HOLIDAY: 'Mid-Century Modern' Inspo

 

A week ago, I was searching for something on my retail design blog, and found an old post featuring the lovely vintage book shown above. Since I spent last week relaxing out in Palm Springs (and doing some vintage shopping + thrifting!), I thought it would be fun to share that post here before I jump into this year's holiday creations...

Way back in 2007, I found the book shown above at the glorious Goodwill outlet in Seattle, which means I paid about forty five cents for it! I just love old books - the illustrations and covers are true art.

I began flipping through the book right there in the store, and was captivated by the holiday decorating ideas that were popular back in 1953 when this book was published. Since I never know WHERE inspiration is going to take me, looking back at the past often jump-starts new interpretations of those ideas for my own creations.

Sadly, this book and many, many others left my possession back in 2011 when everything about my life changed in an instant. I sure wish I had a copy now!

Edited to add: OK... I am WEAK, people. Immediately after typing that paragraph, I got online to search for a used / secondhand copy of this book. I searched Half Price Books - no luck. A seller on Etsy HAD one, but Deb is cheap and is NOT paying $35! So I checked ThriftBooks, and they had it for just $15! I immediately ordered - and it arrived *just* before I left for Palm Springs!

 


I've now poured over the book to pull more fun inspiration for you! Ready for an inspiring time warp?!

Continue reading...

my FAVE spring decor projects

even though we're currently enveloped by abnormally cold weather here
and it feels a bit like winter is never going to end,
it's time to start the spring season decorating!

looking back, i'm honestly surprised by
how many ways i've refreshed my homes at springtime over the years...
 some of those projects have been successful in more than one home

as i re-create them in new versions + colorways.

over the past ten years of blogging here at homeward found decor,

i've shared hundreds of my original diy home decor projects

in 743 published posts since i launched this blog in August 2012.

if you've been reading my blog for the past decade, THANK YOU FRIENDS!

if you're a newer visitor, i hope you enjoy discovering some of my past creations

as i share a look back... 

continue reading for some of my FAVE past spring decor projects!

colorful office makeover

i thought i'd start off the month with a #MAYkeover story!

a week ago, i undertook a massive purge / cleaning/ reorganization of my studio/office.

while it has needed a deep clean for over six months just to get rid of things i don't use anymore,
the truth is that this project was the result of color overload...

before we talk about how my creative space ended up having a BAD effect on me,

we need to go back a bit... to my 'neutral phase'....

if you've read my posts about office organization,

you've seen my neutral-tone studio that i created in my farmhouse on an island.

i loved that peaceful, serene room that allowed me to focus on my work,

and for over a decade now, i've embraced neutrals as the basis of my home decor.

sure, i sometimes add a small 'pop' of color each season to the porch or other rooms -

but i've kept my creative workspace neutral. it worked in the past, so i stuck with it.

until i realized something about myself...

continue reading for the story of how i got from there, to here, and what happened in between!

greenhouse from salvaged windows

 going through an old journal, i stumbled across these photos... from 1995.

(that's so long ago that i used an old-school film-loaded camera and had them printed!)

they show a very sweet birthday surprise that my late husband created for me:
a small backyard greenhouse, made from vintage windows.

he covertly collected vintage windows and a door (free off of Craigslist!)

then built the frame and inserted the windows to make this charming little place for me...

it was one of the nicest birthday gifts he ever gave me.

(i just wish i had been a better photographer back then!)

continue reading for more photos, and details about how he built it...

freshening up!

as March approaches and spring arrives, 
i tend to gravitate toward greens and yellows as accent colors in my neutral home...
what's YOUR favorite color right now?

wait - what??? COLOR? ooooh, scary, right?

you can live with color without committing to long-term change!

add a few simple colorful accessories to your office or entry way

and your neutral rooms will SPRING to life! 

in this past post, i shared some of my office organization & decor ideas,

along with photos of my own studio spaces over the years.

i recently came across photos of another office space i had in the past,
that i spruced up with a shot of bright chartreuse green.

this seems like a good time to share those, with a seasonal change on the way.
giving our spaces a face lift as spring approaches is a great idea...

continue reading to see how offices and front entries can quickly look and feel 'spring fresh'!

