don't have to worry about fur as she does, but I do have a lot of hardwood flooring to keep clean. My whole house is hardwood flooring now, except for one room, my upstairs family … [Read more...]




A Handbag Organizer for the Hermes Evelyne Bag, or Other Narrow, Thin Bags

Welcome to the 475th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you use an organizer in your handbag? I just became aware of bag organizers a couple of years ago and love them! Bag organizers are often designed for larger totes to help make better use of the large space those bags afford, as well as to keep things better organized. After surviving my "near-death experience" in Germany, as I jokingly and … [Read more...]




A Safari, Travel-Inspired Bedroom Guaranteed to Delight Any Guest

Welcome to the 474th Metamorphosis Monday! Delphine enjoys traveling and has collected some wonderful memorabilia over the years. When she designed her guest room, she was inspired to decorate in a delightful travel/safari theme What a fabulous idea for a guest room since anyone lucky enough to sleep here would most likely love all things, travel.   For this travel-themed bedroom, Delphine … [Read more...]




Frame a Hermes Silk Scarf with Museum Glass for Maximum Protection and Clarity

This is definitely another "Instagram-Made-Me-Do-It" project. So, I was minding my own business one day, checking out a fave Instagram account when I came across this picture below.   I immediately recognized that infamous Hermes orange and the iconic brown ribbon Hermes uses to tie all of their wonderful packages.   I had never seen this particular scarf before and loved … [Read more...]




Chevron Walls Turn a Home Office Into a Beautiful Nursery

Welcome to the 473rd Metamorphosis Monday! Before I get into today's fabulous Before and After, wanted to let you know of two awesome sales that are currently going on but about to end at two of my favorite shoppes. Talbots has a huge pants and jeans sale going on, pants that are normally $95 and up are currently on sale for $19.99! That sale ends today. You'll find all the pants that are included in the … [Read more...]




Denim Transfer, The Bane of Handbag Lovers Everywhere

Welcome to the 470th Metamorphosis Monday! Update: I found a much better product that has worked for removing denim transfer from my car's leather seats and from my office chair. I've linked to it at the very end of this post. I fell in love with wearing denim jeggings this past fall, those and the "ankle-slim" pants have become my faves. Unfortunately, having never worn really dark denim jeans in the … [Read more...]




Preventing & Healing Split Fingertips In Winter

The snow has decided to stay a while here in Ohio. It snowed every day for 3-4 days in a row and the temps have stayed quite low. I'm not used to seeing this view out my windshield when driving.   All the neighborhoods look like this one. The snow plows have been coming through several times a day, so the roads are in pretty good shape.   I was amazed how quickly my car started … [Read more...]




Closet & Door Updates: Small Storage Bench for Putting on Boots and Shoes

Welcome to the 458th Metamorphosis Monday! So what do you think? This door was a struggle! I'll spare you all the details, but here's the final finish.   This was the "Before" with a cat door that was no longer needed and the other side badly scratched up by a previous home-owners dog.   The new door was installed, and unfortunately cut too short by the installer. So sadly, … [Read more...]




A Time Saver, A Comfort Addition & A Bit of Whimsy for the Christmas Holidays

Hope you had a fun Halloween evening! I had a lot of Trick or Treaters, as usual. I think it grows every year. I had over 75 last year so I purchased even more candy this year. I lost count, but I think I exceeded last year's numbers. The ones who are trick or treating for the first time are so adorable! Halloween has always been one of my most favorite holidays because I have such good memories of Trick … [Read more...]




How to Get a Sample of Any Paint Color, Even Older Colors No Longer Available

Welcome to the 457th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever come across a great paint color online, perhaps on a blog or on Pinterest, only to discover it's an older color that's no longer available? I often get emails or messages from BNOTP readers asking how they can get the color formula for the yellow paint I've used in so many rooms of my home.   This yellow is an older Duron color … [Read more...]




A Closet Update: Hacking Shelves for Boot & Shoe Storage

Years ago, shortly after my home was built in the early 1980's, the first owners turned the bedroom that's beside the master bedroom, into a dressing room/closet area. (Read more about that in this post: If These Walls Could Talk: A Mystery Alcove. The bedroom was around 12 x 13 feet and they closed off the door/entrance from the upstairs hallway and cut a large double opening from the master bedroom, … [Read more...]




