Author: Meredith Blair

DIY Stepladder Side Table

Put a fun spin on an old ladder and upcycle it into this trendy and swanky stepladder side table. Here is a tutorial to help you get started on this new craze that I’m seeing everywhere. Do it yourself and easily save hundreds of dollars by following this tutorial. Use a shabby old wooden ladder as a bedside table. Upcycling this old ladder will allow a separate shelf for each of your things. Simply cut, place and hammer wood in between the rungs to create a long shelf. Add some flare and decorate it with baskets, old books and antique pieces. This DIY stepladder could be yours with just a few simple steps, a few pieces of wood and an old stepladder. It’s a swanky way to repurpose ladders with very little hassle. Link below.

DIY Stepladder Side Table from Funky Junk Interiors, click here for tutorial

May 16, 2014
10 Inspirational Kitchen Designs

If you are planning a large renovation or just want to refresh your space, here are some ideas for getting a kitchen that works. Find kitchen design ideas for a beautiful home remodeling or renovation of your kitchen. Whether you are working within an existing layout or starting from scratch, we have ideas for modern kitchen design to design ideas to boost your current kitchen design layout. Explore our favorite kitchen decor ideas and get inspiration to create the kitchen of your dreams. Upgrading a kitchen is full of possibilities. Even with a few simple budget ideas you can refresh and modernize your kitchen. Discover an organized collection of beautiful kitchen design ideas, styles and color schemes. Whether you want a cozy country kitchen or a sleek and modern space, get inspired by these swanky, stylish and smart ideas. Here you will find stylish kitchen designs with sophisticated decor and a trendy twist and pops of color.

Cool Black Kitchen Design

Cool Traditional Kitchen Idea

Fabulous Traditional Kitchen Design

Lightful Kitchen Design Ideas

Spacious White Kitchen Design

Traditional Design Kitchen

Traditional Kitchen with Brown Furnitures

Traditional spacious kitchen design idea

White Modern Kitchen

White Traditional Kitchen

May 13, 2014
Eggshell Seed Starter

Get a jump start on the growing season and start your plants indoors. These biodegradable eggshell planters are perfect for starting seeds! Eggshells make the perfect size seed starters. They are also natural and biodegradable which means that you can plant them directly into the soil. When the plants get too big for the shells, you can transplant them into the soil, eggshell intact and all. Skip store bought plants this gardening season. Sprout seeds in adorable eggshell seed starters and watch your saving grow. To keep track of what seeds you have planted, write the names on the bottom of each shell. I mean, how adorable are these? It’s a great kid friendly project as well.

Visit Karly from Three In Three to learn how to get these planters started with ease!

April 29, 2014
DIY Home Decor Ideas

Brighten up your home for spring and summer. From exciting color palettes and accessories to fresh flowers and fresh paint. With every seasonal change, it is time for cleaning, getting rid of old and unused items, and makeovers. When spring’s first warm breezes inspire you to embrace the new season, use these decorating ideas to freshen up your home. Check out these beautiful decor ideas for every room in your house.

Home Decor Ideas by The 36th Avenue, link below

Home Decor Ideas by The 36th Avenue, click here

April 19, 2014
DIY Birch Decor and Table

Decorating with birch is a hot trend right now. Birch trees are works of art that are just begging to be brought inside. I’m crushing on the white color of birch tree bark with its contrasting dark spots that make it stand out compared to other trees. These projects bring in a warm, cottage and a country look that is natural and earthy. Many DIY projects such as twig mirrors, tissue boxes, picture frames, clocks, furniture and wall decor can be made from birch trees. I have been decorating and creating projects up at the cottage for years with this beautiful wood tree and bark.

Check out these 10+ DIY projects from the ScrapHacker. Get projects for tables, beds, lamps, coasters and so much more, link below.

DIY Birch Turf Projects galore from Scrap Hacker, click here for the tutorials!

April 16, 2014
Flavored Ice Cubes
With Spring here and Memorial Day approaching, it makes sense to have plenty of delicious and healthy beverages to cool down. It’s the perfect way to jazz up your beverages. Ice water should be crisp and refreshing and it’s especially true the warmer it gets outside. It’s the perfect pop of color with any sunny weather affair. Flavored ice cubes are a way to sweeten your water without using artificial flavoring or sweeteners.

TIP: Did you know if you boil water then freeze it, the ice cubes will come out clear.
Boiled water = Clear ice cubes.
- Fruit
- Apple slices
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Cherry
- Coconut
- Cranberry
- Grape
- Kiwi
- Lemon
- Lime
- Melons
- Olive
- Orange / Mandarin
- Pineapple
- Pomegranate
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Rhubarb
- Herbs / Vegetables
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Ginger
- Mint
- Peppers
You will want to use a fruits, vegetables and herbs that will not go bad once frozen. Slice fresh fruit according to the size of the cubes to be frozen. Fill try with water and add desired fruit. When ready to use, add them to beverages.