L.O.V.E. letter... tiles

way back in 2009, i had a wild idea to make a supersized version of wood Scrabble tiles.
i made them - a LOT of them, actually - and sold them (a LOT of them!) for several years.
at that point, no one else was making them or sharing them online.
a few years later, in 2013, i shared them here on the homewardFOUND blog.

since this is the season for putting our hearts on our sleeves, (or, erm, walls?!)
i thought i'd share my super easy tutorial again!

continue reading for a very easy DIY project that you're sure to L.O.V.E.!

thanksgiving tablescape round-up

well, here we are again, my friends... running at full speed toward the holiday season!

things can be pretty crazy this time of year, so to help prepare you for Thanksgiving, 

here's a round-up of my past posts sharing some tips, tricks, and ideas

for creating lovely table settings without a lot of prep & work...  

 click on each title to read the entire post, 

where you'll find all the details and resources to help you out!

.

#1: Vintage White & Tan Table

#2: Vintage Black White & Tan Table

#3: Spicy Table

#4: Spicy Table part deux

#5: Green Table

#6: Urban Style Table

#7: Urban Bar Buffet Table

#8: Vintage Pink Table

#9: Vintage White Table

#10: Vintage Silver Table

#11: Vintage Brown Table

#12: Fabulous Fall Tables

#13: Autumn Picnic Table

#14: Thanksgiving Tea Table

#15: Modern Table

#16: Kids' Table 

#17: Thanksgiving Buffet Table

#18: A Tasty Table

#19: Last Minute Table

#20: Simple Table

i don't know about you, but sometimes 

it seems that Thanksgiving gets lost in the rush of the holidays, 

receiving little attention and not much preparation

(yes, i DO 'fess up to totally forgetting the table decor one year!)

for me, setting a welcoming table to enhance the delicious food

is a simple way that we can encourage our guests to 

slow down and focus on the people who are most important to us...

may your Thanksgiving be a day of gratitude, generosity, and connection this year, 

surrounded by family, friends, or family AND friends...

and thank you so much for dropping in here for a visit!

  

easy canvas awning valance

we decided that the window treatments in our home would be simple and coordinated -

nothing heavy or complex to make the rooms feel closed in.

so white wood blinds went up first for privacy and sun control 

then simple side panels made of canvas dropcloths that fall from floor to ceiling,

adding softness to the hard edges.

when it came to the kitchen window, i needed something different.

and though i STILL haven't found the vintage metal awning i really want for this space,

i came up with a solution that gives the window style in the meantime...

continue reading to see how easy this faux awning valance was to make!

beach in a jar

it's JUNE! that puts me in a summery mood, how about you?

way back in 2013, i shared '5 ways to decorate with seashells' in a post...

while they were all good ideas, i can say that based on pins, re-pins, and blog post visits, 

THIS ONE has been the overwhelming fave every summer since then.

it's a perfect time to revisit this easy summer decor project!

continue reading to see how simple it is to create variations of your own...

tiki punch!

this recent project in our backyard makes me feel like we're time-traveling back to the sixties!

remember these guys? 

these Tikis were in Mom & Dad's backyard for over 20 years, and i featured their first 'makeover'
as part of my 'Thrifty Weekend Makeover' series here on the blog a few years ago.
(that post is really gettin' hits right now because of the 'one step bamboo fence makeover tip' in it!)

well, we saved those tikis when we moved to the new house, 
but we didn't think we'd use them... except for a party, maybe.
here in the desert /wine country, it just seems out of context to have Hawaiian decor.

then i saw some photos from Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern Week.
and an idea came to mind for an area of our backyard that needed a little punch.

... keep reading to see how i created some TIKI PUNCH!

May Day 'Posie Pails'

here's a simple tutorial for a May Day flower holder - from a tin can!
it's time to go back to the days when we left flowers on our neighbors' doorknobs
on May Day, don't you think?

this project, my friends, is a real 'blast from the past'...
not only did i paint hundreds and hundreds of my tin can pails for years,
but i also created this idea using seed packets as artwork for a simple DIY version...
and shared it here on homewardFOUND waaaaaaay back in 2013! yes, FIVE years ago!

...continue reading for my easy tutorial to make what i am now calling 'Posie Pails'!

Wrap a Vase in Lace for Mom!