Door & Deck Progress

Welcome to the 455th Metamorphosis Monday. My porch is still a storage area for much of the deck furniture.   I think they will be doing a final coat of stain in some areas either today or tomorrow. After that dries, life can return to normal. I'll be really happy to get all this furniture out of the porch and back onto the decks. lol   Before I share how the deck handrail … [Read more...]




Running Away From Home & A Dragon Finial

Stain decisions...Ugg. I'm running away from home. Today. How I dislike making these type decisions, but it's time and it has to be done. I visited a Sherwin Williams store today near my home to choose a stain color. Shockingly, they didn't have a single stain-chart brochure that I could take back home. They told me they were all out and so were all their other stores. Not one Super Deck sample stain … [Read more...]




Plant Stand Makeover, Forever-Dirty Deck Railings and a Mopnado Update

Welcome to the 452nd Metamorphosis Monday! I've made a decision about which company I'll be using for cleaning and staining the decks. They will also be pressure washing the exterior of the house and staining the door that was recently replaced inside. (Read more about that HERE.) Unfortunately, the door may hold up the deck cleaning since the replacement door was cut too short and will have to be … [Read more...]




How Much Does It Cost To Have VHS & 8 mm Tapes Transferred Over to DVD?

Thanks so much for all your input on Saturday's post about the hall/basement door I recently had replaced. After reading all the comments, I was leaning toward having the door installation redone. (Read the comments here: Is This Door Too Short?)   I've had such mixed feelings about this situation and that's not normal for me. Normally when work is done in my home and there's a problem, I … [Read more...]




Laundry Room Renovation: Workroom Becomes a Beautiful Laundry Room

Welcome to the 451st Metamorphosis Monday! Martha had always dreamed of a new laundry room. Her existing laundry was cramped and tiny. Space was super tight so her cookbooks had to go across the very top of the cabinets where they were difficult to reach when needed.   Martha said, "Our washer and dryer used to be in a tiny little spot with two double cabinets and one single cabinet. I … [Read more...]




My New Mopping System and Is This Door Too Short?

How is your weekend going? I've been working on a lot of things around here and I thought I'd share some of them with you in case they are helpful. Remember this door that I shared recently in a post? It's located in a small hallway...   ...that's right off my living room.   The door leads down to my partially-finished-in basement...just needs paint and flooring. I had the … [Read more...]




How I’ve Prepared for Hurricane Irma

It's been over 20 years since Hurricane Opal blew through Atlanta. That was the first (and only) time I've ever experienced a hurricane in all my years of living in Georgia. From what I've gathered listening to the news, some of Irma will probably make its way to the Atlanta area. I remember we lost power for a while with Opal, so I've been stocking up on some things in preparation. I already had plenty … [Read more...]




A Gazillion Little Tweaks

Welcome to the 449th Metamorphosis Monday! I really didn't know what to name today's post because I've been like a frantic little bee ever since returning from Ireland. I've been buzzing all over this house, working to tie lots of little loose ends together. You would think it was spring...this urgency to get things spiffied up around here. Maybe it's the early morning waking hours that has me so … [Read more...]




Tablescaping Storage for Dishware, Flatware, Napkin Rings, Napkins and Glassware

Welcome to the 464th Tablescape Thursday! Update: Since I had some issues with the shelves that came with these cabinets not holding the weight they are "supposed' to hold without bowing, I had melamine shelves cut to the size needed at Home Depot. I replaced every single shelf that wasn't a "fixed" shelf with the Home Depot melamine shelves at the cost of $7 a shelf. The HD shelves are thicker and much … [Read more...]




The Mysterious Case of the Greasy Glass

That title kinda sounds like a Nancy Drew Mystery story gone wrong, doesn't it? Ewww! Yeah, I think I'll pass on that book! lol For quite a while now I've had a weird occurrence taking place inside my cabinets. I put shiny, clean glasses inside and months later when I open the cabinets to retrieve the glasses, I discover gremlins have sneaked in and dirtied them all up. I'm not sure exactly how to … [Read more...]




CabinetGate: Progress Has Been Made

Welcome to the 445th Metamorphosis Monday! When I last left you in the saga of what I'm now dubbing CabinetGate, ;) I had just two of six cabinets in place, the other four having been completely destroyed during delivery.   Little recap: After assembling the two cabinets that arrived in good shape (they were delivered by a different delivery company) I filled them with napkin rings, … [Read more...]




