My $3 Flea Market Find

by RoxanneK, in category DIY, Home Decor

You guys know by now that I really love a good flea market. You just never know what interesting things you will find. A few weeks ago my mother and I stopped at a roadside flea market that didn’t look like much from the outside. It looked more like a small, run-down village than a typical flea market.

I wasn’t expecting much from the looks of it, but it turned out to be really interesting. The vendors were are super friendly and there were some great finds there. One or two things that caught our eye were sold before we got to them, but then I came across this kitchen sign. I wasn’t really in the market for another sign, but I had never seen one with the wording “Confections” before.

I told my mom I was only going to buy it if it was $10 or less. When the man quoted me $3 I was shocked and readily agreed. I knew right where I could use it in my kitchen. By the way, I have so many flea market regrets of things I didn’t buy because I didn’t know where I’d use them. I decided from now on if I see something I really love to grab it, I can always resell it if I can’t use it myself.

While I really liked this confections sign, I wasn’t thrilled with the colors ( I have an aversion to red) so I gave it an update with paint. I used paints I already had in my stash. Everything but the letters got a coat of Pure White chalk paint.

My cat Nelson, approving the design.

The letters were painted black with my DecoArt chalk paint.

I also painted the frame with the black paint. At that point, it all looked a little too stark, so I lightly sanded it all around for just a tiny bit of distressing to soften it a bit.

My mother and I were actually looking for furniture pieces that day. The thing with flea markets is you have to go in with an open mind, and you usually don’t end up with what you set out looking for.

You may also like some of my other flea market finds, check those out below.

Side Table Upcycle

Vintage Mantel

Cane Back Chairs and Vintage Sideboard

Aug62018Aug 5 2018

I Heart Slipcovered Furniture

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor, home interiors, Interior Design Tips

There’s just something about slipcovered furniture. Its got that casual, inviting feel about it. Sort of like your favorite pair of jeans. But just because it’s comfortable, doesn’t mean it can’t be dressed up.

I spotted a set of slipcovered dining chairs at Ikea last week after attending an event they hosted in NYC. They stopped me right in my tracks as I was passing by, which has got me thinking about how versatile slipcovered furniture is.

Just like your favorite jeans, you can give it a whole new look depending on what you pair it with. I have this sofa* in my family room in the color Parchment but I’m thinking about switching it up to white. (On a side note, those floors!!!)

An added benefit of having slipcovered furniture is you can change the look of your furniture without replacing the furniture itself. Slipcovers are a great way to do all white without the worry because you can throw them right into the washing machine.

The linen texture on this beautiful chair from Ella Claire is perfect, the whole space feels breezy.

You can also play with pattern without a long-term commitment.

Another resource for slipcovered furniture is this company, they offer slipcovers to fit furniture from popular brands like Ikea and Pottery Barn.

If you’re interested in attempting to DIY your own slipcovers, head over to Miss Mustard Seed – she is the go-to resource on that!

Of course, slipcovered furniture is not just for the cottage style look. It can look tailored in a more traditional room as well.

It helps to make a more formal space feel comfortable.

Slipcovers even work in modern spaces.

As well as in your industrial spaces.

My two favorite fabrics for slipcovers are the simple linen slipcovers and the plain white covers.

Slipcovered furniture is the wardrobe staple of the home.

*This post may contain affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Jul232018Jul 22 2018

13 Pretty Indoor Outdoor Rugs

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor, Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor rugs have come a long way since the days of the faux-green-grass-style. Do you remember those or am I dating myself? Recently, I was searching for a doormat to put outside of my back door that leads into the yard. I was looking to get something larger than your typical doormat and something a little nicer than the average brown mat. Which led me to indoor-outdoor rugs options. I was really surprised at the selection of rugs for outdoors these days!

Even though they look pretty enough for indoors, most of these can just be hosed down to clean. Whether used on a porch, patio or deck they really make a great compliment to any outdoor space.

Our 13 Favorite Outdoor Rugs

This look-alike jute area rug would be the perfect starting point for creating an outdoor room.

Have fun decorating outdoors with this patterned indoor/outdoor boho style area rug.

The black medallion rug here looks like an indoor rug but is made for outdoor use as well.

