Hi Friends!

Oh my, this week has literally blazed right by and I cannot believe that it's already Thursday.

How has your week been? With Veteran's Day this past Monday, we have had non-stop LIFE over here! Ha!

 

I've got projects out the wazoo that I need to complete, some for myself and some for friends and my list of wants just seems to keep growing and growing.

 

One thing I did have time for was adding a little something to our entry. Now, the foyer of our rental home is pretty small and can sometimes feel a bit cluttered and overwhelming at times but what better way to make it feel fresh and new than to add a little texture and greenery?

 

 

 

 

I picked up these two hanging baskets from Williams-Sonoma a little over a month ago and originally they were on our mantel just because I wasn't really sure about their placement. I knew that I would use them in some way though.

 

 

 

 

After the original ferns I'd placed inside eh, hm...died. I purchased some single stem greenery from a local grocer for $3.99 and the hanging baskets only cost me $10.00. So, with tax, this little refresh was less than $15.00.

 

I am thinking of just about any way I can to add a little personality to this rental of ours and who doesn't love fresh greenery especially when it has berries.

 

Um, yes please.

 

 

 

You will have to forgive me for so many pics. My hubby traveled to China for business last week and brought a sweet little gift back for me in the form of a new lens. This is my chance to play around with it a little bit. I have SO much to learn!

 

I thought I would also share a few inspirational photos and a few tips for all of you out there with small entryways like ours. I didn't share the entire view {mostly cause ours is a mess right now} but trust me when I say it's teeny tiny. I will share more photos of this space along with an update of how things are going with the living space in the next Rental Redo post.

 



 

TIP #1 | PAINT A WALL...OR TWO.

In this case, a chalkboard one. Isn't this just too cute and at an entry, it would be a great space to leave notes for the kids or for a spouse or even to make lists and special guest messages. I LOVE this!  

 



 

 

TIP #2 | ADD A MIRROR.

And not just any old mirror, make it a good one and be sure it's just the right size for the space. We all know that mirrors can make a small space look much larger by reflecting parts a room. Another great idea is to not just add one mirror but a collection of vintage ones, some of all shapes and sizes, etc. can add just the right touch to a small entry.

 

 

 

TIP #3 | STRIPES, STRIPES and MORE STRIPES.

Of course these are oh so trendy right now but they aren't just trendy, they are functional. Adding simple lines to a short wall can give the illusion of length hence tricking the eye into thinking that the given space is much larger and longer than it actually is.

 

 

TIP #4 | ORGANIZE  IT.

THIS is my next step in ours. If it's not organized but the rest of your home is put together, it can definitely give the wrong vibes to guests entering the home. Free the space of clutter and create a space that is not only pretty but functional.

 

 

 

 TIP #5 | WHEN IN DOUBT, PUT A FRAME ON IT.

This one is surely my opinion but you just can't go wrong with a gallery wall. The one below is more symmetrical but you could add just about any type of frame or wall décor to fit your home's style or your own personality.

All images can be found here.

 

 

I also just wanted to take a sec to say thanks to you guys for following along and for commenting, giving advice, opinions and thoughts along the way on this rental refresh. It's been so much fun to add a little bit of me to this place we are temporarily calling home all while sticking to a pretty tight budget.

 

I absolutely love sharing this adventure with all of you!

 

Linking up with:

Savvy Southern Style

DIY Showoff

City Farmhouse

Rain on a Tin Roof

 

 

  XO,

During this rental redo, I've had lots of grand ideas. To which most my loving husband has assitsted me in putting on hold for our permanent home. One of those ideas was a plank wall behind this sofa with 3/4 board and baten.

 

Really? Yes. Really.

 

In a rental. Yep. In a rental.

 

So, instead of covering this whole wall with reclaimed boards and wainscoting, I have decided to cover THIS wall instead. It's a tad bit smaller and less of a project than the other.

 

 Don't you agree?