Answering Your Questions

Welcome to the 444th Metamorphosis Monday! As I've been blogging about adding storage cabinets for some of my dishware down one wall of my garage, I've received a lot of questions about this project. I thought this Met Monday would be a good time to answer those all in one post. If I miss one, feel free to ask it in the comments and I'll add that question to this post. As you may recall, these are the … [Read more...]




How I’ve Spent the Last 48 Hours

I've been a busy bee the last 48 hours. I don't know what has gotten into me, but I've been going non-stop! After this Frye tote arrived recently, I decided I wanted to add a bag organizer to it so it would have more support across the bottom whenever I carry heavy items like my laptop. I researched online forever and even contacted Frye. No one makes an organizer for this bag, but I found one that was a … [Read more...]




A Beautiful, Colorful Porch Makeover for Summer

Welcome to the 443rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently Brenda wanted to update her front porch. It had been a few years since she last decorated this area and felt it was past time for a makeover.   This bench was still super cute, just needed a bit of TLC and some updating.   The chairs, though still comfortable, were really showing a lot of wear. I love the built-in side … [Read more...]




Completed for Now: Storage for Charger Plates, Flatware, Napkins and Napkin Rings

Welcome to the 461st Tablescape Thursday! If you've been reading BNOTP the last few weeks, you know I had some big plans for one wall in my garage. I purchased four of the cabinet below on the left and two of the cabinet on the right in hopes of creating some awesome storage for organizing a lot of  my entertaining/tablescaping wares. I thought it would be great to have everything together in one place … [Read more...]




Summer Sales, Cute Birdies and Dish Storage Update

Birdie Update Mr. Snake has not been back. I guess he doesn't want to encounter that psycho woman again who sent him sailing off the top of the bench and into the shrubs when he tried to make a dinner of the Eastern Phoebe birds nesting in the corner of the front porch. The birdies have made quite the mess up in that corner of the porch, but you can't mind too much when you see these sweet faces. Just … [Read more...]




Flatware Storage, Delivery Fails and Invisible Splinters

Welcome to the 441st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope you had a great one! Mine was really good, though it started out a bit discouraging. On Friday I was expecting the delivery of one of each of the cabinets pictured below. I've ordered two of the cabinets shown in the photo on the right below, let's call it the "drawer cabinet" for the sake of this post since it has drawers. And I've … [Read more...]




Attractive Storage Cabinets for Home, Garage or Basement

Welcome to the 440th Metamorphosis Monday! Around a year ago I shared a post about five projects I had thought about doing in my home some day, but for various reasons figured I never would. (Read that post here: 5 Projects I Want To Do In My Home, But Probably Never Will.) I guess I should never say never because I did add a small refrigerator to the upstairs part of my home and now it looks like I … [Read more...]




Decorating Ideas, Games & Party Favors for a Festive Bee-Themed Party

Welcome to the 439th Metamorphosis Monday! There's 1 day left to enter the giveaway for a $500 Shopping Spree Credit to Noritake China! If you still haven't thrown your name in the hat, you can do that here: $500 Store Credit to Noritake China. Each year Debbie, a BNOTP reader, hosts a "My Favorite Things" Party. In case you missed it I shared her 2017 party in this post: Breakfast at Tiffany's Party … [Read more...]




3 Adorable Bee-Themed Wreaths for Spring

Welcome to the 438th Metamorphosis Monday! Pssst: There's still time to enter the $500 Shopping Spree Giveaway from Noritake, you'll find the giveaway here: $500 Shopping Spree. A couple of weeks ago I shared Debbie's wonderful "Tiffany" themed party. (If you missed that event, you'll find it here: Breakfast at Tiffany's Brunch.) The Tiffany Brunch was Debbie's third year of hosting her annual "My … [Read more...]




How To Clean Fingerprints Off Stainless Steel & Leave a Lustrous Shine!

A few years back I decided it was time to do something about my pitiful tool storage situation. I had a small, red tool box that was overflowing with tools and it would take me forever to find a tool when I actually needed one. I headed off to Home Depot and brought home a nice looking, standing tool chest. I shared the chest and the process of assembling it in this previous post: Getting … [Read more...]




Washing an Hermes Silk Scarf & Madame Paulette

Welcome to the 432nd Metamorphosis Monday! This past weekend I shared an older Hermes scarf I had purchased from a seller on eBay about 1-1/2 years ago. (See that post HERE.) When I bought the scarf, the eBay ad stated it was in perfect condition with no stains, tears, etc... Several months after purchasing it, I pulled it out to look at it again and noticed several stains near one … [Read more...]