Dollar Store Crafts. we ALL do it! hey, if i can find cheap supplies for home decor, i'll use 'em.

the thing is, decor doesn't have to LOOK cheap... 

adding a simple flourish to an inexpensive element raises your decor from 'basic' to EXTRA.

case in point - these simple clear glass vases from the Dollar Tree. 

paired with a lace doily or section of a lace tablecloth, they look positively elegant for spring!

continue reading for more details...

Covered in Canvas

 while homewardFOUND is generally all about seasonal decor ideas,
sometimes I like to pop in ideas for furniture, too...
all totally do-able projects for you to try out!

this dresser was found on the curb. free.
With lines like the ones on those drawers, I couldn't pass her up!

the case was solid, but the veneer on top and on the drawers was just wrecked.
no amount of putty and paint was going to make her presentable...

she went beyond needing mere 'makeup' into the realm of 'plastic surgery'!

while I was sanding her down, I had a brainstorm...

the dropcloth that she was sitting on in the prep room had some great texture.

i looked at the drawers, and then at the dropcloth, and that light bulb went on:
 cover the entire dresser with a new canvas dropcloth!

dropcloths are a great way to get a LOT of fabric for a ridiculously low price

and they come in many sizes and weights. 

i used the heaviest weight for this project, which covered up all of the 'blemishes' in her complexion.

continue reading to see what i did!

Recycling Christmas!

I LOVE changing up my color schemes each year, 

combining ornaments in new ways

and mixing what I have to get a whole new look...
(see more of this year's 'Ombre' tree - on the left - here)

How about you?
Do you experiment each year, or do you stick with the 'tried and true' favorites?!
What are your favorite colors for your Christmas Decor?

the mission statement of HOMEWARDfound decor

is basically 'work with what we already have' (or can get CHEAP)
and is born out of my love for making things over -
so I rethink, reimagine, redesign, recycle, and reuse everything I have all.year.long.

continue reading to see some of them!

#21daysofinspiringthanksgivingtables

For the past 3 weeks, I've been sharing archived posts from this blog on other social media,

as a series I titled #21daysofinspiringthanksgivingtables .

.

I hope that somewhere in there, you've found some tips, tricks, and ideas

that will inspire you to create a lovely table setting for your Thanksgiving gathering!

Just in case you've missed any, here's the recap - 

click on the title to see the post
.
#1: Vintage White & Tan Table
#2: Vintage Black White & Tan Table
#3: Spicy Table
#4: Spicy Table part deux
#5: Green Table
#6: Urban Style Table

#7: Urban Bar Buffet Table

#8: Vintage Pink Table
#9: Vintage White Table

#10: Vintage Silver Table

#11: Vintage Brown Table
#12: Fabulous Fall Tables

#13: Autumn Picnic Table

#14: Thanksgiving Tea Table
#15: Modern Table
#16: Kids' Table 

#17: Thanksgiving Buffet Table

#18: A Tasty Table

#19: Last Minute Table
#20: Simple Table

Wishing you and yours a Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, love, and gratitude...

Boo to You!

When I was unpacking fall decor for the new house last month, 

I discovered these in a box...

two of my 'Embellished Pumpkins' that I created and sold 

at the Glitterfest show three years ago.

(Why is it that I keep stumbling across stuff like this - 

stuff I don't even remember I HAVE - 

but I CAN'T find the stuff I NEED - like my printer cords??!!!!
Mysteries of moving, I guess!)

I took a fancy flocked shadowbox frame and an old wood clock case, 

and foofed them up with some fanciful materials:
faux leaves made of vintage sheet music and black resin with glitter,

real oak leaves that had been bleached, a bit of old lace,

two black crows - one with a vintage paper crown,

scrapbook paper with a haunted theme,

a watch case filled with a vintage photo (that I 'Bewitched' with a felt pen hat!),

some vintage rhinestone jewelry bits,

and of course no fall project from my studio would be complete without

my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins - 

this time in black and white!

Though fun to create, this isn't really my personal palette or decor style, 

but since they didn't sell at that show, I kept them.

And I'm glad I DID...

because they serve a perfect purpose: wishing you all a

although..... THIS ain't bad, either! ;)

Valentine's Day Sweet Tooth!