Bold color more your style? Check out this red paisley rug.

Stripes are always a classic choice for indoor or outdoor rugs, see this beautiful blue striped rug for example.

You can never go wrong with a subtle patterned natural rug.

Nothing says summer like blue and white stripes. This area rug with summery stripes would be a perfect addition to your coastal style decor.

This patterned rug in champagne and black is gorgeous all on its own.

I love the blue/gray color on this rug from Safavieh. It also comes in a rectangle shape and it’s available in other colors, including natural. The beautiful texture on these outdoor rugs is an added bonus.

More classic stripes in gray .

Or go bold with a black and white striped area rug.

This diamond pattern is another classic design.

Lastly, this pretty quatrefoil rug would make a great starting point for your porch or patio.

The choices are virtually endless when it comes to beautiful outdoor rugs, you can find SO many more options here. They made it easy to bring your indoor style outside. You can check out a pretty selection of patio lights to go with these rugs here!

*This post may contain affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Jul122018Jul 23 2018

Family Room Ideas for Summer

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor, home interiors, interior design ideas

Until last week, we have had tools and moldings all over the house since February. It was back in February that we started working on our living room. When you DIY everything and you have day jobs this can take what feels like forever. I don’t mind the waiting so much, I know it’s worth it in the end. The hard part is living with the construction during. When you’re working on a room, it has a way of taking over the whole house. Now that we are just about done in there, it feels great to clean up the rest of the house. It inspired me to refresh my family room especially considering I still had my Valentine’s Day decor up in here! Here are a few quick and easy family room ideas for summer.

I already had most of the decor I used, you may remember it from my summer mantel last year. This year I wanted to add a few pops of blue on the mantel without spending much, if any, money. I found a blue flower pot that I had painted with Fusion Mineral paint in the color Inglenook. As always, I love using books when decorating, but I couldn’t find any books around the house with any blue in them. I had an idea when I was at the craft store to pick up some scrapbook paper to wrap the books in. I found this cute map print paper* and used that for a really quick and inexpensive update.

Here’s a closer look. I also added a decorative moss ball in the flower pot.

On the other side, I did basically the same thing (I like symmetry) but I added this pretty candle. It’s called Sea Air, I wish you could smell it because it’s amazing.

I found the perfect summer throw at Home Goods last week (here is something similar), it’s just what I had in mind.

The other side of the room hasn’t changed much since I shared my Spring decorating this year. I added a small centerpiece of Lisianthus to the table. I tried growing my own this year but the seeds didn’t take. Luckily, I found some at my local grocery store. I was hoping to find them in pink, but they only have the white so far.

That’s about it, just a little decluttering and a few pops of blue is all I needed in here for summer.

Hope you found some inspiration with these quick and easy summer family room ideas. I like keeping it simple in the summer considering most of our time is spent outdoors these days.

You can shop the look below!

I’m sharing this post as part of the second annual summer home tour series with my blogging friends, hosted by My Life From Home. Click the links below for more living and family room ideas and inspiration!

*This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here. Linking up with BNOTP.

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Jul92018Jul 11 2018

Found: The Perfect Neutral Area Rug

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

This post is in partnership with World Market, a brand that I love. All opinions are 100% my own.

I’m back from my little blogging break! I took two weeks off to recharge and catch up on some ongoing projects around here. I painted all of the trim and doors downstairs (some of which hadn’t even been painted since my kitchen makeover!) I also spent a ton of time putting things back in order after finally completing our board and batten project, which I will share soon. I also spent some time shopping around for a new area rug for my living room.

Area rugs are a great way to add color and interest to a space. That is exactly what I was going for when I gave my living room a light makeover last year. That makeover was done using mostly decor only, this time around I wanted to go back and fix the larger details. We really needed new floors and moldings. Now that this project is finally nearing the finish line, I realized that I’m tired of the pink accents in the area rug from last year and it’s time to go more neutral and classic. An area rug is a large element of a room, so finding the perfect neutral was important this time. I don’t want to have to change it in another year and a half.

After searching online for hours and hours I have finally found the perfect neutral solution. (How did we ever shop before the internet? It would’ve taken months to research rugs without it!) It’s called the Ivory Oliver area rug * and it’s from Cost Plus World Market. I couldn’t love it more!