Would You Hand-Wash an Hermes Silk Scarf?

A year or so ago, not long after returning from a trip to Kenya (see posts about that trip here: Africa) I was stalking Hermes scarfs on eBay and came across this beauty. The listing said that it was in perfect condition, no stains, tears, pulls, etc... I think the seller said it had belonged to his Mother. I'm a big fan of Hermes and their gorgeous scarves, and this one completely stole my heart. I … [Read more...]




How Shout Color Catcher Saved My Favorite Shirt

Welcome to the 430th Metamorphosis Monday! This is not a sponsored post, I just had to share Shout's amazing Color Catcher product because it literally saved me from having to throw away one of my favorite shirts. Hope this proves helpful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation. A few months ago I purchased this adorable polka-dot shirt after seeing it online in this ad.   My … [Read more...]




A Cute Footstool with Storage Gets a New Look

A couple of months ago a large tree fell in my back yard, gently laying itself down across the length of the yard.   I'm beginning to think I may have a tree jinx going on because I was on the porch a few days ago and discovered this below! In talking with my neighbors and others in this area, I learned that we had a big storm with 70 mph winds come through about a week before I returned home … [Read more...]




Hat Storage That’s Both Functional and Decorative

Welcome to the 427th Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I purchased this adorable sunhat pictured below. After it arrived, I liked it so much I ordered a second one in the navy-ribbon style. With my hat collection rapidly growing, I decided it was time to find a better way to store them other than just tossing them onto the top shelf of my master bedroom closet where they were impossible to … [Read more...]




The Safe Way to Wash Wool & Cashmere Sweaters & A Great Book!

Welcome to the 421st Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I purchased this navy and white shirt-jacket online at J. Crew. I loved it sooo much, I searched and found last year's version in a different color on eBay. Then I turned right around and purchased a second navy/white one because I was worried I'd never find it again when the first one eventually wore out. That's how much I love this … [Read more...]




No Tub for the Master Bath: Good Idea or Regrettable Trend?

Welcome to the 419th Metamorphosis Monday! A few weeks ago when I was replacing all my surge protectors around the house for new ones, I discovered an outlet in my office wasn't working. I called in an electrician to fix it. While he was here we started talking master bathroom renovations. During our discussion, he told me something really surprising. Did you know that some folks who are renovating … [Read more...]




Organize and Keep Your Entry Tidy with a Stylish Boot Tray

Welcome to the 418th Metamorphosis Monday! This past summer when I was out digging and planting shrubs every day, I was coming in and out of my front door a lot.   The front door is normally the door I go out when I'm checking the mail or doing any gardening in the front yard, including vacuuming up acorns. :)   During all that gardening this past summer, I began to notice a … [Read more...]




Getting More Organized in the Office

Happy Weekend! Did you survive Friday the 13th? ;) I'm not really the superstitious type, but it's always kinda funny when my birthday falls on a Friday the 13th. Saw this online just now and it made me laugh. I've never seen any of the "Friday the 13th" movies, but apparently this covers them all. lol   Yesterday was one of those "Friday the 13th" birthdays and it was a biggie--one of … [Read more...]




Decorate Your Porch for the Autumn Season

Welcome to the 402nd Metamorphosis Monday! Linda has a beautiful 3-season porch that I've shared before here at BNOTP. It's so much fun seeing how she decorates it for the seasons and holidays. When we last visited Linda, her porch was all set for summer, decorated in a wonderful navy and white nautical theme. (See that post here: Nautical Decor & Tablescape)   With the arrival of … [Read more...]




Decorate Your Porch for Autumn & Halloween

Welcome to the 401st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your first weekend of October? When the calendar says "October" I guess there's no denying fall is here. Everything is still lush and green here in Georgia but I know that's about to change. Blog Update This weekend I had a big update come across for my blog. After the update had completed, the slider that's normally at the top of the blog was … [Read more...]




Can a Fashion Piece Become a Decorating Accessory?

If you love handbags, chances are you've collected a few over the years. I don't have a big collection, but the bags I do have I really love and try to care for them as best I can so they'll last and look nice for a long time. Lately I've been doing a little reading about the best way to store a handbag when you're not carrying it. Normally the recommendation is to keep handbags inside a closet away from … [Read more...]




