A Closet Makeover Marathon

Welcome to the 291st Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of years ago, I opened up a big ole fat can of worms. Have you ever purchased something because it was a great price or maybe it was on sale, then before you knew it, it ended up costing you a lot more than you had planned? I'm not sure if the project I'm sharing today is one you would want to undertake or if it's more of a cautionary tale. ;) I am … [Read more...]




Electrical Cord Covers Hide Metal Swing Chains

Welcome to the 290th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope it was relaxing and fun! I had some friends over for a little cookout on the porch and we had great time together. Speaking of the porch, recently I had it freshened up with a new coat of paint. It had been over 6 years since it was last painted. After the porch was painted, I noticed the covers on the swing were looking pretty … [Read more...]




Overcoming Winter Kill And My Own Personal Version Of Crop Circles

Welcome to the 289th Metamorphosis Monday! So, remember when that awful ice storm hit Georgia this past winter and paralyzed all of metro Atlanta? It was in the news for days since so many folks were stranded on the interstates and roads, unable to get home for several days.   That ice storm did this to my "just-sodded-last-summer" front yard. I shared these pics on the blog in May of this … [Read more...]




How Much Does It Cost To Build A Front Porch

When I first moved into my home over twenty years ago, it did not have a front porch. It looked very much like all the other homes in my neighborhood. In the early 80's when the homes in my neighborhood were all being built, porches were just not important to builders. I guess they thought no one really cared about them anymore. Over the years as I welcomed friends and family into my home, I began to … [Read more...]




Screened-in Porch Freshened Up With Paint

Welcome to the 287th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope you had an awesome summer weekend! I was fretting a bit over mine, wondering how I would be getting a post ready for Met Monday since I dropped my computer off for repairs early on Friday and when last I checked on Saturday, they still haven't gotten around to working on it. I was 4th in line, now 2nd, so hopefully they will be repairing it … [Read more...]




A Garden Update

Welcome to the 286th Metamorphosis Monday! We've been having spring-like weather all this week, crazy weather for the middle of July. The cooler temps have been a nice respite from the heat. The garden I put in around the mailbox several months ago has been thriving in the milder temps.   I thought for this Met Monday I'd share a how's it changed over the past six weeks. Here's how it … [Read more...]




How To Repair A Large Hole In Sheetrock Or Drywall

Welcome to the 285th Metamorphosis Monday! Last December I shared the story behind a mystery alcove located just outside my master bedroom doors. That previous post can be found here: If These Walls Could Talk: A Mystery Alcove. I've always been glad this little alcove was here because it has been the perfect spot for a chest that was once was a changing table for my son when he was a baby. When I … [Read more...]




Has To Get Worse Before It Gets Better

That woman you see, the one walking around muttering and looking distracted...yeah, that's me. I know it has to get worse before it gets better but I still don't especially like it. The porch that normally looks like this...   ...currently looks like this. I just keep reminding myself, chaos is a sign progress is being made. The porch has weathered well for the past six years despite being … [Read more...]




Pickiest Lamp Person In The World

Welcome to the 283rd Metamorphosis Monday! I love lamps, but I guess you kind of knew that when you saw this picture of my screened-in porch. I mean, who has a porch added to the back of their home and doesn't have a single overhead light installed? In the immortal words of Jim Carrey in the movie, Liar, Liar, "It was meeeeee! " ;)   I do love lamp lighting in a room because it's gentle on … [Read more...]




A Vicious Intruder In The Garden

Welcome to the 282nd Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Mine was great although part of it involved dealing with a vicious intruder in the garden. You may remember this view from last summer, it's the walkway that leads to my front porch.   Notice the clump of bushes off to right. Three of those are spiraea a friend gave me many years ago. They have pink flowers each … [Read more...]




I Broke The Number One Rule Of Container Gardening

Welcome to the 280th Metamorphosis Monday! I never did much "container" gardening until I added on a screened-in porch.  My old deck was hotter than the hinges of...well, you know. The west sun beat down upon it every single afternoon making it impossible to sit out there. Forget sitting, you couldn't even walk barefoot out there without risking 3rd degree burns on your feet!  And then there was the … [Read more...]




Tree Form Tardiva Hydrangea Adds Privacy and Screening To The Deck

Every year I spruce up the deck a bit for the spring/summer season. I've delayed this year because I've been getting estimates for having the porch and decks pressure washed and painted and it didn't make sense to buy plants and fill up all the pots if they were all going to have to be moved, come painting time. Once plans for a Memorial Day cookout got underway, I threw caution to the wind and started … [Read more...]