It has a subtle blend of my favorite neutrals; blue, white and gray. I love how it’s faded in some areas for a slightly vintage look.

I will admit that I am concerned about keeping it clean with the white background. Since I’ve gotten it a few weeks ago it’s as if it has a big bulls-eye on it. My dog had an accident in the house (which he never does) on day three of having it here. I will spare you the details, but it was more than your typical accident. Fortunately, after tons of scrubbing, it was as good as new. If you are wondering, this is what I use for carpet stains, nothing else comes close.

Make sure when buying a rug for your space that you go large enough. You might have to spend a little more but you don’t want it to look like a postage stamp in the room. I used an 8 X 10 for my living room. Bigger is better in this case.

Here are a few more of my favorite neutral rugs. Use the arrows to scroll through them and click any picture for more details.

And of course, this little guy is forgiven.

*This post may contain affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

May212018May 20 2018

Cheap Wall Decor Online

by RoxanneK, in category cheap decorating ideas, Home Decor

You should know by now, I’m all for budget decorating. Decorating your home really can add up fast, so I’m always on the lookout for ways to do it for less. I also change out my decor often. Home decor is what I do, so I need to keep it interesting. One thing I switch pretty often is my wall art. The constant urge to keep things looking fresh around here has inspired me to create my own wall decor by opening a Shopify store. I wanted to bring you (and me) cheap wall decor online.

This shop has been open for some time now, I haven’t shared it yet because I still have so many prints that I plan to add to it. However, I realized this will be an ongoing project, much like my home so why not share it now? These are mostly all digital prints, that you can immediately print at home or download to print at a printing shop. I use Walgreens and Staples when I need photos printed that are larger than my printer can handle.

Botanicals are huge right now. I was browsing through a design catalog recently and saw these botanical prints for $75 each! To buy the set of four would cost $300! I’m happy to say, my shop has something similar (I actually like these better) and they are under $6 each! You can find these and more botanical prints here. You may have noticed one of these in my armoire makeover post. I’ll be using more of these in my living room when it’s finally done.

Another item I’m working to get more of in the shop are these coastal prints. I have these in my family room, and I get asked often where to find them. I bought mine in a store years ago, and I’ve searched everywhere to find them now, but they seem to be obsolete. So I recreated them myself. I’ve only gotten to NJ and NC beach towns so far but I will be adding states soon, drop me a comment if you’d like to see your state featured. These are one of the few things in my shop that is not available for digital printing. Because of the unique size of them, to print them would be difficult and costly. I started researching companies that will put these on canvas for you and most of them were crazy expensive! I did end up finding one that is totally reasonable, so I teamed up with them on Shopify to offer these as canvas prints.

If photography prints are more your style, I have that covered too. I have some very talented friends and family who have an eye for photography. The photography prints offered are a mix of coastal and country. All are nature inspired, which is why I love these so much. You can see all the photography prints offered so far here.

If you are interested in inspiration style wall decor, you will probably like some of the typography prints we offer.

With the exception of the canvas prints, everything in the shop is under $10. Cheap wall decor at it’s best!

I wanted to also include some resources to make your digital prints look the best they possibly can. A good printer helps, this one* can print larger sizes (up to 13 X 19″). Also, I highly recommend printing on photo paper, using a piece of regular printer paper will not have the same effect.

As far as framing, Michael’s has the best selection of frames in my opinion. They always have coupons for 40-50% off. You can get a great deal on a good quality frame when they have those sales. I also recommend selecting frames one size up, especially for smaller prints, and using a mat. This will make the prints look more high-end, no one will ever know it’s cheap wall decor!

If you have any type of wall decor in mind that you’d like to see offered, let me know in the comments and it may just end up in the shop!

May172018May 16 2018

7 Decorative Mirrors for Above the Mantel

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

We are still working on our living room makeover over here. It’s painfully slow, but it’s getting there. The floors are in, and the board and batten is about 3/4 done. We still have to add it above the fireplace and on one other wall. In the meantime, I am working on the fun task of spackling a tiny million nail holes. Once that is done, I can get to painting it. I’m also making small decor changes in this room, one of which is replacing the mirror that is currently above my fireplace. I know what I want, but these types of decorative mirrors can be a bit expensive so I’ve been searching for something similar that costs less.

