Getting a Wave or Wrinkle Out of a Silk Tie

June 15, 2019 by 14 Comments

Recently I purchased a couple of Hermes ties for my son for his birthday.   When he opened them a few days ago, one of the ties had an odd, little wave effect going on toward the bottom of the tie.   Each tie had been packaged in its own box, and the boxes had been standing up vertically in the bag. I guess this particular tie slipped down and sorta crumpled up a bit in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



All My Cleaning Favorites Together in One Post!

May 28, 2019 by 33 Comments

Over the last couple of weeks, I've gotten several emails from BNOTP readers asking about a particular cleaning product I've shared in the past in a previous post. In today's post, I'm pulling them all together in one place, so this will be a great post to bookmark for future reference. These are my absolute favorites, the ones I use every day and always meet my high expectations. Hope you find this post … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: ,



Dressing Room Update is Complete and a Dharuma Hydrangea Update

May 14, 2019 by 23 Comments

Before I share my recent dressing room update, I thought I'd share a small garden update. Back in the summer of 2014, I planted a Dharuma Hydrangea behind my mailbox. I was told that they do well in full sun and are fairly low-growing. I didn't want a big shrub in this spot since space was limited. Do you see the little Dharuma there just behind the mailbox?   Here's a photo of it a few weeks … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), DIY, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , ,



No More Groceries Rolling Around in Back!

April 30, 2019 by 24 Comments

Have you ever had that, "Oh great, not again!" feeling driving home from the grocery store? As you turn a corner, you hear all the grocery bags in back turning over. That's normally followed by the sounds of can goods and jars rolling around crashing into each other. You get home and find the bread squished and the bananas in the corner buried underneath a can of peas. Ugh. To solve this issue, this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , ,



A Brilliant Invention & Correcting a Regrettable Decision

April 29, 2019 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 535th Metamorphosis Monday! Back around 2008-2010, I used to sit and create blog posts in the evenings after work at the little vanity desk located on the left side of this dressing room off the master bedroom. During that time I started having shooting pains down both arms, starting at my neck. That's when I realized the vanity was a few inches too short to work as a desk and made the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , ,



A Tip From the Inventor: Car Handbag Holder Used with a Center-Open Console

April 24, 2019 by 30 Comments

About a month ago I shared an awesome product that solved an ongoing problem I've been dealing with forever: trying to keep my handbag out of the sun when I'm out running errands or on trips AND trying to keep it out of the floor whenever I have to stop suddenly.   This awesome car handbag holder (purchased HERE) has been working beautifully despite the fact it's really designed to work in a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



A Pretty Organizer for Storing My Greeting Cards

April 15, 2019 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 533rd Metamorphosis Monday! In this wide-angle view of my office, you can see a wrapping paper station I have hanging on the wall to the left. I added the gift wrapping organizer many years ago around the time I was putting this office space together.   I don't think this gift wrapping organizer is still available. They brought it back again a year or two after I purchased … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , ,



A Silver Jewelry Keeper Update & How to Find That Elusive, Much Sought-After Item

March 27, 2019 by 18 Comments

A while back I shared a new idea I had just discovered for storing silver jewelry. I needed a better method for storing mine because keeping it stored away in little tarnish-free bags also kept it out-of-sight and out-of-mind. As a result, I never wore it. This was the storage system/piece I purchased and today I thought I'd share exactly how I've decided to use it and something awesome I just recently … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , ,



This $16.99 Product Changed My Life! Seriously!

March 23, 2019 by 72 Comments

I am such a happy camper right now! For years I've had an ongoing issue for which I could never find a solution. It's been so annoying, I was seriously thinking I was going to have to invent a product to fix the problem myself. I even talked about it with a sales associate a few months ago, describing a product I was thinking about creating because I'm so tired of dealing with this issue! What am I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



My Absolute Favorite Cleaner for Removing Denim Transfer Stains

February 19, 2019 by 28 Comments

A while back I shared a big issue I was having with denim transfer on the leather seats of my car. Since my leather driver's seat was so badly stained, in desperation I tried several products that normally you wouldn't use on leather after various leather cleaning products failed to work. The cleaner that worked the best at that time was Formula 409, but again, I wouldn't really recommend that for leather, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: ,



Handbag Storage Idea: Protect Your Bags, But Keep Them Visible

January 21, 2019 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 521st Metamorphosis Monday! Do you collect anything? Is there something that you truly love and are always on the lookout for when you're out shopping or antiquing--like rare stamps or first-editions of your favorite books? I know someone who used to collect cute pig figurines until everyone in her family caught on and she became inundated with them. lol My mother-in-law used to collect … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