I always enjoy biting into the fruit at the end. Enjoy!

For Rhubarb and Ginger Cordial with Mint and Raspberry, click here to see recipe by Raspberricupcakes
April 13, 2014
Improved Wood Pallet Walkway

Spring wouldn’t be complete without planning the Summer projects. Bring focus to an old walkway project by retouching wooden pallets. Replace old and rotting wood pallets with new ones. Add some green shrubs and flowers and enjoy the new view. If you’re new to pallets, get inspire here with these great wooden pallet projects I’ve posted. They are all the rave and can serve duel purposes!

Click here for the Improved Wood Pallet Walkway tutorial by Funky Junk Interiors **For more wooden pallet inspiration – click here

April 6, 2014
10 Inspiring Attic Interiors

Any extra space in a house is good space. If your home’s attic is nothing more than wasted space, you may want to remodel it. Converting your attic into a room can be a fantastic way to fully utilize the space in your home. Here are some inspiring ideas on how to turn an unused attic into extra living space. A remodeled attic can host teenagers and guests or it can be remodeled into a comfy reading space. It can also host creative storage solutions. Unlike other areas in your home, there are unique tricks to finishing this space, which provide a lot of creative leeway. I love working with these extra spaces because it is a designers dream canvas. One of the best times to start working a project like this is in Spring.

For the complete list and credits, click here

Image 1-2 credit here

Image credit 3 here

March 30, 2014
20 Ideas for Dyeing Easter Eggs

Discover some new ideas to the traditional Easter egg dyeing and create memories for years to come! Dyeing Easter eggs is one of my favorite things to do with younger kids before Easter. I’ve seen so many cute and creative ways of preparing festive colored eggs that while I set up a table for the cousins, I like to prepare my mine as well. What I like about the traditional egg dyeing for Easter is that there are tons of different ways to do it and adapt old favorites. Celebrate the holiday and have fun dyeing some Easter eggs and learning new tricks.

20 plus creative ideas for dyeing Easter eggs from Mom Endeavors

March 11, 2014
DIY Pallet Shelf

An easy DIY project to keep those books, magazines and bottles you want organized and visible. A clever and creative DIY project and use for your home decor. Recycle an old pallet and create something that will last forever.

DIY Pallet Shelf by Practically Functional

March 11, 2014
DIY Strip & Restain Furniture

Stripping and re-staining is a pretty easy project to do when you have all the materials and time for it. Here is a great tutorial on how to DIY strip and restain wood furniture from Frugal with a flourish – <—–click for link

February 22, 2014
Decorating with Wooden Pallets

Decorating with pallets and crates creates an appealing visual effect as well as provides useful functionality. Decorating with wooden pallets and crates is trending. Here are some creative ways to recycle and reuse those old pallets around the house. What’s great about using pallets and crates is that they can be used to store shoes, magazines and books while being functionally stylish beds, coffee tables, baskets and cabinets. Wooden pallets are pretty inexpensive when re-purposing recycled ones and make for great home decor. I’ve been dying to craft and design something out of pallets, so this post is dedicated to wood pallet inspiration.

Images from A Place To Get Lost & Creamy Life

February 12, 2014
Modern Country Decor

Rustic country décor is trendy in America. Décor is borrowed from French, English and Swedish country looks. This decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Everything from floors, chairs, baskets, furniture, candle holders, pine cones, plants and hutches can give a rustic feel. Kitchen appliances such as pots are copper, steel or cast iron. A rustic country kitchen will display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections on open shelves or in cabinets with glass windows. Rustic décor creates an appealing visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

Modern White Country Living Room Decor (link for images 1-3)

Rustic Black and White Home Decor – A Place To Get Lost

Cozy Rustic Country Decor – Pearls and Lace blog

February 12, 2014
20 Best Valentine’s Day Desserts

Every year I get excited for Valentine’s Day. I mean, what’s not to love about celebrating the day with loved ones and making decadent desserts?!? Swanky Recipes has compiled a list of all the fabulous treats that are trendy right now. If you are anything like me, you will probably make a few of these! I love all the creativity here, so share these with your loved ones!

