A few years ago my husband convinced me to by a small farm just west of the Chicagoland suburbs.  Who doesn’t have the dream of flipping and decorating a charming farmhouse/cottage by unveiling its character and personality from days gone by?

Only one problem….

The house was built in the 1990s, and it was a basic rectangular block. Can you spell
B-O-R-I-N-G?!?!?

Here are a few BEFORE pictures of the main living space.  It lacked natural light, had ceiling fans in every room, and the deep color choices made it feel dark and cavernous.  It’s saving grace is that beautiful fireplace.  Each stone was actually salvaged from the property’s stream and foundation, and reused in its creation.  Sadly, that was pretty much the only visual interest in the entire space.

The Dining Room: BEFORE

We were able to fix many of the home’s dilemmas with some much needed improvements.  I am happy to say that we were finally able to SCREAM,
Huckle Buckle Beanstalk, as we had found our forever home.

You can see we added built-in cabinetry and custom trim work to the fireplace, added recessed can lighting in the ceiling/above the built ins, and installed a patio door to incorporate more natural light.  The space is so long, I did not want to visually distract one’s eye away from the rooms focal point (the fire place wall).  So, I used SALVAGE to save the day!  The vintage loft-ladder is simple enough to transition your eye to the room’s focal point.  Yet, it’s also interesting enough to carry the weight of being the only “art” piece on the staple wall of the room.

Here is a close up of the ladder.  I stumbled upon it at the Kane County Flea Market for only $20.00.  It was from a barn in Wisconsin.  Its cylinder rungs and naturally aged finish tied in perfectly with my cottage decor as well as offered an element of visual interest to my, otherwise barren, living room wall.

Next to the patio door, I threw another salvaged barn window (that I grabbed from a dumpster in a nearby town) up on the wall.  That’s right, this beauty was $0.00!!! Can you say Huckle Buckle Beanstalk?!?!?  What a much needed treasure to polish off this small space.

Last but not least, here is my new dining room.  Barn doors have become quite the rage in many room transformations.  My goal was not to use this authentic barn door functionally.  Instead, my square-box dining room was in need of architectural detail.  By hanging this masterpiece on the wall, this place of gathering has an instant conversation starter.  What makes this century-old piece a true HBB treasure ,is that I know it’s story and where it’s been.  Any time you can bring salvage with a story into your home, the piece will offer an inexplicable richness to your space.

I hope this post reminds you that the littlest (or biggest) salvaged finds can transform any space.  Happy hunting and merry decorating my HBB friends and family.

I’m not a natural in the kitchen.  In fact, there was a time when the thought of preparing a well-rounded, sit-down meal for my family made me want scream.  I mean there’s nothing wrong with oven pizzas, instant macaroni and cheese, and microwaveable chicken nuggets…right?   Don’t worry, I also had the local pizza and Chinese take-out numbers memorized for those more “elaborate” occasions.  Thinking back, I remember calling my mom (several times) wondering how to hard boil an egg for crying out loud!!!

Having two growing kids changed that dining philosophy drastically.  Sitting down to a nourishing, home-cooked meal quickly became a significant priority of mine as a mother.  No room for excuses in this department.  I had to learn the ropes in the kitchen, or my kids were doomed to a lifetime of quick meals and junk.  I am proud to say, that I have turned the corner and take pride in the meals I prepare for my family.  From comfort foods to nutritious dishes, I look forward to making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my little crew.

Three things are responsible for ALL of the culinary confidence I have acquired over the  years:
1. Pinterest (Thank the Lord above for whoever invented this AMAZING tool!)
2. My CrockPot (probably used thanks to a Pinterest recipe)
3. My recipe box (stocked with the tried-and-trues from family and friends over the years)

Speaking of that recipe box.  Here’s the beaut that I picked up about 10 years ago at a dollar store while I was in college.  It has served me well over the years, but if you know me (and my taste in decorating), you can see that it’s not really my style.

As important as they are, I think my recipes deserved an upgrade.  Don’t you? 

     So, imagine how thrilled I was to stumble upon this vintage cigar box at a local garage sale.  I snagged this bad boy for only $3.00!  And wouldn’t you know it, my 4×6 cards fit with a perfect vertical stance.  If that wasn’t enough good news, I went online and discovered that this particular box sells for $25.00-$35.00.  Yes, I shouted “Huckle Buckle Beanstalk” on this one, for sure!

 

     Literally, all I had to do was print out some new category dividers on my brown paper bag cardstock, and I was all set with this incredibly unique, one-of-a-kind recipe box.  So, the next time you pass by an old wooden box, ask yourself if your recipes could use a revived residence.

Happy hunting my fellow treasure collectors and salvage visionaries.

Until next time,
Laura

For as long as I can remember, my mom would talk about an amazing “gentleman’s wardrobe in my grandparents’ attic. Apparently, my grandfather had used it to hold his clothes in the 1940s when he lived above a gas station that he owned/operated.  Naturally, time was not kind to this piece.  The mirrored doors were broken, a drawer was missing, and the finish was discolored and scratched.  Also, did I mention that it was trapped beyond a narrow staircase and draped in decades of old newspapers, tires, and dust?

A few months ago, our family had the sad (and somewhat overwhelming) task of de-cluttering and emptying that attic.  Naturally, the wardrobe was painstakingly brought downstairs.  Although at first glance it may have seemed destined for the dumpster or burn pile, I pledged that there was still life left in this ol’ boy.

My husband and I brought it home and I vowed to have the piece completed for my mom this Mother’s Day 2015.

Here are some before shots.  I had to do some repairs to the wood surround, and I had a local carpenter repair/re-create two of the center drawers.

I removed the doors as well to break free the broken mirror before painting.

Speaking of painting, I used a creamy-white, chalk paint to cover and distress the piece.  I always start on the drawers of a piece first.  It’s a great way to practice your technique and get a feel for the overall look you are going for.

Remember, when it comes to distressing, a little goes a long way.  Lightly sanding the edges and around the hardware/handles are places that would ware naturally over time.  So, these are the places to hit when recreating that look.

After painting, I lightly sanded the whole piece and added several layers of wax to seal it and provide durability for a fruitful future.

Hind sight is 20/20.  I wish I had taken more pictures of the process. However, I did grab a picture of this Mother’s Day Masterpiece, before giving it to my mom.  I think it turned out quite lovely.  Can I hear a “Huckle Buckle Beanstalk?”

Making this house into our home, I wanted to display a piece of art that proudly shouted “kids live here!”  I have seen many of these growth charts on Pinterest and Etsy, and I immediately thought HUCKLE BUCKLE BEANSTAlK!!! The vinyl growth charts on Etsy are cute and a more affordable option; however, I love the richness and treasured appeal of hand-painted, real wood.  Therefore, my growth chart rulers are crafted from real wood, hand-painted, and finished with furniture grade sealer to offer a higher end look.  This particular growth chart is not customized with names or dates; however, those details can be easily  added.