Red Door Home

Project Snapshots and Something about Silver Giveaway Winner

2012-01-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, the beginning of a new year has me re-energized. I have been busy organizing, cleaning, purging, rearranging, and checking lots of those little pesky things off my “to do” list which have been there way too long. (i.e. - the clock above my mantel which has been leaning against the wall for almost two years has finally been hung!)

Along with all of the above, I have also been working on lots of house projects. So today I thought I would share a sneak peak of what I have been up to and give you an idea of what is ahead. I will be sure to share all the details as each project is completed.

The biggest changes will be taking place in the master bedroom. The pictures below are a few hints of the progress which has been made so far.

I have also been completing projects in the basement . . .

. . . adding some new artwork to the mudroom . . .

. . . and updating a few things in the kitchen.

Changes are also in store for the dining room.

Finally, I wanted to thank everyone who entered the Something About Silver giveaway. I try to host a couple of giveaways throughout the year as a way to thank you for choosing to take time out of your busy schedules and spend it with Red Door Home.

Congratulations to Theresa from the blog The Adventures of Theresa and Brian. Theresa has won a $40 gift certificate to Something About Silver’s online shop.

Something About Silver Giveaway Reminder and Discount

2012-01-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day to enter the RDH Something About Silver Giveaway.

Don’t miss your chance to win a $40 gift certificate to Something About Silver. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Wednesday, January 19, 2012.

For those of you who can’t wait, Something About Silver is also offering a 10% discount exclusively for Red Door Home readers. Simply add the code “RedDoorHome” when checking out.

Good Luck!

Something About Silver Giveaway!

2012-01-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching so now is a great time to start thinking about gifts for all the special people in your life. Today’s giveaway – a $40 gift certificate - is a great way to jump start the shopping for the ones you love. Of course, you could also pick out a little something for yourself as well!

Something About Silver specializes in custom hand stamped jewelry and is made in Clearwater, Florida. They create beautiful personalized rings, bracelets, necklaces and more.

I was attracted to this company because of their unique designs. My favorite of which is the Vintage Style Wax Seal Bracelet.

It has a vintage eclectic look and features wax seal initial charms and freshwater pearls. The chain and charms are antiqued for a beautiful aged and artistic look.

The bracelet above is the sample I was sent to review. Since I have several pieces of jewelry with the initials of my kids, I wanted to do something a little different. I decided to write the word “RUN” as a way to remind myself of all the blessings I have received as the result of being a lifelong runner.

I am a big fan of charm bracelets and this one has happily found a home on my wrist on many occasions. I like the old-world, handcrafted look and that the clasp can be hooked on any of the chain links, making the bracelet’s size fully customizable. The wider links also have me thinking about adding some additional charms – perhaps a few more pearls and a running charm or two!

Something About Silver has generously offered Red Door Home followers a chance to win a $40 gift certificate to their fabulous online store. Pick out something for someone special or something for yourself!

Also, for the next ten days, RDH followers will receive a 10% discount on orders simply by entering the code “REDDOORHOME” upon check out.

To enter, simply leave a comment which includes your favorite Something about Silver piece of jewelry. For extra entries follow Something About Silver’s Newsletter, like them on Facebook and/or follow on twitter then leave a comment letting me know which you did.

Details:
You must be a Red Door Home follower and a resident of the US
Contest closes midnight, January 17, 2012.
Winner chosen via Random.org and announced on January 19, 2012.

Hooked on Houses - the January Red Door Home Blog of the Month

2012-01-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I am excited to be starting 2012 with a Red Door Home Blog of the Month feature.

January’s highlighted site – Hooked on Houses – will be an instant favorite for anyone who enjoys houses.

Julia - author of Hooked on Houses

Movie buffs will love Julia’s famous tv and movie house features. Here she shares a behind the scenes look at beloved movie sets and the designers who made these homes come to life.

From Somethings Gotta Give

My favorite and one of the most popular movie houses ever, being the Somethings Gotta Give house.

Somethings Gotta Give Dining Room

This kitchen with its white cabinets, honed granite countertops, dark stained floors and white subway tiled backsplash was an instant hit and remains an inspiration for many kitchens built today.

Somethings Gotta Give kitchen

Another regular series on Hooked on Houses is celebrity home features highlighting the living spaces – both inside and out – of the rich and famous. From real estate listings to magazine stories, Julia shares all the details which make these properties so intriguing.

Jennifer Lopez's house

Sandra Bullock's gothic victorian home

On the funnier side is the bad MLS listing photos. Readers submit pictures from real estate listings which can only be filed under the “what were they thinking category.” Take for example this agent who decided to show the same two vases of flowers in every single picture – budget staging at its best!

Finally, a house blog would not be complete without a before and after section and Hooked on Houses has one of the best. Makeover stories range from single room transformations to entire house remodels.

I especially love the kitchen makeover shown below.

Better Homes and Gardens Kitchen and Bath Makeovers = Photographer: Bryan McCay

Designer and Producer: Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

There is a lot more to see at Hooked on Houses so I hope you will take moment to visit Julia. Her blog is truly one of the best!

Christmas House Tour 2011

2011-12-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas has always been my favorite time to decorate. In years past I have had lots of hours to spend getting my home ready for the holidays – decorating, baking gingerbread houses, crafting, etc. Things were a little different in 2011, as we were blessed with the celebration of my in-laws 50^th wedding anniversary over Thanksgiving and my Etsy store had its best year ever. Thank you!

So needless to say, I just did not have time to do all decorating and blogging like I have done in the past. Rather than dwell on all the things I could not get done and go on and on about how crazy my life has been over the past two months, I decided to celebrate the season and invite you into my home just as it is! So welcome to my home for the holidays!

I kept the decorating simple this year with fresh greens and the white color palette I have used previously.

We added an extra stocking on the mantel this year for our new puppy, Abby.

She was determined to be in the picture of the family room shown below.

The living room was also awash in fresh greens – my favorite being the garland draped on the clock.

I hope you enjoyed the abbreviated tour of my house. Thank you for taking the time to visit! I wish for you and your loved ones a blessed Christmas and joyous holiday!

Holiday Floral Photo Shoot – Behind the Scenes

2011-12-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

Many people are curious to know what it is really like to be a part of a magazine photo shoot. So today I would like to share my experience from the holiday floral photo shoot which took place at my house this past summer.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

I have been lucky to be a part of a few magazine photo shoots and each time I learn something new. The thing which consistently amazes me most, however, is the amount of planning, work and attention to detail which goes into setting up just one picture. It takes an entire team of professionals to produce just the right look for a story.

The floral photo shoot took place over the course of three days. The stylist and photographer, along with their assistants, producer, and floral artist Ariella Chezar spent the better part of the first day unloading all their equipment, supplies, props, and flowers as well as preparing the spaces where photos would be taken.

My mudroom and laundry room were filled with flowers, the garage became a props and supplies staging area, and the kitchen served as command central as well as where most of the flower arranging took place. Lots of stuff and people everywhere!

The first day included lots of furniture moving and rearranging - basic set up for the upcoming two days of shooting. The photographer looked at the lighting in the house to determine what time during the day the light would be best in each room and the floral artist created several of the floral arrangements based on what rooms would be used during the first day of shooting.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:Amy Panos / Producer:Ariella Chezar

Photographer:Kate Mathis / Stylist:Ed Gallagher

The second and third days were when the picture taking took place. The team arrived early and worked the entire day. Since this shoot was not about my house or family, my kids and I did our best to just stay in the background and out of everyone’s way. They graciously allowed me to watch (whenever I had the chance) as they worked their magic. Each picture appearing in the magazine and online was the result of a coordinated effort between everyone involved. The flowers, props, and lighting were all arranged and rearranged multiple times until everyone was pleased with how the picture looked – a very time consuming process. After a picture was completed, rooms were cleaned up, put back together, and it was on to the next photo.

One of the funnier moments during the photo shoot occurred when I returned home to find two huge panels of MDF (medium density fiberboard) - painted red - in the garage. My husband and I joked that it would be ironic if they ended up using them in our living room since we had changed the paint color from red to white. Sure enough, they did use the panels in our “used to be red room” shown in the photo below.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:Amy Panos / Producer:Ariella Chezar

Photographer:Kate Mathis / Stylist:Ed Gallagher

When the photo shoot was complete, everyone pitched in to return my home back to the way it was when they arrived. They left almost all the flowers and greenery – which was a super nice surprise for me. Since many of the flowers had been stored in various pots and vases which did not belong to me, I searched through my cabinets to pull out containers to use for all the remaining flowers. Ariella was so nice in that instead of just putting the flowers in the vases, she spent time arranging them all into beautiful bouquets like the one shown below.