Create An Autumn Porch That Will Invite Guests To Linger

Welcome to the 397th Metamorphosis Monday! Even though it's still nice and warm here in Georgia, the mornings are feeling wonderfully cool. I come downstairs each morning and throw open the doors to the screened porch and let the cool morning air fill the house. Some days are so nice now, I can leave the doors open all day.   This weekend I went ahead and hung my favorite fall wreath … [Read more...]




5 Projects I Want To Do In My Home, But Probably Never Will

Now that's a strange twist, isn't it--blogging about projects I'm not going to do instead of a project I plan to do. lol  This topic is fresh on my mind right now because I just got back from visiting a large, hardware store near my home. I was there to scope out a project I was considering doing but have decided against. Once I get an idea in my head, it's really hard for me to let go. But I've learned … [Read more...]




One More Down, Four to Go!

Welcome to the 395th Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings this beautiful summer day! Before we get into this week's Met Monday, thanks to Buzzfeed for featuring a previous DIY project of mine in this fun roundup at their website: 5 Insanely Clever DIYs That You'll Actually Want To Try. Check out the post if you have a moment, lots of fun ideas for the DIY enthusiast! For this week's Met Monday, my … [Read more...]




Design Styles: Which Ones Are Just Trends & Which Are Here To Stay?

Yesterday I turned on the TV and caught a few minutes of one of HGTV's shows about "tiny house living." They have several shows going on right now about this latest trend. A family of four (wife, husband and two young children) had just completed building their tiny house and the wife made the comment that she knew folks would wonder how a family with two children under the age of 4 was going to manage … [Read more...]




Taper Tipper: Easiest Way To Trim Down the Base of a Candle

Welcome to the 393rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I shared this summer table setting for Tablescape Thursday. Thanks so much for all the lovely comments you left on that post--appreciated those so much!   The centerpiece for that table was all about candles, lots and lots of candles. (Tablescape can be viewed here: Romantic Candlelight Dinner on the Porch)   In that post I … [Read more...]




Romantic Candlelight Dinner on the Porch

Welcome to the 410th Tablescape Thursday! I've been saving clear bottles for a couple of years in hopes of one day creating this table setting. I was surprised by how long it took to save the bottles, seems like every tall drink comes in a colored bottle. Recently when I was cleaning out the garage and came across the bottles, I decided it was finally time to put this little table together here on the … [Read more...]




How to Remove Deteriorated Rug’s Latex Backing Stuck on Hardwood Flooring

When updating or making improvements to your home, do you ever feel like you take three steps forward, only to take two steps back? You get a few things done and start to feel like you're making some headway, while unbeknownst to you little gremlins are at work messing something else up. I tell ya, home ownership is not for weenies! Recently, I had hardwood flooring installed in my guest room. I had been … [Read more...]




How To Make a Tiered Planter From Terra Cotta Saucers

Yesterday for Tablescape Thursday, I shared a table setting featuring a 3-tiered planter or plant stand as the centerpiece.   Today I'm sharing detailed instructions showing how I made the planter, in case you would like to make one, too. This is one of the easiest DIY projects I've ever made and it only took about 1-1/2 hours to make. Well, maybe a little longer for the jute part, more on … [Read more...]




GE Slate Appliances Showcase the Beauty & Not the Fingerprints

Stainless steel appliances have been a really popular choice for kitchens over the last few years. It's a great option for some kitchens, but it wasn't quite the look I had in mind when I completed my modest kitchen renovation a few years back.   Since there were not a lot of other choices besides stainless steel back then, I went with a white finish for all my appliances. White has worked … [Read more...]




How To Find the Center of a Ceramic or Clay Saucer

Things are looking very purplie around here, Dahlia purple to be exact. I've finished painting the potting bench, now I just to need to assemble it. I'll start work on that this evening.   Today I've been shopping for the supplies I need for another little project, one I think you're going to really like. You would think the potting bench project was enough to having going on at one time, … [Read more...]




Shell & Sea Glass Chargers for Beach Inspired Dining

Welcome to the 381st Metamorphosis Monday! Wish I had a porch update to share with you, but unfortunately due to the off-and-on rainy forecast last week, the flooring company wasn't able to come out and re-varnish the porch floor. So frustrating when every day predicts rain (except on the weekends when they don't work) and half the time, it never materializes. Okay, on to something more productive. This … [Read more...]




After 8 Years, It’s Time!

Welcome to the 380th Metamorphosis Monday! It was a busy weekend around here. The porch that normally looks like this...   ...and like this...   ...looks like this today. Ruh-roh! Something's up!   The hutch that was full of dishes, now looks like this.   All the dishes are here on the breakfast table. What is going on around here?! After 8 … [Read more...]




