home decor Archives - Page 3 of 3

18 CREATIVE WAYS TO DISPLAY KID ARTWORK

If you share your home with children, you know that they are little art making machines. There is something so precious about your child’s creativity and imagination that you just want to bottle it up and save it for all time. Even still, it can be quite overwhelming trying to figure out what to do with each of these masterpieces.

In my search for unique and stylish solutions to this very problem, I have discovered 18 creative ways to display kid artwork. I think you will enjoy what I found.

raw art wall

This setup requires little to no prep work. When a child creates something that they want displayed, use a bit of tape or another removable adhesive such as poster putty, and add to the wall. Personally, I feel that this technique is best suited for a kid friendly space, such as a toy room, as it has a tendency to look a bit more cluttered than other display options.

clothesline

This highly adaptable hanging technique is accommodating for various sizes and shapes of projects. All you need for this simple DIY is a thin twine rope, a few clothes pins, and your child’s creativity. The great thing about this option is that the kids can clip up and take down the art all on their own!

cork board

Positioning an extra large cork board against the wall and adding a desk can create an instant art station. Though similar to a raw art wall, the chaos is a bit more consolidated. Learn how this set up was created using cork squares, on the blog Young House Love.

clipboard display

These clipboard displays may tidy things up a bit more, but will mainly accommodate similar sized pieces of artwork. I love the added touch of the nameplate, which can be changed up as often as the artwork is.

framed art

If your child is a master at one type of artwork – flowers, glitter, abstract – this may be the option for you. Grouping similar styles of art pieces lends itself to a beautiful gallery style display. I imagine the frames used in this setup are either poster size or custom created to fit the artwork.

ledge display

A simple shelf ledge arrangement may be the perfect option may be preferable if you tend to change out your child’s artwork frequently. Anna White has a wonderful tutorial on how to build these ledges out of standard materials – for only $10!

matching frames

Another way to tie varied art pieces together is by removing glass from old frames and painting them all the same color. This also gives the display a gallery look. These sunny yellow frames are really helping the art shine!

hinged frame

Perhaps you love the idea of framing your child’s art pieces but imagine that changing them out would be too much of a hassle. This hinged frame product may be the option you are looking for. They are said to be able to hold up to 50 sheets of paper! Click on the link above to purchase, or make them yourself!

washi tape borders

This is an inexpensive craft – and it looks cute too! You can create various sizes and change up the patterns and colors of the tape. The wonderful thing about washi tape is that it is easily removable and doesn’t leave residue – meaning you can have a traveling gallery that moves from room to room.

painted frames

For a more permanent look, painting frame patterns on the wall could be another simple fix. This display sets the mood for a creative art station where the littles can be inspired.

digital collage

If you have access to basic computer software, you can easily create this stunning look. Simply take photos of or scan each art piece, then crop and scale the images and arrange them in a grid pattern. Hang photos of the little artists nearby for an added personalized touch.

mini masterpieces

Another miniaturization of artwork, this display is created by scaling and printing the images and gluing them to bits of foam board. The individual mini art pieces are then arranged in a single frame.

binders

Displaying of artwork doesn’t always need to happen on the walls or shelves of your home. A binder filled with projects may be the perfect low-tech option to keep things clean and organized. This is such an easy technique that you might be tempted to save every last artistic scrap. Try to be selective or your child may end up with a storage room full of filled binders when they are ready to move out!

photo books

Photo books are very popular and may be just the thing you are looking for to display (and keep) your child’s artwork. Add photos of your child and short write ups about their projects to create a wonderful keepsake. Popular photo book companies include Snapfish and Shutterfly.

magnets

Is your fridge the place where most of the artwork migrates? Reclaim space by resizing each masterpiece digitally and creating fun, kid-friendly magnets! The kids will love rearranging their art pieces and making their own small exhibits.

blocks

Custom blocks are another fun option to transform artwork into useful play things. Imagine the colorful castles and roads the kids could build!

puzzles

Artwork can also easily be turned into puzzles! Websites such as Collage.com and PuzzleYou.com allow you to upload scanned images and create these custom, fun keepsakes.

bring it to life

If you really want to up the wow factor there are various artists, such as Custom Plush Art , who will bring your child’s artwork to life with a hand made stuffie! Just look at the details!