 

 

Again, many of you (and lots of friends frankly) have asked why I would even bother making this place all nice and cozy or even worry about projects like this if we are only going to be in this place another year. To be honest, I don't think I have a really good answer for that. I just know that I need to create and I can't stop the process in my brain...it has to come out!

 

I am thinking we should have this project completed in the next two weeks or so. I would love to have it done tomorrow but I have a few more things on my to-do list before this so, it must wait!

 

In the meantime, this weekend I picked up a few things to add to our living room and I am beginning to put the room together bit by bit.

 

This lamp was one item that I picked up...are you ready...from Target! Don't you just love it? I love the chunky base and the black lampshade with gold lining screams sophistication. I plan on putting a pair behind the sofa on a console to "flank" the framed photos above. That wall won't escape my wrath, planked or not. I still have to finish filling it with accessories and whatnot to even everything out.

 

 

 

This isn't the most impressive picture of the lamp but it's really a stunner. Gold lining inside the shade and all. I will place a pair behind the sofa atop a console table and plan on adding some more eye candy to the wall behind.

 

 

This is staging at it's finest people...let me just tell ya. Ha! Really though...never mind all the pillows on the sofa and the barren table...it will all come together. I promise.

 

 

 

I picked up this awesome piece of chippy goodness at Haystack Antiques: HOME {eh hmmm, love that place BTW and if you are a local, you must visit} this past weekend as well. I went back and forth about the type of coffee table I wanted in the space and settled on this style. It's a far cry from my original thought of an industrial style table but so much more warm and cozy than wood and metal. I figure that since our home is temporary, and since this was such a good deal, if I got tired of it or changed my mind, I could always change it out for something else and use this as an event or photography prop. I fell in love with it though and had to have it!

 

 

I also picked up some ironstone and vintage botanical prints that I'll be putting up on the walls right after my {drum roll, please}...plank wall installation. Yah!

 

So, as I mentioned I've been dreaming of them no doubt. They stalk me. Seem to be everywhere I go. Okay, maybe not everywhere I go but kinda since they are in my thoughts everywhere I go!

 

Since covering the entire wall behind the sofa may be too much of a task given the situration here, I will be using one of our smaller accent walls to show off my DIY prowess. I am SO excited to bring in a little more character into the living area. And even more excited to share how we do it with you guys!

 

Anyhow, all for now...what do you think of my finds for the week? Thanks for letting me share my rental redo ups and downs with you! Hope you're having an amazing week!

 

XO, 



Sharing Over At...
The Feathered Nest
Jennifer Rizzo
Blissfully Ever After
Liz Marie Blog
What Meegan Makes

NOTE: This is kind of a long post and the first few paragraphs are dedicated to why I decided to write about re-doing our rental in the first place. If you feel like it'd be beneficial for you to know...start right here. If not, just scroll on down to get some cool tips on how to shop smart for your temporary home. I promise...I won't be offended!

 

 

Okay, guys...here we go. You've heard me talk over and over again about our rental and how...well...I am not so in love with it and have wanted to change it and make it OURS since we've been here. The truth is...it's not ours. It will never be...and I am learning to be okay with that.

 

We moved to Seattle two years ago this past August after my husband and I decided that, for our family, it was time to establish some stability and leave the military life. He served faithfully in the US Air Force for 10 years which meant that we moved from state-to-state every three years or so.

 

If any of you out there reading this are military or live in a temporary residence, you will surely relate to what I am about to share.

 

Because of our nomadic-like patterns, it became very clear to me that whenever we did finally land somewhere, I had to plant my feet quickly and get to the business of making our house a home wherever we were no matter how big, small or old the space was.

 

To be candid and super honest, by our last duty station, I was done. I didn't want to decorate or stage a thing and we lived on base which didn't make for much of inspiration in the way of home design.

 

After praying about it and agreeing that it was time to go I began to hold on to the promise of a brighter future in a permanent space that we could truly call our own and that I could put my personal stamp on! Yippee!

