Halloween Goodies

I thought I would show you my Halloween goodie table. A Halloween tradition along with chili, queso and chips.

The Chalkboard Wall

DIY Project 4 - The Chalkboard Wall

This was actually a very easy project especially if you have smooth walls. We'll talk about that later...If you can paint using a roller, you can do this.

The New Sofa

It's sad to say but I get totally excited over getting new furniture. So, I was especially giddy today because I was anticipating the arrival of our new sofa from Pottery Barn. The one I have been eyeing for years. It does not disappoint with its extra deep cushions and supper comfy seats - a must for my husband. I am especially pleased to say that it is made in the good ole' USA!!! Sadly, the "in home delivery" does not include putting on the slipcovers so I put my blood, sweat, tears and a few choice words getting that thing on but I was too happy to care.

Buying it reminded me of an old Friends episode. Rachel and Phoebe were living in an apartment together and one day Rachel brought home a table from Pottery Barn. Knowing that Phoebe loved vintage and antiques and would not except a mass produced piece of furniture, she lied about where she had gotten the table. Well, long story short, Phoebe ends up finding out where it came from after passing by a Pottery Barn window. At first she was upset but after going in the store, she was hooked and wanted everything in it. Of course, she still did not want to admit that to Rachel. That episode really made me laugh because I think we all have a little Phoebe in us, questioning our values or sense of style if we buy something that a million other people might have too. Well, I'm way over all of that. I love my new sofa and I'm proud to say that,yes, it's from Pottery Barn and that's ok!

Unexpected Fabrics

Have you ever had trouble finding just the right fabric? Sometimes I feel like I have to design a line of fabric just to find what I'm looking for but there are options besides your local fabric or craft store. I have used Indian blankets to recover dining room chairs,a rug to reupholster an ottomon, cowhides to cover pillows and even painter's drop cloth to sew a slipcover! Sometimes in decorating you just have to improvise.

Old Indian blankets can have a wonderful design that you won't find on a bolt of fabric.

The Teer Casa Room Tour (Hall)

Off of the entry is a small hallway leading to the master bedroom. I'm going here next because it is the second most completed room in the house. There is still one project I have even for this small area. Eventually, I would like to hang a star light instead of the recessed can. Let's face it, there aren't a lot of things you can do in a hallway to make it interesting so every little bit helps. The builder put in a small niche which gives some interest and I painted the background Sherwin Williams Mannered Gold which you'll see later in some other rooms.

I wanted sconces in the hallway but it was not wired for a light fixture so I chose a sconce that I could put a faux candle behind to give a similar effect. A small oil painting and photo finish off the walls. The last detail is a small trunk from El Paso Import co.

Shelving Turned Into Bar Storage

The following is an idea I saw on pinterest where someone took an open bookcase and turned it into a bar. I did this at my brother's new house. His style is more modern than mine so when shopping for a bookcase I went for this really cool industrial looking wood and metal shelving that I found at World Market. We added glass holders from the container store and wood stacking cubbies for a wine rack also from the container store. (note: the glass holder from world market would not hold larger brimmed glassware.) Every once in a while World Market will have 25% off on furniture, so be on the lookout. The room you're looking at was actually a dining room but we turned it in to a lounge because a bachelor in his late 20's needs that more than a formal dining area.

The other furniture is also from World Market. The stools are great because the height can be adjusted. The table, which would also be great for crafting serves as a bartop. The stools can be moved to one side if you have a bartender. :)

Bar Cabinet



cabinet from El Paso Import Co.



I think I mentioned before my severe lack of upper cabinets in my kitchen. This  forced me to think of creative ways to store glassware. We had an empty corner in our dining room so I decided to make that a space to house a small bar. I found this piece of furniture at El Paso Imports, one of my favorite places. They can do all kinds of distressed finishes and you can custom order wood pieces.




a tray organizes items

 





 The shelves above just add a little extra glass storage.

 

The Entry

The Teer Casa / The Entry

My house is always evolving. It never seems to be finished because I keep adding and changing and experimenting. I guess to give you a peak into my personal style, I'll just go room by room a little over time. I really can't think of one room that is complete so I'll just start at the Entry....



The pictures shown at left are actually photos of old Mexican doors bought from a photographer here in SA  and framed by me.(frames from Hobby Lobby) The piece over the table is a reproduction of and old Indian door (from Pier 1 Imports)

 As you can see my walls are painted white. I think white gets a bad rap because we all, at some time or another, have lived in an apartment. I think the difference here is having tile floors. White walls also look great with wood floors. The carpet is the problem! White can really lighten and brighten a dark room which we had because of the covered patio off of the living room. It is also a signature style of Spanish Colonial which I also love. If I had my way, my walls would be smooth but that was way to much of an endeavor, even for me! I do always try to buy the best paint available. It really makes a difference, especially with kids. The finish here is satin which is much easier to clean than flat.