Each of these 18 ideas for displaying kid’s artwork is so creative and fun! I hope you will give some of them a try.

If you want to save this information for later, remember to pin!

FRONT ENTRYWAY DESIGN IDEAS

A front entrance for guests is a great feature to add to any home. It doesn’t need to be a large space, but having it laid out well is important. Today I am sharing the front entryway design ideas I have for Arrow Hill Cottage.

Although our home will have an attached garage, and our family is most likely to enter and leave in that direction, I wanted to make sure to include a straightforward front entrance – where we expect visitors to enter. I’m not sure about you, but our garage has a tendency to become cluttered and dirty far faster than any other space we own – and we don’t want our visitors to experience our day to day.

ENTERING FROM OUTSIDE

As you can see in this image, the front door will have a prominent position. Although the house is not symmetrical, your eye is drawn to the small gable above the door.

In case you noticed… yes, I am still #teamplanter, and it remains as part of the design, at least for now. If you have no idea what I’m talking about – go ahead and visit THIS POST to learn all about the debate.

The large stone pillars and double columns frame the view. I’m sure there will be some sort of feature light fixture here also, but I haven’t made any decisions on that yet. And yes, I am dreaming of a light blue bead-board ceiling for the porch. Love.

I have chosen a solid wood door. Because there will be windows directly next to and above it (transom), I felt that including a smaller pane of glass within the door itself would complicate the arrangement. The windows should provide plenty of natural light (this wall will be south-west facing)

INSIDE THE ENTRYWAY

Stepping through the door, you are welcomed with a space approximately 6 feet deep by 12 feet wide. The room is partitioned from the dining room by a pair of built-in cabinets and columns.

We will likely have our builder or cabinet maker create these cabinets and columns, but This Old House wrote a fantastic post about how you can make this a DIY project. I purposely chose to offset the built-in slightly from the alcove since the wall finish and the cabinet finish will be different. This will help eliminate a clumsy transition from cabinet to wall. The baseboard trim will help to tie everything together.

As I mentioned in this post, we have found that with fewer closets we are less likely to hold onto items we don’t need. This entry is indeed the perfect opportunity to live that theory. Because most of our family’s shoes, coats and bags will be coming in through the back entry / mudroom, we won’t need much for storage near the front entry. Instead of using the recessed space as a closet, I am opting to leave the alcove open and instead will incorporate a bench with simple hooks and a shelf above.

This alcove also lends itself to the inclusion of a feature wall. At the moment, I am thinking that beautiful rustic barn wood would serve as the perfect surprise. The feature wall will serve as a backdrop for a family photo gallery.

This post, from the blog Ivory Lane , has given me a ton of inspiration for the entryway gallery. I love the simple nature of the metallic frames, white picture mats, and black and white images.

ACCESSORIES + DETAILS

On top of the small shelf above the coat hooks, I envision some cute artwork that represents our family. These number squares are amazing.

image source

I also love sentimental signs and would love to work something like this into the entryway space.

image source

Opposite the bench area is where I envision our piano being placed. We own a low grade piano that is natural wood and wood grain veneer at the moment. I would love to paint it a soft gray color and decorate it with special accessories – such as the vintage green cottage window that I recently purchased at an antique store. I know there is some debate about painting pianos, but they make it look so easy on Pinterest, and I am really intrigued by the results.

Nobody in our family is a concert pianist, but we do enjoy having a piano to tinker around on. In this location it is available, but set aside so that it isn’t in the way of other daily activities.

For the center of the room I would like to find a special light fixture. I am thinking something with a metallic finish, probably a hanging pendant.

Perhaps something from this collection would work well.

image source

The floor will require some sort of durable rug that will mostly protect the wood floors. I love the idea of a black and white patterned rug.

This website seems to have a wonderful selection of rugs to choose from.

ADDITIONAL ENTRYWAY VIEWS

And now for a few more views of the entryway. First, a view from above – one that nobody will ever experience in real life. It shows the overall space well.

A view from the kitchen (standing near the stove) looking toward the entry. You can see the kitchen design in this post. The space between is the dining room, of which I am still working on designing. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to include some sort of antique hutch on the long wall.

Another room that is still a blank slate is the living room. Besides knowing that I want to include a large sectional sofa for our large family, there are still a lot of decisions to be made here. This is a view of the entryway as seen from the living room. Again, that large open space will eventually house our dining table.

I am really loving how the main level is laid out. The flow seems like it will work well for our family. In this image you can see the stairs leading to the bedrooms (up) and the family room (down). That blank spot at the landing is where the largest window of the house will be positioned. I’m excited to see the design of the stairs come together.

Maybe I will work on that next!

UPDATE: Our floorplans changed quite a bit since this was originally posted. You can see our revised design HERE.

PIN THESE ENTRYWAY DESIGN IDEAS

feeling inspired? Be sure to save this post for later!

SIMPLE NO SEW TEXTURED PILLOW TUTORIAL

This no sew textured pillow is extremely simple to make and looks great! If you can braid and tie a knot, you can make it. I’ll show you how!

I mentioned this textured pillow in a recent post about our home’s Christmas decorations. The pillow went perfectly with the rest of the festive green and red decorations. I love it so much that it is still gracing our couch this winter.

These cold months are the perfect time to experiment with cozy, chunky textures for the home. I’m excited to share how you can add some to your home easily and affordably, with this do it yourself project!

Though the finished product may appear complicated, I guarantee it isn’t! There is NO sewing NO knitting and NO complicated movements involved. Basically, if you can braid and tie knots, you can do this!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

Fleece Fabric: 1 1/2 yards of fleece in any solid color. I used a 60″ wide variety, but they come in varying yard widths. Any width over 60 inches will work for this tutorial. My overall fabric size was 54 inches long x 60 inches wide. Fleece is perfect for this project because it does not fray when cut.

Pillow Form: This tutorial uses a 13″ pillow form (13 inches wide x 13 inches tall)

Scissors: Make sure they are sharp!

Ruler: Measure twice and cut once. I share a simple technique for cutting the fabric that will save time.

(2) Rubber Bands: Or some other temporary tying device – I used hair ties!

A clear, flat area, such as a table or the floor will make the initial steps of this project easier. Let’s get started!

STEP 1 : LAY OUT THE FABRIC

I recommend that you lay the fabric out so that the longest width is laying horizontally in front of you. In my case, the fabric was set out so that there were 60 inches from left to right when I was looking at the table. Fold the left side of the fabric over 8 inches.

STEP 2: CUT THE FABRIC INTO STRIPS

Here is where I introduce my handy little tip for cutting fleece fabric. Instead of marking on the fabric itself, I like to fold the fabric over – then cut on the ‘looped’ side. First we will cut the loop of the 8″ measured fabric.

While the 8 inch strip is still laying on the large piece of fabric, use it as a guide to cut another 8 inch strip. Continue this process of laying an 8 inch strip above the larger piece of fabric until you have used up the rest of the fabric. For the 60 inch long variety of fleece, that will yield you (7) 8 inch strips + an extra 4 inch strip.

These 8 inch strips will further be folded in half and cut on the ‘loop’. Each 8 inch strip will give you (2) 4 inch strips – by folding and cutting using the same technique.

And each 4 inch strip will give you (2) 2 inch strips.

All told, you will be left with (30) 2 inch strips – which is what you will be using for the next step. If there is a little wobble in the straight line cuts, that is no problem at all!

STEP 3: BRAID THE STRIPS

Lay (3) of the 2 inch strips on top of one another. Tie them together with a large knot on top.

You will be creating 7 braids in total, using (21) of the 2 inch strips.

They will be flat/ large braids. One tip that I found to allow them to lay flat is to make sure the top fabric strip becomes the center of the braid.

Braid each section. I created a little video of a few portions of this project – linked at the end of this post – if you need a refresher on braiding.

Tie each braid at the end with a knot. It is okay if the end portions of the braid aren’t perfectly flat – as these knots will be removed later in the process. Set the braids side by side so that the knots are at the top and bottom when laid in front of you on the flat surface.

At this point in the process you might want to just double check that your pillow form fits on top of the braids. If you decided to use a pillow form size other than 13″ x 13″ you will need more or less braids, accordingly.

Just make sure there is a little bit of the braid showing on either side of the pillow form, as the following step will tighten things up a bit.

STEP 4: COMBINE THE BRAIDS

I’m going to prep you now by saying that this next step is probably the most tricky. However, once you get the hang of it you will just repeat the process over and over. Pay careful attention to the next photos, and watch the video if you need a bit of extra guidance.

Set two braids side by side and match up the second folds together. I didn’t start at the very top because the knots tend to get in the way a bit. It will be easier to get the hang of this technique when you are a little lower down the braid.

There should be (9) remaining strips of 2 inch wide fabric remaining. These strips will be used to weave together the braids, giving the pillow its signature ‘knot’ look. Lace the fabric under the loops of the folds you are holding.

Tie the weave fabric in a knot, allowing at least 3 to 4 inches on the right side of the knot. The remaining length of the fabric strip will be used to create the ‘knots’ through the rest of the braids.

Gather the next lined up ‘fold’ pieces, and repeat the process – only this time instead of applying a knot, wrap the fabric strip over the folds. (this is easily seen in the video)

Continue this process until all seven braids are connected. Then move to the next row down and repeat the process. In all, you will use 9 strips of fabric to do the weaving.

Your finished product will look something like this.

At this point you should flip the braided/woven fabric piece over so that the best looking side is facing out. This may vary from person to person – depending on your preference – just make sure that whichever side you want to be seen for your finished project is laying face DOWN. Then place the pillow form on top – on one end.

Fold the rest of the woven braids over the top of the pillow form, so that the knots are lined up on top of one another – and you are ready for the final step!

STEP 5: FINISH THE TEXTURED PILLOW

Get ready for more tying! Start with the non-knotted fabric strips. Match the top and bottom strips and tie them into knots.

To finish the sides, simply tuck the remaining fabric in – or, if you prefer, cut the ends of the strips a bit and leave them exposed for a fringed look.

At this stage, it is safe to remove the knots from the bottom of the braids. Once the knots have been untied, lay the strips flat. Cut the extra length of the fabric from the strips so that there are between 6 and 9 inches of fabric loose below the faux ‘knots’ that remain.

You are left with a lot of strips hanging down. Feel free to get creative with how you finish the bottom of the pillow. I initially decided to tie the strips together and leave a bit of a fringe hanging on the bottom; But eventually I decided to give the pillow a bit of a more finished look, and developed the following technique.

Flip the top ‘knotted’ strips up, gather them and tie temporarily. Turn the pillow over and repeat these steps. This will leave exposed strips in the center.

Flip your pillow so that the skinny edge is up and oriented up and down in front of you. Working top to bottom, match up the fabric strips and tie/ loop them together. The extra fabric should be tucked in, the same way you tucked in the sides.

The finished center bottom of the pillow will look something like this. Don’t worry too much about perfection, as this will all be covered soon.

Lay the pillow flat again and untie the bundled portions now. There should be (7) sets of two on the top, and (7) on the bottom. Find the center sets, and position the strips as shown here.

Tie the overlapping pieces together, then once again tuck the remaining fabric into the pillow.

You will continue this process working from the middle to the side edges. With the remaining portions, plan to make ‘loops’ instead of knots – as you did in the weaving portion of this project – and continue to tuck in the remaining fabric.

As promised, here is a link to the video showing little clips of the process – including the technique I used to finish the bottom.