Deb's got a sweet tooth in more ways than one, let me tell ya...
today I was searching for something on my retail visual design blog

and found a 'blast from the past' old post sharing my Valentine's Day decor.
... and since we're already gearing up for Happy Hearts Day decor,
I thought you might just want to see it!

That was my little craftsman Cottage's kitchen window shown above, 

loaded with candy dishes heaping full of yummy tidbits 

(that I'll never really eat, truth be told....my weakness is chocolate) 

and a few trompe loeil treats.

One of them was inspired by THIS photo

from a past issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Magazine ...

I gathered up some round cardboard containers, metal tins, fabric, ribbons, and froufrou,
and got to work making my own versions of this 'stacked wedding cake' idea.
(I know, I know, this is not WORK. Let's call it a 'Creative Exercise' then, OK?)

I came up with two of them:

It's simply a cake pedestal with boxes, tins, and even a ceramic coffee cup
stacked up in layers and embellished with ribbons, flowers, 
and even my own REAL wedding cake topper!

 I shared a similar 'stacked wedding cake'-style idea here on HWf a few years ago:

Here are just a few more ideas for making your Valentine's Day sweet as can be....

More clear vases, domes, and candy dishes were loaded with 
pink and red candies from the Dollar Tree, an old heart pin made from buttons,
a 'cupcake' pincushion in a mug, and red marble hearts in a heart-shaped box...
it all added whimsy and charm to that little window in front of the sink
but took no time at all to create!

The truth was that although my Cottage kitchen was a retro dream,
the view out that window was utterly hideous - 
it looked directly at the garage of the house next door. UGH.
(you can see it right there in the background of the top photo!)
So I always created cute little vignettes in the window to look at instead!
.
Want even more Valentine's Day inspiration? 
See my '30 Days to Valentine's Day Countdown' posts from 2013!
View my Pinterest board: February Hearts

pssssssst..... I'm on Instagram, too!

Glass Lamp Globe Snowglobes

If you've seen my original glass globe pumpkins for fall,
then you know I love using everyday things in new ways to decorate with!

Here's another idea for glass globe light covers:
Take the simple clear glass ones, and make them into snowglobes!

* find small figurines at thrift shops or the dollar store

* spray paint them gloss white

* hot glue them inside a shallow white bowl or pedestal

[i like using hot glue  - 
because if i want to change it all later, i can!]
 

* flip the globe upside down with the opening facing up

* add some snow flakes or glitter inside.

* put a bead of hot glue all along the rim of the globe, 
and place the base upside down onto the glass globe's opening.

* trim the edge of the base with vintage trims, ribbon, jewelry if you like.

 * in the globe shown below, i also glued a clear plastic snowflake behind the little angel figure.

You can use glass fishbowls from the dollar store, too!
see MORE ideas for using glass lamp globes in your winter decor HERE!
(this content originally appeared in that post)

Garden Planter = Wire Dome

bring the beauty of nature indoors with

a dome made from a wire garden planter!

It's perfect for every season...

* over a nest with leaves tucked into it, resting on a wood round for autumn.
* over a branch of evergreen with some vintage ornaments or pine cones for winter.
* over a nest with wood or stone eggs and tiny daffodils for spring.
* over a white ironstone plate filled with shells from the seashore in summer.

 You aren't going to believe how easy this ONE STEP PROJECT is!

 Start with a simple wire garden planter from the home center:

Disconnect the hanging wires. Turn the planter upside down,

 ... and voila, you have a wire dome!

You can also cut a short length of the hanging wire

and then attach it as a loop at the top of the planter as a handle, as I've done here.

The planters will come as new, shiny metal from the home center -

but if you look for them at garage sales and thrift shops, 

you just might find some nicely rusted ones like these!

You can also make a wire dome from a tomato cage too!

Way back in 2008, I sold these in my booth at Faded Elegance Antiques in Everett, Washington -
and I kept having to make them because they sold so fast!

Fun Fact:

This photo is of my very first 'vintage' booth,

a little space that was a mere 2 feet deep and 8 feet wide in the back of the store.
It was the first stop of many wonderful years as a vendor in the vintage world.
This is where 'Retreat' started, 

and you can see how my former business reflected my love of nature 

and of using everyday items as decorative elements -

just as I do here at homewardFOUND decor.

shared online:

cupcakes & crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

funky junk interiors | diy salvaged junk projects #420