Cozy Curated Finds and an Easy Makeover

What criteria do I use when deciding to purchase a piece of furniture that needs upcycled? 1) Is it real wood? 2) How wobbly is the piece and how hard or easy will it be to sturdy it? 3) Is it a piece of furniture that is useful and versatile? 4) How much time will it take me to update it? 5) Is the price worth my time to upcycle the piece?

When I recently spied a mid-century, vanity bench at a local thrift store, I ran it through my checklist and decided it was a YES, buy it piece! 

This vanity bench is very solid, not a wiggle or a wobble in it. The wood is in good, nice looking condition. Perfect? No, but nice enough that the only thing I needed to do to it was clean it up with some soap and water. All I wanted to do to update it was recover the seat.

I have had this small wool square for sale in my pop-up shop for quite some time (I thought it would be great as a table square). I decided that if the square was big enough, I would use it. I liked the warm and cozy look that the cream and brown plaid wool square brought to the mid-century piece.

I could see the blue fabric had been used to recover the original fabric. I left both of those and typically do when recovering a seat, as long as they aren't too dirty or stinky. I covered the blue fabric with two layers of Warm and Natural quilt batting and then the wool piece. 

I few other recent finds that add to this cozy seat include some good, realistic looking pine branches, green velvet pillows, and a frame (that needs glass) and a vintage Colorado mountain picture. This vanity bench makes a great entry bench, an extra seat at the kitchen table, as a side table with a tray on it, or used as a bench at the end of a bed.

Cozy Christmas Decor and a Reclaimed Wood Fireplace Mantel

Oh, how I wish I had a fireplace mantel to style each season. Alas, I do not (but I do use my front entryway shelf like a mantel). I love making faux mantels or fireplace shelves for my pop-up shop to sell to those who also crave the ambiance that a mantel brings to a home space. Last year I made and sold three different faux fireplaces during the holiday season, each one different and unique. Here is this season's first "fireplace" for the pop-up shop. 

This one I created using reclaimed, graying, barnwood. Although it has a rustic style, it can easily be dressed up or down to fit in a variety of homes. The mantel piece is a live edge, reclaimed barnwood plank with moss on it. It is lovely.

It is hard to see in these pictures, but the fireplace is backed with a piece of sheet metal. 

This fantastic, antique, brass gargoyle, peacock fireplace fan dresses up the rustic wood. It is definitely a fun find.

I sewed the stockings from a damaged Pendleton plaid wool blanket.

Other recently curated items include a painting painted in 1984 that was painted by mouth and is signed by the artist. The vintage, printed Santa cutout is perfect for a shelf or mantel. 100% sheepskin pillows are cozy and white pom-pom garlands add layers to the mantel.

The cozy feeling that the faux mantel gives the shop is appreciated and just right for my upcoming Holiday Home pop-up. 

A Project Fifteen Years in the Making

Some projects take longer than others. I knew exactly what I wanted to create when I purchased this antique, birdseye, maple headboard (and footboard) at a garage sale 15+years ago...

It just took me awhile to get to it!

But, this weekend was time to build the bench that I envisioned many years ago and I must say, it turned out even better than I pictured. (Sorry about the sunlight streaks.)

The curved footboard was cut in half and attached to the headboard on the sides. I then created a seat frame, using a nice piece of wood across the front. I cut a piece of plywood for the seat bottom and used a thick piece of memory foam as a cushion. I covered it in a piece of thrifted, cream wool that I scotchguarded.

The headboard and footboard were made by Innis Pearce & Co.  in Rushville, Indiana. They manufactured furniture from 1884-1921. I love researching the history of old pieces. Isn't she a beauty?

The bench will work with many different styles. Here it is shown with a cozy, plaid, wool blanket and a wool pinecone pillow--perfect in a rustic home or cabin.  Switch out pillows and blankets and it will work in a farmhouse, eclectic, or traditional home. This bench will be for sale at my upcoming pop-up shop.

Warm and Cozy Curated Finds

Do you crave warm and cozy spaces this time of the year? I sure do, which means I am curating warm and cozy home decor items for the pop-up shop. Here are a few recently sourced items that are perfect for fall and winter. 

Let's start with this cute footstool made from an old crate. 

I loved the wood on it and the previous owner did an excellent job making a sturdy, hinged lid for it. It was however covered in an early 90's, Amish country buggy print. I recovered it in a yellow and brown plaid wool. It is neutral enough to go with lots of different decor and chocolate brown is back!!

This vintage Watanabe Seitei Woodblock print featuring orange Chinese lanterns is simply lovely. It is entitled Starling and Snake Gourd from the Meiji Period 1868-1912.  The print was framed in South Bend, Indiana at a shop that is no longer in business, but that was started in 1911. 

This blanket is so soft and such a lovely warm color. It is made in Italy for Lands Down Under.

The velvet pillow and rust velour chair seat add more warmth. Color, fabric choices, and organic textures all create comfortable and welcoming spaces.

The BIG Spoon

Honestly, sometimes I source items that I have no idea why or what I will do with it. Such was the case with a recent BIG, carved wood spoon. Now, I have seen the big spoon and fork wall decor pieces often, but this spoon was a little different so I decided it needed to come home. It didn't take me long to decide to create a fun holiday decor piece with it.

I am not sure if the BIG spoon was individually hand-crafted or a mass-produced item, but I loved the carved details on the spoon handle.

I used some wire to add a faux pine branch.

I gave it a big, red bow and a gold bell to finish the look.

For photos, I used command adhesive strips to hang the BIG spoon. I love decorated cupboards, especially for the holidays. 

The BIG spoon will be for sale at my next pop-up, November 7 and 8.

