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Simple Spring Wreath

I’m ready for spring.

Winter – thankfully – didn’t hit us hard this year in the North Country of NY, but I’m still ready for warm + sunny weather to once again appear.

To welcome the coming change of season, I wanted to adorn my door with something new. Typically when April hits, I change over the front porch for Spring and kick-off-the-season by hanging my beloved forsythia wreath. This year I wanted something new…

The past weeks have been incredibly busy with little spare time to create + DIY, but last weekend, I squeezed in a few quiet moments to make a new wreath.

Quick + Simple, AND pretty.  A new wreath to adorn my door…

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

I adore my yellow forsythia wreath – my go to for Spring – but I was wanting something lighter + brighter to give contrast to the apple green painted front door.

After food shopping last week, I popped into AC Moore and saw so many vibrant + colorful faux flowers for Spring.  Their whole collection was on sale, so I picked up 3 bunches – about $15 total – in soft colors of white, greens, and a pop of pink.

I was excited to get started…

TUTORIAL FOR A SIMPLE 10-MINUTE SPRING WREATH

I started off with an 18″ grapevine wreath that I had on hand – but you can find them at most craft stores (even Walmart has them) for around $5.

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

And my 3 bunches of Spring flowers.

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

Using snips, I broke apart the flower cluster and was left with individual stems, which gives the flexibility + freedom to place the stems where they look best to give a real-looking result.

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

Once all the stems are separated, start weaving them into the wreath.  Secure with floral wire if needed.

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

In about 5-8 minutes, I was done and had a new wreath to adorn my door.

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

And here it is… hung and pretty!

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

Well unfortunately I think I jinxed myself.  Spring was on it’s way, but over the coming days it’s supposed to feel like winter again.  Ugh.  Soon.  I know it’ll be here soon.

For now, this new wreath will keep me going to send Spring vibes our way.

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

SPRING WREATH: A simple + easy 10-minute creation to adorn the front door. It couldn't be easier to make and a lot less expensive than buying. Easy-to-follow tutorial @ www.JennaBurger.com

Want to make something similar for your door, here’s a quick recap of how to make it.  I swear, it is simple.  Anyone can tackle this in a cinch!

Sprng Wreath Collage

Want to see more wreaths I’ve made?  Check out my DIY wreath page with lots of easy-to-follow tutorials.

Happy Spring.

Soon.

Spring + Summer Front Porch

I can not be more excited that the warm weather is here!  Over the last few weeks, it’s been hot.  Spring skipped right over us this year, but after that brutal winter, who cares.  As I’ve mentioned once or twice, we’ve been working hard on vamping up the outdoors for the warmer days ahead.

A lot of work has gone into the front of our home this year… curb appeal at it’s finest.  The porch got quite a few updates.  Here is this years Spring-right-into-Summer Front Porch…

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

I feel lucky to have so many spots around our homestead to chill + put our feet up (the patio / the deck), but the one spot (which is by far the smallest of all) our clan of 5 always seems to choose to relax is the front porch.  Maybe it’s because the kids are often riding their bikes on the road or playing basketball in the driveway, but even when we’re playing a game of Uno, all of us pretty much always choose the front porch.

It certainly is quaint + cozy…

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

…with lots of color + texture.

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Pillows on the porch: Blue Multi / White Medallion / Bird

Carpet @ chairs: $5 polypropylene mats from Five Below

Mat @ front door: Target – similar to this

Pouf: Lowe’s

Front Door color: Valspar Crushed Oregano in semi-gloss

A few upgrades from when we first moved in – enlarging the columns, adding the vertical pallet, installing the new front door – have all made a big impact to the entry of our home. psst, another fairly easy DIY project with a big impact look coming your way next week.

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

EASY DO-IT-YOURSELF PROJECT

Dress up your house numbers…

Using a board from an old pallet, I brushed on a light coat of white paint.  I installed the house numbers (that used to be attached to the house) on the board about 3/4 up from the bottom. Then I took jute cord and wrapped it around to create an interesting design. Simple & not a penny spent!