The candlesticks I found on sale at Hobby Lobby for $6 ea. They will eventually be moved to the mantle after that gets changed out. The Santos are hand carved in Guatemala but only cost about $13 ea. at El Mercado. There is also a carved wooden bowl with a  clay rosary from Forge Imports. The table is cantera stone.

Pots that the kids used to drop toys into when they were little. :(

My favorite item in the Entry. It has a beautiful soft glow. As you can see, the ceiling is painted a dark charcoal, a risky move, but it's just paint, right? I actually love how it turned out. The ceiling just disappears and in the evening the light fixture makes a beautiful design on the ceiling.

Tile floors are just screaming for rugs. This is where I bring in the color.

Now, my least favorite thing about my entry and a future project. I'm sure you noticed my love of old rustic doors and this is NOT it. Not that it's a bad door, it just doesn't fit with my style (On the to do list.) Like I said, not one room complete. Oh Well.....

Mud Room Hook Wall

If you have a problem with backpacks thrown on the floor, jackets strewn over the washer and dryer and just a general lack of storage when you come in the house this could be a good option for you. It is the same concept that we talked about yesterday with the hooks, only use a board instead of a shutter.

This is a simple solution to hang backpacks, jackets, leashes and bags.

For this project you just need a board, (Measure the length you want and they will cut it for you at Home Depot.) hooks, LONG wood screws, a stud finder, a level, a drill, caulk and paint.

Outdoor Towel Hooks

Outdoor towel hooks


I found this cool old shutter at one of my favorite haunts. Even though I did not know what to do with it at the time, I knew that I had to have it. It had a really cool patina that only age and weathering can give an object.

The Cross Wall

The Cross Wall

The other day we talked about the photo wall. Today I wanted to show you the cross wall that I have in my study. I love taking things that you have collected and putting them in a grouping. It can be on a wall, in a bookcase or on a table depending on what you have. On walls, you can group pictures, mirrors, baskets, plates or really anything that can be hung. It is also nice to do a combination of all of the above on a large wall.

brabournefarm.blogspot.com

Window Shopping

We have been talking a lot about inspiration this past week so I would be remiss in not mentioning one place which incites my creativity like no other. Anthropologie. If you have never been to this retail store or at least never walked in to it, you are missing out. Their stunning award winning window displays are just a peak into what they have in store for you inside. The style of the store is everything from vintage antiques to modern industrial but even if you are not into that you can appreciate their mastery of display, their use of recycled products and repurposing of items. From cardboard animal trophy heads, to paperclip or yarn chandeliers, to polar bears made completely with shredded paper, no item is off limits. It makes me want to save everything. What can I do with these used tomato soup cans or these empty rolls of toilet paper? I think their "elves" could make the Taj Mahal out of those things. I have seen them take plastic water bottles and make them look like a blown glass floral vine reminiscent of Chihuly himself.

The Photo Wall

Yes, I know it's cliche, but there is nothing I love more than seeing family photos hung up on a stairwell . It is something that really separates a house from a home, being able to see who lives there and where they have been. My children especially enjoy this, seeing old photos of themselves as babies and photos of some of our favorite vacations. It makes everyone linger on the landing and take their time going up and down the stairs. While it has been popularized by retailers like Pottery Barn ,for instance, making it almost a little to common for my liking, there is something still very retro about it that I love. The tradition of it all.

Medicine Cabinet Makeover



after



Remember the discussion yesterday about my obsession with removing cabinet doors? Well, it didn't stop with the kitchen. I have a small bathroom off of the patio which serves mainly as a powder room/pool bath. I really don't need a medicine cabinet in there and I'm not a big fan of them anyway. I know they are necessary in some cases but generally not very attractive. So, I removed the doors, removed the glass shelves, filled in the holes and painted to make a cute little niche for my Santo. Just because I NEEDED another niche in my house and another Santo for that matter. :)

before





Now, I know this is very taste specific but it would work with other styles as well. You can use it as a shelf or hang something in the niche or both! I painted the trim the same color as the wall but it would also look good the same color as the niche itself or the very back of the wall could be its own color. I think there are a lot of possibilities here.

Cabinets: Drab to Fab.

Since my husband and I moved in to our current house three years ago, I have been busy trying to find inexpensive ways to make it mine. I was spoiled in the past because my husband and I would flip our house every two years, building from scratch and making all of the selections ourselves. In a effort to keep the kids in one school once they hit elementary, we bought a pre-owned home in a great school district. So, now I am dealing with someone else's vision instead of my own. As a former flipper I know that you can only put so much money in to a house and still get it back. Therefore, I have put my effort into inexpensive DIY projects that I want to share with you.


My current obsession is with cabinets.

Take off doors, fill holes and paint
Turquoise paint is Behr Gulf winds
Dark grey is SW black fox

When in Rome...

Remember when I said that I like a lot of styles so sometimes I don't know where to start with my own design? When that is the case, I take a look around. What I mean by that is let your surroundings be your guide. I live in San Antonio so I am influenced by Texas Hill Country design and Mexican styles. My home is stucco and stone so those two concepts blend within my home. I like to call it Tex-Mex. Yes, just like the food.  That doesn't mean that I can't mix in some modern elements or other styles with that. It just gives me a jumping off point.

local flavor



moonlightrainbow.tumblr.com

Creating Atmosphere Through Lighting

In order to create a successful room, you have to create atmosphere. One way to do that is through lighting. 

allthroughthelookingglass.tumblr.com

To get the best effect with lighting, use a combination of lights including overhead, lamp light, sconces and candles.

Fake or Real?

Fake or real ?  I know it's breast awareness month but that's not the subject of this discussion. I'm referring to one of my inspiration pictures, flowers. I know that I might upset some people here but in my opinion flowers and plants inside someone's home should always be real. Yes, they die. I have killed plenty of innocent little plants but I'm going to save you some time and money on my hit and miss experience with certain plants and flowers. I am not an expert by any means but I have tried out a lot of things as a novice so I think my opinion might be useful to someone else that is as well.

Out with the Old...

Garage sale day. Ugh. I have not done this in a long time. There is a relief in knowing that the clutter will be gone but I'm so afraid I will have sellers remorse for getting rid of that 5' wide longhorn skull or the talking fish that sings, "Don't Worry, be Happy." Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I bought some of these things as I pull endless accessories from the storage under the stairs. I guess it's true, with age comes wisdom. Now I realize that when you purchase something, you really need to ask yourself, "Do I really need this and will I love it forever?" I guess it's hard to imagine yourself keeping something that long. I know that I like many styles and my tastes have changed as I've gotten older. But if I have one piece of advice to give to someone who's just starting out furniture and accessory buying, it's this: On your larger items save up to buy quality pieces that are timeless and not too trendy. Look at a lot of magazines and figure out your style. Do your research and if you can afford it, hire a professional designer. They will save you a lot of money in the long run by helping you to not make mistakes.Now to sell some of my mistakes. By the way, I was not kidding about the skull or the fish. Oh heck, I might keep the skull and hot glue pretty stones on it or something.:) PROJECT!

Skeletons and Spiders and Bats, Oh My

Armoire Turned China Cabinet

DIY Project 1 - Fabric backed China Cabinet

   Pictured is an armoire that I purchased at a model home sale for a great price. While the majority of the piece is beautiful wood, the back was a cheap plywood that had a cut out for a tv. I wanted to use this piece in my dining room because it has great storage. The only solution was to find some way to cover up the huge hole in the back of the piece. I figured the easiest solution would be to cover the back with fabric. This could work for so many projects really. If I ever wanted to use this as an armoire again, it would still make a great piece for a bedroom.

Where to Start?

Where to start? Get inspired!

Some of my inspirations: 



fabric

fresh flowers

lighting

places I love

color



beautiful objects

local flavor

I'm finding that starting a blog is a lot like decorating. One of the most difficult things is your starting point. If you're like me you like a lot of different styles and it's hard to pick just one. At the start of a project, I feel like a kid in a candy store especially with an empty canvas/room. Sometimes you just have to go for it. So here goes...

Put simply, I believe the best way to start a project is to get inspiration. You might get this from a picture in a magazine, an object that's special to you or maybe even a fabric or color that you just love or that speaks to you. Next, you need to know how a room functions and plan accordingly. This might seem obvious but if you really start thinking about it, function determines not only the items in the room but the layout and the scale of everything in it. If you start with those two things, the rest of the room should come together.

Some do's and don'ts of starting a project: DON'T feel like you have to do everything all at once.(I should take my own advice here.)Feeling like this can be so overwhelming that you might not even start. I love rooms that look like they have evolved over time. This does not mean ,however, that you don't need a plan. The worst mistakes that people make are buying things on impulse or buying things because they are a great deal. If you buy something make sure it not only goes with your plan but that you will love it for YEARS to come! To help with this, before you go shopping, have a list of items that you need with measurements and NEVER leave home without a tape measure! (or paint and fabric samples for that matter.)

Over the next few weeks I'd like to show some DIY projects and redecorating that I've done in my own home to hopefully give some inspiration if you're having trouble with that starting off point yourself. Of course, I'm not really sure where to start with that either but I'll save that problem for tomorrow. Yes, just call me Scarlett.