Spooky Family Room

Isn't it so much fun decorating for Halloween? Every year I try to do something different with the same old stuff.

This year my Halloween mantle was inspired by nature.

The branches landed in the lot next door after a storm a few weeks ago. As soon as I saw them I knew I would be using them for this.

I used spanish moss and bittersweet layered on top of Christmas lights for a little nighttime drama.

The black crows, spooky cloths and the orange paper came from the dollar store.

I found these cool graphics at one of my favorite blog spots, The Graphics Fairy.

If your not already addicted to her blog, you will be now.

The kids get so excited about Halloween decorations.

I try to keep it somewhat friendly while they are still little.

They each have their own favorite decoration that they look forward to.

Does any one else find it challenging to balance tradition with keeping things current & exciting?

Keeping that in mind, some things must always be the same.

Thanks for visiting.

Moving on to the dining room...

Thrift Store Decor

Remember these from the Pottery Barn catalog? I think they were selling them for $150/set.

(They actually sold out of them at that price, too).

When I was little, my Grandma and Grandpa had a similar set in their 1970's avocado green and maize dining room. This meant there had to be vintage wooden forks and spoons out there somewhere.

Guess what? I found a pair at a thrift store for $1. After a coat of spray paint they now pay homage to my Grandma in our newly re-designed dining room.

Not as substantial as the PB version but I think it works.

More on the dining room project to come.

Dollar Store Decor

This year my Halloween decor has started with the great finds I scored at the Dollar Tree.

Can you believe they have these little versions of "funkins"? They have a great color quality to them. They are carve-able and paint-able! (I sprayed some off-white). I may have bought all they had, sorry.

They remind me of the scary vintage papier-mache pumpkins my Mom had when I was a kid...

I loaded up their little black crows. I like to display them inside with my vintage bird houses. We also perch them over the door on the front porch. The kids get a kick out of it when people stop to figure out if they are real.

They also have great scrap booking supplies. I found some orange striped scrap book paper to use behind the kids' silhouettes. I'm going for a Gothic "Adams Family" theme this year in the family room. (I stole the monogram from the dining room for the season).

Thanks Dollar Tree for getting things started a little early this year. I can't wait to see what you come out with next.

Halloween Decorating with the Kids

This was a really fun project for the kids last year. They like to get in on the Halloween decorating. We used Elmer's glue to stick google eyes of all different sizes to our family photos. It was so much fun we can't wait to do it again this year!

Another easy project we did together involved candy so they loved this one. We searched "vintage Halloween labels" on the Internet and glued them to my jar collection filled with treats to create a Deadly Sweet Shop.

Check out this blog for other Halloween craft ideas.

Vintage Slipper Chair

My sister-in-law found this great chair at a local thrift store for $22.

I fell in love with the curves and vintage vogue style. The color, not so great.

(Before)

I knew right away that it was going in here...

This was the first time I recovered a chair with a lot of curves so, I wanted to practice first. I used an old curtain panel that I had laying around. It works for now, one day I'll fall in love with a fabric and recover it without feeling guilty.

I used a staple gun to secure the fabric, a hot glue gun to attach the trim and a tack hammer to apply the nail heads. I had leftover trim paint that I used for the legs and back along with a coat of poly.

It didn't turn out perfect but it was a learning experience that only set me back $32 ($22 for the chair & $10 for the trim). The cost for a professional job would have been $300.

Have a great day. Thanks for stopping by.

Stop by The shabby nest , Crazy Domestic and fingerprints on the fridge for Linky parties with a ton of inspiration. Another great place to visit, sawdust and paper scraps is having a "Build-Hers" party with great projects built by girls.


Also linked up to Funky Junk Interiors Chair Party.

Our Family Room

Here is Part II of my last post...the Family Rooms turn.

Who else agrees that cotton white slipcovers were the best invention ever? I think they look & fit better with every wash.

Mine get washed a lot.

I didn't add anything new. Just a quick re-arrangement of an old collection made it feel like something was new.

This zebra chair was actually a thrift store rescue.  Click here to see what it looked like before along with a quick tutorial.

To see how I made these drapes DIY style, Click Here.

Now, if only I could make it bigger...


Please click HERE for information on my Affordable On-Line Design Consultation Service. 

Linked up to:
A View Along The Way

Loving what I have...

Our home is starting to show it's age. The original plan was to stay here for three years and then move on to something new. We have now been here for 5 years. If you are from Michigan, you know we aren't going to be moving any time soon.

You also know that we are lucky to still have our jobs and our home.

So, I have decided to appreciate what I have. I started to go room by room and freshen things up. This week it was the Main Entrance. Nothing major happened here, just a few tweaks that didn't cost a lot.

The front door got a fresh coat of Martha Stewarts "Barn Red". I used Faux Iron Finish spray paint in flat black to re-new the tarnished door knob and knocker.

The Brass kick plate added a little *bling*

Hanging baskets with Geraniums and Ivy brightened up the porch.

Inside the front door, the foyer got a little TLC...

Fresh paint (Martha Stewart "Coir"), a new wool rug.

A sheer sidelight panel added a little softness and privacy.

The tile grout was starting to look gray so it got a new look with an off white grout paint. A little detail that made a big difference. The light oak banister was updated with cream colored paint to match the trim.

My giant rusty tin stars from Mexico got a face lift with the Iron finish spray paint.

Lastly, I scored these over sized canvas prints at Home Goods. They were just what the wall going up the stairs needed. The theme of children & candy was too perfect.

I think I might fall in love with our house all over again...Thanks for stopping by.
Linking up to Funky Junks Curb Appeal Party.