Decorating and Dressing in Blue & White

I'm a big fan of blue and white, just find it so beautiful. I've used a lot of that color in my guest room.     Well, no one does blue and white better than the Dutch! When I was touring this outdoor village that I shared in this post: Zuiderzee Museum, I got a wonderful surprise when I walked into one of the buildings there.   The entrance of the building and this room … [Read more...]




Vintage Style Bins for Napkin Ring Storage Ideas

Welcome to the 377th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your awesome suggestions and comments on Saturday's post about my upcoming trip to Holland and Belgium! I'm so looking forward to sharing those places with you. I'll be posting throughout the trip, I've heard they have good wifi on board so keeping my fingers crossed it will be able to handle uploading photos. Be sure and follow Between … [Read more...]




Granite That Looks Similar To Carrara Marble: Bianco Romano

Thanks so much for all the awesome suggestions and information you left on Wednesday's post about the bathroom update/renovation I'm starting to plan. It has been so helpful! If you're thinking of updating a bathroom anytime soon, I really recommend you check out the comments on that post because there are tons of great ideas and information about what to avoid in that post. You'll find that post here: … [Read more...]




Some Kitchen Updates: A Moen MotionSense Faucet and Soap Dispenser

I think spring fever has gone to my head! This week I'm getting estimates for tons of things I've been needing to get done. Not sure what all I'll try to do right away and what will have to wait, but tomorrow is the start of a few of the updates. The first update is here in the kitchen. The Grohe faucet I had installed back in 2001 when I completed a modest kitchen renovation, has been acting up over the … [Read more...]




I’m Steaming! Steaming Happy, That Is!

Welcome to the 373rd Metamorphosis Monday! Several years ago my sister gave me a My Little Steamer, steamer. She had a very generous and loving nature and often when she saw something advertised on TV that she thought I could use, she would buy it and surprise me with it on my next visit to her home. At the time she gave me the steamer, I wasn't sure how I would use it, but I thanked her and tucked it … [Read more...]




How to Clean Encrusted Mineral Deposits From Inside a Humidifier

Lately I've been a cleaning fiend around here. I understand now why you hear so much about "spring" cleaning. When winter begins to fall away and the days start getting longer and warmer, something inside just makes you want to clean and freshen up everything in sight. It's kind of fun to put up away some of the things I've been using this winter, a sign that winter is pretty much a thing of the past. I … [Read more...]




10 Easy Centerpieces Anyone Can Make for a Spring or Summer Celebration

Welcome to the 390th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I'm sharing 10 fun centerpieces anyone can make. These centerpieces use common things we already have or items that are usually pretty easy to find in dollar stores and discount shops. The only exception may be the 5th one down, the cookie tree centerpiece, which needs a little tree of some type for display. Hope this gets … [Read more...]




A Dream Outdoor Summer House & Gardening Shed

I love being outdoors, listening to the birds chirping and feeling the soft breezes as they stir through the trees. I've been known to go outside and spend the entire day there, either digging in the yard or just whiling around the hours on the porch completely lost in a good book. Recently, I came across the most wonderful outdoor space, truly a dream garden. I'm pretty sure when we pass on one day, … [Read more...]




How to Repair a Woodpecker-Damaged Roof of a Lazy Hill Dovecote Birdhouse

Welcome to the 371st Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings! How was your weekend? Hope it was great! Mine was productive and I'm happy to report that I was able to successfully repair the damaged roof of my Lazy Hill Dovecote and restore it back to the garden in time for the spring nesting season. You may remember a woodpecker (we suspect a Pileated Woodpecker) drilled a huge hole into the roof almost two … [Read more...]




25 Things This Charles Faudree Room Taught Me About Design

I grew up in a very plain, utilitarian environment. My mom was very sick throughout my life, so I'm not sure if she ever had any interest in decorating or design. I'm guessing she would have if she hadn't become sick because she loved creative pursuits like embroidery and crocheting. Before she became so sick and while awaiting my arrival, she crocheted this lovely luncheon set complete with little … [Read more...]




Velvet Drapes for a Paneled, English Country-Style Living Room

Welcome to the 367th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you sometimes find yourself putting off a DIY job, even though it seems like a small project? Maybe you're waiting until the mood hits or you're finally ready mentally to tackle it. That's kind of where I've been with hanging my drapes here in the living room. I was thinking about this on Saturday, about why I've been putting it off, and I think I know … [Read more...]