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com[The stone edging at the garden beds are a new addition this year. Check out the tutorial on creating the perfect border for your beds]

And pretty flowers do make a BIG difference.  This porch looked far from how it does now only a few short weeks ago…

All of my flowers for this years porch came from Lowe’s.  They always have such a great variety of flowers + plants!

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Not much is new; most of the furniture and layers on this years Spring + Summer front porch we’ve had for years.  With some little updates, it’s amazing how old can look new in a snap.

The side chairs are inexpensive teak bought about 8 years ago from the Christmas Tree store.  I thought about getting rid of them many times, but last year I added new cushions + a few vibrant pillows from Lowe’s and all of a sudden, they looked great again.

The lutchens bench used to be stained, but then I got my hands on a can of turquoise spray paint and it took on a new life!

The vertical garden pallet is a DIY creation from a few years back and it’s still a show-stopper on the porch.

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

It is such a wonderful way to add height to a vertical space (and height = drama!).  From herbs to succulents to vines, I’ve hung many different types of plants on this vertical pallet over the years!  For this Spring season, I chose to plant Variegated Vinca Vines in the smaller pots and Fuchsia in the larger pots – they are both shade annuals.

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Fuchsia is also what I chose for the hanging plant over the porch since this side of the house gets no sun.

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Ferns are another great shade choice and I have that hanging from a tall hook next to the porch.  It’s such a beautiful, hardy Summer staple.

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Can you see why this spot is our favorite to spend those long dog days of Summer?  Do you blame us?!

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Lastly, I love seeing + sharing how our front facade has evolved over the years…

Spring + Summer Front Porch: A small space filled with lots of colors and layers that create a welcoming entry.  See the rest of this porch + how it's evolved over the years! www.jennaburger.com

Crazy, right?  All this TLC has been tackled with our own hands!

Thanks for taking the tour of our favorite Summer Space!  And by the way, did you catch anything different about this years porch from years past – if you’ve been following along with me for over the years, you might have noticed.  Well if not, I’ll give you a hint… we jazzed up the ugly foundation with new stone veneer.  More on that + a tutorial on how we installed it coming up next week.

Cheers to a fantastic summer! 

So tell me, are you more of a front porch sitter or a back deck lounger?

DISCLOSURE: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

Creating an Outdoor Living Space

I don’t know about you, but around our homestead, it takes a solid 3 weeks to get the outdoors prepped + spruced to enjoy for the coming warmer months ahead.

As the final piles of snow melted only a little over a month ago, work began on Summerizing the exterior.  FINALLY after many trips to the garden center, the last flowers & plants were purchased yesterday, so our exterior living spaces are almost complete and I can’t wait to share them with you… coming soon.

In the meantime, I’ll inspire you with fresh ways + ideas to bring the indoors out with budget-friendly ideas for creating an outdoor living space

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!

Whether a deck, porch, or patio there are ways to bring the indoors out to create a beautiful, serene, and inviting outdoor oasis. With comfortable seating, stylish layers, and lots of flowers and greenery, your outdoor space will become the most used “room” in, and outside, of the home for the Summer months.

BRING THE INDOORS OUT
Surround yourself with what you love by bringing the indoors out. Creating an outdoor living room that is truly an outdoor oasis is similar to designing an interior haven. Surround yourself with things that are most meaningful to you and elements that bring you happiness.  Make an outdoor space fun and unexpected by introducing a pretty patterned table cloth, wind chimes that blow in the breeze, and pops of color through pillows.

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!

Similar to a room inside your home, once you have your basics, add in layers – lanterns, candles, flowers, and plants.

Our Summer Deck 2014Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!

COMFORTABLE SEATING
An outdoor oasis isn’t complete without lots of comfortable seating. Once the summer months arrive, almost every waking moment will be spent outdoors soaking up the sun. Be the house where everyone gathers on weekend evenings.

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!Our Patio Paradise 2014

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!

Either individual oversized Adirondack chairs or an outdoor sofa fit for two (or more) is a necessity for outdoor living. Load up on comfy pillows and you may never head back indoors.

Put your feet up by adding a few outdoor ottomans that are waterproof to truly create an outdoor living room.

There are many local furniture stores and online shops that have a wide selection of outdoor sofas and chairs that are similar to the comforts of your living room. Or make your own, like I did with shipping pallets.