I like this style of mirror, one with a bit of an arched top. Even though this one is a bit ornate, it’s my favorite. Of course, this is one of the most expensive on today’s list.

Beaudry Mirror

Here are some more of my favorite decorative mirrors for above the mantel* that I’ve found so far, in a variety of price ranges.

Arch Wall Mirror

I am feeling like a metal frame is what is going to look the best here.

Brayden Wall Mirror

Though I never can rule out a beautiful wood finish.

Arched Accent Mirror

I absolutely love this one, but with my rustic, chippy-paint mantel a chippy-paint mirror might be overkill.

Rustic Arched Mirror

This one is budget friendly compared to some of the others, and I am loving the black frame, though I don’t know that’ll work above my fireplace.

Contemporary Black Arched Mirror

This one is the least expensive of them all but is currently sold out. This store usually restocks their sold-out pieces, so keep a watch on it if you love it.

Decorative Arched Mirror

I’m planning on spending some time visiting Home Goods and Marshalls. I think that will be my best bet to find an affordable option. If I can’t find one there, then I will likely buy one of these. Which one is your favorite?

If you missed Monday’s post ( I had a tech issue with my email provider, so that post didn’t get sent out) there is still time for you to enter to win tickets to the upcoming Country Living Fair in NY! The reason I had that tech issue is because I have created something special for my email subscribers only and I’m working on getting that set up. I love DIY and home decor, but the tech side of blogging – not so much! If you are currently subscribed, watch your inbox for this freebie soon! If you aren’t a subscriber, you can sign up below!

*This post contains affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here.

Apr232018Apr 24 2018

Wooden Wall Hooks Giveaway

by RoxanneK, in category Giveaways, Home Decor

Hi guys, I’m just popping in today with a fun giveaway. I’m finally getting back to some projects around here, I was starting to have DIY withdrawal! Awhile back, I shared this post on how to organize your entryway. In that design board, I shared these fun wooden numbered wall hooks* and today I have a set of them to give away to one lucky reader!

Organization is key in a small space and these cute wooden wall hooks will help keep things off the floor and within easy access. You can enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leave a comment and tell me where you would use these hooks in your home!

*This post may contain affiliate links, this giveaway is not affiliated with Wayfair or Wildon Home. You can read my full disclosure here.

Apr192018Apr 19 2018

Watercolor Paintings from Etsy

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

Projects around my house have been on hold the last few weeks, we have been really busy getting my daughter prepared to leave for school. Once things settle down we will get back to my living room project, we still haven’t added any moldings after finishing the floors. In the meantime, I’ve been loving all things watercolor. Have you noticed this trend everywhere lately? I wish I could paint my own watercolors but until then I’ve been browsing around Etsy and I’ve found some beautiful watercolor paintings. Here are some of my favorites, and they’re all super affordable coming in at under $30 (except for one)!

This cottage watercolor painting speaks to the farmhouse style that I love.

White Poppy watercolor – If you like minimal decor, this pretty set is for you.

Ocean City boardwalk – Summer is just around the corner (though it doesn’t feel that way at all!) and this pretty watercolor painting just sums up those lazy boardwalk days.

Set of Four Peony watercolors – These are so pretty, the peonies are the perfect shade of blush pink. They come in a set of four but I like how they are displayed here with a set of three.

Nantucket Watercolor-This perfect depicts that New England charm that we all love.

Beachy watercolor – This simple abstract would make a good base for a room’s color scheme.

Cotton art watercolor – This one is so creative, look at the detail of the flowers.

London watercolor – I’m more of a homebody but this one is for you world travelers out there.

Stunning hydrangea – The artist behind this one is seriously talented!

Greenhouse-I wish this were a real space in my house, so charming!

Wisteria -Similar to the hydrangea painting above and just as beautiful.

Watercolor paintings are such a great way to brighten up a room. As I mentioned above, all of these would make a great starting point for a room’s color scheme. Which one is your favorite?