I have to say it truly was a privilege for me to host this photo shoot. I had a wonderful time meeting the entire staff who put together this fabulous story. It was a great experience – one which I would love to do again!

Centsational Girl - the Red Door Home December Blog of the Month

2011-12-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

If you love blogs which feature just about everything house related, you will absolutely adore Centsational Girl – the RDH December blog of the month.

Centsational Girl is written by Kate – a former lawyer turned decorator and DIYer extraordinaire.

Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Holiday with Mathew Mead.

In fact, her talents are so numerous she has also appeared on the Nate Berkus show on more than one occasion.

Some of my favorite topics which Kate covers include decorating, home improvements, holiday decorating, crafts, furniture makeovers, and recipes.

Kate’s photography skills are something I aspire too and her knowledge of all things "home" seems endless. Not too long ago she added several contributors to Centsational Girl who help scout the blog world for great ideas.

Every Sunday, Centsational Girl features these posts in a series called "The Best of The Blogosphere." TBOTB series is a one stop place to catch up on fantastic ideas you might have otherwise missed. I so enjoy this series!

To see more of Kate’s great ideas, you can visit Centsational Girl HERE. Be sure to leave a comment letting her know you stopped by!

Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Floral Shoot

2011-11-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

Back in August I had the privilege of having my home used for a background by a very talented group of people who put together the holiday floral arranging story which can be seen in the latest edition of Better Homes and Gardens.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

It was incredibly fun and a great learning experience to watch the creative behind the scenes process of the pictures unfold.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

I was amazed at the creativity and the attention to detail which went into each and every picture.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

My very favorite moments during the three day photo shoot were simply watching Ariella arrange the flowers. She truly is amazing!

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

I must say I now have a new appreciation for the art of flower arranging and the artistry which is involved.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

Below are two of the pictures which were taken during the shoot and did not make it into print. They also can be found HERE.

I love the following idea. Wrap a simple wooden box with a beautiful ribbon and fill it with a variety of citrus themed items. Simple and elegant!

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

Another gorgeous shot features a fresh boxwood garland and poinsettias draped along a mantel.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By: Amy Panos / Producer: Ariella Chezar

Photographer: Kate Mathis / Stylist: Ed Gallagher

Which leads me to a discovery I made as a result of the photo shoot (many of you may already know this) - poinsettias make long lasting bouquets. One of the benefits of hosting the photo shoot was being able to keep many of the beautiful flower arrangements. For several weeks my family and I enjoyed having fresh flowers all over the house. The arrangements which lasted the longest were the poinsettias.

I hope to post more about this story soon – including a behind the scenes look at the shoot and a feature on Ariella.

New for the Holidays at Red Door Home

2011-11-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

These past few weeks I have been busy stocking my Etsy shop for the upcoming holiday season. I have added some new designs as well as several new products. Here is a peak at what I have been up too!

I had tremendous interest last year in my ruffle top linen stockings.

In response to many requests for “something for the boys” I created the coordinating cuff top stocking shown below.

Burlap remains very popular as a decorating fabric for Christmas. So I have added a new line of coordinating linen and burlap stockings.

There have also been several inquiries into matching tree skirts. I am happy to announce the addition of a new tree skirt line. The first one is made of burlap and linen to coordinate with the burlap and linen stockings. The second is the coordinating skirt to my winter white stocking line.

Also available is a ruffle edge tree skirt made entirely of linen

Another new favorite is star ornament sets made from vintage feedsack material.

Many people prefer white when decorating for the holidays, so I will continue to stock my white linen ruffle top stockings as well as my line of winter white burlap stockings.

Another new addition is linen ruffle top chenille stockings.

Made from vintage white coverlets, these stockings are a wonderful addition to your holiday décor.

For those of you who prefer a touch of “modern” in your holiday décor, I have created a line of Chevron Zig Zag stockings as well as an interlocking circle design.

These really are fun and unique! And, like all of my other designs, these stockings can be customized with your choice of fabric combinations.

Finally, personalized gifts are always much appreciated and Red Door Home has several monogram pillow options from which to choose.

Thanks for taking a look! For information on anything of the items shown above or to see additional products please visit my Red Door Home Etsy Shop.

The Enchanted Home – RDH November Blog of the Month

2011-11-01T04:21:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled today to be featuring The Enchanted Home as the November Red Door Home blog of the month.

It is no secret that the blogs I look forward to reading the most are those which feature home remodeling and/or renovation projects. When I stumbled across Tina’s blog I was smitten immediately.

Tina is building an incredibly gorgeous home – you might even say an enchanted home – and has been detailing and sharing the process on her blog. You can see from the following pictures her beautiful home is in the finishing stages.

Incredible, wouldn’t you agree? Each room is prettier than the next. The attention to detail is simply amazing.

Besides featuring the building process of her home, Tina also has a regular series called “Which Would You Choose.” She selects a theme, gathers pictures from across the internet, and then invites readers to cast their vote for their favorite space. One of the aspects I enjoy most about this series is the results. Tina calculates and then shares which style room rates as the favorite among voters. It is always fun seeing how my opinion stacks up to other Enchanted Home readers.

The projected move in date for Tina and her family is sometime in November. So as you can imagine, she has been busy picking out all the finishing touches – rugs, fabrics, cabinet hardware, etc. Truth be told, I am so excited to see what Tina’s home will look like once everything is in place!

If you would like to see more of this incredible property and follow along as Tina’s dream home becomes a reality, please visit The Enchanted Home. Thank you Tina for allowing me to feature your blog and also for sharing your dream home!

Built In Cabinets - The Details

2011-10-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

I promised a while back I would share the details of the new built-in cabinets next to our family room fireplace. They were eleven years in the making and definitely worth the wait! Here is a reminder of what the room looked like before.

We did a lot of research before we began – looking through magazines, etc. – to find just the right design. The main goal was to match the existing woodwork and details of our house and the previously built media cabinet. The project all came together when we found the picture below.

via Country Living

Once we had the inspiration photo and worked out a few details, our carpenter went to work. It took several weeks from the time we had finished design plans to the installation. Even though a good portion of the work was done off-site, putting the cabinets in place still took the better part of two weekends to complete.

The first phase involved removing molding, pulling out electrical outlets and building boxes on to which the finished cabinets would be attached. Things went well until it came time to install the right side cabinet. Because of the window ledge, there was not enough space to angle the cabinet into place. What to do?

The solution was to cut a hole in the side of the fireplace which would be covered up by the finished cabinet. The cut out gave the carpenter just enough space to maneuver the cabinet into place. After day one, the cabinets were already taking shape.

The second day involved adding the details which make the cabinets beautiful. The picture below shows the addition of the top molding and the following picture shows the cabinets with the bottom molding. We paid special attention to match the profile of the fireplace mantel, just on a smaller scale.

All of the pieces were painted offsite and then touched up once they were in place. You can see all the nails holes which were filled and later painted.

Next on the list were painting, doors and shelves. In the end we decided to use seeded glass. We have the same glass in our kitchen cabinets and I love how the tiny air bubbles mute the contents just enough to make them “seeable” but not the main focus of the room.

Of course one of the best parts of the project was arranging the shelves. Most of the items are things I already owned – a few are new.

The right cabinets contain the antique English wooden box I won a while back on a giveaway, as well as books and two large glass jars.

The glass jars are antiques and hold the oyster shell ball I crafted earlier this month and a mismatched grouping of old billiard balls. On top of the cabinet is one of my all-time favorite purchases - a large column top. Long time followers might recognize this piece as its former home was on my dining room table.

The left cabinets house a wire basket from Pottery Barn, more books, and a vintage camera I picked up at a yard sale many years ago. The glass jar on this side holds a set of shaker boxes made by artist Steve Strouse of Pennsylvania. The boxes are graduated sizes and are made from varying types of wood. One of the unique aspects of these boxes is that each one comes with a card telling where the wood used to make the box was found.

The left cabinets also feature an old green fishing float and an architectural element found at a local shop which is sadly no longer in business. The top is finished off with an antique French bottle return I purchased this summer during vacation. I have to admit when I bought this I really had no idea where I would put it. Luckily it is very close in size and scale to the column so it all worked out for the best.

I can’t thank you all enough for all the wonderful comments you have left about my living room and the new built-in cabinets. We are thrilled with how this room finally came together and are proud to call it finished!

My Favorite Room

2011-10-12T04:34:00.000-07:00

Today I am thrilled to be guest posting at Cottage and Vine!