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!Tutorial for DIY Pallet Sofa

STORAGE
Similar to the indoors, space for storage is a must. No matter if you’re an empty nester or a family of 5, it’s essential to have a spot to store the outdoor pillows, BBQ necessities, and sand toys.

Many outdoor furniture pieces have built-in storage compartments or a stylish storage box that compliments the setting. Alternatively, try an outdoor ottoman flip top that duals as storage.

Outdoor Storage ideasleft to right: resin wicker box / wicker storage chest / wood storage bench

LAYERS
An outdoor setting isn’t complete without a stylish rug. Adding a rug to a porch or patio isn’t just needed to make a space pretty, but it also provides a comfy spot to kick off the flip flops without the fear of a stubbed toe or unwanted splinter. Kids can walk around barefoot (which most love to do in the summer months) while having a barrier between their toes and the hard surface.

Outdoor rugs are a favorite because they can live outdoors for the summer and be brought indoors during the winter. Rugs made for the elements, are also ideal for foyers, mudrooms, and even under dining room tables (especially with youngsters in the home).

I am loving the outdoor rugs made of polypropylene because they are super easy to clean, fold up tight for storage, and are fairly inexpensive!

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!

A sneak at this years front porch with a new 3′ x 6′ rug (upper left) that I found at Five Below for $5…

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!

FLOWERS
Last, but certainly not least, an outdoor oasis isn’t complete without surrounding it with greenery. Whether your favorite spot is in the sun or the shade, surround your exterior setting with lush plants and colorful flowers in varying sized pots.

Bring the indoors OUT... Helpful budget-friendly ideas to create an outdoor oasis!Potted herbs are a great alternative to flowers. Or try perennials in a pot, then transfer them into the ground at the end of the Summer season so they can be enjoyed again next year.

And there you have it…  5 ways to extend the beauty on the inside to the outdoors.  I’m off to finish up the last potted plants, lay mulch in the side garden, and finally snap some pictures so I can share what I’ve been working on for the last weeks.

Have a wonderful memorial day weekend!

Freshen Up The Home for Spring

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Yes, there is still snow on the ground.  Yes, the temps are still only in the 30s.  But it’s officially SPRING!

It has been a looooong winter with a cycle of sickness that our party of 5 can not seem to break out of.  Thankfully, with 50s in the forecast for later this week I am feeling happy + hopefully that Spring is on it’s way and that of course means I am feeling the itch to freshen up our home for Spring.

As Spring starts to spring (hehe) and we begin the process of coming out of hibernation, it organically feels like the best time of year to freshen things up.  To bring in the spirit of the season, here are some of my favorite spaces for Spring that I am pulling inspiration from…

INSPIRING SPACES.

Living Room, Dining Room, and Bedroom spaces filled with a white backdrop + pops of coral, tangerine, yellow, and turquoise – all perfect hues for Spring leading into Summer. Images via HomeditFreshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.comA dreamy desk for any gal!  via m{pression

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Light & airy is ideal for Spring!  Fresh pops of color in greens & blues makes this breakfast nook so inviting by Heather of At the Picket Fence.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

More color + texture in the breakfast room by YHL.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

White + black + layers of color make this a favorite space of mine for Spring.  Black can be intense, but when incorporated in small doses, it can give incredible depth to a room! This amazing space was created by the gals of Classy Clutter.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Master Bedroom with soft hues + floral by Hi Sugarplum.

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

And of course, Spring means flowers and a home filled with flowers of the season is incredibly warm + inspiring…

via BHG

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

For even more inspirational spaces decorated for Spring, you must check out my favorite Pinterest board, Inspirational Spaces & Vignettes!

Freshening up doesn’t mean go out and buy more!  Seasonally, I may snag 1 or 2 new great decor items (that I can’t live without), but I often recycle / restyle what I have on hand to create new vignettes (who really wants to buy more + spend more $$$).  It’s amazing how moving things from one room/space to another makes them look like new!