Ballard Designs Speaks & A Lesson in Drapery Clip Rings

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend! When I awoke today, I was in the mood to move forward on the drapery project I recently started here in the family room. You may remember this photo where I had draped the green, velvet draperies I found recently in a Ballard Designs Outlet over the tops of my plantation shutters to get an idea how they would work in this room.   The Velvet Dilemma: Ballard … [Read more...]




Sewing Velvet: Are My Curtains Sewn Backwards?

Greetings! How was your day today? Hope it was a great one! Today has been a pretty productive day around here. I have a little update for you about the velvet drapes I recently purchased for the living room. I also have a question for you! You may remember last week I draped the velvet panels I purchased over the tops of the shutters in the living room to give you a little idea how they might look … [Read more...]




Getting Organized and My Favorite Finds

After the hecticness of the holidays and with the cold weather officially here, I've been enjoying being inside and "nesting" a bit more. I know a lot of folks really get into the organizing mood this time of year. At first I thought this urge to get organized at the start of the new year was due to it being a whole "turning over a new leaf" thing. But after giving it some thought, I think the reason I find … [Read more...]




How To Get Your Car Out of the Mud: A Roadside Service Fail

Last Monday I went through one of the worst experiences I've ever had while traveling. In fact, I would say this ranks as the worst. Grab a cup of coffee or hot tea because this story is a bit long. I hope it saves someone from experiencing what I went through a few days ago on a long trip back home. I've had car insurance and roadside assistance with the same company for over 35 years. My insurance … [Read more...]




DIY Hot Cocoa Sign for a Hot Chocolate Bar: A Tutorial

A couple of days ago I shared a Hot Cocoa bar I created out on my screened porch. The bar area included a sign I made that was inspired by a sign I had seen floating around blogland a few years back. After not having any success locating a similar sign, I decided it was time to head downstairs to my basement workshop and make my own. (Inspiration sign and detail views of the Hot Cocoa Bar can be seen in … [Read more...]




Create a Hot Cocoa Bar for Winter Entertaining

Happy Holidays to you, dear Friends! We're out on the porch today and I know it's a little chilly. Don't worry though, I have just the thing to warm us up. Step right over here and belly up to the bar--the Hot Cocoa Bar, that is. :)   I've been envisioning a Hot Cocoa Bar for years out here on the porch, but I could never quite gather together all the bits and pieces I needed to create it, … [Read more...]




A Bathroom Update & Perfume Storage

Welcome to the 358th Metamorphosis Monday! Please note: If you subscribed for blog post updates and they are no longer arriving in your Inbox, check your junk or spam file, especially if you use hotmail or yahoo mail. I recently changed services for delivering email updates and that always throws off the email servers for a bit. If you find an email in the junk/spam folder, mark it as "not spam" or … [Read more...]




In the BNOTP Library: Decorating Secrets by Mary Carol Garrity

I believe I have every book Mary Carol Garrity has ever written. I was thinking today, I wish she would do one on Halloween decorating. Mary Carol, I hope you see this!   In the BNOTP Library: Decorating Secrets Author: Mary Carol Garrity 3 Things I Like About This Book: In this book, Mary Carol is taking us under her wing and sharing the decorating secrets she's learned from … [Read more...]




An Adrenaline-Charged Morning

I'm back home! Whew! Let me tell you folks, 11 hours is a long, long time to sit in one small, cramped spot. I was never so happy to get off a plane! I was all set to write a post today sharing some helpful tips on how I survived those 11 hours in the air with my sanity still intact, when something happened that I thought was way more important to share. I hope this will save you major heart-ache down … [Read more...]




Refreshing The Porch For Autumn Joy

Welcome to the 350th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm super excited to share a wonderful autumn porch makeover by my friends, Mary and Dave at Front Porch Ideas and More. This makeover has lots of great ideas including no-sew pillows, a DIY table runner and an outdoor furniture makeover done on a budget. Here's Mary now to share how she and Dave, with the help of their darling granddaughter, Millie, … [Read more...]




How To Refurbish A Rusted Old Bistro Set

Welcome to the 349th Metamorphosis Monday! This cool fall weather has me itching to get outside and do a little sprucing up. Lately I've been noticing the bistro table I love to use for outdoor dining was starting to show its age.   I normally use a tablecloth when dining here but the rest of the time the table is uncovered for everyday use.   This set is made of metal. When … [Read more...]