I have been a Cottage and Vine follower for some time and was thrilled when Rene asked me to share my favorite room in my home. To see which room I selected and why click HERE.

October RDH Blog of the Month – Belgian Pearls

2011-10-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite aspects of blogging is the ability to connect with people from all around the world. I love being able to experience different cultures and decorating styles right from my computer screen. Belgian Pearls - the October RDH blog of the month - is a perfect example of the wonderful global bridge the internet provides.

Greet’s site was one of the first blogs I discovered when I began Red Door Home and it has remained a favorite ever since. As you might have guessed from the title, Belgian Pearls encompasses all things Belgian.

Greet Lefevre is a talented interior decorator from Belgium. She and her husband run the Lefevre family cabinetmaking business. It is a fourth generation company and their work is truly an example of what beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail is all about. Take a look at the pictures below. All of these photos showcase Lefevre Interiors projects. Simply stunning!

As you might expect, Greet’s home is also gorgeous.

She and her husband recently finished an update of a room called the orangery. I love the simple beauty of this space.

Not too long ago, Greet wrote about some special visitors she and her family recently entertained.

Many of you probably recognize Brooke Giannetti from the blog Velvet and Linen - The August RDH blog of the month. Brooke and her family vacationed in Belgium and during their stay made time to visit Greet and her family at their beautiful home. I loved hearing about their day together – all coming about through blogging.

Thank you Greet for allowing me to feature Belgian Pearls. You have been a design inspiration for me and many others from all across the world.

New to Me Hallway Mirror

2011-09-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you so very much for all the nice comments about our new puppy, Abby. She has been such a delight and has already become an important part of our family. It is hard for me to believe over two weeks have passed since I last shared news from the house with the red door. I don’t think I have ever gone this long without posting something since I started this blog over two years ago. It is not for lack of things to write about but rather just plain busyness.

Anyway, I wanted to finally reveal what I meant to buy when I purchased the blue glass lamp for the master bedroom way back in April. You may recall I had come across an item of interest on Craig’s List and ended up purchasing the lamp and the item. What was the item?

It was a large Eastlake mirror.

Originally I was looking for something big to fill up the wall space at the bottom of the basement stairs (from the above pictures you can tell it did not end up there) and thought a large mirror would be just the thing. I have always loved the look of an oversized mirror leaning against the wall and this seemed like the perfect spot.

After a while, however, I realized it was just not big enough for the space. It looked good but didn’t have the impact I had wanted. I began looking for an alternative location and was so pleased to see it fit perfectly at the entrance to the basement stairwell.

No surprise in that I decided to paint it white – Annie Sloan’s old white to be exact. I still have not figured out if I should distress the edges or leave it as is. I keep waffling between the two. I would love to know what you think!

Thanks again for your patience! I am going to try to get caught up soon.

Goodies in the Mail and a New Family Addition

2011-09-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been filled with lots of fun and excitement! The mailman has been a regular visitor at my house – delivering a few expected packages as well as a nice surprise – and we have added a new member to the family.

Last week started off with the delivery of this wonderful enamel sign I won a while back from a giveaway hosted by Darlene at Fieldstone Hill.

It is made by Ramsign and is a work of art which is made to be used. It took several weeks to arrive once my order was placed but it was well worth the wait. Thanks Darlene!

The second delivery came about courtesy of Joan from For the Love of a House. She recently shared her source for real wax candle sleeve covers - Lumiere Candles. I honestly did not even know such a thing existed!

Since I am all about the details, I couldn’t wait to replace the plastic sleeves on my vintage light fixtures in the dining room and living room with the real thing.

The funny thing was, I was in such a rush to order the candle sleeves I ordered six twelve inch sleeves instead of the twelve six inch sleeve I needed. Lucky for me, Lumiere Candles’ customer service is incredible. I left a message about my mistake and received a phone call back almost immediately telling me what I need to do to make an exchange.

My new beeswax candle sleeve covers really do make a difference in the way the chandeliers look and I highly recommend them for anyone who loves authenticity.

The third package I received this past week was a lovely surprise. I recently featured Jenni from Dear Lillie as the September RDH blog of the month. During the post I mentioned how much I liked the silhouette shopping bag which was a new addition to the Dear Lillie Store. Well, a few days later I received one in the mail! It was such a lovely and unexpected gesture and I can’t thank Jenni enough.

Finally, I wanted to share a picture of the newest addition to our house with the red door – Abby!

She is a miniature Schnauzer puppy and came to live with us just this past Saturday. She may show up from time to time in some upcoming pictures so I thought I should introduce her to you.

Decorating with Shells – An Oyster Shell Ball Tutorial

2011-09-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite activities when I visit the beach is shell hunting. For years I have been slowly adding to my collection and using my treasures in my home.

They are scattered about in almost every room and serve as a reminder of the many fun vacations my family has enjoyed over the years.

This summer I decided to collect shells which I had previously ignored – oyster shells.

I have seen lots of different decorative uses for these shells and decided to try my hand at creating a simple shell ball.

It was an easy process requiring only shells, hot glue and a Styrofoam ball.

I began my project by grouping the shells by size. By using shells of nearly the same size, I figured I would increase my odds of ending up with something round.

Beginning in the middle of the Styrofoam ball, I simply applied hot glue and stuck/pressed the shell into to Styrofoam through the glue before it hardened. I worked in a single row around the circumference of the ball before beginning the next row.

The entire project took about twenty minutes and when I was finished I had a decorative reminder of another great summer of fun!

Do you use shells as decorative accessories in your home? If so I would love to know how you display your beach finds.

Built-in Cabinets Reveal and a winner!

2011-09-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to be sharing the final reveal of the built-in cabinets next to our family room fireplace. The process began in May and was finished up just a few days ago. So I couldn’t wait to share the photos!

I will have more information about the building process and the details of the cabinet contents in a little bit. The picture below is a little reminder of where we began.

Here is what the room looks like today.

I also wanted to congratulate Paula from Sweet Pea on winning the Sheyna $50 gift certificate giveaway. I have sent her an email and I am guessing she has already begun shopping. Hope you enjoy the upcoming long weekend!

September Blog of the Month – Dear Lillie

2011-09-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Today I am thrilled to be featuring Dear Lillie as the Red Door Home September Blog of the Month.

I discovered Jennifer’s blog last spring when we both participated in the 2011 Poppies at Play Parade of Homes.

Jennifer’s End of Summer Mantel

From my very first visit I was captivated by Jennifer’s beautiful and welcoming style as well as her gorgeous photographs.

Jennifer’s inviting home is filled with many of her own unique decorating designs (many of which she has tutorials for) including the pretty ruffled lamp shade and slipcovered ottoman shown below and the moss covered letter shown above.

In addition to home decorating, Dear Lillie also features some of Jennifer’s original and creative party ideas – my favorite of which is the Jane Austin themed party shown below.

Jennifer is also mom to two beautiful little girls who often model items found in Dear Lillie’s online store.

Lillie wearing a Briar Hat

As luck would have it, Dear Lillie just reopened their online shop today! I am totally in love with two newly added items - the Organic Annistyn Scarf in Winter White and the silhouette shopping bag shown below.

I hope you will visit Dear Lillie and leave a comment to let Jennifer know you stopped by. I know you will be glad you did!

Giveaway Reminder and Discount

2011-08-31T05:38:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to enter the RDH Sheyna Jewelry Giveaway.

Don’t miss your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Sheyna. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, September 2, 2011.

For those of you who can’t wait, Sheyna is also offering a 20% discount exclusively for Red Door Home readers. Simply add the code “RDH20” when checking out.

Good Luck!

Accessorize Yourself Giveaway!

2011-08-25T05:45:00.000-07:00

If you are anything like me, you tend to spend more time accessorizing your home than you do accessorizing yourself. So today instead of talking home decor I thought it would be fun to mix things up a bit and show you a great way to add some personalized sparkle to your wardrobe.

Sheyna is an online jewelry boutique which works with skilled artisans from around the world to create beautiful jewelry -- necklaces, earrings, bracelets (and soon rings and hair accessories too!)

What makes Sheyna unique is that besides shopping from among 10,000 already existing items, customers can create a personalized design of their own using Sheyna’s Creator Tool – an innovation which garnered the company national attention on Bobbie’s Style Buzz on NBC’s Today Show as well as a feature story on Oprah’s Life Lift Blog.

It only takes minutes (although I think you could spend hours) to design your own necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Simply select and drag components onto the sketchpad and watch your unique style ideas come to life. With a seemingly unlimited number of options there is something to suit every taste and budget. Shipping is free and since prices are calculated as you create, you can get the look that suits you at an affordable price. ($5 to $5,000)

As a way to introduce you to Sheyna jewelry I choose this pretty pair of gold vermeil earrings.