If you are on the search (or want to shop your home) for a few new things for Spring, every room can come together in a snap with these 6 perfect picks

1 / Pillows bold hues mixed with softer Spring tones will make your sofa perfect for season.
Try hues of coral, pink, mint, and gray for a refreshing pick-me-up.

2 / Mirrors the perfect layer to make a space feel larger. 
Try one large mirror on a wall or a collection in varying sizes.

3 / Vases from the mantel to the coffee table to the desk, one vase filled with your favorite flowers or a collection in multiple tones, vases are a beautiful + inexpensive way to update a space & give depth, height, and color.

4 / Curtains changing up curtain panels for the season can give a room an instant update.  From heavy herringbone for the winter to a light & airy floral, a space can feel like Spring in no time & for little money.  On a tight budget? DIY new curtain panels (give this tutorial a whirl) or try using a flat sheet in a pattern you love.

5 / Plants whether real or faux (as long as it looks good), plants or flowers instantly give a fresh look + feel to a space.

6 / Trays my love for trays will never die. I am a tray addict (I have way too many & all are my favorite) because they are not just functional, but give color + texture + interest to a space or vignette.  A tray can break up a vast coffee table surface or can help keep a bedside table organized with books, reading glasses, and more.

Here are my 6 must-have layers for the Spring season in action…

Freshen up the home for SPRING with room inspiration + 6 items that every room can use to give a freshened look! Easy Inspirational ideas by @Jenna_Burger, www.jennaburger.com

Resources: Paris Map Wooden Tray / Diamond Wooden Tray / Geometric Tray / Floral Print Pillow / Nate Berkus Embellished Printed Pillow / Graphic Print Pillow / Velvet + Linen Pillow / Taped Solid PillowPurple Vase / Mercury Vase / Textured Glass Vase / Climbing Vine Curtain / Pink + Orange Ikat Curtain / Wood Circle Mirror / Capiz Mirror / White Orchid / Succulent / Faux Fiddle Fig

Whether you prefer a minimal modern lamp or a traditional print in paisley, these 6 favorite accessories will absolutely create the layers for a freshened space for Spring.  Whether the living room, family room, or bedroom, these items are ideal to make any room in the home instantly come together – you won’t go wrong.

How-To Stain a Wood Deck

For the past few years, we knew something major had to happen with our exterior wood deck, but with SO much work (most of it do-it-yourself projects) to do in other areas of the yard, it kept being put on the back-burner.  Well… Baby didn’t want to be put in the corner no more (I know, that was cheesy), so this year was the year for a makeover.  And boy does she look smokin’…

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

I think (well, actually I know) one of the hesitations of the deck was the process.  Well, so I thought.  Honestly, it was so much easier and more manageable than I ever thought possible.  One of the major reasons for that was the use of a hand sprayer. WOW, was spraying easier than hand rolling and/or brushing.  We did that last year with the exterior fence and boy did it take ALL SUMMER LONG.

With a sprayer, the stain is applied (slightly) thicker and the coverage is much more even.  But best of all, it takes way less time and is much less labor intensive.

Before we get to any more of the process or the after pictures, here is what the deck looked like before.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

How could a deck get so bad?  I dunno!  Living in this house for only 3 years, I have no clue as to when the last time the deck was done.  Also come to find out, the deck was previously painted, not stained.  Paint on the outside (especially if it’s not the right paint) does not last nearly as long as stain.  Also if you take a look, the spindles were white and after looking closely, they were only primed.  What I suspect happened, is that when the deck was painted last, someone got lazy, and only went as far as painting the deck surface and the handrail around.  Geesh.

Learning from that, for this before and after deck makeover project, we decided to use Cabot Solid Stain.  Because we were applying it over a painted surface and didn’t want to sand down to the raw wood, a solid stain seemed like the best choice.  Cabot is known for their quality wood products, so there was no doubt that they’d definitely get the job done (after being a disaster for so long)!