After The Party

Welcome to the 278th Metamorphosis Monday! It's 4:00 on a Sunday afternoon. Three friends will be arriving for a cookout in one hour. Everything is ready. Somehow the party faeries have all conspired in my favor and I'm actually running ahead of schedule. There may even be time for a few minutes on the porch alone before the guests arrive. I open the refrigerator to pour myself a cold drink and OMG, I … [Read more...]




A Cure for Sagginess

Welcome to the 274th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope it was grand! I spent much of my weekend pouring through One Man's Folly, a book I had pre-ordered and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. I rarely pre-order a book but this one sounded like it was going to be amazing from the articles I had read online. Oh, my gosh...is it ever! Such a wonderful book! I have so enjoyed every … [Read more...]




The Summer Porch: Beach Cottage Decor

Welcome to the 272nd Metamorphosis Monday! It's been beautiful here so I've been playing out on the porch. This is how the hutch normally looks during the spring and summer months. I usually have a variety of white pitchers displayed along the top and my fave porch dishware, Tabletops Unlimited. Ma Maison by Dario Farrucci, displayed on the shelves.   I get a lot of comments and e-mails … [Read more...]




Decorating the Porch for Spring

Welcome to the 266th Metamorphosis Monday! This weekend was so nice here, especially Sunday. I threw open both doors to the porch and spent some time enjoying our 70+ degree weather.   I did a little pre-spring cleaning, dusting off a few things in anticipation of the warm days to come.   Recently, I came across this little bird feeder in Lowes. It has a rope attached and when … [Read more...]




Valentine, You Make the Earth Move Under My Feet

It was Valentine's Day. I was sitting here at my desk, minding my own business and working on a future post when my desk and chair began vibrating. As the desk and chair vibrated, something began rattling. I'm not sure if it was something on my desk or the glass in the windows above the desk. It may have been the glass because it sounded a bit like dishes or glasses rattling in a cupboard. Here were my … [Read more...]




Dining Room Upgrade: Add Picture Molding Beneath a Chair Rail

Welcome to the 259th Metamorphosis Monday! I don't have a major Before/After to share this week for Met Monday, but I do have one I'm resurrecting because it has been on my mind recently.  My son and his wife recently bought a new home so paint, hardwood flooring and other "home stuff" has been a hot topic in all our conversations. And can I just say, I'm loving it! It's so much fun to talk "house" stuff … [Read more...]




Organize Charging Cables with Cable ID Labels

Welcome to the 257th Metamorphosis Monday! My Before and Aftert today is a minor change here in the office. It's a small update but one that has made life a little easier. I love those kinds of tweaks, sometimes they can have the biggest impact. (Psst: If you're new to reading BNOTP, you can see the Before and After for the office in this previous post: Creating a Home Office)   See that … [Read more...]




If These Walls Could Talk: A Mystery Alcove

My home was built in 1982-83 and I'm the third owner. The house was 8 years old when we moved here and I think the first owners lived here around 4-5 years. The second owner from whom I bought the house, lived here for around 2-3 years. I bought it in 1991, so I've lived here for 22 1/2 years now. Even though the home was brand new when the first owners purchased it, they made a pretty significant … [Read more...]




Screened-in Porch Decorated For Christmas

Welcome to the 255th Metamorphosis Monday! This weekend I played out on the porch, decorating it for the Christmas season.   The trees are all bare now, definitely looking like winter on the porch.   A view from the other end...   I used things I already had for the most part. The table was decorated simply with live greenery, a sweet glittery deer, … [Read more...]




Updates for a Blue and White Guest Room

I almost titled this, "This is Not a Christmas Post." I figured we could all use a non-Christmas post for a minute. :) So, I was out doing a little Christmas shopping and I stumbled across something in the "Clearance" section of the store that caught my eye. Can you guess what it was? It supposedly started out at $249.99, marked down to $100.00. I used a 20% off coupon bringing it down to $80, which … [Read more...]




Decorating With Preserved Boxwood Wreaths

Each year I love to decorate my glass front cabinets in my kitchen with little wreaths. I started doing this after seeing it on wood cabinet doors in a kitchen while on a Christmas home tour. It can be hard to find wreaths in this smaller size. I had to search for quite a while to find these many years ago.   I've never been really thrilled with these.  They aren't very full and don't … [Read more...]