I have to admit, I stepped out of my comfort zone when I made my selection. (My fashion forward sister will be so proud!). I am normally a silver girl so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the look of the gold. They do of course offer many silver options too.

These earrings are appropriately called Cleopatra. As so much of the jewelry I own has a traditional look, I love the hammered finish – something a little unexpected! I am looking forward to wearing these with my favorite white blouse and jeans. They are just what I needed to change things up a bit!

The exciting news is that you can win a $50 gift certificate to select or design your own jewelry by Sheyna.

Simply be a RDH follower. Then visit Sheyna and leave a comment telling me your favorite piece of jewelry. If your profile does not include an email address, please include it with your comment so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

For additional chances to win, like Sheyna on Facebook, subscribe to their twitter account - @sheynajewelry and/or like Red Door Home on Facebook. Then leave additional comments.

Giveaway ends midnight EST on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Open to US and International residents. Randomly selected winner will be posted on September 2, 2011.

Note: Although I received the featured earrings as compensation, the opinions expressed within this post are my own.

Built-in Cabinets and a Better Homes and Gardens Photo Shoot!

2011-08-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! I Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was very busy but super fun with what seemed like an endless whirlwind of activity.

The flurry of excitement began on Wednesday with the arrival of several people who were involved with a Better Homes and Gardens location photo shoot at my house. (Yes, I know I kept it a secret!)

A few weeks ago my home was chosen to be used as back drop for a holiday floral feature. So for three days my house looked like the photo below.

Lots and lots of flowers! It was a tremendous experience and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to observe a very talented group of professionals as they all worked together to create the most incredibly beautiful flower arrangements.

Then first thing Saturday morning the carpenter arrived to install the built-in cabinets on either side of the fireplace. After two continuous days of work there is still more to be done. I am so pleased with how they are turning out and can’t wait to start accessorizing.

He will be back next weekend to do touch up painting and install the doors. Until then, here is a little sneak peek as to how the cabinets look so far.

So that is just a little hint of what I have been up to. I promise to share more information soon.

A French Bench

2011-08-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

A while back I mentioned I was beginning the process of “un-matching” the master bedroom. I have grown tired of the suite of furniture my husband and I purchased many years ago and now want something with a more collected feel.

Well I am happy to say I have found the first piece for my bedroom redesign – a perfectly imperfect French bench!

I discovered this beauty on Craig’s list and jumped at the chance to exchange the mission style bench which previously occupied the space at the end of the bed for this one with much more character and patina.

The biggest changes to this room, of course, are still to come - replacing the carpet with hardwood flooring, purchasing a new bed, etc. Until then, however, I will enjoy this first step towards creating the look I have envisioned for this space.

When Painting is not an Option

2011-08-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a long time follower or new to Red Door Home, you have most likely figured out I am not shy when it comes to wielding a can of spray paint. I have painted lamps, tables, chairs, mirrors, stools, light fixtures and much more.

So it may come as a little bit of a surprise to know there are times when I believe painting is not always the best answer to making over a piece of furniture. Case in point is the display cabinet shown below in my kitchen.

Womens Day Budget Decorating – Photographer, Michael Partenio

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

While I love the lines of the cabinet, I could do without the large expanse of oak wood. (You may have noticed a theme here in my kitchen eating area.) Since painting is not an option, several ideas on how to “fix” this cabinet have come to mind.

via Restoration Hardware

I thought about sanding and waxing the wood – similar to the Restoration Hardware furniture shown above. A second idea which I playerd around with - and just did not work - was adding fabric or paper to the back of the cabinet like the photo shown below.

via Martha Stewart

In the end, however, the best option for me was simply to change out the contents of the cabinet.

By relocating my blue and white transferware to the dining room and replacing it with my collection of white ironstone mixed with a few pieces of silver and mercury glass, the cabinet immediately felt lighter and brighter.

Big changes without any expense – the best kind of makeover!

Completed Projects Sneak Peek

2011-08-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

It seems whenever I return home from a vacation I suddenly am re-energized and ready to tackle all the projects I have had on my mind but have yet to complete. I usually make a list while riding in the car on my return trip home and then once back, I go, go, go until most of the items are done. (Does anybody else do this?)

Unfortunately, however, while I have been very busy getting lots of things accomplished, I have not been quite as diligent about writing posts about them. So my plan this weekend is to get caught up on all the details of what I have been up to lately.

In the meantime, here is a little sneak peek of what I have been working on.

Look for all these projects and more soon!

August RDH Blog of the Month – Velvet and Linen

2011-08-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Today I am thrilled and honored to be featuring Velvet and Linen as the August Red Door Home blog of the month!

Velvet and Linen is written by Brooke Giannetti – a talented designer whose decorating style favors Belgian and Swedish antiques mixed with industrial and outdoor elements.

via Velvet and Linen

Her beautiful and unique aesthetic has been showcased in The New York Times, HGTV, numerous publications – including the most recent article in Veranda magazine – as well as in the just released book, Patina Style, she co-wrote with her husband, architect Steve Giannetti.

Pink Bathroom featured in The New York Times

Veranda photo featuring paintings by Steve Giannetti

The book features beautiful photographs and wonderfully written text which delve into the Giannettis’ philosophy of “life isn’t about the things you own but about the experiences you have with them.”

Patina Style introduction via Velvet and Linen

I read Patina Style from cover to cover and truly enjoyed learning about the various elements which define Patina Style as well as studying the fabulous pictures - discovering new design inspirations each time. If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, I highly recommend you do.

via Velvet and Linen

One of the projects I am most looking forward to following on Velvet and Linen is the construction of the Giannettis’ new dream home, Patina Farm. Not too long ago, Brooke and Steve purchased a piece of property in Ojai, California. Brooke has graciously been sharing the process of this exciting venture including the house plans shown below and details of a recent trip she took to with her family Belgian.

Patina Farm drawing by Steve Giannetti

Model of Patina Farm

Besides all of the above, Brooke and Steve have also collaborated on many celebrated design projects, own a store called Giannetti Home, and design their own line of custom furniture. Add in the fact Steve is an accomplished painter and you can see why this duo has gained such national attention in the design world.

Fifi Chair by Giannetti Home Furniture

Finally, I could not end this feature without mentioning the chickens. I, along with many other Velvet and Linen followers, have been captivated by them ever since they arrived at the Giannettis’ home nearly six months ago.

via Velvet and Linen

The Giannettis created a chicken garden complete with the coop shown below to house the latest addition to their family.

via Velvet and Linen

Thank you, Brooke for allowing me to feature your wonderful blog. I honestly think I could have devoted two or three more posts to Velvet and Linen and I still would not have been able to include all the honors and projects the Giannettis have received and completed.

Be sure to stop by Velvet and Linen to see more fabulous design inspiration!

Are Two Better than One?

2011-07-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

When it comes to decorating I tend to favor pairs of items in symmetrical arrangements– two lamps on my buffet, two potted plants on the mantel, pairs of pillows on my sofa, pairs of candle sticks on my dining room table, and matching footstools tucked under a console table. I could go on and on but you get the point.

Recently, however, I came across this ad by Hickory Chair and was captivated by the asymmetrical placement of a single large mirror.

It reminded me of another favorite photo – this one by designer Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home – featuring a large piece of art placed slightly off-center.

Pure Style Home

The asymmetrical arrangement in these two photos really has me thinking about how I approach design. Perhaps two is not always better than one?

I would love to know what you think. Do you decorate in symmetrical pairs or do you prefer a more asymmetrical look with a single large focal point like the photos above?

Balloon Sandals

2011-07-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, the following post is a bit out of the ordinary for RDH – no home ideas here - but this project is so cute and simple I just had to share!

While on vacation, I spied a friend of my mother wearing a pair of sandals she had created using water balloons and inexpensive flip flops. My daughter immediately wanted a pair so off to the Dollar Store (balloons) and CVS (sandals) we went.

As you can see from the picture above, the sandals we purchased had beads along the straps, so the first step was to remove them. Once the beads were cut-off, we simply tied the balloons – one at a time – around the straps until they were completely covered.

Helpful tips:

- The balloons work better if they are stretched slightly before tying.

- Once you tie the balloon on the strap pull it tight so the balloons appear fluffy.

- Alternate directions of the balloons as you tie so that you don’t end up with all tops on one side and ends on the other.

- Push the balloons close together as you work so that they are nice and tight.

- Although this is a simple project, younger kids might have a hard time tying and pulling the balloons tight.