Beautiful Calendar Inserts for Any Agenda, Especially for the Louis Vuitton Fan

January 9, 2019 by 44 Comments

Last summer I was offered a trip to Maui, Hawaii by a friend who had booked a week there but ended up not being able to go due to another commitment. (Read more about that trip under the Travel category at the top of BNOTP here: Travel.) During that trip, I did some shopping which included visiting a Louis Vuitton store in Whalers Village. While inside, I spotted the most beautiful antique trunk. Until … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , ,



Keep Silver Jewelry Visible, Yet Tarnish-free While Stored Away

December 31, 2018 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 518th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year to you! Any exciting plans for New Year's Eve? I have something I just discovered that I'm super excited to share with you for this week's Metamorphosis Monday! Over the past 20 years, I've collected or have been given as a gift, several pieces of silver jewelry. Some jewelry, like the silver jewelry from Tiffany & Co., comes in a little … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , ,



Oh, The Surprising Things You’ll See Through a Ring Doorbell!

December 18, 2018 by 50 Comments

Back on November 28th, I blogged about my intentions to add a Ring Doorbell to my home for increased security and convenience. If you missed that original post, you'll find it here: Finally Doing It-I'm Adding a Security Camera to my Front Porch. Today I'm sharing how the installation went along with one hiccup I encountered and how I solved it. If you have any questions after reading this post,  leave … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Entry/Foyer, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , ,



Why My Laptop’s Built-in Camera Has Been Covered for the Last 10+ Years.

December 5, 2018 by 32 Comments

Many years ago, before I had ever heard of blogs, I took my then computer laptop to a computer store to have it repaired. When I placed it on the counter inside the repair shop and opened it up, I was a little embarrassed. Before leaving home, I had forgotten to remove the folded up yellow Post-it note I had taped over the camera. I hastily removed it, mumbling something about having heard you could be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



Finally Doing It–I’m Adding a Security Camera to My Front Porch

November 28, 2018 by 46 Comments

I've been thinking about adding a security camera to my front porch for a long, long time. Fortunately, I've never had a package or anything go missing from my porch, but a camera could come in handy for that, as well. The main reason I've been wishing to add a camera is in hopes of avoiding unnecessary interruptions. So often when I'm working in the office or somewhere in the house, I'll hear the doorbell … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches Tagged With: ,



Easily Add Lighting to Attics, Closets & Sheds & A Wallet Update I Just Made

November 19, 2018 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 512th Metamorphosis Monday! I have two quick updates to share for this week's Met Monday. Hope you find these helpful! I store the majority of my Christmas decorations here in the upstairs bonus room eaves. As seen below, there are little doors that lead to that storage area.   That area can be quite dark, especially when all the wreaths I hang on my exterior windows are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , ,



Great Storage Idea for Handbags Or Collectibles & All the Details To Create It

November 12, 2018 by 25 Comments

Welcome the 511th Metamorphosis Monday! If you've been reading BNTOP for a while, I know you're familiar with this view of my home office.   On the other side of my office, there's a cozy, little reading corner.   Several years ago I hung a Bucket List Travel Map above the chair here in the office, hoping it would keep me inspired and focused on seeing more of our big, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Thinking Ahead to Christmas: Colonial Williamsburg Style Door Idea

October 22, 2018 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 508th Metamorphosis Monday! I had an interesting start to my morning! I awoke around 4 am Egypt time and was laying in bed thinking about my Met Monday post when the power went out. I noticed it immediately because the A/C stopped and everything went very dark. It's a weird feeling to be on the top (5th) floor of a hotel and have all the power go out. Fortunately, I knew where my phone … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, DIY Crafts & Sewing Tagged With: , , , , ,



12 Cleaning Products I Would Never Want To Be Without

September 18, 2018 by 49 Comments

A few days ago I received an email from Jane, a lovely BNOTP reader asking about the furniture polish I use on my furniture. Today I thought I'd do an updated post sharing a lot of the products I use around my home for cleaning, maintenance and such. The ones I'm sharing are all products I truly love and enjoy...dare say, couldn't do without! This is the furniture polish I've been using now for several … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , ,



Cozying Up The Office with Dept. 56 Lit Houses and a Few New Bookcase Additions

September 17, 2018 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 503rd Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I thought I'd give you a quick update on what I've been up to with the bookcases here in the office. There have been a couple of additions but also quite a few subtractions.   Can you tell I've reduced my collection a bit? I took a huge stack (probably a shelf's worth) to Goodwill this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , ,



A Fun Lighting Update for My Home Office

September 8, 2018 by 49 Comments

Welcome to the 502nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy weekend to you! I hope you're having an awesome one! I know it's not Monday yet, but I have an appointment on Monday so I thought I would go ahead and put this post up now. Before we dive into a mini-project I'm working on in my office, if you're a Talbots credit card holder, Talbots is having a big sale right now sitewide. (I got this yesterday, so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , ,



The Perfect Spot for Leaf Peeping & A Creative Way to Repurpose Vintage Crab Pots