Christmas Table Setting: Sparkle with a Touch of Whimsy

Welcome to the 273rd Tablescape Thursday!   Today we're tablescaping in the dining room. This room can be a bit of a challenge for taking pictures since it's on the north side of the house where there's very little natural light and it has deep, red walls painted Benjamin Moore, Raspberry Truffle. Someone mentioned once in a comment that all the paint colors I've used in my home have food … [Read more...]




Getting Stuff Done & It Feels Good!

Doesn't it feel good to finally get "stuff" done that's been needing to be done for ages? I know, the list is always endless, but at least I can finally check a few things off. Yesterday, I left you with a painted screened door, but before it could be installed it needed to be re-screened.  It just barely fit into the back of my SUV, but thankfully it did and off we went to the screening … [Read more...]




How to Paint Doors Like a Pro

Welcome to the 249th Metamorphosis Monday! One of the most basic DIY jobs we face at one time or another is painting. We've all painted a room or two in our time, haven't we? Paint truly has the ability to transform a space taking it from so-so to sooo beautiful! I've never been afraid to paint walls but doors have always been a bit of a mystery for me. More than once I've painted a door to … [Read more...]




A Garden Seat for the Frog

Not that kind of frog, although he is totally cute! Source Have you noticed how ceramic garden seats seem to be available everywhere now? I remember years ago seeing them in decorating magazines but I could never find any back then, at least not at a price I was willing to pay. Last spring I was on a quest to buy a garden seat for the screened porch.   I found this one with a pretty … [Read more...]




Prepping a Room for Paint: It’s Easier Than You Think

I have always loved the almost instant makeover paint can give a room. But before the painting, there's always the part that we tend to dread--the prep work.  It reminds me of gardening, all we really want to do is plant pretty flowers, but if we don't prepare the soil first, chances are the flowers are not going to look pretty for very long. I used to be intimidated by the idea of repairing a hole or a … [Read more...]




Fall Color for the Front Porch

Still waiting for a bit cooler weather to transplant the Japanese maple and to landscape around the porch, but at least the porch is a happy place!  Can't wait to get those shrubs in around it. It shouldn't be long now. We've been waiting for some cooler days and I think they are here. In the meantime, I'm trying to imagine the Georgia red clay splashed up onto the brick is a lovely fall accent. … [Read more...]




Paint Your Porch Ceiling, Haint Blue

When I added a screened porch onto the back of my home five years ago, I was very tempted to paint the ceiling haint blue. For years I had seen homes all over the south with porch ceilings painted a soft, sky blue. I ultimately decided it wouldn't work for my porch because of the gable ceiling. You  may remember this home from our tour of Isle of Hope just outside Savannah Georgia. It's sporting a … [Read more...]




An Autumn Mantel and Fire Screen

It's been a while since I've posted a fall mantel, the last time was late September 2011. I only have one fireplace, thus one mantel in my home and it's in the den, a room with honey-colored judges paneling. (Picture below from last year, just after Christmas.)   Photography is always a bit of a challenge, even with a tripod. The walls just soak up all the light.   This is how … [Read more...]




Decorate in White for Fall

It's late summer and the temps are still warm here in the south, but in the evenings there's a hint of fall in the air.   Yesterday I shared a new lamp I had just added to the porch. It's painted one of my fave colors, a soft green. I love the color combination of green and white. It feels so fresh and so alive.   I have a hutch here on the porch and it's painted in the same pretty … [Read more...]




Porch Lighting: Create a Cozy Atmosphere with Lamps

Welcome to the 241st Metamorphosis Monday! Five years ago when I replaced my seen-better-days-deck with a screened-in porch, I purchased white wicker furniture, including a wicker swing for this space.  I couldn't really find any lamps I liked so I just decided to use lamps I already had thinking I'd eventually replace them with something better. It's only been in the last couple of years that I've … [Read more...]




The Office Layout and A Laser Printer, Scanner, Copier for Tight Spaces

Every so often I get an e-mail from someone who is in the process of putting together an office with the Pottery Barn Bedford furniture and they ask what pieces I used to achieve the layout I have in my home office. It's always hard to answer that question in an e-mail because I had to get creative and go off the grid a bit to make it work the way I wanted. I've been meaning to write about this for ages. … [Read more...]