Hope you enjoyed this simple project. My daughter has been wearing these sandals non-stop and lots of people have asked her where she bought them!

Do you know these chairs?

2011-07-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Right before I left on vacation I received an email from a reader asking me about the pair of vintage orange chairs I had purchased for my dining room. He had recently found a similar pair at an estate sale and wanted to know if I had any additional information about them.

Unfortunately, other than the fact they are from the 1950’s (at least that was what I was told), I know little about these chairs. I tried doing some internet research but came up empty handed.

via Jan Showers

I have come across additional pictures of similar chairs but no information about when they were made, who made them or even what they are called.

via Design Indulgence

If you know anything about these types of chairs and are willing to share your knowledge please let me know. I would be so grateful and I know others would be as well. Thanks so much!

Where I have been

2011-07-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

For nearly the past three weeks I have been here . . .

the beach in North Carolina

here . . .

South Carolina

here . . .

Washington DC

and many more places in between enjoying some fun family vacation time.

Needless to say, posts have been few and far between and I am more than a little bit behind on all things “bloggy.” I hope to be up to speed again soon!

More Marble – Kitchen Corner Redo Completed!

2011-07-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

As far back as I can remember, I have always been smitten with marble. I love its classic look and am particularly fond of pieces which are white with grey veining. Since redoing countertops in my house is out of the question, I have slowly added marble to my decor in a few simpler and smaller ways.

For example, not too long ago I purchased the quirky marble top table (shown below) for my den.

I updated an inexpensive table in my daughter’s bedroom by pairing it with a cast-off marble top I found at a local antique store.

When we finished our basement bathroom, we choose hexagon shaped marble tiles for the floor.

Real-Life Kitchen and Baths / Photographer - Bryan McCay

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

My latest marble addition comes in the form of a custom cut slab for the vintage grain bin in my kitchen eating area.

After the mirror received a chalk paint makeover, I decided to finish the redesign of this little corner by topping the grain bin with marble.

I had a local granite dealer cut a piece of Carrera marble slightly larger than the size of the cabinet top. It was finished on three sides with a simple edge and then placed directly on the cabinet – no glue required. Although I would not consider this an inexpensive project, I was able to save money by waiting for a remnant (left over piece) to become available and by transporting the marble myself.

Below is how this area looked before.

This is how it looks today.

I have to say I love it! The marble lightens up the space, adds a new texture to the kitchen and tones down all the wood in this area.

So is this the end of the marble in my house? Probably not as I can’t see my love of marble ending any time soon!

July Blog of the Month – Emily A. Clark

2011-07-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

Today I am thrilled to be featuring Emily A. Clark as the July RDH blog of the month.

The first time I came across Emily’s blog I immediately fell in love with her family friendly, modern take on traditional style.

Emily’s Family Room

Emily’s Dining Room

Eating Area in Emily's Kitchen

Emily is an interior designer from Charlotte, NC who believes beautiful spaces can be achieved through creativity – even on a small budget – by shopping for bargains and repurposing pieces clients already own. A perfect example of this philosophy is her daughter’s bedroom which was featured on HGTV and in Southern Child Magazine.

Instead of painting white circles on the wall behind the bed, Emily simply used wall decals. The side table was found at T.J. Maxx and was spray painted black.

She also repainted a dresser which she found in her Dad’s storage building. My favorite part of this project is how Emily used different patterned pieces of scrapbook paper to line the drawers. Genius!

A great new feature on Emily’s blog is her “Now . . . and Then” series. If you have ever looked back at old photographs of rooms in your house and cringed (I know I have!), then this series is for you.

Emily asks guest bloggers to share a picture of a room in their house from years ago and compare it to the same space today. Guests are then invited to share what they don’t like about the old space, what they like about the new space and how their style has evolved.

One of her most recent guests was Tobi Farley who shared the pictures shown below.

Tobi's Dining Room Then

Tobi's Dining Room Now

To see what Tobi had to say about her dining room click here.

Besides working with local clients, Emily also offers on-line design services. Look at this beautiful design board she recently created.

To see more of Emily’s incredible style be sure to stop by Emily A. Clark. Also be sure to congratulate her on her well-deserved upcoming feature in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine!

2011 Goals – How are you doing?

2011-06-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

Can you believe we are only a few days away from the half-way point of 2011? The first six months of this year have just flown past way too quickly. Summer is officially here and it won’t be long until another holiday season will be upon us. Yikes!

At the beginning of the year I participated in The Nester’s 2011 Home Goals Party. I am guessing many of you did too. You may remember instead of making a laundry list of things to buy and projects to complete around my house, I choose to create seven simple goals which focused on appreciating my surroundings and using what I already had to its fullest potential.

Since half the year is gone, I thought it would be a good time to revisit these goals to see how I am doing. More importantly, I also hope to inspire you to do the same!

Here is my list with an update of my progress:

Plan my garden before planting
I am happy to say this goal has been achieved. Instead of randomly buying plants as in years past, we have designated sections of the garden for herbs, vegetables, and ornamentals. It was worth the small amount of planning and I will continue to plan before planting from now on.

Use the herbs I plant
This one is in the “kind of category.” I have used some basil and a small amount of the oregano. The dill, cilantro, thyme and parsley, however, have been neglected. Time to get cooking!

Be a tourist in my own town
This is the goal on which I have made the least progress. I hope to remedy this during the coming summer months by taking advantage of all the local things my home town has to offer.

Organize and clean out
I have been doing a pretty good job. I started the year off with a bang by cleaning out a lot of unused items but have slowly let things return to normal. I need to regain my enthusiasm and continue where I left off.

Learn how to use my sewing machine attachments
I have played around with some of the attachments but as you can see from the picture above I definitely have a ways to go. I have to admit it has been fun seeing all the different stitches this old machine can sew!

Learn how to use my camera settings

My photo taking skills have improved as I have moved beyond the auto setting and I am now playing with the aperture setting. Next on the list is learning how to adjust the shutter speed.

Continue to remember a house is just a house. It is the people who live inside and the friends who come to visit which are most important.

I consider this to be my most important goal of the year. I try to remind myself daily to remember what is truly most special in my life.

There you have it. Overall I believe I am doing well but have room for improvement. Luckily there is still time as there are as many months ahead in 2011 as have already past.

So, how about you? How are you doing on your 2011 goals? I would love to hear the goals you have accomplished and the ones you need to start focusing on. Thanks for sharing!

What I bought for $1.98

2011-06-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

Like many of you, I enjoy seeing all the wonderful garage sale and thrift store bargains people purchase. It is amazing to me what can still be found with patience, a little bit of luck and imagination.

That being said, since I do not have a shop or an established way to resell, I try to only buy things which I can use and truly love. To me, a bargain isn’t a bargain if you are just buying something because of the price. So in all honesty, I do my best to limit yard sale and thrift store stops. However, every once in a while I do visit the local Salvation Army. Most times I leave empty handed but a few days ago I was lucky and found a few great deals.

Here is the brake down of my purchase - two silver-plated utensils at 10 cents each, one milk glass vase at 79 cents, and a large vintage ironstone platter for 99 cents. My grand total for the day was $1.98!

Not bad if I do say so myself!

Have you found any great bargains lately? If so, I would love to hear about them.

Linking up to:
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
Show and Tell Wednesdays at Blue Cricket Design
Whatever Goes Wednesdays at Someday Crafts

Dreaming of Built-in Bookcases

2011-06-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

Country Living

I have always been a fan of built-in bookcases. So much so, that when we built our house we planned for a matching pair on either side of our family room fireplace. Unfortunately many things – including the bookcases – had to be deleted due to our budget.

Beautiful Homes

Ten years later, we have finally reached the point where we might be able to make this dream a reality.

Traditional Home

Beautiful Homes

The picture below of our family room is probably familiar to many long time followers.

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

What you can’t see in this photo is the built-in television cabinet on the left side of the room.

Up until about five years ago, this space was occupied with an antique wardrobe which we used to house the television. We were lucky to have a very talented local carpenter create this beautiful custom cabinet and are thrilled he most likely will be coming back to build the bookcases as well.

The space on either side of the fireplace is about 52 inches wide and our plan is to once again match the other architectural elements already present in our home.

I have been searching my files and have come up with two inspiration photos of fireplaces which are very similar to ours.

Source unknown

The preliminary sketches include a matching pair of cabinets with glass front doors. The top of the cabinets will sit just below the bottom of the large molding which makes up the top part of the fireplace. We have requested cut outs in the tops of the cabinets in which to feed electrical cords through to reach the existing outlets. The shelves will, of course, be adjustable and removable.