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

Supplies for staining a deck:

  • Stain (I used a solid stain, but also available are wood tone finishes, semi-transparent finishes, and semi-solid finishes)
  • Tools to clean / prep the deck surface (I used a power washer, as well as a bristle brush to get dirt off, as well as flaking wood chips)
  • Sprayer (this is a great one that I would recommend <=affiliate link)
  • Plastic wrap (for protecting areas you don’t want stained)

1. To start off it’s a must to give the deck a good cleaning.  Whether previously coated or bare wood, cleaning the wood deck surface is the MOST IMPORTANT step of the staining process.  A few weeks ago, I borrowed our neighbors power washer and went to town on it.  It was amazing how much dirt and mildew washed away with a quick sweep of the hose. Plus all the chipped and peeling paint was stripped right off.  Because of the power washers strength, it really made a nice clean surface for staining.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

A brush like this with firm bristles is great for removing excess dirt and peeling wood chips.  This was used right before the staining process started.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

2. The house and areas we didn’t want touched were covered with clear plastic wrap.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

3. With the wood deck clean and completely dry, we started staining using a hand sprayer.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

JUST LIKE with spray painting, the key to hand spraying is to:

  • Shake Shake Shake the stain before applying
  • Spray about 7-10″ away for the surface
  • Move back and forth in a steady, rapid motion in the same direction as the wood grain
  • Don’t concentrate the nozzle in any one place at any given time
  • Start spraying in a conspicuous spot (in case is spatters at the start), then continue in a consistent sweep
  • Wear a mask – the fumes aren’t great to breathe in

Most importantly (which has nothing to do with hand spraying, but with staining in general), read the directions.  Apply only the recommended number of coats and be sure not to overapply.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover
How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

I will be honest, we had someone help us with the deck (due to lack of time) and he used a more powerful hand sprayer.  Even though it’s smaller, the one I mentioned above would still work great for a deck or fence.  Same rules applies.

And then it was done.

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

Let the SUMMER BEGIN!

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

I can not wait to get this deck filled with my Summer Essentials – a spot to  eat, a spot to grill, and of course a spot to relax!

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

The details on the stain…

I wanted a darker color for the deck so it would stand out against the neutral taupe / beige siding.  As I mentioned before, I decided on a solid stain because I wanted to skip the process of stripping the deck.  I chose Burnt Hickory for the color.  It’s perfect.  I was worried that it would be too dark, but it’s just the right depth of color that I was looking for.

O, you just wait to see what’s coming…  It’s going to be a party deck before you know it!

How to Stain a Wood Deck - Before and After Wood Deck Makeover

Huge difference, right?!

And about 24-48 hours, the deck was ready to use and being transformed as we speak.  Many more deck details to come.  Overall, the process of staining the deck wasn’t at all as difficult as I had envisioned.  Yes it was time consuming.  Yes, it was laborious.  But all well worth it to get this finished look!

Have you ever stained a deck or fence before?  If so, how was your experience?  And how was the result?

Disclosure: Cabot has provided me product for my project.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine! I truly believe Cabot has a great selection of wood staining products.

Spring Mantel with Shades of Turquoise

Last week here in Upstate NY, the weather was amazing and I soaked up every bit of sun I could get. Now it’s a little chillier, but Spring and Summer will be here before ya know it! In the midst of the gorgeous weather, I took some time to put together my new Spring Mantel.

Over the past few months, I have been introducing more cooler colors than the warmer colors that I’ve lived with for many years. So my latest mantel creation has a whole lotta turquoise, which is a beautiful and dynamic compliment to the burnt orange focal wall.

Here it is… What do you think?

Turquoise is absolutely one of my favorite colors and from my past post, Totally Turquoise, many of you love it just as much!  It was kind of risky to have the mantel be dominant in one color and when planning it out in my head, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work.  I think by including a variety of different turquoise shades, the overall composition has alot of depth and intrigue, especially with the backdrop of the burnt orange wall.  Other textures and muted colors of browns were also added within to break up the monotony.

Here’s an in depth look …

Many of the pieces that make up my new Spring Mantel have been repurposed from around my home or picked up at local stores for very little.  The turquoise glass vase on the left is something new I bought a few weeks ago at TJ Maxx.  I had already had this turquoise-mantel-idea in my head and thought this would make a perfect addition – it was taller and I knew it’d make a great ‘anchor’ piece!  The glass mason jars which I found at an estate sale last year have been showcased on my mantel before and are filled with lentils and a votive candle. To the right is a tall glass jar filled with rocks from last years vacation to the beach.  I love displaying memories and these rocks are a beautiful and quiet shade of blue…  a perfect compliment to the other bold and vibrant colors.