A Brick Walkway Redesign

In my front yard, there lives a Southern Magnolia, Grandiflora. And grand she is! I didn't place her here. Even with my limited knowledge of gardening, I know better than to plant a Southern Magnolia 10 feet out from a house. (Remember when the yard looked like this?)   Let's take a little ride in my time machine. The year is 1989 and we are house hunting or "trying out houses" as Chip who … [Read more...]




Boxwood Topiaries for a Traditional Landscape

Welcome to the 240th Metamorphosis Monday! How's your Labor Day weekend going? I hope you're having a fun one! Well, it took some doing but I finally found a couple of matching boxwoods for the planters I purchased recently for the front porch area. Remember these large containers I purchased a couple of weeks ago?  They replaced the too-small concrete pots that had been there for … [Read more...]




Create a Small, Sun-Loving Perennial Garden

Welcome to the 238th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I did a little more planting and if the rain will let up, I'm headed to a nursery today in search of plants for the large planters I purchased recently for the porch. I'm in a bit of a conundrum, though. Two of the nurseries I have talked to told me they will be getting large shipments in for fall, so I'm trying to decide: Do I … [Read more...]




New Lattice Planters for the Porch

You know those days when you run and work, work and run, but at the end of the day you're not real sure what you've gotten accomplished. Lately some of my days are feeling that way. I'm kind of in never-never land or maybe a better term is landscaping limbo. I have about forty-eleven projects running through my head and some require decision making, some require additional money and some require input … [Read more...]




A Landscaping “To-Do” List and a Surprise “Before and After”

I've been putting off a major landscape renovation for several years. I knew it would have to start with some serious tree removal and the process would be expensive and emotionally taxing. I hate cutting down trees but there is no shortage of trees in my yard, my neighborhood or this area. If anything, as I drive around my area I see so many houses in the same situation mine was in--buried behind and under … [Read more...]




Adding Color and Whimsy to the Garden

Welcome to the 237th Metamorphosis Monday! This weekend was a first for me. It was the first time I've ever planted annuals in August. When I went shopping, I wasn't sure if I'd find any since I've never shopped for them this late in the season. Surprisingly the usual places (hardware stores, big box discount stores and garden centers) do have them, even in August. The selection isn't what it is in mid … [Read more...]




Water New Grass with an In-ground Irrigation System

One of the chief components to ensuring a newly installed lawn takes root and establishes well is water, lots and lots of water. I was told by my landscaper and the sod farm to water it at least twice a day for the first two weeks. If we were having a really super hot August (thankfully, we're not) I'd probably have to water even more. Fortunately, when I moved into this house 22 years ago, I installed … [Read more...]




Paint Your Front Door Heritage Red or Peacock Blue

Recently, I had my front door freshened up with a new coat of paint.  The final coat of paint went on day before yesterday.  We ran into a little problem but finally found the solution...more on that in a sec. I stayed with my beloved, Benjamin Moore "Heritage Red."  I still love that color for a front door. Since the front door was being repainted, I decided to make a few changes.  I decided to remove … [Read more...]




Chipmunk Baths

When I decided to sod my yard with Zeon Zoysia, to save money I planned to do it in two stages: Front yard, followed by the back yard next summer. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that was probably not such a great idea. I was concerned the grass in the front yard would get damaged next summer when the backyard sodding process got underway. I'm so glad now I went ahead and did both at the … [Read more...]




A Sweet Bird Girl in the Garden

Welcome to the 236th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I spent all day Friday and Saturday at the Haven Conference in Atlanta. On Sunday, I finished putting out another 25 bags of mulch. That brings the total to 102 bags of mulch! Normally it wouldn't take that much mulch but many of the beds/islands are empty, awaiting shrubs this fall. Today I'm taking you into the yard to … [Read more...]




Zeon Zoysia for the Front Yard

Yesterday was definitely a day of mixed emotions, first excitement, then some disappointment.  Though things didn't go quite as planned, I still have some fun "after" photos to share. The Zeon Zoysia sod was delivered and installation got underway. As the day wore on, it became apparent there wasn't enough sod to complete the job. The side yard and a portion of the back still needs sod, so instead … [Read more...]




Sod Day!

Today is another crazy day in the neighborhood.  This morning there was still a little work to be done in preparation for the sod, but the sod is here. 12 pallets waiting to be installed in the front and back. I went with Zeon Zoysia.  I have plenty of sun out front but the back is kind of shady. Zeon is the most shade tolerant of all the warm-season turf grass varieties. It's a fine-textured … [Read more...]