Country Living

One of the details which have not been finalized is the type of glass for the doors. I have been considering three options - seeded glass like the kind found in my kitchen cabinets, regular glass which I have in most of the other display cases in my house, and simple leaded glass panes.

Since this decision does not have to be made right away I would love to know your opinion. Which would you choose? You always have the best advice so I am looking forward to hearing what you think! Thanks in advance -

Chalk Paint Table and Chalk Paint Observations

2011-06-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

My second project using chalk paint involved a roadside freebie table (shown below) from the master bathroom.

This table was a perfect candidate for chalk paint as I did not want to spend a lot of time removing all the old paint – at least four coats - and sanding. Although not required, you can tell from the picture I did give the piece a light sanding to smooth out the surface a bit. I also scraped off much of the paint from the top as it was chipping. I used Annie Sloan’s Paris Grey (the same color I used on my mirror) with a top coat of Minwax for light colored wood.

One coat easily covered the old paint and the wax deepened the color - giving the table a beautiful, hand rubbed finish. If you look carefully at the picture above you can see the difference in color between the left side of the table which was waxed and the right side which was not.

This is certainly a big improvement from the formerly high gloss black paint this table used to wear.

Chalk Paint Observations
Now that I have completed two projects using chalk paint I have to say I am definitely a fan. It is easy to apply and most, if not all, the brush strokes disappear once the paint has dried. I know many people find the cost to be high. My take is that because there is no need to sand or prime you save not only in supply costs but time as well - time being the biggest bonus in my mind.

This paint covers well in just one coat, however, I did notice the mirror and table turned out to be slightly different colors. I am guessing this is due to the color paint I was covering. I am thinking two coats might be needed to achieve a more consistent color.

If you have any questions about using chalk paint I highly recommend this post written by Shauna at Perfectly Imperfect Blog. Shauna is a pro at painting and shares a great video and advice on her experiences using chalk paint.

Oh! For those of you who are curious, yesterday, I finally told my husband I painted the mirror in the kitchen. The verdict – he loved it but he liked the mirror the other way as well.

So, have you tried chalk paint yet? If so I would love to know your opinion!

Linking up to these parties
Metamorphosis Monday
Transformation Thursday
Open House Thursday

June Blog of the Month – A Delightful Design

2011-06-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Red Door Home June Blog of the month is just as the title says - delightful!

A Delightful Design is written by Abby Manchesky, an interior decorator and owner of M. Interiors. Abby began her business after years of helping friends and family with their homes.

Abby's son's room (old house)

One of my favorite features of Abby’s blog is her “Dear Abby” column in which readers are invited to submit photos and questions of their decorating dilemmas. Abby answers these questions with detailed advice, pictures and sources for all of her ideas on the best way to solve the problem.

To get a sense of Abby’s style, take a look at this pretty design board she created for a little girl’s nursery through her e-design service.

Her client recently shared the beautiful result photos shown below.

The newest happening at A Delightful Design is the recent sale of Abby’s house.

Of course I loved the red door!

Her family purchased a new home and Abby has already started renovating and redecorating. I am looking forward to following along!

To visit Abby at A Delightful Design click here. I am sure she would love for you to leave a comment to let her know you stopped by!

Details of My Garden and Fire Pit Information

2011-05-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

When I wrote about building a fire pit, I had no idea I would receive so many wonderful questions and comments about our garden which can be seen in the background of most of the pictures. Thank you!

The sketch above shows the general layout of the raised beds and paths. The garden itself is about 20 feet by 20 feet, with the paths being about 4 feet wide. The 8 foot by 8 foot center square features a large urn surrounded by a formal arrangement of boxwoods, lavender and licorice plants. The four triangular planting beds are where we plant our herbs and vegetables. Our selection is somewhat limited as this space of our yard does not receive as much sunlight as a garden should.

Mr. RDH and I began creating our garden shortly after we moved into our house. After clearing the area of trees and brush, the first step was making a level surface. We built the retaining wall – shown above - and began the fill-in process one load of dirt at a time. Since we do not own a tractor the dirt was taken from other parts of our property the old fashioned way – with a wheel barrow, rake and shovel. Lots and lots of hard work!

Rather than having straight rows of planting beds, we thought it would be much more interesting and fun to have a center square surrounded by triangular beds. To create the beds we used 2” x 10” boards along with 4” x 4” posts and galvanized screws. The bed frames were assembled first and then attached to the posts with the screws. You can see the top of one of the posts in the photo below.

We put down landscaping fabric – to reduce weed growth – underneath the paths and then hammered the posts into the ground to secure the beds. The garden beds were then filled with good quality soil and the garden paths covered in pea gravel.

To make an entrance to we used large rocks we found on our property and an arch which was purchased through Walpole Woodworkers. There is a small space between the outside edges of the planting beds and the caps of the retaining wall because the original plan was to enclose the garden with a white picket fence. I am not sure if the fence will happen or not as we like the ability to walk around all sides of the beds and have not had an abundance of critters eating from the garden.

The space next to the garden where our new fire pit is located was initially planned for a garden shed. Mr. RDH has been drawing plans and I have been saving images for several years now. Overtime somehow our purely utilitarian building has morphed into something completely different and much more involved. We realized it would be years before we tackled this project, thus the fire pit.

The fire pit was purchased from a local landscaping company and included the metal ring as well as the blocks. The name of the manufacturer is Cambridge Paving Stones and I was told it is possible to buy the metal ring separately. As I mentioned before, we have already enjoyed enough s’mores for an entire summer!

I hope I have answered all of your questions. If I missed something please let me know. I realize Blogger has had issues with comments as I have tried and been unsuccessful at leaving comments on many blogs. If you tried to leave a comment or question and it did not work, I would love for you to try again!

How to Sew Curtain Panels with Lining and/or Interlining

2011-05-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

Womens Day Budget Decorating / Photographer - Michael Partentio

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

I have had this tutorial in the works for a while now and am happy to finally be sharing the method I use for sewing curtains with lining. Although I have tried a few variations, the following is what works best for me – and hopefully for you too!

Please read through all instructions before beginning. This tutorial is for curtain panels using one width (54”) of fabric.

Measurements
Determine the finished length of your curtain panel. This measurement will be based on the placement of your curtain rod as well as how you will be hanging your curtains, i.e. from rings, through a rod pocket, etc.

For the main fabric you will need the finished length plus 8 inches for the bottom hem and 6 inches for the top hem, times the number of panels you will be making. (I always add a few inches to this number just to make sure I have enough fabric.) If you are using a fabric with a pattern you will have to take the repeat of the pattern into consideration. Meaning, every panel should begin and end at the same point on the fabric. You most likely will have purchase additional yardage in order for all the panels to be identical.

For the lining you will need the finished length of the curtain minus 1 inch (as the lining will be shorter than the main fabric), plus 6 inches for the bottom hem and 6 inches for the top hem, times the number of panels.

Optional: For the interlining you will need the finished length of the curtain minus 2 inches plus 6 inches for the top hem. Most times I only use interlining if I am making silk curtains. Interlining is a felt like material - shown below - which adds weight and body to the curtains.

Cut all fabric pieces according to above measurements. After cutting the proper lengths of fabric, the lining and interlining panels should be cut to 49 ¾” wide. The main fabric should be cut to 54” wide by removing the side edges. If your main fabric needs to be shorter in width in order to remove the edges, simply deduct 4 ¼” to determine the width of the lining and interlining.

Sew Bottom Hems
The first sewing step to making your curtain panels is hemming the bottom of the main fabric and the lining – the interlining is not hemmed. To make the bottom hem of the main fabric, press under the bottom edge of the fabric 8 inches using an iron set to the proper temperature for your fabric.

Fold under and press to create a 4 inch hem. Pin and sew. Repeat for all main fabric curtain panels.

Repeat process with lining - only this time press under bottom edge of fabric 6 inches to create a 3 inch hem.

Sewing Side Seams of Main Curtain Fabric
Using the main fabric, fold and press the outside and inside edges of the curtain panel 2 inches. Fold under to create a 1 inch hem on each side. Repeat with all main fabric panels.

Assembling the Curtain
Place curtain panel on flat surface with right side down (wrong side up).

Optional: If using interlining place interlining on top of panel, sliding edges of interlining under both side hems of the main curtain fabric. Make sure to line up the top of the interlining with the top of the curtain panel. It should be about 2 inches shorter than the main curtain fabric.

Place lining – right side up – on top of interlining and under both side hems of the main curtain fabric. Make sure to line up the top of the lining with the top of the curtain panel. Your lining should be about 1 inch shorter than the main curtain fabric and 1 inch longer than the interlining. By cutting the width of the lining and interlining pieces slightly smaller than the width of the finished curtain panel you should have no problem getting the three pieces of fabric to work together.

Pin two (or three if using interlining) layers in place and sew.

Create Top Hem
Fold and press under two (or three if using interlining) layers 6 inches. Fold under again to create a 3 inch top hem. Pin and sew.

Hang curtains using drapery pins, clip rings or through the top pocket hem.

Painting on a Whim

2011-05-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

For some reason, yesterday I decided the mirror over the grain bin in the sitting area of my kitchen needed to be painted. I am not exactly sure why, as it has never been an issue before and to tell the truth I am usually not impulsive when it comes to decorating decisions.

I just took the mirror down and started painting!

The mirror is from Pierre Deux and looked like this before I began.

I used one coat of Annie Sloan’s Paris Grey Chalk Paint followed by a glaze and then a top coat of paste wax.

You may also have noticed the wire container went from white to grey – another spur of the moment decision.

I am happy with the results as the mirror no longer looks “newly store bought” but rather more like something you would find in a vintage shop. The funny thing is that Mr. RDH hasn’t noticed yet. Hopefully he will like it as much as I do.

I was curious to know if you have ever done a decorating project on a whim. If so, what did you do and were you happy with the outcome?

On a different note, I am guest posting today at Remodelaholic. I am sharing my how to age brass tutorial.

Building a Fire Pit

2011-05-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

I mentioned earlier in the week that our fire pit is all finished and has already seen lots of roasted marshmallows. From the picture above you can see we decided on a built-in style rather than a free standing model.

Making this fire pit a reality turned out to be a very quick and easy project. I think the entire process took under an hour! We simply ordered a “kit” which included all of the blocks along with the metal ring. The only component missing was the rocks used to fill the bottom half of the fire pit.

Here is the building process.
Level out the ground and use a tamper to pack the area on which you will be building the fire pit.

Use the metal ring as a template to lay the first course of blocks.

Remove the ring and begin adding the second course. The blocks should be staggered so that no joints align.

Test your design to make sure the ring still fits correctly. Make adjustments if necessary.

Remove the ring and continue the above steps until all blocks have been used.

After the final course is in place, insert metal ring. (Note: the manufacturer recommends using masonry cement to secure the top two courses of blocks. We opted to skip this step as we wanted to have the option to move the fire pit in the future.)

Fill fire pit about half way full with rocks. Build a fire and enjoy!

Of course no fire pit story would be complete without s’mores!

We had a few left over peeps from Easter and decided to use them up in our s’mores. This was the first time we tried peeps this way and I have to say due to popular demand I was at the Easter candy sale aisle the next day looking for more!

Needless to say, we are looking forward to summer and many upcoming fires in our new fire pit.

If you have a fire pit I would love to know your favorite things to cook! Please leave a comment and share your tastiest treats.

Linking up with

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Family, Freebies, a Fire pit and Features

2011-05-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is a long and random title! I have been a little absent over the past two weeks and wanted to catch you up on where I have been, what I have been doing and what is coming up on Red Door Home.

First though, you may have noticed blogger had an “issue” last week which unfortunately meant many of your comments were lost. As I try to reply to as many comments as I can, I apologize if I don’t get back to you because of this glitch. If you had a question which I did not answer, I would love for you to email me or leave another comment.

Family
I was blessed to have my family followed by my husband’s family visiting for the past two weeks. Since I only see them a few times each year, I wanted to be with them as much as possible while they were here. Thus, my blog was a little neglected but I should be all caught up – hopefully - by the end of the week.

Freebies
The day before my parents’ arrival I was following one of my normal running routes and came across a table with a “free” sign. The table contained an assortment of dishes and other decorating items and I helped myself to the following:

A set of brown and blue transferware dishes, seven glasses, three wooden balls

and two clear glass candlesticks

I will be removing the labels from the glasses, painting the wooden balls and creating a totally free tablescape with these fun finds.

Fire pit

We finished building our fire pit and could not be happier with the result. With all the visitors we have had it is safe to say we have already eaten enough s’mores for the entire summer! I will be showing the completed fire pit area and the entire building process soon.

Features
I wanted to send a big thank you to Kate from Centsational Girl for featuring my living room redo on her Best of the Blog series.

I also wanted to thank Darlene from Fieldstone Hill for using my dining room for inspiration for one of her fabulous ditto posts.

Finally, besides all of the above I was also able to sneak in two painting projects – one already finished but waiting to be photographed and the other half way done. Look for these posts soon as well.

How to Age Brass

2011-05-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or have you also noticed brass making a comeback lately in the design world?

Brass sink, faucet, and light fixture – photo source unknown

I am not talking about shiny lacquered brass but rather the aged, “been around for a while” looking brass.

Brass vase from Little Green Notebook

Having owned my share of brass fixtures, lamps and accessories, I will be the first to admit I go back and forth on my opinion about brass – sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t and my feelings about it seem to change depending on the room in which it is being used. What I am quite certain about, however, is my dislike for shiny, lacquered brass – the type my table lamp (shown below) is made from.

To remedy the situation I decided to do some internet research to find out how I could age my brass lamp. The technique shown below can also be used for candlesticks, door knobs, etc. – the key is to make sure the item you are working with is brass.

Supplies
Nail polish remover
Apple cider vinegar
Final stripping pads
Paper towels
Towel

Directions
Take lamp apart.

Place a small amount of nail polish remover on stripping pad. Gently rub to remove lacquered finish. It is important to use a very fine grade of stripping pad so that you do not make scratches in the metal.

Once all lacquer has been removed, wipe brass with soap and water to remove any nail polish residue. Dry.

Place lamp on towel and slowly pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar over the brass. You may want to place a piece of plastic under the towel to prevent the vinegar from soaking into the table or floor surface. If you are using a candle stick or something similar you could soak the item in a container rather than use the method shown here.

Let sit and add additional apple cider vinegar until desired finish is achieved. I discovered the brass which was in contact with the soaked towel aged fairly quickly. Thus, I kept turning the sections of the brass which had not aged so that they were in contact with the soaked part of the towel.

If your brass turns green – like mine did – simply wipe clean with a damp cloth.

The result – a lamp which now looks like it has been around for many years.

I would love to hear your opinion about brass. Do you have any brass in your home? If so, where? Thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts!

Linking up with
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Tickled Pink at 504 Main
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Un-Matching the Bedroom

2011-05-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

Like many newly-weds, when my husband and I moved into our first home we had a mishmash of furniture hand me downs. Most rooms were almost empty and the few things we did have were nowhere near close to matching.

So when we finally saved enough money to purchase new furniture, we began in the bedroom and were determined to buy a matching set. We started with the bed and two dressers and then over the course of the next two years added the matching bedside table, bench, and mirror one piece at a time. Perfect – or so we thought.

Some would say pretty but it is just not our style (OK, my style) anymore. Truth be told, my husband still likes it. Although the furniture is very good quality, the arts and crafts motif does not fit with the rest of the house and I prefer a more “collected over time” look.

What to do?

My plan is to slowly start un-matching this room. The first item to go will be the bench. I plan to list it on Craigslist and then use the money to purchase a new bench.

Also included in the plan will be moving the bed to my son’s room. At the moment he has only a bedframe, and this style of bed – to me – is more fitting for a boy’s room than for a master bedroom.

Changing out these two pieces of furniture will go a long way to making this room less matchy-matchy. Eventually the mirror, tall dresser, and side table will also be relocated like they were acquired, piece by piece, over a long period of time and as they are found.

The ironic part is how things seem to have come full circle. We began with a mix of styles, went to a matching set and are now going back to a more eclectic look.

So, how about you? Do you prefer a room which looks collected over time or one which is made up of matching pieces? I am interested in hearing your opinion.

The Details - Living Room Redo

2011-05-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my recently revealed living room redo. I received lots of great questions and decided instead of individual responses I would share the answers with everyone.

Pillow Fabric
The red and white pillow fabric is from Calico Corners and can be found here. It is called Stockholm and is available in several colors. I loved the bold print and Scandinavian feel – the look I was going for in this room.

Curtains
The curtains are also made from Calico Corners fabric. I choose an off-white linen called Jefferson Antique White which can be found here. They are lined with an off-white lining but are not interlined.

The curtains are simple, rectangular panels with drapery pins inserted across the top and hung from rings.

Mirror
The mirror is a floor sample from Ethan Allen.

It was slightly damaged and was a great price. As far as I know it is no longer available.

Paint
It only took one weekend to paint the entire space – of course having a great crew helps! As you see the walls started off red.