Fall Porch Decor With Thrifted Finds

What do you get when you take a thrifted nail keg barrel,

and add some curly willow branches from the yard,

and thrifted, faux, fall stems?

A cute, fall decor display perfect for a porch.

I simply cut the branches from our fallen willow tree and put them in the barrel.

I stuck the faux, fall stems amongst the branches and,

voila, a perfect porch piece. Throwing a few rocks in the bottom helps the barrel to stay upright on windy days. This nail keg will work year round--add pine branches in the winter and pussy willows in the spring. This item will be for sale at my upcoming pop-up-shop!

3 Ways to Use a Thrift Store Crate

A cute, small, green, thrift store crate or wood box can be utilized in so many different ways in the home. Here are just three!

A small box like this is a good way to corral and organize items in the kitchen on the counter.

Cooking oils, a jar of tea, a cutting board, and rolled towels look neater when organized in the green crate. It also makes it easier to move items when counter space is needed.

A wood box is a unique way to create a centerpiece for a dining table or shelf. Autumn items--art, dried flowers, candles bundled together, a wood acorn dish, and plaid napkin are neatly displayed in the crate. 

The centerpiece sits on a vintage, needlepoint piece in fall colors.

Set the crate on a guest bedroom bed and fill it with comfort items for your guests--an extra throw blanket, tissues, books, and a decanter with some good bourbon in it for a nightcap.

There are so many other ways to use a sturdy wood crate--books, bathroom towels, stuffies,  hang on a wall as a shadow box. Be sure to pick these up when you see them!

5 Ways to Add Cozy to Your Home

Fall means it is cozy season, a time when we tend to be indoors a bit more and when we want to feel relaxed and comfortable in our spaces. And although cozy may mean something different to each of us, there are certain elements that you can add to make your space feel more inviting and warm. 

Let's start with COLOR. No matter what colors you decorate your home in, you can always add touches or "pops" of warm colors to cozy up your home. Use yellows, oranges, reds, browns, and mossy or olive greens. By the way, chocolate brown is back and is coming in hot this fall for both clothing and home decor. Remember there are so many different hues and shades of these warm colors and you don't have to repaint a wall, just incorporate small touches.

Faux flowers tucked here and there are a good way to incorporate warmth.  

This chair is always in my family room because I love warm colors, but a golden mustard colored throw adds a bit more color.

LIGHTING is the perfect way to add some coziness to your house. Candlelight is the very best, please remember to never leave burning candles unattended. Changing lightbulbs to warmer hues in lamps that aren't used for tasks add more warmth. Twinkle or fairy lights wrapped around a banister or placed in a house plant are also a good way too ambient lighting. 

FABRIC choices and texture make a space feel more homey and comfortable. I change out the cotton and linen pillows and throws I have been using during the spring and summer for velvet, wool, velour, sherpa, etc. Incorporating more texture also makes a spot feel cozier.

LAYER decor! I always like layers, but tend to pare them down for cleaner, more streamlined displays in the warmer months. For autumn, I start to add small extra pieces and bits to my vignettes. I also use more warm metals--brass and copper in the fall and winter.

Decorate with some WARM ART. I no longer go nuts with seasonal decor, but I do change out some pieces like this art in my front entryway. This thrifted, original painting is the perfect way to add some coziness to the hone and to transition into a new season.

You don't have to make huge changes to cozy up your home. Simply use color, lighting, fabrics and textures, layers, and art to make your home feel comfortable and welcoming this autumn.

Flat Lay of Fun Fall Finds

Have I mentioned that fall is my favorite season? (Yes, yes I have!) Sourcing for fall pop-up shops is so much fun. Here are some recent finds. Be sure to keep reading for details!

They are hard to see, but there are a couple fall colored textiles underneath all of the goodies. In the upper left of the picture above there is a throw rug in soft blues, tans, and golds. At the bottom of the photo is a cream colored tablecloth with gold and orange flowers on it.

Vintage art is my favorite thing to curate and I have found some wonderful pieces lately. The Art Nouveau print, "Courge Squash Flowers", by French artist Pillard (1896) is such a lovely way to celebrate fall harvests. The original, acrylic landscape is definitely vintage. The vintage print on cardboard is Picasso's "A Peasant Woman". I thought she was kind of spooky for Halloween. A wicker cornucopia holds plaid napkins and a wood pestle. A brass compass sits on the gourd print.

These large pottery mugs are by designer Leanne Ford. They are Brekkie mugs and originally sold at Crate and Barrel. They are perfect for hot cider or cocoa or coffee on a cool autumn day.

I love the sweet, vintage, hand-painted orange and brown floral art piece.

This original, acrylic painting of mountains and a fall field is not old, but I adore the colors and composition. You can see the rug better in this picture and some brand new, fall floral cloth napkins. The wood round object is a cake stand and the stoneware coasters are fun and colorful.

A spinning caddy is perfect for any time of the year. I think it would be cute on a coffee table with curiosities in it--shells, old photos, small collectibles, dried flowers. The pumpkin holds a candle. The 1973 gold bust might get white painted eyes to enhance it's creepiness. I found 45 wood bullseyes and will make some art pieces with them. The teapot works well to hold a floral arrangement or hot tea.

A pair of watercolors by the same artist depict late fall or early winter scenes. The wool lumbar pillow is a nice addition to a chair.

A picnic basket holds fall stems and a brass trinket box sits on a wood cutting board. The oh so soft, plaid shacket is most likely a keeper. A pair of Pottery Barn pillows are a good way to add some fall color to a sofa or bench.

A sweet pastoral print in browns and golds adds a calming and homey touch to any space. 

If you think cozy when you think autumn, the pair of sherpa pillows under the orange flower painting are just the thing. They are genuine sherpa.

Wow! I think that is all. That is a lot of curated goodness, isn't it? What do you see that you like?