Parade of Homes House Tour

I am thrilled and honored to be participating in the 2011 Poppies at Play Parade of Homes. Andy has put together a fabulous list of 20 bloggers who, over the course of this upcoming week, will be showcasing some of their favorite rooms in their homes. It is sure to be fun and inspirational!

Whether this is your first time visiting Red Door Home or you are a long time follower – welcome!

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

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

I am Stacy, a stay at home mom who loves refurbishing vintage and thrift store finds, budget decorating, DIY projects, and sewing. Below you will find a small sample of some of the projects my husband and I have completed over the ten years we have lived in our home. I hope you enjoy the tour.

Basement Bathroom and Sitting Area

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

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

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

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

Our basement finishing project began with a simple goal – create a space suitable for guests but also one which would serve the needs of our family now and in the future.

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

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

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

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

Our wish list included a guest bedroom, bathroom, sitting area, bar area and storage space. We spent a lot of time planning and making many budget compromises along the way. (You can read more here and here.)

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers / Photographer – Bryan McCay

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

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers / Photographer – Bryan McCay

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

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers / Photographer – Bryan McCay

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

In the end our basement turned out to be one of my favorite places in our house. Our guests seem to like it too - many times asking to stay longer the next time!


Dining Room

My dining room has come together over the last several months mostly by chance. The most recent addition being a pair of 1950’s velvet chairs which I found not too long ago.

This space is truly a mix of varying styles and price points. In the thrifty category you will find the Henredon table and four painted chairs (refurbished from Craig’s list), wall clock (painted floor sample), column centerpiece (vintage find), pair of alabaster lamps (Ebay) as well as the sideboard and dark chairs (painted and glazed thrift store finds).

The splurges include the blue and white zig zag rug and gray silk curtains – sewn by me.

By balancing the two I was able to create a unique and stylish space which didn’t break the bank! Future plans for this space include adding architectural details to the ceiling and walls.


Family Room and Kitchen

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

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

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

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

My family spends a majority of our together time in these two connected spaces.

Once again, the furnishings come from a wide variety of sources including vintage finds and new purchases, Ebay and thrift store items, repainted hand-me-downs, and flea market pieces.

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

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

The pictures of these rooms are from a 2009 Women’s Day Budget decorating feature as well as new photos I have not shown before.

Daughter’s Bedroom

Completed about a year ago, my daughter’s room was truly an exercise in compromise – she wanted pink, pink, pink and I wanted a room she would not out grow in a few years.

We kept or repurposed most of the existing furnishings and filled in the blanks with simple DIY projects including making dog silhouettes, sewing slipcovers, pillows and curtains, adding ceiling molding, dressing up a bulletin board, and more.

When it was all done we both came away with a space we loved!

Thank you so much for stopping by my home. I love meeting new blogging friends and hope you will leave a comment letting me know you were here!

The next stop on the tour is Gina from The Shabby Chic Cottage.

April Blog of the Month – For the Love of a House

Most of my favorite blogs are those which feature renovation projects and/or design. Joan’s wonderful blog, For the Love of a House is both – making it one of my all-time favorites and the April RDH blog of the month!

Joan and her husband moved from Texas to New Hampshire and are currently restoring their beautiful farm house. You can read their incredible and inspiring story of how and why this move transpired by clicking here.

As a former antique business owner, Joan’s impeccable taste and style can be found in every room of her house – especially her magazine worthy kitchen and living room.

The current renovation project at For the Love of a House involves the repurposing of a barn into a mud room and storage room. Like many houses of this era and locale, Joan’s house included an attached barn which originally housed livestock. The barn will now accommodate these two new spaces.

Antique iron gates from Argentina – shown below - will serve as the entrance to the mudroom. I can only imagine how beautiful the rest of this area will be and I am looking forward to seeing this space as it progresses.

Another favorite aspect of Joan’s blog is her creative use of salvaged items. Besides the above doors, Joan also designed this incredible headboard project.

Joan purchased the large antique wood garden gate posts thinking they would make perfect headboard posts – boy was she right! Using the posts and salvaged barn boards from the property, the on-site carpenter created a beautiful piece of furniture which is sure to become a family heirloom.

To see more of Joan’s beautiful house and inspiring style be sure to visit For the Love of a House.

Spring Basket Tutorial

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my spring tablescape. As promised, here is the tutorial for making the spring basket place cards/party favors featured in this post.

Supplies
Tuna fish can – empty and cleaned
Raffia – several lengths about 20 inches long
Glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Pinking shears
Sewing machine
Iron
Linen – Two 10” x 26” pieces
Thread to match fabric
Sewable Heat and Bond – One 6” x 22” piece

Directions
Use iron to attach one piece of linen to one side of Heat and Bond.

Use scissors to trim extra fabric.

Remove paper from Heat and Bond and use iron to attach second piece of linen.

Use scissors to trim extra fabric. You now have a double sided 6” x 22” piece of linen.

Fold, iron and pin linen in half along 6” side leaving ½” difference in the hems.

Sew along edge with sewing machine.

To create the fabric loops, use pinking shears or scissors to make cuts along folded edge about ½” apart. Cuts should stop about ½” from sewn edge.

Attach fabric to tuna fish can using glue gun. Fabric will wrap around can a little more than two times.

At this point the fabric loops will be stiff. Simply press loops down with your hands to create desired look.

To make the handle, tie knots along length of raffia about 1 inch apart. Trim ends about 1” below first and last knot. Your handle should be about 12 inches long.

To attach handles to inside of tuna fish can, rest knot on the top edge of the can and glue using glue gun.

Fill with paper grass and goodies!

Enjoy!

Linking up to:
The DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Centsational Girl