September 3, 2018 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 501st Metamorphosis Monday! Did you have a great weekend? Hopefully, you have today off and are enjoying a long, 3-day weekend. I usually post during the weekend, but this weekend I gave myself the full weekend off and worked on some things here inside the house...mostly just a lot of organizing and cleaning. I guess that's not exactly taking the weekend off, now that I think about it. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Porches Tagged With: , , ,



It Took a Year to Get It Right, But Finally This Makeover Is Complete

August 6, 2018 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 497th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments on Saturday's post. It was so heartwarming and encouraging to read your comments and stories! You shared so many of the same thoughts I have and I truly appreciate each and every comment. I was so surprised by how many of you had actually had the opportunity to visit A Classy Flea in person! I know a lot of folks … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Living Room (Downstairs) Tagged With: , , , ,



Living the Life of Reilly and A Luxurious Gift Idea

July 28, 2018 by 32 Comments

Recently in a post, I shared some fun ideas for hanging art or small paintings down low where they can be appreciated while sitting nearby. (See that post here: Hang a Little Painting Where It Will Surprise and Delight.) Cindy left this comment on that post. A friend’s cat has his own art gallery at his level. Every visit, I check to see if he has added to his collection. Small pieces that are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: ,



Wonder If Goldilocks Ever Shopped for a Handbag Organizer

July 23, 2018 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 495th Metamorphosis Monday! Back around Christmastime, I purchased this bag when my SA called to let me know they had gotten one in the color I wanted. It took three tries, but I have finally found an organizer that works beautifully with this bag.   I really like a little organization in my bags, so I went in pursuit of a handbag insert/organizer as soon as I purchased this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , , ,



Build a Vision Board: Inspiration & Daily Reminder of Your Dreams and Goals

July 11, 2018 by 66 Comments

Thoughts become things, this I do believe. Do you remember when the book/video called "The Secret" was all in the news? Though I couldn't get on board with much of what it espoused, one premise I took to heart was the idea that our day-to-day thoughts do greatly impact almost every facet of our lives. I truly believe, that which you focus on will often come to pass, be it good or bad. Of course, I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Inspire Tagged With: ,



A Few Porch Updates & A Garden Seat Makeover

July 9, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 493rd Metamorphosis Monday! Did you go out of town for the July 4th week? This past week always seems like a big week for travel. This weekend has been a productive one for me as I've worked on a few things I've been putting off for a while. One chore I had been procrastinating on was giving the wicker seating group a good cleaning. I've had the two chairs and the settee (all made of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , ,



The Great Dish Storage Experiment, Plus Some New Chargers & Napkin Rings

May 17, 2018 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 503rd Tablescape Thursday! I've just returned from spending three weeks with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons. I had never planned to stay quite that long but due to various reasons involving a delayed refrigerator delivery, my return date kept getting pushed out. When the day came that I had planned to leave, my son and dil pointed out Mother's Day was only 3 days away. I hadn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , ,



3 Fabulous Themed Table Settings & A Brilliant Napkin Ring Storage Idea

May 3, 2018 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 501st Tablescape Thursday! Between Naps On The Porch readers have some of the best ideas! Two lovely BNOTP readers came up with a clever idea for storing napkin rings: they both use pants hangers! Cynthia shared two photos showing how she stores her napkin rings. She uses pants hangers, the type that open out on one end.   You can store a lot of napkin rings this way and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , ,



A Mini-Lifestyle Improvement

April 2, 2018 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 479th Metamorphosis Monday! Good morning! Hope you had a great weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I thought I'd share a mini-lifestyle improvement I made recently. You may recall me mentioning in an earlier post that I ditched my cable TV a while back. I rarely ever watched TV since there was never anything on that really interested me. I just couldn't justify the expense when my cable … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: ,



How I’m Preparing for Stormy Springtime Weather

March 24, 2018 by 27 Comments

I always look forward to spring each year, but there's one part of spring that I don't especially enjoy--the stormy weather we experience as the warm temps move in and clash with the cold that's already here. In years past we would get a lot of tornados during the months of March, April and May--peak tornado season. I'm not sure why, but thankfully, we haven't gotten that many the last few … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Inspire Tagged With: , ,



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

March 14, 2018 by 47 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



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

March 10, 2018 by 52 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , ,



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

March 5, 2018 by 35 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty Tagged With: , , , ,



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

February 26, 2018 by 25 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Africa, Before & After, DIY Decorating, Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,



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

February 24, 2018 by 45 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



Chevron Walls Turn a Home Office Into a Beautiful Nursery

February 19, 2018 by 15 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , ,



Denim Transfer, The Bane of Handbag Lovers Everywhere

January 29, 2018 by 114 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , ,



Preventing & Healing Split Fingertips In Winter

January 17, 2018 by 88 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , ,



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

November 6, 2017 by 44 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , ,



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

November 1, 2017 by 40 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Christmas Decor, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , ,



