Showing posts with label thrifting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thrifting. Show all posts

September 8, 2015

THE gallery wall

Y'all...I don't know if its more embarrassing how long I've gone without blogging or how long my pictures and frames sat around before I hung my gallery wall? Lets just say they were both overdue.

I don't think I'll be spending hours writing blog posts anymore trying to make them "pinterest-worthy".  I have more important things to do like spend time with my husband and work on my fitness :) but I do want to give you a glimpse into whats going on around the house. Be warned: these are all phone pictures.

So I'm going to start by showing you the progression of my gallery wall. It all started with this daunting 7' x 11' wall that I had no idea what to do with. I searched high and low for a console table long enough that wouldn't break the bank. And then World Market came to my rescue and created the Everett Foyer Table. It was perfect!! Its no wonder its so popular with other bloggers because there aren't many other offerings in this size and price. AND with their sales (which they have often) + my member discounts I basically got it for nothing!


So then it was time to determine the style for my gallery wall and what I wanted it to include. Uniform or organic? Matching frames or not? Frames only or add wall decor? So many decisions!! I knew I wanted to include our wedding canvas and a mirror I got while at the beach. I also love the look of the ikea ribba frames. Once I collected all of the frames, it was time to fill them. I wanted each piece to have a special meaning so that it becomes a conversation piece when we have people over. I want to tell the stories of how each thing landed in my home.

Here is the console shortly after we got it (this is 2014 fall decor)


This mirror now resides in the guest bedroom. It was temporary until I could find another mirror for the living room.
After Christmas blah...I knew it was time!!

Artie decided to help me with the layout. I wish he could've unwrapped all the ikea frames... (p.s. the pics below that didn't make it on the gallery wall are actually going to go in our master since they are more personal)
 If I'm being honest...I didn't really measure everything out. I mostly eyeballed it. It took about 2 hours to get everything hung. That is not including cutting out templates for each frame.
 Almost finished!!

 All done...just in time for the 3 gatherings that we hosted!!


I've got a few more tweaks to make. I am going to paint that crate. (Those are Tim's records by the way. He bought a record player!) I will also probably relocate the wire basket and books so that I can center the wicker basket. And I actually bought this lamp for the guest BR so I may be switching that out. 

Well it's been a long process but so worth it!! Is there a project you are procrastinating at your house??

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June 5, 2013

Marriage Series- 52 Happy Moments




If you missed the intro to this marriage series, check it out!
{here}


June is the most exciting month of this year for multiple reasons but especially because of our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY on June 9th! I have been awaiting it for a while now and have loved celebrating each monthly anniversary leading up to it.

Today I am thrilled to share lots happy moments and memories from the first year of our marriage. I love that I get to document this special occasion in such detail so that I can look back on it for years to come.

I am taking my own spin on this weeks topic. I am not very good at portraying humor and sarcasm on the blog so instead I am going to share 52 happy moments from the first year (some specific, some general)!! Why 52? Well there are 52 weeks in a year so....

Here are my favorite things that have happened since June 9, 2012.

  1. going on our honeymoon cruise to the carribean
  2. changing my last name 
  3. coming home after the honeymoon and opening wedding gifts with our parents
  4. redbox movie nights
  5. going on walks around the neighborhood
  6. decorating the apartment for Christmas
  7. picking pumpkins at Ashland Berry Farm
  8. going to the Watermelon Festival
  9. playing with Camden and Maddie (our little cousins)
  10. celebrating Tim's birthday at Busch Gardens Christmastown
  11. celebrating Valentines Day with a heart-shaped pizza
  12. getting groceries together 
  13. doing DIY projects 
  14. eating out...a lot
  15. making our place a home
  16. getting jobs in our chosen fields!
  17. getting smart phones
  18. cuddling on the couch
  19. VT football games as alumni
  20. going to friends weddings as a married couple
  21. making major loan payments
  22. puppy shopping haha
  23. Friday cheers
  24. finding a church home
  25. the crazy nicknames Tim makes up for me
  26. hosting our families in our new place
  27. watching an entire series of House
  28. Denise visiting and having dinner with her and Justin
  29. watching The Walking Dead on New Years
  30. going to UVA to watch Hokie Basketball
  31. hiking by the James River
  32. the Tacky Lights tour
  33. fishing (and by that I mean watching Tim fish)
  34. watching Tim graduate with his Masters
  35. trying new recipes
  36. 4th of July fireworks on Brown's Island
  37. exploring Belle Isle with Ty and Gabby
  38. Easter at the Carpenter Center
  39. making homemade ice cream
  40. going to the gym
  41. swimming at our apartment pool
  42. frostings cupcakes and cookout milkshakes
  43. seeing the Jefferson at Christmas
  44. decorating gingerbread cookies with Anna and Ryan
  45. exploring Carytown- the Byrd Theatre, bookstore, unique shops and more
  46. the Irish parade
  47. drinking hot cocoa and watching the snow fall
  48. reuniting with Brittany in Blackburg
  49. Olivia and Chad visiting for the day 
  50. the VMFA
  51. thrift shopping and yard sales
  52. planning our anniversary and future vacations





More on our 1st year of marriage coming soon!



I want to start a new tradition: whenever we have a funny or special memory we will write it down and put it in a jar. Each anniversary, we will open up the jar and read the notes from the past year. What do you think??

June 5:
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March 4, 2013

The Ultimate Guide to DIY Art in your home!

Ever walk around your home thinking something is missing? Or maybe you just want to freshen up your space? Did you ever consider to put some new art on the walls? I'm not talking about a commissioned painting (although that would be nice). I'm taking about art that you can make yourself. So what if you don't think you are artistic/creative? Well here are some ideas that are easy, quick and can make a big impact.


Today I am going to give you 5 easy ways to make your walls beautiful!
1) Hang Plates in a geometric fashion, whimsically, or even create a shape.
2) Represent your country, state or city
3) Show off your monogram
4) Use leftover fabric or craft paper and hang in a frame or stretch over canvas
5) Hang vintage finds or memorabilia

Hang plates in a geometric fashion, whimsically or even create a shape.





How to save money on this:
-buy plates from yard sales/thrift shops
-use old dishes or family/friends old dishes

Represent your state, city or country






Show off your monogram






Use leftover fabric/craft paper in frames or stretch over a canvas!





Hang vintage finds or memorabilia




Would you add any of this art to your home? What are some other easy ways you add art to your home?

XO Samantha



February 20, 2013

Design Dilemmas

Now that you have seen how we've gotten to our current living space, I need your help. I have no trouble designing spaces for other people but when it comes to my own place I am stuck. So please tell me what you think! I want to add a few more pops of color. When I look at the pictures of our living room, it seems very beige. My dilemmas today are pillow cover and rug selections! Hopefully we can find the solution together and make my space feel more like home :)

Dilemma #1 pillow covers
The new sofa came with those tan pillows with orange dots which don't match anything. I would love to get some covers for them that tie into the rest of the space. 

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2

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recognize this one from my office mood board?

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Dilemma #2 rug
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Just for fun ;)


Some other Accessories I would love to add into the mix!



Which ones/combinations do you like best??

If you find any other affordable pillow covers or rugs, please send them my way!

Can't wait to chat with two of my blog besties Veronica and Sara!
Happy Wednesday Readers!

p.s. Is is just me or are you ready for Spring?


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