 

Well fast forward almost three years and we are here...living in a rental space that is quite a bit older and could use some maintenance in key areas. Our family has since grown from our original five to six and we have truly outgrown the house. BUT, we make the most of the space, our kids love it here and have made some wonderful memories.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I know we are blessed to have a home that is more than cozy for us...we lack for nothing. Not a thing. For that, I am eternally grateful. But, you see, I am holding on to a promise...God is faithful, I just need a little cheering on every now and then...to remember that promise.

 

Insert the day that the hubs came home with grave news {grave, I tell ya}...we would have to stay in the rental for a year more than we had planned to ensure we have just the right amount of funding necessary to get the home that we really want to have. Sooooo...{insert tears here}..yup, I cried. Not really sure why and to be honest, I really felt like a whiny baby...an ungrateful one. So, what did I do? I pulled my "big girl panties" up and decided to make the most of it...I thought...we are going to fix up this place as much as we are allowed until we leave.

 

Most people wouldn't even care to take the time to do this for a home that didn't even belong to them...but all of you creatives out there will understand exactly why I went straight into this mode. I. Just. Can't. Help. It.

 

I really didn't mean to be SO longwinded with the backstory here but I felt like you all needed to know {especially all of my new friends} why I was sharing this in the first place.

 

So, on to my plans for this place for the next few months:

 

 

See all of those goodies up there? These are my picks for our living and dining spaces.

 

There are lots of patterns, textures, colors...well, not really colors but since, at the current time, we are SUPER neutral...those yellow curtains up there...for me, are a TON of color! I am totally a neutral girl! You can see that here. Honestly, with all the patterns there's just really more personality than color so it adds a bit of a fun element to the space. I like that. Layered rugs, modern pillow mixed with Southern charm. Yes, please. Again...I digress...forgive me.

 

The home we live in is a late 1950's Rambler style home. Which, lends greatly to a more modern, industrial, contemporary feel. Those styles, while amazing, are typically not something I have ever been interested in. I am Southern. Not that that means I can't like contemporary things but the heart of our home will always have to be cozy...not cluttered. Cozy.

 

I do, however, love industrial and modern elements so in this redo, I will attempt to bring that in with the help of accents, trims and décor.

 

So how do you save money while you learn to love the space you're in yet still add YOUR touch to the space? Here are a few tips:

 

TIP #1

Don't spend a lot of money on doo-dads and whatnots.

If you're like me, you love all the decorative accessories. And if you're even more like me, your taste and style preferences change often as well. These days, there are too many outlets on the web to score the perfect accent for that nook or cranny in your space.

Just a few places to sign up for and find great deals:

Antique Farmhouse

Décor Steals

Last Call

HomeGoods 

{online shopping not currently available}

and so many more!

 

 

Like these lovelies from West Elm. They are actually more on the high end of what I would normally pay, but I am in love with them. And since this post is REALLY about shopping smart, these won't break the bank at $29.00-39.00.

 

 

As you know, I've been SO into gold lately and these add just the right touch of character and personality. I think I will place them on this little sidetable/etergere from  Overstock.com.

 

Which leads me to...

 

TIP #2

Shop online closeout and discount websites. Frequently.

Now, I know some of you may be turned off by this one but tune back in. You'll be happy you did. Did you know that sites like Overstock.com, Wayfair, Joss and Main and so many others offer high quality, brand name furniture, décor and so much more at a fraction of the cost? This is not because the items are damaged but because so many companies out there over promise and under deliver. Who wins on that one? Well, you do, of course!

 

And I am loving everything about this simple, monogrammed pillow. Southern girls like Southern things...and what's more Southern than a monogrammed pillow? I am in love. This one was easy. And even better, a seamstress friend will be making this one for me! Yes!

 

TIP #3

Support handmade, local artisans whenever you can.