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

October 30, 2017 by 41 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Dining Room, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Entry/Foyer, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs), My Nest Tagged With: , , , ,



A Closet Update: Hacking Shelves for Boot & Shoe Storage

October 20, 2017 by 34 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, My Nest Tagged With: , , , ,



Door & Deck Progress

October 16, 2017 by 69 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Porches & Decks



Running Away From Home & A Dragon Finial

October 3, 2017 by 120 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , ,



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

September 25, 2017 by 63 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , ,



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

September 20, 2017 by 43 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: ,



Laundry Room Renovation: Workroom Becomes a Beautiful Laundry Room

September 18, 2017 by 40 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , ,



My New Mopping System and Is This Door Too Short?

September 16, 2017 by 104 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



How I’ve Prepared for Hurricane Irma

September 8, 2017 by 96 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



A Gazillion Little Tweaks

September 4, 2017 by 52 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Living Room (Downstairs), Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs)



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

August 10, 2017 by 138 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday



The Mysterious Case of the Greasy Glass

August 9, 2017 by 104 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , ,



CabinetGate: Progress Has Been Made

August 7, 2017 by 88 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , ,



Answering Your Questions

July 31, 2017 by 36 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage



How I’ve Spent the Last 48 Hours

July 25, 2017 by 48 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



A Beautiful, Colorful Porch Makeover for Summer

July 24, 2017 by 24 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



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

July 20, 2017 by 69 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , ,



Summer Sales, Cute Birdies and Dish Storage Update

July 12, 2017 by 42 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Flatware Storage, Delivery Fails and Invisible Splinters

July 10, 2017 by 96 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Attractive Storage Cabinets for Home, Garage or Basement

July 3, 2017 by 32 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , ,



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

June 26, 2017 by 34 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating Tagged With: , , , , , ,



3 Adorable Bee-Themed Wreaths for Spring

June 19, 2017 by 47 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing



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

June 6, 2017 by 43 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: ,



Washing an Hermes Silk Scarf & Madame Paulette

May 8, 2017 by 32 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



Would You Hand-Wash an Hermes Silk Scarf?

May 6, 2017 by 52 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



How Shout Color Catcher Saved My Favorite Shirt

April 24, 2017 by 78 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , ,



A Cute Footstool with Storage Gets a New Look

April 4, 2017 by 38 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Denim Do Over, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, In the Garden, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Hat Storage That’s Both Functional and Decorative

April 2, 2017 by 56 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, My Nest, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , , ,



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

February 20, 2017 by 61 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , , , ,



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

February 6, 2017 by 268 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Baths, Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , ,



Organize and Keep Your Entry Tidy with a Stylish Boot Tray

January 30, 2017 by 51 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, In the Garden, Porches Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,



Getting More Organized in the Office

January 14, 2017 by 120 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, My Nest, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , , ,



Decorate Your Porch for the Autumn Season

October 10, 2016 by 40 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, Porches, Seasonal Decor



Decorate Your Porch for Autumn & Halloween

October 3, 2016 by 58 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, Seasonal Decor



Can a Fashion Piece Become a Decorating Accessory?

September 16, 2016 by 49 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Blue & White Design & Decor, DIY Decorating, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, My Nest Tagged With: , ,



Create An Autumn Porch That Will Invite Guests To Linger

September 5, 2016 by 65 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, My Nest, Porches, Porches & Decks, Seasonal Decor



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

August 30, 2016 by 87 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes



One More Down, Four to Go!

August 22, 2016 by 69 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,



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

August 9, 2016 by 116 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating Tagged With: , , , , ,



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

August 8, 2016 by 44 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fall Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , ,



Romantic Candlelight Dinner on the Porch

July 28, 2016 by 77 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, Romantic Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,



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

June 28, 2016 by 138 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest Tagged With: , , , ,



How To Make a Tiered Planter From Terra Cotta Saucers

June 17, 2016 by 27 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden, Spring & Summer Tablescapes Tagged With: , , ,



GE Slate Appliances Showcase the Beauty & Not the Fingerprints

June 15, 2016 by 34 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating Tagged With: ,



How To Find the Center of a Ceramic or Clay Saucer

June 14, 2016 by 29 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden Tagged With: , , ,



Shell & Sea Glass Chargers for Beach Inspired Dining

May 16, 2016 by 58 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Beachy Tablescapes, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decor Knock-offs, Spring & Summer Tablescapes



After 8 Years, It’s Time!

May 9, 2016 by 60 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches Tagged With: , , , , ,



Decorating and Dressing in Blue & White

May 6, 2016 by 24 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Holland & Belgium, Travel Tagged With: , ,