A Gardening “Before and After”

Wow, crazy day! This post was suppose to be up hours ago but so much has happened today, I'm running way behind.  I've decided to go ahead and sod the back yard at the same time the front yard is being done.  Since the job has grown, we've decided to wait and start it on Monday. Monday will be prep day and Tuesday will be install day, barring no more rain. The sod farms can't cut sod when it's standing in … [Read more...]




The Quest for a Comfortable Desk Chair: Take 3

Welcome to the 234th Metamorphosis Monday!   The Quest for a Comfortable Chair: Take 3   I have a little office update, one I've been meaning to share for a while.  As you may recall, when I first put the office together, I started out with this chair (below) from Pottery Barn Teen. I loved how it looked but it turned out to be horrible on zay ole back.  Pretty? Definitely.  Practical? … [Read more...]




My Fave Yellow Paint Colors: Duron Sugar Cookie and Duron Tea Biscuit

One of my fave paint colors I go to time and time again is an old, old Duron color called Sugar Cookie.  There's a little story how I first discovered this color. Many, many years ago, through a job I had at the time, I met a delightful lady who was the wife of a professional coach for a local university.  I can't remember now if he was a footfall or basketball coach.  Anyway, when I visited their home, … [Read more...]




Landscape Renovation: Big Changes and Ready for the Sod

Things are starting to happen quickly now with the front landscape renovation. The stump grinder guy didn't make it out yesterday but he is on his way now as I type this. Then the slate will be clean for the sod installation on Tuesday. Yipee! Last week I drove by a few of the lawns installed by the company I've chosen to install my sod.  I've decided to go with Zeon Zoysia.  I like what I've read online … [Read more...]




Front Yard Landscape Renovation

Welcome to the 231st Metamorphosis Monday! Before I dive into this week's Met Monday, just wanted to take a second to answer a question I've been getting about the BNOTP newsletter, Postcards from the Porch. I haven't sent one out since Max passed because I just didn't have the energy to create blog posts and put together the newsletter, too. I will be starting it back up soon though, most likely this … [Read more...]




Front Yard Landscape Makeover: The Beginning

Atlanta has a lot of nicknames, Hotlanta and The Big Peach to name a few.  My favorite has always been, the City in the Forest. Apparently, it got that name because when flying into Hartsfield Jackson, Atlanta appears to be nestled down into a forest.  The drought has taken its toll on a lot of trees over the last few years though, so not sure if Atlanta is still living up to its City in the … [Read more...]




A Tabletop Greenhouse for Growing Herbs

Welcome to the 227th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope your weekend was wonderful! Today for Met Monday, I'm sharing a small update out on the porch.  I don't often change things out here since I'm pretty happy with it, as is.  If I make a change something else usually has to leave. A while back I made an update to the small oval table under the Summer Breeze sign.  You may remember, it got … [Read more...]




Fill Those Summer Pots and Planters Without Blowing the Budget

This past Sunday I managed to get a little planting done before the rain started back.  Most of the planting took place on the deck off to the right of the porch, the one with the bottle tree. Come spring, I'm always looking for ways to spruce up and add color and life to the deck without spending a whole bunch.  Bottle trees are a great way to add color and liven things up and they require no … [Read more...]




Solar Post Caps for the Decks

Exhausted!  That describes me today. Every year or two I have a company come out to pressure wash the decks and screened-in porch.  The process is exhausting but everything always looks great once it's done.  I had to take the sheers back down.  I also covered up the outdoor speakers and the table since it was too large to really move anywhere. The outdoor wicker was moved onto the deck. Table … [Read more...]




The Morning Room

Welcome to the 223rd Metamorphosis Monday! Do you have a room in your home that's your absolute favorite spot to be in the early morning? My upstairs family room is that room for me. You may recognize the next 2-3 pictures since I've shared them before here on BNOTP.  This room is a cheerful, bright room, but early in the morning it's truly a sunny, happy spot to be.   One of the reasons this … [Read more...]




Cover Metal Swing Chains for a Softer Look on the Porch

Welcome to the 222nd Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend?  We had nice weather here and I decided it was time to get to work on priming the new screened door out of the porch.  While I was priming it, I had a "uh-duh" moment.  I wish it had been an "Ah-ha" moment, but unfortunately it wasn't.  No, it was definitely an "uh-duh" moment. I suddenly realized in the midst of priming, there was … [Read more...]




Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

I couldn't stand it.  It was a gorgeous day yesterday and the porch was calling, begging me to come out and play.   Pollen, you are not the boss of me! I liked Lisa's idea from yesterday's post of just covering the seating areas with sheets during this high pollen season.  Then when you want to enjoy the porch, you just remove the sheet and replace it when you're done.  Sounds like a plan! The fans … [Read more...]




The Attack of the Yellow Stuff

I'm always getting questions about how I keep the porch looking so clean.  Wellllll, it isn't always so clean.  I think it just appears that way in pictures.  Every spring around April, a monsoon of pollen hits.  When I got home from the hospital on Friday, here's how I found the porch.  Notice how the table seems to have a yellowish cast? It's all pollen and it's just getting started! You … [Read more...]




A New Screened Door for the Porch

Welcome to the 221st Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments you left on Friday's post. I'm so grateful for all your well wishes and prayers...please know that. I'm way behind in responding to e-mails so if you e-mailed me in the last week or so and haven't heard back, I hope to get caught up on my e-mail correspondence over the next few days. Each day I'm getting stronger and … [Read more...]




Inching Toward Spring: An Update for the Porch

Welcome to the 215th Metamorphosis Monday! For this Met Monday, I had planned to post a tutorial for the fun napkin fold I used in last week's St. Patrick's Day table setting.  I know several folks asked for that and I promise that will go out in my very next post, which should be tomorrow.  For this Met Monday, I have a little change out on the porch to share, one I've been needing to make for a long … [Read more...]




Screened-in Porches: How Much Do They Cost to Build?

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is how much did it cost to build your screened porch? With spring just a couple of months away, I thought I'd share all the details, facts and figures, in hopes it will help answer some of the questions I know many folks have about adding a porch. Having a screened-in porch had always been a dream of mine.  We had a small screened porch at our very first … [Read more...]




A Comfy Desk Chair for the Office

Welcome to the 212th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend?  Were you in blizzard territory?  The pictures I've been seeing online are amazing! For this Met Monday, I'm sharing a "comfort" change I made in the office this weekend.  It was one I was reluctant to make but finally decided it needed to be done. If you have been reading BNOTP for a while, you may remember when I purchased my desk … [Read more...]




Natural Fiber Ottoman or Stool for the Office

Welcome to the 210th Metamorphosis Monday! Last night I happened to turn on the TV while Downton Abbey was on.  I can never remember exactly when it comes on so I always end up watching it in bits and pieces over the week as the episode is replayed over and over on PBS.   I watched last night until the foreshadowing became too foreboding.  An arrogant, know-it-all doctor and talk of swollen ankles was … [Read more...]




Resin Candle Covers and Silk-Wrapped Bulbs for the Bedroom Chandelier

Welcome to the 209th Metamorphosis Monday! I have a little master bedroom update to share for this Met Monday.  You may remember, back in November I updated the candle covers on the chandelier in the dining room. The old plastic covers had gradually yellowed over the past 16+ years and were looking pretty bad.  I also replaced the regular bulbs that were so glaring on the eyes with silk-wrapped bulbs. … [Read more...]




Office Update: Finally Found the Right Spot

Welcome to the 208th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend?  We've been having unusually warm weather...70 degrees out on the porch yesterday and today.  Crazy!  This is January, right?  Yesterday was my birthday and I'm not sure when I remember a birthday this warm.  Loving it while it last, though. I have a small Before/After for this Met Monday, one I thought I'd share in case it's helpful or … [Read more...]




Dining Room Addition: French-Pleated Check Draperies

Welcome to the 200th Metamorphosis Monday!  We've officially been celebrating your fabulous Before and Afters for 200 weeks now!  Wowza!  Thank you so much for joining the party each week and sharing your amazing creativity and talent!  I'm looking forward to 200 more! The Accidental Decorator: Well, the Accidental Decorator has been at it again.  As I've mentioned before, I seem to fall into some of the … [Read more...]




Transform Your Chandelier with Resin Candle Covers and Silk-Wrapped Bulbs

Greetings!  How has your week been?  Are you ready for the weekend...the last weekend before Thanksgiving?  Doing any baking or cooking in advance?  Cleaning and readying the house for family?  This next week is going to be a busy one for many folks. Last week I wrote about a little "upgrade" I'm giving the chandelier in my dining room.  You can read the story of how I found/purchased this chandelier in … [Read more...]




Thanksgiving Tablescape, 2012

Welcome to the 219th Tablescape Thursday! I'd also like to welcome listeners from the Bekah, Lynne, Thursdays show!  Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks to Bekah and Lynne for the shout-out today on their mid-morning show!   If you're looking for the home tour of the adorable cottage in the movie, The Holiday, you'll find it here:  Tour Rosehill Cottage from the movie, The Holiday. Thanksgiving … [Read more...]




Beeswax Candle Covers and Satin-Wrapped Bulbs for Chandeliers

I've been working on a lot of little small projects around the house lately. One of the projects I have going right now involves the chandelier in my dining room.  In a previous post, I mentioned there was a little story that goes with this piece so I thought today might be a good day to share it.  Do you like little stories?  If so, grab a cup of coffee or a glass a wine and I'll share my chandelier … [Read more...]




Labeling the Baskets in the Closet Expedit

Welcome to the 198th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I made a trip to a lighting store in search of some items to "upgrade" a chandelier in my home.  I'll be posting about that soon and can't wait to share it!   Ballard Designs outlet is just a few blocks away from the lighting store.  Since I'm rarely in that area, I decided to stop in. The parking lot was packed which is unusual even for a Saturday. … [Read more...]




A New Lamp for the Office & A Little Halloween Fun

Before I share something fun and lighthearted (a nice distraction on this day) I just wanted to say my heart and prayers go out to all effected by Hurricane Sandy. ♥ A Little Halloween Decorating & A New Lamp for the Office If you've been following the progress of the office, you know I've been hoping to find some new lamps better suited for this space than the polished brass lamps I'm currently … [Read more...]




Contemplating New Window Treatments for the Family Room

For many, many years my family room looked like this.  About ten months ago I nixed all the faux greenery on that end of the room.  It was all looking pretty faded and tired, so it was time for a change.   I haven't missed the greenery at all.  The de-fauxing took place right after Christmastime last year so my tree was still up.   See those cascades/jabots.  They have been hanging … [Read more...]




Make Pumpkin Topiaries for an Autumn Porch

Welcome to the 195th Metamorphosis Monday! Right after I added a front porch onto my home around 4 years ago, I bought some faux topiaries from a local store here in Atlanta.  I would have loved real topiaries on the porch, but I knew I'd never remember to keep them watered and they probably wouldn't survive in the shade of the porch. The faux topiaries turned out to be an expensive mistake.  They … [Read more...]




Upgrading the Necessary Room

Good morning!  It's Friday!  Are you looking forward to the weekend?  I really wanted to spend the weekend going on the Georgia Trust Ramble in LaGrange, GA, but instead I'll be staying home getting some cleaning and other  non-fun stuff done around here.  Yuck...tours are way more fun. Speaking of things that are less-than-fun, this is what was happening in my home this morning at 8:30 AM.  Two new … [Read more...]




Show Your Colors and Showcase Your Fabulous Before and After

Greetings!  It's Friday!  Have any projects around the house you'll be working on this weekend?  Any painting projects?  If so, I have a little sumpin', sumpin' to get you inspired and raring to go! In March, I shared about an exciting new site by Glidden called My Colortopia.   My Colortopia was especially designed to help us DIYers when we're agonizing over finding the right paint color … [Read more...]




Greet Your Guests with an Autumn Basket

Welcome to the 190th Metamorphosis Monday! Ever since I came across this picture of Mary Carol Garrity's front door with this eye-catching, unusually long basket, I've been hooked on decorating doors with a basket of flowers.    This photo is from the book, Nell Hill's Decorating Secrets and it is an excellent book.   I think I have every book she's written and I love them all.  Highly recommend … [Read more...]




Organization and Storage for the Home Office, Craft, Sewing Room

That's me, I admit it.  Anything that helps me put my hands on what I'm looking for, even if it's only a teensy bit faster, I'm all over it.  Recently I shared a whimsical addition to the office, a faux deer head with a rosemary wreath.   There was another little addition hiding in plain site on the desk under the wrapping paper organizer.  Did you notice it?   I spotted this organizer caddy at … [Read more...]