Now you have a gorgeous textured pillow ready to cozy up to! It is sure to add style to any space in your home.

I hope you will give this fun project a try! If you do, I would love for you to share with me your finished product! Don’t forget to save the pin below for reference! Happy Crafting!

NEW YEAR | NEW GOALS

Happy New Year everyone!

The kids are back to school after Christmas break, and the house is very quiet. The frigid temperatures over the last couple of weeks kept them indoors, and it is safe to say that we were all going a little bit stir crazy. You would think that having this stay-at-home mom gig for 11+ years would mean that I could handle the chaos better. While it’s true that some things have gotten easier over time – the kids are much more independent and also are able to entertain each other well – there are other aspects that have gotten more difficult with the addition of each child… like the noise. So much noise when we are all together.

Looking around right now, I see a peaceful, simple and calm space. The Christmas decorations are put away and everything just looks so clean. I am realizing more and more that my soul really craves order and simplicity. As I am designing Arrow Hill Cottage, that thought is definitely in the forefront of my mind.

Though we are only a few days into the new year, I am happy to say that I have already reached one of my goals! For a very long time I have been wanting to open up an Etsy shop that reflects my love for simplicity, order, and design – and I’ve finally done it!

As I have mentioned before, I have a degree in architecture. I have been designing and drafting buildings for well over 12 years now. And while I love the profession, there are often restrictions that limit full creative potential. And I LOVE being creative. My absolute favorite aspects of architecture include 1. determining spatial relationships and 2. building architectural models. These are two things that I could do basically all day/ every day without getting bored.

And so, I have decided to combine these enjoyable aspects and apply them to an art form – my newest creative endeavor – Arrow Hill Studio

I see a world of possibilities ahead for this little shop. For the moment, my medium of choice is bright white card stock. I create patterns using geometry, then cut them into the card stock. When the individual pieces are layered they form a unique, three dimensional textured look.

I love the simple, minimalist vibe of the pieces I have created so far, and also the fact that when the designs are rotated they present a completely different look.

You can visit the ETSY SHOP for details on each piece, and follow my behind the scenes design process on INSTAGRAM.

I’m excited to see this dream grow a bit more in 2018!

CREATE A PAINTED WOOD SIGN IN 6 EASY STEPS

Painted wood signs are very popular right now. They are classic, and their neutral colors look great with a variety of home decor styles. They can be purchased at craft fairs or on Etsy. Many retail stores now sell mass produced varieties; but if you create a DIY version – a whole new world of possibilities opens up!

The great news is that creating a painted wood sign is easier than you might think. It can be accomplished in six simple steps!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

Wood ‘canvas’: A single slab of wood will work great, as will wood strips connected together. The wood can be newly purchased from a home improvement store or salvaged from an old building! Be sure to inspect it for knots or splintered pieces.

Paper/Printer: You can use computer design software to create and print your design or make a hand-drawn ‘rough draft’ on plain paper.

Transfer Paper: There is the standard carbon paper, or the colored version – which I prefer.

Pencil/Pen: Used to trace the design.

Acrylic Paint: I prefer to use Apple Barrel Paints. They are available in a wide variety of colors!

Paintbrushes: Start with a diverse selection of brushes to find your preferred size.

Sandpaper: The grit of sandpaper needed will depend on how thickly the paint is applied. Opt for a multi-pack and you will have plenty of options.

Rag: For the final cleaning.

Once you’ve gathered all the supplies listed above, you are ready to begin! Take a deep breath and let’s have fun!

STEP 1: PREPARE THE CANVAS

Sand rough edges and clean off any dirt and grime in preparation. This large piece of barn-wood I used is full of character – including holes, knots and sawed off nails!

When choosing your wood canvas, be sure to think ahead to what size your design will be.

STEP 2: PRINT OUT A DESIGN

Decide what you would like to create! This is where the DIY route comes in very handy. You can create a sign full of words or one that includes graphics. The sky is the limit, so get creative! I have been in the Holiday spirit lately and decided on a Christmas themed design. Because I had a larger wood board to paint on, I enlarged the pattern in Photoshop Elements and printed it on two pieces of standard 8.5 x 11 paper.

If you like the design I created, check out the RESOURCE TAB for a letter sized printable PDF that you can use for this project!

STEP 3: TRACE THE PATTERN

Lay the trace paper carbon/color side down onto your wood canvas. Place your printed design on top and position it to your liking. Tape the printed design onto the wood so that it stays in place. Beginning in the upper left corner of the design, trace over the pattern with a pen or pencil – applying a medium amount of pressure. You can see from the photo above that I have used this particular pattern multiple times.

When the trace paper and printed design are removed you will be left with a light outline of the pattern. This is erasable and sand-able – making it easy to revise parts that aren’t to your liking.

STEP 4: PAINT THE PATTERN

Using acrylic paint in your color of choice, fill in the pattern. If you are worried about the steadiness of your hand you can opt for an acrylic paint pen.

Allow the painted design to dry for a minimum of 12 hours.

STEP 5: SAND

Gently rub sandpaper over the painted design. This will remove some of the paint and will give the piece a softer, more vintage look. To me it seems that the sanding really helps the paint to become ‘one’ with the wood. I love being able to see the wood grain through the paint.

I recommend you begin sanding with a finer grit of sandpaper and increase the grit depending on the amount of paint you would like to remove.

STEP 6: CLEAN

Use a damp cloth to clean the paint that has been removed by the sandpaper.

Once the water dries you can choose, as an additional step, to seal your piece with a clear poly spray. Personally, since most of my art pieces are kept indoors, I typically skip the poly.

ENJOY YOUR ART PIECE

These look great on a mantle, hanging on a gallery wall, or in a variety of different places. I am willing to bet that plenty of people on your Christmas gift list would love a painted wood sign!

And now, you can make them one!

After you try the techniques in this tutorial, please share your creations in the comments below. I would love to see them!

This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more about my policies here.

READER SHOWCASE: CILICIA + JUSTIN’S HOME

Today I am introducing a brand new feature to the blog – THE READER SHOWCASE – where I share photos and information about projects that YOU, my lovely readers, have tackled! I know there is a ton of amazing talent out there, and am excited to show everyone in blog-land what you have been working on.

For the first installment, I asked my friend and fellow creative soul Cilicia to share all of the changes she and her husband Justin have done to their cute house. I think you will all be inspired!

Cilicia, please tell me a little bit about your home.

We live in a 2000 walkout rambler, nestled at the end of a cul de sac. It’s on the outskirts of town and feels like the best of both worlds (city and country). We have a happy view out our back windows and can enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset from our dining room table.

I love the detail they added on the garage. And that yellow door is a stunner!

What is your personal design style?

This is such a loaded question! My style has evolved so much over the last 20 years. I tried to figure this out myself early on in our home transformations, but found it rather hard to pick just one style to adhere to. I decided that I would start buying pieces that I loved, rather than pieces that fit an expected style. In doing this, you will find a mix of shabby chic, modern, contemporary, mid century and items that don’t have a place in any of those categories, in our home. To me this mixed style feels warm and inviting, while maintaining a clean look.

Please explain your favorite remodel projects. What was done to each space?

We have purchased 3 homes. Each of them have had our touch put on them. My husband and I tend to do a lot of the work ourselves, and hire out only the things we know need a professional touch. I tend to be the one who comes up with the design ideas, does the bulk of the painting, and helps with small projects. My husband is the man behind the scenes. He trusts the visions in my head and brings them to life.

These photos display some of the work we have done on our current house.

LAUNDRY

Laundry room before

Laundry room after – how amazing is that chandelier? Doing laundry in style!

MASTER BEDROOM

Master bedroom before

Master bedroom after – so cheery and bright!

LOWER LEVEL GUEST ROOM

Guest room before – just a plain old storage room!

Guest room after – I think anyone could be comfortable here in this space!

GREAT ROOM

The house also has an open great room space, which is probably the largest project we have tackled. The entire space was remodeled (except for the kitchen cabinets and counter tops, which will happen sometime in the future.) Changes include all new flooring, walls painted a more neutral color, and updated lighting throughout.

living space before

View of the living space after. I love all of the different textures and colors they used! Doesn’t it look cheerful?

The fireplace was one of the biggest changes in the space. The previous fireplace was large, three sided, and was awkwardly placed in the center of the room. Removing it really opened up the space – as you can see in the pictures.

We decided that we still wanted to have a fireplace, and carved out a nook at the end of our long dining room where we built a new fireplace. It has been an amazing feature in our home and is where we read and relax.

The decision on how to finish the fireplace took over a year to decide! At first we were set on putting rock on the outside, but I never really loved any that I saw. As time went on I realized that I actually liked the wood that we had up there, but it just needed to be lighter. Ultimately, we used a fake ship lap finish, created with very cheap wood boards that were white washed. We think it finishes the space perfectly!

Fireplace before – three sided and awkwardly positioned

Fireplace after – centered on an adorable reading nook

Close up of the fireplace and reading nook. Isn’t that refrigerator box ‘cabinet’ everything?! And… I happen to know that she reupholstered that chair on her own!

What would you like readers to know about designing and styling a home? Do you have any tips to share?

I am not a professional by any means; But after remodeling and decorating three homes, I do have some thoughts:

#1. ALWAYS remember that paint is an easy fix. Walls, floors, cupboards, and furniture are all only a paint brush away from getting a completely new feel.

She’s right! Just look at the difference that painting the walls made in the lower level bathroom of their house!

#2. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Most of what we have learned has come from trial and error.

#3. Patience!! This plays a huge role in a remodel of any kind. Whether it be with your husband, wife, children, contractors, or even yourself. Try and breathe. Trust me, you need to remember this tip!

#4. Put up the pictures. So often I hear people say that they wish that they could put pictures on the wall in a nice way. The fact is that they can! There are so many different outlets to find ideas on a wall layout. Just go to Pinterest or Google to learn how to arrange pictures on a wall. No matter how you do it, just give it a try. Family pictures add such an important personal dimension to a home!

#5. My last piece of advice is to enjoy the process. If you need to take a step back every once in awhile, do it. Each space needs its own time and generally we can’t do it all at once. Find a house you love and make a dream about all the things you want to do to make it home – then just pick one thing at a time and go for it!

A cute display in the laundry room. I love how she mixed in vintage finds!

Do you have any remodeling / decorating plans for the future?

We still have projects and I think we always will. I love to dream of ways to make our home feel more like “us.” Some of the projects that I hope happen sooner than later include:

The addition of a three season porch to the upper level connected to our dining room. We entertain a lot, and I have already envisioned the parties, laughing, and conversations happening in that space!
New paint for our kitchen cabinets, to brighten them up and help update them a bit. We also would like to install new counter tops, probably in marble or granite.
New flooring for the entire basement, and an update to the basement bathroom.

Thank you so much Cilicia and Justin for sharing your wonderful home with all of us!

Now it’s your turn! Have you been putting your personal touches on your home? Maybe the entire house isn’t finished, but you are particularly proud of one room – I would love to see, and share with my readers!

If you are a blog subscriber, you are eligible! Simply email photos and a brief description to angela@arrowhillcottage.com for your chance to be featured!

THANKSGIVING DECORATING IDEAS + FREE PRINTABLE ART

Happy November everyone!

I still can’t believe how quickly October flew by. With the start of a new month, I am finding myself trying to get in front of all the holiday busyness that happens this time of year.

Our family will be traveling for Thanksgiving, which means that the bulk of the preparations and decorations won’t fall on my shoulders. Though I’ll admit that it is a relief to not be hosting, I still want our home to look festive. As I mentioned in THIS post, I have been having a lot of fun creating fall centerpieces.

I also made this cute chalkboard sign out of a small door. I simply removed the glass and painted the frame white, then cut a piece of plywood the size to fit in the opening and painted it with black chalkboard paint. I hand lettered the words using a white paint pen, which means that the sign can be used both indoors and out!

The phrase is simple, but to the point. It is what I want my family, including myself, to remember this Thanksgiving.

BE THANKFUL for everything that you have. For your family, your possessions, and for the special talents and gifts that make each of you special and unique. Be thankful for the opportunities you have been given, and for the memories you have made.

BE HUMBLE in your life. You can be grateful and proud without being boastful. There is no need to shine a spotlight on yourself, just allow your INNER light to shine into the world.

BE KIND to others, and to yourself. As the saying goes – ‘Do onto others as you would like to have done to you.‘ This world can use a little more kindness.

The pumpkins I purchased for our Fall decor are still going strong. I used the pumpkins, some burlap, and various containers, along with the new sign – to form a vignette on our front porch.

We live out in the country, and so typically it is only our family that sees the porch decorations; But the other day a service person stopped by to do some work. He rang the doorbell and I could see him standing on the porch, reading the sign. I came to the door and he immediately said to me “These words really challenged me just now. I was having a tough morning. Things haven’t been going my way today. But this sign made me stop and think about how thankful I truly am. It was a great reminder!”

It just goes to show that you never know when something simple could make an impact on someone’s life!

I love the sentiment of these words so much that I wanted to make them available to you. I have created a printable art PDF, which is available for free in the resource library.

The print is so simple and looks great with a few decorative accessories. Pumpkins anyone?

ADDITIONAL THANKSGIVING DECORATING IDEAS

If you are hosting the Thanksgiving celebration this year and want some additional ideas of how to decorate your home, check out these other creative DIY ideas from fellow bloggers!

1. PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE: This stunning centerpiece was created on the blog A Pumpkin & A Princess. She really loves her pumpkins, and it shows!

2. THANKFUL TREE: Simply Vintage Girl created this festive tree. It is the perfect idea for Thanksgiving. Give it a try!

3. GIANT DOOR TAGS:Welcome your guests with these classy wooden tags. Jaime shows you step by step how to make them on her blog.

4. GOLDEN CORN PLACE HOLDERS: These place holders will steal the show on your table. Learn how to make them at the website Freutcake.

5. FALLING LEAVES GARLAND:Erin and Kirstin share how to create a delightful cluster of glitter leaves. They look festive on a fireplace!

6. CHALK PAINTED PUMPKINS: These colorful pumpkins are so beautiful and easy to make. Find out how on the blog Anderson + Grant.

7. CHEESE GRATER LUMINARIES: Aren’t these so clever? I saw this image in a round up Etsy had done for Fall decorating. They seem very simple to make and would look gorgeous as a centerpiece!

Happy decorating!

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ARROW HILL STUDIO SNEAK PEEK

When I mentioned in THIS post that I was planning on starting an Etsy shop, I piqued some of your curiosities – and have been asked by a few of you WHEN this little branch project is going to be open for business, so I thought today I would give you a quick update on how things are going.

Initially I had thought that I would have everything ready by the end of July. Then, I started tackling some other projects around the house – such as {D}’s tiny bedroom and our Family Command Center – and I’m not ashamed to admit that there are only so many hours in a day/week/month… not like you didn’t already know that!

We are rounding the corner on summer break. The kids got their school supply shopping lists last week. Eeek! This both thrills me (routine, again!) and has me scratching my head. Didn’t school JUST finish up for the summer? At any rate, I am trying my best to soak up every last second of this fleeting season with my kiddos, and as such the Etsy shop project is moving slower than I had anticipated.

But, it IS moving forward. I have been able to create and photograph a few of the products already and am totally loving the vibe that these items send out. They make me happy. It is always so much fun to see an idea that was once in my head come to life for others to see.

While creating more products I am also working through not so fun logistics regarding packaging, shipping labels, and shop policies. All told, I am now shooting for a grand opening date of September 1st. Stay tuned here or on one of our social media venues, such as Instagram, for the big announcement!