One of my favorite upcycling things-to-do is paint old, used glass jars – tomato sauce jars, apple sauce jars, jelly jars, any jar will do! It’s so easy and unexpected.  In the Blue Label wood box stand two sauce jars that I added a little color to (it’s actually the leftover paint from my kids bathroom cabinet).  My mantels are always about layering, so in front of the wood box is a cute little turquoise pitcher and to the right is a lantern, both of which I purchased at Homegoods.

Of course, I had to add a touch of Easter decor within my Spring mantel.  I love this egg shaped Happy Easter sign that I’ve had for years (forget where I got it), but in a few weeks once the Holiday is over, it’ll be swapped out with a new Spring sign (not sure yet what it’ll be).

Continuing to the other side of the mantel, I added a sweet distressed turquoise ceramic bird feeder.  Originally intended for my daughter’s room, its so cute and fit perfectly amongst the like colors. To “anchor” the other end, I finished the mantel with two different sized bold turquoise lanterns that I purchased from Target.  They have some awesome colors this season like lime green, hot pink, and of course turquoise.

I also whipped up some fun new pillows with accents of turquoise.

Isn’t that owl fabric so cute?!  Love it with the brown and white chevron.

And this is how the entire room looks all pulled together for Spring.  It’s so different from last year’s quieter, frappe colors.

I think this is my favorite mantel design yet!  What do you think?

Do you love turquoise just as much as I do? 

Whimsical Spring Forsythia Wreath

I was so completely inspired when putting yesterday’s post together on Spring Wreath Inspiration.  There are so many amazing and talented bloggers out there and I was so happy to showcase their work!

Now it’s my turn….

I created a lot of wreaths over the past months for the various seasons and holidays.  Now it’s time to celebrate the arrival of SPRING!  YAY!!

Here’s a sneak peak at my NEW Whimsical Spring Wreath ~

This is how the wreath looked before… BIG change, right?

My mom gave me this wreath quite awhile ago and it had been sitting in my garage for months.  My repurposing mind was in action and the transformation began.

To start off, I un-decorated the wreath.(If you want to create a wreath like mine, you obviously can skip the above step and start with a fresh, new wreath)

I wanted to create a whimsical wreath for the Spring ~ fun and flowery was my goal.  I decided to use (faux) Forsythia branches.  Similar to my faux centerpieces, I cut and separated the branches, then started to weave them through the wreath and used floral wire to secure.

Here it is…done~

WOOO…not quite yet…it’s missing something.  Seems kind of BLAH.
Let’s add alittle Wild Daisy, like this ~

Now it’s COMPLETE!

Simple, but just what I wanted!

WELCOME to my HOME

Have you seen my other wreaths?  If you missed them, here they are ~

My green door has been through many transformations!  I painted it this apple green color only a year ago, but I’m thinking that ‘It’ needs it’s own transformation for Spring….hmmm.  What do you think?

Whimsical Spring Forsythia Wreath

I was so completely inspired when putting yesterday’s post together on Spring Wreath Inspiration.  There are so many amazing and talented bloggers out there and I was so happy to showcase their work!

Now it’s my turn….

I created a lot of wreaths over the past months for the various seasons and holidays.  Now it’s time to celebrate the arrival of SPRING!  YAY!!

Here’s a sneak peak at my NEW Whimsical Spring Wreath ~

This is how the wreath looked before… BIG change, right?

My mom gave me this wreath quite awhile ago and it had been sitting in my garage for months.  My repurposing mind was in action and the transformation began.

To start off, I un-decorated the wreath.(If you want to create a wreath like mine, you obviously can skip the above step and start with a fresh, new wreath)

I wanted to create a whimsical wreath for the Spring ~ fun and flowery was my goal.  I decided to use (faux) Forsythia branches.  Similar to my faux centerpieces, I cut and separated the branches, then started to weave them through the wreath and used floral wire to secure.