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Visit Swanky Recipes for the complete list of the

20 Best Valentine’s Day Desserts

Click here for 10 alentine’s Day Crafts

Love From the Oven cake pops

February 5, 2014
5 Appealing Bedroom Designs

The bedroom is such an important space in a house. It may be the only place you can officially call “your own.” For that reason, it should be a space that is visually appealing and brings a sense of tranquility to your soul. Your master bedroom should be your own sanctuary away from the stresses of life. It is no coincidence that blue and white are the most popular color combinations. I just love the soft and calming colors of these bedrooms below.What makes great use in detail is the ability to use different tones from a color group. Here you will see it used below; soft neutral color palette used with white, gold, nude, brown and silver. A muted color palette such as this allows for more textures to be introduced in restyling the bedroom to give it more of a welcoming and cozy feel.

French Country Bedroom Design

Classic Master Bedroom Design

Chic White Bedroom

Vintage Mint Bedroom Design

Simple Bedroom Design

January 31, 2014
Modern Bathroom Designs

A lot of times, when I visit homes that are being re-designed or updated, I notice this common mistake. We all have a budget to work with and the bathroom usually suffers. Most of us have been there, updating a home will often run over budget. However, if you are working with a budget, plan accordingly. Remodeling and updating can easily run over budget. Leave a little room within the budget for this normal occurrence. So many important things go into creating the perfect design, from title and mirrors to hardware and textures. Most guests that visit your home will use the bathroom at some point. It is always nice to see a finished bathroom. Even though it is a small space, don’t neglect it.

Modern Bathroom Tub

Modern Bathroom Decor by Janet Lockheart

Modern Bathroom Tub and Tile – By Janet Lockheart

Modern Bathtub Window

Modern Bathtub Design

Modern Bathroom Sink

Modern Rectangular Bathtub Design

Beautiful White Bathroom

January 24, 2014
10 Valentine’s Day Crafts

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a day long celebration of “expressing love” for one another. Also, it is a pretty fun holiday. The ideas are endless for expressing love. Here are just a few crafts that can be made with love. Make Valentine’s Day a special day and create some project with the people you love the most.

Valentine’s Love Potion by The Idea Room

Interchangeable Holiday Wreath

Valentine’s Day Crate

Gingerbread Hearts Garland – Cinnamon Hearts

Valentine’s Be Mine Banner

Valentine’s Day Card Tutorial

Ruffled Heart Pillow Tutorial

Valentine’s Day Candles

Felt Flower Tutorial

Valentine’s Day Garland

Easy Valentine’s Day Garland for a kid friendly craft!

January 24, 2014
Gingerbread Hearts

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I’m pretty excited because it is Saturday! The holidays are over and things are settling down. That means I can get back to a more normal routine and do artsy projects and home improvement designs! Swanky Decors most popular post is back, in the form of Gingerbread Hearts just in time for Valentine’s Day! We had such great success with our Gingerbread Men Ornaments (cinnamon ornaments) that we want to let you in on a secret. The same recipe can be followed for any cookie cutter/holiday craft project your heart desired.

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Gingerbread ornaments are an elegant addition to any holiday decor. Use them spruce up a Christmas tree with cinnamon sticks and dry fruit slice, use them for garland or simply place them in baskets with other decor. Learn how to make gingerbread ornaments for this holiday season!

For decorative use only!
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Gingerbread Craft Uses

Gingerbread Man – Winter/Christmas
Gingerbread Hearts – Valentine’s Day
Gingerbread Bunny/Eggs – Easter
Gingerbread Stars – Memorial Day/Independence Day/Labor Day
Gingerbread Ghosts – Halloween
Pumpkins/Acorns/Turkey – Thanksgiving
Monograms & Letters & Shapes

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Kid friendly project

Dog friendly footprints

Cookie cutter appropriate

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How To Make Gingerbread Ornaments – That won’t rot and will last for years

Ingredients for Gingerbread

3 Tablespoons Shortening
1/2 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup water
1 tsp of Baking soda
1/2 Cup Molasses
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
3 1/2 Cups of flour

**Use Cookie cutters, peppercorns or small rusty bells and clear acrylic varnish

Directions:

In a medium large bowl, beat shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy, stir in molasses. Combine dry ingredients and sift then add to shortening mixture alternating with water. Dough should be stiff. Cover dough and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease baking sheets.

Cut dough into 3 piece sections and knead to warm on a lightly floured surface.

Cut out using cookie cutters and place on cookie sheets. If using for garland, poke holes with toothpick before placing in oven.

Decorate with peppercorns and rusty bells. Bake for 20 minutes, then shut off oven and let cool inside. Remove ornaments from sheet and place on rack and allow to dry for 3 days. Then preserve with 3 coats of clear varnish. Ornaments are not edible and will last for years.

photography by http://ljo-s.blogspot.com/search/label/CHRISTMAS

January 11, 2014