DIY Shell and Sea Glass Chargers

Welcome to the 345th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years back I made these shell chargers to use in beach-themed tablescapes.   I made them after coming across six Pottery Barn chargers on eBay and seeing them sell for over $200!   I've always wondered how they would look with pretty sea glass mixed in, so recently I primed and painted a bunch of old, plastic chargers I … [Read more...]




Storage Bins & Ideas for Refrigerators

Do you ever open the deli or crisper drawers in your refrigerator with plans to make a yummy sandwich only to find a yucky mess awaiting you? Maybe on your last visit to the market, you purchased a bag of kale for a green smoothie or some fresh tomatoes in anticipation of a making a healthy salad. But now, as you peer down into the crisper drawer, you discover the kale has decided to transform itself … [Read more...]




Here I Go Again!

Greetings! How is your week going? I've been busy working on a few little projects. I'm back at it again, priming and painting old, plastic charger plates.   Recently I purchased a few bags of shells to supplement the last of the ones I still have left from my visit to Captiva and Sanibel Islands 30 years ago.   Ever since I made shell chargers a few years back, I've been … [Read more...]




In The BNOTP Library: Vintage Treasures

If you love antiquing, thrifting, flea markets and garage sales, and enjoy decorating and crafting with your vintage finds, you'll love this book. It's filled with lots of lovely collections and beautiful craft ideas.   In the BNOTP Library: Vintage Treasures Author: Jane Cassini & Ann Brownfield   3 Things I Like About This Book: Lots of creative ideas for using vintage … [Read more...]




Great Camera For Travel: Sony Cyber-shot RX100

Welcome to the 331st Metamorphosis Monday! Whenever you plan a trip, especially if it's your first time traveling to another country, it's inevitable that you're going to need to buy a few things. Fortunately, my shopping list is pretty short. The main items I need before heading off to Italy in the fall are: Secure travel purse √ Comfortable walking shoes that aren't sneakers (I've been told by … [Read more...]




How To Save Or Frame a Jigsaw Puzzle Without Using Messy Glues

If you're a jigsaw puzzle lover, chances are you'll occasionally work a puzzle that you'll want to keep and frame. I completed one a couple of weeks ago that I knew from the beginning I would want to keep and possibly frame for sentimental reasons. Nancy Drew and I were best buds when I was around 8-11 years old. I wanted to to be just like her when I grew up! ;) I've never framed a puzzle so I did a bit … [Read more...]




Make A Banner For Spring Decorating: A Tutorial

Welcome to the 324th Metamorphosis Monday! Though Easter is behind us, when Bonnie shared a picture of the wonderful Spring Easter banner she made by hand to transform her fireplace mantel for spring, I knew I had to share it with you! Is this not amazing?!   So many beautiful details!   I absolutely love all the color and pattern! See those cute rosettes along the bottom. … [Read more...]




Froggy Fountain Repair and Makeover

Welcome to the 323rd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Spring! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I spent part of the weekend bringing the plants I had wintered over in the garage, out onto the deck. I'm pushing it a bit since the rule of thumb here is to always wait until after April 15th to plant annuals since there's always a possibility of a freeze before that date. What is the first date recommended for … [Read more...]




My New Addiction, Why Didn’t Someone Warn Me?!

When was the last time you did a puzzle? I think I was probably 10 years old, maybe younger. Recently I shared some of the whimsical artwork of Charles Wysocki, a talented artist I just recently discovered. While visiting the online store his family maintains since his passing a few years ago, I discovered several of his paintings had been turned into puzzles. I thought to myself, "That's nice." That's … [Read more...]




How To Remove Odors From A Bag, Purse or Tote

Welcome to the 320th Metamorphosis Monday! Earlier this past winter when I was working on my winter bedding and was deep into all things plaid...   ...I came across this picture of the Pendleton Weekender bag. It was love at first sight! There was just one problem. The bag hasn't been available for over two years. It was last sold in stores back in 2012. Drat! Don't you hate it when you … [Read more...]




Wallpaper In The Entry Foyer: Yay or Nay?

You know how every now and then you come across a room that just stops you dead in your tracks. Recently, I came across this entry/foyer and was mesmerized. So many things to love in one room starting with the fan light and sidelights surrounding door, the beautiful arched doorways,  that wonderful Dutch door, the antique door-knocker (is that a horse or a fox), the lovely brass hardware on the door itself, … [Read more...]