Monday Mish Mash
How to Use a Vintage Printer Tray for Jewelry Display
About that Big Basket
New to Me Hallway Mirror
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
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 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.
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
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.
A French Bench
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.
Balloon Sandals
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!
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