Here it is…done~

WOOO…not quite yet…it’s missing something.  Seems kind of BLAH.
Let’s add alittle Wild Daisy, like this ~

Now it’s COMPLETE!

Simple, but just what I wanted!

WELCOME to my HOME

Have you seen my other wreaths?  If you missed them, here they are ~

My green door has been through many transformations!  I painted it this apple green color only a year ago, but I’m thinking that ‘It’ needs it’s own transformation for Spring….hmmm.  What do you think?

How to Make Fake Flowers Look Real

Even though it’s technically Spring, it’s difficult to believe, with all the snow still on the ground here in NY.  Thankfully my mindset is already on pretty Spring flowers to get me through the final days of the long drawn-out Winter.  I’m continually changing and updating my Dining Room display depending on the season and holiday.  I love the look of fresh flowers (who doesn’t?), but sometimes an artificial arrangement is simpler and more practical to maintain.

When shopping for your arrangement, look for flowers that have a natural, “real” appearance and that hang similar to a real flower.  Vary the size and texture of the faux flowers.  If your chosen flower is in a bunch, separate it, so you have individual stems.  By taking apart the pre-made flower bunch, it’ll give you more freedom to vary the heights and  discard parts of the bunch you may not want to use.

Like always, it’s important to use the appropriate tools for the job! Wire Cutters are perfect for this project.

Let’s get started…

Start arranging your flowers just like you would if using real flowers.  I chose a vase with a small opening, but the look of the arrangement will depend on the size, shape, and opening of the vase you choice.   Hot Tip: If you decide on a vase with a large opening, make a grid using clear tape. This will keep the flowers in place and the arrangement looking full.

I scored this vase at TJ Maxx for less than $4!

Begin by placing a handful of the flowers in the vase.  Then remove and trim them one by one. Vary the heights and sizes to create a balanced arrangement. Remember, just like when arranging “real” flowers, it won’t be perfect and that’s the beauty of it.

With the busy lives we lead, buying and maintaining fresh cut bouquets is sometimes just NOT possible.  If done right,  an artificial arrangement can look just as beautiful and the enjoyment of flowers can still be achieved.

Here is my completed arrangement…

O, I forgot to mention, I made two…

And here is an overall photo of my dining space…

I’m usually a “real” girl, but fake can sometimes do the trick!

I’ll be linking up {here}

 

How to Make Fake Flowers Look Real

Even though it’s technically Spring, it’s difficult to believe, with all the snow still on the ground here in NY.  Thankfully my mindset is already on pretty Spring flowers to get me through the final days of the long drawn-out Winter.  I’m continually changing and updating my Dining Room display depending on the season and holiday.  I love the look of fresh flowers (who doesn’t?), but sometimes an artificial arrangement is simpler and more practical to maintain.

When shopping for your arrangement, look for flowers that have a natural, “real” appearance and that hang similar to a real flower.  Vary the size and texture of the faux flowers.  If your chosen flower is in a bunch, separate it, so you have individual stems.  By taking apart the pre-made flower bunch, it’ll give you more freedom to vary the heights and  discard parts of the bunch you may not want to use.

Like always, it’s important to use the appropriate tools for the job! Wire Cutters are perfect for this project.

Let’s get started…

Start arranging your flowers just like you would if using real flowers.  I chose a vase with a small opening, but the look of the arrangement will depend on the size, shape, and opening of the vase you choice.   Hot Tip: If you decide on a vase with a large opening, make a grid using clear tape. This will keep the flowers in place and the arrangement looking full.

I scored this vase at TJ Maxx for less than $4!

Begin by placing a handful of the flowers in the vase.  Then remove and trim them one by one. Vary the heights and sizes to create a balanced arrangement. Remember, just like when arranging “real” flowers, it won’t be perfect and that’s the beauty of it.

With the busy lives we lead, buying and maintaining fresh cut bouquets is sometimes just NOT possible.  If done right,  an artificial arrangement can look just as beautiful and the enjoyment of flowers can still be achieved.

Here is my completed arrangement…

O, I forgot to mention, I made two…

And here is an overall photo of my dining space…

I’m usually a “real” girl, but fake can sometimes do the trick!

I’ll be linking up {here}