When I Move One Day, These Are Going With Me

Many years ago when I used to go out antiquing almost every weekend, I ran into a good friend in a local antique shop. I was so surprised to see someone I knew in this large, but kinda off-the-beaten-path shop. She was headed out the door with a big brass chandelier in her hands. I complimented her on her awesome find, it was a beautiful chandelier! As she made her way toward the door, she shared that … [Read more...]




A Dining Room Update That’s Been a Long Time Coming

Welcome to 579th Metamorphosis Monday! Many years ago, long before I began blogging, I had the walls in my dining room papered in a pretty, yellow and blue (with touches of raspberry red) wallpaper. These pictures, taken just before a little dinner party with friends, do not do the wallpaper justice. The paper was a beautiful, elegant pattern and I loved it for many years.   Back then, I … [Read more...]




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

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




Ballard Designs Speaks & A Lesson in Drapery Clip Rings

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




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...]




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...]




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...]




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...]




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...]




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...]




Adding Picture Molding to the Dining Room

A couple of months ago, I decided I was tired of my dining room being painted all red, above and below the chair rail. The room isn't overly large, so all that red made the room feel even smaller. This photo below is the only pic I have of how it looked when it was painted all red. I had just decorated the room for a birthday party I was having for a good friend.   Once I made the decision to … [Read more...]