To cover up the dark color we used one coat of dry wall primer (a recommendation from the paint store) and two coats of SW Aria Ivory.

Rosmaling Plate and Sewing Box
Both of these painted pieces belonged to my grandmother and are two of my most prized possessions. I am half Norwegian and as such, enjoy having a reminder of my heritage in my home. Both items were created by Enid Grindland – Vesterheim Museum gold medal winner. You can see more of Enid’s work here.

Rosmaling is a style of decorative painting developed in Norway during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Rosmaling literally means "rose painting". This type of painting first appeared on small objects like plates and chests. Later it was used to decorate furniture and eventually the walls and ceilings of homes and even churches. (information from here) There are several different methods of Rosmaling and my plate and sewing box are two distinctive styles.

Marble Top Table
This quirky little table came from the same store as the lamp and orange chairs (in my dining room).

It looks a little French and as if it was made from two different tables. I bought it for its size and uniqueness – of course the marble top table won me over too!

Sofa and Chairs
The sofa and chair set was given to us by my husband’s family. I refinished the frames and then had all three pieces reupholstered. If anyone knows the correct name for this type of furniture I would love to know as I have never been able to find out.

The reason one chair is tan and the sofa and other chair are blue is because this is what the upholsterer told me was “normal” for this type of set. Fifteen years later, I am not so sure this is true, and wish both chairs were done in the same fabric.

So that is the story on my living room. I hope I covered all of your questions. If I forgot to answer yours or you want additional information on something, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am always happy to help!

May Blog of the Month – Pure Style Home

2011-05-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

If you have ever wondered what it is like to be a professional designer, then you will absolutely love the RDH May Blog of the Month - Pure Style Home.

Lauren Leiss - an interior designer, wife, and mom to two small (and very cute) boys - shares her real life experiences in the design world as well as in decorating her own home. Lauren’s blog, like her decorating style, is real, genuine, welcoming, and honest. Her designs are a mix of old and new and combine the unexpected in a new and truly fresh way. Needless to say, I am a big fan of her amazing style!

Pure Style Home / Lauren’s House

Pure Style Home / Pure Style Home Portfolio

I have watched in awe and admiration over the past several months as Lauren has had her blog and home featured in the December 2010 edition of Better Homes and Gardens, began designing her own fabric and furniture lines, created a fabulous room for a showcase house, and finished several projects for clients as well as in her own home. She also has an online store coming soon!

Better Homes and Gardens

Lauren’s most recent project is “The Hideaway” in the DC Design House for Children’s Hospital. The picture below shows Lauren sitting in the Mad Hatter Chair which she designed. The Ikat curtains are made from Happikat, a Lauren Leiss Textiles design.

via Things that Inspire

The main focal point of this room is the large Princess and the Pea stacked mattress window seat –the perfect spot for curling up with a good book. Several of the pillows feature Lauren’s fabrics.

This space also showcases Lauren’s signature mix of old – drop leaf table, ceramic green parrots, paintings, and antique desk chair – and new - croc leather parsons desk, glass lamp, floor lamp, and chairs.

Besides sharing her latest projects and endeavors, Lauren also offers valuable design advice such as how to create an authentic home, what it really costs to furnish a room, how to begin a project, behind the scenes in interior design, and much, much more!

I hope you will visit Pure Style Home to see for yourself all the incredible things this talented designer has been up to! A big thank you to Lauren for allowing me to feature her work and her blog today!

How to Sew and Attach Welting

2011-04-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Welting is a decorative trim which adds the perfect finishing detail to pillows, cushions, slipcovers and more by accenting the design lines and drawing attention to seam lines. It can be purchased in a variety of colors and sizes but making it yourself is quick and simple.

Supplies
Cording – For this tutorial I used 8/32”
Sewing machine with zipper foot
Matching thread
Scissors
Pins
Needle

Directions
Measure the item around which you will be attaching the welting and add 3 inches. Cut cording to this length. For this tutorial I will be using a 20 x 20 pillow so I cut my cording to 83”.

Cutting Fabric Strips
Professionals recommend cutting the fabric strips which will encase the cording on the bias, meaning on the diagonal of the fabric. Bias cut fabric is more flexible when going around corners and curves. I usually try to use this method, but have to confess I have on occasion - when the fabric is stretchy - cut my fabric straight across and it still worked out fine.

In most cases, one strip of fabric will not be long enough, which means cutting multiple strips. For this example I needed two.

To determine the width of your fabric strips, measure the circumference of your cording and add twice the seam allowance. For my cording, this meant fabric strips which were 1 ¾” wide – ¾” for the circumference of the cording and 1” for the ½” seam allowance.

Cut the number of fabric strips needed to go around your item.

Piecing Fabric Strips
Place two ends of bias cut fabric strips wrong side together as shown below.

Pin and sew along the diagonal using a ½” seam allowance.

Press seam open. Add additional strips using the same technique if needed. Cut your fabric strip a little bit longer than the cording.

If you did not cut your fabric strips on the bias, place two fabric strips, right sides together, at a 90 degree angle as shown below.

Cut on the diagonal and then proceed as above.

Making the welting
Fold the fabric strip around the cording – leave about ¼” of the cording showing out the end – with right sides out and long edges matching. Some people prefer to pin in place and then sew. I find it easier and quicker to just wrap the fabric around the cording – adjusting as I go – while sewing.

When you come to a point where two fabric strips have been joined, make sure the seam is pressed open.

Sew using a zipper foot. I usually do not sew the last few inches of cording to make it easier for attaching the two ends of the cording together.

Attaching Welting
Once your welting is all assembled it is time to attach it. As I mentioned earlier, for this example I am using a pillow. Start on the bottom edge of the pillow or the back edge of the item to which you are attaching the welting.

Pin welting to fabric - clipping at curves - with unfinished edges aligned on the right side of the fabric.

When you have gone all the way around, cut your cording to exact length needed. You may have to rip out part of the seam of the cording. Leave your fabric about 1” longer than the cording.

Sew ends of cording together using a needle and thread.

Fold fabric back and overlap raw edge of other end of fabric with folded edge. Pin.

Using zipper foot and sewing machine, sew welting to pillow.

Simple, easy and quick! To finish the pillow add a zipper and then back piece of fabric or just the back piece of fabric sewn closed with a needle and thread.

Winner! Winner!

2011-04-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the RDH Spruce Up for Spring Giveaway! It sounds like there are lots of fun outdoor projects in the works for many of you.

I so appreciate everyone who takes the time to follow and leave comments on this blog. I know I have said this before, but I view giveaways as my small way of saying “thank you.” I try to spread them out and not do too many as they are not the focus of this blog. I realize some people do get tired of seeing them all over the internet.

Anyway, without further delay the winner of the $50 gift certificate to Every Patio Furniture, chosen by Random.org was comment #21 – Sherry from No Minimalist Here.

I was so thrilled when I saw Sherry was the winner. I am a follower of Sherry’s blog and feel like I have gotten to know her through her many fun project ideas and posts.

I have already contacted Sherry and am looking forward to seeing her selection. Tomorrow it is back to normal with a tutorial on sewing and attaching welting.

Giveaway Reminder

2011-04-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend and were able to spend time with the ones you love!

This is just a quick reminder that today is the last day to enter the Spruce Up for Spring Giveaway.

The winner will be drawn tomorrow and announced on Wednesday. Good luck!

Living Room Finished!

2011-04-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

I am happy to say my living room redo is finished! (Well at least as finished as it is going to be for a little while! Things tend to change quickly around here so I don’t want to make any promises.) The final pieces of the puzzle – curtains and a lamp – have been added and I could not be more pleased with the result. Here is a look back at what the room looked liked before.

Here is what the room looks like today.

I finally found time a few weekends ago to finish the curtains. For new followers, these are the second set of curtains I have made for this room over the past several months. (You can read about what happened to the first set here.) The fabric had been sitting in a closet for several weeks and I had been going back and forth as to how exactly I wanted to make them.

I thought about making a scalloped edge, adding some sort of decorative trim or even sewing a stripe of colored linen to the top. In the end, I continued with the “simple is better” theme of this room and decided on plain panels.

The lamp is from the same shop as my recently acquired orange chairs. It looks like stone – although I think it is resin – has a gray metal shade, and is a much better fit than the previous brass lamp which used to occupy this space.

The best part to me about this room makeover is it was more about taking things away rather than adding them. The room is lighter, brighter and just all around more representative of the current décor in my house.

Linking up with

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Remodelaholic Anonymous at Remodelaholic

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Note: I have not forgotten about the promised “How to sew curtains with lining” tutorial. I am almost finished with the writing and should have it up soon.