 

via Etsy

 

If you take a look at the inspirational mood board image above, most of the pillows I plan to purchase are from Etsy. Once again, do not misjudge...Etsy has a bazillion wonderfully talented designers who make high quality goods for the home. Whenever I can, I like to support them. Can I make pillows? Yes. Realistically, will I have the time? No. One tip for Etsy though...shop around. Since there are so many people offering their goods, there is a lot of competition for pricing. Be sure to take your time to find the best deal for what you need for your space.

 

 

TIP #4

DIY.

Do it yourself. And if you can't, I bet you have a friend who can!

Can you paint a piece of furniture, sew a straight line, use a hammer and nail? Then, chances are that in your decorating process, you can make a few things to not only add a personal touch to your home but save money at the same time. As you know, DIY is all the rage right now and if you don't know how to do it I am pretty sure you can find an online video or blog tutorial on how to make it happen. Let your fingers do the walking and make Google {or Bing} your best friend.

 

 

 

TIP #5

Be Patient.

Rome wasn't built in day and neither will your home.

{Ha, if I'm not preaching to MYSELF on this one}

I am SURELY preaching to myself on this one. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even believe I typed it. It's like someone was controlling my fingers and I was totally out of control. Imagine that. Seriously, even though you're in a rental, take the time to think through what projects are most important to you.

What spaces does your family spend the most time in? What room is the most used?This is probably where you want to begin your planning.

 

Are you ready to go on this rental redo journey with me? Sure hope so! And I would love for you to share your redo stories with me!

 

Finally coming out of hiding after quite a full summer!  From here on out, Mondays around here will be known as Main Mondays. Most of you, I am sure, have heard of Joss and Main. And, if you haven't, Joss and Main is an online home décor shop offering flash sales and discounts on many hard to find items for home and life.

 

I just happen to love all the different varieties of products they offer so I decided what other better way to share my finds than right here on the RHI blog!

 

Starting off with a  few of my faves offered this week on the site:

 

Japala Jute Pouf
$192.95

Three piece set of galvanized French Inspired buckets
$27.00

Astor Arm Chair

$293.95

 

Charlotte Chandelier

$117.95

 

Milla Rug

$55.95

Caroline Settee

$455.95



 

 

  

 

 

And these are just a few of my faves from Joss and Main! Hurry over and find some of your own before the flash is over! Fortunately...there's always more! 

 

 

Happy Monday!

Today I want to share my recent experience with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint with you and begin to delve into some of the differences between milk and chalk paints. This will be a series as I learn more about different techniques and fun things to do with this paint.

As most of you know, Miss Mustard Seed announced a few months ago that she would begin distributing Milk Paint with her signature on it! Of course, if you're like me, you were super excited about it after you finally got up off of the floor! Tee,hee!

Well, I pre-ordered my paint back in August through Amy at  Maison Decor. As I anxiously awaited its arrival I could only dream of all the lovely pieces I would refinish. I watched blogs (including Marian's) as many stockists received their trial samples and tested them out on their own pieces of furniture. Oh, how I longed to to touch it, feel it, smell it...wait, wah? We are talking paint here, right? Snap out of it, Kennesha...okay, back on task.

Fast forwarding a couple of months, I received my precious box of paints and extras in the mail YESTERDAY! OMG! I was beyond elated and couldn't wait to slap some of that stuff on something. Anything! I grabbed this table. It's tiger oak, not a smooth wood but it would do for the first test.

My order included three colors, antiquing wax, bonding agent and the crackle medium. Of the three colors I ordered I settled on testing out the French Enamel first.

In the photo above you can see that the french enamel looks a little bright. I will have to post some more pics later but it's really more muted than it looks. 

I'll take you through my process. MMS offers a bonding agent to help the milk paint adhere to the surface you are painting. This product is particularly used for non-porous materials like glass and metal. Since this was a wood table, I chose to paint  without the bonder. 