Apr122018Apr 11 2018

Custom Framing and The Property Brothers!

by RoxanneK, in category Home Decor

You guys may have seen this picture of me with the Property Brothers that I posted on Facebook and Instagram. Today I wanted to tell you how that all came about. I’m still pinching myself to be sure it really happened! The Property Brothers have a new line of custom framing available at Michael’s, and the store was having a media event to announce this new line. I’ve attended media events before and you really never know what to expect until you get there.

This one was held at a gallery in NYC. The Property Brothers were already there when we arrived. They were every bit as personable and energetic as they appear on tv, maybe even more so.

They introduced themselves to us and we had the opportunity to interview them along with the other media people that were there. The gallery was filled with their new line of custom frames.

Of course, I had to try one of these custom framing options for myself. My oldest daughter recently graduated college and I wanted to frame her diploma. This diploma means more to us than you know, so I wanted it to be special. I have to also share the backstory on that with you.

Scott Living Black leather frame with rivets* at Michael’s Store

When my daughter was little, she always said she wanted to be a veterinarian. I thought it was just the usual kid talk but as she grew she never wavered on that and never once said that she wanted to be anything other than a vet. Looking back now, she did show signs of an extraordinary love for animals. I remember visiting a friends house who I hadn’t seen in years when my daughter was around 4. At one point, I realized my daughter had disappeared. After searching, we found her under my friend’s bed trying to coax her cat out from under it.

When she was in grade school I subscribed her to Cat Fancy and Dog Fancy magazines. One month Cat Fancy had a pull-out poster showing the anatomy of a cat. My daughter loved that and it hung on her wall for years. While in middle school she applied to go to a specialized animal science program for high school and was accepted. In freshman year she started volunteering at a local vet, which later turned into her part-time job, where she still works today. I remember her coming home from there and telling me that she felt like this is where she really fit, it just felt right.

Deciding on my custom framing layout in-store

In senior year of high school, she applied to another specialized program for college at Rutgers University. It was a tough one to get in to and I shed many tears when she was accepted. My husband and I did not go to college, it wasn’t even on our radar in those days. We are not very academically inclined and were not really able to help her with her studies in high school. Most kids in our area go to extensive SAT tutoring, but that wasn’t in our budget.

Steel Rivets with Black Leather Frame by Scott Living

Moving on to Rutgers, academics became much more challenging for her. The pre-vet curriculum at Rutgers is known to be one of the toughest around and it was a struggle. There were many a tearful phone call home. At one point she failed chemistry and was placed on academic probation. If you know anything at all about applying to vet school, then you know its the toughest of them all to get into, it’s even more difficult than med school. Especially for NJ students, because there are only a few vets schools in the country (none in NJ) and they will accept in-state students over out of state first. Her chances started to look bleak.

Many people tried to dissuade her from wanting to go to vet school. Even myself at one point, purely for financial reasons (the cost of vet school is outrageous) and not because I thought she wouldn’t make it. She never gave up. She suffered through her studies and brought her grades back up all while also working part-time. She would get up early on Saturday morning after working and studying all week and attend open houses being held by universities for prospective vet students in NYC.

In-store computer mach-up for custom framing

Even though she suffered academic setbacks, bouts of anxiety from the stress and roommates from hell, she accomplished what she set out to do and graduated with a degree in science from Rutgers University.

Custom framed diploma

Finally, it was time to apply to vet school. When my daughter asked her mentor from Rutgers for a recommendation letter, the woman said: “Yes, but I don’t think you’re ready for this”. That was a huge blow to my daughter’s ego but she didn’t let it stop her.

She applied to only one school.

After several months of anticipation, she got the call. She was accepted! She will be leaving in just a few short weeks.

Shadowbox custom frame

As you can see, this diploma is much more than a piece of paper to us. It represents sheer determination and a passion to follow your dream! As Joel Osteen says, “When God puts a dream in your heart, nothing can stop it!”.

Even if the odds are all against you.

*This post is in collaborations with Michael’s, all opinions are 100% my own. The Scott Living collection of custom framing from the Property Brothers is available exclusively at Michaels stores. You can find the desk chair shown above here. This post may contain affiliate links, read my full disclosure here.

If you’d like to follow along with my daughter’s journey through vet school, you can follow along with her brand new blog here.