Deer Head with Rosemary Wreath

Welcome to the 188th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday to you!   For this Metamorphosis Monday I'm sharing a couple of fun updates here in the office.  Okay,  here's the "before" picture for this little office tweak.   Do you see the changes?  Something has been added and something has been taken away.   The clock is gone for now.  I loved it but the shape felt wrong for … [Read more...]




A New Mirror for the Office

Back in September, I was on an all-out mirror search for the office.  I wanted a mirror to go above the chest in my little reading corner, something that would reflect the light coming in through the windows . I found this silver one at Marshalls for just $20 and brought it home to try it out.  You may remember it from THIS previous Metamorphosis Monday. It looked pretty good except for one thing. … [Read more...]




A New Lamp for the Porch

I love lamp lighting.  Actually, I'm pretty obsessed over lighting in general.    I never use overhead lighting, unless I'm just turning it on for a few seconds to find something I've dropped.  One exception is a chandelier on a dimmer switch...those can really create a nice mood in a room. Pretty early on in the process of decorating/furnishing the rooms in my home,  I discovered how lamp lighting … [Read more...]




Dining Room Venetian Glass Mirror

Welcome to the 179th Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings!  I have a small Before and After to share this week.  A few years ago,  around Christmastime, I hung a glittery wreath atop the Venetian glass mirror in my dining room. (Click for Christmas table setting.) I liked the look so much I left it there year 'round. (Click for Thanksgiving table setting)  But lately the wreath has begun to look a … [Read more...]




A Shell Wreath for the Summer Porch

Welcome to the 177th Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings!   I'm excited to share a small change on the porch for this Metamorphosis Monday.  Recently, while shopping in HomeGoods I came across a wreath I have been hoping to make for a couple of years now.   It all started when I saw this shell wreath online a couple of summers ago.   I really wanted to make one since I have lots of nice, big … [Read more...]




A Beautiful Mosaic Planter for the Front Porch

Moving a blog is a lot like moving in real life.  Do you remember the last time you moved?  You know it's going to be a big job but you really don't know how big until you are in the thick of it.  And while in the midst of it, you probably think to yourself, "I'll never do this again."  Once you're all settled in your new home, you're happy you did it.  I'm not quite to the happy stage, but I'm getting … [Read more...]




IKEA Expedit: Sneaking a Peek Inside

So many wonderful Before and Afters were shared for yesterday's Met Monday!  I haven't made my way through all of them yet, but I the ones I have visited were fabulous! Yesterday I shared an update in the office...new buffalo check curtains.  Thanks so much for all your wonderful, much appreciated  comments on that post!  You made my day! IKEA Expedit: Today I thought I'd take you into the office … [Read more...]




Buffalo Check Curtains for the Office

Welcome to the 174th Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings!  Hope your weekend was great!  I'm really excited about a change I made recently here in the office.  Did you guess what it was from the hint I left a few days ago? Not long after I moved into this house twenty+ years ago, I purchased plantation shutters for all the windows.  In hindsight, that was one of the best purchases I've ever made for my … [Read more...]




File Sorter for the Office: Tools for Organization

Recently, I asked your advice in choosing which size file organizer to use here in the office.  Thanks so much to everyone who voted in the poll running on that previous post. You may remember from that post, a day or two after buying this 2-file organizer below, I stopped by another Marshalls... ...and found the same organizer in a taller version.  With three slots, this one offered even more … [Read more...]




Springtime Means Porch Time: Answers to Your Most FAQs

Now that spring has arrived and I'm using and posting more about the porch and decks, I've been getting a good many questions about the porch lately regarding its construction and furniture, so today I'm posting some of the most frequently asked questions along with three new pics of the porch during construction.   Hope you find this information helpful...here goes.   Q. What size is … [Read more...]




Decorating for the Summer House

A little beach themed vignette...   It's time to celebrate summer!   A shell-adorned hat to protect your peaches and cream complexion...   A few books to inspire your summertime decor:  Cottages by the Sea...The Handmade Homes of Carmel, Second Home...Finding Your Place in the Fun and Victoria At Home with White...Celebrating the Intimate Home.   A guide to … [Read more...]




Office Updates & Shell Charger Progress

Welcome to the 171st Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings!  How was your weekend?  What did you work on this weekend?  Do anything fun? I have a couple of small little updates to share this week for Metamorphosis Monday.  I decided to remove the TV from the office since I found I only turned it on a couple of times a month.   You can see it in this older photo to the right of the wallpaper organizer, … [Read more...]