Normally, my first step with any piece that I am refinishing whether with milk paint, latex or chalk paint, I use TSP (Trisodium Phosphate). You can find TSP at just about any hardware store. I purchase mine from Benjamin Moore and it is an alternative called "TSP Wash". It is less harmful and more safe than the concentrated version you buy at most stores. 

After cleaning the piece, unless you're using a latex based paint, it's pretty much ready to go. 

I followed MMS's directions and mixed the paint according to instructions on the package. Just to be sure I was doing things right, I watched the video tutorial. You can find it here. 

One thing I like about this milk paint is that you can pretty much make it the consistency that works best for you. For this table, I left it a bit thinner. Believe it or not, you're looking at one coat application.    A little goes a long way...

After applying the paint over the entire piece, I let it dry for an hour. The recommendation is about 30 minutes but I was chasing around my 9 month old, finishing dinner and checking my Instagram account...so, it was about an hour. I noticed that as it was drying, the paint began to crackle even without the crackle medium. I was happy about that as it added texture in unexpected places.

I followed with a bit of sanding using a putty knife and my handy dandy foam sanding sponge. I then used the MMS Antiquing Wax to give the piece a little more depth and of course, add age. 

So, what do I think of my first encounter with MMS Milk Paint in French Enamel? 

 What I LOVE about MMS Milk Paint:

• Environmently Friendly: MMS Milk Paint is environmentally and packs a punch to most specialty paints on the market with NO VOC's. 

• Application: This paint is easy to apply and a great paint for just about anyone from a pro painter to the novice.

• Price: Coming in at half of most decorative paints out there ($22.00/pk) it saves the wallet and can treat yourself AND a friend to coffee.  

• Drying time: The drying time for this paint is comparable to ASCP (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) so you don't have to wait to long to complete your masterpiece.

• Sanding/Distressing: This paint loves to be distressed and for all of you out there who get a kick out of it, you'll enjoy doing it with this one. It chips easier than most paints and if you're going for that look, MMS Milk Paint delivers. You can also use a damp cloth to lightly distress if you want to cut down on sanding dust. 

• Color Selection: For now, there are 12 colors to choose from. Not a ton BUT you can customize colors by mixing (I am not bold enough to do that just yet) and you know MMS is already formulating more creative colors to send your way! 

• Availability: Like most specialty paints, you can't walk into your local Home Depot or Lowe's to purchase this paint but there are a ton of online stockists if you can't find a local shop near you. You can get more info about that here and here. 

Some things that would make MMS Milk Paint even better:

• Finishing/Sealing: The antiquing wax is not your typical wax. It is much lighter and less intense than ASCP dark or others on the market. I found that I had to apply a lot to get the results I was looking for. It also does not leave a hard coating like some other furniture waxes but does seal the surface well. 

So, there you have it...my first MMS Milk Paint review. I hope it was helpful to those of you who have  not tried it yet. Overall, it's really a great product and I am excited to learn and watch for more from this line. 

What I used for this project:

MMS Milk Paint in French Enamel (Maison Decor)

MMS Antiquing Wax (Maison Decor)

Purdy Paint Brush (Home Depot)

Putty Knife (Home Depot)

Sanding Sponge (Lowe's/Home Depot)

Staining Sponge for wax application (Lowe's)

p.s. Because I have had some technical difficulty with my camera and computer, consider this a sneek peek of this table. How many of you were waiting for a nice, pretty staged photo? Oops! More to come soon! 

OMG! Tomorrow's the big day! I am nervous. So. Nervous. 

I can't really put my finger on it but I have never felt this way. Not even when putting together my pieces for a show. 

Of course, there's all the last minute to-dos. Sand a little more here. Paint a little more there. Add some wax everywhere...

Anyhow, as requested, here's a pic of the very last piece I finished to get ready for me spot. I think it turned out scrum-diddly-umptious! 

Granted, this dresser wasn't exactly the worst I've refinished but it was pretty dated and needed a few small repairs. Good thing I was there to rescue it from sure disaster.

BEFORE

AFTER

I just love the way it came out. Truly a traditional piece which is kinda the way I am going with my space in this season. 

I really am becoming a huge fan of the AS Graphite. Sometimes it looks blue. Sometimes gray. Sometimes black. Always pretty though.



And I got this in the mail today. I was so excited and praying that it would come before I moved all of my pieces into the store. I didn't get a pic of it but it's a custom stamp from here. I love it. On top of the uber quick ordering process, they sent me some letterpress thank you notes with my sweet little package. Talk about a repeat customer. I. Totally. Am.

So simple and totally speaks to my personal and design style. 

Okay, hope you enjoyed more sneak peeks...more pics over the weekend so come back often, leave some encouraging words, love, whatevs...just let me know you're out there! *deep breath*

Living in this moment,

Linking up with:
MMS Furniture Feature Friday
Shabby Creek Cottage
French Country Cottage

We've had a very busy week around here. Of course, part of that busy-ness (Is that a word?) was the refinishing of a few furniture pieces and a few CL pick ups here and there. I'll be sharing more about some lovely finds later on in the week.

Go back with me, if you will, to this. You remember her, don't you?

Well, she's been through a bit of a transformation and finally found a new home. 

Finished with ASCP in Cream and sealed with AS Clear Wax

Isn't she lovely? What do you think of the transformation?

Having a party with...

Okay, so I mentioned in my last post that it's been a really long time since I've been able to "pour" myself into making my house a home and how exciting it is to be able to do so!

After 10 years of military life, our family is finally settling into the civilian world and IT. FEELS. GREAT. Not only because our kids will have a home to call their own even after three years of living here but also because I now get to make my house feel more like a home.

I can finally sink in, plant roots and cozy up the place without feeling the overwhelming sensation of the temporary life that belongs to so many military families across the country and world. Don't get me wrong, military life wasn't all bad by any means. There were so many great opportunities and friendships we were afforded through the benefit of being military. However, just like everything else, it had its downfalls and negatives and we just felt like those began to outweigh the benefits more. And so...after much prayer, tears and even laughter...here. we. are. And here we go...

In the next few weeks (and maybe even months), you will listen to me share this new season that God has brought us into and,specifically, how making our house a home involves more than just aesthetics. And while I know that God has given me a gift and a passion for the restoration of old things, He is the One who  makes ALL things new! For that, I am thankful!  

So, grab your favorite blanket or sweater and a warm mug of hot chocolate, coffee or tea and snuggle up for  a freshly brewed cup of inspiration. 

So, with all of  that being said, some of you asked what colors I used on the pieces from my last post. Well, here ya go! 

Dresser turned Media Stand: Sherwin Williams, Annie Sloan Dark Wax

Cedar Chest turned Coffee Table: Annie Sloan Cream, AS Clear Wax

Dresser turned Entry Table: Annie Sloan Cream, Annie Sloan Clear Wax

And here's my latest project...again, for my house. 

BEFORE
 This is by no means in horrible condition with the exception of a few scrapes and scratches on the top

I am attempting to put our living room together and it's coming together quite nicely. I am learning to take my time in decorating my own home and not feel so anxious about getting things done. Anyone else feel that way? Like you just have to put all together in a snap?? 

Well, I don't really have a choice in the matter since finding pillows for my sofa seems to be like finding a needle in a haystack! But....I digress...back to the table.

I really liked it. Had good bones. Only $30 and just the size I needed as an occasional table beside our sofa. So, just like any savvy shopper...I grabbed it and began to dream up all the wonderful and yummy colors and finishes I could give it.

This is what I came up with...

What do you think? I just love it and think it fits in so well with what I want the room to feel like. A little formal. A lotta cozy. And a lot of chippy.

I'll be revealing more of our living room in weeks to come...stay tuned! 

p.s. For those of you wondering, I used SW Jogging Path for the main parts of this table and Dover White for the accents. ;)

LINKIN UP WITH: